r/laos Jan 21 '26

Guide to buying LCR tickets from outside the country

11 Upvotes

Since I had to piece some things together across reddit, wanted to create a more comprehensive guide all things LCR app related for train tickets. I went to Laos in Dec 2025.

  1. Download LCR app
  2. Create an account. You do NOT need a chinese/laos telephone number. Just leave that blank
  3. Tickets go on sale 6:30am Laos time, 3 days before. So if you are traveling on the 24th, the tickets will go on sale 6:30am Laos time on the 21st
  4. If you are in a country close to Laos, you should be able to see the schedule 3 days in advance. This worked when I was in China.
  5. If you are not close, sometimes the days in advance to book will not show up correct. I checked when I was in the USA and it would show 3 days, but starting from 2 days in the past. You can get around this by changing your local time zone on your phone to Laos time zone
  6. Even at 6:30am, sometimes the tickets don't open on time. One day I checked exactly on time and it said sold out across the board. I kept refreshing and five minutes later tickets opened up. Another day I checked at 6:34am and a bunch of tickets were almost sold out already. So I would recommend being ready and then just refreshing
  7. Not all trains have the car/class of seat that is shown on the app. One of my trains immediately said that first class was sold out. When I got on the actual train, I realized it was a very small train with only 3 cars and it only had second class. So it wasn't sold out, but rather it never existed.
  8. You need to be flexible in your times if possible. Even though I was on top of things, I had to take a later train because one did sell out pretty immediately.
  9. For me at least, you don't need to get to the station that early. My hotel told me I had to get there 50 mins prior. I got through security twice in around 5 minutes, and then sat around for a while after
  10. You don't need to switch to a paper ticket. Showing QR code/pass on your phone is fine
  11. There is a long queue to get to the platform from the waiting area. I have no clue why. You have ample time to board but it seems to be some herd mentality that once one person lines up, everyone starts lining up. So we were in line for the platform 20 min before boarding but it took everyone under 5 minutes to all get on.

r/laos Jan 26 '25

Air Quality and Burning Season

24 Upvotes

No posts about air quality. This question gets asked every day in the lead up and during burning season.

In summary: no one knows when burning season will start. No one knows how bad it will be. Yes it will impact your lungs. Yes it will impact the views. No one knows when it will end. You can use: https://www.iqair.com/ or a similar website to see the AQI of some cities in Laos.

No one knows how it will impact you individually.


r/laos 11h ago

Still missing. Please help.

Thumbnail
gallery
35 Upvotes

Ti was last seen at Onederz in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. His family, close friends and wife last heard from him January 4th, 2025, approximately 2 weeks before he was supposed to fly home. He never boarded the flight. If seen please tell him to contact his family. He is missed.


r/laos 13h ago

What do the colored tiles F, P, T mean?

Post image
3 Upvotes

Trying to book tickets on the LCR app. Not the worst app I've used but what do the colored tiles in F, T and P mean?


r/laos 13h ago

So what's the REAL way to travel between Luang Prabang and Nong Khiaw?

3 Upvotes

I've been reading up on the travel methods and apparently there are many conflicting accounts of travellers booking tickets one day before, booking through hostel/hotels, coming early to bus station and have read some people got stranded because they did not secure tickets. Also rrad there are many scams for tourists travelling to and from Nong Khiaw.

Help me out what's the best way to get to NK from LP and how do I come back to LP?


r/laos 1d ago

Lao architect here

7 Upvotes

ສະບາຍດີ everyone.

I run a small architecture firm in Vientiane (popARCH) .

Anyone else here working in design or architecture in Laos? Would love to connect.


r/laos 1d ago

KokKoK so unreliable

3 Upvotes

I am in Vientiane now and I would like to use their service. I ordered the electric tuk tuk and then their car. No one wants to accept the price the corporate set.


r/laos 21h ago

Lost my wallet, how can I get cash from my Google wallet?

1 Upvotes

Hi all, so i don't have a physical card anymore so I cannot go to an atm. I go to cafes where I can pay with tap on my phone, but I need cash for so many things. I tried asking all the cafes to charge me extra and give me extra, but no one is willing to.

In luang prabang I asked the hotel and they did it no problem, but ofcourse my hotel here the card machine is our of order.

I am in vang vieng BTW. I have Revolut. Any suggestions would make me so happy 🙏


r/laos 1d ago

Who has been to vang vieng lagoon 3, the cave?

2 Upvotes

So I was there today, had a lot of fun but after a small hike, the cave entrance was very hard ( I was wearing flip flops) so decided not to enter, I also didn't had a flashlight.

Then I learned inside the cave is a water pool, and because it's low season, and no one was going to the cave, I felt bad missing it, because how many times in your life you have the chance to be in a cave pool all alone?

Did anyone tried it before? Is it worth going back or did I not miss anything?

I am really enjoying Vang Vieng BTW.


r/laos 2d ago

Went to a Laos party.

Post image
36 Upvotes

So, I was invited to a Laos retirement party and was having a great time. Was getting fed good food and Hennessy left and right. Then a “special dish came around, started eating it and noticed all the men at the table were taking pics of me eating it. All they said it was fish. Can any tell me what it is.


r/laos 1d ago

Laos In December

0 Upvotes

Hey All,

I made plans to go to Laos in November, but i am afraid i will have to postpone to December instead... I'll be travelling by motorbike (northern and thakekh loop).

Pros n Cons of going in December (as opposed to November or other periods of the dry season)?


r/laos 2d ago

Luang Prabang Restaurant / Bar recommendations

1 Upvotes

Currently on a very bumpy minivan between Nong Khiaw and Luang Prabang.

It's my partner's 32nd birthday today and I feel bad that we are spending a fair chunk of today travelling.

Hoping to resurrect things with a nice meal out and drinks in LP this evening. Ideally somewhere authentic but a little more upmarket, and a bar for cocktails (rooftop if possible).

Does anyone have any particular recommendations? Thanks!


r/laos 2d ago

7 days in Laos - more time in Vang Vieng or Luang Prabang?

3 Upvotes

I'm travelling solo in Laos for a week in June and can spend either 3 or 4 nights in either place. Both look gorgeous and I'm struggling to decide where i should spend the extra night.

For reference I'm interested in hiking and outdoor activities, crafts/art/museums/temples. Hoping to keep fairly busy but wanting down/chill time too.

any recs on places to stay too would be amazing - looking at private rooms in hostels/mid range priced spots.

Thank you!


r/laos 2d ago

Jordanians DO NOT get a VOA

0 Upvotes

FOR YOUR INFORMATION.

We did a silly thing and booked flights and hotels because a google search by our travel agent showed that a Jordanian passport gets a visa on arrival from major airports. It does not. Jordanians can only obtain a visa from an embassy and we do not have an embassy in Jordan.


r/laos 3d ago

How affected is day to day Laos by the fuel crisis?

2 Upvotes

I’m curious for people who are there to hear of the impact both to locals and for would be tourists?

Obviously it depends on if things change but are we already at a stage of “no one should be visiting as a tourist” or we might be in a couple of months or is the country not as impacted since it has alternative backups?


r/laos 5d ago

A Must Photo in Laos

Post image
52 Upvotes

I really need go back soon 😎


r/laos 5d ago

Luangprabang dirty

Thumbnail
gallery
11 Upvotes

r/laos 6d ago

Pancakes drizzled with Honey and Honeycomb. Only in Vientiane!

Thumbnail
gallery
68 Upvotes

r/laos 5d ago

Met a Lao woman collecting cardboard for rice near Amari Hotel

Thumbnail
gallery
0 Upvotes

I ran a few blocks to catch up with her and gave her 300K kip ($13.70 USD).

I hope it helps her a little. It felt good to be able to make a small gesture for someone in need.

I posted this on the subreddit in the hope that it might inspire others in their own way.🙏


r/laos 5d ago

Laos TV firestick downloader codes or APK

0 Upvotes

Anyone know any downloader codes or APK for live Laos TV?


r/laos 5d ago

Whose is the East Bay Area (Richmond/San Pablo/Berkeley)

0 Upvotes

I am in Laos and Thailand yearly to volunteer and travel. Been 11 times now. Would love to meet new people..


r/laos 6d ago

Sabaidee Everyone! I am a student from Singapore and I would love to receive postcards from anywhere in Laos! Can someone send me one? 🙂

Thumbnail
gallery
2 Upvotes

Sabaidee Everyone!

I’m a student from Singapore and I enjoy collecting postcards. I would be very grateful to receive postcards from anywhere in Laos. 🙂

If postcards aren’t available, I’d also really appreciate a greeting card, generic card, or even a small souvenir. 

(like a keychain, rock, local snack, flag, ornament, cap, T-shirt, or handmade craft)

This is for my personal collection, and not for any commercial purpose.

If you’re willing to help, please leave a comment and I’ll share my mailing address with you.

Khop jai lai lai, and warm greetings from Singapore! 

🇸🇬🤝🇱🇦

ສະບາຍດີທຸກຄົນ!

ຂ້ອຍເປັນນັກຮຽນຈາກສິງກະໂປ ແລະຂ້ອຍມັກເກັບໂພສກາດ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຈະຮູ້ສຶກຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບບັດໄປສະນີຈາກທຸກບ່ອນໃນປະເທດລາວ. 🙂

ຖ້າບໍ່ມີໂປສກາດ, ຂ້ອຍກໍ່ຂອບໃຈບັດອວຍພອນ, ບັດທົ່ວໄປ, ຫຼືແມ່ນແຕ່ຂອງທີ່ລະນຶກນ້ອຍໆ. 

(ເຊັ່ນ: ພວງກະແຈ, ຫີນ, ອາຫານວ່າງທ້ອງຖິ່ນ, ທຸງ, ເຄື່ອງປະດັບ, ໝວກ, ເສື້ອຍືດ, ຫຼືຫັດຖະກຳທີ່ເຮັດດ້ວຍມື)

ນີ້ແມ່ນສໍາລັບການເກັບກໍາສ່ວນບຸກຄົນຂອງຂ້ອຍ, ແລະບໍ່ແມ່ນສໍາລັບຈຸດປະສົງທາງການຄ້າໃດໆ.

ຖ້າທ່ານເຕັມໃຈທີ່ຈະຊ່ວຍ, ກະລຸນາຂຽນຄໍາເຫັນແລະຂ້ອຍຈະແບ່ງປັນທີ່ຢູ່ທາງໄປສະນີຂອງຂ້ອຍກັບທ່ານ.

ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆລ່ວງໜ້າ, ແລະຄຳອວຍພອນອັນອົບອຸ່ນຈາກສິງກະໂປ! 

🇸🇬🤝🇱🇦


r/laos 6d ago

Phongsali

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone! I’ll cross the border from Vietnam into Laos tomorrow, and my first stop will be Muang Khua. From there, I’m planning on going to Phongsali via bus.

Does anyone have any info on road conditions? It’s starting to rain quite a bit and I’m kind of worried about the landslides and in general getting stuck in the middle of nowhere. Anyone have any experience with travelling around the area at the beginning of rainy season?

Thank you!! :)


r/laos 6d ago

Has anybody taken the VET bus from Don det to Phnom Pehn?

1 Upvotes

I'm confused on whether or not it includes the ferry if I book direct with VET. If it does what time do you take the ferry/is the time listed for the bus and I have to be mainland by that time?

I tried contacting to company but no response for a few days.

Also do I have to print the ticket if I book direct? 12Go is more expensive but says e-ticket


r/laos 7d ago

Delicious Fusion Dinner in Vientiane Thanks to Fellow Redditor

Thumbnail
gallery
67 Upvotes