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Voykit pocket guide · Laos
Plain of Jars
Spend 2 days: day 1 Jar Site 1 (35 k‑fee, 45‑min bike ride), day 2 Jar Sites 2‑3 (30 k each, motorbike tour). Travel from Vientiane 10–12 h by bus.
The Plain of Jars is a UNESCO‑listed megalithic field on the Xiangkhoang Plateau. Most visitors see three main jar sites; a two‑day stay lets you explore them, visit a local museum and rest in Phonsavan. Travel is by bus or plane to Phonsavan, then bike or motorbike to the sites.
- Country
- Laos
- Best months
- Nov–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Oct (rain and road mud)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- LAK
- Money
- Lao kip (LAK) in small notes for markets, tuk-tuks and food stalls.
- Daily spend
- Budget 15 k–25 k kip excl. bed · Mid 25 k–45 k kip excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Unitel, Lao Telecom and ETL sell SIMs at airports and shops; passport registration required.
- Emergency
- Police 191 · Fire 190 · Ambulance 195
- Plugs
- Types A, B, C, E, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Most sockets take flat US and round European pins.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Round up or leave LAK 10,000–20,000.; Guides and drivers: LAK 50,000–100,000 a day.; Massage: LAK 20,000–30,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; bottled and refill water everywhere.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop at bus stops and markets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bottled water (500 ml) | 1 k–2 k kip |
| Snack (banana, chips) | 2 k–4 k kip |
| Meal at local cafe | 15 k–30 k kip |
| Motorbike rental (per day) | 20 k kip |
| Entrance fee Site 1 | 35 k kip |
| Entrance fee Sites 2‑3 | 30 k kip each |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PKS · Phonsavan Airport
- Lao Airlines 4–6 flights/week to Vientiane (check schedule).
Typical fares
- Phonsavan ↔ Vientiane bus
- ≈95 k kip, 10–12 h
- Motorbike rental (day)
- ≈20 k kip
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
From Phonsavan, rent a motorbike (≈20 k kip/day) or bicycle (≈2 k kip parking at Site 1). Minivan hire US$50‑80 (≈1 M kip). Local buses connect Phonsavan to Vientiane (10‑12 h) and Luang Prabang (≈11 h).
See and do
Known for
- thousands of stone jars
- Vietnam War bomb craters
- ethnic‑minority villages
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Jar Site 1 | Bike 8–15 km (5–9.3 mi) from Phonsavan, 30–45 min; parking 2 k kipBike 5–9.3 mi (8–15 km) from Phonsavan, 30–45 min; parking 2 k kip | ≈1 h |
| Jar Sites 2 & 3 | Motorbike tour from Phonsavan, 20–30 km (12–19 mi) totalMotorbike tour from Phonsavan, 12–19 mi (20–30 km) total | ≈2 h |
| Phonsavan market & museum | Walk in town | 15 min |
Sleep
- Golden Mountain Garden
- Mid‑range guesthouse in Phonsavan, close to the old airport.
- Local guesthouses
- Simple rooms 15‑30 k per night; book via Phonsavan hostels.
Language
Lao is tonal and written in its own script, close to Thai; Isan Thai speakers understand it. English is common in Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng tourist trades; French signs and older speakers survive.
- 'Sabaidee' (hello), 'khop jai' (thank you), 'bor pen nyang' (no problem).
- WhatsApp and WeChat for businesses; LINE is less common than in Thailand.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Nop (palms together) and 'sabaidee'; avoid: Loud greetings and hugs
- Temples: Covered shoulders and knees, shoes off; avoid: Pointing feet at images; women touching monks
- Keeping calm: Stay relaxed; 'bor pen nyang'; avoid: Anger in public
- Baci ceremony: Keep the white strings on your wrist for three days; avoid: Cutting them off
- Head and feet: Keep feet down; avoid: Touching heads
Scams and watch-outs
- Unexploded ordnance remains; stay on marked paths and follow MAG markers.
- Site 2 and 3 can be slippery in rain; bring sturdy shoes.
- Entrance fees: Site 1 35 k kip, Sites 2‑3 30 k kip each (check for updates).
UXO risk is low if you stay on marked routes; basic road safety applies on mountain roads.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Plain of Jars yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- thousands of stone jars
- Vietnam War bomb craters
- ethnic‑minority villages
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Local tourism authority (Laos): www.tourismlaos.org/
- Wikivoyage: Plain of Jars, revision 5267185 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5267185
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/plain-of-jars). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.