{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/laos/vientiane","updatedAt":"2026-08-06T14:17:13.405Z","place":{"city":"Vientiane","country":"Laos","countryCode":"LA","lat":17.96667,"lon":102.6},"safety":{"score":62,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":60,"confidence":0.62,"caps":[],"databaseScore":58,"travellerSentiment":{"score":81,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Recent traveler reports on forums and review sites indicate visitors generally feel safe during daylight, but many note heightened vigilance needed after dark and in tourist‑dense zones.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":68,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":92,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":57,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":81,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":66,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":76,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":2,"label":"Exercise Increased Caution","updated":"Tue, 28 Jul 2026","url":"http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/laos-travel-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":3,"label":"Advises against all-but-essential travel to parts","updated":"2026-04-22T15:30:35Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/laos"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/laos"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":6.352122244,"display":"6.4 / 100k","year":"2021","score":60,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":0.5,"display":"0.5%","year":"2018","score":100,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":16.4,"display":"16.4 / 100k","year":"2021","score":50,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":75.4201168,"display":"75/100","year":"2024","score":75,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":44.1871968,"display":"44/100","year":"2024","score":44,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":28.0202267,"display":"28/100","year":"2024","score":28,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":40.025976,"display":"40/100","year":"2024","score":40,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":44.8317236,"display":"45/100","year":"2024","score":45,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":31.0998769,"display":"31/100","year":"2024","score":31,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":840940,"display":"841k residents","year":null,"score":75,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0,"display":"0.00 / 100k","year":"2022","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":52,"display":"US AQI 52 · Moderate","year":null,"score":89,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":44,"display":"44 within 15 km · nearest ~1.1 km","year":null,"score":95,"source":"OpenStreetMap"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":32,"display":"August: highs ~32°C · heavy rain / flooding","year":null,"score":82,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":1,"display":"1 active alert · Flood (green)","year":null,"score":96,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution · 2 govts","year":null,"score":72,"source":"US State Dept · Canada"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[{"kind":"Flood","severity":"green","title":"flood alert in Thailand","distanceKm":169}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Vientiane is generally safe for visitors, but petty crime and scams are the main risks.","summary":"The multi‑database profile rates Vientiane as MODERATE (58/100) with low violent‑crime scores but moderate petty‑theft risk; recent news shows isolated alcohol‑related deaths and flood alerts, while travel advisories urge increased caution.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Mugging and armed robbery against tourists are rare; most incidents involve opportunistic theft in poorly lit areas after dark"},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing is common near the Mekong night market, bus stations and crowded markets; keep bags zipped and front‑facing"},"safeAreas":["Sisavangvong","Naxay","Kaysone","Ban Sikeuan","Ban Phon Tai"],"avoidAreas":["Hadxa","Ban Nhoua"],"scams":["Tuk‑tuk and taxi overcharging","Fake tour operators and unauthorized souvenir sellers","Currency‑exchange and gem‑selling scams in market areas"],"zones":[{"name":"Sisavangvong","level":"caution","note":"Tourist hub with markets and nightlife; petty theft and scams common after dark"},{"name":"Naxay","level":"safe","note":"Quiet residential area near embassies; low crime and good police presence"},{"name":"Kaysone","level":"caution","note":"Commercial district; traffic hazards and occasional petty theft require alertness"},{"name":"Hadxa","level":"avoid","note":"Flood‑prone outskirts with limited infrastructure and higher risk of opportunistic scams"},{"name":"Ban Nhoua","level":"caution","note":"Border of city center; occasional reports of fake tour operators and overcharging tuk‑tuks"},{"name":"Ban Sikeuan","level":"safe","note":"Upscale neighborhood with embassies and international hotels; well‑maintained streets"},{"name":"Ban Phon","level":"caution","note":"Residential area near markets; petty theft reported, stay vigilant after dark"},{"name":"Ban Phon Tai","level":"safe","note":"Quiet residential zone; low crime and good access to hospitals"}]}}