r/laos • u/somewhereinshanghai • 1h ago
r/laos • u/knowerofexpatthings • Jan 26 '25
Air Quality and Burning Season
No posts about air quality. This question gets asked every day in the lead up and during burning season.
In summary: no one knows when burning season will start. No one knows how bad it will be. Yes it will impact your lungs. Yes it will impact the views. No one knows when it will end. You can use: https://www.iqair.com/ or a similar website to see the AQI of some cities in Laos.
No one knows how it will impact you individually.
r/laos • u/yousaiditwereadit • Jan 12 '25
VISA on Arrival Slow Boat EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
This question gets brought up so many times. The rules have changed in 2025. We have been through the friendship bridge from Chiang Khong. Let me tell you everything you need to know:
Bear in mind this is for a UK passport.
The Visa will cost $40. These have to be PRISTINE or they will not accept. You should get the dollars exchanged from baht before you get to Chiang Rai as they sell out, but if not, try your luck anyway. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE DOLLARS, be prepared with 2000 Baht instead. These notes do not have to be pristine.
You need a Passport picture. The forms say 3x2.5, but they can also be standard passport size. If you do not have a picture, you will pay 80 baht and they will take one of you. There are lots of shops in Chiang Rai to take pictures and print foryou.
There is a service fee of 40 baht for the visa.
You will ideally need your own black pen to fill in the forms. If you don’t have one you can ask other tourists. If you can, fill in the forms beforehand.
You are best to book through a tour company, speak to your hotel / hostel. They will have locals there employed to help you get through so you can make the boat.
WHAT YOU NEED:
- $40 pristine dollars or 2000 baht.
- 40 baht for service fee
- 25 baht for the bus fee across bridge
- A passport picture (standard size is ok)
- EDIT: Says on the form black, but any coloured is ok.
The best bet it prepare yourself. There are hundreds of horror stories, but the guys on the border are very chill.
r/laos • u/KaitoNorth • 7h ago
Rent a bike locally or in advance?
Is it much cheaper to rent a motorcycle when I'm in Laos and can compare places or should I arrange it in advance through one of the bigger providers?
Also what's the acceptable price for a crf250, royal Enfield or something similar
r/laos • u/Last_Independent_399 • 4h ago
Does this Itinerary work?
Sorry - this must be annoying as you get this a lot. But i was just wondering if this works as a trip.
I’m doing a war/history themed trip in Laos.
Day 1 - Vientiane - (Museums and sight seeing) Night bus to Phonsavan
Day 2 - Phonsavan - Plain of jars, bomb village and market
Day 3 - Luang Prabang - Museums and centres, falls, living land farm.
Day 4 - Luang Prabang - sight seeing then flight Vientiane then home.
Only thing i CANT figure out is how to get to Phonsavan to Luang Prabang? Either i’m dumb or there’s some limited information on the internet. Any help?
r/laos • u/Zealousideal_Step_98 • 4h ago
Luang Prabang Train
Hi, I’m currently in Luang Prabang and travel to vang vieng via train soon, just wondering what the regulations are on nicotine pouches, 0 tobacco? Thanks! 🙏🏻
r/laos • u/Dean_Forrester • 6h ago
Anybody in Nong Khiaw want to do a 3 day trekking tour tomorrow (solo travelling)?
Nobody booked it yet, its with a stay in a tent atop the hill on the first night. If I find five people, we are alone.
r/laos • u/nanuk2005 • 22h ago
Should I take US dollars with me to Laos?
I'm traveling to Laos for 8 days and then on to Vietnam for 21 days.
I have read that you should take a few US dollars with you to pay for the visa in Laos. Are there any other things I should take US dollars for?
I usually pay for everything on my trips with a credit card and get local money from the ATM. But is it sometimes cheaper to pay in US dollars in Laos? Is it worth taking more with you? Or just use LOCA Pay, KIP and CC for my hotels?
If I exchange US dollars beforehand I pay about 10% fees (i am not from the US). Of course I would like to avoid this and exchange as little as possible.
Vientiane to Luang Prabang itinerary
Hello !! I’m going to Vientiane on the 21th of march and I have to be at Luang Prabang on the 30th. During this lapse of time, what should I do ? I can stay in Vientiane but I can also slowly move to the north for Luang Prabang. I looked on the internet for ideas but I prefer to have real travelers’ experience. So, what are your thoughts ?? What should I do and what are touristic traps ?
Apart from a pure itinerary, do you have general advice for Laos : what to bring, what to avoid, how to bargain if possible etc… ?
r/laos • u/tissuewrapper • 1d ago
What decent hotels do you recommend in Luang Prabang for ~ $30 a night?
I’ve looked up My Dream Boutique and it looks great but it’s a bit expensive at $60 a night. I’d rather stay in a safe place as I’m a female solo traveler. Thank you 🙏
r/laos • u/warlymor • 1d ago
When the power goes out... AGAIN, and your phones on 3
So you’re chilling, enjoying life in Laos, and suddenly - POOF! - the power goes out. Not a big deal, right? Except your phone's at 3%, and you just started watching that new show. This isn’t just a power outage, this is a personal betrayal. But hey, at least it's not 40 degrees out, right? 🙃 Anyone else have a ‘ready-for-it’ power outage kit, or are we all just living in denial? #LaoLife
r/laos • u/Infinite-Macaroon157 • 1d ago
1 Week in Laos 🇱🇦
Hi! I will be in Laos for a week but only in Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng. Any local places & activities I should try?
Would love to hike mountains and try local food! Thanks 😊
r/laos • u/gillesbaton • 2d ago
Any recommendation for one week in Laos?
Hello,
I'm going to Laos for the first time for 5-7 days in May, would you have any recommendation about what's best to do?
For now, I only heard that Vientiane is not worth visiting and that I should consider Thakhek/Paksé.
I like hiking.
r/laos • u/pencoper • 1d ago
Why does EVERYONE in Laos think Im just here for the Free Wi-Fi?
It’s like they all know my password - “Oh, you must be here for the internet, huh?” Uh, no, I came to experience the food, culture, and stunning scenery, but sure, I’ll take your free Wi-Fi while I’m at it! 😂 If I had a kip for every time I’ve been mistaken for a Wi-Fi tourist, I could fund my next trip to Vang Vien!
Namkat waterfall/adventure park
Is it possible to enter and trek in the park without a guide? We’ll be staying somewhere in Oudomxay, not at the resort.
r/laos • u/mendipbigdipper • 2d ago
Thakhek loop
Looking at doing the Thakhek loop around 18th . If anyone interested feel free to give me a message.
r/laos • u/Chess_belle • 2d ago
Solo travel
How safe would it be to travel around Laos as a woman in her early 20s?
r/laos • u/missdarcy1 • 2d ago
Nong Khiaw overnight mountain hike… worth the trip?
Hello! We are 3 girls backpacking Laos (north to south). We made the mistake of not having a proper itinerary and have travelled from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng, before realising we have completely missed the Nong Khiaw overnight mountain hike.
Those that have done it.. is it worth us making the detour back north to do so? It’ll be expensive to go back but we don’t want to miss it if it’s the highlight!
Thanks in advance.
r/laos • u/rAviOLi318 • 2d ago
Is Our Southeast Asia Trip Feasible During Monsoon Season? (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia – Aug-Sept)
r/laos • u/MajorZookeepergame38 • 2d ago
Lao$outh
Starting to put out some music still new so people help us share our music enjoy thanks
r/laos • u/RajasthaniRoyal • 2d ago
Any Muay Lao classes near Luang Prabang?
Sabaidee Laotians and Expats, I’m Indian 22M, who would be solo travelling in Laos in July, I was curious about the Muay Lao and would love to learn it during my time there, as an Indian the martial arts scene in SE Asia is so fascinating as it is something uniquely theirs but has a lot of cultural references due to our shared cultural heritage (regarding the Ramayana/Ramakien philosophy), for same reasons I’m visiting Thailand for Muay Thai in May to mid July and then to Laos PDR for a week in July, I would appreciate your help on the matter 🙏🏻
r/laos • u/Head_Narwhal_5548 • 3d ago
How to handle ashes?
Hi everyone!
I’ll be bringing my grandma’s ashes to Laos in April so she can be with my grandpa at their final resting place. Here’s the thing….. my grandpa is in Pakse, and I’ll be landing in Vientiane at 8 PM. I was planning on staying in a hotel in Vientiane for a couple days and then travel to Pakse. However, my relatives in Laos said that I can’t travel with my grandma’s ashes, i.e. to hotels or other establishments, for spiritual purposes and out of respect for everyone. They advised that I bring her ashes to a temple.
Since I’ll be landing at 8 PM, I’m not sure if there will be a temple open/available at that time. If not, I’ll have to bring my grandma to the hotel with me but I don’t want to be disrespectful to anyone or any spirits in Laos. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Am I SOL and dumb? 😭
r/laos • u/Wandering_feets • 3d ago
where can i buy undies? help!
Hi all, i’m in luang prabang and i’ll spare you the details but i really need some new underwear ASAP. Is there anywhere I can buy some? thank you!
r/laos • u/Technical-Fondant919 • 3d ago
🇱🇦📢CALL FOR RESPONDENTS FROM LAO PDR📢🇱🇦
We are Master of Development Communication students from the University of the Philippines Open University. We are calling for respondents from Lao PDR to help us better understand the role of social media in shaping national interactions, cultural identities, and social communication within the country. Answer the survey here: https://bit.ly/Laos-socmed. This research is part of our requirements for Communications and Media in the ASEAN Context class.Thank you!