Is Laos safe to travel 2023

26, May

by GiGi

From unique cultural features, ancient heritage with special architecture and various delicious dishes, Laos is a fantastic choice for those who want to experience Southeast Asian culture without having to deal with the crowds of other well-known holiday locations. 

Laos magnificent skyline

Laos magnificent skyline

Regarded as the only landlocked nation in Southeast Asia, this underdeveloped country located at the heart of the Indochinese peninsula, Laos is bordered by Myanmar (Burma) and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and southwest.

Laos is open for travel all over the world, and with such a bordering position with Southeast Asian countries, there are numerous cross-country tours are organized and attract large numbers of tourists such as Vietnam - Cambodia - Laos tour or travellers can reward themselves by taking a long trans-national excursion through Thailand - Vietnam - Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar itinerary.

Laos people

Laos people

However, some tourists question the safety in this country, but is it worth your concerns? Is Laos safe to travel? Read on to learn how to create wonderful memories in Laos without any worry!

Is Laos safe to travel?

Although Laos is a generally friendly and hospitable nation, it is also among the least developed nations in Southeast Asia, and most people think security concerns may be somewhat weak since it is a still-developing country, exactly a poor one with weak law enforcement, so situations such as pickpocketing and bag snatching appear with a frequency of many times. 

Beautiful scenery in Laos

Beautiful scenery in Laos

For most visitors, travel in Laos is safe and there are no serious problems. Over the last couple of decades, Laos has gained a reputation among visitors as a pretty safe place to travel with only a few of the scams often found in tourist places:

Firstly, tourists should be conscious of currency exchange scams when counting money. Don't trade an excessive amount of money at one exchange. Instead of using a currency exchange kiosk, get the local currency from the bank or an ATM.  

Money in Laos

Money in Laos

Besides, even in daily life, you remember to keep your belongings. It’s a good idea to leave your expensive belongings at home. 

However, the fact indicates that Laos has low rates of crime in the world; these above problems will not happen if you search for safe places and use reliable means of transportation as well as register for prestigious tours; here you can request Laos tours from Asia Private Travels to experience the long tour “Laos Adventure 9 Days” or short trip “Luang Prabang Exploration 4 Days”. So you don’t need to worry and just remember a few following small Laos travel tips to feel more secure.

Alm giving ceremony in Laos

Alm giving ceremony in Laos

Now that the concerns have been relieved, why not grasp some useful information to help your Laos holidays go beyond the ordinary - extraordinary?

What to see and do in Laos?

Anyone who has set their feet on Laos agrees with one common thing: Laos has astonishing scenery! The country of Million Elephants has affirmed its tourist landscape position with magnificent waterfalls and dignified Buddhist temples. Let’s discover together famous destinations to achieve your perfect itinerary. 

Vang Vieng

Taking a boat tour in Vang Vieng

Taking a boat tour in Vang Vieng

If you desire to wake up in the morning in a place with both romantic sentiments by spectacular landscape and fascinating outdoor activities, Vang Vieng is the flawless option for you. Vang Vieng town is a famous Laos travel destination with its wild beauty, peace, and gentleness of majestic nature. This little town is encircled by mountains and streams, situated 150 kilometers from the country's capital Vientiane.

Famous for the terrain position "back to the mountain, face to the river", you will feel like you are immersed in the tranquil nature by the Nam Song river, the green fields running long, blending with the rolling mountains creating a charming scene that hides wildness, and is so peaceful.

Hot air balloon over Nam Song River in Vang Vieng

Hot air balloon over Nam Song River in Vang Vieng

Especially when exploring the tourist attractions of Laos, travelers won't run out of outdoor activities in this location. Nowadays, Vang Vieng is becoming more and more thriving, with boutique hotels and a sequence of restaurants rather than some of the party-laden backpacker bars. Tourists can also experience outdoor adventure, jungle hikes, and lazy days on the river. It’s worth spending a few days here. Nevertheless, the road to Vangvieng is mostly downhill, so remember to take your medicine and prepare in advance to stay safe. Asia Private Travels could help you have a comfortable and nice place to relax. So don’t hesitate to contact us!

Kuang Si waterfall

A wooden bridge over Kuang Si waterfall

A wooden bridge over the Kuang Si waterfall

Kuang Si waterfall, a second potential spot to visit on Laos tour, is famous for its magnificent, wild view with the charming beauty of the mountains and forests that anyone coming to Laos does not want to miss. Many tourists come here to have impressive photo frames and soak in the cool blue water when they visit Luang Prabang.

Swim at Kuang Si waterfall

Swim at Kuang Si waterfall

And one more thing is that you should wear flat shoes to climb the waterfall and if you want to go swimming, you should bring swimsuits, towels, clothes and slippers. Moreover, at Kuang Si Lao waterfall, many dangerous areas have been marked with "no swimming allowed"; visitors should pay attention and comply to ensure their own safety.

Vientiane Capital

Vientiane Capital is a Laos tourist destination with a long history, outstanding with ancient architectural works, bearing Theravada Buddhist imprint through exquisitely sculpted Buddha statues and bas-reliefs with infinite respect. Therefore, unlike other countries, the capital Vientiane Laos is not too noisy and bustling. So you could relax and chill in this land.

Patuxai Monument Vientiane

Patuxai Monument in Vientiane

Coming to Vientiane is coming with hundred-year-old pagodas, so Vientiane deserves to be one of the three major Buddhist centers of Laos. Vientiane has many pagodas and hundreds of large and small temples in the heart of this small capital. This proves the strength of the religion of the Lao people.

The Plain of Jars Site

Plain of Jars-The Most Laos Mysterious Place

Plain of Jars-The Most Laos Mysterious Place

The site of the Plain of Jars is recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage with more than 2,000 stone jars of all shapes and sizes, dating from about 500 BC to 500 AD. The average height of the jars is 1-2m; some are up to 3.5m high, weighing tens of tons. The strange thing is that there are no rocky mountains around this area. Where did ancient people carved out these giant jars and how to transport them to Xieng Khouang, that is still an unanswered question. There is an opinion that the ancients made these giant jars to store water in the rainy season. However, archaeologists believe that these are urns related to prehistoric burial rites when many remaining burial items and ceramics were discovered around the stone jars. Is this mysterious tourist attraction enough to stimulate your curiosity?

How to get around in Laos and neighboring nations?

Transportation in Laos is also worth checking out before you start your trip. Vehicles in Laos are not too diverse, but they are still very convenient for visitors to fully enjoy their memorable trips here.  There is no taxi service here, so visitors can choose to travel by private car. In case you do not have your own car, you can choose to travel by tuk-tuk or bus. You must prepare a hat, mask, sunglasses, sunscreen (for summer), and gloves to protect yourself. Tuk-tuk can't go far and should go with many people to save on Laos travel expenses. If you catch the bus, you should buy a ticket at the counter at the station before getting on to avoid being charged a high price.

Car in Laos

Car in Laos

Laos is a country surrounded by four nations; therefore, visitors will have more choices in making decisions about travel destinations to visit. The Vietnam - Laos tour is quite easy, you can start from Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi) to get to Luang Prabang or Vientiane by plane, the flight usually lasts one or two hours. The overland route from Hanoi is particularly difficult on the Vietnamese side but it is possible if you have time and patience.

tourist happy at Laos

Tourists are happy in Laos

In addition, Laos and Cambodia tours are also quite popular when the tourism ministries of both countries are united in promoting inter-connected tourism between the two countries. Nowadays, the tour that people choose the most is the inter-country tour of 3 Indochina countries: Vietnam-Cambodia-Laos tour. Visitors can experience the most outstanding features of these three Southeast Asian nations, involving its stunning scenery, gorgeous beaches, appealing hills, ancient religious institutions, modern cities, and more, with this Vietnam-Cambodia-Laos itinerary. Besides, these countries are part of the Southeast Asian Association, so Laos travel visas are exempt for a specified period of time.

Along with the development of tourism, tours in Laos are also gradually expanded and diversified to meet the travel needs of customers. Some popular tours that you can join include Best of Laos 10 Days, Classic Laos 5 Days, Vientiane Explorations 3 Days, Laos Experience 7 Days, …

The ideal time to travel to Laos

Whenever you explore Laos, you'll discover that every single season gives the nation a new color. Therefore, tourists should search carefully for the ideal time to start the journey. 

favorable weather in Laos

Favorable weather in Laos

Laos has a tropical monsoon climate with two distinct seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season lasts from May to November, and the dry season from December to April next year; this can also be considered the ideal time to travel to Laos; around this time, the average temperature is about 15 degrees to 30 degrees. You can still go to Laos in the remaining months. However, the hot climate and intense sunshine will cause some discomfort during traveling and exploring this place.

travel to Vientiane

Travel to Vientiane

With various historical sites and charming poetic scenes, Laos is really a great destination for domestic and foreign tourists. If you want to enjoy a relaxing vacation in Laos completely, why not let us tailor your Laos itinerary so you won’t struggle to find transport or a hotel? Contact Asia Private Travels right now to enjoy your memorable journey!