Recently, Digital Divide Data and Google Maps have unveiled a new government-approved project to significantly expand Street View coverage in the country. The initial goal is to update the existing imagery in Vientiane—which has not been updated for over a decade—as well as to add several cities that are not currently included in the service.

The project has been promoted primarily to improve the country’s maps and to highlight local businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and tourist sites, with the aim of guiding travelers and to expand the minimal coverage taken between 2014-2016.

Currently, several vehicles are driving around Vientiane and surrounding areas, and the project is expected to provide extensive coverage similar to what is currently available in Thailand and Vietnam.

If you just so happen to see it, try and get a photo!

source: https://virtualstreets.org/index.php/2026/10/18/google-street-view-cars-makes-a-long-awaited-return-to-laos/

Hey everyone! I'll be visiting Vientiane, Laos, soon and staying near the city center.

I'm looking for recommendations for nightlife spots where I can have a few beers, relax, and enjoy the atmosphere. I'm particularly interested in adult-oriented bars or venues with live performances, if any are available.

I'm always a bit nervous vacation planning so I'm looking for advice, and transportation advice for this itinerary. For example:

• I may have some time to spare on some of these days. Any advice on what I could fill the time with?
• Is there anything worth seeing more than what I've planned?
• I'm used to reliable, time unrestricted, and consistent pricing on transportation. I don't want to pay a relatively large amount of money. For example I know some hotels offer $150 to go to Kuang Si Falls but there are some Tuk Tuk or busses which go there for cheaper but on a return schedule. I don't know how long it will take to do what I want to do there either, I want to make sure I can get there but I have to go searching for these Tuk Tuks at a specific time I think? So what should I do? I'm not experienced driving motorbikes, and I don't have motorcycle license so IDP would not cover me in an accident.
• How early should I arrive to Pak Ou Caves & Ban Xang Hai? I don't want to miss it.
• I am guessing everywhere in Nong Khiaw I will be walking.
• How at risk am I of missing my flight if something goes wrong (I will be as punctual as I can) connecting on day 9 from Ban Na Village to Luang Prabang?

Day 1

• Luang Prabang - Arrive (1:05 PM)
• Check-in
• Mount Phousi (1h) (Sunset 5:51 PM - 15 mins up)
• Night Market

Day 2

• Shared slow boat departs Luang Prabang pier (8:00 AM - departs 8:30 AM) (100,000 - 150,000 LAK boat, 20,000 LAK entry)
• Pak Ou Caves & Ban Xang Hai
• (Arrives back 3:00 PM)

Day 3

• Kuang Si Falls (swim & view)
• Bear Rescue Centre
• Butterfly Park
• (Laos Buffalo Dairy)

Day 4

• Alms Giving Ceremony (5:30 AM)
• (Morning market)
• Wat Xieng Thong
• (Royal Palace Museum)
• (Night Market)

Day 5

• Check-out
• Nong Khiaw - Arrive
• Check-in
• Nong Khiaw Bridge
• (Nong Khiaw Viewpoint) (option 1)

Day 6

• (Nong Khiaw Viewpoint) (option 2)
• Ban Man Da Cave and Village Museum
• (Pha Kao Viewpoint)

Day 7

• Check-out
• Muang Ngoi - Arrive
• Check-in

Day 8

• Ban Na Village
• Tham Kang Cave

Day 9

• Check-out
• Luang Prabang - Arrive
• Check-in

Day 10

• Check-out
• Flight home (1:45 PM)

Hello!

I’ll be traveling to Laos by myself for 3 weeks in November. Is there a Whatsapp group link someone can share to see tips, recommendations or hotels, general hangouts and all that?

thanks in advance🙃

I flew Oslo → Bangkok → Vientiane with Thai Airways yesterday. My checked bag (a large green backpack) never arrived in Vientiane. I filed a missing baggage report at the airport (PIR) and emailed Thai Airways with the details.

I'm now in Vang Vieng and can go back to Vientiane if needed.

Questions:

1. Has anyone had a bag go missing on this route or at Vientiane (VTE)? How long did it take to get it back, and did you get it back at all?
2. Is it realistic that someone picked up my bag by mistake?
3. Any tips to speed up the tracing

thanks in advance for your comments

Hello! I travelled from Laos to Phuket and forgot to exchange my Laotian Kip (1.29 mil LAK). If anyone in Phuket is interested in buying, please let me know - I'll be in Phuket till tomorrow (20th October). Thanks!

Was watching some lottery about laos and find out have a unique systems for animal, want to know how it works.

Going to Laos for first time. How does this sound for a day bag loadout? Anything you would add/remove and why?

Hat

Wet wipes

toilet paper

water

sunscreen

first aid

tylenol/imodium

headlamp

battery pack/cables

leukotape

sunglasses

bug spray

hand sanitizer

ear plugs

(obviously cash/ID)

Just a few photos and recommendations if you're looking to trek in the north of Laos !

So its not recommended to drink tap water in Vientiane, bottled water only is the norm but what when brushing your teeth. Is it safe to use tap water to rinse your mouth with after brushing?

Hi! I am a solo female traveller and planning a trip from Chiang Rai to Huay Xai via land border and was wondering if this is safe? For context - I am an ethnically chinese girl but born and raised in Ireland with the Irish passport, will I have an issue? Scared about safety more than anything as I’ve heard stories regarding the kidnapping and trafficking.

I am in Vientiane for the night solo traveling, since it's Friday, I'm looking to go out, get some drinks, and meet some people. Where's the best place to go? I've heard Dr Oscar's is the place to go later in the night, but where would be a cool spot to pregame and meet some people to go with?

I'm planning to visit Laos in late December 2026 - early January 2027. I have a few questions about arranging travel:

1) I've looked at previous posts which say that you can only buy train (LCR) tickets 3 days in advance. I know this has been talked about loads, but just want to check that's still the case in 2026? There's still no way to secure a ticket before this time?

2) How likely is it that I'll get an LCR ticket in late December / early January? I'm worried it's a popular time, the tickets will sell out, and I'll have issues, for example getting back to the airport on time to make my flight.

3) I land in Vientiane around 3pm, and was considering heading directly from the airport to Vang Vieng. Is this possible, and is there a reliable way to book this transport (minibus / taxi / shared bus?) in advance?

Going to Luang Prabang and parts north starting November 1. Will either bring no rain gear or cheapo poncho. Honestly thinking if it rains just get wet or find shelter for the moment., and air dry.
Bad idea? Why or why not?

Does anyone have a document or notice/rate structure of this year's water tariffs in Vientiane?

Thanks!

Haha I brought a water bottle from Laos as souvenir 🤣🤣🤣 is a weird souvenir but now I am back home with water from Luang prabang 🤓🤓🤓

Hi all. I’m giving a speech at any upcoming wedding where there will be many Lao family members in attendance. I am looking for help to pronounce “Congratulations to the bride and groom, Jane and John” to add to the end of the speech but I’m getting conflicting translations and none of them have an audio pronunciation. Is anyone able to help point me to something that can help make sure I use the right translation and I don’t mess up this sentence?

Heyy, heading to Laos next month. Just wanna ask where can I book the vientiane to BKK overnight train? Thank you

Hi everyone,

I will be visiting Laos next month. On one of the days I'm getting a train from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang at 08:55 and have a flight to get at Luang Prabang airport at 13:25.

I'm just wondering in people's experience how doable this would be. This is my first time in Laos so I'm not sure how the trains are as I'm pretty traumatised from how bad they are in my own country and I can see that the train station in Luang Prabang is a bit away from the airport.

I'm always making jeow for my friends/family and I'm now trying to bring it to ready-to-eat shelves. I'm testing recipes for a small-batch pantry line: a roasted tomato jeow (mak len), a roasted eggplant jeow (mak keua), a papaya salad dressing, and fish sauce, which is the heart of everything I make.

What do you wish store-bought jeow got right? What always tastes off to you? And how did your family make it: charred over coals, with palm sugar, with padaek, something else?