Wattay International Airport

The largest and busiest airport in Laos is located just a few miles outside of Vientiane’s city center. The number of airlines flying into Wattay has grown significantly over the years and now includes six airlines: AirAsia, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Jin Air, Lao Airlines, Lao Central Airlines, Thai Airways, and Vietnam Airlines. The most popular route is to Bangkok, followed by flights to Malaysia, Siem Reap, Hanoi, and Seoul.

The airport is made up of an old domestic terminal and a newer international terminal. There are several small cafés, both on the ground floor and first floor, which offer small snacks and drinks. There are several shops, including a small duty-free zone after security. Services are limited in the domestic terminal, with one small café before and one after the security checkpoint.

There is no public transportation from the airport to Laos so taxi is the best option to get downtown. There is a taxi desk in the terminal that pre-sells tickets to various locations. Most hotels will offer airport pick-ups, which should be arranged prior to arrival. The journey takes less than 15 minutes.

Luang Prabang International Airport

The only other international airport in Laos is the Luang Prabang International Airport. The main connections here are from Bangkok (Thailand), Siem Reap (Cambodia) and Hanoi (Vietnam). The number of airlines flying in and out has grown, from just Lao Airlines to include Bangkok Airways, Vietnam Airlines and Lao Central Airlines. The airport is just a 15-minute drive from downtown with one terminal building and one runway. There is a fast food restaurant inside and a restaurant across the street.

There are no public transportation from the airport so most visitors will have to use taxis or motorized rickshaws. Some hotels will provide pick-up services, which should be arranged in advance.