The manufacture of household objects from bamboo, rattan and various other types of reed has been practised for centuries, by both the majority Lao community and other ethnic groups. Light, durable and termite-resistant, these objects take many forms, ranging from baskets and containers to furniture, and are now an important industry in their own right.

There is evidence to suggest that lacquerware was once found widely in Laos, although it has since died out completely. With assistance from Myanmar, efforts are currently being made to reintroduce the art to the northern city of Luang Prabang by placing it on the syllabus of the Luang Prabang Provincial Secondary School of Fine Arts. However, early pieces produced at the school are heavily reminiscent of contemporary Burmese lacquerware and it remains to be seen whether this initiative will succeed in establishing a truly indigenous style.