Visiting Vientiane was a special gift. How can?, a trip that had got cancellation on 2014 due to my leave letter was refused by my office. And finally I waited for 4 years to made it really happen.
Air Asia flight AK 552 landed smoothly at Wattay International Airport on 09:14. Seeing airport area from plane that was taxing to airport parking lot reminded me to Adisumarmo airport (Solo) in last 2004 ….. very small.
Even Air Asia AK 552 became the one and only international flight that landed in that morning.
airport parking lot
Within 7 minutes after plane stopped perfectly, I got out through aviobridge. I took time to captured some pictures above.
From aviobridge I turned right into arrival corridor that looked elegant with carpeted floor and minimalist modern style.
arrival corridor
At the end of corridor I turned left to immigration processing hall. The toilet is on left of hall entrance access. There are 14 passport control service counters there. It only took 17 minutes from starting to queue until passport had stamped. Immigration officers spoke english less fluently but quite understandable.
passport control service counter
Out of immigration counter, I was immediately confronted to 2 units of conveyor belt in baggage claim room. Since I didn’t bring checked luggage then I rushed to exit gate into arrival hall.J
baggage claim area
But before I actually got out, I stopped in front of small room to right side of gate. There is an official money changer belonging to BCEL (Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao). This made me easy to immediately exchanged USD to Lao Kip.
BCEL money changer
After that I really got out on arrival hall. There are only two counters in the hall, local SIM card sales counter and Taxi ticket counter. Although I saw an airport bus signage in counter, but airport bus tickets weren’t sold here. It will be paid directly to bus conductor.
arrival hall
Exit from arrival hall, by crossing street you will be directly faced on the car park area. The uniqueness of parking area can see on its roof in the form of solar cell sheets as electricity source for airport lighting. It was cooperation project of Japan and Lao government. I could easily find its cooperation inscription in parking area.
If you turn right from exit door about 25m, you will find airport bus shelter to downtown.
parking area and airport exit
So … When arriving in Laos, Don’t rush to leave the airport …. Make the airport as one of your destinations.
Congratulations for landing at “The Little Pretty” Wattay International Airport.
Interesting jounrey!
Yas Michael….I also read you article…you are real traveler…always happy to go everywhere 😁
Well, i do have plan to visit Laos. But, maybe next year
I hope your plan will realize……nice place to visit…..
Thank you
I think it’s really cool that they sell local SIM cards at the airport. Pretty neat.
Yes…very easy to explore Lao…..
Thank you for sharing your trip to Lao, it is one of the many places that is still on my bucket list. I also would like to thank you for writing in English because my Malay is limited to Terima Kasih 🙂
Hi Andrea….thanks for read it.
Surprise for say Terimakasih 😀😀.
I also waiting for your next article and experience. More stories I will tell in my blog for everyones.
Interesting and educating.
Thanks Peter…… Traveling is education process for myself…so , it will good for tell to other
That is a great impact.
I admire your energy! And the detail in the descriptions of your travel experiences. Very interesting 🙂
Hi Amanda….thanks for reading the article…. absolutely, I very glad for give many information to other…maybe it very useful for everyone when they go to Lao 😁👍