Withdrawing in Kip in Vientianne?

[Hal65]

Last time in VTN I paid for everything in THB. But with shopkeepers using calculators to determine the amount I doubted that my exchange rate was on the good side.

 

This time I think I'll just use kip notes. Are the ATM exchange rates reasonable or am I looking at a 5% or more loss by using them?

[sanemax]

Thai Baht (100) is up to 25 000 Kip now

[Chou Anou]

In the past, if I find I haven't brought enough baht with me for what I need, I always use the ATMs to get Kip...can't remember the specifics of the exchange rate, but I've never had any "sticker shock" when looking at my online bank statement afterwards (in other words, the equivalent amount in USD I thought I was withdrawing has always been in line with the amount of Kip I've received).  Love the cheap thrill being able to make a withdrawal of "1 million" or more too, heheh...same as in Vietnam or Indonesia.

 

As for the vendors calculating conversions on the spot: if you're suspicious, you can always ask what rate they're using.  But again, I've never found reason to object to the conversions I've gotten.  Of course, in any establishment in Laos that prints out their customer checks, you'll get four prices to choose from: USD, Kip, Baht, and Euro.