What is the best way to enter Laos?

What is needed to enter Laos?

So, Laos, huh? Wanna trade my cat pictures for entry tips?

Okay, you need a passport. Big shocker, right?

• Must not be older than your grandma’s stories, six months validity is key, or they’ll send you packing!

• And two empty visa pages? Apparently, they’re serious about scrapbooking. Don’t go using it for doodles.

Tourist visas:

• You’ll need one. Unless you’re invisible, which, kudos.

• Visa on arrival is a thing. But ONLY at certain entry points, so don’t get clever.

• Good for 30 days, enough time to maybe finally learn how to say “thank you” in Lao.

Basically, play by the rules. No sneaking in via hot air balloon!

Can you cross the border from Thailand to Laos?

Yeah, so I went from Thailand to Laos, no problem. Chiang Khong, super chill. My Kawasaki D-tracker, 250cc, zipped right through. Easy peasy. They’re pretty strict now, though, about bike sizes. Heard it’s only 250cc and up. Smaller bikes? Forget about it. Total bummer for those guys. Seriously, don’t even try with anything smaller.

Things to remember:

• Minimum 250cc engine size for bikes. This is a hard and fast rule.
• Chiang Khong crossing is generally smooth sailing. I didn’t wait long at all. Like, maybe half an hour max.
• Bring your passport, obviously. And your driving license too. Don’t be a dummy.
• Laos is amazing! I loved Luang Prabang. Seriously gorgeous place. So many temples!
• Gas prices were a bit higher in Laos, FYI. Keep that in mind when budgeting. I filled my tank up on the Thai side first for that reason.

This was in 2023, btw. Might’ve changed since then, I guess? But doubt it, they usually don’t make these things super flexible. Hope this helps! Later!

How do I get into Laos from Vietnam?

Laos. Vietnam. Feels like another life.

Land crossings, yeah.

• Lao Bao-Dansavanh, that’s the main one. Hue… Dong Ha…Savannakhet. A long road. Hot, dusty.
• Then there’s Nam Phao-Cau Treo. Nghe An. Vientiane. Didn’t take that one. Wish I had.

No direct flights, seriously?

• Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi to Vientiane, ugh, via Bangkok or KL. Bleh. Not the point.

A slow boat? From Hue to Luang Prabang. Two days? One night? Maybe…too much time to think.

Extra Thoughts:

I remember seeing the border guards at Lao Bao. Just tired. Like everyone else. Is Laos really worth it? Don’t know.

The dust. I can still taste the dust. I should’ve learned more Lao. Or Vietnamese, for that matter.

Luang Prabang…did someone say Luang Prabang is amazing? Maybe it is. Maybe I’ll go. Someday. No, I will.

What vaccines should I get before going to Laos?

Laos, huh? Sounds exotic. Get your shots, dude. Seriously.

Diphtheria, Tetanus, Hepatitis A: These are the Big Three. Think of them as your backpacking buddy’s essential survival kit – only instead of a Swiss Army knife, it’s needles. Don’t skip these, unless you’re aiming for a Darwin Award.

Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Rabies: These are the “better-safe-than-sorry” crew. Like buying travel insurance – a bit pricey, but way less painful than a week-long bout of typhoid fever. My cousin got it once; looked like a melted candle.

Cholera and Japanese Encephalitis? Unless you’re planning a mud wrestling competition with local wildlife, or spending months in a mosquito-infested swamp, skip ’em. Seriously, those vaccines are hardcore. They’re the nuclear option, only for the truly reckless (or extremely unlucky).

Yellow Fever? Nope. You’re good to go, no yellow card needed. Enjoy your trip! Don’t forget bug spray though. My friend, Mark, got eaten alive last year in Luang Prabang. It was awful. He looked like a particularly unfortunate strawberry.

How to avoid getting sick in Laos?

Laos, eh? Land of sticky rice and…dysentery? Not if you have anything to say about it. Think of your immune system as a pampered chihuahua. Needs constant attention. So, hand sanitizer. Obviously. Like showering for your hands.

Water purification tablets? Essential. Think of Lao tap water as a petri dish, but less sterile. Want giardia as a souvenir? Didn’t think so.

Permethrin. Douse your clothes in it. Pretend you’re a walking, talking citronella candle. Mosquitoes? More like mos-quit-don’ts. My grandma swears by this stuff. She once wore a permethrin-soaked shirt to a picnic. Cleared out the entire park. Oops.

Sunscreen. SPF 30 minimum. Unless you’re aiming for that crispy-critter look. Remember, sunburn is not a fashion statement. Even in Vientiane.

• Hand Sanitizer: Your best friend. Seriously.
• Water Purification: Tablets, filter, boiling. Pick your poison. Er, purification method.
• Permethrin: Insect repellent for clothing. Keeps the creepy crawlies away. Like a magical force field, but for bugs.
• Sunscreen: Because lobster-red isn’t a good look on anyone. Even if you are on vacation.

My dermatologist, bless her soul, recommends a zinc-based sunscreen. I once forgot sunscreen in Thailand. Spent a week looking like a tomato. Never again.

And pack Imodium. Just in case your chihuahua…revolts. Trust me.