Entrance into Laos is possible for foreigners under some circumstances, including those who hold diplomatic or official passports or are attached to international organizations. Anyone arriving in Laos must enter into quarantine for fourteen days at either a state-designated quarantine center or a government-approved quarantine hotel.

The process of quarantine at government-approved hotels in Laos is at the traveler’s own expense. For foreign travelers or Lao citizens willing to pay the required fees, many hotels in Vientiane have launched Alternative State Quarantine Packages for those returning from abroad.

For more information on entrance criteria, visit https://immigration.gov.la.

Here is a list of 19 hotels approved as Alternative State Quarantine hotels in Vientiane Capital:

PHONETHIP PLAZA HOTEL

Phonethip Plaza Hotel is located in Sisattanak District, with 77 rooms. Rates are from LAK 350,000 to 650,000 per night, Tel: 020 9999 9250, 020 9516 8168, E-mail:accteam.phonethipplaza@gmail.com

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL

Crowne Plaza Hotel is located in Sikhottabong District. 198 rooms. The cost is  USD $90 to $360 per night, Tel: 020 9989 3888 or E-mail: Vientiane.reservation@ihg.com, www.vientiane.crownwplaza.com

LANDMARK RIVERSIDE HOTEL
Landmark Riverside Hotel is located in Sisattanak District, with 80 rooms available. Room rates are from LAK 800,000 per night, Tel: 020 2225 8888, 020 5965 8383, E-mail: info@landmarkmekonghotel.com.la, or visit www.landmarkmekonghotel.com.la

SURESTAY BY BEST WESTERN

Surestay By Best Western VTE is located in Chanthabouly District, with 68 rooms. Rates are from USD 60 per night. Tel: 021 249 999, 020 9999 6996, E-mail and Website: phonsak.sayarath@surestayvientiane.com or www.surestayvientiane.com

DONCHAN PALACE HOTEL

Don Chan Palace Hotel & Convention is located in Sisattank district, with 132 rooms available. Room rates are from USD $100 to $350 per night, call 021 226 666, 020 2225 8888, Email: sengdao@donchampalacelaoopdr.com

CHANTHAPANYA HOTEL

Chanthapanya Hotel is located in Chanthabouly District, with 59 rooms available. Rooms are from LAK 600,000 to 870,000. Tel 021 241 451, 020 2224, E-mail: info@chanthapanyahotel.com

HE TIAN HOTEL

He Tian Hotel is located in Sikhottabong District, with 151 rooms available. Rates are from LAK 400,000 to 480,000 per night. Tel: 020 9999 9397

NAKHONSACK HOTEL
Nakhonsack Hotel is located in Chanthabouly District, with 100 rooms. Rates are from LAK 210,000 to 350,000 per night, Tel: 020 7772 1268, 020 5995 9917, E-mail: jnakhonesack@gmail.com

DORK JUMPA HOTEL

Dork Jumpa Hotel is located in Sisattanak District, with 99 rooms. Rates are from LAK  620,000 per night, Tel: 021 522 999, 020 5551 1099, E-mail: hoteldorkjumpa@gmail.com

GRAND JIAN GUO HOTEL

Grand Jian Guo Hotel is located in Sikhottabong District, with 95 rooms available. Rates are from LAK 350,000 to 450,000 per night, Tel: 030 988 9999,  020 5999 8857, E-mail: jianguohotel@hotmail.com

QUBE HOTEL VIENTIANE

Qube Hotel Vientiane is located in Thatluang Lake specific Economic Zone, with 110 rooms. Rates are from LAK 570,000 per night, Tel: 021 419 888, 020 5586 9529, E-mail: mosm@thequbehotelvientiane.com.

MUONG THANH LUXURY HOTEL

Muong Thanh Luxury Hotel is located in Sisattanak District, with 329 rooms. Rates are from LAK 570,000 to 1,800,000 per night, Tel: 021 998 999, 020 5555 3586, E-mail: info@vientiane.muongthanh.com

ONE VIENTIANE HOTEL

One Vientiane Hotel is located in Chanthabouly District, with 36 rooms. Rates are from LAK 330,000 Kip per night. Tel: 021 253 664, 020 5552 9819, E-mail: reservation@onevientianehotel.com

LE THATLAUNG D’OR BOUTIQUE HOTEL

Le Thatluang D’or Boutique Hotel is located in Saysettha District, with 55 rooms. Rates are from LAK 450,000 to 702,000 per night, Tel: 021 417 959, 020 5945 6969, E-mail and Website: info@lethatluangdor.com or www.lethatluangdor.com

MEKONG HOTEL

Mekong Hotel is located in Sikhottabong District, with 50 rooms. Tel: 021 212 938, 020 5541 5361, E-mail and Website: mekongth@laotel.com

GRAND HOTEL VIENTIANE

Grand Hotel Vientiane is located in Sisattanak District, with 55 rooms. Rates are from LAK 665,000 per night, Tel: 021 410 275, 020 5541 5361, E-mail and Website: info@grandhotelvientiane.com or www.grandhotelvientiane.com

XAYSOMBOUN BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Xaysomboun Boutique Vientiane is located in Chanthabouly District, with 65 rooms. Rates are from LAK 290,000 per night, Tel: 021 216 233, 020 9551 2668, E-mail and website: info@xaysombounboutiquehotel.com or www.xaysombounboutiquehotel.com

SERNG SANG HOTEL VIENTIANE
Serng Sang Hotel Vientiane is located in Sikhottabong District, with 197 rooms. Rates are from LAK 320,000 per night, Tel: 030 909 6666, 020 5856 6655. E-mail and website: ericchen7812@gmail.com

JANGXI INTERNATIONAL HOTEL
Jangxi International Hotel is located in Sikhottabong District, with 99 rooms. Rates are from LAK 410,000 per night, Tel: 020 9950 8777, E-mail: jiangxiinternationalhotel@gmail.com

The United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has relaxed its travel advice for a number of countries, listing the risk of travel to Laos as very low.

Since March, the CDC warned US travelers to avoid non-essential travel to all international locations, however, it revised its advice last month to include 20 countries where the risk of Covid-19 is “low” or “very low.”

The State Department also lifted its unilateral “Do Not Travel” advisory in accordance with the new list of low-risk countries.

The CDC has a list of 13 destinations where the ‘COVID-19 Risk is Very Low,’ on which Laos appears, alongside the British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, French Polynesia, Greenland, Macau SAR, Mauritius, New Caledonia, Taiwan, and Timor-Leste.

Neighboring Thailand appears on the CDC’s low-risk list, while Vietnam now appears on the high-risk list following its recent outbreak in Danang.

Many countries have closed their doors to US arrivals, as the nation leads the world in Covid-19 occurrences.

With 20 confirmed cases, Laos is taking no chances for a second wave of Covid-19. The country has implemented strict preventative measures, including limited immigration, and mandatory testing and quarantine for those who enter the country.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2020/08/14/cdc-relaxes-travel-advice-for-laos/

Lao Airlines has been rated one of the top regional airlines in Asia as part of the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards this year.

National carrier of Laos, Lao Airlines, is among the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awardwinners under the Best Regional Airline category.

As part of its efforts to support the recovery of the tourism sector, Tripadvisor has today announced the winners of its 18th annual Travelers’ Choice Awards.

Each year, Tripadvisor puts together all the reviews, ratings, and saves that travelers share from across the globe and uses the information to spotlight the best.

This major award program recognizes the favorite hotels, restaurants, and airlines of travelers around the world, with 4,817 unique businesses celebrated in 2020.

With over 8.7 million businesses listed on Tripadvisor, winners have been determined based on the consistency and quantity of the millions of comments, feedback, and ratings received on Tripadvisor in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lao Airlines shared its top regional airline status with THAI Smile Airways, Air Astana, AIR KBZ, Azerbaijan Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Druk Air, Royal Brunei Airlines, Skymark Airlines, Starflyer, and Vistara.

The top review shared by Tripadvisor for Lao Airlines was by Tripadvisor user Mike1946, which read,

“EXCELLENT FLIGHT, AND SERVICE AND SPOTLESSLY CLEAN PLANE.”

“Although only a short flight it was an excellent one, with a spotlessly clean plane, excellent service from the crew. No delays, and very good check-in and check out.”Lao Airlines appointed Mr. Khamla Phommavanh as its new president in April, with a handover ceremony held at Lao Airlines headquarters.It is expected that Mr. Khamla will steer the airline through the Covid-19 crises, and revamp and revitalize the airline as international flights begin to restart.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2020/08/04/lao-airlines-among-tripadvisor-award-winners-for-best-regional-airlines/

Lao Prime Minister Thongoun Sisoulith has advised the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism to use its time wisely in refurbishing and upgrading tourism sites in preparation for the country’s reopening after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The PM made the recommendation as he chaired the government ordinary meeting session held by video conference on 23 April.

With the tourism sector in almost complete shutdown due to the pandemic, the PM’s suggestion is in line with advice given by the National Economic Research Institute (NERI), which submitted a report suggesting the government promote greater investment in tourism.

The paper by NERI advised the government to use tourism downtime wisely by investing in the sector in preparation for future tourism by upgrading tourist attractions and boosting services to ensure they meet international standards.

According to some estimates, Laos’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to rise by only 3.3 percent in 2020 – the lowest rate in three and a half decades.

Tourist sites nationwide have been temporarily shut down, with international borders closed and flights grounded. Employees across the tourism sector are finding themselves unemployed or working one month on and one month off at best.

According to NERI, earnings of over USD 450,000 were lost during the first two months of this year when visitors from Laos’ major markets, China and Thailand, dropped by 16 and 5 percent, respectively.

Tourism is a key driver of the economy in Laos, making up some 13 percent of the country’s GDP.

The country has 1,314 officially listed natural sites, 591 cultural sites, and 294 historical sites, according to the Vientiane Times. Of these, 809 were operational at the beginning of this year, with a further 587 tourism sites under development.

The Lao Hotel and Restaurant Association, representing the country’s 637 hotels, met with Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphadone last week to discuss the situation and find potential solutions.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2020/04/28/prime-minster-thongloun-advises-preparing-tourism-sector/

We Are Social and Hootsuite have released their joint annual global digital overview report for 2020, detailing global statistics for digital, mobile, and social media use.

According to the latest report, the number of people around the world using the internet has grown to 4.54 billion, an increase of seven percent compared to January 2019. Social media use has grown to 3.80 billion, while more than 5.19 billion people around the world now use mobile phones.

Laos

According to the report, 79% of the population in Laos now has a mobile phone, with internet penetration standing at 43% of the population. Unsurprisingly, social media use in Laos directly correlates with the rate of internet penetration, also standing at 43%.

Internet speeds average 25.54 Mbps in Laos, with a year-on-year increase in the speed of fixed internet connections by 68%.

While the Lao population is said to have increased by 1.5% year on year, the number of mobile phone connections have increased by 1.3% between 2019 and 2020, while the number of internet users has increased by 6.5%, and the number of active social media users increased by twelve percent.

Web traffic in Laos is dominated by mobile phones, at 56.4%, while 42.2% of web traffic was downloaded to laptops and desktops, with only 1.5% being accessed by tablet computers. No data was provided for other devices such as video game consoles.

Interestingly, under the report’s mobile internet reference, the share of social media users accessing via mobile phones was 100%.

Social Media Use

According to the report, the total number of active social media users in Laos was 3.10 million, or 43% of the total population. The number of users increased by 12% between 2019 and 2020, with 100% of users accessing social media by mobile phones.

Facebook‘s advertising purportedly reaches 56% of the population, rising by 7.4% in the last quarter. The platform was accessed via mobile phone by 99.6% of the population, with only 0.4% of the population accessing the social media platform by desktop or laptop computer. 6.3% of users accessed Facebook via both phones and computers, with 93.3% accessing Facebook via mobile phone only.

Female users make up 46% of Facebook accounts in Laos, while male users make up 53.6%.

Instagram sees less popularity than Facebook in Laos, with only 200,000 accounts reachable by adverts on Instagram, equal to only 3.8% of the Lao population, with 64% of users being female.

Twitter follows Instagram with only 167,000 accounts reachable by adverts, making up only 3.2% of the Lao population, 63% of which are female.

According to the report, there are 110,000 Linked-in accounts based in Laos, making up only 2.5% of the country’s population. 44% of these are female, and 56% are male.

Mobile Phone Use

According to the report, Laos has some 5.68 million mobile phone connections, with 96% of connections under a pre-paid model. Of these, 66% of mobile connections are broadband (3G – 5G).

Laos scores 43.93 out of 100 points under the GSMA Mobile Connectivity Index, which measures the performance of 165 countries against key enablers and drivers of mobile internet adoption, including mobile network infrastructure, affordability of devices and services, and ability of relevant content and services.

Android enjoys the largest share of web traffic from a mobile device at 71.9%, while Apple IOS devices see a 27% share of web traffic in Laos.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2020/07/09/digital-2020-report-on-laos-released-internet-mobile-and-social-media/