Whenever we plan to travel abroad, the first question that arises is how expensive will things be there? But can you imagine being handed a bill of Rs 20,000 for a cup of tea? Hearing this may make the ground slip from under your feet, but this is a completely normal thing in Laos, a beautiful country in South-East Asia.
Laos is famous throughout the world for its unique economy and currency ‘Kip’. Actually, the value of Lao currency is much less than the Indian rupee. This is the reason why even an ordinary Indian tourist starts feeling like a ‘millionaire’ as soon as he reaches there. According to the exchange rate of March 2026, 1 Indian Rupee is equal to approximately 232 Laotian Kip. That means if you drink tea worth 20 thousand kips there, its price in Indian currency will be only around 50 rupees. Similarly, a sumptuous lunch of 1 lakh Kip will burn your pocket by just Rs 400-500. Tourists visiting Laos often carry bundles of notes in their hands and sweat while counting them. At present, about 55 lakh tourists come here every year and contribute 1 billion dollars to the country’s economy.
Expense calculation in Indian Rupees
water bottle ₹8,000 – ₹12,000 ₹35 – ₹50
packet of biscuits ₹10,000 – ₹25,000 ₹45 – ₹100
hearty breakfast ₹25,000 – ₹50,000 ₹170 – ₹400
Hotel Room (1 Night) 1.25 lakh – 3.5 lakh ₹500 – ₹2000
This city, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is famous for its French architecture and ancient Buddhist monasteries.
The milky blue water falling into the stepped limestone pools makes it like a paradise. You can also take bath in the ponds here.
This is heaven for adventure lovers. Tubing, kayaking and hot air balloon rides in the Nam Song River are the main attractions here.
This golden stupa located in the capital Vientiane is the national symbol of Laos. It is believed that the remains of Lord Buddha are safe under its golden layers.
This is a mysterious place for history buffs, where thousands of huge stone jars are scattered, which are about 2000 years old.