May 21, 2020
Event: Commercial Flight from Vientiane to Seoul on May 30
A private business, TicketLao, has organized a special Lao Airlines flight from Vientiane (VTE) to Seoul (ICN), expected to depart 00:15 on Saturday, May 30, and arrive in Seoul at approximately 07:05 the same day. Tickets are still available. Tickets cost USD$700/adult, USD$500/child under 12, and USD$150/child under 2 (in lap).
Tickets for this flight can be purchased by contacting TicketLao at ticketlao@naver.com or +856 (0)20 52 558 787 or Lao Airlines at 1626. These tickets are limited and are available to the general public. Please note that this flight is arranged by a private business; the Embassy makes no guarantee of quality of service or availability of tickets for U.S. citizens. The Embassy cannot answer questions about the flight or seat availability; please direct such questions to the contact details above. The Embassy also will not make travel arrangements on your behalf.
In addition to purchasing this VTE-ICN ticket, U.S. Citizen travelers must make arrangements using available commercial means (e.g. online or a travel agent) for a connecting flight departing Incheon International Airport within 24 hours of arrival in South Korea (i.e. no later than 07:05 on Sunday, May 31) toward their final destination in the United States. You must be able to present proof of purchase of this onward ticket to be allowed to board the plane in Vientiane.
Please note that the Republic of Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) imposes a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all inbound passengers. Most foreign travelers on short-term travel will be required to quarantine at a government-designated facility at their own expense for 14 days (this includes U.S. citizens traveling on 90-day visa free travel and short-term visa holders). The facility will cost approximately 100 U.S. dollars per night. All passengers who exhibit symptoms will be required to undergo COVID-19 testing on arrival at the airport.
Passengers transiting through Incheon International Airport to third countries will not face this quarantine requirement. Thus, U.S. Citizens who purchase tickets on this flight must not leave the passenger area of Incheon International Airport and must arrange onward travel that departs within 24 hours of their arrival. You can find more information at the website of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.
We encourage U.S. Citizens who want to return to the United States immediately to book this flight if they have the means to do so and can arrange ongoing travel accordingly. We are not aware of any other commercial flight routes from Vientiane to an airport with connecting flights to the United States. The U.S. Embassy is not organizing another special chartered flight.
Pursuant to the Embassy’s May 19 Health and Travel Alert, new Government of Laos entry and exit regulations require the U.S. Embassy to request departure permission from the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs for U.S. citizens who wish to depart on this flight. TicketLao has agreed to forward necessary information about U.S. Citizen travelers directly to the Embassy; we will then notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. U.S. Citizens do not need to directly notify the Embassy that they intend to use this flight.
Actions to Take:
- Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
- For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Laos.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the U.S.
Assistance:
- U.S. Embassy Vientiane, Laos
+856 (0)21 487 000
conslao@state.gov
la.usembassy.gov - State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444 - Laos Country Information
- Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.
- Follow us on Facebook.
