Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses that travelers should exercise increased caution in Laos due to civil unrest. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System.
The Institute for Economics & Peace Global Peace Index 2022 ranks Laos 51 out of 163 worldwide, rating the country as being at a high state of peace.
Crime Environment
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Vientiane as being a HIGH-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Laos, indicating that there may be widespread violent crime and/or organized crime present in the country, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond to serious crimes.
The crime emergency line in Laos is 1191. Review the State Department’s Crime Victims Assistance brochure.
Crime: General Threat
Vientiane is a relatively safe city compared to most cities of comparable size in the United States. However, there is significant risk from crime in the capital. Criminals do not target U.S. citizens based on nationality but do frequently target foreigners for crimes of opportunity. Although these criminals tend to focus on areas tourists frequent, they can strike anywhere in the city at any hour of the day or night.
The most common types of crime include purse snatchings, typically involving thieves operating on motorcycles/mopeds; pickpocketing; theft of unattended property; and residential crime. Criminals generally target homes with poor security – such as accessible windows, unlocked doors, and the absence of a guard – and do not limit their activities to nighttime hours.
Although violent crimes remain relatively uncommon, there are credible anecdotal reports of an increase in violent crime involving the use of weapons, including firearms.
Several countries including Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and others have warned citizens to exercise caution when considering travel or online job offers for IT work in Laos’s Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ) and suspicious job offers for IT work requiring travel to Thailand. Human traffickers continue to use misleading recruitment advertisements to trick foreign workers into taking positions at “cyberscam” call center operations located inside the GTSEZ and in special economic zones (SEZs) in Burma and Cambodia as well.
Below is a table of year-over-year changes of incidences of crime in Vientiane, provided by the United Nations Department of Safety & Security (UNDSS) and the Lao Ministry of Public Security (MoPS).
|
Crime Statistics Vientiane 2022 & 2023
|
|
|
2022
|
2023
|
Annual Change
|
|
Robbery
|
56
|
51
|
-9%
|
|
Larceny (Property Theft)
|
329
|
493
|
50%
|
|
Car Theft/Break-In
|
64
|
22
|
-66%
|
|
Motorbike Theft
|
1281
|
1055
|
-18%
|
|
Purse Snatching
|
127
|
50
|
-61%
|
|
Home Invasion
|
349
|
586
|
68%
|
|
Drug Trafficking
|
1037
|
1226
|
18%
|
|
Murder
|
112
|
108
|
-4%
|
|
Fire
|
56
|
66
|
18%
|
|
Assault & Battery
|
17
|
10
|
-41%
|
|
Traffic Accidents
|
1145
|
1245
|
9%
|
|
Traffic Deaths
|
190
|
155
|
-18%
|
|
Total
|
4763
|
5067
|
32%
|
Crime: Areas of Concern
U.S. government employees may not travel to Xaysomboun province due to security concerns. In 2015-2016, violent clashes between Lao security officials and organized criminal groups resulted in injuries and deaths from small-arms fire and crude improvised explosive devices (IEDs). At least one foreign company operating in Xaysomboun uses armed military escorts and travels only during daylight hours.
U.S. government employees may not travel along Route 13 between Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang due to unsafe road conditions.
Bandits, drug traffickers, and other persons pursuing illegal activities are known to operate along the border area with Burma.
Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should Leave Behind, Hotels: The Inns and Outs, Considerations for Hotel Security, and Taking Credit.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Laos.
Review OSAC’s reports, Kidnapping: The Basics and Active Shooter and Kidnapping Response Tips.
Drug Crime
This recent increase in violent crime may relate to the increase in illicit drug use. Laos has long been a transshipment point for the illegal drug trade and illegal trafficking in general, but the last few years have seen an increase in drug use (primarily methamphetamine) among the local population.
The number of reported drug-related arrests continues to rise. Possession of, trafficking in, and manufacture of drugs are serious offenses in Laos and result in lengthy prison sentences or the death penalty. Cross-border illicit trade is increasing, along with a commensurate increase in addiction and associated criminality. Some tourists have had drinks or food spiked with drugs. Be aware that some restaurants in popular tourist destinations—particularly Vang Vieng—offer “happy” or “special” menu items—particularly “pizzas” or “shakes”—that may contain opiates or unknown substances. Consuming these items is illegal and can result in serious injury or even death.
Do not carry or use illegal drugs as there are severe penalties including the death sentence.
Review OSAC’s report, Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad.
Consult with the CIA World Factbook’s section on Illicit Drugs for country-specific information.
Terrorism Environment
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Vientiane as being a LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Laos.
The Institute for Economics & Peace Global Terrorism Index 2022 ranks Laos 93 out of 163 worldwide, rating the country as having no impact from terrorism.
Terrorism: General Threat
The threat of transnational terrorism is lower than in surrounding countries. There is no information to indicate specific, credible threats against U.S. travelers or interests. It remains possible that transnational terrorist operatives not identified by the United States – or those traveling with fraudulent documents – could transit Laos, as its multiple land borders remain extremely porous.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest Environment
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Vientiane as being a LOW-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
Laos has a single-party Communist government. The political situation is stable.
Protest & Demonstration Activity
The law does not provide for the right of freedom of peaceful assembly, and prohibits participation in demonstrations, protest marches, or other acts that “cause turmoil or social instability” without explicit government permission. Participation in such activities is punishable by a maximum five years’ imprisonment, though authorities do not enforce this provision frequently. In October 2018, police in Savannakhet shut down a benefit concert at which performers and attendees wore T-shirts with the slogan “No bribes for jobs.”
Review OSAC’s report, Surviving a Protest.
Law Enforcement Concerns: Security Agencies
The Ministry of Public Security maintains internal security and is responsible for law enforcement; the Ministry oversees local, traffic, immigration, and security police, village police auxiliaries, and other armed police units. The armed forces, under the Defense Ministry, also have some domestic security responsibilities, including counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, and border security. Civilian authorities maintain effective control over the security forces. Members of the security forces have committed some abuses.
Police Response
Although most officers are polite, few speak English, and most will not respond without a formal authorization from their supervisory officers. Traffic Police work in small booths at major intersections. Police in Laos do not patrol the streets as in Western nations; they are strictly reactive in nature.
The U.S. Embassy continues to receive confirmed reports from U.S. citizens about encounters with corrupt police, particularly at traffic checkpoints. Although they are supposed to write traffic offense tickets and direct offenders to the nearest police station for payment of the fine, officers regularly ask for money (in some cases, large sums) at the scene.
Detained U.S. citizens may request that the authorities alert the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane of their arrest; they may also request to have communications from them forwarded to the Embassy. It is not uncommon for U.S. citizens to be detained for several weeks before the U.S. Embassy is notified.
Law Enforcement Concerns: Emergency Contact/Information
There is no national police emergency telephone line. Contact the Tourist Police in Vientiane at +856-30- 526-3087 (mobile) or +856-021-251-128 (landline) to report a crime. Local law enforcement response to crimes -- even violent crimes -- is limited. Foreigners attempting to report crimes have reported finding police stations closed, emergency telephone numbers unanswered, or officers lacking transportation or authorization to investigate crimes (particularly at night). Often, first responders to a crime scene during the nighttime hours will be a quasi-police entity assigned to the local village chief.
In 2020, Vientiane Police Headquarter announced an official WhatsApp number at +856-20-288-99-774 to receive complaints from the public including pictures, video, and voice messages of the reporting crimes.
Transportation Security
Road Safety
The U.S. Embassy prohibits U.S.-national employees and family members from using motorcycles, motorbikes, and motorized scooters due to a high incidence of accidents and lack of available medical care.
The emergency number for traffic police in Laos is 1191. Road accidents are the number one safety concern. As the volume of vehicles in Laos continues to grow, so does the number of drivers with little or no driving experience. Drivers operating under the influence of alcohol are common; police make very little effort at enforcing laws related to driving while intoxicated. Laos routinely reports over 1,000 traffic-related deaths each year, including hundreds in Vientiane. Compounding this threat is the very limited capability of emergency medical services in Laos.
Defensive driving is imperative. Traffic moves on the right, but vehicles use all parts of the road, and right-of-way at roundabouts vary from other countries’ conventions. Many drivers pay little attention to traffic laws or even to other vehicles. Speeding, reckless passing, and failure to obey traffic laws are common. Traffic is chaotic, and road conditions are very rough, particularly off the few main roads. Most roads have no lane markings. Where lane markings, road signs, and stoplights do exist, drivers widely ignore them. Many drivers are underage, unlicensed, inexperienced, and uninsured. Motorcyclists pay little/no attention to cars. Motorcycles carry as many as five people at a time, greatly impeding the driver’s ability to react to traffic. The evening hours are particularly dangerous. Road construction sites have poor markings, appear with no advanced warning, and can be difficult to see at night. Roads lack illumination, many vehicles have no operating lights, few bicycles have reflectors, and trucks without reflectors commonly park on unlighted roads.
All land border crossings between Laos and neighboring countries close overnight. The Friendship Bridge connecting Vientiane to Nong Khai, Thailand closes from 22:00-06:00 daily. Inquire locally about the hours of other border crossings.
It is common for police to target foreigners to pay bribes for alleged traffic offenses. The Embassy is not usually able to provide assistance in these cases.
Exercise caution on the roads and check with local authorities, transport companies, other travelers, and/or the Embassy regarding road developments prior to travel. Road obstacles, such as changes in surface conditions due to the weather, occur frequently.
Mountainous roads with extended 15% grades are regularly subject to landslides as well as brakeless, out-of-control vehicles that pose a threat to other travelers.
For detailed, country-specific road and vehicle safety information, read the World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Road Safety.
Review OSAC’s reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the State Department’s webpage on driving and road safety abroad.
Public Transportation Safety
Public transportation is unreliable and limited after sunset. Taxis or rental cars are available at the airport, the Friendship Bridge, most major hotels, and near the Morning Market in Vientiane. The most common form of public transport is a three-wheeled, open-sided vehicle called a tuk-tuk. Use caution, as many tuk-tuk drivers consume alcohol as they wait. Tuk-tuks and taxis are frequently in poor repair, and drivers generally speak little or no English. Buses, vans, pickups, and trucks provide intercity transit, but all such vehicles may be in a state of disrepair. LocaLaos and DriveUp Taxi smartphone apps are available in Laos.
Be attentive to your surroundings and keep control of your personal items while on public transit. While waiting in line, keep your luggage close.
Aviation Concerns
Airline travel is generally safe in Laos. Regional carriers have established new routes to Vientiane (VTE) and Luang Prabang (LPQ). In 2015, a Lao Skyways aircraft went off the runway after landing at VTE in clear weather conditions. There was major damage to the aircraft, but no reported injuries. In 2013, a Lao Airlines flight crashed, killing all 49 aboard while trying to land in bad weather in southern Laos. As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Laos, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the Lao Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Laos’s air carrier operations.
Review OSAC’s Report, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights; and consider the European Union Air Safety List.
Maritime Security
Travel by speedboat on rivers in Laos is dangerous, especially when water levels are low. White water rafting, kayaking, tubing, and other water-based activities, including swimming, are dangerous. Foreigners have drowned or been seriously injured. Do not participate in any water-based activities while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Laos does not have the same health and safety precautions as those in the U.S. Safety advice will be minimal, and there may not be warning signs at tourist sites.
Personal Identity & Human Rights Concerns
Significant human rights issues include credible reports of: arbitrary detention; political prisoners; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; serious restrictions on free expression and media, including censorship and the use of criminal defamation laws; serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association; inability of citizens to change their government peacefully through free and fair elections; serious restrictions on political participation; serious government corruption; lack of investigation of and accountability for gender-based violence including but not limited to domestic or intimate partner violence; and outlawing of independent trade unions. Lao law prohibits cohabitation or sexual contact between foreign citizens and Lao nationals except when the two parties have been married in accordance with Lao Family Law. Any foreigner who cohabitates with or enters a sexual relationship with a Lao national risks arrest, fine, and imprisonment.
Safety Concerns for Women Travelers
The law does not criminalize sexual harassment, but indecent sexual behavior toward another person is illegal and punishable by six months to three years in prison. Victims rarely report sexual harassment, and its prevalence remains difficult to assess. A 2016 UN Population Fund study found that one in seven women experienced physical or sexual violence, and that most of those women said they had experienced such violence multiple times. Only 4% of women who had experienced male violence contacted the police. The death penalty can result from serious crimes including rape.
The Solo Female Travel Safety Index combines the experiences of solo female travelers with other reliable indices to award a single rating indicating the relative security female travelers might experience in a given country. The qualitative portion of the index examines risk of scam, theft, and harassment, as well as the country’s perceived attitude towards women. As of the date of this report’s publication, Laos has a score of 2.3 on a scale of 1.0 (safest) to 4.0 (least safe). All solo female travelers are able to share their solo travel experiences by signing up with the Solo Female Travelers portal; the organization draws qualitative data from women traveling solo, depending on active participation and honest information.
Consider composite scores given to Laos by the UN Development Program (UNDP) in its Gender Development Index, measuring the difference between average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development, and Gender Inequality Index, measuring inequality in achievement in reproductive health, empowerment, and the labor market. For more information on gender statistics in Laos, see the World Bank's Gender Data Portal.
Review the State Department’s webpage for female travelers.
Safety Concerns for LGBTI+ Travelers
There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTQI+ events in Laos. Most openly LGBTQI+ persons do not attempt to apply for government or high-level private-sector jobs, because there is a tacit recognition that employers would not hire them. LGBTQI+ advocates say that while the country still has a conservative and traditional society, gay men and lesbians are becoming more integrated, but the transgender population continues to face high levels of societal stigma and discrimination. Societal stigma and concern about repercussions leads some to withhold reporting incidents of abuse.
The Equaldex Equality Index measures the status of LGBTI+ rights, laws, and freedoms, as well as public attitudes towards LGBTI+ people around the world. As of this report’s publication date, Laos has a score of 49/100, ranking 76out of 197 countries on the index.
Consider information from Destination Pride, a data-driven search platform associated with PFLAG Canada that visualize the world's LGBTQ+ laws, rights, and social sentiment; as well as from ILGA World, a worldwide federation that produces an annual map showing sexual orientation laws from around the world, available in multiple languages.
Review OSAC’s report, Supporting LGBT+ Employee Security Abroad, and the State Department’s webpage on security for LGBTI travelers.
Safety Concerns for Travelers with Disabilities
Although constitutional protections against discrimination do not apply specifically to persons with disabilities, the law spells out the rights of persons with disabilities to education, health care, and public transportation, while also providing tax exemptions for small businesses owned by persons with disabilities. The law requires construction projects begun after 2009 to provide accessibility for persons with disabilities, particularly buildings, roads, and public places. Sidewalks and street crossings are not accessible for people in wheelchairs. Buildings, medical facilities, and public transportation are generally not accessible.
Review the State Department’s webpage on security for travelers with disabilities.
Safety Concerns for Travelers Based on Race, Religion, & Ethnicity
Preaching religion without permission, including giving out religious material, is illegal. It is also illegal to visit temples or cultural sites after 22:30, and to publish material or speak against Laos.
Despite efforts by the central government to enforce laws and policies protecting religious freedom, district and local authorities in some provinces continue to be suspicious of non-Buddhist or non-animist religious groups, and have occasionally displayed intolerance for minority religious groups, particularly Christians. Restrictions on minority religions remain disproportionately high in certain provinces. There have been reports of attempted forced renunciations, imprisonment, detentions, and arrests.
The government officially recognizes four religious umbrella groups – Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baha’i Faith – and generally requires other religious groups to affiliate with one of these four groups to operate legally. Any religious group must register with the Home Affairs Ministry and meet administrative requirements on an annual basis. Officials in urban areas and in some districts have a better understanding of laws that govern religious activities and promote the concept of religious freedom more than in the past. Reports continue of authorities, especially in isolated villages, arresting, detaining, and exiling followers of minority religions, particularly Christians. There were reports of authorities warning citizens not to convert to Christianity, forbidding members to gather for religious services, and pressuring members of minority religions to renounce their faith. Christian groups also report longstanding problems registering and constructing churches in some areas, as well as with obtaining permission to travel within the country. Reportedly, authorities sometimes harass Christians who congregate in homes and other unregistered facilities for religious purposes. Christians said authorities allowed them to conduct Christmas services in their churches or at their pastors’ homes, provided they did not preach against the government and law.
Review the latest U.S Department of State Report on International Religious Freedom for country-specific information.
Review OSAC’s report, Freedom to Practice, and the State Department’s webpage on security for faith-based travelers.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
There does not appear to be any significant anti-U.S./anti-Western sentiment apart from some lingering resentment from the older generation over the Indochina War.
Concerns involving the Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption &/or Transparency
The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials and the government made some progress in addressing corruption. Some officials continue to engage in corrupt practices with impunity.
Official corruption is widespread and found at all levels of government and is acknowledged by government-controlled media. Corruption is particularly problematic in government development and investment projects, especially in the construction sector. The government anticorruption hotline reportedly was used often, and members of the public frequently raised awareness of government officials’ inappropriate or suspicious activities on social media; such postings were not censored or removed.
The Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index ranks Laos 126 out of 180 worldwide, where 1 means most transparent.
Communication Issues
While the law provides for freedom of expression, including for the press, the government severely restricts political speech and writing and prohibits most public criticism it deems harmful to its reputation. Individuals have been arrested for criticizing the government on social media. The state owns and controls most domestic print and electronic media. Local news reflects government policy. The government does not allow foreign news organizations to set up bureaus in the country, except those from neighboring communist states China and Vietnam. Additionally, foreign media are legally required to submit articles to the government before publication.
The Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index ranks Laos 160 out of 180 worldwide, where 1 means most freedom. The Freedom in the World report rates Laos’s freedom of speech as not free.
Review OSAC’s report, Lèse Majesté: Watching what you say (and type) abroad.
Health Concerns
The medical emergency lines in Laos are 1195, 1624, 1623, or 0195 but there are no centralized ambulance services, and a scarcity of private ambulances makes it difficult for accident victims to receive timely medical attention. Medical facilities and services are limited and may not meet basic international standards.
Ambulance response times can take over an hour due to poor road conditions and scattered services. Ambulances often operate in a volunteer capacity and medical supplies in the vehicles are minimal. Medical services and facilities are extremely limited and may not meet basic international standards. Hospitals in Thailand and Laos require full payment for services and supplies prior to treating patients. Serious medical cases frequently require medical evacuation to private hospitals in Thailand by ground or air ambulance. Overland ambulance transfer to Thailand is complicated as all land border crossings are closed at night from 22:00-06:00. It may take several hours to arrange for the crossing to open, even in cases of severe medical emergency. Medevac times out of Laos may take days instead of hours.
Avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria and dengue. You may need to take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria, depending on your travel plans, such as where you are going, when you are traveling, and if you are spending a lot of time outdoors or sleeping outside.
Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy website. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Health “H” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Laos. Review the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) country-specific Travel Health Notices for current health issues that impact traveler health, like disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, and natural disasters.
Review the State Department’s webpage on health insurance overseas.
See OSAC’s Guide to U.S. Government-Assisted Evacuations; review OSAC’s reports, The Healthy Way, Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad, Health 101: How to Prepare for Travel, and Fire Safety Abroad; and visit the State Department’s webpage on Your Health Abroad for more information.
Vaccinations
Strongly consider COVID-19 vaccination prior to all travel.
Consider vaccination for Japanese Encephalitis if your trip will last more than a month, depending on where you are going in Laos and what time of year you are traveling. Consider this vaccine if you plan to visit rural areas in Laos or will be spending a lot of time outdoors, even for trips shorter than a month.
Rabies is possible in dogs, bats, and other mammals in Laos. The CDC recommends this vaccine for travelers involved in outdoor and other activities (such as camping, hiking, biking, adventure travel, and caving) that put them at risk for animal bites; those who will be working with or around animals (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, and researchers); those taking long trips or moving to Laos; and children, because they tend to play with animals, might not report bites, and are more likely to have animal bites on their head and neck.
You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in Laos. The CDC recommends this vaccine for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or adventurous eaters. Additionally, the CDC recommends hepatitis A vaccine because you can contract hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in Laos, regardless of what you are eating or where you are staying.
Review the CDC Travelers’ Health site for country-specific vaccine recommendations.
Issues Traveling with Medications
Carry prescriptions for all medications you bring into the country with you.
Review OSAC’s report, Traveling with Medication.
Water Quality
Water quality in Laos is poor, and typically contaminated either from chemical waste, human waste, or poor sanitation. Drinking contaminated water in Laos can lead to the risk of several diseases. Aside from preparing with the CDC recommended vaccines for Laos, travelers should not drink tap water during their stay in Laos. Additionally, wading, swimming, or washing in contaminated water could lead to several diseases for which vaccines are unavailable. See CDC’s advice for Laos.
Review OSAC’s report, I’m Drinking What in My Water?
Environmental Hazards
As a landlocked country, Laos typically suffers less from the variety of natural disasters experienced elsewhere in Southeast Asia. The most significant threat is the potential for flooding and tropical storms, mostly in the central and southern provinces. Most of the country’s population live within river basins, where significant river flooding would be a concern. Northern Laos also experienced some earthquakes, including at least three medium-strength tremors in 2022.
Cybersecurity Concerns
There are no cybersecurity concerns unique to Laos, although organizations should understand the inherent interest of the Chinese presence in Laos includes the desire and ability to read and detect electronic and cellular communications that are not encrypted.
Review OSAC’s reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling Abroad with Mobile Devices, and Guide for Overseas Satellite Phone Usage.
Counterintelligence Issues
Security personnel may place foreign visitors under surveillance. Authorities may monitor hotel rooms, telephones, and email, and search personal possessions in hotel rooms.
Other Security Concerns
Unexploded Ordnance
Unexploded ordnance (UXO) is a significant issue in Laos. Between 1964 and 1973, Laos became, per capita, the most heavily bombed country in the world, with over two million tons of bombs dropped during the Vietnam War. More than 50,000 people have been killed by unexploded bombs since the end of the Vietnam war - nearly half of them children. The large amount of UXO currently causes approximately 50 casualties in Laos each year; in 2022, UXO caused 20 casualties including five deaths.
High-risk areas include Xieng Khouang province and the Lao-Vietnamese border areas along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. UXO remains in some parts of Savannakhet, Xieng Khouang, Saravane, Khammouane, Sekong, Champasak, Houaphanh, Attapeu, Luang Prabang, and Vientiane provinces. In addition, minefields remain along Route 7 (from Route 13 to the Vietnam border), Route 9 (Savannakhet to the Vietnam border), and Route 20 (Pakse to Salavan).
Never pick up unknown metal objects, and avoid traveling off well-used roads, tracks, and paths.
Import/Export Restrictions
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Photography
Be careful when taking photos. It is illegal to photograph or visit military sites.
Review OSAC’s report, Picture This: Dos and Don’ts for Photography.
ID Requirements
There are no unusual ID requirements in Laos.
Critical Infrastructure Concerns
The government controls domestic internet servers and sporadically monitors internet use, but does not block access to websites. The government maintains infrastructure to route all internet traffic through a single gateway, enabling it to monitor and restrict content, although its technical ability to monitor internet use is limited. The National Internet Committee under the Prime Minister’s Office, which administers the internet system, requires internet service providers to submit quarterly reports and link their gateways to facilitate monitoring. The cybercrime law criminalizes dissent and puts user privacy at risk by requiring individuals to register on social media sites with their full names, making it difficult to share information anonymously. Authorities continue to detain or arrest persons who criticize the government. Authorities individually warn social media bloggers to stop posting stories that they perceive to be critical of government policies, including posts on the government’s response to flooding and corruption.
Laws regarding intellectual property exist, but police do not enforce them with any regularity. Counterfeit items are readily available.
Laos has a developing adventure tourism industry that includes, but is not limited to, zip-lining, bungee jumping, rock climbing, off-road bikes, and buggies. Safety standards and training requirements for personnel operating these activities and safety inspections of the equipment may not be equivalent to those required for similar activities in the United States. Check the safety records of adventure tourism operators prior to patronizing them.
OSAC Country Chapters
The Regional Security Office (RSO) is in the process of revitalizing the OSAC Laos Country Chapter. Individuals interested in participating in the Country Chapter or contacting the RSO should reach out to OSAC’s Asia team. Contact OSAC’s Asia team with any questions.
Embassy Contact Information
U.S. Embassy: Ban Somvang Thai Thadeua Road, Km 9 Hatsayfong district, Vientiane. Tel: +(856) 21-48-7000; After-hours Emergencies: +856-21-487-000.
Trustworthy News Sources
Laos is a one-party Communist country. The official government news outlet is The Vientiane Times. All news on this site has been filtered and approved by the government.
Other Helpful Info
