{
  "_license": "CC BY 4.0 — attribute SKETCH.WORLD (https://sketch.world) and link back if you use this data.",
  "_source": "https://sketch.world/laos",
  "iso2": "LA",
  "name": "Laos",
  "slug": "laos",
  "updatedAt": "2026-07-12T18:44:38.283Z",
  "score": 59,
  "verdict": "go-plan",
  "confidence": "high",
  "subscores": {
    "advisoryConsensus": 66.66666666666666,
    "political": 68.83354402478517,
    "policeTrust": 35.15166600000002,
    "health": 48,
    "lgbtq": 90
  },
  "delta7d": 2,
  "advisories": {
    "disagreement": 0,
    "us": {
      "level": 2,
      "label": "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution",
      "url": "https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/laos-travel-advisory.html"
    },
    "uk": {
      "level": 2,
      "summary": "Normal precautions for most of the country; FCDO advises against travel to some regions.",
      "url": "https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/laos"
    },
    "ca": {
      "level": 2,
      "label": "Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)",
      "url": "https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/laos"
    }
  },
  "generated": true,
  "regionFlags": [],
  "health": {
    "notices": [
      {
        "title": "Global Polio",
        "level": 2
      },
      {
        "title": "Global Measles",
        "level": 1
      }
    ],
    "vaccines": {
      "required": [],
      "recommended": []
    },
    "tapWater": "unknown"
  },
  "entry": {
    "visaNote": "",
    "passportValidityMonths": 0,
    "sources": []
  },
  "scams": [
    {
      "title": "Border crossing bribes",
      "body": "Officials at land borders may demand small bribes from tourists. Observe the behavior of locals at checkpoints to avoid these payments.",
      "sources": [
        "wikivoyage"
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Traffic police extortion",
      "body": "Police wait at specific intersections to stop foreigners and invent traffic infractions to solicit bribes. Ask rental shops which intersections to avoid.",
      "sources": [
        "wikivoyage"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "laws": [
    {
      "title": "Mandatory identification",
      "body": "You must carry a copy of your passport or national identity card at all times. Failure to produce this document when requested by police results in a fine.",
      "sources": [
        "wikivoyage"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "streetWisdom": {
    "summary": "",
    "quotes": [],
    "generatedAt": "2026-07-12"
  },
  "localKnowledge": {
    "staySafe": [
      {
        "text": "Laos in general is a safe country, in part because violent crime is punished to a significant extent by the government. This said, petty crime remains a concern."
      },
      {
        "text": "In accordance with the law, you are required to have an identification document on you at all times, and the police have the legal right to ask you for it."
      },
      {
        "label": "Corruption",
        "text": "Laos is one of the most corrupt countries in the world."
      },
      {
        "label": "Crime",
        "text": "Laos is generally a safe low-crime country."
      },
      {
        "text": "If you are the victim of a crime in Laos, do not expect to be taken seriously; the Laotian justice system is inefficient, lacks accountability, corrupt, and is susceptible to political interference."
      }
    ],
    "stayHealthy": [
      {
        "text": "Laos is on track to hit its goal of eliminating malaria by 2030, but there are still occasional outbreaks, particularly in the south (Savannakhet and beyond)."
      },
      {
        "text": "The usual precautions regarding food and water are needed."
      },
      {
        "text": "Medical care in Laos is limited owing to a lack of resources."
      },
      {
        "text": "Travel insurance that includes cover for medical evacuation is strongly recommended.…"
      }
    ],
    "sourceUrl": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Laos"
  },
  "recentHeadlines": [],
  "whatChanged": "Laos rose to a 59/100 sketch score today, but you still face level 2 travel advisories from the US, UK, and Canada alongside active global polio and measles notices.",
  "practical": {
    "plug": [
      "A",
      "B",
      "C",
      "E",
      "F"
    ],
    "voltage": 230,
    "drivingSide": "right",
    "emergency": {
      "police": "191",
      "ambulance": "195",
      "fire": "190"
    },
    "simAdvice": "",
    "cashVsCard": "",
    "tipping": ""
  },
  "lgbtqLegal": {
    "status": "legal",
    "summary": "Legal",
    "sourceUrl": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_by_country_or_territory"
  },
  "receipts": [
    {
      "sourceId": "us-state",
      "url": "https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/laos-travel-advisory.html",
      "observedAt": "2026-07-12"
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "uk-fcdo",
      "url": "https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/laos",
      "observedAt": "2026-07-12"
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "ca-gac",
      "url": "https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/laos",
      "observedAt": "2026-07-12"
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "worldbank-political",
      "url": "https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GOV_WGI_PV.EST?format=json&date=2024&per_page=300",
      "observedAt": "2026-07-12"
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "worldbank-policeTrust",
      "url": "https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GOV_WGI_RL.EST?format=json&date=2024&per_page=300",
      "observedAt": "2026-07-12"
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "cdc-health",
      "url": "https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio",
      "observedAt": "2026-07-12"
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "wikivoyage",
      "url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Laos",
      "observedAt": "2026-07-12"
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "reddit",
      "url": "https://old.reddit.com/r/travel/",
      "observedAt": "2026-07-12"
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "acled-hdx",
      "url": "https://data.humdata.org/organization/acled",
      "observedAt": "2026-07-12"
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "lgbtq-legal-wikipedia",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_by_country_or_territory",
      "observedAt": "2026-07-12"
    }
  ]
}