Travel calmly

Safety & scams

Laos is a gentle, welcoming country. A few simple habits keep it that way — here's what to watch for, who to call, and how we help if something goes wrong.

Six simple habits

Avoid being overcharged

Most problems travellers face are about price misunderstandings. These habits prevent nearly all of them.

Agree the price before you ride
Settle the total before you get in — never after arriving. Check the fair range in our fare calculator first.
Per vehicle or per person?
Always confirm whether the price is for the whole vehicle or for each passenger. It's the most common trick.
Carry small notes
Keep 5,000–20,000 kip notes handy so “no change” can't become an extra charge.
Use the Driver Card
Show your destination and agreed price in Lao, so nothing gets lost in translation.
Open the Driver Card
Choose verified drivers
Verified drivers have checked documents and publish prices below the official ceiling.
Find a verified driver
Report problems
If something goes wrong, tell us. Reports protect the next traveller and keep standards high.
Report a problem

Current alerts

Scam alerts

Reported tricks we're currently seeing, area-wide and by zone. Updated by our team.

Risk: HighNationwide
The "per person" vs "per vehicle" price trick
How it works
- A tuk-tuk or jumbo driver quotes a price such as "50,000" without saying whether it is per person or for the whole vehicle
- On arrival, they demand 50,000 LAK per person — so a group of four is suddenly asked for 200,000 LAK
- If you object, the driver may become loud or pushy until you pay
How to avoid it
- Before getting in, ask clearly: "Per person or for the whole vehicle?" (Lao: ລາຄານີ້ ຕໍ່ຄົນ ຫຼື ເໝົາທັງຄັນ?)
- Type the total on your phone's calculator, show it to the driver and get a nod
- Compare with the fare table on this site before agreeing
- Choose drivers with a Driver Card, which shows the whole-vehicle price clearly
- If you are overcharged, photograph the plate and report it through our complaint form
Risk: HighPakse Cityຕົວເມືອງປາກເຊ
Vang Tao – Chong Mek border: fake "visa fees" and "overtime fees"
How it works
- Someone out of uniform approaches you on the Chong Mek or Vang Tao side, offers to "fill in the form" or get a "fast visa", then charges well above the official rate
- Others claim you must pay an "overtime" or "stamp" fee early in the morning, in the evening or at weekends
- Some drivers say "the border is closed" and take you to a friend's guesthouse instead
How to avoid it
- Hand over documents and pay only at the immigration windows; photograph the official fee board
- Always ask for a receipt and carry the exact cash in the currency shown on the board
- Check the border hours in advance (roughly 06:00–20:00 — sample)
- If you are asked for odd payments, ask for the officer in charge or contact the Pakse tourist police
Risk: HighBolaven Plateau (Paksong)ພູພຽງບໍລະເວນ (ປາກຊ່ອງ)
Bolaven loop motorbike rentals: passport as deposit and inflated damage claims
How it works
- A Pakse shop rents bikes for the "Bolaven loop" but asks for your original passport as deposit
- When you return the bike, existing scratches or a cracked light are blamed on you and 1–3 million LAK is demanded (sample)
- If you refuse, the passport isn't returned and you can't travel on
How to avoid it
- Don't leave your passport — offer a cash deposit or a photocopy instead
- Film a walk-around of the bike with the owner before you leave, including the odometer and tyres
- Ask for a written agreement listing repair prices for the main parts; check brakes, lights and helmet
- The dirt tracks to the waterfalls are very slippery in the wet season — ride slowly or hire a vehicle with driver
Risk: HighSouthern Champasak (Wat Phou – Si Phan Don)ຈຳປາສັກໃຕ້ (ວັດພູ – ສີ່ພັນດອນ)
Si Phan Don boats: "per person" vs "per boat" pricing
How it works
- A boatman at Nakasang or Don Det quotes "150,000" for a dolphin trip or a ride to Don Khon
- Mid-river or on arrival he says it was per person, not for the whole boat
- Others say not enough passengers turned up, so you must pay a charter top-up
How to avoid it
- Check the price board at Nakasang pier and buy tickets at the ticket hut
- Ask clearly: "Per person or whole boat? Return included? How long do you wait?" and show the total on your phone
- Pay at the end of the trip, or half up front
- Make sure there's a life jacket for everyone before you set off
Risk: MediumPakse Cityຕົວເມືອງປາກເຊ
Overpriced taxis outside Pakse Airport
How it works
- Drivers waiting at the exit quote 200,000–300,000 LAK to town, only ~3 km away (sample)
- They claim "there is no taxi counter" or "tuk-tuks aren't allowed into the airport"
- They steer you to a commission-paying hotel, saying yours is "full" or "closed"
How to avoid it
- Use the taxi coupon counter in the arrivals hall — about 100,000 LAK per vehicle to town (sample)
- Compare with the fare calculator before agreeing
- Confirm your hotel's name and address with the driver, and phone the hotel yourself if told it's closed
- Pre-book a verified driver through PakseHub
Risk: MediumPakse Cityຕົວເມືອງປາກເຊ
Agents selling "VIP" tickets for local buses
How it works
- Town agents sell "VIP bus / direct minivan" tickets to Si Phan Don, Paksong or Ubon at twice the normal price
- On the day you're put on a songthaew or local bus from the Southern Bus Terminal and have to change on the way
- Some tickets "include the boat to Don Det", but at Nakasang you're asked to pay for the boat again
How to avoid it
- Ask exactly what vehicle it is, which terminal it leaves from and whether you change — have it written on the ticket
- Compare with buying the ticket yourself at the Southern Bus Terminal (Lak 8) or the VIP bus station
- Photograph the ticket and the agent's card; if the boat is included, ask for a separate boat voucher
Risk: MediumNationwide
Short-counted money exchange and THB / LAK confusion
How it works
- Exchange booths or street changers count notes quickly in front of you, then fold or palm a few before handing them over
- They lure you with a too-good rate, then deduct a "commission" afterwards
- Shops or drivers quote "a hundred" without a currency and then charge baht instead of kip
How to avoid it
- Change money at banks or booths with clearly posted rates; avoid street changers near the border and bus stations
- Count the money yourself at the counter before you leave, and ask for a receipt
- Always ask "kip or baht?" and type the amount on a calculator
- Check the rate with the currency converter on this site
Risk: MediumSouthern Champasak (Wat Phou – Si Phan Don)ຈຳປາສັກໃຕ້ (ວັດພູ – ສີ່ພັນດອນ)
"Wat Phou is closed today" — the shopping detour
How it works
- A charter driver from Pakse says on the way that "Wat Phou is closed for a ceremony" or "closed for repairs"
- He offers somewhere else instead — a gem shop, a weaving shop or a "secret waterfall" — for the same or a higher price
How to avoid it
- Wat Phou is normally open every day — check the news and opening hours on this site before you go
- Make clear the trip ends at the Wat Phou entrance, and agree any stops in the price upfront
- If you're taken off-route, photograph the plate and use the complaint form
Risk: MediumNationwide
Festival price surges for transport and rooms
How it works
- During Ok Phansa boat racing in Pakse, the Vat Phou Festival and Lao New Year, transport and room prices rise 2–3 times
- Some hosts take an advance deposit and then cancel to resell the room for more
How to avoid it
- Check the events calendar and book rooms and transport early, with written confirmation
- Always agree the fare before getting in and compare with the fare calculator (a modest festival premium is normal)
- Pay deposits through a traceable method such as BCEL OnePay and keep the slip
Risk: MediumPakse Cityຕົວເມືອງປາກເຊ
"All-inclusive" Si Phan Don packages from unlicensed tour desks
How it works
- Street-side tour desks in Pakse sell a single-price "bus + boat + room + dolphin tour" package
- On the way you discover the room was never booked or the dolphin trip costs extra — and the seller stops answering
How to avoid it
- Ask for an itemised receipt and the guesthouse's name and number so you can confirm yourself
- Choose companies that display a tourism business licence
- Or buy the bus ticket at the Southern Bus Terminal and the boat at Nakasang pier yourself
Risk: MediumBolaven Plateau (Paksong)ພູພຽງບໍລະເວນ (ປາກຊ່ອງ)
Unlicensed ziplines and "waterfall climbing tours" near Tad Fane
How it works
- Touts in the car park offer a cheap "zipline across the Tad Fane gorge" or a "hike to the bottom of the falls"
- Equipment is worn, there's no insurance, and the gorge path is very slippery and dangerous in the wet season
How to avoid it
- Only use operators with an office, a licence and checkable equipment
- Inspect harnesses and helmets, and ask whether accident insurance is included
- Avoid descending into the gorge during heavy rain
Risk: MediumSouthern Champasak (Wat Phou – Si Phan Don)ຈຳປາສັກໃຕ້ (ວັດພູ – ສີ່ພັນດອນ)
Don Det kayak and bicycle rentals with surprise damage claims
How it works
- The rental shop keeps your passport as a deposit, then claims the kayak leaks or the bike chain broke because of you
- They demand 300,000–800,000 LAK (sample) before returning the passport
How to avoid it
- Leave a cash deposit instead of your passport
- Photograph the equipment from all sides before use and test the brakes and chain
- In a dispute, contact the Khong District Police or use the complaint form
Risk: LowBolaven Plateau (Paksong)ພູພຽງບໍລະເວນ (ປາກຊ່ອງ)
"Genuine Bolaven" coffee that isn't from the Bolaven
How it works
- Roadside stalls and souvenir shops sell "100% Bolaven Arabica" bags at suspiciously low prices
- Inside is low-grade Robusta blend or relabelled imported coffee, often with no roast date
How to avoid it
- Buy from farms, co-operatives or roasters that state the origin, variety and roast date
- Ask to taste before you buy and compare prices with cafés in Paksong
- Real Arabica costs clearly more than Robusta — a price that's too low is a warning sign
Risk: LowBolaven Plateau (Paksong)ພູພຽງບໍລະເວນ (ປາກຊ່ອງ)
Unofficial waterfall "guide" and parking fees
How it works
- At the entrances to smaller falls (e.g. Tad Champee or the path down to Tad Pha Suam) someone collects a "guide fee" or "parking fee" with no ticket
- Some walk you a short way and then ask 50,000–100,000 LAK (sample)
How to avoid it
- Only pay entry at a booth with a posted price that gives you a ticket
- If you don't want a guide, politely decline before you start walking
- If you do want one, agree price and duration first
Risk: LowPakse Cityຕົວເມືອງປາກເຊ
"Free ride to Pakse" from the border that ends at a commission hotel
How it works
- After you clear Vang Tao, someone offers a "free" or very cheap ride to Pakse
- The ride ends at a hotel or tour office that pays commission, where you're pressured to book a room or tour
How to avoid it
- Use the regular songthaews / vans parked at the border, or a verified driver
- State your destination clearly (bus terminal or the hotel you booked) and decline any stops
Risk: LowBolaven Plateau (Paksong)ພູພຽງບໍລະເວນ (ປາກຊ່ອງ)
Paksong songthaews: "tourist price" and luggage fees
How it works
- Locals pay one price for the Pakse – Paksong songthaew, while visitors are asked nearly double plus a "bag fee"
- You get off at the Tad Fane junction (Km 38) but are charged the full fare to Paksong
How to avoid it
- Ask the price before boarding and state where you'll get off
- Check the reference price in the fare table and carry small notes
Risk: LowSouthern Champasak (Wat Phou – Si Phan Don)ຈຳປາສັກໃຕ້ (ວັດພູ – ສີ່ພັນດອນ)
The "last boat" surcharge at Nakasang
How it works
- Arrive at Nakasang in the late afternoon and a boatman says it's the "last boat", so you must charter it at a high price
- In fact several regular boats are still due to leave
How to avoid it
- Check the price and time board at the ticket hut
- Wait a little for other passengers to share the boat
- Arrive before 16:00 so you're not rushed

SOS

Emergency contacts

Tap a number to call. Numbers marked as unverified have not yet been confirmed by our team.

• If you are in danger, call the police first.
• Save your hotel's address in Lao script to show responders.
• Your embassy can help with lost passports and serious incidents.

Police (nationwide)
Nationwide · Free from Lao phones. Operators mostly speak Lao — ask a local or your hotel to help if you can. Unverified — verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
1191
Fire brigade (nationwide)
Nationwide · For fires and rescue emergencies. Unverified — verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
1190
Ambulance (nationwide)
Nationwide · Outside Pakse town (e.g. Paksong or Si Phan Don) an ambulance may be slow; getting a vehicle straight to the nearest hospital can be faster. Unverified — verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
1195
Tourist Police, Pakse
Pakse City · Handles tourist complaints such as lost property, scams at the Vang Tao border and fare disputes, and can issue police reports for insurance claims. This is a SAMPLE placeholder number. Unverified — verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 31 000 201
Pakse District Police Station
Pakse City · Central police station near the Sedone riverside, for crime and lost-property reports. In an emergency dial 1191. This is a SAMPLE placeholder number. Unverified — verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 31 000 202
Champasak Provincial Hospital (Pakse)
Pakse City · The main hospital of Champasak province, in Pakse town, with an emergency room. Serious cases are often transferred to Ubon Ratchathani (Thailand) via the Vang Tao border. This is a SAMPLE placeholder number. Unverified — verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 31 000 203
Royal Thai Consulate-General, Pakse
Pakse City · For Thai citizens who have lost a passport or need consular help in southern Laos (business hours). This is a SAMPLE placeholder number. Unverified — verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 31 000 204
Embassy of the People's Republic of China (Vientiane)
Nationwide · Located in Vientiane, about 650 km from Pakse — main switchboard for Chinese citizens needing consular assistance. Unverified — verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 21 315 105
Embassy of Japan (Vientiane)
Nationwide · Located in Vientiane, about 650 km from Pakse — main switchboard for Japanese citizens needing consular assistance. Unverified — verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 21 414 400
Paksong District Police Station
Bolaven Plateau (Paksong) · For motorbike accidents on Route 16, lost property and rental disputes on the Bolaven Plateau. This is a SAMPLE placeholder number. Unverified — verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 31 000 301
Paksong District Hospital
Bolaven Plateau (Paksong) · District hospital for basic treatment and accident first aid; serious cases are referred to the provincial hospital in Pakse (~1 h). This is a SAMPLE placeholder number. Unverified — verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 31 000 302
Champasak District Hospital
Southern Champasak (Wat Phou – Si Phan Don) · District hospital in Champasak town near Wat Phou and Ban Muang, for basic treatment; serious cases go to Pakse. This is a SAMPLE placeholder number. Unverified — verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 31 000 401
Khong District Hospital (Don Khong)
Southern Champasak (Wat Phou – Si Phan Don) · The nearest hospital to Si Phan Don, in Muang Khong on Don Khong island — about 1 h by boat and road from Don Det. This is a SAMPLE placeholder number. Unverified — verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 31 000 402
Khong District Police Station
Southern Champasak (Wat Phou – Si Phan Don) · Covers Si Phan Don (Don Det, Don Khon, Nakasang): lost property, boat disputes and river accidents. This is a SAMPLE placeholder number. Unverified — verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 31 000 403
Champasak Provincial Police HQ (Pakse)
Pakse City · For crime reports, lost property and police reports for insurance. In an emergency dial 1191. Unverified — this is a SAMPLE placeholder number; verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 31 000 901
Pakse International Clinic (sample)
Pakse City · For basic treatment; serious cases are referred to Champasak Provincial Hospital in Pakse or to Ubon Ratchathani (Thailand). Ambulance: 1195. Unverified — this is a SAMPLE placeholder number; verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 31 000 902
Bachiangchaleunsook District Police Station
Bolaven Plateau (Paksong) · For crime reports, lost property and police reports for insurance. In an emergency dial 1191. Unverified — this is a SAMPLE placeholder number; verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 31 000 903
Bachiangchaleunsook District Hospital
Bolaven Plateau (Paksong) · For basic treatment; serious cases are referred to Champasak Provincial Hospital in Pakse or to Ubon Ratchathani (Thailand). Ambulance: 1195. Unverified — this is a SAMPLE placeholder number; verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 31 000 904
Champasak District Police Station
Southern Champasak (Wat Phou – Si Phan Don) · For crime reports, lost property and police reports for insurance. In an emergency dial 1191. Unverified — this is a SAMPLE placeholder number; verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 31 000 905
Don Det Police Post
Southern Champasak (Wat Phou – Si Phan Don) · For crime reports, lost property and police reports for insurance. In an emergency dial 1191. Unverified — this is a SAMPLE placeholder number; verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 20 000 906
Don Det Health Centre
Southern Champasak (Wat Phou – Si Phan Don) · For basic treatment; serious cases are referred to Champasak Provincial Hospital in Pakse or to Ubon Ratchathani (Thailand). Ambulance: 1195. Unverified — this is a SAMPLE placeholder number; verify before publishing.
Number not yet verified by our team
+856 20 000 907

Guides

How to Avoid Being Overcharged
Simple rules for paying fair prices for tuk-tuks, boats and charters in Pakse and Champasak — and what to do if you are asked for more than agreed.
Read guide
How to Use the Driver Card
Show your destination and agreed price in large Lao script so tuk-tuk, songthaew and boat drivers in Pakse understand you exactly.
Read guide
How to File a Complaint
Overcharged or treated badly? Collect the key details, file online and track progress with your CP-xxxx code.
Read guide
Common Scams in Pakse & Champasak
Southern Laos is generally safe, but a few small tricks are worth knowing — from "per person" turning into "per vehicle" to rental-bike damage claims.
Read guide
Road Safety & the Bolaven Loop
Riding the Bolaven Plateau safely — licences, helmets, rain, fog, potholes, trucks and areas where UXO may remain.
Read guide
River Safety: Si Phan Don & the Khone Falls
The Mekong at Si Phan Don is beautiful but dangerous — hidden currents, the Khone Phapheng and Li Phi rapids, tubing, and staying safe on boats.
Read guide
Emergency Numbers & Getting Help
Lao emergency numbers, hospitals and police in Pakse, and what to do if something happens on the Bolaven Plateau or in Si Phan Don.
Read guide

Something went wrong?

Report a driver — we follow up on every report

Overcharged, taken the long way or felt unsafe? Send a report with photos in a few minutes and track how it's handled.

Report a problem Track a complaint

Avoid being overcharged

Agree the price before you ride

Per vehicle or per person?

Carry small notes

Use the Driver Card

Choose verified drivers

Report problems

Scam alerts

The "per person" vs "per vehicle" price trick

How it works

How to avoid it

Vang Tao – Chong Mek border: fake "visa fees" and "overtime fees"

How it works

How to avoid it

Bolaven loop motorbike rentals: passport as deposit and inflated damage claims

How it works

How to avoid it

Si Phan Don boats: "per person" vs "per boat" pricing

How it works

How to avoid it

Overpriced taxis outside Pakse Airport

How it works

How to avoid it

Agents selling "VIP" tickets for local buses

How it works

How to avoid it

Short-counted money exchange and THB / LAK confusion

How it works

How to avoid it

"Wat Phou is closed today" — the shopping detour

How it works

How to avoid it

Festival price surges for transport and rooms

How it works

How to avoid it

"All-inclusive" Si Phan Don packages from unlicensed tour desks

How it works

How to avoid it

Unlicensed ziplines and "waterfall climbing tours" near Tad Fane

How it works

How to avoid it

Don Det kayak and bicycle rentals with surprise damage claims

How it works

How to avoid it

"Genuine Bolaven" coffee that isn't from the Bolaven

How it works

How to avoid it

Unofficial waterfall "guide" and parking fees

How it works

How to avoid it

"Free ride to Pakse" from the border that ends at a commission hotel

How it works

How to avoid it

Paksong songthaews: "tourist price" and luggage fees

How it works

How to avoid it

The "last boat" surcharge at Nakasang

How it works

How to avoid it

Emergency contacts

Guides

How to Avoid Being Overcharged

How to Use the Driver Card

How to File a Complaint

Common Scams in Pakse & Champasak

Road Safety & the Bolaven Loop

River Safety: Si Phan Don & the Khone Falls

Emergency Numbers & Getting Help

Report a driver — we follow up on every report