How to Use ATMs in Laos Safely: Fees, Limits, and a Step-by-Step Guide

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Traveling in Laos, I quickly realized that having a reliable way to get local cash makes the whole trip feel much calmer.

Even though card payments are spreading, you’ll still need cash for markets, street food, and small guesthouses.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how ATMs work in Laos, where to find them, which cards you can use, and what kind of fees and limits to expect.

I’ve followed exactly these steps myself, so if overseas ATMs make you nervous, this article is here to make the process feel simple and predictable.

It’s not flashy luxury — it’s the quiet kind, where knowing you can get cash 24/7 lets you relax and focus on the trip itself.

Do you really need cash in Laos, and is it safe to use ATMs?

When you travel in Laos, you’ll find that cash is still essential, even though more shops, hotels, and tour companies now accept cards.

Many smaller places only take cash, so it’s smart to keep some money in your pocket.

You can exchange money at banks and exchange counters, but using an ATM lets you withdraw local currency 24 hours a day and sometimes at a better rate than over-the-counter exchanges, depending on timing.

If overseas ATMs make you anxious, the good news is that the basic flow is almost the same everywhere.

In this article, I’ll show you each screen and step you can expect so you’re not guessing in front of the machine.

What should you know about Lao kip before withdrawing cash?

The currency in Laos is the Lao kip (LAK).

Kip is a currency that is very hard to exchange outside Laos, so if you take it home, it may be difficult or impossible to convert back into your own currency.

Try not to leave the country with a lot of leftover kip. Plan your withdrawals with your remaining days and expected spending in mind.

The main banknotes you’ll see in circulation are:

• 1,000 kip
• 2,000 kip
• 5,000 kip
• 10,000 kip
• 20,000 kip
• 50,000 kip
• 100,000 kip

ATMs most often dispense 100,000-kip notes, and sometimes you’ll get a thick stack of 50,000-kip notes instead.

The exchange rate between kip and major currencies (USD, EUR, etc.) changes all the time, so it’s better to check the live rate in a widget or currency app right before you withdraw.

Where can you find ATMs in Laos?

ATMs are widely available in Laos, even in many regional towns.

You’ll most often find them:

• At airports
• Inside or just outside bank branches
• In or near shopping malls and supermarkets

In cities, they’re almost everywhere, so you rarely need to worry about “running out” of ATMs.

As you walk around, it’s a good idea to mentally note ATMs you pass near your hotel, favorite cafés, or main intersections.

I usually remember one or two “regular” machines along my daily route so I know exactly where to go when my wallet gets low.

Which card brands usually work at ATMs in Laos?

The card brands you can use depend on each ATM, but Visa and Mastercard are the most reliable options.

You can expect these two brands to work at most ATMs, and they’re also commonly accepted at hotels, restaurants, and tour companies.

Because of that, it’s best to travel with at least one Visa or Mastercard, ideally two from different issuers for backup.

Later in this article, I’ll introduce BCEL, a major Lao bank whose ATMs accept a wide range of card brands, including some less common ones.

Step-by-step: how to withdraw cash from an ATM in Laos

From here, let’s go through the actual steps of using a Lao ATM.

The basic process is almost the same on every machine, so once you’ve done it once, it feels much easier the second time.

How much are ATM fees and withdrawal limits in Laos?

ATM usage fees

In Laos, you should assume every bank will charge some kind of ATM fee when you withdraw cash with a foreign card.

• Many ATMs charge a fixed fee of around 30,000–40,000 kip per transaction.
• Some ATMs, such as those from JDB, charge a percentage fee, for example 3% of the amount withdrawn with a minimum of 40,000 kip.

Because the fee is usually “per transaction”, it’s cheaper overall to withdraw a larger amount a few times, rather than small amounts many times.

If the fee shown on the screen feels too high, you don’t have to continue—just cancel the transaction and try another bank’s ATM nearby.

Typical per-transaction withdrawal limits

Each bank sets its own per-transaction withdrawal limit.

These are examples from when I used ATMs in Laos:

• BCEL: 2,500,000 kip per transaction, ATM fee 30,000 kip
• Indochina Bank: 3,000,000 kip per transaction, ATM fee 40,000 kip
• JDB: 2,000,000 kip per transaction, fee 3% (minimum 40,000 kip)

These limits and fees can change without notice, so always rely on what you see on the ATM screen at that moment, not on older information.

When I tested different banks, I found that knowing the limits in advance helped me plan how much to withdraw so I didn’t have to stand at the machine doing trial and error.

Which ATMs in Laos are the most convenient for travelers?

Overall, my personal recommendation is BCEL ATMs.

From my experience, BCEL is convenient because:

• It’s one of the largest banks in Laos, with ATMs in many cities and towns.
• The per-transaction limit of 2,500,000 kip is relatively high, and the ATM fee of 30,000 kip is reasonable compared with others.
• BCEL ATMs accept a wide range of card brands: Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, Diners Club International, JCB, and China UnionPay (CUP).

Because of this, I usually look for a BCEL ATM first when I arrive in a new town and then remember where it is for the rest of my stay.

Pros and cons of using a credit card for cash advances in Laos

Using your credit card for a cash advance (cash withdrawal) is a very easy way to get local currency, but it does come with downsides.

Knowing both the advantages and disadvantages helps you use it only when it really makes sense.

Advantages of credit card cash advances

1. Often better rates than cash exchange

Credit card cash advances usually use the international card-network exchange rate plus a small adjustment.

Cash exchange counters often give worse rates, so in many cases the rate you get from a cash advance is more favorable than over-the-counter exchange.

2. Some cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees on cash advances

When you use a credit card for shopping abroad, many issuers add a foreign transaction fee on top of the exchange rate.

For cash advances, however, some cards do not charge this foreign transaction fee at all, which can make cash advances cheaper overall than simply paying by card in shops with the same card.

By contrast, most debit cards charge a foreign transaction fee when used at overseas ATMs, so the total cost can be higher than you expect.

3. You don’t have to carry large amounts of cash

If you exchange a lot of money in cash, you’ll be walking around with a thick wallet, which increases the impact if it’s lost or stolen.

With cash advances, you only withdraw what you need at the moment, so you’re not carrying a huge stack of notes.

If your credit card itself is lost or stolen, you can contact your card issuer and have the card blocked quickly, which is a big safety advantage.

Disadvantages of credit card cash advances

1. High interest rates

Cash advances are treated as short-term loans, so interest starts accruing from the withdrawal date until the repayment date.

It’s best to choose a card that allows easy early repayment and to repay the full amount as soon as possible to keep interest costs low.

2. ATM fees plus card-issuer fees

As we’ve seen, Lao banks charge their own ATM fees.

On top of that, some card issuers charge an additional “overseas ATM fee” for each cash advance.

Because these two layers of fees add up quickly, it makes sense to prefer cards that don’t charge an extra overseas ATM fee where possible.

3. Cash advance limits

Each credit card has a maximum amount you’re allowed to withdraw as cash, known as your cash advance limit.

This limit may be lower than your total credit limit, and your requested limit may not always be approved at the level you originally applied for.

In some cases, you might not have any cash advance limit set at all.

It’s important to check and adjust your cash advance limit before you leave for Laos, so you’re not surprised at the ATM.

Use credit card cash advances wisely on your Laos trip

ATMs are one of the most convenient ways to get Lao kip 24/7, and once you’ve used them once or twice, they stop feeling intimidating.

The basic process is the same in most countries, so the experience you gain in Laos will help you on future trips too.

From my own travels, I feel that cash advances are becoming more attractive compared to traditional cash exchange, especially in countries where exchange counters offer poor rates.

At the same time, the hidden costs—interest, ATM fees, and possible card-issuer fees—are easy to forget when you’re standing in front of the machine.

Remember that Lao kip is hard to exchange once you leave the country, so the key is to withdraw only what you can realistically spend instead of “just in case” amounts.

If this is the kind of practical, low-stress travel you want, using ATMs and credit card cash advances in a planned way will give you a quiet sense of security throughout your trip.