Lao Kip · ₭ · Official currency of Laos
The Lao kip (₭) was introduced in 1952, replacing the French Indochinese piastre. Laos has experienced prolonged high inflation, so denominations of 10,000 and above are common in everyday use.
Seven denominations circulate: ₭1,000, ₭2,000, ₭5,000, ₭10,000, ₭20,000, ₭50,000, and ₭100,000, featuring Laotian temples and cultural heritage.
Face values are large enough that it takes a bit of getting used to handling notes in the ten-thousands and hundred-thousands. Card payment infrastructure is still limited in Laos, so cash is essential outside major towns, and Thai baht or US dollars are sometimes accepted near the borders. Exchanging at a city bank tends to track the official rate more closely, and since ATM withdrawal fees run relatively high, it's often more efficient to withdraw a larger amount at once.
You can view the real banknote designs on the Bank of the Lao PDR's official page.
See Lao Kip banknotes at today's exchange rate →