Several border posts now allow tourists to travel between Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China. Their flexibility has adapted significantly to the market compared to the past, when immigration to neighboring countries was restricted to locals. Here's a review of these different border crossing points.

Entry to Laos via Wattay International Airport in Vientiane and the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge between Nong Khai and the Laotian capital is now possible, since July 9th, with an electronic visa. Some land border posts also accept it, though not all. In most cases, this won't guarantee smooth passage.

Border with Thailand

Today there are five border posts between Laos and Thailand accessible by bus. All issue visas in either direction. These five points span the country from north to south. Four of the five posts are bridges crossing the Mekong, the river that forms a large part of the Laos-Thailand border. List of border posts from north to south.

1. The Houei Sai Bridge, inaugurated in 2013, connecting Chang Rai Province in Thailand to the town of Houei Sai in Laos.
2. The First Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, between Nong Khai in Thailand and Vientiane in Laos, inaugurated in 1994. This crossing point accepts electronic visas.
3. The Third Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, between Nakhon Phanom in Thailand and Thakhek in Laos, inaugurated in 2011.
4. The Second Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, between Mukdahan in Thailand and Savannakhet in Laos, inaugurated in 2006.
5. The Vang Tao border post between Chong Mek in Thailand and the town of Vang Tao in Champasak Province in Laos.

Border with Cambodia

Today there are two border posts between Laos and Cambodia. Both issue visas for these neighboring countries. These two points are separated by a 250-kilometer border.

1. The Veun Kham border post in Champasak Province in Laos connects to Steung Treng Province in Cambodia.
2. The Ban Pakha border post connects this town in Attapeu Province in Laos to O'Yadav in the far northeast of Cambodia.

Border with Vietnam

Today there are six border posts between Laos and Vietnam. All issue visas in either direction across this vast 1,500-kilometer border. List of border posts from north to south.

1. The border post between the Laotian town of Tay Trang and the Vietnamese town of Sop Hun.
2. The border post between the Laotian town of Ban Som in Houaphan Province and the Vietnamese town of Na Maew.
3. The Nậm Cắn border post connects the Laotian town of Phonsavan and the Vietnamese town of Vinh.
4. The Nam Phao border post connects Lak Sao in Laos to Vinh.
5. The border between Dansavanh in Laos and Lao Bao in Vietnam.
6. The Bo Y border will allow you to cross from Laos's Attapeu Province in the south of the country to Vietnam's Kontum region.

Border with China

There is currently only one border post between Laos and China. You can obtain a visa there or ask the bus company transporting you to arrange it.

1. The Boten border post in Laos allows you to cross the Chinese border to reach the town of Menglazhen.

Visit our practical information section for any additional information regarding obtaining a tourist visa.