Laotien survival kit

About this kit

Lao is the official language of Laos, spoken by around 7 million people. A tonal language close to Thai, it is written in an elegant Brahmic alphabet and carries a gentle culture marked by Theravada Buddhism. From Vientiane to Luang Prabang, this kit gives you the bare minimum to travel in the land of a million elephants.

Lao is the official language of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. It is spoken by around 7 million people in Laos itself and by several million more in northeastern Thailand, where Lao varieties are collectively called Isan. Linguistically, Lao belongs to the Tai-Kadai family and remains very close to standard Thai: a Lao and a Thai speaker can often understand each other, especially orally. Lao is written with a Brahmic alphabet derived from Mon-Khmer scripts, simpler than the Thai alphabet and recognizable by its round, flowing shapes. It is a tonal language with five to six tones depending on the analysis, which represents the main challenge for French and English speakers: the same word can mean 'horse' or 'dog' depending on the melody. Lao culture is imbued with Theravada Buddhism and a gentleness that surprises hurried travellers. The expression 'bo pen nyang' (it is not a problem) sums up a national philosophy where patience and non-confrontation take precedence over efficiency. This mindset is felt in the floating markets of Pakse, in the silence of the temples of Luang Prabang or during the morning procession of monks at sunrise. Travelling in Laos with a few Lao words radically changes the welcome. A simple 'sabaidi' with a smile opens doors and lowers prices in the markets. This kit gathers the bare essentials to handle an arrival in Vientiane, a tuk-tuk ride, an order in a local food stall, a medical emergency and a departure toward the northern plateaus. Memorize these expressions before leaving and you will gain confidence from the very first hours on site.