Vientiane Local Custom Tips by SumTingWong

Using the Lao squatting toilet (same as the Thai)

Yes, you may have the pleasure to use the Lao people toilet, i.e. the squatter. These may look extremely unappealing at first, but you should love them by the end! You should know how to use them so you know what you're doing when that time comes when you are up against one, well here it goes...

1) Get bare footed
2) There is normally a rack to put your pants, use it, if not well put your pants somewhere.
3) Place feet on feet pads and just squat down
4) Release the bomb (1 or 2).
5) Ut-oh, no toilet paper, what to do? (Bring some before if your smart, but biodegradable ones only). But normally you won't have any so here's what to do: there is a bucket and troth of water for a reason... take your LEFT HAND and wet it and clean the spot... now you can see why they don't eat with their left hands!!!
6) Ut-oh, no flusher, but there is a hose and pail. Fill the pail with the water from the hose; pour the water into the toilet from the pail and it will (should) go down.
7) Put your pants and shoes on and congratulations you're done!

Eating Properly

Very important Lao eating rules:

1) Only eat with your RIGHT HAND.
2) Eat with a spoon, don't eat with a fork, only use the fork to put food on the spoon.
3) Wash your hands before eating.
4) if you are in a homestay, shower before eating (as much as possible).
5) Enjoy your meal!!!

Your head should be below the head of the Buddha

Your head should be below the head of a Buddha image. This is just a sing of respect. If you are tall you should kneel or sit so your head is not above that of the central Buddha image. Just a cultural note!

Feet rules

Don't point the bottom of your feet (bare) at anyone or anything sacred. This is also a very important rule. Specifically, by the culture, pointing a bare heel is very bad and extremely disrespectful. The bottom of the bare feet are considered the most unholy part of the body. And there is good cause also: Laotians accept the fact that bare feet are meant to be dirty. Laotians are very clean and shower sometimes more than three times a day, but the bottom of their feet are always dirty. Squatting toilets only affect the bottom of the feet. This is why the bottom of the feet are unholy so don't point them at anyone (including pictures and or statues of the Buddha, and famous monks). Be warned, if you break this rule, even accidentally, Lao people will be disgusted with you, normally the Lao are very forgiving and understanding but this one is very bad, although may seem silly to you.

Take your shoes off before entering the following:

This is a must do for Laos. If you do not comply it is extremely disrespectful. Take your shoes off before entering the following places: the inside of a wat, someone's home, before standing at the same level as the Buddha image, eating on a mat, entering a monks' quarters, and going in a sacred indoor room. These are all extremely important and please listen, you'll make a good impression!

Don't do these things:

Don't do the following things while in Laos:

1) Touch a Buddha Immage.
2) Point the bottom your feet at someone.
3) Point the bottom of your feet at a Buddha immage.
4) Kiss in public.
5) Be dirty.
6) Touch someone's head.
7) Women can't touch monks. If they do the monk will have to go through spiritual cleansing.
8) Don't do drugs - this harms you, Lao society, and you again while in Laotian jail for a few years/decades?!!

Kissing in Public

Kissing on public is very rude in Laos, especially kissing like the europeans do when they meet people. This is considered extremely rude and inappropriate in Laos, as well as much od Southeast Asia. Instead of kissing you can nop' and or shake hands. To say hello in Lao is: SaBaiDee and to ask how are you is: SaBaiDeeBoh?!!!

Nop'

The nop' in Laos is very important (in Thai we call it wahy). You should nop' whenever you formally meet people. It is a proper introduction. You should also nop' to show greatfulness and respect (for example you should always nop' to an older monk and always nop' when you recieve a gift). To nop' is simple. You put your hands together like a praying position under your chin - the higher above your chin you go the more respect you are giving - but you must also give respect properly. Here's the respect list:

1) highest nop' to the Buddha
2) next highest nop' to an old monk and old people deserving of it.
3) Right above the chin to your parents, older people deserving of it, and monks.
4) At chin level or right under chin means equality with you. This goes to almost everyone. Never go to low!!!