Touching a monk or novice is considered rude, and is totally taboo if you are a woman. Women should not hand anything directly to a monk, but instead should pass the item to a male intermediary. If you are trekking, stay on the path and better yet, go with a guide who knows the land and the language and can keep everyone safe.
Often the underpaid police force is simply looking to extort money from tourists. The justice system is not the same in Laos as other countries, and the best thing for everyone is to comply, save face and move on. Stepping over someone who is seated is the height of rudeness in Lao culture, since the head is high and the feet are the lowest part of the body. The same goes for accidentally kicking or brushing another person with your feet at a table or in a car.
The best bet is to keep your feet on the floor, not tucked under you or on a chair or heaven forbid propped up on a table. As in much of Southeast Asia, shoes belong outside and house shoes or bare feet are worn in the home.
In Laos, this line of thinking extends to certain stores and restaurants as well. When in doubt, follow what others do. Even if your host tells you that you may keep your shoes on, if his or hers are off, you should remove yours as well.
The Lao want to save face and may tell you one thing when they would actually like you to do something else. Lao people want to save face at all costs; they do not shout or argue loudly. Service is slow in shops and restaurant and the quality of service varies greatly. Take it easy, bite your tongue and enjoy the unhurried, unstressed Lao lifestyle.
