All Western visitors need visas and you can get one at the Vientiane Airport upon arrival for US $ 50, 2 photographs is needed and you have to show your roundtrip flight ticket.
You can also booked arrangements with tour agencies. The arrangement does
not necessarily have to cover the entire validity of the visa.
Those having booked only short term arrangements for Laos can
stay for additional days, but have to follow several regulations.
Laos is still a strongly regulated country. In order to
see more of the country travellers staying longer than the initial
arrangement provided, will have to book an additional arrangement
at a local tour agency.
Only a small number of travel agencies are allowed to cooperate
directly with the Laotian departments. Most tour offices and travel
agents offering Laos arrangements have to turn to those few major
travel agents, for bureaucratic procedures including visas, the
booking of hotel accommodation and other touristic services.
This page: http://www.cockatoo.com/english/laos/laos_entry.htm
