The Lao language is very similar to Thai (as close as Norwegian is to Swedish, I’m told), and Thai speakers will have no trouble anywhere in Laos. English is much less common.

In Vientiane (the capital), Luang Prabang (by far the most beautiful and interesting city) and Vang Vieng (the adrenaline capital), you’ll find many staff in hotels, tour agencies etc. who speak good English.

In the rest of the country (where the tourist industry is exclusively for adventurous, low-budget backpackers), English is very limited – most guesthouse staff and many people in tour companies know only enough English to handle the most common issues and requests. Often, your only source of detailed information is other tourists. That’s one reason backpackers in Laos are so eager to get to know each other.

Among your fellow tourists, English is the most widely spoken language, and French is a close 2nd. With very rare exceptions, your tour guides will only speak English (not always fluently) and Lao.