Laos

Guide for dating in Laos helps you to meet the best girls. This dating guide gives you tips how to date Lao women. You will learn rules where and how to flirt with local Laotian girls. We advise how to move from casual dating to the relationship and find the real love. We also tell the best dating sites in Laos. In this article below you will find more information where to meet and date girls in Laos, Asia.

A group of girls from Laos at the Sakura Bar

Girls in Laos:

Looks of girls: 3 / 5

Attitude of girls: 3.5 / 5

Loyalty of girls: 2.5 / 5

Education level of girls: 3 / 5

Dating in Laos:

Chance of arranging dates: 3.5 / 5

Casual dating culture: 3.5 / 5

Online dating popularity: 3.5 / 5

Sex in Laos:

Women's sexual activity: 4 / 5

One-night stands: 3.5 / 5

More about Laos:

Nightlife in general: 3 / 5

Locals' English level: 1.5 / 5

Budget per day: US$50 - $200

Accommodation: US$10 - $100

Dating

The country of Laos is situated in Southeast Asia surrounded by Myanmar, [[China, Vietnam, Cambodia and China. It is the only landlocked country in the region. Laos has a population of about seven million people. The former French colony is one of the most sparsely populated countries in Asia and covers an area of about 90,000 square miles. With a population of about one million people, Vientiane is the largest and capital city. Pakse and Thakhek are the other major towns. Laos is made up of more than 150 different ethnic groups.

Dating Laotian girls is enjoyable and can be quite exciting. However, Lao people have a more conservative attitude towards public displays of affection. While friends are often seen cuddling or stroking each other’s legs, this is less frequently seen among romantic couples. Holding hands in public is socially acceptable, hugging is fine, but even a kiss on the cheek makes some people slightly uncomfortable, and making out in public is just plain rude.

Dating Culture

In most cases, single Lao women and men will form a relationship with their longtime friends, with whom they socialize within friendship groups or at festivals, school or work. Once someone is in a relationship, it is typical for each partner to meet the other's family. Adult relationships are generally expected to result in marriage. Even with its relatively open view of dating, Laos is a traditional society and so modesty still applies in dating.

Sugar Dating

Sugar dating is one of the best ways to find a date in 2023. Men who are willing to buy gifts for sugar babies, will get physical or emotional pleasure for a return. Take a look of the wide selection of girls from SecretBenefits.

Online Dating

Dating in Laos can be a bit tricky due to not knowing if you have a solid connection, so your best bet is to sign up for a dating site before you venture to the night club or bar, so you can meet a few locals ahead of time. AdultFriendFinder.com lets you meet local members in Laos and get to know them on a personal basis before you meet in person. Take advantage of site features like live chat and member to member webcams so you can begin flirting before arranging a face-to-face meeting.

Webcam Dating

Feeling lonely in Laos? Arrange a virtual date with your favorite webcam girl right now! We have thousands of hot girls online waiting for you. Visit DatingLocalGirlsLive.com!

Women

As compared to other Asian and less developed countries, Laotian women occupy a better position in society. For a long time, women have been actively involved in many spheres of life in the country albeit not at par with the men. The Laotian constitution accords women the same legal status as men including the right to inherit and own land. As modernity continues to spread, women continue to push the limit on many fronts. However, the social impact of this varies from one ethnic group to another.

Although women in Laos have had the right and to vie since 1958, they remain highly underrepresented in political positions. In 2015, 25% of the members of parliament are women while more than 75% of the labor force is women although a large number of these women are employed in unskilled occupations. Many women in rural areas undertake a variety of semi-formal roles in their communities, including handicrafts, commerce, public health, and education, in addition to their traditional roles as homemakers and the caretakers of children. In the cities and at the government level, Lao women are underrepresented, particularly in high-level positions.

Indeed, women and girls living in rural and remote areas of Laos are often the most disadvantaged. Men are usually described as the heads of the households, representing their families at official meetings. Many women are illiterate and do not speak the national language or French used for education. Prevailing social and cultural norms mean women are not confident to give their opinions and do not demonstrate simple meeting skills such as taking turns to speak out. Therefore, often women cannot participate fully in village development activity processes.

Aside from the responsibilities mentioned above, women of all ethnic groups perform the tedious and time-consuming chores associated with household management and child care. Some of these duties include water collection, which may take two to three hours a day; husking rice for family consumption, which may require two hours of work; milling rice; and caring for the sick and the elderly; assist their mothers with these chores and they are often made responsible for the care of their younger siblings.

Laos is a predominantly rural subsistence country and urban areas are still underdeveloped. Where women have found employment in the formal sector, their jobs are often gender-typed and concentrated at lower levels. In factory employment, men outnumber women in all areas except for garment production. In the civil service, women are well represented in the education and health departments but seldom occupy directorial or managerial positions even in these ministries. Similarly, in the industrial sector, women are factory workers but rarely, if ever, managers. One exception to the normal gender typing pattern is the significant involvement of women in road construction and maintenance.

Many women are said to have left jobs in the public sector to engage in informal sector activities. Although employment in the civil service is more prestigious, salaries are much lower than the incomes women can earn from trading.

The educational status of women in Laos has advanced considerably since 1975. The percentage of female students in Lao schools increased from 37.6 % in 1976 to 45.3% in 1981. By 1985 the percentage of female students was 46.7. However, the general educational level of Lao women is still very poor, and the gender gap, though narrowed, persists, particularly beyond primary level. Female school enrolment is consistently lower than male enrolment at all levels of education..9%, 42.8% and 40.1 percent

Lao Girls (age 18 - 29)

Even with the constitution setting the minimum legal age for marriage at 18 years, many young girls in Laos get married before they turn 18 years. Many more girls get married immediately they get to this age. For those who are lucky to escape getting married before then proceed to the various universities in the country while some go to universities in Thailand.

As the young girls undergo a transition to adulthood, they join the universities. It is at this point that they start developing sexual features that they put to use when hooking up. Though the girls are petite-bodied and short, they develop breasts that are sharp and pointed and look attractive. The girls also have their derrieres becoming big and rounded. The faces also become smooth as the spots which come up during adolescence.

Due to the traditional nature of the people of Laos, most girls wear decently apart from the ones in the universities and colleges.

Although Laos is one of the fastest-growing countries in Asia in terms of economic growth, most citizens are unable to afford many basic items. This makes many people move to Thailand to seek better economic opportunities. This relative poverty means that the young girls are likely to be impressed by you if you have money to spend. These young girls will also be found in clubs subtly looking for men who will be able to spoil them

Laotian Women (age 30 - 45)

This is what can be considered to be the prime age as the women are not at their peak in all aspects of growth. By now, their bodies are fully developed although some may still be experiencing growth in their erogenous areas.

These women are relatively well off than the young group. Part of this is also because the culture of Laos dictates that women inherit property from their families. This has seen many women being well off.

It is at this stage that many women get married and settle down in their families. As they do so, they strive to maintain a balance between the family and their careers and social lives. Many people lose friends at this time as they are unable to find time to catch up as was the case earlier in life. It is also at this time that many women make choices in their careers before settling down to pursue what they want and this will affect how they spend their time.

Apart from the married ones, women at this age are easy to hook up with. This is because of the urge to settle down which makes them more outgoing and receptive to approaches by men. Hooking up with these women is easy and good as they are generally more mature than their younger peers and so they have an understanding of what a relationship entails.

Lao Ladies (age 45+)

These women are the most mature that you can hook up with. At this age, many women have children and are settled in their families. The children themselves will be of school-going age and so the mother has more time on her hands. For those not married, chances are high that these do not plan to get married though many still go on to get married at this age.

At this point, age will be catching up with most women and their feature will be slowly losing shape. The breasts and bum will no longer be as supple as when they were younger. However, some of the women here can afford the most luxurious beauty enhancement products that they will use to slow the deteriorating brought by age.

Age and experience will have made these women very mature especially in matters of relationships. These older women are mature enough to know what they want from a relationship and they will not hold back from stating it. Even though they may have lost some of their beauty and charm with age, these women know how to treat men and you can be sure of a good time with her.

Foreign Girls (tourists, expats, students, etc.)

Laos has seen tremendous growth in the number of foreigners visiting the country. The numbers grew from 80,000 in 2000 to more than a million in 2018. Reforms by the government and rigorous campaigns to make the country attractive have seen many foreigners coming in. The highest number of these foreigners is tourists. Laos is one of the most visited countries by tourists in the region. The history and architecture have seen the country invest heavily in the tourism sector. Other foreign girls in the country include traders from the region who come in to supply goods to the country’s growing economy. The country also has a few expatriates from the region and from France who come in to aid in the growing economy.

Sex

Having sex with Laotian girls is both easy and hard. The easy part is that the girls in the country are slowly adopting the use of technology to hook up. With a culture that is yet to accept the display of affection and other acts of romance between partners, the young girls have developed another easier way to hook up with men. Online hookup platforms, websites, and social media have helped young girls to escape the stigma of flirting. The hard part is that the girls are very careful about their reputation and so they may need a lot of convincing before they can accept to have sex with you.

Sex Culture

As mentioned before, the sex culture is a mixture of conservative and liberal. The conservative tradition has seen many girls shy from openly engaging in sex. This is slowly changing and even though it is still not much spoken about out loud, it is a widely accepted fact that sex is spoken about more often than before. As mentioned earlier, many young girls in Laos get their definition and understanding of sex from what they see portrayed about the western countries.

One-Night Stands

One of the areas that have been greatly impacted by the economic growth in the country is the proliferation of technology. More and more young people are now able to purchase a mobile phone. These mobile phones are coming in handy in arranging for one-night stands. This is because the behavior is highly discouraged in the country.

Best Places to Meet Single Girls

Laos is one of the prettiest countries in Southeast Asia as Laos has just as much to offer travelers as other bigger countries like Thailand or Vietnam. The country is small and landlocked so it has no coastline, but it is known for its spectacular limestone mountains which offer you amazing opportunities to go trekking and explore eerie karst formations and caves.

As well as its mountains, Laos is known for its forest and its waterfalls and you can also try the delicious local food which has Thai and Indian influences. If you are looking for a real adventure in Southeast Asia then Laos makes it possible and still feels as if you are going off the beaten track, even in the main cities like Vientiane or Luang Prabang.

Bars, Pubs and Nightclubs

Laos is a popular Southeast Asian country for travelers and backpackers sharing its border with Vietnam and Cambodia. It may not be as exciting and wild as its neighboring countries, still, Laos's nightlife is not dull and boring as you would expect. People here know how to party. It is one of the perfect places to loosen up yourself and have fun while you are still young.

If you are looking for places to enjoy Laos's nightlife while you are backpacking, there are many options in the capital city but also in other parts of the country.

Viva Pub: This club is located along the main street of Vang Vieng. It is one of the few joints in the city that operate late into the night. Viva Pub is all about UV glitter and paint. If you want to keep the party going after everything is shut, come straight to Viva Pub. The pub offers great late-night offers for its customers. The bar menu is limited though the drinks are cheap.

Bor Pen Nyang: This is one of the most popular and classiest clubs in the capital, Vientiane. Bor Pen Nyang is always packed with tourists and backpackers. The fourth-floor location offers lit views of Mekong. The lively ambiance makes it easier to spark up a conversation with strangers.

Lalaland Bar: Lalaland is located in Vang Vieng. The bar is known for its hippie vibe and chill scenes, perfect for Laos nightlife. The live band will cheer you up with its awesome music. They have got an open mic. So, if you feel like singing your heart out, this is the place for you. They even have a ping-pong table.

Dao Fah Night Club: If you want to enjoy your time like a local, this is where you should be. The place lets you escape from the city crowd. You will find a lot of nicely dressed young crowd here, Let your hair down and dance to the rhythm of Laos techno and EDM. It is one of the best places in Luang Prabang to enjoy.

Room 101: This club is also found in Vang Vieng. The place is open till late and offers a great variety of cocktails. The in-house DJs mix up great music playing House, Techno, Breakbeat, Funk, Soul, Disco and Rock n Roll. They have got great offers until midnight.

Sala Sunset Khounta: This club is also found in the capital city, Vientiane. Located on the banks of Mekong, the timber-built Sala Sunset Boat is a perfect place for Beer Lao-laden sunsets. They serve delicious local food snacks to feast on along with beer.

Icon Club: Popular with tourists, this club is located in Luang Prabang town. The place is one of the most popular establishments with tourists. The bartenders mix a great variety of cocktails that will keep you and happy-spirited. This place is suave and there is only elite crowd present in the bar. If you are in a mood, also visit the art gallery upstairs.

Sakura Bar: The popular Laos nightclub in Vang Vieng is always so packed with people that it is hard not to step on someone's feet. The DJ always keeps the ambiance electrifying with their energetic music. It is a great place to have an exciting night in Laos. The joint is known as it serves cheap drinks.

Cowboy Park: As the name says, the club’s cowboy-themed interior has a feel like you would find at an American pub. The cowboy-themed pub will take you back to Austin, Texas. It offers you a relaxed and chilled out environment to grab a drink and enjoy high-end food truck style meals food.

While Laos is generally safe, it is advisable to ensure that you have transport ready to your place of residence from the clubs as some areas of the country teem with muggers.

Party at the room 101 club in Laos

Shopping Malls

Some of the malls in Laos include:

Vientiane center

Talat Sao Mall in Vientiane

ITECC Mall in Vientiane

Friendship Mall in Pakse

View Mall in Vientiane

ASEAN Mall in Vientiane

World Trade Center Mall in Vientiane

D&T Chinese Shopping Mall in Luang Prabang

Sikhai Mall in Vientiane

Giffarine Skyline Unity Mall in Vientiane

Outdoors

Laos has some spectacular rivers which visitors can enjoy in many different ways. Many tourists simply like to go on a boat trip while others prefer the rush of going down rapids. Kayaking in Laos is very popular and there are numerous options for visitors. There are day-trips for beginners and well as high-speed, high-difficulty tours for those looking for an adrenaline fix.

If you are looking to make the most of your adventure tour in Laos, you will find the most promising opportunities in the north of the country. In this region of Laos, there are plenty of places to visit for a go on a zip line that passes over the lush green forest below. Also, there are zip lines near the home of the gibbons, which makes it possible to see these magnificent creatures from a safe distance.

Eco-tours in Laos are starting to become more popular and include visiting the wilderness regions of the country to witness exotic fauna and flora. This type of adventure is perfect for the birdwatchers and nature lovers interested in seeing the vast forest canopies and rarest species on the planet. A great place to enjoy the eco-tours is at one of the National Biodiversity Conservation Areas (NBCAs) in the country. They are located across the country with most in the more remote regions with limited road access. The best NBCAs for the tourist looking for the guided walk and easier travel options are in Phou Hin Poun, Nam Ha, and Phou Khao Khouay.

The most popular and easiest adventure activity in the country is trekking with plenty of routes that challenge all skill levels. A tour of the countryside can easily be arranged to incorporate a 1 to 5-day trek that is not only environmentally friendly, but also has a minimal impact on the local population. Trekking in the far north of the country is a great experience to appreciate the traditional villages, colorful ethnic tribes, forest areas and mountain scenery. Some of the best towns to visit on the Laos tours for the organized trekking adventures are Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Muang Sing and Luang Namtha. They all offer a variety of single day or multi-day trips that take in the village and camping stays.

Vang Vieng is the place to go to try river tubing, which involves lying on a rubber ring and floating down the Nam Song, usually calling in at riverside bars for drinks along the way. It once had a dubious reputation owing to its popularity with inebriated backpackers, but its appeal has widened and these days it's a relaxing activity in the morning quiet.

Rock climbing gets you up close and personal with Vang Vieng’s forested limestone peaks and a host of other impressive natural landscapes in Laos. Green Climbers Home is a dedicated rock climbing resort offering different climbing courses at Thakhek, in Khammouane province.

Beneath Laos's famous limestone karsts, a network of caves waits to be explored by those who don't mind adventuring in confined spaces. There are several options for the intrepid cave enthusiast, and Vang Vieng is only the most famous.

Universities and Colleges

Laos has been ranked as one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia. The last two decades have seen the country move from an underdeveloped nation to a fast-rising one. One of the areas that the country has undergone rapid growth is in education through the growth of institutions of higher learning.

Some of the universities and colleges found in the country include:

National University of Laos in Vientiane

Champasak University in Pakse

Lao-Korean College in Vientiane

Hanoi Friendship Technical Vocational College in Vientiane

Rattana Business Administration College (RBAC) in Vientiane

Savannakhet University in Savannakhet

Souphanouvong University in Luang Prabang

University of Health Sciences

Sisavangvong University

Relationship

While Laos has a relatively easier approach to relationships, the people are conservative. Laos ladies are generally sociable and easy to approach. Overall, young people are relatively free to choose their marriage partners. Arranged marriages exist to an extent among specific ethnic groups that live in remote areas, wherein there may be limited partners to choose from. For example, people may choose not to marry those within their village because they may be related. Nonetheless, parents may suggest possible partners, and it is expected that parents will be consulted about potential marriage partners. Some Lao parents may want their children to marry people in the same ethnic group to maintain their cultural traditions and family line.

Holiday Romance

When you go on a solo adventure, you learn to expect the unexpected… but travelers rarely anticipate the unexpected could be a holiday or travel romance. To create a foundation for a real romance, you're going to need to spend time quality time together getting to know each other. Whooping it up intoxicated on the dance floor, may be fun, but it doesn't exactly count as quality time since you're not getting to know each other. Similarly if you meet someone on your last day of vacation, it will be more difficult to turn it into a lasting romance as you just haven't had the time to get to know each other.

Vacation flings, popular wisdom goes, are magical but fleeting. Many of us would rather leave them on the beach, in the mountains, or wherever they started than pursue them and risk getting heartbroken. But vacation romances can last, and you shouldn’t let something special get away just because you don’t live in the same place or didn’t originally intend to date long-term.

Tips for Successful Relationship

By nature, human beings are social and we all long to find someone with whom we can enjoy our lives whether it is for a short time or even marriage. Good relationships require that the two of you go out of your way and offer support and love for each other at all times. There are many ways through which the two of you can work to make your relationship successful.

Tell Culture is a communication strategy where you are open and honest with close people in your life about your feelings, thoughts, and what’s going on with you. This makes you more vulnerable and authentic. Tell them information about yourself that you think they'd want to know. For example, if you want a hug; tell the other person that you'd enjoy a hug. However, for Tell Culture to work, it's really important for you not to expect the other person to hug you.

Any issues you avoid, or truths you don’t want to acknowledge, will likely undermine your relationship. It’s better to face the truth squarely in the face right now and address it, rather than let it sabotage your relationship in the long run. For that reason, be intentional and figure out the truth about your relationship. Think through all aspects of it—your feelings and thoughts, the other person's feelings and thoughts, as well as their external context. If you notice yourself flinching away from a certain aspect of reality, this is the time to double down your focus and get at the truth.

As you communicate with each other, don’t listen only to what the other person is saying, but also to the emotions underneath the words. Notice whether the other person seems stressed, frazzled, sad, frustrated, confused, pleased, glad, joyful, etc. Pay attention to the tone of the voice, body language, and what is not being said, as well as the content of the words. Such emotional attunement will level up your ability to understand the other person and respond in ways that lead to happy, long-lasting relationships.

If you want an intentional relationship, then do things to build trust and gather information about the other person's trustworthiness. Exhibit vulnerability and openness, share secrets and be generous in your offers to compromise. If the other person shows themselves to be trustworthy, then commit more to the relationship. If they do not, then re-evaluate your level of commitment, as the relationship likely will not work in the long term.

Technological developments make it so easy for us to track each other and to be in constant communication. However, permitting each other to have privacy, as well as not pushing the other person to do things they'd prefer not to do, helps increase happiness in relationships, since it builds up mutual trust.

Conflicts can be healthy in relationships. If you go into a relationship expecting never to fight, then your first fight could very well lead to the end of the relationship. Instead, learn strategies for healthy conflict resolution, and talk about them with the other person beforehand.

People and relationships change all the time. This is not something to mourn; it's just a fact of life, to be acknowledged and celebrated. Sometimes, a relationship needs to become more diverse for both people to remain happy.

Love

Regardless of if it is in Laos or anywhere else, the feeling of being in love is something that we all look forward to at a point in our lives. From birth and throughout, we are born with an innate longing to love and to be loved. At times, falling in love may be seen from a distance. However, most times you will never know how things happen but you will find yourself being attracted and later attached to someone who a while back was a stranger. With the many activities that Laos has to offer, being in love here is going to be one of the best things ever.

How to Make Sure She Is the One

The girl that you seek to marry should show compassion and support towards others and their struggles, including yours. You will have down days and you will feel upset, and your partner should be able to support you and relate to you during these times. Even though she may show this support to you out of obligation, she must extend the same to those around her.

Honesty is a very important trait in a long-term relationship; if you can’t trust your partner, how can you tell them anything in confidence, or believe anything they said to you? Find someone who respects you enough to be honest with you, even when it is difficult for them. As well as supporting your dreams and goals, the woman you marry should have her dreams and ambitions, too. She will look to her future regularly and plan how to improve her life, rather than depending on you for a good and fulfilling life. Admiring your partner and her attitude should motivate you to be a better version of yourself. From going to the gym to volunteering at a charity, you should want to be the best version of yourself for her—and yourself.

Marriage

The law in Laos sets 18 years as the minimum legal age for getting married. However, the law allows for marriage before the age of 18 under special circumstances such as underage pregnancy or if a parent gives written consent. Even with this provision, 35% of Lao girls still get married before the age of 18 with 9% getting married before the age of 15 years.

Young people are relatively free to choose their partners but generally need their parents' consent to get married. Young men and women often meet eligible partners at dances held during festivals, where they are free to sit and talk privately. Young people often marry cousins or someone from their village. Marriage is traditionally established by elopement, living together, or a more elaborate marriage ritual among wealthier people. Polygyny is traditionally allowed but uncommon since the Communist government outlawed it shortly after coming to power in 1975. Further, having multiple wives generally was restricted to the elite because it required the ability to maintain a larger household. However, many men have mistresses.

Marriage occurs through a blend of traditional and modern practices. In earlier generations, marriages may have been arranged by the families, but at least since the 1960s, most couples usually have made their own choice, which is communicated to the parents. A bride-price is negotiated, which often defrays the expenses of the wedding.

To prevent human trafficking which was rife in the country, Laos’s law was amended to make it stricter for foreigners. To marry in Laos, you need the following:

Letter of no objection from the foreigner’s parents or organization

Marriage application form. This would be the written application by himself requesting the authorities' acknowledgment of foreign marriage certificate, which would be signed as a witness by the Village Chief.

House registration (residency certificate) and birth certificate, from his home country

Curriculum Vitae.

Medical certificate

Single status certificate or proof of divorced status, from his home country

Police clearance (not exceed 6 months from the issue date) from his home country.

Financial statement

Copy of passport

A letter confirming the foreigner’s intention to ensure the Lao citizen’s return to Laos in the event of divorce

6 photos size 3×4 (not exceeding 6 months from the taken date)

All of the above documents must be translated into Lao and be certified by the Notary Office within the Ministry of Justice before they go to the different levels of police authorities under the Ministry of Public Security.

Wedding

In the past, Lao people believed that the afternoon is the time for sad ceremonies, therefore the traditional Laos weddings are usually held in the morning. The ceremony was always held at the bride’s house. Nowadays, wedding ceremonies in Laos are often held at the time which is convenient for the participants. Laotians believe that the wedding date directly affects the happiness of the bride and groom. To choose the best day for the wedding, the parents of both sides consult elders or senior Buddhist ex-monks. They then choose the day which is expected to bring luck and happiness to the couple. The wedding date is often chosen during the time from late July to late October when the before the Buddhists go for their Lent. However, nowadays the wedding is often held on the day which suits their busy lives.

On the night before the big day, the close friends and relatives of the bride will come to her house to help prepare food for the big day and decorate the new couple’s bedroom. The bedroom must be made by the mother of the bride and an older woman who has a good family (with a good husband and good children and who is not divorced, or a widow). The bride will look gorgeous on the big day. She will wear a traditional sink (Lao skirt), a silk blouse and many jewelry items such as gold necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and bells. Her hair will be tied up specially with sparkling golden decoration. The groom will dress up in a traditional silk Salong (Lao pants) and a white silk shirt. Traditionally, Laos people often hold Baci ceremony in the morning on the wedding date. However, now many people omit this custom.

The Baci includes the chanting by the master of ceremony, the egg feeding and the tying of white strings on wrists of the couples. The master of ceremony is the first person tying the white string on the wrists of the couple and chanting a good wish. After that, the parents, relatives of both sides, and guests will take turns to do this. Then, the bride and groom will be lead to their room. A female relative will lead the couple to customary pay their respects to the bed and pillows;;;. When that procession finishes, the family and close friends of both sides will take photos with the bride and groom in the bedroom.

After the Baci ceremony finishes, the reception will start with tasty food, drink, and music. The couple will open the dance floor with Lao style dancing and others will join in. The party will last until late and guests will be drunk with whiskey and Lao Beer.

Family Life

Family is an important institution in Laos and tends to be the foundation of social life. Lao tend to have large and close-knit families, with four to five children on average. Three generations living together in the same household is common. This household structure is more widespread in rural areas than in urban areas, where couples tend to have fewer children. Members of extended families will often share their resources and help one another raise their children. Older children are expected to assist in maintaining the household, be it through taking care of younger children or supporting family members with day-to-day tasks.

In Laos, many families tend to live matrilocally, which means that a husband becomes part of the wife's community. As a result, matrilocality gathers together related females and unrelated males, in turn strengthening bonds between the women in a community. Despite such, kinship is reckoned through both the male and female lines. In general, there is little genealogical consciousness beyond the past two to three generations, except among the former aristocracy.

Regions

Map of Laos with regions colour-coded

Northern Laos (Ban Nalan Trail, Bokeo Nature Reserve, Houay Xai, Luang Prabang, Luang Namtha, Muang Ngoi Neua, Muang Long, Muang Ngeun, Muang Xay, Nong Khiaw, Pakbeng, Vieng Phoukha)
hilltribe villages, mountains and the remarkably charming former capital

Central Laos (Vientiane, Phonsavan, Plain of Jars, Tha Khaek, Tham Nong Pafa Cave , Vang Vieng, Vieng Xai)
south-east Asia's sleepiest capital city and rural countryside

Southern Laos (Champasak, Pakse, Savannakhet, Si Phan Don)
the Mekong flatlands, more mountains and the area least visited by tourists

Cities

Vientiane — the still sleepy capital on the banks of the Mekong River

Pha That Luang stupa

Huay Xai — in the north, on the Mekong and the border with Thailand

This is the destination of the two day boat trip from Luang Prabang to the Thai border. Until very recently the only way to cross from Laos to Thailand was via the small river ferries but with the opening of the Friendship Bridge all this has changed.

Luang Namtha — capital of the north, known for its trekking

Countryside around Luang Namtha

Luang Prabang — a UNESCO World Heritage City known for its numerous temples, colonial era architecture, and vibrant night market

Temple Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang

Muang Xay — also known as Oudomxay, the capital of the multiethnic province of Oudomxay

Pakbeng — halfway point on the overnight slow boat between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang

Luxury Hotel & Resort in Pakbeng

Pakse — gateway to the Wat Phu ruins and the "four thousand islands" (Si Phan Don)

Savannakhet — in the south on the Mekong, connected by bridge to Mukdahan in Thailand

Tha Khaek — a popular base for exploring the Phou Hin Boun National Park including the famous Konglor Cave

Vang Vieng - it is a small town surrounded by limestone mountains and caves