Drinks

Drinks

ຂໍນໍ້າດື່ມໜຶ່ງຕຸກ
[ kho nam duem nung tuk ]

One bottle of drinking water, please.

ຂໍເບຍລາວສອງແກ້ວ
[ kho bia lao song kaew ]

Two bottles of Beerlao, please.

ເບຍເຢັນໆບໍ່?
[ bia yen yen bo? ]

Is the beer very cold?

ຕຳຈອກ!
[ tam chok! ]

Cheers!

ໃສ່ນໍ້າແຂງ
[ sai nam khaeng ]

With ice.

ບໍ່ໃສ່ນໍ້າແຂງ
[ bo sai nam khaeng ]

Without ice.

ຂໍຈອກນໍ້າແຂງແດ່
[ kho chok nam khaeng dae ]

A glass of ice, please.

ເອົາກາເຟລາວຮ້ອນ
[ ao kafe lao hon ]

I'll have a hot Lao coffee.

ເອົາກາເຟເຢັນ
[ ao kafe yen ]

I'll have an iced coffee.

ບໍ່ໃສ່ນົມຫວານ
[ bo sai nom wan ]

No sweetened condensed milk.

ຂໍຊາຮ້ອນ
[ kho xa hon ]

Hot tea, please.

ຂໍໝາກໄມ້ປັ່ນ
[ kho mak mai pan ]

A fruit shake/smoothie, please.

ໝາກມ່ວງປັ່ນ
[ mak muang pan ]

Mango shake.

ໝາກນັດປັ່ນ
[ mak nat pan ]

Pineapple shake.

ຂໍຫຼອດແດ່
[ kho lot dae ]

A straw, please.

Cultural notes

Drinking culture in Laos is vibrant, highly social, and refreshingly unique to Southeast Asia. The absolute pride of the nation is "Beerlao" (ເບຍລາວ - bia lao), a crisp, highly regarded lager made with jasmine rice. Ordering a Beerlao is a rite of passage. If you are sitting with locals, you will quickly discover a fascinating habit: Laotians almost always drink their beer poured over chunks of ice! Because the tropical heat quickly warms bottles, asking for "a glass of ice, please" (ຂໍຈອກນໍ້າແຂງແດ່ - kho chok nam khaeng dae) is standard practice. Drinking is a communal sport here; glasses are constantly refilled by the host, and you will hear the jubilant cry of "Tam chok!" (ຕຳຈອກ! - Cheers!) every few minutes. Aside from beer, staying hydrated is vital. Tap water is not safe, so always ask for "one bottle of drinking water" (ຂໍນໍ້າດື່ມໜຶ່ງຕຸກ - kho nam duem nung tuk). During the sweltering daytime, nothing beats the local café culture. Lao coffee (ກາເຟລາວ - kafe lao) is famously robust and dark, grown in the cool Bolaven Plateau. However, it is traditionally served with a massive, sugary dollop of sweetened condensed milk at the bottom of the glass. If you prefer a strong, black coffee without the intense sweetness, you must proactively say "no sweetened milk" (ບໍ່ໃສ່ນົມຫວານ - bo sai nom wan). Alternatively, cooling down with an iced fruit shake (ຂໍໝາກໄມ້ປັ່ນ - kho mak mai pan), like a refreshing mango or pineapple smoothie, is a must-do at the night markets. Whether you are toasting with an icy beer or sipping a rich coffee, sharing drinks is the perfect way to soak in the famous Lao hospitality.