Virtually everything you buy in Laos, outside of bus tickets and plane flight tickets, is negotiable. Negotiated items include: lodging, clothes, trinkets at the market, massages, tuk tuk fares, massages, and sometimes even food. The reality is that vendors here factor in a premium when stating prices, assuming they will be discounted, although some people would rather avoid feeling bad or conflict as haggling over a few bucks. So you can be losing out on a significant chunk of change by not exercising your bartering skills!
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Bargaining in Laos-source: jingnovate.wordpress.com
With a friendly attitude and a warm smile, the point of bargaining is to get a price that both you and the merchant will be satisfied with rather than to make sure the merchant loses money. The numbers, how much (tao die), expensive (peng) and cheap (took), which will reap great rewards, are all you really need to know when bargaining.
The main shopping centers are Vientiane and Luang Prabang. However, buying Lao souvenirs and products in many traditional handicraft village or directly from the locals is good. Note that if trying to take out Buddhist artifacts or Lao antiques, which are prohibited from leaving Laos, you can receive fines.
Negotiate for cheaper price in Laos-source: www.gbtravelling.co.uk
Unlike other regions of Southeast Asia, in most places in Laos, bargaining is not aggressive. If you want to cut cost, there is no better choice than good bargaining. In general, in their bargaining practices, Lao people are very scrupulous and gentle. Trying to get a fair price that both vender and buyer end up happily is really important point. It is just not worth going crazy in a deal in a country as cheap as Laos.
Remember not to be frustrated by the bargaining process, but enjoy it – in getting a good deal, rather than aggravated behavior, being polite and smiling are more effective. And one of the Laos Restaurants, where you are sure to leave feeling satisfied is not an ideal place for you to finish off a shopping trip.
You should like shopping in the local Laos markets where, as in most of the region, whether you are buying carvings or jewellery, handicrafts or Laos silk or cotton fabric, you bargain to get the best price – if you like getting your hotel room at a discount.
Vientiane is where you can find almost Laos’ products-source: en.vietnamitasenmadrid.com
As many of locally made Laos products are products of the different hilltribes, buying which is a good way to help to preserve traditional crafts and contribute to the local economy. You can find a wide range of dyed and hand woven textiles with unique designs of a tribe or region. Bone and wood carving, saa papermaking (from mulberry bark) and basket weaving are included in other traditional crafts and trades.
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Almost everything in Laos is negotiable-source:liveseasoned.com
Because of their discounted prices and beautiful designs, Laos’ silver or gold jewellery are also popular buys. For one-stop-shopping, visit Vientiane, where almost everything that is produced in Laos is sold. While only cash is used in the markets and outside the major cities, many shops in Luang Prabang and Vientiane are geared towards tourists and accept credit cards. On Sundays, most shops are closed.
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