Laos
Laos13 guides across 2 destinations — where to go, when, what it costs and what to eat.
Destinations in Laos
Practical essentials for Laos
Lao kip (LAK)
Lao; English proficiency is generally poor beyond tourist-facing staff in Vientiane and Luang Prabang
Type A/B/C, with some E/F, 230V 50Hz
There is no metro: visitors take tuk-tuks with the fare agreed before setting off, or the LOCA ride-hailing app, which prices the trip in-app and takes international cards.
Tipping is not a Lao custom; smarter hotels and restaurants add roughly 10% as a service charge instead.
Tap water is not drinkable anywhere in Laos, but bottled water is cheap and sold everywhere.
Right-hand side; an International Driving Permit is required, and Laos recognises the 1949 version rather than the more common 1968 one.
191 (police), 195 (ambulance), 190 (fire)
Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.
Recent stories from Laos
Luang Prabang Runs on a Dawn Clock
The town works before dawn and stops at noon, so plan around that rather than against it. Three days on the peninsula, one excursion chosen properly, and the practical arithmetic of trains, closed days and the burning season.
Which Lane You Sleep On Changes Luang Prabang
In a town you can cross in fifteen minutes, the lane you book on still decides the week: which river, which side of the spine, and whether a van can reach your door once the market closes the street.
Luang Prabang Begins on the Far Bank
The peninsula takes a morning. Everything that makes Luang Prabang worth three days sits on the other side of water: a car ferry to Chomphet, a bamboo bridge that exists only half the year, and a free room that reframes the whole province.
Luang Prabang Works Better as a Hinge Than a Stop
Luang Prabang's airport, railway station and boat pier are spread over twenty kilometres, and every northern journey turns off Route 13 somewhere. Here is how far is actually how long, and the order that stops you crossing the same junction three times.
The essential Vientiane bucket list, ranked
Asia's most laid-back capital rewards slow travelers. From the golden stupa of Pha That Luang to sunset on the Mekong, these are the Vientiane experiences that matter — in order.
Vientiane with kids: a family day that really works
Giant concrete Buddhas to climb, an arch with a view, fruit shakes on demand and a riverside night market with funfair energy — Vientiane is a sleeper hit for families.
Luang Prabang for First-Timers: The Complete Guide
Dawn alms rounds, gilded temples, Mekong sunsets, and the most beautiful waterfall in Southeast Asia — how to fall for Laos's serene former royal capital.
Boutique or grand: where to stay in Vientiane
Vientiane's hotels run from one restored colonial grande dame to courtyard boutiques and a dependable budget tail — here is what each tier costs, which few lanes are worth paying for, and when to come.
48 Hours in Vientiane: The Perfect Itinerary
Golden stupas, a victory arch with a sense of humor, sculpture-garden surrealism, and Mekong sunsets — two unhurried days in Asia's calmest capital.
When to Visit Luang Prabang: A Straight-Talking Season-by-Season Guide
Three of Luang Prabang's defining sights are seasonal in the literal sense, so the month you choose changes the trip you get - here is how the year actually works.
Luang Prabang's Markets: What to Taste From Morning Till Night
Luang Prabang's markets bracket the day, and the food of northern Laos lives in the hours between them - what to eat, in what order, and when it is worth coming at all.
In Luang Prabang, Your Budget Buys Quiet — Not Location
The World Heritage peninsula is small enough to walk end to end in twenty minutes, so paying more here does not move you closer to anything — it buys a garden, a thicker wall and a later alarm clock.