The former Royal Palace, a mixture of French and Lao
architecture, is now a museum preserving the possessions of the
monarchy. Above the entrance is a three-headed elephant sheltered
by the sacred white parasol, the symbol of the Lao monarchy. The
most impressive room is the Throne Hall, a dazzling interior of
mosaics and mirrors, with displays of royal regalia including
glittering swords and the former King's own elephant saddle. The
museum's most prized possession, the Pha Bang, a golden image of
the Buddha, is housed in a small barred room that was the King's
personal shrine. It is the most sacred image in the country,
believed to have been crafted in the heavens, and containing
miraculous powers of protection over the country.
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available from which money can be withdrawn.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.