DON’T wait until the last minute to book inbound flights, particularly from Europe or the Americas.
DON’T be afraid to visit in the rainy/low season — guesthouses will often offer a discount and booking ahead generally won’t be necessary.
DO book ahead in high season (December-February) if you don’t have flexibility of time, cost or location.
DO take a tuk-tuk or songthaew around the city center.
DO check business hours ahead of time — many shops, restaurants and museums are closed on Mondays.
DON’T bargain too hard — Laotian vendors are generally fair and honest and don’t mark up their wares for tourists like neighboring countries.
DO use the calculator on your phone to agree on a price — If you learn a few numbers in Lao ahead of time, even better.
DO stay as close to the city center as possible or budget for transport.
DO try and speak some Lao while in Vientiane.
DO treat the monks with the utmost respect — ladies, avoid situations that might place you in accidental contact.
DON’T worry about flushing toilet paper or placing in receptacle — if there is an obvious receptacle, use it, but Vientiane’s plumbing is surprisingly forgiving.
DON’T flush anything but toilet paper — You will live to regret it.
DON’T drink the tap water — Brushing teeth and showering in the tap water is perfectly fine. You can generally bet on water and ice cubes served at restaurants being filtered and good to drink.
DO eat street food — But be cautious of food (particularly meat) that is not hot and/or has been sitting out for a while. Food hot off the grill/wok is generally fine.
DO consider a probiotic regimen before visiting Vientiane if you have concerns about eating local/street food or have experienced issues in the past.
DO visit a local fresh market.
DO catch at least one Mekong sunset during your stay here — they are pretty amazing.
DON’T forget to smile and be polite — Laotians, in general, put enormous value on friendliness and politeness.
