Laos trip checklist: eSIM, entry rules, and apps

Do I need a visa for Laos?

It depends on your nationality, and the rules can change. Many nationalities can get a visa on arrival or an eVisa; check the official rules for your passport before you travel, and be careful with look-alike sites that charge extra fees.

What should I do with the eSIM before the flight?

Plan days start when the eSIM first connects to a network in Laos, not when you install it. That makes the day before you fly the best time to install: you are on home Wi-Fi, you can scan the QR from another screen, and no days are used.

1. 1Check the phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked.
2. 2Buy the plan and wait for the QR email. The QR also stays on your order page and is valid for 30 days.
3. 3Install it on Wi-Fi the day before you fly, and label it Laos.
4. 4Keep Data Roaming off on your home SIM.
5. 5After landing, turn on Data Roaming for the Laos line and choose it for mobile data.

Which apps are useful in Laos?

• LOCA for rides in Vientiane. Elsewhere, tuk-tuks are the usual way around.
• The official LCR ticket app for the Laos–China Railway between Vientiane, Vang Vieng, and Luang Prabang.
• Google Maps, with offline maps downloaded for places you will visit.
• Telegram and WhatsApp, which many hotels, guides, and drivers use for messaging.
• Your airline app, for domestic flights and boarding passes.

What else should I sort out before I go?

• Plan to carry some Lao kip in small notes for tuk-tuks, markets, and boats.
• If you are taking the train, book through the official LCR app or at the station, and screenshot your ticket.
• Save your hotel address and booking codes as screenshots, in case you land without signal.
• The eSIM works in Laos only. For Vietnam, see esimforvietnam.com; for other countries, esimfor.asia.

Frequently asked questions