Transport | Emergency Contacts | Foreign Embassies

Entry Procedures

VISA	Valid passport with entry visa is required for all visitor.
Tourist Visa	Tourist visa is valid for 15 days staying, but following the policy of the National Tourism Authority of Lao PDR, foreign tourists are advised to buy a package tour through licensed agencies. Otherwise, the tourist visa will not be granted.
Overland Entry	From Thailand: Nongkhai/Vientiane Mukdahane/Savannakhet Chiangkhong/Houeyxay Ubon Rachathani/Pakse Nakhorn/Savannakhet From Vietnam: Quangtri/Savannakhet Vinh/Laksao From China: Jonghong Mengla/Luang Namtha

Air Entry to Vientiane International Airport

Bangkok by Lao Aviation or Thai Airways Chiangmai by Lao Aviation Hanoi by Lao Aviation or Vietnam Airlines Hochiminh by Lao Aviation Khunming by Lao Aviation or Yunnan Airlines Kuala Lumpur by Silk Air Phnom Penh by Lao Aviation or Silk Air Rangoon by Lao Aviation Singapore by Silk Air

Custom

Antiques items such as Buddha images and others old cultural artifacts are prohibited to be taken out of Laos. If you have already traveled in neighboring countries, you are advised to declare your valuable items to the customs to prevent any inconvenience upon departure. One, who buys silver or copper items in Laos, are also required to pay custom duty according to weight at the airport.

REMEMBER: when you leave Vientiane, there is a US $5.00 departure tax to be paid at the Airport. Check in an hour before your flight and go through immigration at least half an hour before departure time.

Transportation

Taxis:
On arrival at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, taxis are available to take you into town. The airport is about ten minutes from the town center and though some taxis have no meters, there is a price list posted at the airport lounge for your guidance.

Domestic Flights:
Lao Aviation offers multiple flights from Vientiane to the following provincial capitals: Luang Prabang (daily), Savannakhet (daily), Luang Namtha (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun), Xieng Khouang (daily), Pakse (daily), Oudomxai (Tu, Th, Sat, Sun), Xayyabuli (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun), Houixay (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat), Thakhek (Fri), and Saravane (via Savannakhet, Sun. only).

River transport:
The Mekong River is the longest and most important water route, flowing through 2030 km of Laos, providing a natural means of transportation. However, its navigability is limited to 1330 km, mainly because of rapids between Savannakhet and Pakse, the Khong Falls, and low water levels during the dry season. Beside the Mekong River, the following rivers are also used for water transportation: Nam Ou, Nam Khan, Nam Tha, Nam Hgur, and Se Don.

Road Network:
Lao PDR has 13100 km of road network, excluding forest and mining roads, consisting of national, provincial and local roads.
The 3390 km of national roads link major towns, provincial capitals and provide connections to neighboring countries. 1620 km of them are paved. The rest are mostly earth-surfaced, connecting towns and large villages within provinces.
The backbone of the road system is the National Road No. 13, 1370 km long, linking Pak Mong in the North with Khong in the South, passing through major urban areas of Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Savannakhet and Champasack.
National Road No. 9 leads to the Vietnamese border.

Emergencies Contacts

Medical Care:
International medical clinic is operated by Mahosot Hospital, situated at the Bank of Mekong River on the Fa Ngum road. It is daily opened 24 hours. Tel: 21-4018, 21-4022, 21-4025.

The Australian and Swedish Embassies each operate up-to-date medical clinics, primarily for Embassy staff. However, consultation, and/or treatment of non-Embassy staff is undertaken, with payment as prescribed, and circumstances warranting, may be refused.

The Australian Embassy Clinic Nehru, Street Phonexay. Tel: 41-3603, 41-3610, 41-2343. Open Mon, Tu, Th, Fri; 08:30-12:00 and 14:00-17:00 and Wed; 8:30-12:00

The Swedish Embassy Clinic Sok Paluang. Tel: 31-5015 (clinic), 21-7010, 31-5018 (Embassy) Open Mon, Tu, Wed, Fri; 08:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00 and Th; 08:00-12:00

Police:
Emergency Tel: 41-2536 (Police of Prefecture)

Chanthabouri District: 21-3907-8
Xayasettha District: 41-2455
Sikhottabong District: 21-2712
Sisatanak District: 41-2538

International phones:
The central telephone office is located on Setthathilath Road near Nam Phu Circle (Nam Phu Fountain), and is opened from 08:00 to 22:00 daily. Fax, and telefax services are also available.
International Direct Dialing is available in Vientiane. When calling from overseas: the country code is 856, and the city code is 21.

Foreign Embassies

Australia	Nehru Street, Vat Phonsay area. Tel: 41-3610, 41-3805, 41-3602.
Bulgaria	Sisangvone Area Tel: 41-110
Cambodia	Saphathong Nua Area Tel: 31-4952, Fax: 31-2584.
China	Vat Nak Street, Sisattanak Area Tel: 31-5103, 31-5100, 31-5101.
Cuba	Saphathong Nua Area Tel: 31-4902
France	Setthathirath Road Tel: 21-5258, 21-5259, Fax: 21-5255.
Germany	26 Sokpaluang Road Tel: 31-2111, 31-2110
India	That Luang Road, Vat Phonsay Area Tel: 41-3802.
Indonesia	Phon Kheng Road Tel: 41-3910, 41-3909, 41-3907, 41-3914
Japan	Sisangvone Road Tel: 21-2623, 41-4400-2, 41-4406, Fax: 41-4403
Korea (PDR)	Vat Nak Street, Sisattanak Tel: 31-5261, 31-5260
Malaysia	That Luang Street, Vat Phonsay Area Tel: 41-4205
Myanmar	Sokpaluang Street, Sisattanak Area Tel: 31-2439, 31-4910
Poland	Thadeua Road, Km 3 Tel: 31-2219, 31-2085
Russia	Tel: 31-2219, 31-222
Sweden	Sokpaluang Street, Vat Nak Tel: 31-5018, 31-5000, 31-3772, Fax: 31-5003
Thailand	Phonkheng Road Tel: 21-4582-3, 21-4585
U.S.A.	That Dam Tel: 21-2580-2, 31-2609, Fax: 21-2584
Vietnam	That Luang Road Tel: 41-3400, 41-3409, 41-3403

Entire contents copyright © 1997 by the Lao Embassy, Washington D.C. All Rights Reserved.