How to dress during your trip to Laos - Wear in Laos style

 Laos is a breath-taking destination with many contrasts. Both spoken and unspoken rules of the dress code here speak volumes of this wonderful city. Although traditional Laos clothing is classic and modest, modern dress codes possess high fashion.

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 What to wear?

Any traveller who visits Laos is well aware that the city and its people are linked with its culture and they are not overly conservative. However, it is better if you can dress modestly in public places. On the other hand, Laos is very open-minded and relaxed in terms of clothing. A large number of tourists from all around the world visit this beautiful city each year wearing all sorts of clothes ranging from sleeveless T-shirts, miniskirts to burqas. However, keep this fact in mind. This is an outside country and you are a guest! Hence, always count on a safer choice. When you are visiting Laos’ beaches, swimming pools, and water parks, you can surely wear whatever you like but always keep in mind, it does not mean you can walk to a shop or walk through your hotel lobby in your swimsuit or any kind of inappropriate dress. The simple theory to apply is, it’s regarded offensive if you expose too much flesh! It is better to have a clear understanding of selecting the appropriate dress depending on the areas you are planning to visit in Laos.

 At shopping malls

A number of large shopping malls are scattered across Laos and each mall consists of specific codes and ethics on appropriate outfits. Also, there are places where your outfit is blatantly disregarded. Most of the high-end restaurants expect women to wear skirts or pants covering the knees and men to avoid wearing shorts. Even though these dress codes are not officially notified in public places such as cafes, supermarkets or souks, it is always better to go in line with the traditional rules. It will be an indication of respect as well as it will not draw any unnecessary attention from locals. As long as you spend more time in places with more tourists, you can pretty much wear any dress you like.

At the beach

Laos is not all about sand, suns or soaring high skyscrapers. It’s home to some of the best beaches in the world drawing crowds for its idyllic weather and perfect waves for water sports. Those who are based at one of the many Luang Prabang hotels the likes of Avani+ Luang Prabang can unwind in a splendid beach escape. While the dress code at a beach is comparatively relaxed than the rest of the areas in the city, you cannot wear your usual Brazilian-style thong bikini here. Always keep in mind that you are not allowed to sunbathe topless since it’s illegal! Try out swimsuits that offer more coverage. Things often can get tricky when you leave the sand to your hotel or one of the seaside restaurants close by. Suppose you are in an area surrounded mostly by tourists; still you need to follow the rules by wearing at least a light modest dress since most of these tourists come from surrounding countries. Therefore, it’s a matter of respect!

 At religious sites

You cannot wear fancy clothes inside any religious place. It’s better to leave sleeveless blouses and shorts aside! Covered legs and arms for both women and men are advisable. For instance, if you are planning to visit the famous Pha That Luang or Wat Xieng Thong, a modest outfit is highly respected. Whether you represent a different ethnicity, you are just a guest there since it is a place of worship to a large number of people in the city. You don’t want to worry if you do not have outfits matching the standards of the required dress code, most of these sites will provide clothes to cover. These clothes can be worn on over the outfits that you already wear. You should remove shoes or slippers outside the mosque before you go inside.