Laos is recognized as one of the world's most welcome nations to visit, with a country of hopeful, kind folks. To make a Laos vacation safer, more fun, and more authentic, spend some time learning about local customs, specifically what visitors should and should not do. The following is a list of what not to do in Laos:
Do not show affection in public: The Lao people are usually traditional, and seeing individuals kissing or hugging in public is considered impolite. It is preferable to express affection for your mate in more private settings.
Do not aim your foot at the people or the Buddha: Because they are the lowest, the Laotians regard the feet to be the dirtiest part of the body. It is thus impolite to point one's foot at others. Turn your feet away from the Buddha when in a temple. If sitting in a kneeling position bothers you, consider sitting cross-legged, which is typically appropriate for Westerners.
Do not touch the head of the locals: Touching someone's head is frowned upon in Laos because the head is considered the most holy part of the body. If you are not their parents or really close pals, do not even pat their heads.
Do not eat anything on the temple premises: While going about the temple grounds, you may become slightly hungry or thirsty. However, it is also necessary to respect the monks, who normally only eat twice a day, once in the early morning and once before midday. So don't eat or drink anything.
Do not shout or argue: The Lao people have a stern demeanor and despise conflict. When bargaining with locals at the market, do not rush and keep your voice calm and unhurried, preferably with a grin. Consider it an excellent opportunity to develop patience and meet the locals. Luang Prabang's morning market Luang Prabang's morning market sells handicrafts.
Do not shake hands or present or accept gifts with your left hand: Never shake Laotians' hands with your left hand since it is considered filthy. When anything is presented to you, accept it with your right hand. Also, while giving something to someone, use your right hand.
Do not give gifts to children: Giving money, stationery, or any other type of present to children will not benefit them. Instead, it promotes begging, which is already widespread in many developing nations. Furthermore, due to the country's lack of dental care, it is preferable not to feed children sweets that promote tooth rot.
Laos Immigration Services hopes these suggestions are useful to you while you travel across Laos. Many of the above dos and don'ts also apply to other Indochina nations such as Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand. If you have any questions or would want to add more don'ts in Laos, we recommend that you read this article “10 Interesting Facts About Laos”