Where to change USD in Huay Xai?

After border crossing where to change USD the fastest possible (with good rate) in Huay Xai? Changing in Laos is secure everywhere? No cheating in market or in Bank with fake notes?
Thank you for your help. Daniel

Daniel - Maybe you missed it but there's a regular Lao bank at the Lao border crossing in Huay Xai - you can change your U$ into Kip there. If your asking if there are other places in Huay Xai - that I don't know.

You can change U$ at any Laos bank and I haven't heard of any problems. There's no need to change in the market.

Have a great trip!

As for the cheating question.

The banks tend to be very honest (in my experiance) but if you are geting a couple of million kip, it can be either 20 x 50,000 kip notes or 200 x 5,000 kip notes, if you are very unlikely you could even get 500 x 2,000 kip notes.

So mistakes can happen, its best to check before you leave the bank, but me? if i had to count 500 2,000 kip notes, to maybe find its 3 or for short? Not going to do it.

But with 10,000 and 20,000 its worth 5 min.

For fake Kip? Why would anyone want to bother making something like that?

dollar is easier to fake.

But there have been a few people go to jail for fake notes (making) but I have never seen fake kip. dollar? A fair few.

Nic

xnks!

I would also recommend changing $$$ at the Lao bank.

Laos has had an influx of counterfeit US bills, and thus US$ can be tough to exchange for kip in more outlying towns without Laos Development Banks. The "Lao Agricultural Bank" (the only bank) in Vieng Kham would not exchange crisp $20s or $100s no matter what (and I look as reputable as the next middle-aged guy).

US notes should be crisp, no tears and no grimy folds. I had notes refused in some places because they were too "dirty" (although they would be readily accepted in the US).

Major banks in Vientiane, LP and district capitals (e.g. Xam Neua, Phongsali) had no hassles with exchange as they have the knowledge/technology to check each note for its authenticity, and they have more experience handling more cash regularly.

had no problem with changing USD at BCEL/LDB branches in Luang Namtha, Udomxai, Luang Prabang & Vientiane. although once ended up with 200 X 5,000 kip notes in a Vientiane market branch (they were out of bigger notes). counting is just one thing...hafta stuff them somewhere! in some places helpful bank staff wrote out a breakdown of the no. of different denominations they had issued me (e.g. 10X20,000kip notes, 25X10,000kip, etc) which made tallying much easier.

updates on exchange rates: BCEL Laos website

as #1 said, bank exchange counter is literally steps away from immigration counter at Huay Xai.

at some branches, when standing at the counter, can peek into the 'brick kiln' at the back where several staff wearing face masks sit at a huge table in a room sorting, counting & bundling kip into 'bricks'.

Guys, what about travellers cheques? Can I exchange them in major towns in Laos and Cambodia? thanx in advance

Yes, easily, anywhere there is a bank.