Luang Prabang

Morning market — produce and staples, cheapest

Minimart / M-Point — handy shops

Phimphone Market — imported goods (Luang Prabang)

Best: Nov – Feb · Wet: May – Oct

Fees: ATMs charge ~20,000–30,000 kip per withdrawal with low limits.

Limits: Often just 1–2 M kip per pull — withdraw the max to dilute the fee.

Best machines: BCELLao Development BankJDB

Vaccines: Routine, Hepatitis A, Typhoid. Japanese encephalitis and malaria pills for rural stays. Rabies awareness.

Health: Bottled water only. Luang Prabang is laid-back and low-altitude; the sun and river activities are the main hazards — sunscreen, life jackets on boats. Clinics are basic; anything serious means evacuation to Thailand, so insure well.

Tap water: ❌ Don't drink the tap. Bottled water only; it's cheap and widely sold.

Safety: Laos is one of Southeast Asia's calmest, safest countries — Luang Prabang especially so, with a gentle curfew keeping nights quiet. Petty theft is the main (low) risk. Stick to marked paths in rural areas (historic UXO risk) and use licensed transport.

For most short tourist trips, citizens of the US, UK, EU/Schengen, Canada, Australia and New Zealand either enter visa-free or get a simple online authorisation (an eVisa or eTA) before flying. Typical visa-free stays run 30–90 days. Some countries want a visa arranged in advance, and a growing number ask you to fill an online arrival or eVisa form even when 'visa-free' — so always check the official portal for your exact nationality before you book.