1
Culture & Spirituality
Laos is one of the most deeply Buddhist countries in the world, and this permeates every aspect of daily life. Temples (wats) are the heart of communities, monks are omnipresent, and Buddhist festivals punctuate the calendar. For expats interested in spiritual practice, Laos offers meditation retreats, temple stays, and a genuine atmosphere of calm that's increasingly rare in modernizing Southeast Asia.
- Theravada Buddhism: the state religion, practiced by ~65% of the population — temples are everywhere
- Morning alms-giving (tak bat): monks collect food at dawn — a moving daily ritual, especially in Luang Prabang
- Pi Mai (Lao New Year): mid-April water festival — the biggest celebration of the year, 3 days of festivities
- That Luang Festival: November full moon — the most important religious festival, centered on Vientiane's golden stupa
- Boun Ok Phansa: end of Buddhist Lent — spectacular boat races and fire boat festivals on the Mekong
- Meditation retreats: several temples and centers in Vientiane and Luang Prabang welcome foreign meditators
- Temple etiquette: dress modestly, remove shoes, sit with feet pointed away from Buddha images