Asia · South-Eastern Asia

Laos

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Flag of Laos
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC+07:00
🏛️ Capital
Vientiane
👥 Population
7,647,000
📐 Area
236,800 km²
💱 Currency
Lao kip (₭)
🗣️ Languages
Lao
📞 Calling Code
+856
🕐 Time Zones
UTC+07:00
🌐 Region
Asia / South-Eastern Asia

About Laos

Laos is Southeast Asia's most serene and spiritually rich destination — a landlocked nation where the pace of life deliberately slows, where Buddhist monks in saffron robes collect alms at dawn, and where the mighty Mekong River carries wooden boats through landscapes of extraordinary, unhurried beauty. In a region where mass tourism has reshaped much, Laos retains an authenticity and gentleness that feels increasingly rare. This is a country that asks you to exhale, look closely, and rediscover the art of simply being present.

You will move through Laos at a different rhythm. The ancient royal city of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, enchants with its gilded temple spires, colonial French architecture, and the alms-giving ceremony at dawn that unfolds with the precision and grace of something performed for centuries — because it has been. Further south, the karst mountains of Vang Vieng frame a river landscape that draws adventurers for kayaking, caving, and trekking through jungle-draped limestone formations.

Vientiane, the capital, is one of Southeast Asia's smallest and most manageable capitals — a riverside city where French baguettes are sold from bicycles, temples sit beside colonial-era shophouses, and the pace is so unhurried it feels almost dreamlike. In the far north, hilltribe villages cling to forested ridgelines and traditional weaving and crafts are preserved as living culture. In the south, the 4,000 Islands archipelago on the Mekong offers hammock-strung bungalows and the chance to spot rare Irrawaddy dolphins. Laos rewards those who arrive without a rigid schedule.

History & Background

Laos traces its national identity to the Lan Xang Kingdom — the Kingdom of a Million Elephants — founded in 1353 by King Fa Ngum, who unified the Lao-speaking peoples of the Mekong Valley and established Buddhism as the state religion. At its peak in the 16th and 17th centuries, Lan Xang was one of Southeast Asia's most powerful kingdoms, controlling trade routes and exerting cultural influence across the region. The kingdom eventually fractured into three rival principalities — Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and Champasak — which were subsequently absorbed into the French colonial empire as part of French Indochina in 1893.

Independence came in 1954, but peace was fleeting. Laos became deeply enmeshed in the Vietnam War, and between 1964 and 1973 the country endured the most intensive aerial bombardment in history, with the USA dropping over 2 million tonnes of bombs — more than were dropped on Europe during the entire Second World War. Unexploded ordnance remains a tragic legacy affecting communities to this day. The communist Pathet Lao movement took power in 1975, establishing the Lao PDR. The country has cautiously opened economically since the 1990s while maintaining one-party rule, and the scars and resilience of its modern history are woven into every aspect of contemporary Lao life.

Culture & People

Theravada Buddhism is the bedrock of Lao culture, shaping everything from architecture and visual arts to the rhythms of daily life and the moral framework by which most Lao people navigate the world. The sangha — the community of monks — holds tremendous respect in Lao society, and the practice of tak bat (alms giving at dawn) is not a tourist performance but a genuine living devotion observed every morning across the country. Temples serve as community centres, schools, and places of refuge, and most Lao men spend at least a few months in the monastery at some point in their lives.

The Lao people are known throughout Southeast Asia for their gentle temperament and the concept of boh pen nyang — roughly translated as "never mind" or "no worries" — which reflects a cultural philosophy of equanimity and acceptance. Traditional Lao arts including brocade silk weaving, silversmithing, and Buddhist manuscript illumination are maintained with great care. Festivals are central to the cultural calendar; Boun Pi Mai (Lao New Year) in April transforms the country with water fights, processions, and communal feasting that bridges the sacred and the joyful.

Food & Cuisine

Lao cuisine is one of Southeast Asia's most distinctive and underappreciated food traditions. Khao niao — sticky rice — is the national staple, eaten by hand at every meal and considered central to Lao identity; a Lao proverb holds that you are not truly Lao unless you eat sticky rice. It accompanies laab — a salad of minced meat dressed with lime juice, fish sauce, toasted rice powder, and fresh herbs — which is perhaps the most defining dish of the Lao kitchen. Tam mak hoong, a fiery green papaya salad pounded in a large mortar with chillis, garlic, lime, and fish sauce, is eaten daily across the country.

The Mekong provides abundant freshwater fish that feature in countless preparations — grilled whole with lemongrass, steamed in banana leaves, or fermented into padaek, a pungent fermented fish paste that underpins much of Lao flavouring. Lao cuisine is characterised by its use of fresh herbs — mint, dill, spring onion, and sawtooth coriander — and its preference for sour and herbal notes over the sweetness prevalent in Thai cooking. In Luang Prabang, French colonial influence produced a hybrid culinary culture, and fresh baguettes are still sold every morning from bicycle baskets, served with pâté and fresh vegetables in a uniquely Lao style.

Top Attractions

  • Luang Prabang — UNESCO World Heritage city of gilded temples, French colonial architecture, and dawn alms-giving ceremonies.
  • Kuang Si Falls — Spectacular turquoise tiered waterfall 30 km from Luang Prabang, surrounded by jungle and resident sun bears.
  • Plain of Jars — Mysterious ancient archaeological landscape near Phonsavan scattered with thousands of giant stone urns.
  • Vang Vieng — Karst mountain town on the Nam Song River, popular for kayaking, caving, cycling, and hot air ballooning.
  • Bolaven Plateau — Southern highland region of coffee plantations, ethnic minority villages, and stunning waterfalls including Tad Fane.
  • Si Phan Don (4,000 Islands) — Mekong River archipelago in the far south, with languid villages, river dolphins, and Khone Phapheng Falls.

Practical Travel Tips

  • Dress modestly when visiting temples — cover shoulders and knees, and remove shoes before entering any temple building.
  • Watch the dawn alms-giving ceremony in Luang Prabang respectfully from a distance; do not intrude or use flash photography.
  • Carry small denomination Lao kip for markets and street food; US dollars and Thai baht are also widely accepted.
  • Book the slow boat journey on the Mekong from Thailand to Luang Prabang in advance during peak season — it sells out.
  • Bargaining is acceptable in markets but keep it friendly and proportionate; remember prices are often already very low.
  • Drink only bottled or purified water and be cautious with raw salads and street ice outside established eateries.
  • Tuk-tuks and songthaews (covered pick-up trucks) are the main local transport; always agree on a price before boarding.

Visa Overview

Laos offers a visa on arrival for citizens of many countries at major international airports and land border crossings, typically valid for 30 days and extendable for a further 30 days within the country. Citizens of ASEAN member states and several other countries enter visa-free. An e-visa system is also available, allowing online applications processed within a few business days. A single recent passport photo and a small fee are required on arrival. Always check the latest requirements with the Lao Department of Immigration, as policies and approved entry points can change.

Getting Around

Wattay International Airport in Vientiane and Luang Prabang International Airport handle most international arrivals. Domestic Lao Airlines flights connect major cities, saving long overland journeys. The Laos-China Railway, opened in 2021, now provides fast modern rail connections from the Chinese border through Luang Namtha to Vientiane, transforming travel in the north. Slow boats on the Mekong between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang are a classic two-day journey. Buses and minivans connect most towns, and motorbike or bicycle hire is popular for local exploration.

Safety Notes

Laos is one of Southeast Asia's safer destinations, with violent crime against tourists rare. The most serious safety concern is unexploded ordnance (UXO) in rural and former wartime areas, particularly in Xieng Khouang and along the Ho Chi Minh Trail corridor — never stray off marked paths in these regions. Traffic accidents on motorbikes are a leading cause of tourist injuries; always wear a helmet and drive carefully on unpaved mountain roads. Carry travel insurance that covers medical evacuation.

Live Exchange Rates

Current exchange rates for currencies used in Laos.

Lao kip (LAK) ₭
Updated: 2026-07-06
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.000617
AAVE 0.000001
ADA 0.000236
AED 0.000162
AFN 0.002812
AGIX 0.000567
AKT 0.000071
ALGO 0.000494
ALL 0.003626
AMD 0.016275
AMP 0.099161
ANG 0.000080
AOA 0.040621
APE 0.000316
APT 0.000071
AR 0.000022
ARB 0.000553
ARS 0.066016
ATOM 0.000028
ATS 0.000532
AUD 0.000064
AVAX 0.000006
AWG 0.000079
AXS 0.000044
AZM 0.375956
AZN 0.000075
BAKE 0.058864
BAM 0.000076
BAT 0.000502
BBD 0.000088
BCH 0.000000
BDT 0.005452
BEF 0.001561
BGN 0.000076
BHD 0.000017
BIF 0.131673
BMD 0.000044
BNB 0.000000
BND 0.000057
BOB 0.000306
BRL 0.000229
BSD 0.000044
BSV 0.000003
BSW 0.132150
BTC 0.000000
BTCB 0.000835
BTG 0.000153
BTN 0.004214
BTT 166.773160
BUSD 0.000044
BWP 0.000597
BYN 0.000128
BYR 0.866993
BZD 0.000089
CAD 0.000063
CAKE 0.000031
CDF 0.102050
CELO 0.000658
CFX 0.000989
CHF 0.000036
CHZ 0.002450
CLP 0.040745
CNH 0.000300
CNY 0.000300
COMP 0.000003
COP 0.147840
CRC 0.020155
CRO 0.000740
CRV 0.000207
CSPR 0.022774
CUC 0.000044
CUP 0.001172
CVE 0.004266
CVX 0.000037
CYP 0.000023
CZK 0.000936
DAI 0.000044
DASH 0.000001
DCR 0.000004
DEM 0.000076
DFI 0.053237
DJF 0.007877
DKK 0.000289
DOGE 0.000572
DOP 0.002621
DOT 0.000051
DYDX 0.000335
DZD 0.005882
EEK 0.000605
EGLD 0.000016
EGP 0.002173
ENJ 0.001528
EOS 0.000611
ERN 0.000663
ESP 0.006437
ETB 0.007075
ETC 0.000006
ETH 0.000000
EUR 0.000039
EURC 0.000039
FEI 0.000044
FIL 0.000056
FIM 0.000230
FJD 0.000099
FKP 0.000033
FLOW 0.001578
FLR 0.006363
FRAX 0.000045
FRF 0.000254
FTT 0.000186
GALA 0.019307
GBP 0.000033
GEL 0.000116
GGP 0.000033
GHC 5.024970
GHS 0.000502
GIP 0.000033
GMD 0.003262
GMX 0.000007
GNF 0.387789
GNO 0.000000
GRD 0.013183
GRT 0.002331
GT 0.000007
GTQ 0.000338
GUSD 0.000044
GYD 0.009258
HBAR 0.000586
HKD 0.000347
HNL 0.001184
HNT 0.000185
HOT 0.122568
HRK 0.000291
HT 0.001234
HTG 0.005789
HUF 0.013680
ICP 0.000020
IDR 0.795810
IEP 0.000030
ILS 0.000133
IMP 0.000033
IMX 0.000320
INJ 0.000009
INR 0.004214
IQD 0.057994
IRR 60.864262
ISK 0.005571
ITL 0.074909
JEP 0.000033
JMD 0.007007
JOD 0.000031
JPY 0.007159
KAS 0.001442
KAVA 0.000980
KCS 0.000006
KDA 0.007589
KES 0.005719
KGS 0.003869
KHR 0.177355
KMF 0.019033
KNC 0.000397
KPW 0.039811
KRW 0.067799
KSM 0.000013
KWD 0.000014
KYD 0.000037
KZT 0.020909
LBP 3.972012
LDO 0.000164
LEO 0.000005
LINK 0.000006
LKR 0.014812
LRC 0.003600
LRD 0.008033
LSL 0.000719
LTC 0.000001
LTL 0.000134
LUF 0.001561
LUNA 0.000901
LUNC 0.720416
LVL 0.000027
LYD 0.000284
MAD 0.000414
MANA 0.000636
MBX 0.001759
MDL 0.000778
MGA 0.187692
MGF 0.938458
MINA 0.000933
MKD 0.002383
MKR 0.000000
MMK 0.092853
MNT 0.158527
MOP 0.000357
MRO 0.017664
MRU 0.001766
MTL 0.000017
MUR 0.002079
MVR 0.000684
MWK 0.076723
MXN 0.000773
MXV 0.000088
MYR 0.000180
MZM 2.824821
MZN 0.002825
NAD 0.000719
NEAR 0.000022
NEO 0.000022
NEXO 0.000057
NFT 166.893209
NGN 0.060608
NIO 0.001628
NLG 0.000085
NOK 0.000435
NPR 0.006746
NZD 0.000078
OKB 0.000001
OMR 0.000017
ONE 0.035386
OP 0.000411
ORDI 0.000014
PAB 0.000044
PAXG 0.000000
PEN 0.000151
PEPE 16.216006
PGK 0.000195
PHP 0.002721
PI 0.000391
PKR 0.012305
PLN 0.000166
POL 0.000601
PTE 0.007756
PYG 0.269035
QAR 0.000161
QNT 0.000001
QTUM 0.000062
ROL 2.021812
RON 0.000202
RPL 0.000022
RSD 0.004538
RUB 0.003408
RUNE 0.000107
RVN 0.011606
RWF 0.064836
SAND 0.000886
SAR 0.000166
SBD 0.000358
SCR 0.000632
SDD 2.654890
SDG 0.026549
SEK 0.000427
SGD 0.000057
SHIB 10.102157
SHP 0.000033
SIT 0.009271
SKK 0.001165
SLE 0.001010
SLL 1.010213
SNX 0.000193
SOL 0.000001
SOS 0.025257
SPL 0.000007
SRD 0.001665
SRG 1.665025
SSP 0.210057
STD 0.954877
STN 0.000955
STX 0.000259
SUI 0.000059
SVC 0.000387
SYP 0.004889
SZL 0.000719
THB 0.001470
THETA 0.000315
TJS 0.000410
TMM 0.776059
TMT 0.000155
TND 0.000130
TOP 0.000107
TRL 2,070.651093
TRX 0.000135
TRY 0.002071
TTD 0.000300
TUSD 0.000044
TVD 0.000064
TWD 0.001419
TWT 0.000129
TZS 0.116219
UAH 0.001971
UGX 0.161640
UNI 0.000014
USD 0.000044
USDC 0.000044
USDD 0.000044
USDP 0.000044
USDT 0.000044
UYU 0.001780
UZS 0.529337
VAL 0.074909
VEB 2,850,356.970977
VED 0.028501
VEF 2,850.103204
VES 0.028501
VET 0.009376
VND 1.163261
VUV 0.005316
WAVES 0.000166
WEMIX 0.000171
WOO 0.003735
WST 0.000122
XAF 0.025377
XAG 0.000001
XAU 0.000000
XAUT 0.000000
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.000120
XCG 0.000080
XCH 0.000028
XDC 0.001574
XDR 0.000033
XEC 8.326589
XEM 0.103319
XLM 0.000222
XMR 0.000000
XOF 0.025377
XPD 0.000000
XPF 0.004617
XPT 0.000000
XRP 0.000039
XTZ 0.000178
YER 0.010482
ZAR 0.000719
ZEC 0.000000
ZIL 0.014338
ZMK 0.811591
ZMW 0.000812
ZWD 0.016007
ZWG 0.001186
ZWL 2.964509

No currencies match your search.

Cities in Laos 137
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Ban Nahin Ban Thadindeng Ban Veunkhen Champasak Davasan Gnommalat Houahat Huayxay Mahaxai Mok Muang Huong Muang Khong Muang Khongxedon Muang Saen Pakxan Pakxe Phongsaly Samakhixai Sanmouay Saravan Savannakhet Sekong Thakek Vieng Thong Xaignabury Xam Nua Xethamouak Xônboul ກາສີ ຄອບ ຈຳປາສັກ ຊະນະຄາມ ຊຳເໜືອ ຊຳໃຕ້ ຊຽງຄໍ້ ຊຽງຮ່ອນ ຊຽງເງິນ ຍອດອູ ດອນ ດອນຕະລາດ ດັກຈືງ ດົງສະຫວ່າງ ຕາແຫຼວເກົ່າ ຕຸ້ມລານ ຕົ້ນເຜິ້ງ ຖິ່ນແກ້ວ ທ່າງອນ ທ່າບົກ ທ່າແຂກ ທ່າໂທມ ທົ່ງມີໄຊ ນາກາຍ ນາໝໍ້ ນຳ້ເນີນ ບູນເໜືອ ບູນໃຕ້ ບໍລິຄັນ ບໍ່ເຕັນ ປະທຸມພອນ ປາກກະດິງ ປາກຊ່ອງ ປາກຊ່ອງ ປາກຊັນ ປາກທາ ປາກລາຍ ປາກເຊ ປາກແບ່ງ ຜາອຸດົມ ຜາໄຊ ຜົ້ງສາລີ ພູກູດ ພູຄູນ ພຽງ ລອງ ລະຫານ້ຳທົ່ງ ວັງວຽງ ວາປີ ວີລະບຸລີ ວຽງຄຳ ວຽງຈັນ ວຽງທອງ ວຽງທອງ ວຽງພູຄາ ວຽງໄຊ ສະໜາມໄຊ ສະຫວັນນະເຂດ ສາມຫຼ່ຽມຄຳ 金三角 ສາລະວັນ ສຸຂຸມາ ສົບເບົາ ໜອງແຮດ ຫລັກ ໒໐ ຫ້ວຍຊາຍ ຫິນເຫີບ ຫົງສາ ຫົວເມືອງ ຫຼວງນ້ຳທາ ຫຼວງພະບາງ ອະນຸວົງ ອັດຕະປື ຮູນ ເກີນ ເງິນ ເຊກອງ ເຊໂປນ ເມິງ ເມືອງ ກ້ວນ ເມືອງ ນອງ ເມືອງ ພີນ ເມືອງ ໂພນທອງ ເມືອງຄູນ ເມືອງຄົງເຊໂດນ ເມືອງຈອມເພັດ ເມືອງຈຳພອນ ເມືອງທ່າປາງທອງ ເມືອງນານ ເມືອງນາແລ ເມືອງນ້ຳບາກ ເມືອງປາກອູ ເມືອງສິງ ເມືອງຫລາ ເມືອງເກົ່າ ເມືອງແອດ ເມືອງໂພນໄຊ ເມືອງໃໝ່ ເມືອງໄຊ ເລົ່າຄໍ ແກ່ນທ້າວ ແບງ ໂຂງ ໂພນທອງ ໂພນສະຫວັນ ໂພນໂຮງ ໄຊຈຳພອນ ໄຊຍະບູລີ ໄຊເສດຖາ ໄຮ່

Visa Requirements

Check what visa a citizen of Laos needs to enter any country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of Laos?
The capital of Laos is Vientiane.
What currency does Laos use?
Laos uses the Lao kip (₭) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in Laos?
The official language(s) of Laos include Lao.
What is the population of Laos?
Laos has a population of approximately 7,647,000 people.
What region is Laos in?
Laos is located in Asia, specifically in the South-Eastern Asia subregion.
What is the international calling code for Laos?
The international dialing code for Laos is +856.
What time zones does Laos observe?
Laos observes the following time zone(s): UTC+07:00.
What is the current time in Laos?
The local time in Laos is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of Laos?
Laos covers a total area of 236,800 km².
How many states or provinces does Laos have?
Laos is divided into 35 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in Laos in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for Laos in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of Laos?
Visa requirements for citizens of Laos vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.