Moving to Laos from Vanuatu

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Vanuatu to Laos? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Vanuatu to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Laos compared to Vanuatu.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

VU
12.5
LA
16.4

Vanuatu performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

VU
$141
LA
$123
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

VU
1.6
LA
3.3

Laos performs significantly better than Vanuatu across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

VU
57.0
LA
69.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

VU
0.9t
LA
3.4t

Vanuatu performs better than Laos across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

VU
1.1
LA
2.4
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

VU
66.0%
LA
62.0%

Vanuatu generally does better on infrastructure, though Laos leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

VU
5.1%
LA
1.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

VU
$3,000
LA
$8,400

Laos generally does better on employment & economy, though Vanuatu leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

VU
75.1 yrs
LA
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

VU
14.3
LA
37.8

Vanuatu generally does better on family life, though Laos leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Port Vila Rain: 87.5 in/yr (2222 mm)
83° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Vientiane Rain: 65.4 in/yr (1660 mm)
88° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Port Vila Vientiane
Jan–Mar 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) 87°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 82°/70°F (28°/21°C) 91°/76°F (33°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/67°F (26°/19°C) 88°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 84°/71°F (29°/22°C) 85°/67°F (30°/20°C)
View all months
Month Port Vila Vientiane
Jan 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.4°C) 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C)
Feb 86°/74°F (30.2°/23.6°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C)
Mar 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C) 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C)
Apr 84°/72°F (28.9°/22.5°C) 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C)
May 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C) 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C)
Jun 80°/69°F (26.7°/20.5°C) 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C)
Jul 79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C) 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C)
Aug 79°/67°F (26.1°/19.3°C) 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C)
Sep 80°/67°F (26.7°/19.6°C) 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C)
Oct 82°/69°F (27.8°/20.6°C) 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C)
Nov 84°/71°F (28.9°/21.7°C) 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C)
Dec 85°/72°F (29.7°/22.4°C) 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C)

Data: Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department, Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Vanuatu and Laos. To live, work, or study long-term in Laos, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Laos's immigration authority.

Vanuatu passport

Vanuatu passport holder visiting Laos

Visa on Arrival
Vanuatu passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Laos.
Laos passport

Laos passport holder visiting Vanuatu

Visa Required
Laos passport holders need a visa to enter Vanuatu.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Laos?

Connectivity is usually fine (Laos: 2.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Laos offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Laos safe for expats?

Vanuatu performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Laos compared to Vanuatu?

Laos performs significantly better than Vanuatu across all health & wellbeing metrics. There are 3.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Laos, compared to 1.6 in Vanuatu. Laos scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Vanuatu: 47).

What's the weather like in Laos compared to Vanuatu?

The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 83°F in Port Vila. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Port Vila gets 87.5 in.

What language do they speak in Laos?

The official language in Laos is Lao. In Vanuatu, the official languages are Bislama, English and French.

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At a Glance

VU LA
Population 308,043 7,749,595
Currency Vanuatu Vatu (VUV) Laotian Kip (LAK)
Languages Bislama, English, French Lao
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +678 +856
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 191