Lao food, like its Thai neighbour, is simple, fresh and flavoursome. Sticky rice rather than steamed rice is the main staple. Almost all of Lao dishes are cooked with fresh ingredients whether they are vegetables, chicken, duck, pork, fish and beef. Som tum, a spicy green papaya salad is a signature dish as is Larb, made with diced chicken, pork, fish or vegetables tossed with lime juice, garlic, powdered rice, green onions, mint leaves and chillies.

With a French colonial influence, delightful French pastries and croissants can be found on most street corners in addition to local favourites of barbecued pork, beef jerky (Sinh Savan) and meatballs. International cuisine is also popular and top gourmet restaurants without the price tag can be found in most major cities and tourist hot spots.

Beer Lao is the lager of choice. Whiskeys, vodkas and wines are also served in hotels and restaurants though air on the side of caution as the quality does vary. Strong black coffee is drunk with condensed milk as it is in Vietnam and Cambodia though often comes accompanied with warm water or a light tea. Fruit juices are easily available and taste good. Fresh fruit juices pulped in front of you are even better. International brand soft drinks, imported from Thailand are inexpensive and can be found everywhere.

Popular souvenirs from Laos include handicrafts and textiles. One of the largest and best markets in Vientiane is Talaat Sao where you can get everything from electrical goods, fabrics, silverware, gems and gold. Local markets and minority villages are a good place to shop at bargain prices, while cities and towns also have larger tourist markets and shops that offer a wide range of local handicrafts from around the country.

The art of weaving is still very much a home industry in Laos, where some of the finest silk and cotton weavers in the world can be found in the smallest of communities. Antique woven pieces are still available but are becoming increasingly rare, often fetching very high prices.

Hand woven textiles are made from locally produced silk and cotton and traditional designs and patterns vary from province to province. Saa paper is made from the mulberry tree and its bark. Like many things in Laos, it is made by hand and is very labour intensive. However the results are intricately layered sheets of paper produced to make photo albums, notebooks and paper and envelope sets.

The crafting of gold and silver jewellery is another skill at which the Lao people excel. Many of the best examples of silver jewellery come from the hill tribes, including chunky bangles, pendants, belts and earrings. In more remote areas the language barrier can restrict negotiations!

How to bargain in Laos

The general rule for bargaining in Laos is that if it has a price tag, it is probably not up for negotiation. Restaurants, hotels and supermarkets are usually off-limits whereas street vendors and markets are absolutely fine. Once you and the vendor have come to an agreement on a price you should then go through with the transaction. It is very poor form to spend all that time haggling and then decide that actually you don’t want it anymore. Also make sure that you stay polite and friendly throughout the entire interaction.

Boasting a wealth of unspoilt nature and a whole population of laidback and friendly people, Laos is an excellent destination for families with children. There are numerous physical activities, including swinging from treetops, caving, kayaking and exploring the jungle, which all will appeal to youngsters with energy to burn. There is also a plethora of delicious Laotian snacks to try and plenty of opportunity to mingle with friendly locals.

Being far less developed than countries that we are used to in the West, Laos can hit hard with culture shock, even for the most experienced traveller. It can be incredibly valuable to expose young children to how other people live, in order to broaden their appreciation of material goods, however, with inferior health services, it can also be challenging if your child falls ill and requires medical attention.

We accept children of all ages on our Laos private tours and tailor-made holidays so get in touch to arrange your perfect family holiday.

Laos is an incredibly cheap country to visit and when it comes to accommodation, air-conditioned double rooms in small guesthouses can often be found for less than USD $10. Transport is equally cheap with public buses working out to be around USD $1 per hour of journey. Tuk tuks are just a couple of dollars or less for most journeys and can be negotiated.

Eating out is very affordable as well with street food costing just a dollar or two (depending on whether you are in a touristy area or not). Meals in proper restaurants can usually be had for approximately USD $7-10. Bottled water will set you back around 70 cents for a 1.5 litre bottle and 640ml beer bottles come in at about USD $1.25.