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'''If you raise your thumb people will think you just doing 'like' and dont understand it's mean to stop. for hitch-hike take your hand and 'hit' the air'''  Hitching in Laos is very different between the north and south part of the country. While in the south it is relatively easy to hitchhike 300 kilometers a day and people don't commonly expect money, in the north it's hard to go more than 150 a day -- on some roads, expect to cover only as much as you can walk in a day. It can take a long time to be picked up, as few cars drive on the so called 'highway', often just a dirt road with random pavement sections. Looking at the amount of cars (in January 2011 and 2012) there are '''around 1 (pick up, car, truck) per 6 minutes'''. This makes travel in Laos very different from hitching in Thailand. But even in the north it is still possible to get a lift. Solo hitchhikers can get a ride between villages with one of the many motor bikes that roam all over the country .

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== Personal experiences =='''Experience in July 2015:'''- ''[[User:Laurieking101|Laurieking101]] ([[User talk:Laurieking101|talk]]) 13 November 2015 - While being slightly put off by the above comments, I persisted in giving Laos a go. Managed to travel all the way from Huay Xai to Vientiane via hitch hiking (apart from one bus journey from Oudomxay to Pak Mong). Do be prepared to wait at least a couple of hours in some places though! A top tip would be keeping your eyes peeled for Chinese number plates (if you see a rather fancy car coming towards you, it's probably Chinese) - about 80% of my rides were with incredibly helpful Chinese visitors, many of whom also shared food, drinks & ciggies :)GO FOR IT!!!''  '''Experience in November 2015''' - ''[[User:Z-z-z88|Z-z-z88]] ([[User talk:Z-z-z88|talk]]) 2 December 2015 - Hitch-hiked from Pakse to Attapeu through Paksong and Sekong (about 200 km). It is was easy to get a car to Paksong, but from Paksong to Sekong was a very few amount of cars and most of them drive short distance 2-40 km. I managed to get to Attapeu, but changed 8 cars. From Attapeu towards Vietnam border (Phou Keua, 2 km away from Cambodia) was extremely small amount of cars. For two hours (morning of working day about 10:00-11:00) I saw only one truck (Vietnamese) going towards Vietnam and few cars. But there is very cheap bus for 6.5 USD which going deep into Vietnam and sent me to Pleiku (6.5 USD for ride about 250 km). On the mountain road from Laos (Attapeu) - Vietnam (Phou Keua) from 11:00 to 14:00 I saw about 10 trucks driving from Vietnam to Laos. So I do not advise to hitch-hike to Vietnam from Attapeu. By the way, local people to the east from Attapeu may speak only Vietnamese.''  '''Experience in April 2016''' - ''[[User:Z-z-z88|Z-z-z88]] ([[User talk:Z-z-z88|talk]]) - Crossed Thai-Lao border at Huai Kon - Muang Nguen. Road to [[Sayabory]] (Xayaboury) have extremely low traffic. Something like 1 car per 20-30 minutes. Be ready to spend 1 day to make 50 km. Getting to Hongsa (Ban Phonsai) is relatively easy, but after this village was about 2-3 cars in 4 hours. But it is easy to go from [[Sayabory]] to [[Luang Prabang]], plenty of cars and trucks.''

This article is very accurate '''Experience in that it is possible to hitch hike from north to south, but be prepared for long waits and dusty walks. The road leading from the Chinese boarder to Luang Prabang is currently undergoing upgrades since 2014 and apparently will be completed by August 2015, however when November 2016''' - ''I passed through entered Laos in November 2014 it looked a long way off with a majority of Na Meo at the road still dirtLao-Vietnamese border. It is possible After I hitchhiked from there to stay in Wats even in the north of Lao Vientiane and Pakse I had no problem camping, however in Lao there is a law in which any foreigner staying with or in a local Lao person house must be registered with the local village elder, different person from the police so donwouldn't worrysay this article is very accurate. This is to protect both you and your host, all the elder will want is to see your passport and if this doesnDuring my time I didn't happen you may receive have a visit from the police next morning as happened single lift who wanted to charge me on my first night in the north of Lao staying anything. Yeah in remote areas it can be hard to get a Watlife since there is less traffic, yes even in a Wat they must register youbut I don't know about the car/calculations above. Apart from that Lao Laos is an amazing awesome country with some very very friendly people.and hitchhiking is definitely possible!''

While being slightly put off by the above comments, I persisted '''Experience in giving Laos a go. Managed to travel all the way october 2017 - '''[[User:indogerm|indogerm]] - ''Entered via [[Boten]] border from Huay Xai china, hitched to [[Vientiane via hitch hiking (apart from one bus journey from Oudomxay ]] to go to Pak Mong)thailand straightaway. Do be prepared to wait at least a couple Maximum of kilometres per day were 200 something, lots of hours hills and curves. Road is in good to very good shape([[Kunming]] - [[bangkok]] highway, payed by china and thailand and some places though! A top tip would be keeping your eyes peeled for other). As described above, few cars. Chinese number plates (if cars normally mean long distance rides, cigarettes and good food. Can also always stop motorcycles, just do some eyecontact and wave them down smiling. Most people dont wear helmets. When approaching pick ups, try signalling them that you see a rather fancy want to go in the back when the car coming towards is full- lots of them think they cannot offer this to you. Hitching Laos-Totally possible! I always sad "Bo KIP"(no money) before entering, it's probably Chinese) nobody refused to take me. Enjoyed the awesome nature between rides. Dont forget to get rid of your kip before exiting lao- about 80% they are shit. All three citys in the nortern part of my rides were with incredibly helpful Chinese visitors, many of whom also shared food, drinks & ciggies :)Lao are tourist shit. Avoid them.''GO FOR IT!!Go for it!''

'''Experience in April 2016September 2019''' --[[User:Z-z-z88|Z-z-z88]] ([[User talk:Z-z-z88|talk]])''I've entered Laos in Na Meo, Vietnam. No problems with getting the visa on the crossing, got charged 40$ though. Crossed First 10 or so kilometers on Laos side is dirt/mud/clay road, almost 0 traffic BUT there was a dude on a bike and when he saw me we both knew and he gave me a ride. Later on I couldn't complain. I had no letter, no translator, no sign, just my smile #1 and hand signs. I've hitchhiked from VN border down to 4k islands and back to Thai-Lao border at Huai Kon close to Pakse. Usually I'd walk along the road and wave everyone down - Muang Nguencars, single riders, trucks. Road Got rides from all of mentioned. No one asked me for money. Waiting time from 15 minutes to [[Sayabory]] (Xayaboury) have extremely low traffic3 hours, you know the drill. Something like 1 car per 20Took bike riders by surprise -30 minuteswhen they stopped I'd point at the road, at the bike and sit on the bike before they'd shake the shock off, hahaha. They never protested, took some selfies etc. Be ready to spend 1 day to make 50 Average speed for pickups was 60 km/h, 30-40 for bikes and trucks. Getting I had one strange incident, nothing dangerous though - an American dude driving a pickup stopped just to Hongsa (Ban Phonsai) is relatively easytell me "it's a poor country, but after this village you don't hitchhike here" wished me good time and splitted. Besides that hitching in Laos was about 2-3 cars in 4 very uplifting and allowed hours. But of staring at beautiful Asian mountains, go for it is easy to go from [[Sayabory]] to [[Luang Prabang]], plenty of cars and trucksguys.''

'''Experience in November 2016'''== Cities ==I entered Laos in Na Meo at the Lao-Vietnamese border. After I hitchhiked from there to [[Huay Xai]] <br/>[[Vientiane and ]] <br/>[[Luang Prabang]] <br/>[[Pakse I wouldn't say this article is very accurate. During my time I didn't have a single lift who wanted to charge me anything. Yeah in remote areas it can be hard to get a life since there is less traffic, but I don't know about the car]] <br/>[[Luang Namtha]] <br/calculations above. Laos is an awesome country and hitchhiking is definitely possible!>

=== Getting in ===

* [http://marcandoelpolo.com/viajar-dedo-por-laos-mision-imposible/ Information, tips and personal experiences of hitch-hiking in Laos. A 1707 km journey on 26 vehicles (only in spanish)], by Marcando el Polo == Nomadwiki & Trashwiki == {{nomadwiki}} {{IsIn|South-Eastern Asia}}