Almost all Lao dishes contain animal products of one kind of another. Two principal seasonings, for example, are fish sauce and shrimp paste. Some dishes also contain lard or pork fat.

Vegetarian or vegan restaurants are virtually nonexistent, but menus at tourist-oriented restaurants in larger towns and cities will often have vegetarian dishes available.

Outside of tourist areas, vegetarians and vegans will have to make an effort to speak enough Lao to convey their culinary needs. The best all-around phrase to memorise is eat only vegetables' (khawy k}n tae phdk). If you eat eggs you can add sai khai dai (it's OK to add egg) to your food vocabulary. Dairy products such as cheese won't be much of a concern since they're rarely served in Lao restaurants