Air access

Laos has three International Airport :
Wattay International Airport in Vientiane Capital. Cities with directs flight to Vientiane/Wattay Airport are Bangkok, Chiengmai, Phnom Penh, Siemreap, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Chiang Mai, Kunming, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Luang Prabang International Airport in Luang Prabang Province. Cities with directs flight to Luang Prabang International Airport are Bangkok, Chiengmai and Hanoi,.
Pakse International Airport in Champasack Province. Cities with directs flight to Pakse International Airport are Siemreap.

Airline Companies currently serving in Vientiane are Lao Airlines, Thai Airways International, Vietnam Airline, Siemreap Airway, The Southern China Airline, Silk Air, Malaysian Airline. 

Domestic flights are served by Lao Aviation only. 

A departure tax of 10US$ in levied for international flights, while 5.000 kips is levied for domestic flights.

[See price and timetable of domestic flights]

Overland

You can also get into Lao by land from China, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. Tourists can pass the border at the following Entry Points:

From Thailand

• Chiangkhong - Houixay, Chiang Rai to Bokeo Province.

• Nakaxeng - Kaenthao, Loei to Sayabouly Province.

• Nongkhay - Friendship Bridge , Nongkhay-Vientiane Capital.

• Bungkan - Pakxan, Nongkhay-Bolikhamxay Province (no visa on arrival).

• Nakorn Phanom - Thakhaek, Nakorn Phanom-Khammouane Province.

• Moukdahan - Savannakhet, crossing the Mekong River by boat.

• Chongmek - Vangtao, Ubol Ratchathani to Champasack Province.

• Arrival by Train: Although there is currently no rail connection to Laos yet, an extension of the Bangkok-Nong Khai railway is planned and a line from Vientiane to Nong Khai is scheduled to start operating in near future.

From China

• Mohan - Botene , Yunnan to Luang Namtha Province .

• Arrival by Boat: From Kunming or Xishuangbanna, China, it is possible to travel by boat through the Mekong river straight to Xiangkok riverport on Mekong River in Luang Namtha Province (no visa on arrival).

From Vietnam

• Taichang - Sobhoun, Laichau to Phongsaly Province (no visa on arrival).
  Nameo - Banleui, Thanh Hoa to Huaphanh Province.
  Namkan - Namkan, Nge An to Xieng Khouang Province.
  Keoneua - Nampao (Lak Sao), Ha tinh to Bolikhamxay Province.
  Napao - Chalo, Quangbinh to Khammouane Province (no visa on arrival).
  Laobao - Dansavanh, Quang tri to Savannakhet Province.

From Cambodia

• Dong Calor - Veun Kham, Cambodia to Champasak Province.

Entry formalities
Entry visas are obtainable at Lao Embassies or Consulate and required for all visitors with valid passports irrespective of nationality. Please allow ten days for processing. Travel permits are only required for trips to off-limit areas such as border provinces, military bases and remote islands.

The visa fee varies from between US$8- 42 depending o the agreement with the various governments

It is also possible to obtain a Visa-on-Arrival at the following international checkpoints:

• China (Mohan) - Luang Namtha Province (Boten)

• Thailand (Chiang Khong) - Bokeo Province (Houay Xay)

• Thailand (Nong Khay) -Vientiane Capital (Friendship Bridge)

• Thailand - Xayabouly Province (Nam Heuang Friendship Bridge)

• Thailand (Nakhon Phanom) - Khammouane Province (Thakhaek)

• Thailand (Moukdahan) - Savannakhet Province (Friendship Bridge II)

• Thailand (Chong Mek) - Champasak Province (Vang Tao)

• Vietnam (Nam Kanh) - Xieng Khouang Province (Nong Haet)

• Vietnam (Kao Cheo) - Bolikhamxay (Nam Phao)

• Vietnam (Lao Bao) - Savannakhet Province (Dene Savanh)

• Wattay International Airport (Vientiane capital)

• Pakse International Airport (Champasak Province)

• Luang Prabang International Airport (Luang Prabang)

For those wishing to extend their stay, it is possible to extend your visa at the Immigration Office in Vientiane, through travel agencies.

In case visa approval is arranged by Threeland travel we would like to offer you two ways to obtain visa: through Embassies & General Consulates of Lao or Visa on arrival.

Customs regulations
Antique items for example Buddha images and other old artifacts are prohibited to be taken out of Laos. If you have already traveled from neighboring countries, you are advised to declare you belongings to the customs to avoid any problems when leaving Laos.

It is prohibited for any visitor to bring into Lao the followings:

* Weapons, explosives and inflammable objects.
* Opium and other narcotics.
* Cultural materials unsuitable to Vietnamese society.

Climate

Laos enjoys a tropical climate with two distinct seasons - the rainy season from the beginning of May to the end of September and dry season from October through to April. The yearly average temperature is about 28 C, rising to a maximum of 38 C in April and May. In Vientiane minimum temperatures of 19 C are to be expected in January. In mountainous areas, however, temperatures drop to 14-15 C during the winter months, and in cold nights easily reach the freezing point.

The average precipitation is highest in southern Laos, where the Annamite mountains receive over 3000 mm annually. In Vientiane rainfall is about 1500-2000 mm, and in the northern provinces only 1000-1500 mm.

See Lao in BRIEF

Health equipment

No vaccinations are presently required other than the usual requirements if having recently travelled in a yellow fever affected area. If travelling to remote or border areas, travelers should check with their doctor or travel immunization clinic regarding the advisability of inoculation against Typhoid, Cholera, Dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, rabies, tetanus and Japanese encephalitis.

In any case, the best prevention is not to get bitten by mosquitoes:

• Sleep with a mosquito net outside towns

• Wear long sleeves and trousers around dusk

• Use plenty of strong insect repellant - some brands can be applied directly on clothing.