The Royal Stupa is a symbol of Buddhism and Lao rule, and is
Laos' most important religious building. A wonderful sight for
tourists to Vientiane to behold, the dazzling golden temple and its
spire are visible from afar - and locals claim that if you have not
visited That Luang, you have not visited Laos. The base of the
stupa has walkways and stairs connecting the different levels,
designed for the faithful to climb. Each level has different
architectural features pertaining to Buddhist doctrine. Worshippers
stick balls of sticky rice to the walls as a mark of respect to the
spirit of King Setthathirat, who built the shrine in 1566 and whose
statue stands in front of the temple. The effects of the setting
sun on its golden surface are stunning.
Lao is the official language, but some English and French
are spoken.
The Lao Kip (LAK) is the legal currency unit, currently
available in denominations of 1, 000, 5, 000, 10, 000, 20, 000 and
50, 000 kip. US Dollars, Euros and Thai Baht are also accepted in
many places and are more convenient to carry than large stacks of
the local currency. Banks, hotels, and jewellery shops all offer
currency exchange services. For everyday expenses, carry a mix of
US dollars and kip. For larger items, or when the exchange rate
works in your favour, use US dollars. For local transport, street
food stalls and minor purchases, it is best to use kip. When in
rural areas, ensure you carry a supply of small notes as change can
be hard to come by. Major credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard
are accepted at most international hotels, many shops and
restaurants, and a few tourist-orientated establishments in Luang
Prabang and Vientiane - but in other parts of the country assume
that only cash is accepted. Travellers cheques can be cashed at
most banks in Vientiane and other major towns. Banks are open
Monday to Friday from 8am to 12pm, and then again from 2pm to 3pm.
In Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse and other major towns, ATMs are
available from which money can be withdrawn. Note that ATMs
distribute only Lao kip, with a maximum of around 1, 000, 000 kip per
transaction.