About Laos
Laos is an escape from today’s busy, fast growing and highly competitive world. Laos is a small country of only 5 million people rich in beautiful mountains, rivers and lakes. Visiting Laos will take you back in time to the old days of Asian civilization where things move slowly, where the beauties of life lie within the warm and friendly hearts of the people, and where original architecture can be found the same as they were centuries ago.
Laos the ‘forgotten land’ features one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious stories as it was once known as “the kingdom of million elephants”.
Laos is bordered by five neighboring countries namely China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. Yet, Laos is the least touristed country in the region, which has been forgotten by many while fondly remembered by a few. Nonetheless, the “land of million elephants” boasts one of the most livable nations on the planet due to its laid-back, easy-going and peaceful society.
Tourist Visa
ASEAN citizens can enter Laos without a visa but all other tourists need a tourist visa. A 30-day entry permit is usually issued for most nationalities in the case where visa is applied for prior to travel (at Lao Embassies). For visa on arrival, a 15-day entry permit is granted.
There are two ways to obtain Lao visas: apply for visas at Lao embassies/consulates before travel or obtain visas on arrival. Because there are many ports of entry visas can be attained at following locations:
- Vientiane, the Capital
- Wattay International airport
- Friendship Bridge (via Thai domestic flights to Oudon Thani)
- Luang Prabang
- Luang Prabang International airport
- Some but not all border crossings
Visa cost: US$30
Visit http://www.mofa.gov.la/ for more details.
How to get to Laos
By Plane
The international airports at Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Carriers that fly to these airports include Lao Airlines (national airline), Thai Airways, Vietnam Airlines and Bangkok Airways. Alternatively, travel can be done from Udon Thani Airport in Thailand. Then take a bus directly from Oudon Thani to Nongkhai (where the Friendship Bridge is located) and then from Nongkhai to Vientiane which is about 17km away. Traveling from Oudon Thani to Nongkhai takes about 60 minutes.
By land
Foreign visitors can get in and leave Laos overland from/to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and China. However, entering and/or exiting Laos overland from and/or to Myanmar is not permitted.
Tourists can also cross borders via the Friendship Bridge on the Mekong River between Nongkhai, Thailand and Vientiane, Laos. The following Mekong crossings are also popular:
- Chiang Khong (norther Thailand/ Huay Xai (in Bokeo province, Laos),
- Nakhon Phanom (in Nakhon Phanom province, Thailand)/ Thakek (Khammuan province, Laos)
- Mukdahan (Thailand)/ Savannakhet (Laos)
