🇱🇦Laos

How your entry route is decided

Nationality, length of stay and border crossing decide it.

1. Check the visa-free list - ASEAN passports (Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam and others) and countries with bilateral agreements (Russia, South Korea) enter visa-free for 14 to 30 days.
2. Apply for an e-Visa - citizens of more than 160 listed countries apply online at the official government portal, https://laoevisa.gov.la. Approval normally takes 3 working days, for a single stay of up to 30 days.
3. Visa on arrival (VOA) - the same broad set of nationalities can get one at selected international airports and land crossings, paid in cash at USD 40 as standard, for 30 days.
4. Embassy visa required - citizens of 31 specified higher-risk states (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Syria and others) cannot use the e-Visa or VOA and must obtain a visa in advance at a Lao embassy abroad.

Entry formalities that apply to everyone

• Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF) - introduced on 1 September 2025 on the immigration department's portal (https://www.immigration.gov.la), replacing the old paper card. File it no later than 72 hours (3 days) before entry, uploading your identity details, passport number, your address in Laos, and a photo of your passport with a verification selfie. You get a QR code valid for 3 days to show at immigration. Phase one covers Vientiane Wattay, Luang Prabang and Pakse airports and the First Friendship Bridge (Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I).
• Cash limits - local currency (LAK) import and export is capped at 2,500,000 LAK per person. Foreign cash worth more than USD 2,500, or USD 10,000 under international rules, needs a written customs declaration.
• Duty-free - 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, and 1 litre of spirits.
• Accommodation registration - every licensed provider must report a foreign guest to the local immigration police within 24 hours of check-in. You simply hand over your passport at check-in for a copy.

What actually matters in practice

Travellers in r/laos and r/travel consistently report three things at entry points:

• Your dollar bills must be pristine. The VOA fee (USD 40) is cash US dollars, and officers refuse notes that are creased, torn, written on, or from an older series. Pay in Thai baht instead and the counter applies an exchange rate marked up by 10–15%.
• Bring a passport photo. Applying for a VOA without a physical 4x6 cm photo costs an extra administrative fee of USD 1–2, or THB 50–100, on the spot to scan the one in your passport.
• Arriving out of hours costs extra. Before 08:00, after 16:00, at weekends and on public holidays, the desk charges a statutory processing surcharge of USD 1 plus an entry fee of about 2,500 LAK.

• Electronic cigarettes are prohibited to import and sell, and they are taken at the border.
• Buddha images and antiquities may not be exported without permission. It is a rule the market sellers do not mention and the airport does check.
• The allowance is 200 cigarettes and a small quantity of spirits per adult, plus personal effects.
• Cash above the declarable threshold must be reported, in kip, dollars or baht - all three circulate.
• Drug offences carry very heavy sentences, including death for trafficking, and the Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang backpacker routes are policed.
• The Friendship Bridges to Thailand are customs borders with their own hours and their own queues.

Health, insurance and where to be treated

• Vaccinations - yellow fever is mandatory if you arrive from an endemic country. Recommended baseline cover is hepatitis A and B, typhoid and tetanus.
• Tropical illness - dengue fever risk from mosquitoes throughout Laos, so use high-DEET repellents. Malaria risk is minimal in the main cities but persists in remote forested areas.
• Tap water is not drinkable. Use bottled, boiled or filtered water for drinking and for brushing your teeth.
• Travel insurance is essential, with high cover limits including medical evacuation to Thailand. Hospitals require cash payment or a direct guarantee from your insurer before treatment begins.

Private hospitals and clinics suitable for foreigners:

• Vientiane
• Alliance International Medical Centre - Souphanouvong Road, Sikhottabong District, near Wattay airport. Private clinic with English-speaking staff. +856 21 513 095 / +856 20 5552 9711, www.aimclao.com.
• Centre Médical de l'Ambassade de France (French Medical Centre) - Kouvieng Road, Ban Simuang. +856 21 214 150, 24/7 emergency +856 20 5655 4794.
• Kasemrad International Hospital - 1661 / +856 21 833 333.
• Luang Prabang
• Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital - Ban Phoumok. +856 71 254 027, emergency +856 30 571 5738. Demanding surgical cases are evacuated to Thailand, to Udon Thani or Bangkok.

Accommodation

Neighbourhoods that work well for your first nights

Vientiane:

• Chanthabuly / Mekong riverfront (Quai Fa Ngum): The ideal spot for a first arrival - direct access to the night market, restaurants and historic sites, and easy to reach from the airport. Price bracket: Mid to luxury (600,000–2,500,000 LAK per night).
• Ban Anou / Ban Haysoke: Quieter streets within walking distance of the centre, popular with independent travellers. Price bracket: Budget to mid (200,000–500,000 LAK per night).

Luang Prabang:

• Historic centre (Old Town - the peninsula): Around Sisavangvong Road. Excellent access to the night market, temples and Mount Phousi. Price bracket: Upper-end boutique (1,000,000–5,000,000 LAK per night).
• Nam Khan river area: Just across the bridge from the historic core, offering a quieter setting. Price bracket: Mid-range (500,000–1,200,000 LAK per night).

What check-in usually involves

Reception will need your original passport to scan, for the mandatory report to the immigration authorities. Hotels frequently take a refundable cash deposit - most often 100,000 to 200,000 LAK, or USD 10–20 - against keys or an access card. Standard check-in is from 14:00, check-out by 12:00.

What to buy as soon as you land

Two operators dominate, and which one you want depends on where you are going. You will want maps and ride-hailing working the moment you land.

• Unitel (Star Telecom) - the best data coverage in remote areas and along the Laos-China railway.
• Lao Telecom (LTC) - stable high-speed connectivity in the main cities.
• TPlus and ETL are alternatives, but their coverage outside urban centres is limited.

Comparison table

Tourist data packages checked in March 2025 (conversion: 1 USD ≈ 22,000 LAK, which still holds in August 2026 - Lao prepaid pricing moves less than most). Treat the kip column as the real price:

Where exactly to buy

• Wattay International Airport (Vientiane) - Unitel and Lao Telecom kiosks in the arrivals hall, immediately after immigration and baggage reclaim, before the exit doors. They follow the flight schedule, daily 07:00 to 21:00, and take cash in LAK, THB or USD.
• Luang Prabang International Airport - sales stands in the central arrivals hall by the terminal exit.
• Branded stores in the cities - central Vientiane on Avenue Lane Xang, Luang Prabang on the main Sisavangvong Road. City prices match the airport tariffs, and staff complete registration while you wait.
• eSIM online before you fly - Saily sells a profile that roams on a Laotian network, with the data configured automatically before you land.

Short verdict

For 1 to 3 weeks, the Unitel Tourist SIM / eSIM with 35 GB at about USD 4.75 (105,000 LAK). It has the widest 4G coverage in the country, which keeps you connected even on long-distance train and bus journeys.

Sockets in Laos are Type A, B, C, E and F at 230 V, 50 Hz - hybrid outlets that take flat American pins and round European ones from the same opening.

• Almost everything fits and very little is earthed. A Schuko or French plug enters many Laotian sockets without connecting earth at all.
• American appliances fit and meet 230 V. Check the label for 100-240 V before plugging in anything that heats.
• A Europlug is the safest thing to carry, since it has no earth to lose.
• Supply outside Vientiane and Luang Prabang is uneven, with cuts and voltage dips in the evening.
• Neighbouring Thailand and Cambodia use different mixtures again, so a universal adapter is worth it.

Local rules and cultural differences

• Dress code at temples - cover shoulders and knees to enter a Buddhist temple (wat), and always remove your shoes before inner sanctuaries and private homes.
• Drones need a permit - flights require approval from the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, and any drone over 200 g needs an official permit. Flying over the historic centre of Luang Prabang (a UNESCO zone), within 5 km of airports, or over military and government facilities is prohibited, with confiscation and fines.
• Alcohol and quiet hours - sales are regulated, and most restaurants and bars must observe closing and quiet hours between 23:30 and midnight.
• Drug penalties are very severe - possession, use or distribution of any illegal narcotic brings long prison sentences and heavy fines.
• Heads and feet - the head is the most sacred part of the body, so never touch a local person's head. Feet are the lowest: do not point them at Buddha images or at other people.

Everyday practicalities

• Power sockets - types C, E, F and A, B, at 230 V, 50 Hz. Most accommodation has combined sockets that take the standard European two-pin plug (type C).
• Drinking water - bottled or from filtration stations only.
• Time zone - UTC+7, Indochina Time (ICT).
• Opening hours - government offices and banks Monday to Friday 08:30–15:30; shops and markets daily 08:00–20:00; night markets 17:00–22:00.
• Wi-Fi - common in hotels, cafés and restaurants, with frequent temporary outages during storms.

Money and paying for things

• Currency - the Lao kip (LAK). As of August 2026 the dollar is still around 22,300 LAK, but the euro has moved a long way and is nearer 26,000 - the March 2025 figure of 23,500 that circulates in older guides is about ten per cent out. Use the converter above the prices rather than either number. Only banknotes circulate, most commonly 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 LAK.
• ATMs are everywhere, but every withdrawal costs. Machines are readily available in all provincial capitals, dominated by the BCEL (Banque pour le Commerce Extérieur Lao) network plus LDB and JDB. A foreign card carries a direct Lao bank fee of 20,000 to 40,000 LAK per transaction.
• Withdrawal limits - 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 LAK per transaction on a foreign card, with selected BCEL machines allowing up to 2,500,000 LAK.
• Always be charged in LAK. Choosing conversion into your home currency at an ATM or terminal applies a DCC rate with a 5 to 8% markup.
• Cash and exchange - Thai baht (THB) and US dollars (USD) are widely accepted in the tourist sector and at border crossings even though LAK is the official currency. Change money at official bank counters (BCEL) or licensed city bureaux, and avoid unofficial street exchange.
• Card payments are limited to upper-tier hotels, international chains and selected restaurants, often with a 3% processing surcharge. The local LAO QR / BCEL One system works only with Lao bank accounts.
• Tipping - not expected in ordinary local eateries; 5–10% recognises good service in tourist restaurants and higher-category hotels.

Ride-hailing is how you get around. Public bus services exist only to a limited extent, and only in Vientiane on the VCSBE network.

• Loca (iOS / Android) - the main national ride-hailing app, covering both cars and local tuk-tuks, with a fixed GPS-based price agreed up front.
• Signing up and paying - register with an international phone number and pay in cash or by card.
• Adding a foreign card is a process. For security the app requires a photo of your passport and a verification selfie holding it. Approval of the card profile takes a few minutes.
• Xanh SM Laos (iOS / Android) - an all-electric taxi service (Taxi Xanh) operating in Vientiane and Vang Vieng. Pay in cash or with a card linked in the app.

• Loca Laos (ride-hailing and payments) - https://loca.la - The official ride-hailing and taxi app for Laos.
• Xanh SM Laos (electric taxi) - https://www.xanhsm.com/laos/en/homepage/ - Electric vehicle service in Vientiane.
• Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF) - https://www.immigration.gov.la - The official web application for your arrival QR code.

A permit is recognised, the roads are mountainous and slow, and the motorbike is the risk.

• Route 13 is the country's spine and is a two-lane mountain road for much of its length: Vientiane to Luang Prabang is 340 km and most of a day.
• Motorbike hire without the right licence class voids travel insurance, and hire shops routinely keep your passport as deposit, which is worth refusing.
• The alcohol limit is 0.05 %.
• Traffic drives on the right and unlit vehicles after dark are normal outside the towns.
• The China-Laos railway now covers the Vientiane-Luang Prabang-Boten corridor in a couple of hours, which removes the main reason to drive it.

Safety and the most common scams

Laos is a safe destination with a low level of violent crime. What does occur in busy tourist areas is property crime, plus one hazard that is not crime at all.

• Rented scooter "damage" claims - some shops demand large sums on return for scratches that were already there. Protect yourself: photograph and video the scooter thoroughly before you take it, with the owner present; use your own lock; and never leave your original passport as security - give a copy and a cash deposit instead.
• "The site is closed today" - tuk-tuk drivers at stations or near monuments claim an attraction is shut, so they can take you to affiliated souvenir shops instead.
• Snatch theft - bags taken from bicycle baskets or from open tuk-tuks in motion.
• Unexploded ordnance (UXO) - a serious residual risk off the beaten path and in rural provinces, particularly Xieng Khouang, Salavan and the border areas with Vietnam. Never leave marked paths, and never touch unidentified metal objects.

Emergency numbers

Emergency numbers in Laos are not uniform across the country - several differ between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, so save the ones for the city you are actually in. English is not reliably spoken on the general lines; the tourist police numbers are the better bet.

• Police (local): 1191 (Vientiane) / 191 (Luang Prabang).
• Tourist police: +856 21 251 128 (Vientiane) / +856 71 212 520 (Luang Prabang).
• Ambulance: 1195 / Vientiane Rescue: 1623 / +856 20 5666 8825.
• Fire: 1190 / 190.

Hospitals require cash payment or a direct guarantee from your insurer before treatment begins, and demanding surgical cases are evacuated to Udon Thani or Bangkok. Travel insurance with medical-evacuation cover is not optional here.