Is It Safe to Travel to Laos in 2026?
Laos - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR), is a country in Mainland Southeast Asia, and the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. Laos is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and southwest.
Is It Safe to Travel to Laos in 2026?
Laos is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Laos due to civil unrest and crime. Reconsider travel to Xaisomboun Province due to a continued threat of violence. Exercise increased caution in remote areas along the border with Burma due to crime and illegal activities. Certain provinces and routes have risks from unexploded bombs left over from the Indochina War.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- civil_unrest
- crime
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: continued threat of violence in Xaisomboun Province, bandits and armed groups operate in remote areas along the border with Burma, higher risk of arbitrary enforcement due to weak rule of law.
Active restrictions in Laos:
- Security escort may be required
U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel to Xaisomboun Province.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks from street crime and potential violence, especially in remote areas like Xaisomboun Province where civil unrest is ongoing.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to crime and governance issues, particularly in areas with weak rule of law and limited consular support.
Families with children should be cautious due to limited healthcare access and safety concerns from unexploded ordnance in many provinces, including Savannakhet and Khammouane.
Remote workers may find decent connectivity in urban areas, but should avoid remote border regions where crime and safety risks are higher.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Laos.
Regional Safety Breakdown
▶Level 3 — Reconsider Travel1 region
▶Xaisomboun Province
Reconsider travel due to a continued threat of violence.
▶Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution14 regions
▶Areas on the Border with Burma
Exercise increased caution due to crime and illegal activities.
▶Attapeu Province
Exercise increased caution due to unexploded bombs.
▶Champassak Province
Exercise increased caution due to unexploded bombs.
▶Houaphan Province
Exercise increased caution due to unexploded bombs.
▶Khammouane Province
Exercise increased caution due to unexploded bombs.
▶Luang Prabang Province
Exercise increased caution due to unexploded bombs.
▶Route 20
Exercise increased caution due to unexploded bombs.
▶Route 7
Exercise increased caution due to unexploded bombs.
▶Route 9
Exercise increased caution due to unexploded bombs.
▶Saravane Province
Exercise increased caution due to unexploded bombs.
▶Savannakhet Province
Exercise increased caution due to unexploded bombs.
▶Sekong Province
Exercise increased caution due to unexploded bombs.
▶Vientiane Province
Exercise increased caution due to unexploded bombs.
▶Xieng Khouang Province
Exercise increased caution due to unexploded bombs.
Laos has 15 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Laos has an overall threat severity of 4.3 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Not Free — scored 13/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Kip (LAK)
Language
Lao
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
Vaccinations
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- alertGlobal Polio: Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines.
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Laos
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Laos?
▶Is it safe to travel to Laos right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Laos?
▶What vaccines do I need for Laos?
▶Is Laos safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Laos?
More Laos Data
Not Free — 13/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.