20 Items That Make Your Trip to Laos 100x More Fun

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If you’re going all the way to Laos, you want to enjoy it to the fullest, right?

This guide lists 20 items that aren’t strictly “must bring,” but will make your trip to Laos way more comfortable, safer, and more fun.

A lot of them solve problems that are specific to traveling in Laos (bumpy roads, early nights, different toilets, strong sun, etc.), so feel free to use this as a packing checklist.

Packing checklist (quick reference)

Checklist	Item to pack	Why bring it / Notes
□	In-flight comfort kit (eye mask, earplugs, neck pillow, seat/leg cushion, face mask)	Makes long flights and buses easier. You can also use them in hotels or on night buses in Laos.
□	Motion sickness medicine	Useful not only on the plane but also for long, bumpy bus or taxi rides in Laos.
□	Laptop / tablet	Helps kill time during flights and quiet nights. You can sort photos and videos while traveling.
□	Guidebook (e.g. “Lonely Planet Laos / The Rough Guide to Laos” )	Good backup when internet is slow.
□	A book to read / audiobook	Perfect for flights, layovers, hotel downtime, or café time. Audiobooks are great too.
□	Movies / shows downloaded in advance	Great for slow evenings. Wi-Fi can be weak, so download before you go.
□	Noise-cancelling earphones	Cuts engine noise on planes and helps you watch movies or sleep in noisy rooms.
□	Swimsuit	Waterfalls, rivers, and hotel pools are common. Brings way more play options.
□	Folding umbrella / light raincoat	Sudden rain in rainy season. A UV/parasol-style umbrella is extra useful in strong sun.
□	Travel hair dryer (strong airflow)	Many hotels have dryers, but they’re often weak, especially in humid weather.
□	Tissues / toilet paper / wet wipes	Tissue can be hard to find on the go. Wet wipes are handy for hands and cutlery.
□	Mosquito & bed bug spray (for the room)	Give the room a quick spray when you check in so you can sleep comfortably.
□	Action camera (e.g. GoPro / Insta360; rental OK)	Great for waterfalls, rivers, and outdoor activities. Easier to carry than a phone.
□	VPN app	Safer when using hotel / café Wi-Fi in Laos. Helps protect your data.
□	Small padlock (combination lock)	Handy “just in case” for bags, lockers, or buses. A dial lock is easiest.
□	Small keychain flashlight	Some streets are very dark at night. Clip it to your bag for safety.
□	Travel power strip / extension cord (with USB-A & USB-C)	Some hotel rooms only have one outlet. This keeps charging stress-free.
□	Coffee grinder	Laos coffee beans are excellent. You can grind and brew fresh coffee right in your room.
□	Translation app (Google Translate / Google Lens)	Lets you translate Lao text and talk with locals even if you don’t speak the language.
□	Ride-hailing apps (Loca / inDrive / etc.)	Especially useful in Vientiane. Local alternative to Uber/Grab, which don’t operate in Laos.

1. In-flight comfort kit

Bringing a few comfort items makes long flights (and overnight buses) so much easier — and you can still use most of them once you arrive in Laos.

Eye mask	Not just for the plane. Night buses in Laos can keep lights on, and hotel rooms aren’t always dark. Reusable/washable types are convenient.
Earplugs	If possible, bring earplugs with noise reduction or active noise-cancelling earbuds. They’re helpful on planes and also if the room next door at your hotel is loud.
Neck pillow	A compact inflatable neck pillow is great. Some models have a storage pouch that doubles as the pump, which is more hygienic than blowing air in by mouth.
Flight cushion	Useful for supporting your lower back or legs on long rides — and you can even use it as a spare pillow in simple guesthouses.
Face mask	Cabin air is extremely dry. A moisturizing “wet mask” can help protect your throat on long flights. Also pack a few individually wrapped disposable masks for local use, just in case.

2. Motion sickness medicine

This is important not just for the flight.

Road conditions in Laos can be rough, especially on mountain routes and intercity buses.

Even if you don’t usually get carsick, it’s smart to carry motion sickness tablets.

If possible, bring the kind that still works even after you’ve already started to feel sick — that can save a day trip.

3. Laptop or tablet

A laptop or tablet is great for killing time during layovers, backing up photos, sorting videos, or streaming something at night.

In many parts of Laos, evenings are quiet — nightlife is not always active, especially outside Vientiane — so having your own entertainment helps.

Most hotels and guesthouses offer free Wi-Fi.

You can also review and even lightly edit the photos and videos you’ve already taken while you’re still on the trip.

4. Guidebook

Yes, we all use Google Maps and blogs now — but a good guidebook is still useful in Laos, where coverage can be patchy.

“Lonely Plane / The Rough Guide” has a Laos edition that’s surprisingly detailed.

The Kindle version is great because it doesn’t add weight.

5. A book (or audiobook)

A physical book, a novel, manga, anything you genuinely like.

It’s perfect for:

• waiting at the airport,
• killing time on a plane,
• winding down before bed in your hotel,
• relaxing in a café (Laos has lots of nice cafés).

Recently, many travelers just use audible-style audiobooks because you can “read” even while lying down in the dark.

6. Movies and shows (downloaded)

In Laos, evenings can feel quiet — especially in smaller cities like Luang Prabang.

It’s actually a great chance to catch up on movies or dramas you’ve been “meaning to watch forever.”

But: don’t rely on streaming.

Hotel Wi-Fi can be slow or unstable, so download in advance to your laptop or tablet using Netflix, Prime Video, etc., so you can watch offline.

7. Noise-cancelling earphones

Great for flights (engine noise is loud for hours), buses, and hotel rooms.

Wireless earbuds are the most convenient while traveling, but they’re also easier to lose — and if you drop them in another country, they’re basically gone.

8. Swimsuit

Laos has tons of places where you might get in the water — waterfalls, rivers, hotel pools.

Bringing even one swimsuit really opens up what you can do.

This is especially true if you’re visiting spots like Luang Prabang or Vang Vieng, where swimming in natural pools or rivers is common.

Many mid-range and higher-end hotels also have pools, so check your hotel in advance and pack accordingly.

9. Folding umbrella / lightweight raincoat

During rainy season, sudden showers are normal.

A compact folding umbrella or a thin rain jacket brings a lot of peace of mind.

In strong sun, that umbrella can double as a sun umbrella (parasol).

If you plan to rent a scooter or motorbike, consider a rain poncho that fits over both you and your backpack.

10. Travel hair dryer

Most hotels in Laos do provide a hair dryer, but often the airflow is quite weak.

With the humidity, drying long hair can take forever.

If that’s a problem for you, bring a compact travel dryer with strong airflow that supports overseas voltage.

11. Tissues, toilet paper, wet wipes

Toilet paper is usually provided in hotels, but pocket tissues are not always easy to find once you’re out and about.

Wet wipes are extra useful — especially sanitizing wipes:

• You can wipe cutlery (spoons, forks) at casual restaurants.
• You can quickly clean your hands in places without soap.

Keep a small pack in your day bag.

12. Mosquito & bed bug spray (for the room)

If you can treat your room for mosquitoes and bed bugs, you’ll sleep with peace of mind.

You can also buy mosquito coils locally.

13. Action camera

Action cameras are perfect for travel in Laos.

They’re small, easy to carry in one hand, and usually waterproof — great for waterfalls, river tubing, sudden rain, etc.

GoPro and Insta360 are popular choices.

If you don’t shoot video often except on vacation, renting an action camera can be cheaper than buying one.

14. VPN

If you plan to use free Wi-Fi in hotels, cafés, or airports, consider installing a VPN app in advance.

A VPN encrypts your connection so your personal data is harder to intercept.

Some VPNs are paid, but there are free options as well — even a basic one is better than nothing.

Install it on both your phone and your laptop.

15. Small padlock (combination lock)

Keep a small combination lock (dial lock) on your backpack or luggage.

It’s useful for:

• locking a zipper when you leave bags in your hotel room,
• attaching your bag to something on long bus rides,
• using lockers at guesthouses or hostels.

Laos is still the kind of place where you’ll sometimes be glad you had a little lock with you “just in case.”

16. Small keychain flashlight

Street lighting can drop off fast once you’re a little outside the city center.

Even in town, some side streets are very dark at night.

A tiny LED keychain flashlight clipped to your bag can make walking at night feel a lot safer.

Phone flashlights exist, yes — but phone LEDs aren’t always bright enough, and you don’t always want to walk around with your expensive phone out.

17. Travel extension cord / power strip

Some hotel rooms in Laos only have one usable outlet.

Bringing a compact travel power strip (ideally one that supports multiple plug types and has both USB-A and USB-C ports) makes charging everything much easier.

This is especially helpful if you’re carrying phones + camera batteries + earbuds + smartwatch.

18. Coffee grinder

Laos grows excellent coffee.

If you love coffee, bring a small hand grinder or compact electric grinder, buy local beans, and brew in your room.

Most hotel rooms have an electric kettle.

If not, you can usually ask staff for hot water.

19. Translation apps

A translation app on your phone is a lifesaver for talking to locals.

Google Translate supports Lao, and with Google Lens you can point your camera at Lao signs/menus and get instant translation.

Just installing this before you go makes day-to-day communication way easier.

20. Ride-hailing apps in Laos

You won’t be using Uber or Grab in Laos — they don’t operate there — so it’s smart to install local ride-hailing apps ahead of time.

The main ones are:

• Loca
  The most widely used ride-hailing app in Laos.
  It also supports QR / barcode-style cashless payments inside Laos.
  Prices tend to be a bit higher than the others.
• KOKKOK Move
  Recognizable by its orange cars.
  Often cheaper, but the number of available cars is limited.
• inDrive
  A newer option in Laos, but already popular worldwide.
  In Vientiane especially, fares can be noticeably cheaper than Loca — sometimes half or two-thirds of the price.

If you’re visiting Luang Prabang, Loca is usually the simplest choice.

If you’re mainly in Vientiane, many locals actually prefer inDrive for the lower cost.

Prepare Smart, Then Relax

We’ve just gone through 20 items that can make traveling in Laos way more comfortable.

Of course, you don’t have to bring everything.

Luggage space is limited, and in the worst case you can just buy some things locally.

The important mindset is:
bring what matters to you, and enjoy the rest as part of the adventure.

Laos moves at an easy pace, time feels a little slower, and the trip gets better the more you lean into it.

Get ready, take care of the basics — and enjoy Laos to the fullest.