About Laos country: Essential things to know !
Laos Country is an stunning place to visit no matter what your interests are. Maybe your are exploring, feeling the truly local authenticity, tasting the food all over the world, experiencing the variable cultures, gaining the civilization history and even escaping from the stressful life.
Meanwhile, Laos is a pristine Buddhism country and still safe from the mass tourism. Laotian people, Laos cuisine, the jungles, Mekong Rivers, wildlife, etc. still offer their visitors an authentic touch.
Life pace is slow; that is to say the sleeping country. There are no existence of traffic lights in most places in Laos. Or else, Laos people won’t press horn aggressively to you to take the paths. It’s so awesome to live a bit slower, get yourself relaxed and your mind is totally free.
Being a landlocked country, but 90% of the land is covered by jungle. Laotian life base massively on Mekong River which mean “Mother Rivers” in Laos language. This offers us a great chances to explore the intact wildlife and natural giants.
DESTINATIONS
Among so many places to select from, you can refer these most highlighted places to visit in Laos fantastic country.
Luang Prabang
Being the most renown town; Luang Prabang is a must-to-visit in your Laos travel itinerary. This town was the ancient capital of Laos and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are dozens of ancient temples and pagodas to explore; the Pak Ou Cave with cruises over Mekong River, KhuangSi waterfalls of cascaded turquoise ponds, etc. Detailed travel advisory for Luang Prabang travel for your references: Luang Prabang important Travel advices for a memorable trip
Vientiane
Vientiane is the capital, also the largest city in Laos. This city features the colonial heritage in architectures and cuisines especially bakeries and coffee. It homes to the country’s symbol Pha That Luang Temple; and an interesting Buddha Park with hundreds of giant cement statues. Certainly, it’s worth visiting and exploring Vientiane. All the best things to do in Vientiane are mentioned in this writing of Discover Laos: Vientiane and Unique Unmissable Experiences to do
Pakse and Bolaven Plateau
Pakse is the gateway to amazing Southern Laos. Visitors can get to Pakse by flights and land transfer. Ideal for nature lovers, adventurers and off-road seekers, the Southern Laos Itinerary should include at least 3 nights. Traveling to Southern Laos, tourists can have a trek to Bolaven Plateau with transfer by car or Soviet Union Jeep; cruise over the 4,000 islands with stops at stunning waterfalls, see the fresh-water dolphins, hiking to local villages, and so on.
Plain of Jars
Plain of Jars is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This mysterious place attract tourists by scatters of several thousand stone jars. Similar to the StoneHenge in United Kingdom, the jars’ origin is still assumption by the scientists . More introduction about Plain of Jars are share in the post Stunning incredible Plains of Jars in Laos
It takes around 10 – 12 days to see all above suggested destinations of Laos. Should you have more time, or return Laos, we would suggest Vang Vieng, Luang Namtha, Houeixay, etc. or taking border cross to neighboring countries Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar.
LAOS CULTURE
Tak Bath Ceremony
Tak Bath means “to present food to a monk or Buddhist priest”. Tak Bath could be said one of the important part in Laos culture. Traveling in Luang Prabang or some parts of Laos, Thailand, you will find the monk on bare-foot and put on the saffron cloak leave the temples or pagodas very early in the morning for the Tak Bath ceremony or alms collecting.
These days, Tak Bath alms giving ceremony is among a must-to-do in Luang Prabang. Travellers just show up at any streets, queue up and observe the ceremony.
It’s a sacred practice in Luang Prabang, then make sure you won’t disturb this cultural ceremony.
The observing or attendance on Tak Bath is suggested to combine with a meander through Luang Prabang morning markets.
The contrast feeling between solemn and silent Tak Bath ceremony, then a busy and noisy market with people here and there in a chaos gives you a truly Luang Prabang ambience.
Baci ceremony
Baci is a crucial and frequently practiced ceremony in Laos. With the meaning “calling of the soul”, Laos people believe that each person’s body is equivalent to a spirits.
Then their ceremony is conduced to call for and balance the souls. For this sake, Laos people do the Baci ceremony very often, in almost events happening in their lives like delivery, marriage, sickness recovery, friend receiving, etc. The ceremony attendants’ right-hand wrists are tied with a white thread the grant of wishes or luckiness. Travellers in Luang Prabang can join the Baci Ceremony by asking locals allow you to join or contacting a local travel agent for the arrangement. Refer Luang Prabang Heritage Town 4 Days with arraignment of Baci Ceremony.
Laos New Year – the biggest ceremony in Laos country
Laos New Year or Songkran Festival is among the largest and most important festivals in Laos. This festival is celebrated in 3 days of April annually from around 14th– 16th. However, the date might change slightly depending on Laos calendar. Since Songkran festival happen in April when is the hottest month in Laos also the start off monsoon season, local people name it Water festival. In Laos culture, people prepare water with natural perfumes and local “equipment” to soak on each other or ay ones passing by on streets as a celebration. By practicing this, people home to bring good luck for each other. Laos people also bring sand to temples for stupas or mounds making which is considered to make merit.
In addition, there are so many things to do. If you can arrange the trip to Laos country in April, it’s such a special chance to join with locals. Just note that Laos will become a bit crowded with both domestic and international travellers and services should be arranged well in advance to avoid unexpected inconveniences.
Boat racing festival in Laos
Boat racing festival in Laos is a public holiday celebrated on 11th lunar month marking the end of Buddhist Lent which happens 3 rainy months yearly and the monks must stay in their temples or pagodas only. Boat racing festival is most popular and largest in Vientiane, capital city of Laos. As per Laos culture, people always celebrate the last day of their traditional Buddhist lent by offering alms at temples, process candlelight around the temples, float candle with flower on
river in order to show their respect to Buddha and appreciate the river mother.
The streets in the ground of river part with boat racing are full with stalls selling all kinds of things for the audiences.
LAOS CUISINE
Laos Laap
Laap or Larb is a popular Laos traditional dish which is a type of Laos meat salad. Laotian mince chicken, pork, beef, duck or fish to make Laap; those meat can be either raw or not. Other combinable ingredients are lime juice, Laos fish sauce, mint, chili and ground sticky rice. Above all, Laap is a must-to-eat when travel to this beautiful country of Laos.
Get some sticky rice then make a scoop of laap and eat them up altogether. Laap is a great food of Laos cuisine and is available in many restaurants in Laos. Importantly, make sure with the restaurant in Laos that you prefer cooked meat or not.
Laos sticky rice – main staple in Laos country
Laos sticky rice, or Khao Niaow in Laos language is considered a staple dish in Laos. If you want to experience the authentic taste of Laotian cuisine, sticky rice is a-must-do.
Interestingly, succulent Laos sticky rice made of glutinous rice is also a gluten-free food and work for those can’t eat gluten. Laotian people normally eat their sticky rice, which often served in a small cutie bamboo basket, with hands
Ping Pa and Ping Kai
Ping in Laos language means “grilled” then Ping Pa and Ping Kai are Laos grilled fish and grilled chicken respectively. These are two popular and must-try dishes in Laos cuisine. A whole fresh fish and some parts of chickens are seasoned by local ingredients and herbs like lemon grass, chili, lime leaf, garlic, etc. and grilled. These Laotian BBQ are served with sticky rice. It might be easier to dine chicken as the fish bones aren’t removed. However, the river fish meat seems more flavorful. Don’t hesitate to try these Laos popular sumptuous food which are available in most corners of Laos restaurants, local markets, etc.
Laos Sausage
Laos sausage is a grilled dish of Laos cuisine with distinctive and filling taste. Main ingredients for this dish are mixed by minced pork, lemongrass, shallots, lime leaf, garlic, pork belly and many of local seasonings. Pairing Laos sausage with Laos sticky rice and papaya salad makes perfect combo of Laos cuisine for everyone including the gourmets.
Papaya Salad
many of Laos dishes are originated from Northern Thailand including Laos papaya Salad. And to adapt with local tastes. For example, Laotian people use different type of dressing and local ingredients to make their own typical salad. Ingredients for Laos papaya salad might be flexible, but include these main things of green papaya, tomato, bird eye chili, crab paste and shrimp paste. Generally, papaya salad is a spicy dish in Laos cuisine; then if you are unready to take the blaming hot taste, ask the local to reduce spicy level.
WEATHER IN LAOS
The weather in Laos comprises of 2 main seasons of dry and rain seasons. Laos country has no sea; as a result, it’s fine to visit the country whole year.
The rainy season comes from May to October and characterizes distinctly monsoon weather with high rainfalls, hot and a bit humid weather. There is more rain in high mountains Northern Laos; meanwhile the Southern Laos which stretches from Vientiane capital toward south is with less rain. General landscape in Laos during rainy season is pretty greenish and great for photos.
On the other hand, the dry season goes with 2 phrases of cool dry from November to February and hot dry season from March to April. January is the coldest month at 22 Celsius degree (72 F); and April is when the temperature on peak, up to 35 Celsius degree (95 F).
Then, the best time for your Laos travel period might be the transition between those seasons like March, October, November.
CURRENCY
Kip is the main currency in Laos. USD is the second popular currency in Laos. However, almost local stalls in Laos only take Kip. Therefore, you should exchange the money into Laos Kip.
Here below are the convert rate at the time (expect some slight changes)
PHRASES FOR TOURISTS
Hello: Saibaidee ສະບາຍດີ
Thank you: Khop Jai ຂອບໃຈ
Yes: Doi ໂດຍ or Men ແມ່ນ
No: Baw ບໍ່
Excuse me: Khaw Toot ຂໍໂທດ
I don’t understand: Khoy Baw Khao Jai ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ
Good bye: La Gon ລາກ່ອນ
No MSG: Baw Sai Paeng Nua
Cheers: Tham Keo! ຕຳແກ້ວ
Do you speak English: Jao vao passa Angkit dai baw? ເຈົ້າປາກພາສາອັງກິດໄດ້ບໍ່
Foreigner: Falang -ຝລັ່ງ