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: 2026-10-05
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.000425
AAVE 0.000000
ADA 0.000166
AED 0.000163
AFN 0.002861
AKT 0.000056
ALGO 0.000339
ALL 0.003627
AMD 0.016073
AMP 0.070124
ANG 0.000080
AOA 0.040712
APE 0.000264
APT 0.000056
AR 0.000010
ARB 0.000221
ARS 0.067982
ATOM 0.000025
ATS 0.000546
AUD 0.000064
AVAX 0.000004
AWG 0.000079
AXS 0.000034
AZM 0.377135
AZN 0.000075
BAKE 0.184757
BAM 0.000078
BAT 0.000432
BBD 0.000089
BCH 0.000000
BDT 0.005456
BEF 0.001600
BGN 0.000078
BHD 0.000017
BIF 0.133721
BMD 0.000044
BNB 0.000000
BND 0.000057
BOB 0.000531
BRL 0.000232
BSD 0.000044
BSV 0.000002
BSW 0.106807
BTC 0.000000
BTCB 0.000626
BTG 0.000067
BTN 0.004279
BTT 118.480337
BUSD 0.000044
BWP 0.000613
BYN 0.000133
BYR 0.868376
BZD 0.000089
CAD 0.000063
CAKE 0.000018
CDF 0.102557
CELO 0.000422
CFX 0.000823
CHF 0.000037
CHZ 0.002655
CLP 0.043474
CNH 0.000298
CNY 0.000297
COMP 0.000002
COP 0.145545
CRC 0.020325
CRO 0.000650
CRV 0.000116
CSPR 0.017211
CUC 0.000044
CUP 0.001062
CVE 0.004375
CVX 0.000019
CYP 0.000023
CZK 0.000969
DAI 0.000044
DASH 0.000001
DCR 0.000002
DEM 0.000078
DFI 0.067064
DJF 0.007912
DKK 0.000297
DOGE 0.000466
DOP 0.002656
DOT 0.000037
DYDX 0.000307
DZD 0.005932
EEK 0.000621
EGLD 0.000010
EGP 0.002336
ENJ 0.001327
EOS 0.000460
ERN 0.000666
ESP 0.006601
ETB 0.007244
ETC 0.000005
ETH 0.000000
EUR 0.000040
EURC 0.000040
FEI 0.000044
FIL 0.000042
FIM 0.000236
FJD 0.000100
FKP 0.000034
FLOW 0.001403
FLR 0.006142
FRAX 0.000045
FRF 0.000260
FTT 0.000174
GALA 0.017891
GBP 0.000034
GEL 0.000115
GGP 0.000034
GHC 5.201829
GHS 0.000520
GIP 0.000034
GMD 0.003286
GMX 0.000005
GNF 0.390507
GNO 0.000000
GRD 0.013519
GRT 0.001482
GT 0.000004
GTQ 0.000339
GUSD 0.000044
GYD 0.009274
HBAR 0.000430
HKD 0.000348
HNL 0.001194
HNT 0.000077
HOT 0.099094
HRK 0.000299
HT 0.001229
HTG 0.005806
HUF 0.014628
ICP 0.000014
IDR 0.796026
IEP 0.000031
ILS 0.000135
IMP 0.000034
IMX 0.000244
INJ 0.000006
INR 0.004279
IQD 0.058088
IRR 77.380236
ISK 0.005443
ITL 0.076817
JEP 0.000034
JMD 0.007018
JOD 0.000031
JPY 0.007014
KAS 0.001039
KAVA 0.000644
KCS 0.000006
KDA 0.004775
KES 0.005714
KGS 0.003880
KHR 0.179883
KLAY 0.001177
KMF 0.019518
KNC 0.000315
KPW 0.039874
KRW 0.059745
KSM 0.000009
KWD 0.000014
KYD 0.000037
KZT 0.019899
LBP 3.977435
LDO 0.000095
LEO 0.000005
LINK 0.000003
LKR 0.014663
LRC 0.004217
LRD 0.007619
LSL 0.000742
LTC 0.000001
LTL 0.000137
LUF 0.001600
LUNA 0.000874
LUNC 0.843591
LVL 0.000028
LYD 0.000284
MAD 0.000437
MANA 0.000437
MBX 0.001491
MDL 0.000792
MGA 0.197719
MGF 0.988593
MINA 0.000277
MKD 0.002430
MKR 0.000000
MMK 0.093139
MNT 0.159690
MOP 0.000359
MRO 0.017818
MRU 0.001782
MTL 0.000017
MUR 0.002150
MVR 0.000686
MWK 0.076879
MXN 0.000809
MXV 0.000092
MYR 0.000181
MZM 2.832133
MZN 0.002832
NAD 0.000742
NEAR 0.000009
NEO 0.000017
NEXO 0.000052
NFT 184.584830
NGN 0.058882
NIO 0.001630
NLG 0.000087
NOK 0.000429
NPR 0.006850
NZD 0.000079
OKB 0.000000
OMR 0.000017
ONE 0.000303
OP 0.000339
ORDI 0.000010
PAB 0.000044
PAXG 0.000000
PEN 0.000154
PEPE 10.104313
PGK 0.000199
PHP 0.002784
PI 0.000511
PKR 0.012285
PLN 0.000174
POL 0.000409
PTE 0.007954
PYG 0.259044
QAR 0.000161
QNT 0.000000
QTUM 0.000045
ROL 2.120207
RON 0.000212
RPL 0.000023
RSD 0.004636
RUB 0.003721
RUNE 0.000057
RVN 0.018604
RWF 0.065539
SAND 0.000608
SAR 0.000166
SBD 0.000358
SCR 0.000633
SDD 2.663194
SDG 0.026632
SEK 0.000447
SGD 0.000057
SHIB 7.517349
SHP 0.000034
SIT 0.009507
SKK 0.001195
SLE 0.001022
SLL 1.022467
SNX 0.000176
SOL 0.000000
SOS 0.025284
SPL 0.000007
SRD 0.001678
SRG 1.677819
SSP 0.253457
STD 0.980318
STN 0.000980
STX 0.000112
SUI 0.000036
SVC 0.000388
SYP 0.576052
SZL 0.000742
THB 0.001495
THETA 0.000196
TJS 0.000409
TMM 0.776439
TMT 0.000155
TND 0.000133
TOP 0.000107
TRL 2,181.118426
TRX 0.000132
TRY 0.002181
TTD 0.000301
TUSD 0.000044
TVD 0.000064
TWD 0.001411
TWT 0.000078
TZS 0.116771
UAH 0.001995
UGX 0.176963
UNI 0.000005
USD 0.000044
USDC 0.000044
USDD 0.000044
USDP 0.000044
USDT 0.000044
UYU 0.001787
UZS 0.522526
VAL 0.076817
VEB 3,847,149.895629
VED 0.038471
VEF 3,847.149896
VES 0.038471
VET 0.005104
VND 1.154188
VUV 0.005344
WAVES 0.000147
WEMIX 0.000227
WOO 0.003290
WST 0.000123
XAF 0.026024
XAG 0.000001
XAU 0.000000
XAUT 0.000000
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.000120
XCG 0.000080
XCH 0.000028
XDC 0.001349
XDR 0.000033
XEC 5.461437
XEM 0.077599
XLM 0.000199
XMR 0.000000
XOF 0.026024
XPD 0.000000
XPF 0.004734
XPT 0.000000
XRP 0.000029
XTZ 0.000135
YER 0.010488
ZAR 0.000742
ZEC 0.000000
ZIL 0.012381
ZMK 0.871359
ZMW 0.000871
ZWD 0.016057
ZWG 0.001188
ZWL 2.967417

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.