What Not to Do in Laos: 11 Laos Travel Tips

Knowing what not to do in Laos is crucial to avoid getting yourself into trouble or attracting unwanted attention while travelling. Moreover, while visiting this country, it’s important to fly under the radar and blend into society as much as you possibly can.

There is a tonne of things that you should and shouldn’t do whilst visiting Laos, and we’ll be sure to dissect those a little further in the post. All in all, the bottom line is to be respectful of the culture and the locals around you, but we’ll discuss some key points in a bit more depth.

Let’s dive into everything you need to know about what not to do in Laos so that you are trip ready!

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What Not to Do in Laos

Don’t Turn Up to a Temple with Minimal Clothing

A major sign of disrespect to the Buddhist community is to arrive at a temple with minimal clothing. Moreover, the general rule of thumb is to have shoulders and knees covered for all genders inclusive.

And, there is an easy way to go about this! You can simply pack a sarong with you to wrap around your shoulders or legs if you’d prefer to wear shorts or a singlet while wandering around for the rest of the day.

Remember, you may not be let into some temples if you are seen wearing minimal clothing. So be sure to come prepared and have yourself covered and ready to go!

Tip: Loose-fitted pants and t-shirts are great pieces of clothing to travel with as they also offer protection from bugs!

Temples are a place of worship and an important part of Laotian culture

Don’t Argue with the Authorities

Arguing with authorities is one of the silliest things you could do while travelling in Laos. Moreover, this goes for any person in charge including police officers and immigration officers.

Don’t get caught up in unnecessary drama by arguing with authorities. Mostly, they will likely be trying to scam you out of a few dollars for something silly. Instead of putting up a fight, the best way to go about it is to discuss a lower price and hand over some small notes.

In the end, you may only need to hand over 20,000 Kip which will save you from getting yourself into further problems. It’s not ideal, I understand, but it’s what may need to be done to keep yourself safe and out of trouble.

Learn to Speak the Local Language

If you think that heading into Laos with only being able to speak English is a good idea, think again. The absolute minimum that you should do is to learn a few words and phrases out of a sign of respect and to communicate easier with the locals.

However, you will be impressed to know that many of the locals actually speak English fluently. It’s quite impressive and one of the better countries that I’ve been to considering it’s still a developing country.

Not to mention, many of them want to practice their English speaking skills, so they may prefer to chat in English. Be sure to speak slowly and clearly so they can understand you.

Some phrases you may like to take note of include:

Hello – Sabaidee
Thank You – Khob Chai
Please – Kaluna
Where is the bathroom? – Hong Noa Yu Sai?
How much is this? – Ni la kha teoa dai?

Don’t Keep Your Shoes on When Entering Houses and Buildings

You may notice that when you arrive at a house or even a shop that there is a pile of shoes near the door. Take note of this and follow suit by taking your shoes off and leaving them at the door.

Tip: Be sure to pack a pair of sandals or flip-flops that are easy to take on and off. A pair like these are great to ensure your feet are comfortable and that you can take them off easily.

Don’t Touch a Monk

Basic common sense is to never touch a monk or disrespect their practices. Monks cannot be touched by anyone, and if you accidentally brush past them in a busy location, they will need to go and cleanse themselves at a temple.

Monks especially are not allowed to touch females, and also cannot be touched by one, therefore, no contact is best!

If you end up communicating with a monk, you will want to bow slightly and place your hands in a prayer-like position to greet them correctly. Otherwise, be sure to give them plenty of space and act respectfully around them at all times.

Respect for the monks is crucial in all parts of Asia

Don’t Disrespect the Local Culture

One of the silliest things you could do in Laos is disrespect the culture. Therefore, this is a significant tip for what not to do in Laos.

Avoid talking negatively about religion, food, environment, places, authorities or people in general, especially when you are nearby Laotians. Think of it this way, you wouldn’t want a foreigner to slander your country while they’re visiting so you shouldn’t do it while travelling.

So, be sure to act respectfully at all times even if you don’t agree with what’s going on around you. There may be many times that you don’t like the food, religious practices or something else, but do your best to continue on with your day.

Note: Remember, we are visiting their country and observing their ways of life. We don’t need to leave a negative impact and make them feel uncomfortable living life the way that they do.

Embrace the culture in Laos and celebrate it with the locals

Don’t Use Your Feet for Communicating

Now, this one may seem a little strange, but it makes a lot of sense. Your feet are the lowest point of your body, therefore, using them to point at something, move something or as a form of communication is highly disrespectful.

Your feet should only be used for walking and playing sports. Avoid using them in other ways than deemed necessary.

Tip: Avoid putting your feet on furniture as this is also seen as disrespectful.

Don’t Sit above an Elder

If you are invited into someone’s home, you should sit at the same level as them. Therefore, if an elderly person sits on the ground, you should also take a seat on the ground with them.

This is a simple show of respect as you are not sitting in a higher position than them. Moreover, this is an effortless thing to do and shows that you care about the culture.

Don’t Step over Someone or a Plate of Food

Similar to the feet being the lowest part of the body, you should never step over someone or step over a plate of food.

Moreover, this is another simple sign of respect for the culture and shows that you care. Food is of high importance in these developing countries, and putting what’s seen as a low part of you body over the food is highly disrespectful!

Don’t Forget to Greet Correctly

Using the correct language is crucial when greeting someone. Be sure to raise your palms just below your chin in a prayer position and nod your head slightly to complete the ‘nop’.

As a general rule of thumb, if you see someone do the nop to you, be sure to complete it back to them and always greet them with a smile.

If you happen to not have your hands free (as you are carrying something), be sure to bow your head and say ‘Sabaidee’. This will ensure you have still put in the effort to correctly greet someone.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, the main thing to keep in mind while travelling around Laos is to use common sense. So, as long as you are acting respectfully and avoiding stepping on anyone’s toes, you should do just fine.

Laos is a very comfortable place to travel, the locals are immeasurably lovely people and you will have a fantastic time interacting with them. Just be sure to take note of these tips and find ways to practice them correctly.

Furthermore, as long as the locals see that you’re putting in an effort, they will go pretty easy on you. If you accidentally make a mistake, people will be understanding as long as you try to fix the issue or are open to resolving the problem. Open-mindedness is key!

Finally, if you would like to discover more about Laos, I recommend checking out this section of my blog. I upload loads of content including travel guides, itineraries, places to visit and activities. It’s your one-stop spot for everything Laos related! Happy reading!