The best eSIM for Laos is a data plan sized to your days there and installed before you fly. A SimOptions Laos eSIM does that. It is 4G/LTE and data only, activates automatically when you arrive in Laos and comes in sizes from 1 GB for 3 days to 60 GB for 90 days. It has no Lao phone number, so you call and message through apps. Going on to Thailand or Vietnam? Our regional plans don't list Laos, so pair a Laos eSIM with one for the next country.
Which is the best eSIM for Laos?
Short on time? These Laos plans are 4G/LTE and data only. Pick the size from the days you stay.
Laos 5GB (7 days) · 10GB (7 days) · 20GB (15 days) · data only · 4G/LTE · See all eSIMs for Laos · All destinations
What to look for in an eSIM for Laos
- Coverage: check that Laos is on the country list. When we checked, our South East Asia and Asia plans did not list Laos, so a Laos plan is the one to get for your days in the country.
- Data and days: both are on the plan page. A small plan fits a few days in Vientiane. For two weeks with maps, ride-hailing and photos from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng, look at a bigger one.
- Speed: the plan details say whether you get 4G/LTE or 5G. Our Laos plans are 4G/LTE.
- Calls: most travel eSIMs are data only. You call and message through apps over data.
- Setup before you fly: you get a QR code by email and install it on Wi-Fi at home. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked (see how to check eSIM compatibility).
Our eSIMs for Laos: the details
Here is what the plan details on our Laos eSIM page say:
- Sizes: 1 GB or 3 GB for 3 days, 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days, 20 GB for 15 days, 50 GB for 30 days and 60 GB for 90 days.
- Speed: 4G/LTE.
- Phone number: no. The plans are data only, with no calls or SMS.
- Activation: once installed, the eSIM activates automatically when you arrive in Laos. Your days start then.
- Top-ups: available, so you can add data instead of buying a new eSIM.
- Expiry: if you don't use the eSIM within a year, it becomes invalid.
Every plan is prepaid with no contract.
How much data do you need in Laos?
It depends on how long you stay and how you use your phone. As a rough guide:
- 1 to 3 days: Laos 1GB or 3GB, both for 3 days. Enough for maps, messages and a ride from the airport.
- Up to a week: Laos 5GB or 10GB, both for 7 days. Maps, ride-hailing, social media and photos.
- Two weeks: Laos 20GB, for 15 days. Room for some video and sharing your connection.
- A month or more: Laos 50GB for 30 days, or Laos 60GB for 90 days.
Not sure how much you need? Pick the bigger size. Our guide to eSIM data plans shows how to estimate it, and how to reduce data usage abroad helps you stretch it.
Is there an eSIM for a short trip to Laos?
Yes. If you only cross into Laos for a few days, for example for a visit to Vientiane or a stop in Luang Prabang, the smallest plans last 3 days. You get data for maps, messages and tickets without paying for a week.
Is there an eSIM for a month or longer in Laos?
Yes. For slow travel, a long stay or work from your phone, Laos 50GB lasts 30 days and Laos 60GB lasts 90 days. Both are data only and can be topped up.
Local SIM or travel eSIM?
You can also get a line from a Lao operator once you arrive. Apple lists LaoTel and StarTel among the carriers in Laos that support eSIM on iPhone through a QR code or a carrier app (Apple: carriers that offer eSIM on iPhone). Unitel, run by Star Telecom, has a travel SIM section on its own site (Unitel: travel SIM). Packages and the rules for registering a SIM change, so check them with the operator.
A local line gives you a Lao number for calls, but you set it up after you land. A travel eSIM is different: you buy it online, scan a QR code at home and don't visit a shop.
Choose a local SIM if you need a Lao number. Choose a travel eSIM if you want data the moment you land, and a plan you can compare and pay for before the trip. Your home SIM can stay on your phone next to it, so you keep getting texts and bank codes on your usual number, see how to set up a dual eSIM. More on calls with a data-only plan: phone calls with a data-only eSIM.
Which eSIM for Vientiane, Luang Prabang or Vang Vieng?
You don't need a different eSIM for each town. A Laos plan works across the country, from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and the south. In the towns, the usual data uses are maps, ride-hailing, translation and booking apps. These need little data, so a 5 GB or 10 GB plan may be enough for a week. Video calls and streaming use much more.
Data also helps you stay safe. The UK Foreign Office recommends a known taxi service, one booked by your accommodation or one of the local taxi apps. It also warns that during the monsoon season, cross-country journeys can take much longer than scheduled and have limited mobile phone coverage, so take extra water and food (FCDO: Laos safety and security). Download offline maps before long bus rides and river trips.
The same FCDO page says landmines and other unexploded weapons are a hazard throughout Laos. Keep to main routes in rural areas and don't pick up metal objects.
Before you travel: visa and safety
The UK Foreign Office says tourist visas for Laos are for 30 days from the date you arrive. You can apply online for a Lao e-visa at least 5 days in advance, or get a visa on arrival at many entry points, including the airports in Vientiane (Wattay), Luang Prabang and Pakse (FCDO: Laos entry requirements). The official e-visa site is Lao eVisa.
As of November 2026, the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Xaisomboun Province (FCDO: Laos warnings and insurance). Check your own government's advice before you book, and again before you fly.
Going to Laos and Thailand, or more of Southeast Asia?
Is Laos one stop on a longer trip through Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia? When we checked, Laos was not on the country list of our South East Asia or Asia plans. So for a trip that also takes in another country, install a Laos eSIM and a second eSIM for the other country before you go, and switch between them at the border. Check the country list of any plan before you buy.
See our guides to the best eSIM for Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and China, or browse all plans on our destinations page.
How do you get an eSIM for Laos?
- Check your phone: it must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > About and look for "No SIM restrictions" next to Carrier Lock (Apple: Unlock your iPhone).
- Buy and install on Wi-Fi: you get a QR code by email (Apple: Set up eSIM on iPhone). Our install guide walks you through it on iPhone and Android.
- When you land, use the travel eSIM for data: Apple notes that you might still pay roaming fees on your home line, so turn off data roaming on it (Apple: Use eSIM while traveling).
No signal after you land? Our guide on what to do when your eSIM is not activating covers the usual causes. New to buying one? Read how to buy an eSIM online. Not sure what an eSIM is? See what is an eSIM.
FAQ
What is the best eSIM for Laos?
It depends on your trip. For data, a Laos eSIM sized to your days is a simple choice: 3 GB for a short trip, 5 GB or 10 GB for a week, 20 GB for two weeks, 50 GB or 60 GB for a month or more. If you need a Lao number, a local line fits better.
Can I get an eSIM for Laos before I travel?
Yes. Buy it online, install the QR code on Wi-Fi at home, and it activates when you arrive in Laos.
Does a travel eSIM for Laos include a phone number?
No. Our Laos plans are data only, with no calls or SMS. Use calling and messaging apps over data, or get a line from a local operator for a Lao number.
Is there one eSIM for Laos and Thailand?
When we checked, our regional plans did not list Laos. Use a Laos eSIM for Laos and a Thailand eSIM for Thailand. You can install both before you travel.
Does the Laos eSIM have 5G?
No. Our Laos plans are 4G/LTE.
Will I have signal everywhere in Laos?
Not always. The UK Foreign Office says cross-country journeys can have limited mobile phone coverage, especially in the monsoon season. Download offline maps before you travel between towns.
Does my phone need to be unlocked?
Yes. A carrier-locked phone may not accept an eSIM from another provider. Ask your carrier to unlock it before you travel.
