Languages
The official language is Lao; its etymology stems from Sanskrit and Pali. Anglophones should be able to manage quite well in the cities, especially Vientiane.
Helpful words to get you started:
Hello: Sabaii dee
Thank you: Khop jai
Please: Kaloona
Good-bye: La khon
No problem: Bor pen yang
Eat: Khin khao
Water: Nam
Ice: Nam khon
Drink: Khin nam
Yes: Doi
No: Bor
Rice: Khao
Sticky rice: Khao niao
Where: Yu sai
How much: Tao dai
Expensive: Peng
Bus: Lot meh
Doctor: Than moh
Hospital: Hong moh
Hotel: Hong hem
Toilet: Hong nam
Post office: Paisanee
Dollar: Dolla
Zero: Soun
One: Neung
Two: Song
Three: Sam
Four: See
Five: Ha
Six: Hok
Seven: Jet
Eight: Pet
Nine: Gao
Ten: Sip
One hundred: Neung loi
One thousand: Neung pan
One hundred thousand: Sen