Sabaidee, the Lao word for "hello"
The traditional way to meet in Laos
MOST IMPORTANT : remember, everything is managed by this custom law...
Touching someone’s is very very impolite
Lao people appreciate respectful visitors
bathing nude in public is impolite
In most private area, please take off your shoes
Remember customs about up/good and down/bad perception...
Kissing and hugging in public is impolite, please be discret
Laotians are quiet and calm people talking softly...
Before you take photo of someone ask if it is ok
Don’t give but help. Ask advices to your travel agency, your guide or your host
Try traditional Lao food. Unique, promoting bitter, made for health
Please show respect and dress neatly while in temples and when taking photos
Please don’t touch religious items without permission
Interdiction pour les femmes de toucher les bonzes
Please help keeping clean, give the good example, thanks ;-)
Don’t buy wild products, many species are already in danger
Please help prevent of forest fire
Don’t buy antics, but handicraft
The use of drugs is illegal in Laos. Consequences might be extremly severe
Sex tourism is illegal. Contact local authorities is any case of abuse or exploitation
A faire et ne pas faire au Laos
Everybody wants their country, their ways and customs, their laws and inhabitants, to be respected ; Laotians too, have the right to expect tourists to have the correct attitude and behaviour towards their country.
We invite you to read the Do’s & Don’t booklet edited by the Official Tourism Office. Below, some important things to keep in mind.
- Never blow your nose during a meal, it’s considered as the dirtiest thing in the world.
- Women must never touch nor brush against a bonze. It is tolerated for men, but only if its unavoidable.
- Try and make sure that your head is always lower than those of the bonzes and elderly people. It’s a mark of respect that is very much appreciated.
- Feet are a very inferior part of the body, and not just because they are on the ground, and the head is the most noble. Because of this, its very badly looked upon, to shut a door with your foot, or put your feet on the table. To kick your foot (and even more so, the sole) in somebody’s direction is considered very rude.
- Because the people of Laos are always very clean, it is strongly advised to follow a faultless corporal hygiene, otherwise, you risk being very much less welcome than normal.
- Dress yourself correctly, which means that you must always wear a bottom AND a top at all times, except possibly at the waterfalls ; although, Laotians bathe themselves almost completely dressed...
- Due to their modesty, it is very impolite to kiss in public ; holding hands is tolerated, but even so, it is preferable not to do so in public.
- It is embarrassing for Laotians, who are very softly spoken, to come across people who speak loudly. It is also very badly looked upon to get excited and worked up, for whatever reason. A person who loses their calm also loses face : they are considered childish, being as they are incapable of controlling themselves.
- Never argue with the police, don’t lose your temper, stay quiet, be patient, and talk gently. Police in Laos are not scamming tourists like in some other countries, so let the do their job. Actually, the fine to be paid is 5usd if you have done something wrong.
- When you bring anything to a village, make sure you give it to the village chief and not distribute the presents yourself.
For more information, please refer to the Internet web-site of ecotourism in Laos
For rules of how to deal with Buddhism and the monk’s requests for alms in the morning, please refer to the required article.
