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Aerial view of Luang Prabang at sunset, a temple with golden roofs in the foreground and the Mekong behind

Photo by Shutterstock

Flights to Laos, with at least one stop

No nonstop flies to Laos from the UK or the US: you connect in Bangkok, Hanoi, China, Seoul or Singapore. Vientiane gets most flights, Luang Prabang a few from Asia. Wattay Airport is just 4 km from central Vientiane.

By Pierre-Marie Coupry · updated · sources

Boarding pass · at least one stop

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Flights to Laos from UK and US cities

The lowest round-trip fare to Vientiane seen on Aviasales in recent days, all airlines and connections. When no fare was logged this week, the link still runs the search from your city, for your dates.

Source: Aviasales via Travelpayouts, lowest round-trip fare seen, checked October 12, 2026 (weekly). A city with no fare had none logged this week: the link still searches. Affiliate links, at no extra cost to you.

Flights to Laos with a connection: where to change

Laos is served almost only from Asia: Bangkok, Hanoi, China, Seoul, Singapore. Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines don't fly there, and no Gulf airline appears among Vientiane's routes: with them, you change tickets in Bangkok.

BangkokSingaporeHanoiGuangzhouLondonVientianeEUROPEAFRICAASIAIndian OceanNatural Earth · schematic routes BangkokSingaporeLondonVientianeEUROPEAFRICAASIA
  • departure, arrival
  • connection or en-route stop
  • flight path, schematic
  • Manchester: same connections

Via Bangkok

Thai Airways or EVA Air, then Thai Airways or Lao Airlines

  1. London
  2. Bangkok
  3. Vientiane

Bangkok: 3 Heathrow nonstops a day, then about 5 flights a day to Vientiane and 2 from Don Mueang

Right for you if you want the most choice of times: half the London travelers connect here.

Via Hanoi

Vietnam Airlines

  1. London
  2. Hanoi
  3. Vientiane

Hanoi: 4 Heathrow nonstops a week, then 2 flights a day to Vientiane with Lao Airlines or Vietnam Airlines

Right for you if you want one airline from London and a stop in Vietnam.

Via Guangzhou

China Southern

  1. London
  2. Guangzhou
  3. Vientiane

Guangzhou: 12 London flights a week, then 2 a day to Vientiane

Right for you if you're watching the price: it had the cheapest return seen from London.

Via Singapore

Singapore Airlines, then Scoot

  1. London
  2. Singapore
  3. Vientiane

Singapore: 4 Heathrow nonstops a day, then 3 flights a week to Vientiane

Right for you if you'd like a stopover in Singapore and aren't in a hurry.

How long from London?

  • To Luang Prabang via Bangkok, the fastest seen

    16h 40m

  • To Luang Prabang via Hanoi

    19h 29m

One-way door-to-door flying time, connection included. Source: Kayak UK, October 12, 2026. Vientiane: times still to be logged.

Airlines and frequencies: Kayak route data, Vietnam Airlines, Thai Airways, AeroRoutes and aerocorner, October 2026. Routes change every season.

Flights to Laos from Southeast Asia and China

Already in the region, or breaking the trip with a stopover: five cities one flight from Vientiane. Lowest one-way fares seen.

THAILANDLAOSVIETNAMCAMBODIACHINAGulfof ThailandBangkokfrom $97Hanoifrom $104Kunmingfrom $127Phnom Penhfrom $199Ho Chi Minh Cityfrom $73VientianeNatural Earth THAILANDLAOSVIETNAMCAMBODIACHINAGulfof ThailandBangkokfrom $97Hanoifrom $104Kunmingfrom $127Phnom Penhfrom $199HCMVfrom $73VientianeNatural Earth

Lowest one-way fare seen, Aviasales via Travelpayouts, checked October 12, 2026.

From Wattay Airport to downtown Vientiane

Wattay is in town, 4 km from the center. Fill in the Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF) online within 3 days before you arrive.

≈ 4 kmDowntownNam Phou fountainWattay AirportVTEMekongSchematic map · Natural Earth ≈ 4 kmDowntownWattay AirportVTEMekongSchematic map · Natural Earth

Indicative route: the time mostly depends on traffic coming into the city.

  • Official taxi

    140,000 kip fixed fare, paid at the desk

    • 20 to 35 min

    Pay at the desk inside the terminal, then walk to the car.

  • Ride-hailing

    ≈ 70,000 kip with LOCA or inDrive

    • same as a taxi

    About half the official taxi fare. You need a data connection on arrival to book the ride.

  • Shuttle, bus no. 44

    40,000 kip to Talat Sao bus station

    • 20 to 30 min

    Every 1.5 to 2 hours, 8:10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. from the airport, stopping at hotels on the way.

Sources: GeckoRoutes and KPL (shuttle), 2026. Bars: trip time, from the shortest to the longest given.

Once in Vientiane, the Mekong

Vientiane sits on the river, facing Thailand: the starting point north to Luang Prabang, south through Laos, or across the bridge.

LAOSTHAILANDVientiane1Luang Prabang2Nong Khai3ThakhekNatural Earth LAOSTHAILANDVientiane1Luang Prabang2Nong Khai3ThakhekNatural Earth
  1. A white and gold temple with tiered roofs at the top of a staircase, under a blue sky

    Photo by Life on the road on Unsplash

    Stop guide · train

    Ride the train to Luang Prabang

    The Laos-China Railway reaches Luang Prabang in under 2 hours, for 360,000 kip in second class since April 2026. Tickets go on sale 7 days ahead.

    Luang Prabang
  2. Nong Thin public park, its white bridge and Wat Mi Chai

    Photo by satori.corvus on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0

    Stop guide · Friendship Bridge

    Cross into Thailand at Nong Khai

    Just across the Mekong: take the bus over the Friendship Bridge, or the train from Khamsavath station, 30 minutes.

    Nong Khai
  3. Thakhek from above, the town's roofs and the limestone peaks of Khammouane on the horizon

    Photo by Prince Roy on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

    Stop guide · bus

    Head south to Thakhek

    Six to eight hours by bus, by day or on an evening sleeper, to Thakhek and the cave loop.

    Thakhek

For the season: when to go on the Mekong

Flights to Laos: FAQ

Do Gulf airlines or Turkish Airlines fly to Laos?
No. Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines don't serve Laos, and no Gulf airline appears among Vientiane's routes. With them, you stop in Bangkok and continue on a second ticket, by air or on the night train: leave at least 3 hours between flights.
Should you fly into Vientiane or Luang Prabang?
Vientiane has far more flights. Luang Prabang only links to a few Asian cities, such as Bangkok, Hanoi, Kunming or Siem Reap. From Vientiane, the train reaches Luang Prabang in under 2 hours.
Do US and UK citizens need a visa for Laos?
Yes. The e-Visa costs US$50 on the official portal and is valid for 30 days; a visa on arrival, around US$40 in cash, is also available at Wattay. Everyone must fill in the Lao Digital Immigration Form online within 3 days before arrival.
When are flights from London to Laos cheapest?
According to Kayak, April is the cheapest month to fly to Vientiane, around £641 return. China Southern, via Guangzhou, had the lowest fare seen, from about £469 return.

Sources: fares, Aviasales via Travelpayouts (weekly check) and Kayak UK (October 12, 2026); flights to Laos, Vietnam Airlines, Thai Airways (September 2026), AeroRoutes and aerocorner (October 2026); Wattay, GeckoRoutes (2026); Laos-China Railway, Tourism Laos (April 2026) and Seat61 (June 2026); visa, official portal laoevisa.gov.la (October 2026) and trade.gov (January 2026). Updated October 12, 2026 by Pierre-Marie Coupry.