Laos
Currency in Laos: what to use and how to exchange
Laos uses the kip (LAK). Bring clean, unmarked US dollar notes for exchange and larger payments, but expect change in kip; the rate sits near 21,000–22,000 kip per US$ and moves, so check it on arrival. Change money in banks or licensed exchange counters in Vientiane and Luang Prabang, not on the street. Cards work in hotels and mid-range restaurants; ATMs dispense kip with fees.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
GuideLaos
Key facts
- Currency
- Kip (LAK), symbol ₭
- Rate (2026 estimate)check
- About 21,000–22,000 kip per US$1, and falling — check
- Best notes to bring
- US dollars, clean and unmarked; also Thai baht in border towns
- Where to exchange
- Banks and licensed exchange counters; avoid street touts
- Cards
- Accepted in hotels and mid-range places; a surcharge is often added
- ATMs
- Widely available in cities; local fee per withdrawal
- Small notes
- Keep 1,000–20,000 kip notes for markets, tuk-tuks and entry fees
Details
Laos runs on cash. The kip is the only legal tender, and outside hotels, upmarket restaurants and a few shops in Vientiane and Luang Prabang, you will pay in notes. Prices for guesthouses, tours and transport are often quoted in kip, sometimes in US dollars or Thai baht near the borders, but the change comes back in kip.
Bring a mix. US dollar notes in good condition are the easiest foreign cash to exchange, and larger denominations usually get a better rate than small ones. Thai baht is useful in Huay Xai, Savannakhet and other Mekong border towns. Euro and other currencies are exchangeable in Vientiane and Luang Prabang but at wider spreads. Torn, written-on or old-series notes are often refused or discounted, so check each note before you leave home.
Exchange at a bank or a licensed exchange counter. In Vientiane, the counters around the morning market and along the main streets are convenient; in Luang Prabang, banks and exchange desks in the centre do the job. Rates vary by a few percent between them, so compare two or three before changing a large amount. Street changers may offer a slightly better number but carry counterfeit and short-change risk.
Cards and ATMs cover the gaps. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at many hotels, mid-range restaurants and tour offices, usually with a surcharge of a few percent, and some places add the fee to the bill. ATMs are common in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse and Savannakhet and dispense kip; each withdrawal carries a local fee plus whatever your own bank charges, so take out larger amounts less often. Keep a card as backup, not as your main source of money.
Carry small notes. A 100,000 kip note is hard to break at a market stall or for a short tuk-tuk ride. Ask for a stack of 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 kip notes when you exchange, and keep them separate from your larger bills.
Summary table
| Item | What to expect | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Kip (LAK) | Only legal tender |
| Rate (2026 estimate) | About 21,000–22,000 kip per US$1 | Moves; check on arrival (check) |
| Best foreign cash | US dollars, clean notes | Thai baht near borders |
| Where to exchange | Banks, licensed counters | Compare two or three |
| Cards | Hotels, mid-range places | Surcharge often added |
| ATMs | Cities and main towns | Local fee per withdrawal |
| Small notes | Keep 1,000–20,000 kip | For markets and tuk-tuks |
Tips
- Change enough kip for two or three days at a time; you cannot spend it outside Laos, so do not over-buy.
- Refuse any note that is torn, taped or heavily marked when it is handed to you, and ask for another.
- Count your change before you walk away, especially at markets and transport counters.
- Keep a photocopy or phone photo of your passport and card numbers separate from the originals.
- In remote areas such as Nong Khiaw, Muang Xay and the far south, carry more cash than you think you need; the nearest ATM can be a long ride away.
- Budget in kip but think in your own currency for big items; the rate moves, so a price quoted last month may not hold.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Laos?
The kip (LAK), written ₭. It is the only legal tender. US dollars and Thai baht are sometimes quoted near borders and in tourist areas, but change is given in kip.
Where is the best place to exchange money in Laos?
Banks and licensed exchange counters in Vientiane and Luang Prabang give the most reliable rates. Compare two or three before changing a large amount, and avoid street changers because of counterfeit and short-change risk.
Is it better to bring cash or use a card in Laos?
Bring cash, mainly clean US dollar notes, and use cards as backup. Cards work in hotels and mid-range places with a possible surcharge. ATMs dispense kip but charge a local fee per withdrawal.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialBank of the Lao PDR
- officialLao National Tourism Administration
- secondaryWikivoyage – Laos