Wattay International Airport sits 4 kilometers west of central Vientiane on Luang Prabang Road. The terminal last underwent major renovation in 2018 and handles approximately 1.2 million international passengers annually. Arrivals walk directly from aircraft to terminal across tarmac in most cases, though jet bridges serve some flights. The immigration hall contains roughly 15 booths, with wait times ranging from 15 minutes during off-peak hours to 90 minutes when multiple international flights arrive simultaneously. Visa on arrival windows operate to the left of immigration booths, marked with yellow signage in English, Lao, and Chinese. Officers process visas for most nationalities at rates of approximately 5 applications per 10 minutes. The official visa fee is 30 USD for most nationalities, 35 USD for Canadians, and 42 USD for citizens of certain Eastern European nations, payable in US dollars with two passport photographs required. Processing occurs before immigration, not after baggage claim. Airport banking counters operate daily from 0800 to 2000, offering exchange rates approximately 3 to 5 percent below city center rates. BCEL bank maintains an ATM past baggage claim accepting Visa and Mastercard with withdrawal limits of 2 million kip per transaction, equivalent to approximately 100 USD at 2024 rates. Baggage claim contains three carousels serving all international flights. Lost baggage claims route through Lao Airlines or the relevant carrier desk located against the far wall past carousel three.
The arrivals hall exit opens to a covered outdoor walkway where official taxi counters operate on the left. Vientiane Airport Taxi Service maintains fixed rates of 80,000 kip to central locations including Chao Anouvong Park and the night market area, 100,000 kip to locations north of Patuxai, and 120,000 kip to areas south near Tha Deua. Drivers do not use meters. Passengers prepay at the counter and receive a numbered receipt matching their assigned vehicle. Unofficial taxis and tuk-tuks wait beyond the covered area and negotiate rates typically 10,000 to 20,000 kip below official prices for the same routes. Mobile apps including Loca and LOCA Lao operate in Vientiane with pickup areas designated 100 meters past the covered walkway near the parking structure entrance, though drivers frequently cancel airport pickups due to competition from taxi stand operators. Travel time to central Vientiane ranges from 12 minutes during early morning hours to 35 minutes during evening rush periods between 1700 and 1900. Route 13 South connects the airport to the city center via a straight four-lane road passing the Lao National Cultural Hall and intersecting with Lane Xang Avenue near Patuxai.
Currency exchange inside the terminal operates at rates of 20,500 to 20,800 kip per US dollar as of late 2024, compared to 21,000 to 21,200 available at central Vientiane exchange booths on Setthathirath Road and Samsenthai Road. Thai baht circulates widely in Laos, particularly near border areas, and airport exchange windows process baht at rates approximately 2 percent below Bangkok interbank rates. The airport contains no SIM card vendors inside the secure area. Three mobile carriers operate in Laos: Unitel, Lao Telecom, and ETL. SIM cards sell at shops located 200 meters from the terminal exit along the main road toward the city, with tourist packages offering 10GB data and 30 days validity priced at 50,000 to 80,000 kip depending on carrier. Unitel provides the most consistent coverage in Vientiane and Luang Prabang, while ETL maintains stronger signals in southern provinces including Champasak and Attapeu.
Luang Prabang International Airport lies 4 kilometers northeast of the UNESCO World Heritage town center on Route 13 North. The terminal opened in 2013 and serves approximately 700,000 passengers annually on routes connecting Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Siem Reap, and Jinghong. International arrivals clear immigration in a hall containing 8 booths with average processing times of 20 to 40 minutes. Visa on arrival processing follows identical procedures and fees as Vientiane. No ATM exists past immigration, only in the departure area accessible by returning through security. BCEL bank operates an exchange counter near baggage claim from 0900 to 1700, closing during gaps when no flights arrive. Exchange rates run 100 to 200 kip below Vientiane airport rates. Baggage claim uses a single carousel serving all flights.
Official taxis from Luang Prabang airport charge fixed rates of 50,000 kip to most guesthouses within the peninsula area bounded by the Mekong River and Nam Khan River. Tuk-tuks wait outside offering rates of 30,000 to 40,000 kip for identical routes. The airport road connects to Khem Khong Road after 3 kilometers, entering the old town near the morning market on Sisavangvong Road. Drive time ranges from 10 minutes early morning to 20 minutes when tourist coach traffic concentrates between 1400 and 1600. No ride-hailing apps operate reliably in Luang Prabang as of 2024. SIM cards sell at a single shop 50 meters from the terminal exit on the left side facing the parking area, stocking only Unitel and Lao Telecom with identical pricing to Vientiane.
Pakse International Airport serves southern Laos from a location 3 kilometers northwest of the city center near the Xe Don River. The terminal handles approximately 200,000 passengers yearly on routes to Bangkok, Siem Reap, and Vientiane, plus chartered flights from China. Immigration contains 6 booths processing arrivals in 15 to 30 minutes during standard operations. Visa on arrival follows the same national procedures. No banking services exist inside the terminal. A single ATM operated by BCEL stands near the exit accepting international cards. Official taxis charge 40,000 kip to central Pakse locations along Route 13. Tuk-tuks negotiate rates starting at 25,000 kip. The airport road reaches Route 13 after 1.5 kilometers, turning south toward the Mekong River and central market area. Drive time runs 8 to 15 minutes. Mobile SIM cards sell at a roadside shop 300 meters from the terminal on the right when facing toward the city.
Savannakhet airport and Thakhek airfield maintain no scheduled commercial service as of 2024. Luang Namtha Airport in the far north receives flights from Vientiane three times weekly operated by Lao Skyway, landing at a facility 6 kilometers south of town with taxi rates of 30,000 kip to central guesthouses. Oudomxay Airport operates similar service levels with taxis charging 40,000 kip for the 7-kilometer distance to the market area. Phongsali receives no air service. Attapeu Airport closed to commercial traffic in 2019.
Most visitors arriving from Thailand enter by land at the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge connecting Nong Khai to Vientiane. The bridge spans 1,170 meters across the Mekong River and opened in 1994. Immigration facilities stand at the Lao end, processing visa on arrival applications in the same manner as airports but with more variable wait times ranging from 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on tour group arrivals. The border operates daily from 0600 to 2200. Buses cross the bridge for 20 Thai baht or 5,000 kip, depositing passengers at the Lao immigration building. After clearing immigration, passengers walk 400 meters to a public bus stop where local routes reach central Vientiane for 5,000 kip per person, departing when full with 8 to 10 passengers. Tuk-tuks charge 150,000 to 200,000 kip for the 25-kilometer journey to Vientiane center, accommodating up to 4 passengers. Drive time ranges from 35 to 60 minutes. Currency exchange booths at the border offer rates 300 to 500 kip below Vientiane city center rates. No ATMs exist at the border facility itself, only at gas stations 2 kilometers into Laos along Route 13 South.