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: 2026-05-19
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.000498
AAVE 0.000001
ADA 0.000181
AED 0.000167
AFN 0.002850
AKT 0.000057
ALGO 0.000425
ALL 0.003742
AMD 0.016779
AMP 0.054489
ANG 0.000082
AOA 0.041878
APE 0.000316
APT 0.000048
AR 0.000021
ARB 0.000390
ARS 0.063648
ATOM 0.000022
ATS 0.000539
AUD 0.000064
AVAX 0.000005
AWG 0.000082
AXS 0.000039
AZM 0.387519
AZN 0.000078
BAKE 0.061662
BAM 0.000077
BAT 0.000471
BBD 0.000091
BCH 0.000000
BDT 0.005602
BEF 0.001580
BGN 0.000077
BHD 0.000017
BIF 0.135817
BMD 0.000046
BNB 0.000000
BND 0.000058
BOB 0.000316
BRL 0.000228
BSD 0.000046
BSV 0.000003
BSW 0.053264
BTC 0.000000
BTG 0.000119
BTN 0.004394
BTT 141.705168
BUSD 0.000046
BWP 0.000620
BYN 0.000125
BYR 1.253728
BZD 0.000092
CAD 0.000063
CAKE 0.000032
CDF 0.104627
CELO 0.000567
CFX 0.000774
CHF 0.000036
CHZ 0.000927
CLP 0.041078
CNH 0.000310
CNY 0.000310
COMP 0.000002
COP 0.173204
CRC 0.020639
CRO 0.000652
CRV 0.000193
CSPR 0.015433
CUC 0.000046
CUP 0.001094
CVE 0.004318
CVX 0.000026
CYP 0.000023
CZK 0.000952
DAI 0.000046
DASH 0.000001
DCR 0.000003
DEM 0.000077
DFI 0.046427
DJF 0.008112
DKK 0.000293
DOGE 0.000437
DOP 0.002699
DOT 0.000037
DYDX 0.000315
DZD 0.006052
EEK 0.000613
EGLD 0.000012
EGP 0.002431
ENJ 0.001061
EOS 0.000564
ERN 0.000684
ESP 0.006516
ETB 0.007179
ETC 0.000005
ETH 0.000000
EUR 0.000039
EURC 0.000039
FEI 0.000046
FIL 0.000047
FIM 0.000233
FJD 0.000101
FKP 0.000034
FLOW 0.001263
FLR 0.005458
FRAX 0.000046
FRF 0.000257
FTT 0.000141
GALA 0.013559
GBP 0.000034
GEL 0.000122
GGP 0.000034
GHC 5.215491
GHS 0.000522
GIP 0.000034
GMD 0.003368
GMX 0.000007
GNF 0.399908
GNO 0.000000
GRD 0.013345
GRT 0.001813
GT 0.000006
GTQ 0.000348
GUSD 0.000046
GYD 0.009535
HBAR 0.000506
HKD 0.000357
HNL 0.001213
HNT 0.000055
HOT 0.114903
HRK 0.000295
HT 0.000314
HTG 0.005967
HUF 0.014122
ICP 0.000018
IDR 0.808093
IEP 0.000031
ILS 0.000132
IMP 0.000034
IMX 0.000268
INJ 0.000009
INR 0.004394
IQD 0.059735
IRR 60.095314
ISK 0.005616
ITL 0.075830
JEP 0.000034
JMD 0.007209
JOD 0.000032
JPY 0.007246
KAS 0.001319
KAVA 0.000792
KCS 0.000006
KDA 0.005481
KES 0.005896
KGS 0.003988
KHR 0.182849
KLAY 0.000876
KMF 0.019267
KNC 0.000318
KPW 0.041030
KRW 0.068621
KSM 0.000009
KWD 0.000014
KYD 0.000038
KZT 0.021392
LBP 4.087074
LDO 0.000128
LEO 0.000005
LINK 0.000005
LKR 0.015183
LRC 0.002813
LRD 0.008356
LSL 0.000759
LTC 0.000001
LTL 0.000135
LUF 0.001580
LUNA 0.000720
LUNC 0.580035
LVL 0.000028
LYD 0.000289
MAD 0.000420
MANA 0.000517
MBX 0.001164
MDL 0.000789
MGA 0.190765
MGF 0.953827
MINA 0.000798
MKD 0.002413
MKR 0.000000
MMK 0.095705
MNT 0.163167
MOP 0.000368
MRO 0.018228
MRU 0.001823
MTL 0.000017
MUR 0.002156
MVR 0.000704
MWK 0.079348
MXN 0.000789
MXV 0.000089
MYR 0.000181
MZM 2.911870
MZN 0.002912
NAD 0.000759
NEAR 0.000028
NEO 0.000016
NEXO 0.000051
NFT 161.193214
NGN 0.062507
NIO 0.001676
NLG 0.000086
NOK 0.000423
NPR 0.007034
NZD 0.000078
OKB 0.000001
OMR 0.000018
ONE 0.022242
OP 0.000355
ORDI 0.000011
PAB 0.000046
PAXG 0.000000
PEN 0.000156
PEPE 12.379842
PGK 0.000201
PHP 0.002813
PI 0.000300
PKR 0.012702
PLN 0.000166
POL 0.000502
PTE 0.007851
PYG 0.277483
QAR 0.000166
QNT 0.000001
QTUM 0.000050
ROL 2.040164
RON 0.000204
RPL 0.000026
RSD 0.004597
RUB 0.003304
RUNE 0.000102
RVN 0.008249
RWF 0.066658
SAND 0.000633
SAR 0.000171
SBD 0.000365
SCR 0.000669
SDD 2.736470
SDG 0.027365
SEK 0.000429
SGD 0.000058
SHIB 7.909507
SHP 0.000034
SIT 0.009385
SKK 0.001180
SLE 0.001044
SLL 1.044239
SNX 0.000147
SOL 0.000001
SOS 0.026052
SPL 0.000008
SRD 0.001697
SRG 1.697089
SSP 0.214941
STD 0.969831
STN 0.000970
STX 0.000191
SUI 0.000043
SVC 0.000399
SYP 0.005039
SZL 0.000759
THB 0.001487
THETA 0.000231
TJS 0.000424
TMM 0.799476
TMT 0.000160
TND 0.000132
TON 0.000023
TOP 0.000108
TRL 2,078.163586
TRX 0.000128
TRY 0.002078
TTD 0.000309
TUSD 0.000046
TVD 0.000064
TWD 0.001442
TWT 0.000095
TZS 0.118627
UAH 0.002012
UGX 0.171816
UNI 0.000013
USD 0.000046
USDC 0.000046
USDD 0.000046
USDP 0.000046
USDT 0.000046
UYU 0.001827
UZS 0.548543
VAL 0.075830
VEB 2,358,504.299128
VED 0.023584
VEF 2,358.399079
VES 0.023584
VET 0.006768
VND 1.200411
VUV 0.005413
WAVES 0.000120
WEMIX 0.000169
WOO 0.002700
WST 0.000123
XAF 0.025689
XAG 0.000001
XAU 0.000000
XAUT 0.000000
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.000123
XCG 0.000082
XCH 0.000016
XDC 0.001467
XDR 0.000033
XEC 6.215113
XEM 0.068502
XLM 0.000311
XMR 0.000000
XOF 0.025689
XPD 0.000000
XPF 0.004673
XPT 0.000000
XRP 0.000033
XTZ 0.000133
YER 0.010879
ZAR 0.000759
ZEC 0.000000
ZIL 0.011596
ZMK 0.861656
ZMW 0.000862
ZWD 0.016499
ZWG 0.001181
ZWL 2.951629

No currencies match your search.

Cities in Laos 137
Browse all cities and towns
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.