21 Best Things to Know Before Visiting Laos: Visa & Tips

The most important things to know before visiting Laos are simple: most visitors need a visa (a 30-day visa on arrival costs $40 for most nationalities), you must fill in an online arrival form before landing at the main airports, prices are in Lao kip and cash is king, and the country is generally safe but has strict laws on drugs, vapes and relationships with Lao citizens. The best time to go is from November to February, when it is dry and cool.

Below are the Laos travel tips first-time visitors ask about most: Laos travel requirements such as the visa and arrival form, money, getting around, temple etiquette, safety and local laws, health and what to pack. Prices are in US dollars ($) or Lao kip (LAK); $1 is about 22,500 LAK.

Overview of Laos: At a Glance

21 Things to Know Before Visiting Laos

These Laos travel tips are grouped by topic, so you can jump straight to the part of your planning you are working on.

Laos Visa and Entry Rules

1. Most Visitors Need a Visa, but It Is Easy to Get

A visa and entry stamps in a passport, the first step for most travelers arriving in Laos.

Citizens of most South-East Asian countries, as well as Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Russia and Mongolia, can make a short visit without a visa. Almost everyone else needs one, and there are 2 easy options, both for a 30-day stay:

• Visa on arrival: available at Wattay Airport in Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse airports and at the main land borders, including the Friendship Bridge from Thailand. Bring 2 passport photos (3 x 4 cm) and $40 in US dollar cash, the fee for most nationalities.
• eVisa: apply on the official eVisa website at least 5 days before you travel. Approval usually takes 3 working days and stays valid for 60 days. It is single-entry and accepted at 9 checkpoints, including the 3 main airports, the Friendship Bridges and the railway stations in Vientiane and Boten.

Which Laos visa should you choose? The visa on arrival suits most travellers flying into a main airport, while the eVisa means less paperwork at the counter. Whichever you choose, check that your entry point accepts it, and avoid copycat visa websites, which charge extra fees for the same document.

2. Fill In the Digital Immigration Form Before You Fly

Arrival paperwork for Laos, including the visa application form and immigration card, now also available to complete online before travel.

The Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF) has replaced paper arrival and departure cards at Wattay, Luang Prabang and Pakse airports and at the first Friendship Bridge from Thailand, and it is being rolled out to other checkpoints. Here is how it works:

• When: within 3 days before you arrive, and again within 3 days before you leave.
• Where: on the official website of the Lao Department of Immigration (immigration.gov.la). Avoid third-party sites that offer to fill it in for a fee.
• At the border: save the QR code on your phone or print it, and show it with your passport.
• What it does not do: the form does not replace your visa, so you still need a visa on arrival or an eVisa.

3. Check Your Passport and Never Overstay

• Passport: it must be valid for at least 6 months after you arrive and have at least 2 blank pages, or your airline may refuse to let you board.
• Extensions: you can extend a tourist visa twice inside Laos, for up to 60 extra days in total. Apply at an immigration office before your current stay runs out.
• Overstaying: it leads to fines, and a long overstay can mean a fine worth $2,000, deportation and a ban on returning.
• ID checks: police may stop vehicles and ask for ID, especially in the evening, so carry your passport or a copy of it.

Not sure which visa suits your trip? Ask our Laos team before you book flights.

Money and Costs

4. Pay in Lao Kip, Not Dollars

Laos Currency

The kip is the only currency allowed for most payments in Laos, so prices in shops, restaurants, markets and temples are shown in kip. Some hotels and tour companies quote in dollars, but expect to pay everyday costs in kip.

• Notes: the largest Lao kip note is 100,000 LAK (~$4.40), so a few hundred dollars turns into a thick wad of cash. Keep small notes for tuk-tuks, temple fees and market stalls.
• Exchange: change money only at banks and their exchange counters. Unofficial street exchange is illegal, and both the changer and the customer can be fined.
• Leaving: you cannot take kip out of Laos, so spend it or change it back before you go.

5. Carry Cash, Because Cards Are Not Widely Accepted

Cards work in upmarket hotels, some restaurants and travel agencies in Vientiane and Luang Prabang, but markets, tuk-tuks, temple ticket desks and small guesthouses take cash only.

• ATMs: easy to find in towns but scarce in the countryside, so withdraw enough before long trips into rural areas. Your home bank and the local ATM may both charge a fee, so fewer, larger withdrawals work out cheaper.
• Backup: bring a second card and some US dollars in cash, which you can change at a bank if a card stops working.
• Declaring cash: if you carry $2,500 or more in foreign currency, declare it on arrival and departure.

6. Tipping Is Not Expected, and Bargaining Should Be Gentle

Tipping is not a tradition in Laos, but it is appreciated, especially by guides and drivers who look after you for a full day. In restaurants, rounding up the bill or leaving small change is plenty.

At markets such as the Luang Prabang night market, gentle bargaining is normal for crafts and textiles, while food, drinks and shop prices are usually fixed. Ask the price, offer a little less and meet in the middle. Keep it friendly: 5,000 LAK is only about $0.20, and the difference matters far more to the seller than to you.

Getting Around

7. Take the Fast Train Between Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang

The Laos-China Railway, which has cut travel between Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang and Boten to just a few hours.

The Laos-China Railway is the quickest way to travel in the north. The fast train from Vientiane to Luang Prabang takes about 2 hours, against a full day by road, and stops in Vang Vieng on the way.

• Fares from Vientiane to Luang Prabang: 360,000 LAK (~$16) in second class, 569,000 LAK (~$25) in first class and 1,063,000 LAK (~$47) in business class.
• Tickets: buy them on the official LCR Ticket app or at the station, using your passport details. Trains often sell out at weekends and holidays, so book as early as you can.
• Stations: Vientiane station is about 15 km from the city centre, so allow time for the transfer.
• Boarding: bring the passport you booked with, as there are ID and security checks before you reach the platform.

8. Expect Slow Roads and Allow Extra Time

Away from the railway, roads are often narrow and winding, and journeys take longer than the distance suggests. Plan around these points:

• Avoid night travel: many vehicles drive without lights, and cattle often wander onto the road.
• Buses and minivans: they are cheap but can be overcrowded, so choose reputable companies and keep valuables with you.
• Rainy season: from May to October, landslides can close mountain roads for hours.
• Flights: Lao Airlines links Vientiane with Luang Prabang and Pakse, which saves a long day on the road to the south.

For day trips and long distances, IDC’s Laos car rental includes the driver, fuel and tolls, with an airport transfer in Vientiane from $37 per vehicle.

9. Use LOCA or Agree Tuk-Tuk Fares First

Tuk-tuks are the everyday way to get around Lao towns, from short hops in Luang Prabang to runs between the bus station and your guesthouse.

Grab does not operate in Laos. Instead, the LOCA app works in Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse: you see the fare before you book and can pay by card. Elsewhere, tuk-tuks and songthaews (shared pick-up trucks) are the main way to get around. Agree the price before you get in, and check whether it is per person or for the whole vehicle.

For setting up LOCA, the train app and offline maps, see our guide to Laos travel apps.

10. Think Twice Before Renting a Motorbike

Renting a motorbike in Laos, a popular way to reach rural villages and mountain roads that buses and minivans don’t serve.

• Licence: you need your home driving licence and an international driving permit, which you must get before you travel.
• Insurance: check that your travel insurance covers motorbikes. After an accident you may have to pay for damage and injuries even if you are not at fault, and local insurance covers very little.
• Deposit scam: never leave your passport as a deposit. Some rental shops have staged thefts or damage, then kept passports until the rider paid.
• Helmet: rentals do not always include one, so ask for it and always wear it.

If you have not ridden on rough roads before, a car with driver or a guided tour is the safer way to see the countryside.

Culture, Etiquette and What Not to Do in Laos

11. Dress Modestly and Remove Your Shoes at Temples

Buddhism shapes daily life in Laos, and temples are working places of worship, not just sights. A few simple habits show respect:

• Dress: cover your shoulders and knees at temples and religious sites; a light scarf or sarong helps on hot days.
• Shoes: take them off before entering a temple hall or a Lao home.
• Buddha images: never touch or climb on them, and sit with your feet pointing away from them.
• Monks: women should not touch monks or hand things to them directly; place the item down for them instead.
• Swimwear: keep it for the river or pool, and cover up once you leave the water, even in Vang Vieng.

12. Watch the Morning Alms Giving Respectfully

Almsgiving ceremony

In Luang Prabang, hundreds of monks walk through the old town at dawn to collect sticky rice, about 05:30 to 06:30 from March to October and 06:00 to 07:00 from November to February. Most visitors watch along Sakkaline Road, near Wat Xieng Thong and the National Museum. If you watch:

• Keep at least 5 m away and never block the monks or the people giving.
• Stay silent and do not use a flash, which disturbs monks and local people alike.
• Cover your shoulders, chest and legs.
• Only give alms if it means something to you, and buy your sticky rice fresh that morning from the market or a trusted local vendor.

Our Luang Prabang travel guide suggests quieter streets for watching the procession.

13. Respect Heads, Feet and Personal Space

In Laos, the head is the most respected part of the body and the feet the lowest, so do not touch anyone on the head or point your feet at people or Buddha images. Greet people with a “nop”, palms together and a slight bow, and pass things with your right hand or both hands. Kissing and hugging in public are frowned upon.

Above all, stay calm. Raising your voice or losing your temper embarrasses everyone, and a smile and a relaxed “bo pen nyang” (no problem) will solve far more than an argument.

14. Know the Rules on Relationships and Homestays

Lao law forbids sexual relations between foreigners and Lao citizens unless they are married under Lao law, and breaking it can mean a fine of up to $5,000 and possible prison. You also may not invite a Lao national of the opposite sex to your hotel room. Staying overnight in a Lao family home needs permission from the local authorities, which registered homestays and tour operators normally arrange. Same-sex relationships between consenting adults are legal.

Safety and the Law

15. Is Laos Safe for Tourists? Yes, with Common Sense

Laos is one of the calmer countries in the region, and violent crime against visitors is rare. The main risks are everyday ones:

• Bag snatching: thieves on motorbikes target bags and phones, so keep them on the side away from the road.
• Drinks: never leave a drink unattended, and avoid Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky, which the authorities banned after methanol poisoning cases. If you or a friend feel unwell after drinking, get medical help at once.
• Travelling alone: use a known taxi service or LOCA, check the number plate, and share your journey details with someone.
• Remote areas: the UK government advises against all but essential travel to Xaisomboun Province, which is off the usual tourist itineraries.
• Emergency numbers: ambulance 1195; Vientiane Rescue 1623; Tourist Police in Vientiane 021 251 128.

16. Stay on Marked Paths Because of Unexploded Bombs

During the Indochina War, more than 2 million tonnes of bombs fell on Laos, including about 270 million cluster bomblets, and around 30% did not explode. An estimated 80 million still lie in the ground, so unexploded ordnance (UXO) remains a real risk in the countryside.

The main sites at the Plain of Jars and other tourist areas have been cleared, but in rural areas stay on main paths, never pick up metal objects, and take extra care after floods or landslides, when bombs can come to the surface. To understand the story, visit the COPE centre in Vientiane or the MAG centre in Phonsavan, both in our list of the best museums in Laos.

17. Drug and Vape Laws Are Extremely Strict

Laos has zero tolerance for drugs, including cannabis. Even small amounts can lead to arrest and a long prison sentence, police may test for drug use and arrest you after a positive result, and trafficking can carry the death penalty. E-cigarettes, heated tobacco and shisha are also illegal and can lead to a fine or prison, so leave them at home. Bags are scanned at airports, so never carry anything for someone else.

18. Take Care on Rivers, Especially in the Rainy Season

Rivers are part of every Laos trip, from tubing in Vang Vieng to boat trips on the Mekong, but strong currents, hidden rocks and changing water levels have caused drownings and serious injuries.

• Boats: choose operators that provide life jackets, avoid overcrowded boats, and pick slow boats over speedboats, which are dangerous when water levels are low.
• Swimming: stick to calm, popular spots such as the pools at Kuang Si Falls, and avoid swimming in the Mekong.
• Rainy season: from May to October, rivers can rise within hours after heavy rain.
• Insurance: check that your policy covers kayaking, tubing and other water activities.

Practical Basics

19. Choose the Right Season and Know About Pi Mai

• November to February: dry and sunny, with days around 27 to 28°C in Luang Prabang but nights down to about 15°C, and cooler in the mountains, so pack a warm layer.
• March to May: the hot season, with highs of about 35°C in April and smoky haze in the north that can affect air quality.
• May to October: the rainy season, with rain on about 20 days a month in Luang Prabang in July and August, green landscapes, fewer visitors and some road delays.
• Lao New Year (Pi Mai): 14 to 16 April 2027, with water fights in the streets, busy transport and hotels in Luang Prabang booked up early.

For month-by-month advice, see our guide to the best time to visit Laos.

20. Prepare for Basic Medical Care

• Vaccines: see your doctor at least 8 weeks before you travel. Hepatitis A, typhoid and a tetanus booster are recommended for most travellers, with rabies and Japanese encephalitis for longer or rural trips.
• Mosquitoes: dengue cases rise in the rainy season, and malaria risk is low (very low in Vientiane), so use insect repellent, especially from dusk to dawn.
• Animals: rabies is present, so avoid touching dogs, cats and monkeys, and get medical help the same day if you are bitten or scratched.
• Hospitals: care is basic outside Vientiane, serious cases are often moved to private hospitals in Thailand, and hospitals may ask for a large deposit, so buy insurance that covers medical evacuation.
• Medicines: bring enough prescription medicine for the whole trip, plus a copy of the prescription.

21. Get a Local SIM, a Plug Adapter and a Few Lao Words

• SIM card: local SIMs from Unitel or Lao Telecom are sold at airports and phone shops, and you need your passport to register one; an eSIM is an easy alternative. Wi-Fi is common in hotels and cafés in towns.
• Plugs: the supply is 230V, and sockets take US-style flat pins and 2 round pins. UK and Australian plugs need an adapter, and US devices fit but must accept 230V.
• Language: Lao is the national language, and English is rarely spoken outside hotels and tourist areas. Useful words are “sabaidee” (hello), “khop jai” (thank you) and “tao dai?” (how much?), and an offline Lao pack in Google Translate helps with menus and signs.

IDC Travel Tours for Your First Trip to Laos

If you would like the transport, guides and permissions handled for you, these tours suit first-time visitors:

• Charm of Laos in 4 days: best if you have only a few days and want a slow pace. The tour starts in Luang Prabang, the easiest town in Laos for first-timers. Past travellers who joined alone found it smooth and well planned.
• Vientiane to Pakse in 6 days: best if you want the quieter south. It starts in the capital and ends in Pakse, the gateway to Champasak and the Mekong islands, mixing local culture with nature.
• Essential Laos in 8 days: best for a classic first trip from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. Travellers describe the journey through small villages, rivers and quiet roads as the heart of the experience. From $925 per person.
• Laos adventure in 9 days: best if you want caves, rivers and waterfalls as well as temples. Highlights include the Pak Ou Caves on the Mekong and the turquoise pools of Kuang Si Falls.

Plan a Stress-Free Laos Trip with IDC Travel

Laos rewards travellers who slow down, and most things to know before visiting Laos come down to a few habits. Sort out your visa and arrival form early, carry kip, respect temple and local customs, and the country’s calm towns, rivers and mountains will do the rest.

When you are ready, plan your Laos trip with our local team, and we will build the itinerary around the season and your pace.

Read more:

• 15 Must-Try Dishes in Laos
• Laos with Kids: Family Travel Guide
• 13 Days in Laos: Itineraries for First-Timers