Hello. Im planning to cross the China/Laos border in a few weeks time. I'm not sure what I should do about money- I don't have any foreign currency, jsut ATM card/credit card, but I know there are no ATMS til I get to Vientiane, which I don't plan to do til about 2 weeks after I cross the border. Can I change RMB into Kip before I get there, or on the Laos side? Maybe its a stupid question but I had a helluva time changing RMB into Euro, and no luck with Mongolian togrog, so just wondering if anyone knows what the best thing to do is. thanks
1
somsai
Many people changing RMB in Northern Laos. Banks too. Know your rates. Again they are all over. Also you can draw against Visa at Bank.
2
grainnemhaol
Thanks for that. So it's not possible to get kip on the Chinese side, right? Does anyone know if there's a limit to how much RMB you can change in one day in Laos? Thanks
3
bmta
2 no, the exch of CNY is usually done by private changers (those guys waving big budnels at border posts), so obviously, no limit. TALK with the Chinese on the bus about the rate. (1 US$= 7,5/7,6 CNY=around 10.000 kip=LAK)Most likely you will also be able to catch some kip at china side just before crossing over.
If youre going further; Thaild/most banks will now also accept CNY, not at a very good rate (getting US$ or EUR first is better), only 50/100 notes and often with a maximum PER transaction. NOone will ever be able to check how much you change per day. also: most Chinese in lao are there for trade and thus carry big bundles of kwai
4
somsai
I'm sure the minority ladies that hang out by immigration can handle it grainnemhaol, they have to do something with those kip they've changed to kwai. Every market in Northern Laos has huge piles of renminbe at the money changer there. The Lao Govt bank also lists Chinese money with a closer buy sell margin than dollars, branches Luan Namtha, Udomxai, Luangprabang. BCEL
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