Travel arrangement is basic before you go to Laos. Of course, you should know some information. So I will give you some essential things. Please read to the following:

How to apply Visa to Laos?

You can apply E-Visa, please refer to this website www.laosevisa.com

Five Main International Checkpoints which can be used E-Visa:

• 1) Wattay International Airport in Vientiane Capital
• 2) Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I, Laos (Vientiane Capital)– Thailand (Nong Khai)
• 3) Luang Prabang International Airport (location: Luang Prabang Province)
• 4) Pakse International Airport in Champasak Province
• 5) Savannakhet International Airport in Savannakhet Province

Note: According to COVID-19 Outbreak, Lao eVisa is not available, please following up more detail with the website www.laosevisa.com

About Lao Visa requirement, visit the website https://laoembassy.com/

Where are Border Checkpoints into Laos?

Lao PDR has borders next to five countries, China, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand. Some border checkpoints don’t service visas, please check before you visit the destination.

LAOS-CAMBODIA

• Champasak Province (Veunkham) – Cambodia (Dong kralor/Nong Nok Khian)

LAOS-CHINA

• Luang Namtha Province (Boten) – China (Mohan)
• Luang Namtha Province, Xiangkok riverport on Mekong River in
• Phongsaly Province (Lan Tuy, Yod Ou) – China (Meuang Kham).

LAOS-MYANMAR

• Bokeo Province (Ban Meuang Mom) – Myanmar (Vang Pong)

LAOS-THAILAND

• Bokeo Province (Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge IV) – Thaniland (Chiang Khong)
• Bokeo Province (Golden Triangles) – Thailand (Golden Triangles)
• Bolikhomxay Province (Paksan) – Thailand (Beungkarn)
• Champasak Province (Vang Tao) – Thailand (Songmek)
• Sayabouly Province (Kaenthao) – Thailand (Nakaxeng – Loei)
• Sayabouly Province (Phakeo) – Thailand (Phoudou)
• Sayabouly Province (Nam Ngeun) – Thailand (Houay Konl, Nan)
• Vientiane Capital (Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I ) – Thailand (Nong Khai)
• Vientiane Capital (Thanaleng, Hadxayfong ) – Thailand (Nong Khai)
• Khammouane Province (Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge III) – Thailand (Nakhon Phanom)
• Savannakhet Province (Lao-Thai Friendship bridge II) – Thailand (Mukdahan)

LAOS-VIETNAM

• Attapeu Province (Phou Keua) – Vietnam (Kontoum)
• Bolikhomxay Province (Nam Phao) – Vietnam (Cau Treo)
• Houaphanh Province (Nam Souy) – Vietnam (Nameo)
• Khammouane Province (Na Phao) – Vietnam (Cha Lo)
• Phongsaly Province (Pang Hok) – Vietnam (Taichang Laichau)
• Savannakhet Province (Daene Savanh) – Vietnam (Lao Bao)
• Salavan Province (Lalai) – Vietnam (Lalai)
• Xieng Khouang (Nonghaet) – Vietnam (Namkanh)

What type of Transportation does Laos have?

Laos has basic transportation, you can visit Laos by Plane, Bus, Train/railway (under construction-Coming soon), by Car, Bicycle, or bike. Read more How to visit Laos

What kind of Language do Lao people speak?

Lao is the official language, but English can understand in many tourist locations. In addition, Thai is generally understood as well as Vietnamese. And French can understand by few local Lao people.

How many Telecommunication Network are there in Laos?

Phone, smartphones can be used in Laos, also the Internet connection is available in the city area. Also, internet access is available in every province, except in some remote areas. You can pre-pay a SIM card at any shop in the city, it is very easy to get it. The top three telecoms in Laos as below:

Company Name: Lao Telecommunications (LTC)

Products and Service for Personal:

• Mobile ( Prepaid, Postpaid, Winphone)
• Fixed Line Service
• Internet (Sims Net/HSPA, Fiber to the Home, LTC_Win, Lease Line)
• VAS (Ring Back Tone, IVR, News SMS, Missed Call Alert, Lottery SMS, Bulk SMS,SMS Voting and Opinion, Information SMS, Happy Call, Code pay)
• International (International Roaming, International Direct Dialing (IDD))
• Website: https://laotel.com/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Laotel/
• Call Center: 101
• Application: M-Services
• Address and Contact: Saiylom village, Chanthaboury district, Vientiane

Capital, Lao PDR

Tel: +85621-213127; +85621-252827

Enterprise of Telecommunications Lao (ETL)

Products and Service for Personal:

• Mobile (Prepaid and Postpaid, Net SIM 4.5G, IR);
• Fix Phone
• Internet (Fiber To The Home or FTTH, FTTH Via CPE, WIFI
• Internet, Internet ADSL Gold&Economy; )
• Extra Service (International calls rate fee, Call Music Background 663, Change tone call, Job Notification, Check Lottery 6166, Miss call alert 666, Ringback tone 669, News via mobile, Check currency rate, Sending bill via email, payday loans, Pay for internet fees via mobile )
• Promotion (),
• Other Products (E TOP-UP Service, ETL service (ETL App, Service for YouTube, Torch Net Sims)
• Website: http://www.etllao.com/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/etllaopubliccompany/
• Call Center: 135
• Application: ETL Service (ETL App)
• Address and Contact: Saiylom village, Chanthaboury district, Vientiane, Capital 01000, Lao PDR, Postcode: 7953

Tel: +(856) 21 260012-13, +(856) 21 260098, Fax: +(856)21 260051.

Star Telecom Co., Ltd (Unitel)

Products and Service for Personal:

• Mobile ( Prepaid, Postpaid, Mobile-3G/4G, eSim Service, Roaming service, International call)
• Internet (FTTH)
• Umoney
• Phones & Devices (Buy Sim numbers)
• VAS (VAS 2G, VAS 3G, Upoint, Extra package)
• MyUnitel (Lucky Shake, Ucare)
• Website: https://www.unitel.com.la/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Unitel.la/
• Call Center: 109
• Application: MyUnitel
• Address and Contact:

Tel: +(856) 21 999 666

Star Telecom Co., Ltd. Nongbone Road, Phonxay Village, Saysettha

District, Vientiane Capital, Laos Call Center 109 or 021 999 666

What is Time Zone for Laos? And what is Working Hour?

Time zone: The time in Laos is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +7).

Working Hour:

• Private sector offices: Open from on Monday 08:00 AM-12:00 PM,

01:00 PM-05:00 PM. Some offices open Saturday Morning, 08:00 AM-12:00 PM.

Shops open around 09:00 AM-06:00 PM (holiday depends on each shop owner).

• Public sector offices: Open from on Monday through Friday, 08:30 AM-12:00 PM,

01:00 PM-04:00 PM.

Banks will open from Monday-Friday, 08:30 AM-03:30 PM.

Where are Medical Centres in Laos?

Tourists can access basic hospitals in Laos. Actually, we have provincial hospitals in every province. You can search Hospitals in Laos on Google Map.

Where are Embassies & Consulates?

There are 44 foreign representations in Laos, Many embassies and consulates in Vientiane, please find the list as link https://www.embassypages.com/city/vientiane

What kind of Credit Cards can tourists use in Laos? And What kind of currency do Lao use?

The national currency is the KIP. Thai Baht, US Dollar, Euros can exchange in the banks, local exchange offices.

To read more about Laos, please read more “All About Laos Laos”

Is there any Post office/delivery?

Post offices are in the provincial capital. Many local delivery companies are servicing in Laos, for example, HAL, Mixay, etc… the starting price for a short distance is around $2-$3. The international deliveries are DHL and FedEx.