Laos Safety Guide
Health, security, and travel safety information
Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before your trip.
Healthcare
What to know about medical care in Laos.
Healthcare System
Laos has a developing healthcare system with significant limitations. Medical facilities in Vientiane and Luang Prabang can handle minor ailments and injuries, but serious medical conditions require evacuation to Thailand (typically Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, or Bangkok). Rural areas have very limited medical facilities.
Hospitals
In Vientiane: Mahosot Hospital (largest public hospital), Alliance International Medical Center, and Setthathirath Hospital (private) offer the best care. In Luang Prabang: Provincial Hospital and some private clinics. These facilities can handle basic care, minor surgeries, and stabilization before evacuation. Always request itemized bills and receipts for insurance claims.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies are available in cities and towns, often marked with a green cross. Many medications available without prescription, but counterfeit drugs are a concern. Bring essential medications from home in original packaging with prescriptions. Common over-the-counter medications are available, but brand names differ.
Insurance
Travel insurance with comprehensive medical coverage and emergency evacuation is absolutely essential. Medical evacuation to Thailand can cost $10,000-50,000 USD. Ensure your policy covers motorcycle riding if you plan to rent one, as many policies exclude this. Keep policy details and emergency numbers accessible at all times.
Healthcare Tips
- Bring a comprehensive first-aid kit and any prescription medications you need for your entire trip plus extra
- Keep copies of prescriptions and medical records, including blood type and allergies
- Identify the nearest adequate medical facility at each destination and know how to reach it
- For serious injuries or illnesses, go directly to Thailand if possible rather than relying on local facilities
- Drink only bottled or purified water to avoid waterborne illnesses
- Ensure your vaccinations are up to date before traveling (Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis for rural areas)
Common Risks
Be aware of these potential issues.
Bag snatching, pickpocketing, and theft from hotel rooms occur in tourist areas. Thieves often target distracted tourists, particularly around markets, bus stations, and tourist attractions. Theft from buses and sleeper trains is also reported.
Road safety is a major concern in Laos. Roads are often poorly maintained with potholes, lack of lighting, and inadequate signage. Drivers frequently ignore traffic rules, and animals and pedestrians share the roads. Motorcycle accidents are the leading cause of tourist injuries and deaths.
Laos is the most heavily bombed country per capita in history, with millions of unexploded bombs and cluster munitions remaining from the Vietnam War era. These pose a serious risk in rural areas, particularly in Xieng Khouang Province (Plain of Jars) and along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Laos has strict drug laws with severe penalties including lengthy prison sentences. Despite drugs being offered in tourist areas (particularly Vang Vieng), possession, use, and trafficking are serious crimes. Police conduct raids and undercover operations in tourist areas.
Traveler's diarrhea, typhoid, hepatitis A, and other gastrointestinal illnesses are common due to contaminated water and food. Standards of food hygiene vary, particularly at street stalls and local markets.
Activities like tubing, kayaking, zip-lining, and rock climbing carry risks due to inadequate safety standards, poorly maintained equipment, and lack of proper supervision or emergency procedures. Several tourist deaths have occurred during these activities.
Scams to Avoid
Watch out for these common tourist scams.
Friendly locals or tuk-tuk drivers convince tourists they can buy gems or jewelry cheaply and resell them for profit in their home country. The gems are fake or worthless, and victims lose significant money.
Tourists are charged significantly more than locals for goods, services, transportation, or attractions. Tuk-tuk and taxi drivers may quote inflated prices or claim meters are broken. Restaurants may have different menus or prices for foreigners.
Individuals posing as police or actual corrupt officials stop tourists and claim they've committed an offense (often drug-related or visa issues), then demand on-the-spot fines or bribes.
Tuk-tuk or taxi drivers claim your booked hotel is closed, full, or has problems, then take you to a different hotel where they receive commission. The alternative is often more expensive or lower quality.
Book through reputable companies, get detailed itineraries in writing, keep luggage with you when possible, research bus companies online for reviews, and be prepared for the actual bus not matching what was promised.
Rental shops claim pre-existing damage was caused by the renter or hold passports as collateral then claim the bike was damaged or stolen. Some shops have been known to steal back their own bikes using spare keys.
Safety Tips
Practical advice to stay safe.
Document Security
- Keep passport, visa, and important documents in hotel safes when not needed
- Carry photocopies or digital copies of important documents separately from originals
- Register with your embassy upon arrival for emergency notifications
- Keep emergency contact numbers and insurance details accessible offline
- Take photos of your passport, visa, and important cards in case of loss
Money and Valuables
- Use ATMs in banks or secure locations during daylight hours
- Carry only what you need for the day; leave excess cash and cards secured
- Use money belts or hidden pouches for large amounts of cash
- Be discreet when handling money; don't flash large amounts of cash
- Keep small denominations separate for daily expenses to avoid showing larger bills
- Notify your bank of travel plans to prevent card blocking
Transportation Safety
- Use reputable transportation companies with good safety records
- Avoid overloaded vehicles and boats that appear unsafe
- Always wear helmets on motorcycles and seatbelts in vehicles
- Don't travel on roads at night due to poor lighting and road conditions
- Book transportation through your hotel rather than street touts
- Check life jackets are available before boat trips
Food and Water Safety
- Stick to bottled water and avoid tap water, including for brushing teeth
- Avoid ice unless you're certain it's made from purified water
- Choose busy restaurants with high food turnover
- Ensure meat and seafood are thoroughly cooked
- Wash hands frequently or use hand sanitizer before eating
- Peel fruits yourself rather than eating pre-cut fruit
Cultural Awareness
- Dress modestly, especially when visiting temples (cover shoulders and knees)
- Remove shoes before entering temples and homes
- Don't touch people's heads or point feet at people or Buddha images
- Show respect for Buddhist monks; women should not touch monks or hand items directly
- Ask permission before photographing people, especially in rural areas
- Avoid public displays of affection, which are considered inappropriate
Communication
- Download offline maps and translation apps before arriving
- Learn basic Lao phrases for emergencies and common situations
- Keep your hotel's business card with you for showing taxi drivers
- Purchase a local SIM card for reliable communication
- Share your itinerary with someone back home
- Know the location and contact details of your embassy
Accommodation Safety
- Choose accommodations with good security and reviews
- Check that windows and doors lock properly
- Use hotel safes for valuables and important documents
- Keep your room number private; don't announce it publicly
- Know the location of emergency exits
- Be cautious about who you allow into your room
Information for Specific Travelers
Safety considerations for different traveler groups.
Women Travelers
Laos is generally considered safe for women travelers, including solo female travelers. The Lao people are typically respectful and non-confrontational. Serious sexual assault against foreign women is rare, though not unheard of. The main concerns are petty theft, scams, and unwanted attention rather than violent crime. Women traveling alone should still take standard precautions.
- Dress modestly to show respect for local culture and avoid unwanted attention (cover shoulders and knees, especially outside tourist areas)
- Avoid walking alone late at night; use reputable taxis or tuk-tuks
- Be cautious about accepting drinks from strangers and watch your drinks in bars
- Book accommodation with good security and reviews from other female travelers
- Trust your instincts; remove yourself from situations that feel uncomfortable
- Consider joining group tours or activities to meet other travelers
- Be aware that some guesthouses may not allow local men to visit foreign women's rooms
- Carry a whistle or personal alarm for emergencies
- Avoid isolated areas, especially beaches and rural paths, when alone
- Be firm but polite if dealing with unwanted attention; Lao men typically respect clear boundaries
LGBTQ+ Travelers
Homosexuality is legal in Laos with no specific laws criminalizing same-sex relationships. However, there are no legal protections against discrimination, and same-sex marriage is not recognized. The legal framework offers neither protection nor persecution.
- Avoid public displays of affection, which applies to all couples but especially same-sex couples
- Be discreet about your relationship in rural areas and small towns where conservative attitudes are stronger
- Vientiane and Luang Prabang are more cosmopolitan and accepting than rural areas
- There are very few LGBTQ+-specific venues or openly LGBTQ+ spaces
- Book accommodation that is known to be LGBTQ+-friendly; international hotel chains are typically safe choices
- Be aware that sharing rooms may occasionally raise questions, though this is rare in tourist hotels
- Transgender travelers may face more challenges; carry proper documentation if your appearance doesn't match passport photos
- Connect with online LGBTQ+ travel communities for up-to-date advice and recommendations
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is absolutely essential for Laos due to limited medical facilities and the high cost of emergency evacuation. Medical emergencies requiring evacuation to Thailand can cost $10,000-50,000 USD. Many hospitals require proof of insurance or upfront payment before treating serious conditions. Without insurance, you could face catastrophic expenses or inadequate medical care.
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