Laos vs Vietnam: safety comparison
Laos vs Vietnam: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.
| 🇱🇦Laos | 🇻🇳Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) | 38 / 100 | 23 / 100 |
| Risk tier | Exercise Increased Caution | Exercise Normal Caution |
| UK FCDO advisory | avoid all but essential travel to parts of country | No active advisory |
| US State Department advisory | Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) | Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) |
| Global Peace Index rank | #47 | #38 |
| Drug law | Severe (long sentences) | Death penalty possible |
| Women's safety rating | Generally Safe | Generally Safe |
| LGBTQ+ legal status | legal | legal |
| Tap water | n/a | n/a |
| Currency | LAK | VND |
Laos vs Vietnam: common questions
Is Laos or Vietnam safer to visit?
Vietnam has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 23/100 vs 38/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.
Is Laos or Vietnam safer for solo female travellers?
Laos is rated Generally Safe for women's safety; Vietnam is rated Generally Safe. Read the full guides for city-level detail.
What do FCDO and US State Department say about Laos and Vietnam?
Laos: avoid all but essential travel to parts of country (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State). Vietnam: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State).
More comparisons
Laos vs Thailand · Thailand vs Vietnam · Cambodia vs Vietnam · Myanmar vs Vietnam · Cambodia vs Laos · Laos vs Myanmar · Taiwan vs Vietnam · Laos vs Taiwan
Planning the trip? Check Laos visa requirements and Vietnam visa requirements.