Laos

Neighboring countries: China to the north; Myanmar to the northwest; Thailand to southwest;  Cambodia to the southeast; Vietnam to the east.

Area: 236.800 km²

Population: 7.169 million (2019)

Capital: Vientiane.   Time Zone: GMT+7 hours . Religion: 66.0% Buddhism ,30.7% Tai folk religion, 1.5% Christianity, 1.8% Others / None

Language: Lao.  Currency: Lao Kips (LAK) ($1 = 9,542.09 LAK– July 2021)

Citizens of the following 15 countries can visit Laos without a visa

• Brunei (14 days)

• Campuchia (30 days)

• Indonesia (30 days)

• Japan (15 days)

• Luxembourg (15 days)

• Malaysia (30 days)

• Mongolia (30 days)

• Myanmar (14 days)

• Philippines (30 days)

• Russia (30 days)

• Singapore (30 days)

• Korea (15 days)

• Switzerland (15 days)

• Thailand  (30 days)

• Vietnam (30 days)

In addition, only holders of diplomatic or official passports of Japan, Pakistan, Serbia and South Korea don’t need a visa to work for 90 days . Only holders of diplomatic or service passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Myanmar, NorthKorea, Poland, Russia, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan don't need visa to visit Laos for 30 days. And only those with diplomatic passports or official passports of Indonesia don't need a visa to visit Laos for 14 days.

Travel Visa Types for Laos

Laos, at the moment, have three Travel visa types:

• The Laos tourist visa online (Laos Approval Letter)

• The visa on arrival

• The Tourist Embassy Visa

1.Laos Visa On Arrival

Visitors could apply for a Laos Visa On Arrival at the arrival international airport in Vientiane & Luang Prabang.

Visa Form is available at the Counter of Immigration right on arrival gate. You need to fill in and get Visa.

The lines for visa are not too long, but if you fill the Visa Form in advance, you don’t have to wait too long at the last of the line.

Download Laos VISA FORM is available here.

Laos Visa is easy to obtain on arrival at all port of entry including the most popular international airports.

Obtain Laos Visa on arrival at popular international airports:

• Wattay International Airport in Vientiane Capital.

• Luang Prabang International Airport in Luang Prabang Province.

• Pakse International Airport in Champasak Province.

Obtain Laos Visa on arrival at Border Checkpoints:

China – Laos Border gate:

• Mohan – Boten , Yunnan to Luang Namtha Province.

Thailand – Laos Border gate:

• Chiang Khong – Houixay, Chiang Rai to Bokeo Province.

• Nakaxeng – Kaenthao, Loei to Sainyabuli Province.

• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I, Nongkhai-Vientiane Capital.

• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II, Mukdahan-Savannakhet Province.

• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge III, Nakhon Phanom-Khammouane Province.

• Chongmek – Vang Tao, Ubon Ratchathani to Champasak Province.

Vietnam – Laos Border gate:

• Na Meo – Banlieue, Thanh Hoa to Houaphanh Province.

• Lao Bao – Dansavanh, Quang Tri to Savannakhet Province.

Cambodia – Laos Border gate:

•  Trapeang Kriel - Nong Nokkhien, Stung Treng province,Cambodia to Champasak Province, Laos

Laos Visa Requirements:

– Your original passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity and a blank page for a visa sticker.

– A Visa Application Form, filled out and signed by the applicant (available at visa window at Lao ports of entry or given before landing if you are arriving by plane).

– Two (2) recent passport-type photographs (If you are unprepared (cannot provide the photo) there will be an extra fee (few dollars) for scanning your photograph from your passport, and placing it onto your visa application form).

– Visa fee (in cash).

The fee of Laos Visa depends on which passport you are holding. The price list is on display at the visa counter. If you are a citizen of the USA, UK or European citizen, the fee is 35 USD, Canadian: 42 USD, Sweden: 31 USD.

Australia and other countries is 30 USD.

2.The Laos tourist visa online (Laos Approval Letter)

The Laos eVisa or Laos Approval Letter is an electronic travel authorization that simplifies the process of obtaining a visa to travel to the country. A valid Laos electronic Visa allows citizens from eligible countries to visit for tourism purposes. Once approved, the Laos online visa will grant its holder a stay of up to 30 days in the southeast Asian Nation.

Travelers who wish to visit Laos will be able to obtain their Laos eVisa by completing an online application form with their personal details and passport information. The online eVisa for Laos can be issued for a single entry visit to the country.

Upon arrival, visitors to Laos will be able to present their approved Laos visa to the border authorities to enter the country (The Lao PDR eVisa holder can go directly to the dedicated fast line). The online visa for Laos should contribute to smoother immigration checks and improved border security.

Once the electronic Laos visa is approved, the holder will be able to enter Laos through one of the following entry ports:

• Wattay International Airport (Vientiane Capital)

• Luang Prabang International Airport  (Luang Prabang Province)

• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I (Vientiane Capital)

• Pakse International Airport (Champasak Province)

• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II (Savannakhet Province)

The Laos visa application consists of a straightforward form. Applicants will be required to answer a series of questions and provide details such as their full name, address, date of birth, passport details, and travel plans.

Citizens of 150 eligible countries are able to apply online for an entry visa to Laos, including citizens from the countries eligible for the visa on arrival. Now, they will be able to apply online for a Laos eVisa, and avoid long queues once they arrive at the airport.

3.The Tourist Embassy Visa

The tourist visa for Laos is a requirement for citizens of 29 countries that aren’t eligible for the visa on arrival or Laos eVisa (Laos Approval Letter). To get this Laos tourist visa it is necessary to go to a Lao Embassies or Lao Consulates abroad before entering Laos,  and present a valid passport and complete an application form. To finalize the process, applicants need to pay a fee for the Laos tourist visa.

Travelers holding passports from the following countries are not eligible for Laos visa on arrival or another online Laos tourist visa: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Jordan, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya), Mozambique, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Syria (Syrian Arab republic), Eswatini, Tonga, Turkey, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

According to notice No. 1232 issued on 1 October 2009, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR, nationals on the list above must obtain their visas at Lao Embassies or Lao Consulates abroad before entering Laos. However, there is an exception for those nationals who are on official visits and holding a guarantee from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR

In a year, the weather in Laos is divided into 3 different periods:

- From the end of March to April is the dry season : hot, high temperatures.The Mekong River Delta in Laos in the hot dry season can reach 40oC.

- From May to October is the rainy season

- From November to April next year, this is the best time to visit Laos because the weather is cool . In particular, April in Laos also takes place many festivals of the year. So on this occasion you will have more interesting experiences.

BY AIR

Traveling to Laos by air is quite easy as many airlines offer direct or indirect flights to airport : • Wattay International Airport in Vientiane Capital, Luang Prabang International Airport in Luang Prabang Province, Pakse International Airport in Champasak Province.

BY LAND

You can also travel to Laos by land, with the bus , car , motorbike. Laos has land borders with China, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

• China – Laos Border gate: (you must have a visa before going through immigration and customs)

• Mohan – Boten , Yunnan to Luang Namtha Province.

• Thailand – Laos Border gate: (you must have a visa before going through immigration and customs)

• Chiang Khong – Houixay, Chiang Rai to Bokeo Province.

• Nakaxeng – Kaenthao, Loei to Sainyabuli Province.

• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I, Nongkhai-Vientiane Capital.

• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II, Mukdahan-Savannakhet Province.

• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge III, Nakhon Phanom-Khammouane Province.

• Chongmek – Vang Tao, Ubon Ratchathani to Champasak Province.

• Vietnam – Laos Border gate: (you must have a visa before going through immigration and customs)

• Na Meo – Banlieue, Thanh Hoa to Houaphanh Province.

• Lao Bao – Dansavanh, Quang Tri to Savannakhet Province.

• Cambodia – Laos Border gate: (you must have a visa before going through immigration and customs)

•  Trapeang Kriel - Nong Nokkhien, Stung Treng province,Cambodia to Champasak Province, Laos

TRANSPORT IN LAOS 

Tuk tuk and bus

Tuk tuks can't travel long distances and should be taken by many people to get cheaper. 

If you catch the bus, you should buy a ticket at the counter at the station before getting on to avoid being charged a high price.

Motorbike/Car : You can rent motorbike or car

Dos in Laos

- Only use your feet for walking or playing sports

- Enjoy awesome Lao food whenever you can to help local businesses and Lao farmers.

- Say sabai dee - the Lao word for 'hello' with a smile. When greeting a Lao person you should touch your palms together below your chin and nod your head downwards.

- Help to keep Laos clean and beautiful by not leaving litter.

- Show respect to the local religious customs and dress neatly (long and body covering clothes) while in religious sites and when taking photos. Generally, locals are happy to be in your photos if you respect their space. If possible, ask permission first. Lao people appreciate clean and neatly dressed travelers. Anyone who has strong body odor tends to get disgusting looks.

- Take off your shoes and leave them outside the house or on stairs before entering a Lao person’s home.

- Gently crouch down when passing someone who is seated.

- Accept any water that Lao people serve you even if you don’t want to drink.

- Show respect to monks, novices, and nuns

- Purchase local handicrafts and products to support the local economy. 

Don’t In Laos

- Don’t touch someone’s head or show affection in public.

- Don’t point with your feet/toes, have your feet raised/or propped up on tables.

- Don't touch the robe of the monk, anyone’s head, and women.

- Don’t walk around in a swimsuit or bikini.

- Don’t wear shorts, tank top to the pagodas, temples or other religious places. You will be considered rude and sometimes you will not be allowed to be in.

- Don’t sit down higher than a monk, your host or than a statue of Buddha.

- Don't give gifts or money to children, or a poor novice in the temple as it encourages begging. Instead, it is wise to give to an established organization or village elders.

- Don’t step over any part of a person, but if you must, always ask to be excused first.

- Don’t use plastic bags and return rubbish to towns or villages.

- Don’t shout or raise your voice, especially in public, as Lao people speak softly and avoid confrontation. 

-  Don’t use drugs in Laos

- Don’t buy antique Buddha images or other sacred items as a lot of them were stolen from unprotected temples and sites

LOCAL CURRENCY: LAO KIPS (LAK)

There are 2 types of currency , include coins and banknotes. Banknotes include denominations of: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 200, 1000 and 5000 Kip.

ATM AND CREDIT CARDS

International credit/debit cards such as VISA and MASTERCARD are accepted in most ATMs and shops/stores that accept card payments. With some foreign cards, a small percentage of the amount withdrawn/paid will be charged; The money withdrawn at ATMs is always in Lao Kips.

BARGAINING

You should bargain when buying goods in the market, if you see a salesman wearing a card, that place cannot bargain the price.. Some Laos people don't speak English, you should prepare  a calculator .

TIPS

Tips are not part of the tradition of Laos. However, in some situations and thanks to the many generous travelers that have preceded you, tipping is becoming more popular.

For example, you can tip your guide after a whole day or several days of travel. You can also tip luggage porters .

The following items may be freely imported into Laos by travelers without incurring customs duty:

• 500 cigarettes, 100 cigars, or 500 grams of tobacco

• 2 bottles of wine, 1 bottle of other alcoholic beverages

• 500 grams of personal jewelry.

Currency Import regulations state that passengers can bring the equivalent of up to 50,000 USD of foreign currency into the country.

However, all amounts exceeding 2,000 USD or equivalent in cash or checks must be declared at customs in Laos, and must also be exchanged for local currency at banks or exchange bureaus upon entry.

The following items are considered prohibited and cannot be brought through border crossing points in Laos:

• Illegal drugs

• Counterfeit money and goods

• Pornographic material

• Household materials older than 50 years

• Chemicals and fertilizers

• Fuel Oil

• Medicine

Additionally, plant and plant products, live animals, and endangered flora and fauna restricted under CITES are also banned from import to Laos.

Items with Laos Import Restrictions

Travelers should be also aware that there are certain restricted items for Laos for which it may be necessary to obtain a permit from the Lao Ministry of Commerce in advance of travel.

These include:

• All weapons, including explosives, knives, and ammunition

• Any satellite receivers or transmitters

• Equipment for radio and television broadcasting.

Additionally, any games or written material judged to be against the public interest, or which has the potential to affect the morality and wellbeing of the youth of Laos, are likely to be confiscated at customs if brought into the country.

It is also prohibited to import Images of God and Buddha, whether made from copper, glass, wooden, bone, ivory, stone, or other materials unless permission has been obtained in advance from the Ministry of Information and Culture in Laos.

What You Cannot Take out of Laos

Many of the items listed above are also banned from export from Laos as well as import. Additionally, it is not possible to export timber from the country.

If a traveler wishes to export materials such as gold, polished silver, or rough diamonds, a special travel permit will be required.

While some Laotian food products can be exported without issue, a special permit is required to export rice from the country.

Furthermore, travelers must exchange all Laotian Kip (LAK) before exiting Laos, as all local currency is prohibited from leaving the country. It is also necessary to declare all foreign currency in amounts exceeding USD 2,000 USD or the equivalent at customs before departure.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are required to enter Laos apart from travelers coming from countries with yellow fever transmission risks. 

However, if you travel to Laos you should do everything possible and take all required precautions to avoid becoming ill during your trip. 

Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)

• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis

• Flu (influenza)

• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

• Polio

Other vaccines recommended include Hepatitis A : 

Infants 6 to 11 months old should also get Hepatitis A vaccine and 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. This dose does not count as part of the routine childhood vaccination series.

Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.

Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

and Hepatitis B (if you are in-country for over 3 months)

Typhus and Tuberculosis, vaccinations against rabies are also advised.

Japanese encephalitis recommended for travelers who 

• Are moving to an area with Japanese encephalitis to live

• Spend long periods of time, such as a month or more, in areas with Japanese encephalitis

• Frequently travel to areas with Japanese encephalitis

Consider vaccination for travelers

• Spending less than a month in areas with Japanese encephalitis but will be doing activities that increase risk of infection, such as visiting rural areas, hiking or camping, or staying in places without air conditioning, screens, or bed nets

• Going to areas with Japanese encephalitis who are uncertain of their activities or how long they will be there

Not recommended for travelers planning short-term travel to urban areas or travel to areas with no clear Japanese encephalitis season. 

CDC Laos recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Laos take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.

Find country-specific information about malaria.

Infants 6 to 11 months old traveling internationally should get 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. This dose does not count as part of the routine childhood vaccination series.

Health Advice

• Drink plenty of fluids during the day (2 liters).

• Do not drink tap water in Laos. Only bottled water is drinkable.

• Wash your hands frequently

• Avoid eating unpeeled fruit or raw vegetables and ice.

• Most important: trust your gut feeling. If you don’t like your food, stop eating and do a double check when eating from street vendors.

– Keep a pull-over with you to cover yourself when the air conditioning is too cold or for cooler nights outside

Pre-departure Checklist

• Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months until you leave Laos

• Arrange any recommended inoculations at a travel health clinic

• Arrange for appropriate travel insurance

• Check the airline baggage restrictions

• Check to make sure you can obtain a visa-on-arrival in Laos

Clothes

• Clothing should be lightweight and of the drip dry variety. You will be in the sun a lot so long sleeves and a wide hat would be more suitable.

• Underwear should be synthetic and easily washable.

• Sleepwear.

• Shirts should be long sleeved and lightweight with lots of closed pockets.

• T-shirts, short sleeved and again with pockets.

• Cool evenings necessitate the need for pullovers or a lightweight jacket.

• A lightweight vest with lots of pockets will be handy for carrying your camera (and film) and binoculars.

• Long trousers made from a lightweight, quick-drying fabric should have multi pockets for day trips. Long trousers that turn into shorts are ideal.

• For trekking lightweight long shorts (for modesty purposes) are acceptable.

• Bathing suit should be modest so as not to offend the locals.

• Hat for protection from the sun. Should have a wide brim and a strap.

• A sturdy poncho or parka will help to keep your gear dry in case of rain or waterfall spray.

• Footwear: You will need some sturdy comfortable boots for trekking or just walking around. They will need to support your ankles as well as having a nonslip sole.

• Waterproof sandals for those short trips and boating.

• Some smart casual clothes for the evenings and visiting restaurants.

Pharmacy

• Insect repellent with the percentage of DEET recommended by your travel medicine physician. It’s important that you bring an ample supply of good quality repellent.

• Antiseptic wipes for hand washing and emergency toilet paper.

• Personal First Aid Kit (bring in small amounts and in small containers)

• Aspirin/ibuprofen, etc.

• Cold-symptom relief tablets, antihistamine, cough drops. Adequate quantity of sweat-resistant sunscreen with at least an SPF 15 rating or higher, and lip balm with sunscreen.

• Prescription medicines in their original bottles. Acidophilus enzyme (available in capsules in health-food stores). This often helps your digestive system get in shape for “new” flora.

• Immodium, Lomotil, or similar anti-diarrhea medicine. Pepto-Bismol.