This Laos Transportation Guide gives an indication of the options available for you to get to and from Laos, as well as getting around the country. For further detailed information about transport to specific destinations, as well as getting around, visit our Laos Destination Guides page, choose your destination, and check out the local transportation guide. The Laos Country Guide gives information about places around the country you may be interested in.

Laos Transportation Guide

Getting to Laos

By Air

Laos has three international airports: Wattay International Airport (Vientiane), approximately 3km from the city centre, Luang Prabang International Airport, and Pakse International Airport. Lao Airlines is the national carrier. There is a departure tax to be paid by each person leaving from Laos on international flights.

Lao Airlines has flights to and from:
- Bangkok & Chiang Mai (Thailand)
- Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
- Kunming (China)
- Phnom Penh (Cambodia)
- Provincial destinations within Laos

Visit our partner Air Valid for Airline Reviews and Information about Laos

Flights to Laos

By Land

- From Nongkhai (Thailand) to Vientiane via the Friendship Bridge - crossing the Mekong River by shuttle bus (open: 6:00 am to 10:00 pm).
- From Chiang Khong (northern Thailand) to Houey Xai, crossing the Mekong River by ferry.
- From Nakorn Phanom (eastern Thailand) to Thakhak District, Khammouan province crossing the Mekong River by ferry.
- From Mukdahan (Thailand) to Savannakhet province.
- From Ubon Ratchathani (Thailand) to Pakse, Champasak province via Chongmek.
- From Vinh (Vietnam) via Keo Nuea Checkpoint to Km. 20 (Lak Xao) Khamkeut District, Borikhamxai province.
- From Yunnan (South of China) via Mohan Chinese checkpoint to Boten checkpoint, Luang Namtha province.
- From Cambodia to Pakse, Champasak province.

Lao Airlines Main office
2 Pangkham Road
PO Box 4169
Vientiane, Laos
T: (856-21)-212051/212052/212053
F: (856-21)-212056
Wattay Airport Telephone: (865-21)-512028

To book flights online please visit Laos Airlines' Website.

Getting Around Laos

Once in Laos you can often get around by foot or you can rent a bicycle ($2/day), moped ($5/day) or motorbike ($25/day) from many of the guesthouses and hotels in Laos, some of which also have cars or minivans for hire. You can hire a Tuk tuk or Jumbo to go places within the city or hire a private car with a driver for longer distances. For a cheaper ride, you can share the cost of jumbos with other passengers going the same direction since they comfortably hold 6-8 passengers. Car taxis are rare except at airports adn border crossings while there are buses that go from province to province but not within cities as most Lao towns are relatively small.

Travelling down the Mekong or other rivers by slow boat is a romantic way to see Laos if not a particularly fast way to get around. Depending on the waterway, you may be able to rent a fishing pirogue, row boat, motorised river taxi or a speedboat. There is also more comfortable tour boats in operation and even a helicopter service. Check individual city guides and your hotel, guesthouse or tour company in Laos for specific information about means of travel in that area.