Stay online in Laos from the moment you land in Vientiane or Luang Prabang. Install a data eSIM before you fly, skip the SIM counter in arrivals, and keep your usual number for calls and texts while you use maps, ride apps and WhatsApp along the Mekong.
Laos eSIM
Laos eSIM plans
Every plan is data only, priced in US dollars, with no contract and nothing to return.
Our picks
Three plans we would buy ourselves, by the trip you are taking. Every plan we sell is listed below.
Short trip
4.2 GB
0.6 GB a day
7 days
A week or so away: maps, messages, rides and the odd video call.
$1.78 per GB
$7.49
Buy this planLong trip
22.5 GB
1.5 GB a day
15 days
Two weeks or more, with room for photos, streaming and work email.
$0.58 per GB
$12.99
Buy this plan
Daily data
A fresh allowance every day, slower above it until the next day.
Also covered by Asia Pacific
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Asia Pacific
Also covered by Global (170 countries)
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Global (170 countries)
No eSIM, no charge. If your payment goes through and we cannot issue your eSIM, we refund you in full. Refund policy
Real people. A person answers every day, 07:00 to 23:00 Paris time, within 2 hours. How we look after you
Safe checkout. Secure payment by Stripe. Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Local networks. See which ones it uses in Laos
Which Laos plan fits your trip
Laos plans are daily data. The plan cards above show the days and data on sale:
- 0.6 GB a day covers maps, messages and booking rides at the lowest price.
- 1.5 GB a day adds photos, video calls and uploading from the waterfalls. Most visitors pick this one.
See fixed, daily or unlimited for how each type behaves. Coming from Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia? Laos's own plans cover Laos only; the regional and global plans further down cover several countries in one install.
Landing in Laos
Most visitors arrive at Wattay airport in Vientiane or at Luang Prabang, or cross by land from Thailand. Install the eSIM at home while you are on your own Wi-Fi, then turn on data roaming for the eSIM line once you arrive. You can then book a ride in the LOCA app or message your guesthouse before you reach the exit.
The train and the slow boat
The high-speed railway between Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang has made the north much quicker to reach. Tickets are sold in advance and often sell out, so book them on your phone as soon as your dates are set, and keep the ticket saved offline. The two-day slow boat on the Mekong between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang is the opposite: expect long stretches with no signal on the river.
Coverage
Coverage is good in Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng, and in the main towns of the south such as Pakse. It thins out on the Mekong slow boat, on the Thakhek motorbike loop and in its caves, on the Bolaven Plateau away from the towns and in the remote north. Download offline maps before you head out of town.
Networks in Laos
Laos's mobile networks are Unitel, Lao Telecom and ETL. A travel eSIM connects to one of them as a roaming partner, which is why data roaming must be on for the eSIM line. The partner network can differ from plan to plan, so check the plan details, or ask us at support@esimlounge.com before you buy.
How to install your eSIM
Install it at home before you fly, then switch it on when you land.
Check your phone
Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. Most phones from the last few years do.
Scan the QR code
Scan the code from your email while you still have Wi-Fi at home. It takes about two minutes.
Switch on when you land
Turn on the eSIM line and data roaming for it. Keep your usual SIM for calls and texts if you like.
Laos eSIM questions
Is an eSIM cheaper than my own carrier's roaming in Laos?
Usually, by a wide margin. UK, US and Australian carriers typically charge a daily pass for each day you use your phone abroad, and over a week those passes cost several times more than a plan here. Check your own plan's roaming terms to compare.
Does it work on the Mekong slow boat?
Only in patches. Expect long stretches with no signal between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang, so download what you need before you board.
Can I book the Laos high-speed train on my phone?
Yes. Tickets are sold in advance and often sell out, so book as soon as your dates are set and save the ticket to your phone.
Can I use the same eSIM in Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia?
Yes, if the countries are on the plan's list. Laos's own plans cover Laos only; the regional and global plans on this page cover several countries in one install. Check the list on the plan before you buy.
Will I keep my phone number?
Yes. Your usual SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts, and the eSIM carries your mobile data. Keep data roaming off on your usual SIM to avoid roaming fees from home.
When does the plan start counting days?
On most plans the days start when the eSIM first connects to a network in Laos, not when you install it. The plan details say how yours works.