The Lao word for hello is ‘Sa Bai Dee”, usually said with a smile. Touching or showing affection in public will embarrass them.

Head: Sixty percent of Lao are Theravada Buddhists and religious beliefs should be respected in Laos. Lao people should not be touched on the head and women should not touch monks. Handshaking is not that usual;
Lao people greet each other with their palms together and a slight bowing of the head.

Feet: The feet are viewed as spiritually the lowest part of the body and you should not do anything except walk with them.

Body: Take your shoes off before entering buildings, temples and local homes. Don't sit on cushions. Despite sitting on floors being hard for westerners, these are not meant to be sat on and doing so will result in great offence. When calling someone over, motion with your hand down. If you motion with your hand up it can have sexual connotations. Lao do not appreciate showing off skin. While you will be hot in Laos, it's important to keep covered up. Wearing a proper t-shirt (covered shoulders), longer shorts and pants when visiting temples will win you a lot of fans and ensure you don't offend.

Photos: Before taking photos, you should always ask permission, especially of rural communities. Some hilltribe groups are suspicious of photos and don't like them taken.

Please help to keep Laos clean and beautiful by not leaving rubbish. Picking up rubbish sets a good example for Lao youth.
The illegal sale of wildlife and wildlife products endangers many species native to Laos. Please help protect Lao wildlife by refusing to buy wildlife products.
Please help prevent of forest fires.
Laos loses a little of its heritage every time an antique is taken out of the country. Please do not buy antique Buddha or other sacred items. Instead, support local craftsmen by purchasing new, quality handicrafts.

Take care when discussing politics and related subjects in conversation so as not to cause offence.
It is a legal requirement to carry an ID document or a passport, and fines for not having one for presentation on demand can be high.
The Lao government prohibits sexual relationships, including sexual contact between foreign citizens and Lao nationals, except when the two parties have been married in accordance with Lao family law. Penalties for failing to register a relationship range from fines to imprisonment.

A tourist visa, business visa and any others visa are available from Laos Embassy in your country or the country nearest to you. Alternatively, you also can get a visa on arrival for 30 days at most border crossing and ports entry.

If there is no Lao Embassy or consular office in your country, such as the United Kingdom and Paris is the closest to come, then unless you're from one of the excluded countries, just arrive at the Lao border with US$35 and a photo, and get a Visa On Arrival (VOA). Click here to see, save or print out the Lao Arrival Visa Form.

If you want to save time and worry-free when arriving in Laos, then it's better to get visa before you start your trips.
If for any reasons you do not have enough time to get visa then do not bother. You can get a visa on arrival at the port entry in Laos but make sure you have passport size photos, US dollars or Thai Bath ready for application and visa fee.

Passport
Besides, your passport will valid at least 6 month's validity remaining. If you are holding passports with less than 6 month's validity you will be refused entry into Laos.
You are reminded to check your passport, when entering and leaving Laos, to ensure they have received a correctly dated entry and exit stamp. Penalties can be applied for entering Laos without an entry stamp and for crossing the border at non authorized crossing points. 

Visa on arrival Prices
In case you arrive in Laos without visa, you should apply for a 30 days visa on arrival at all ports of entry in Laos, including the most popular three international airports of the cities Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse. You need two passport size photographs and pay visa's fee.

The cost of Laos visa on arrival is varied depend on what country you come from. You can view the price list is on display at the visa application window.
There are a few samples of visa cost, if you are from USA, UK and European the fees are $US35.00, Canada $US42.00, Sweden $US31.00, Australia and other countries is $US30.00. All visa's fees are payable in US dollars, you can also pay in Thai bath but it will cost you more. For full detail please check each port of entry.

Extending a Laos visa
In case you need to stay longer in Laos you can extend your visa by submitting an application through a tour agency or Lao's Immigration Office (http://www.immigration.gov.la/) in Vientiane. You should apply to extend your visa before the expire date. Foreigners who overstay in Laos will be fined $5 for each day of overstay before leaving the country.

A tourist visa is usually issued for a single entry for a period of 30 days and multiple entry visas are available from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Address Thanon That Luang, Ban Nongbone, Muang Saysettha, Vientiane, Laos and telephone 856 0 21 414002). All others visa or immigration related inquiry should be directed towards your local Laos Embassy or consulate near you.

Besides, you can also obtain your Lao Visa in USA through Visa HQ in advance from Visa HQ, or from a Lao Embassy in your country.

The official language is Lao. Other languages used are French, English. Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese.

Currency Exchange
Local currency is called Kip. One USD is worth approximately 2,450 kip (1998). Money can be exchanged at banks, authorized shops, or hotels. Exchange rates fluctuate everyday, though fluctuation is tiny.
Thai Baht and US Dollars are the easiest currencies to exchange. They are also widely accepted in shops, markets and hotels in Vientiane and Luang Prabang.

Lao Kip (LAK; symbol ₭) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of ₭50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1.

Time
The time in Laos is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +7).

Climate
Most of the year is hot and humid. Laos enjoys tropical climate with two distinct seasons. The rainy season is from the beginning of May to the end of September, and the dry season is from October through April. The yearly average temperature is about 28 degrees Celsius, rising to a maximum of 38 degrees Celsius during April and May.

In Vientiane a minimum temperature of 19 degrees Celsius is to be expected during January. In mountainous areas, however, temperature drops from 14 to 15 degrees Celsius during the winter months, and during cold nights, can easily reach the freezing point. The average precipitation is highest in Southern Laos, where the Annamite Mountains receive over 3,000 mm. annually. In Vientiane rainfall is about 1,500-2,000 mm., and in the Northern provinces only 1,000-1,500 mm.

National specialties
Sticky rice (best eaten with fingers).
Pho (white rice noodle soup, usually served with beef and/or pork although vegetarian versions are available).
Laap (minced meat, fish or vegetables tossed in lime juice, garlic, onions, powdered rice and chillies, accompanied by sticky rice).
Tam maal hung (Lao-style papaya salad).
Khai phaan (weed from the Mekong River - a Luang Prabang specialty).

National drinks
Lao lao  (rice whisky) is popular and there are two brands available.
Beer Lao.