Expatriation

Settle into Laos with 8 practical habits for rain, mosquitoes, heat, street food and scooters, plus reassuring local guidance from Expat Laos SALITHYNA.

Yes, foreigners can own a registered condominium unit in Laos, but not the land beneath it. Here are the five questions to ask before buying a condo in Vientiane: legal status, documents, registration and how long your rights last.

Arrivals are up, the China-Laos Railway has redrawn the travel map and Laos is on the 2027 lists. What the 2026 figures really show — and what they do not.

In Laos, scooters are often the easiest way to get around Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse, or Thakhek. But renting a scooter doesn't automatically mean you're allowed to drive it, and a small electric scooter sold without a licence plate isn't necessarily exempt from paperwork.

Verified dates for every major Lao festival from October 2026 to July 2027 — Boun Ok Phansa, the Vientiane boat races, That Luang and Boun Pi Mai — with the closures, booking deadlines and temple etiquette every expat in Laos needs to plan around.

No vaccine is required to enter Laos, but a long stay changes everything. Vaccines, malaria, dengue, water, pharmacies: the complete health framework for expats, checked against official sources.

Every year between June and October, the Mekong rises against Vientiane's riverbank. What the 2026 rainy season really means for residents: river levels month by month, how the Mekong River Commission monitors floods, the capital's new flood defences and how to prepare your home.

Moving to Laos is decided three to six months before departure, not at the airport. This checklist sets out every step in order, with costs, lead times and official portals verified in August 2026.

Source: expat.com — Laos Guide (updated October–December 2025)Thinking about moving to Laos and torn between the capital Vientiane and the enchanting Luang Prabang? These two cities embody two radically different visions of expat life. One is pragmatic, well-connected, home to international schools and a structured economic base. The other is a timeless cultural gem, UNESCO-listed, that requires real...