Laotians are friendly people by nature yet it pays to learn a few important social conventions before your arrival so as not to offend. In Laos, the wai is the traditional greeting, which is very similar to the Thai wai, where the hands are placed together prayer-like at chest level with the head slightly bowed. The height of the hands and the depth and length of the bow depend on the social status of the receiver. You will receive plenty of wais while in Laos; foreigners are excused from reciprocating, but it is polite to return a wai with the exception of greetings from service staff, such as waitresses and receptionists. Generally, the person with the lower status initiates the wai exchange.

One of the most important things to bear in mind while in Laos is your dress. Laotians are conservative and rarely bare any skin, and tourists should do likewise. It is okay to wear shorts, but try not to wear any that expose above the knee line. T-shirts are fine but women should especially not exhibit bare shoulders.

On entering a temple or home, always remove your shoes and never point with your feet. They are considered the lowest part of the body spiritually, while the head is naturally the highest and should therefore not be touched or patted. In addition, women should not touch a monk or hand anything directly to them, although talking to them is fine.

Try to keep your cool in testing situations as public displays of frustration and anger will only lead to you ‘losing face’, which means everything here. Even if you have been wronged, take a deep breath and try to stay calm. Things move very slowly here: getting angry only exacerbates the situation and will not change anything.

Other taboos are public displays of affection, which even extends to holding hands. While no one is going to say anything directly to you, you will only be lowering yourself in the eyes of the locals if you kiss and cuddle in public. Attempting to discuss the country’s brutal wartime past is okay but be mindful of who you are speaking to and apply common sense when addressing a subject that is still raw for much of the country.