Arriving on a weekend with dollars

Many money changers are open Sat and Sun, everyone else will be glad to change unofficialy any way, watch the rates. Guest House or restaurant don't usually have best rates.

Pretty much everywhere will accept dollars and give you change in kip. Just check the exchange rate they use and make sure it is comparable to what you would get at a bank.

The last time I was in Vientiane I paid for a breakfast with a U.S. one dollar bill, a 20 baht Thai note, and a few Lao Kip. Trust me dollars and baht will be accepted just about everywhere. Informal exchange rates are reasonable. You only really need kip in the countryside.

Also remember, don't have any Kip left when you leave the country. It is worthless outside of Laos.

koolbreez

All advice gratefully received, thanks again.

xxj

#2 a month ago I found the opposite, the guest house's and restaurants gave a better rate 10000 kip for $1 usd, the banks exchange rate was 9800 kip to a $1

It's 9575 kip to the dollar this morning. It pays to remember that a Lao person has to turn baht and dollars into kip to use them, you are going to pay for that effort. At businesses pointed specifically at the tourism sector they will take anything as the prices are already up 400%, like the breakfast in #3.

somsai,
I doubt a 400% markup. That breakfast was at the Scandinavian Bakery, a tourist place for sure, and cost a total of $1.60usd. I doubt even a local could get: eggs, fruit, pastry, juice and coffee in a clean place with free newspapers for 40 cents.

You're right CM.
I usually pay about fifty cents but it is different food and no newspaper that I can read.