The Lao cuisine is originally influenced by the Northern part of China. There are also influences from it's neighbours, most notably it is flanked by Thailand and Vietnam, with further influences from Myanmar and China to the north and Cambodia to the south. There are still remaining influences from the time Laos was a French protectorate and part of Indochina until 1953. Religion also plays a role, as around 65% of the total population identify as Buddhist. The Theravada sect of Buddhism followed in Laos is less strict on being vegetarian than Mahayana Buddhism, which is found mainly in China, Japan, and Vietnam. In Theravada Buddhism, monks shouldn't kill animals, but they can eat them if they don't see or hear the killings. Their food is donated and they cannot refuse what is offered to them. In Thailand during certain religious festivals as well as the monks a large part of the population will not eat meat. In Laos, chicken and fish can be consumed even during the religious festivals.

The problem is the language barrier like in many countries in South East Asia, too. Laos is a poor country after years of war isolation. Therefore, the people are not well educated. That means English speaking people are rare. Tourism is one of the most important economies in Laos now. The country and its beautiful natural environment are definitively worth to visit.

On bus journeys where lunch is included, the food is pre cooked, so it is often not possible have a vegan option. The best advice is to pack some nuts and fruit for these times. The only option may be the sticky rice, which on it's own is not going to be sufficient.

Where you can cook for yourself, you will be delighted by the local fruit and vegetables. They are generally organic as there are no industrial farming methods and little need to use chemical fertilsers, as the Mekong River provides a very fertile and natural environment, leading to improved flavours. So simple dishes of salads or stir-fried vegetables are very satisfying. It's easy to find freshly-squeezed fruit juices mixed with coconut milk at street stalls, for a complete meal.

Besides its vegetarian foods, Laos is a country of unique, rich culture. The pace of life is leisurely in a relaxing atmosphere. Even though it is defined as one of the poorest countries in the world, people there are generally very nice and you rarely will be annoyed by pushy panhandlers, sly swindlers, or burglars. For instance, you'll never unreasonably overpay while shopping even if you don't negotiate the sale; an expensive camera left somewhere would be returned to you; and so on.

Still, its landlocked position dominated by the Mekong River and mountains, has managed to keep the country from mixing much with others. Laos opened its doors to only a limited number of countries until around 1990, and this probably aided its isolation as well. The situation has been changing since the late 1990s, but it is less evident than the changes in Thailand or Vietnam, where the influences of the Chinese, Indians, and their former colonist French still linger. In that sense, Laotian food steadily preserves its special character. Some people may call it less refined, but I feel it is genuine or traditional, as are other cultural aspects in Laos. Their way of using local ingredients including herbs and spices gives the impression of being somewhat eclectic in spite of its similarity to Thai cuisine.

Restaurants

Eating at most restaurants is easy and you will usually find an English menu. At most restaurants in Laos you will be able to order a vegetarian curry or steamed vegetable with spicy sauce and sticky rice. When ordering dishes with vegetables be aware fish sauce is often used. Therefore you should order the meal with soy sauce. Fried rice or fried noodle is made with fish sauce. Food is inexpensive, generally three to five US dollars per dish. In Vientiane and Luang Prabang there are quite a few restaurants and cafés, although they are generally small. In rural areas the choice will be more limited. However hotels and guesthouses will cater more to tourists with their own restaurant offering both western and Laotian food, including vegetable options. Style you can find incude French, Italian and fusion cuisines. For breakfast you can rely of a french style baguette.

Markets

If you want real Laotian food, markets are the best place to go. Although you will see some bloody meat and fish (including dead mice), the fun of admiring local vegetables and fruits can't be replaced.

Generally, markets are held early in the morning. In the evening, they open small street vendors in marketplaces so that you can see what kinds of foods local people eat. Unfortunately there are few choices for vegetarians at those open-air food courts. One item that I enjoyed at a market in Luang Prabang was savory steamed tofu with sweet syrup. At markets, you should pay in local currency, kip, instead of US dollars that are readily accepted in restaurants and hotels.

I prefer markets in Luang Prabang to those in Vientiane; they are cleaner, have many unique local ingredients, and the people are extremely nice. Though they don't understand English, they let you taste their merchandise and resist accepting money, as if saying with a gentle smile, "It's my treat, dear friend."

I personally didn't have any problems eating those "treats"; however, to prevent any digestive troubles, it's a good idea to wash and peel fruits you buy at markets.

Shops

Some shops in the cities sell soya milk and you can stock up on snacks like nuts. Thai-style vegan instant noodles are a good backup reserve, which only need boiling water added.

I don't eat meat : Khawy gin sin baw dai