Next week i will go visit my friend in Vientiane. I want to bring her a present and her mother too. But i'm not sure what i should buy. Anyone can give me an advice? :)  Thanks very much.

It's depend on who they are...for example if they living Vientiane...they  will appreciate perfume type of gift. in the country..food gift should be appropriate....  

The gift that makes people in Laos happy the most is money, the next thing is pure gold items.
 
But you can just give them a small gift to show your appreciation. A nice gift for her mum can be a scarf or a handbag with some cash inside. If she's old, you could get her a traditional Lao dress (sinh) in a Lao market.

Girls love chocolates, and we don't get enough of it in Laos, so that's an inexpensive gift idea for a female friend. A mobile/cell phone is a nice gift too.

The gifts suggested by Tee are also lovely.

Enjoy your trip to Vientiane, Laos.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 20^th Apr, 2011 at 10:33pm:

The gift that makes people in Laos happy the most is money, the next thing is pure gold items.   But you can just give them a small gift to show your appreciation. A nice gift for her mum can be a scarf or a handbag with some cash inside. If she's old, you could get her a traditional Lao dress (sinh) in a Lao market. Girls love chocolates, and we don't get enough of it in Laos, so that's an inexpensive gift idea for a female friend. A mobile/cell phone is a nice gift too. The gifts suggested by Tee are also lovely. Enjoy your trip to Vientiane, Laos.

Thanks for  admin and Tee's advices. She's a student of Dongdok University and she's a model too.I think a fone for her ( i gave her perfume laste time) is good, but about cash in the handbag. How much should i put inside?

Wow model, she must be pretty.

You can put any amount inside you want, 100,000 kip ($12 US) will be fine.

In Lao culture, you never give an empty handbag or purse as a gift to someone.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 20^th Apr, 2011 at 10:33pm:

The gift that makes people in Laos happy the most is money, the next thing is pure gold items.

What's up with the obsession with gold? The older generation in particular, have multiple strands hung around their jugulars. It is even more overt at special functions.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 21^st Apr, 2011 at 4:45am:

Wow model, she must be pretty. You can put any amount inside you want, 100,000 kip ($12 US) will be fine. In Lao culture, you never give an empty handbag or purse as a gift to someone.

yeah,she's really pretty, nice and well educated. A Sophie Paris handbag with 100,000 kip inside :D it sounds good, Thank u :)

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 21^st Apr, 2011 at 4:45am:

Wow model, she must be pretty. You can put any amount inside you want, 100,000 kip ($12 US) will be fine. In Lao culture, you never give an empty handbag or purse as a gift to someone.

Wow!!! I have never heard that culture before...It must be a new culture for those young one. I guess,I other too old and can't keep up with the new generation!

It's customary, it's not new. I'm surprised that a Lao elder like yourself don't know this, you guys are the ones who are supposed to teach the younger generation.   :)

Maybe you've lived in a western country for so long and many things about Lao culture is beginning to fade.

Perhaps old man can confirm that my statement is true, because his Lao wife might know.

Well, since you asked, my wife always prefers gifts of money and is not too bothered what kind of container it comes in..... ;D

It's just after 4 in the morning here outside Vientiane.  Do you keep the same kind of nocturnal hours I do?  

Many Laotians echo the thoughts of your wife.

Sometimes during night visits to the toilet, I get online briefly to do some things, then it's back to bed.