Wattay International Airport, Laos: Information, location, and notes

Laos is an ideal suggestion for those who want to explore a new country while saving time and budget. Traveling to Laos is extremely convenient for Vietnamese tourists as there is no need for a visa. If traveling by air, it only takes over an hour of flight to start an exciting journey of exploration.

In this article, let's explore useful information about Wattay International Airport - one of the largest international airports in Laos with Vietjet!

1. Does the capital Vientiane have an airport?

As the capital of Laos, Vientiane not only offers many cultural values that attract tourists but also has modern infrastructure investments. To meet the demand for air travel, Vientiane has two airports, including one domestic airport and one international airport. Among them, Wattay International Airport, also known as Vientiane Airport, is one of the two international airports in Laos. It is also the largest airport in Laos. Foreign tourists, including those from Vietnam, who purchase flight tickets to Vientiane will arrive at Wattay International Airport.

You can refer to the information and details about Wattay International Airport below.

Vietnamese tourists traveling to Vientiane can choose to fly and land at Wattay International Airport.

2. Introduction to Wattay International Airport, Laos

According to 2011 statistics, Wattay International Airport welcomed 1.3 million international passengers in 2017. It is projected that by 2025, this number will reach about 2 million passengers per year.

Full name: Wattay International Airport (Wattay International Airport)
Address: Sikhottabong District, Vientiane Province, Laos
Airport code (sign): VTE
Number of terminals: 3
Time zone: UTC+7

Wattay International Airport, also known as Vientiane Airport, is one of the two international airports in Laos.

3. The Formation and Development Process of Wattay International Airport

Wattay Airport was officially put into operation in 1999, marking an important milestone in the development of air traffic in Laos. Since then, the airport has gone through many phases of upgrading and expansion to meet the increasing demands of Laos's tourism and economy.

Some important historical milestones in the development of Wattay International Airport:

1999: Wattay International Airport was put into operation.
2005: The international passenger terminal at Wattay Airport was renovated for the first time with non-refundable aid from the Japanese government.
Expansion phase: In July 2011, an expansion and upgrade project for the airport was initiated with a total investment of up to USD 37.68 million. The project included extending the runway by 260m, developing the parking area, renovating the drainage system, and upgrading roads. The parking area at the airport was also expanded by an additional 78,000m2 to accommodate larger aircraft. Additionally, new office buildings for the Lao Civil Aviation Department and LAA were built. After the project, the old domestic terminal was expanded to alleviate congestion.
2015 - 2018: During this period, Wattay International Airport continued to expand the international terminal, build a new domestic terminal, and improve facilities.

Thanks to continuous upgrading and expansion efforts, Wattay International Airport has today become a modern airport, well meeting the needs of travelers and economic activities in Laos. The airport plays an important role in connecting Laos with other countries around the world, contributing to promoting tourism and economic development.

4. What flights are available at Wattay International Airport?

At Wattay International Airport, a variety of domestic and international flights are operated. According to statistics, there are approximately 202 regular international flights and 270 domestic flights arriving and departing each week at the airport.

4.1 Domestic flights

Wattay International Airport serves as a hub for Lao Skyway, Lao Central Airlines, and Lao Airlines. The airport operates many domestic flights to destinations such as Phonsavan, Luang Prabang, Ban Hat Tai, and more.

4.2 International flights

With ongoing investments and expansions, Wattay International Airport offers a variety of international flights to countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, China, and more.

From Vietnam, you can purchase flight tickets to Wattay International Airport, Vientiane, from various airlines. Among them, buying tickets from Vietjet is an optimal choice for travelers.

Vietjet currently operates a variety of direct flights to Vientiane with a frequency of up to 4 round trips per day. The flight time is just over 1 hour, helping you save travel time. Additionally, Vietjet offers reasonable and economical fares for travelers. Ticket prices start from 240,000 VND (depending on the time of booking and class of service). Especially to help you save costs optimally, Vietjet offers extremely attractive promotions. The flash sale program for Vientiane flight tickets costs only 0 VND - applicable when purchasing Vientiane tickets on Fridays. See details HERE.

Wattay International Airport, Laos: Information, location, and notes (Wattay International Airport)

Vietjet currently operates a variety of direct flights to Vientiane with a frequency of up to 4 round trips per day at extremely economical prices.

5. Overview of Wattay International Airport

5.1 Scale and runway area

Wattay International Airport has an asphalt runway that is 3,000 meters long. The runway allows various types of aircraft such as ATR, Boeing B737, Airbus A320, and more to operate.

5.2 Terminals

Wattay Airport currently has three passenger terminals, including an old domestic terminal, a new domestic terminal, and a new international terminal. The total floor area is up to 11,930 square meters.

Old domestic terminal: Serves domestic flights.
New domestic terminal: Built in 2018, this terminal is more modern and spacious, serving domestic flights.
International terminal: Built in 2015, this terminal serves passengers of international flights.

5.3 Terminal amenities

All three terminals at Wattay International Airport are equipped with numerous amenities, making the travel experience for domestic and international passengers complete.

Duty-free shopping area: Sells items such as perfumes, cosmetics, electronics, souvenirs, and more.
Currency exchange: The terminal has ATMs from various banks. Additionally, currency exchange and cash withdrawal services are available for travelers.
Restaurants: While the dining options at Wattay Airport are not as diverse as many other international airports, it still offers several food choices for travelers to enjoy before and after their flights.
Lounges: Lounges are available at all three terminals, providing comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi, and snacks. Additionally, the international terminal has a VIP lounge offering premium services such as private seating, free Wi-Fi, snacks, and beverages.
Service counters: Service counters are ready to assist passengers with luggage issues. Additionally, at the terminals, you can book taxis to travel to the city center at the service counters.

6. How to travel from Wattay International Airport

Wattay International Airport is less than 3km from the capital city center, making travel from the airport very convenient for tourists. There are several ways to get to the center of Vientiane. Depending on your needs and budget, here are some popular options:

6.1 Traveling from Wattay International Airport by taxi

This is the fastest and most convenient means of transportation. You can easily catch a taxi right at the arrivals hall of Wattay Airport. Taxi fares from the airport to the city center range from 57,000 to 66,000 Kip per trip (approximately 75,500 to 88,000 VND). You can hire taxis at the service counters at the terminal. The taxi counters are near the exit of the arrivals hall.

6.2 Traveling from Wattay International Airport by bus

The bus is the most economical means of transportation to the center of Vientiane. The shuttle bus service operates between Wattay Vientiane Airport and the Central Bus Station with stops at several hotels in the city center. The one-way fare is 40,000 Kip (approximately 46,000 VND).

6.3 Traveling from Wattay International Airport by tuk-tuk

Tuk-tuk is a popular means of transportation in Laos. You can also use this service to travel from Wattay Airport to the center of Vientiane. Tuk-tuk fares are quite affordable, around 15,000 Kip per trip (equivalent to 20,000 VND). You can catch a tuk-tuk outside the domestic arrivals terminal.

Traveling from Wattay International Airport to the capital city center by tuk-tuk will surely provide you with an interesting experience.

6.4 Traveling from Wattay International Airport by shuttle service

Some hotels and travel companies offer shuttle services from the airport to the hotel or city center. You can choose this service for convenience. However, shuttle service fares are usually higher than taxis or buses.

Plan your trip to Vientiane and book your flight to Wattay Airport today for an exciting journey of exploration!

Hopefully, the information about Wattay Airport in Vientiane above will be helpful for your upcoming trip to Laos. Don't forget to hunt for Vientiane flight tickets at Vietjet for just 0 VND! The program runs every Friday. See details HERE!

Additionally, to update Wattay International Airport's flight schedule and the latest flight prices from Vietjet, you can visit the following official information channels: