Transportation

Local Transport: Lao Airlines has flights to many domestic destinations. The Lao highway network is relatively well-developed and the road conditions are quite good. There is a daily bus service from Vientiane to most provincial capitals as well as private VIP busses to major destinations. Local busses and sawng taews (covered pickup trucks with benches) are available to the more remote districts and villages.

Taxis are available in Vientiane for airport and Friendship Bridge transfers. For travel around the capital, tuk tuks are available and the price must be bargained for in advance. Bicycle and motorcycle rentals are widely available throughout the country.

Luang Prabang is commonly accessed by riverboat from Houy Xay, and a two-day journey on the Namtha River is available. There is also regular boat service on the Mekong River from Pakse to Wat Phou and throughout the 4,000 Islands in the south.

International Access: Laos can be reached by land, air and even river from its Greater Mekong Sub-region neighbours: Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and China. Besides Lao Airlines, direct regional flights are served by Thai International, Vietnam Airlines, China Southern, Bangkok Airways and AirAsia. Aside from Vientiane, international flights arrive in Luang Prabang and Pakse.

The busiest entry point is the Friendship Bridge connecting Vientiane with Nong Khai and its rail station in Thailand. There are several other land crossings with border checkpoints to Thailand, Vietnam, China and Cambodia.