What language is spoken in Laos?

The official language of Laos is Lao, a tonal language similar to that spoken in Northern Thailand. As a result of former colonization, French is still taught in schools, but English is now spoken more widely, especially by the younger generation. Although the complex tonal variations in Lao can make it difficult for English speakers to pronounce words accurately, any attempt by farangs (foreigners) to speak Lao is always appreciated. People from Laos often greet each other by smiling, pressing together their palms, and saying ‘sabaidee’ which means hello.

What's the currency of Laos?

The currency of Laos is the Laotian kip (LAK). The kip is a closed currency and cannot be taken out of the country, so you’ll need to find an ATM on arrival or visit a bank or money exchange to get local cash. ATMs are commonplace and most hotels, shops, and markets in Vientiane and Luang Prabang will also accept Thai baht and US dollars. Credit cards are widely accepted in most hotels, gift shops, and upmarket restaurants.

What food and drink should I try in Laos?

When in Laos, you should try larb (minced pork salad), tam mak hoong (green papaya salad), and mok pa (steamed fish parcels). Rice, especially sticky rice, is the staple food and most Lao dishes will have an Indo-Chinese influence. You’ll find the most authentic local food on market stalls and in smaller restaurants where local people eat. The influence of former French colonization is still seen in the baguettes and croissants normally eaten for breakfast, while lao lao (rice whisky) and Beer Lao are the most common drinks.

How much should I tip in Laos?

Tipping is commonplace in Laos, especially in the service industry, and a tip of about 10% is appreciated. You should also be prepared to tip guides, drivers, and porters. We use the best guides and drivers available in Laos, but as there are limited guide numbers, the best guides do expect larger tips than might be expected in other countries. We can provide more details before you travel.

What should I wear in Laos?

Plan to dress modestly in Laos with clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, particularly if visiting temples or Luang Prabang, one of Southeast Asia's most spiritual destinations. You’ll also be asked to remove your shoes and leave them outside when entering a temple. During the drier months (October to April), you’ll need light clothing such as shorts, skirts, and shirts, and possibly a fleece for the evenings. In the rainy season (May to September), a light waterproof jacket is useful, as well as clothes with long legs and sleeves to wear during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are active. A sun hat and umbrella, which can double up as a parasol, are always useful.

Where can I find the latest travel advice for Laos?

For the latest travel advice for Laos, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the State Department website .

How long does it take to fly to Laos from the US?

It takes around 21 hours to fly from the West Coast of the US to Laos and around 24 hours from the East Coast.

What's the time zone in Laos?

The time zone in Laos is UTC+7 hours. Laos does not observe Daylight Savings Time.

What's the best way of getting around in Laos?

Train travel is one of the best ways of getting around northern Laos, while domestic flights are best for travel between the north and the south. The train is comfortable and reliable and links the capital, Vientiane, with Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, and further north. River travel is also possible in Laos, and boat journeys along the Mekong River allow you to visit remote communities in the hills more easily. Alternatively, we can arrange for you to have a private driver between destinations.

What can I experience in Laos?

In Laos, you can visit gilded temples, admire dramatic karst scenery and forested mountains, and immerse yourself in local traditions and cultures, such as alms giving in Luang Prabang. You could also experience what it’s like to work in a rice paddy , take a cookery class to learn all about local ingredients and culinary traditions, or set out along the Mekong on a river cruise . For a more adventurous trip, you could get out into the jungle-clad hills and mountains on a caving and kayaking tour or go on a guided hiking trip to the 100 waterfalls.

Where can I stay in Laos?

Laos offers a wide range of places to stay from stylish boutique hotels to restored French villas and ecolodges in the mountains of the north. You’ll find the best choice of hotels in Luang Prabang and Vientiane where you can stay in a former royal residence with a spa and choice of swimming pools, or a historical former officers’ residence turned sleek, minimalist hotel. Outside the cities, and in the south, hotels are often simpler but comfortable and may have more traditional styling, but our specialists have found plenty of interesting options from simple guesthouses on the banks of the Mekong to traditional thatched bungalows set in tropical gardens.

Where should I go in Laos?

Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and Vang Vieng are some of the best places to go in Laos, but you’ll also find plenty to explore in the lush hills of the far north and the small villages and temple ruins of the south. You could watch saffron-robed monks collect alms among gilded temples in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang , visit caves and small villages in the dramatic limestone karst scenery around Vang Vieng , or explore the mysterious Plain of Jars where hundreds of giant urn-like stones dating back to megalithic times lie strewn across the plains. Hike through the mountains of the north from a base in Nong Khiaw or watch freshwater dolphins in the Mekong and enjoy the slow pace of rural life in the 4000 Islands . Our country specialists will be happy to discuss your interests and offer advice on the best places to go in Laos.

Do I need a visa to visit Laos?

US citizens need a visa for Laos, but you can apply online in advance or have a visa issued on arrival. Applications for the Lao Official Online Visa must be submitted in the five days before your arrival in Laos. The eVisa can be used for entry through Luang Prabang and Vientiane airports as well as at some land crossings. If you’re planning to get a visa on arrival, bring a passport photo and US dollars to pay the fee. Whichever visa you choose to get, your passport must be stamped on arrival and departure to avoid any problems or requests for additional fees for onward travel.

Do I need vaccinations to visit Laos?

Speak to your doctor about up-to-date immunization advice for Laos. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has a list of recommended vaccinations, and we’d also advise ensuring you’re up to date on any vaccinations recommended in your home country. Please note that if you are arriving in Laos from a country considered to have a risk of yellow fever by the World Health Organization (WHO), then you may be asked to provide proof of vaccination against the disease upon arrival. Speak to your doctor for up-to-date advice.

What do I need to check with my passport for travel to Laos?

Check that your passport is valid for at last six months after you’re planned departure date from Laos and ensure you have at least two full blank pages remaining.

Laos vacations 2024 & 2025

Alms giving by Buddhist monks in Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang

Laos is one of the few destinations where, in some areas, visitors are yet to deviate from a few well-trodden sights. It’s Indochina’s final frontier, and our specialists have trekked through jungles, scouted out caves and journeyed up rivers to get to know it more intimately. They can help you plan your vacation to Laos to follow in their wake.

Only now emerging after years of isolation, Laos is a country of steep, jungle-robed valleys inhabited by resilient communities who live at a refreshingly unhurried pace. The former royal stronghold, Luang Prabang, is a mosaic of golden wats and Indochinese villas, its streets often filled with silent processions of monks. In the diminutive capital, Vientiane, you’ll find faded French-colonial mansions and coffee shops. The rest of the country is predominantly one blanket of green, carved with slow-flowing tributaries of the Mekong. As you explore, you’ll happen upon little-visited hill tribes, backwater towns and Cham temples that predate Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.

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Suggested tours for Laos

These tours give you a starting point for what your vacation to Laos could entail. Treat them as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you.

Laos past & present

Laos

8 days from $4,830pp

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Off the beaten track Laos & Cambodia

Cambodia and Laos

14 days from $6,765pp

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The hidden heart of Laos

Laos

16 days from $6,135pp

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Intrepid Laos tour

Laos and Thailand

21 days from $11,685pp

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Following the Mekong: Laos, Cambodia & Vietnam

Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia

20 days from $10,615pp

View this tour
Grand tour of Indochina: Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia

Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam

22 days from $22,310pp

View this tour
Classic Laos tour

Laos

11 days from $7,355pp

View this tour
Family Indochina: Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia tour

Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia

14 days from $7,570pp

View this tour
A tribal journey through northern Vietnam & Laos

Laos and Vietnam

18 days from $10,325pp

View this tour

View all Laos tours

Suggested activities for Laos

Whatever your interests, our specialists will build activities into your trip that connect to how you want to experience Laos.

Evening Baci Ceremony

Evening Baci Ceremony

Luang Prabang

Evening Baci Ceremony

The Baci ceremony is a mix of Animism and Buddhism. These ceremonies are common to Laos. Their purpose is to call back your own spirits to your body because they sometimes escape.

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Nam Ou River Adventure

Nam Ou River Adventure

Luang Prabang

Nam Ou River Adventure

The Ou River is a tributary of the Mekong and its valley has some of the most stunning scenery in the whole of Laos. You will take longtail motorboats to cover the distance through the valley back to Luang Prabang, stopping en route to visit some of the local hill tribe villages and the holy Pak Ou Caves.

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Vientiane City Tour

Vientiane City Tour

Vientiane

Vientiane City Tour

The first stop of the tour is the National Museum, where you can follow the history of Laos from prehistory to the present day.

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See more things to do in Laos

Laos in pictures

See a sunset over the Mekong
Visit the temple complex at Wat Phou
Travel to the remote North
Stroll among the temples at Pha That Luang
Enjoy a river cruise around the 4000 Islands
Visit the night markets of Luang Prabang
Take a cruise on the Mekong River
Try the local food and drink

Our expert guides to traveling in Laos

Written by our specialists from the viewpoint of their own travels, these guides will help you decide on the shape of your own trip to Laos. Aiming to inspire and inform, we share our recommendations for how to appreciate Laos at its best.

Laos: why you should go
Southeast Asian cuisine

Southeast Asian cuisine

Southeast Asian cuisine

Trade routes, historic connections, colonialism and common sources of ingredients have left many strong links between the dishes found throughout Southeast Asia. We investigate the very distinct national variations that have evolved in this region.

3 min read

Read this guide
Family vacations in Laos

Family vacations in Laos

Family vacations in Laos

We can highly recommend Laos as a destination for a family vacation. We can suggest suitable accommodations and excursions to ensure your family vacation here will be a truly unique and memorable experience.

1 min read

Read this guide
Indochina cruises

Indochina cruises

Indochina cruises

Southeast Asia specialist Mark shares his cruising in Indochina highlights. Picking his favorite ways to travel down the Mekong through Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, as well as taking in the limestone karsts of Halong Bay, and the local culture and landscapes along the Red River and on Lake Tonle Sap.

8 min read

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What to do in Laos: our highlights guide

What to do in Laos: our highlights guide

What to do in Laos: our highlights guide

Still very much untouched by mass tourism, Laos offers the visitor much to see and do, from watching monks perform daily rituals or taking a night safari in a national park, to learning to cook Laotian food or taking a relaxing cruise down the Mekong River.

7 min read

Read this guide
Exploring the far north of Laos

Exploring the far north of Laos

Exploring the far north of Laos

Visiting Laos is an opportunity to escape from the fast-paced lifestyle of the developed world, especially northern Laos. Soak up the tranquil atmosphere and admire the picturesque scenery of this little-visited area.

2 min read

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Laos, Asia away from it all

Laos, Asia away from it all

Laos, Asia away from it all

Laos is often overlooked: and therein lies its beauty. You can travel to isolated regions that really are remote and fall into an unhurried pace of life that has changed little in centuries. Our specialists have journeyed to outlying national parks, far-flung caves and secluded villages to find the best places to visit.

10 min read

Read this guide
Luxury vacations in Laos

Luxury vacations in Laos

Luxury vacations in Laos

If you're planning a luxury vacation to Laos we have a wide range of accommodations available. Our specialists can recommend the best places to stay to ensure you have a trip to remember.

1 min read

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Laos walking vacations: Indochina's remote backwaters

Laos walking vacations: Indochina's remote backwaters

Laos walking vacations: Indochina's remote backwaters

Laos specialist and keen hiker Laura explains why the jungle-clad hills of northern Laos are best explored on foot. She shares her suggestions for the best routes and experiences to make the most of a walking vacation in Laos.

7 min read

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Still looking for ideas? If Laos has captured your interest, we think you might also like these destinations.

Laos vacations 2024 & 2025

Suggested tours for Laos

Suggested activities for Laos

Evening Baci Ceremony

Nam Ou River Adventure

Vientiane City Tour

Why travel with Audley?

Best time to visit

Travel advice

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Laos in pictures

Our expert guides to traveling in Laos

Laos: why you should go

Southeast Asian cuisine

Family vacations in Laos

Indochina cruises

What to do in Laos: our highlights guide

Exploring the far north of Laos

Laos, Asia away from it all

Luxury vacations in Laos

Laos walking vacations: Indochina's remote backwaters

Discover more about Laos on our blog

Other popular destinations