Given the volatility of the kip, prices for accommodation, river travel and car hire are given in their more stable dollar equivalents. Indeed, many hotels and guesthouses have opted to fix their rates to the dollar. The prices quoted in kip for transport, museum entrance fees, etc were correct at the time of research and have been retained to give a relative idea of costs, though in practice many of these prices will be higher.

By eating at noodle stalls and cheap restaurants, taking local transport and opting for basic accommodation, you can travel in Laos on a daily budget of less than $10. Food and accommodation tend to be slightly more expensive in Vientiane.

While restaurants and some shops have fixed prices, you should always bargain in markets and when chartering transport (fares on passenger vehicles are fixed). Room rates can be bargained for in low season. As the Lao in general - with the exception of some tourist businesses in Vientiane and Louang Phabang - are less out to rip off tourists than their counterparts in Thailand and Vietnam, they start off the haggling by quoting a fairly realistic price and expect to come down only a little. Price tiering does exist in Laos, with foreigners paying more than locals for airfares, bus fares, speedboat tickets and entry to museums and famous sites. Tipping isn't a Lao custom, although upmarket Vientiane restaurants expect a gratuity of around ten percent.