Vientiane is small, but sidewalks are patchy and the heat builds fast, so you will ride more than you expect. The good news: unlike a few years ago, you can now call a car from your phone. Grab and Uber do not operate in Laos — the apps below are what locals and travelers actually use.
Ride-hailing apps that work in Vientiane
LOCA is the Lao ride-hailing app with the most drivers. It covers Vientiane and Luang Prabang (coverage in Vang Vieng depends on how many drivers are active). The fare is shown before you confirm, so there is no haggling, and you can pay in cash, by card, or by QR inside the app. The app is in English and works from Wattay airport arrivals as well as in town. KOKKOK Move runs in Vientiane only and offers regular cars (sedan, SUV, pickup) as well as electric tuk-tuks. The price is agreed in the app before the ride, and cash, card, and QR payment are accepted. It launched in late 2023 and is now a common sight around the city. inDrive is currently blocked in Laos: telecom providers were ordered to cut access in May 2025 over unresolved business-registration and safety complaints, and it has not returned as of this writing. Do not plan around it. Maxim entered Vientiane in December 2024. It is worth having as a backup; check the current payment options in the app before booking. Install one or two of these before you land, and make sure you have mobile data — a Lao SIM from the airport counter or an eSIM bought in advance. Outside Vientiane and Luang Prabang, app coverage drops off quickly and your guesthouse is the best way to arrange a ride.
Paying with your phone: LAO QR for foreign visitors
Most shops, cafés, and even market stalls in Laos take payment by scanning a LAO QR code, which normally needs a Lao bank account. Foreign visitors have a few ways in, depending on where you are from. Korean travelers can scan LAO QR codes directly with GLN-connected apps — Toss, Hana Pay, Hana OneQ, Hana Money, KB Star Banking, Purple GLN, and Naver Pay — and the same GLN apps (except Naver Pay) can also withdraw kip at BCEL ATMs by scanning a QR code, no card needed. Thai travelers can scan LAO QR with participating Thai bank apps through the Thailand–Laos QR link that opened in 2024, and a Laos–Vietnam QR link has also launched; check your own bank's app for support. Everyone else can use LOCA Pay inside the LOCA app, which links a foreign credit card to LAO QR payments. Fees and limits differ by app, so check before you rely on it, and still carry some kip for places whose QR is down or who prefer cash.
Tuk-tuks: agree on the fare first
Tuk-tuks still have no meter. The driver quotes a price on the spot, and first quotes to tourists run higher than what locals pay. Agree on the fare before you get in, ask your hotel for a rough fair price beforehand, and have the destination written in Lao if it is not a landmark. Checking the app fare for the same trip first gives you a realistic anchor for negotiating.
Airport, late nights, and early departures
From Wattay airport you can book a LOCA car on arrival, take a taxi from the official counter, or pre-arrange a hotel transfer. For a very early departure or a late-night return, book the ride in advance or ask your hotel to arrange a car rather than relying on a driver being nearby at that hour.
Walking is not always practical
Central Vientiane is walkable in short stretches, but sidewalks are often narrow, uneven, blocked by parked motorbikes, or missing on busier roads. Plan more walking time than the map suggests, and take care crossing — traffic does not reliably stop for pedestrians. Where you stay decides how much you walk; the Traveler Street and Nam Phou area puts most restaurants and sights within reach.
Renting a scooter
Scooter rental is common and cheap, but check that your home license plus an International Driving Permit is actually valid for riding in Laos, and confirm what your travel insurance covers before you ride. Helmets are required by law even where enforcement is loose.
Quick picks
Short hops in town: LOCA or KOKKOK Move; a tuk-tuk if one is right there and the fare is agreed. Airport and odd hours: LOCA, the airport taxi counter, or a hotel-arranged car. Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, and beyond: ask your accommodation; app coverage is thin or absent.