Kornelijus
Affordable and reliable. Traveled to the US for a trip and used blikst. It was much more affordable than other companies and was very
Lao People`s Democratic Republic
Trust score 4.5
Features
- Coverage: Lao People`s Democratic Republic
- Network Provider: Star
- Speed: 2G / 3G
- Tethering / Hotspot: Yes
Plan Details
Device Compatibility: Most modern smartphones are fully compatible with Blikst eSIMs. However, a few exceptions exist. Check our detailed compatibility list to confirm your device works flawlessly with our service..
Activation Policy: Enjoy automatic activation by simply scanning the QR code provided after purchase. Your eSIM will instantly activate upon your arrival at Lao People`s Democratic Republic, ensuring immediate connectivity.
Delivery Time: Receive a confirmation email with your eSIM details right after completing your purchase. Quick and seamless delivery ensures you’re ready to go in minutes.
Description
Laos is one of the slower-paced countries on the Indochina loop — and its mobile network reflects that. Vientiane, Luang Prabang and the main tourist corridor have perfectly usable signal for messaging, maps and ride apps; head into the northern mountains toward Phongsali, out to the Plain of Jars in Xieng Khouang, or down into the 4,000 Islands at Si Phan Don, and the network thins out quickly. A Blikst Laos eSIM runs on Star (Star Telecom, operating as Unitel, the country's largest mobile operator), delivering 2G / 3G data across Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Pakse, Savannakhet, Thakhek and the main highway routes.
Where Unitel's signal works
Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Pakse and Savannakhet all have reliable 3G in town. The Laos–China Railway corridor (Vientiane to Luang Prabang to Boten at the Chinese border) has better coverage than it used to, with signal at most stations. The Mekong river towns and the road from Vientiane up to Luang Prabang via Vang Vieng are reasonably covered. The far north — Phongsali, Muang Sing, Luang Namtha's trekking villages — has signal at town centres with long rural gaps. The Bolaven Plateau coffee towns (Paksong) have 3G. Si Phan Don in the deep south (Don Det, Don Khon) has some coverage near guesthouse clusters and thinner elsewhere. The Plain of Jars sites have signal at Phonsavan with gaps out at the jar fields.
A realistic speed note
This plan delivers 2G / 3G. It's fine for WhatsApp, email, maps, cached translations and occasional voice calls over the internet. It is not fine for video streaming, Zoom calls or large photo uploads. Plan media around guesthouse and hotel Wi-Fi, which in Luang Prabang and Vientiane is genuinely decent at most mid-range places.
Cost vs. roaming or a local SIM
Most US and European carriers charge steep roaming rates for Laos — often $10–$15 per day — or don't offer coverage at all. A Blikst eSIM avoids the surprise. Local Unitel or Lao Telecom physical SIMs are available at Wattay International (VTE), Luang Prabang (LPQ) and Pakse (PKZ) airports and are cheap, but require registration paperwork and you may be upsold a larger bundle than you need. For shorter trips the eSIM wins on friction alone.
Activation at the airport
Install the eSIM at home on stable Wi-Fi. When you land at Wattay (VTE), Luang Prabang (LPQ) or Pakse (PKZ) and switch airplane mode off, the Blikst line should register on Unitel automatically. Turn off data roaming on your home line first. Overland arrivals from Thailand (Friendship Bridge crossings at Vientiane, Thakhek, Savannakhet or Pakse), from Vietnam (Nam Phao, Lao Bao), or from China (Boten) will see the plan activate once a Lao tower picks up the phone.
What data actually gets used for here
- WhatsApp: The default channel for most guesthouses, trekking companies in Luang Namtha and Nong Khiaw, river-boat operators for slow-boat bookings, and motorbike-rental shops.
- Loca: A local ride-hail app in Vientiane and Luang Prabang — tuk-tuks and cars. Grab does not operate in Laos.
- Google Maps / Maps.me: Download offline tiles before you leave Vientiane. Rural Laos will teach you to distrust any single map layer; cross-check before riding a motorbike onto unpaved backroads.
- Translation: Lao script is distinct; offline Google Translate Lao packs are genuinely useful at night markets, rural bus stations and the Plain of Jars information signs.
- Slow-boat schedules: The Huay Xai to Luang Prabang two-day slow boat is a classic journey; schedules and prices move, so the current operator's Facebook page or website beats the Lonely Planet listing.
Plan sizing for typical trips
A week in Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng fits on 3 GB comfortably — guesthouse Wi-Fi covers the rest. A two-week classic loop (Luang Prabang, slow boat, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, optional Plain of Jars) sits on 5 GB. Three-week south-to-north overlanders doing Si Phan Don, the Bolaven coffee plateau, Pakse, Savannakhet, Vientiane and Luang Prabang should plan 10 GB — much of which will sit unused during offline rural days. Slow-travel diggers in Luang Prabang or Vang Vieng for a month should go 10–20 GB.
A few realities
Power cuts are more frequent in rural areas and take masts along with them. Rainy season (May–October) brings road washouts and slower speeds. Carry a power bank. Cache your hotel confirmations, slow-boat tickets and offline maps before you head out of a major town. Mekong crossings on small boats have no signal mid-river; that's normal.
Install at home, land or cross a border into Laos, and your Blikst line picks up Unitel automatically. One QR code, no registration queue, and you're ready for the first Beerlao on the Mekong as the sun sets.
Important Information
- This eSIM plan is only compatible with iPhone, Samsung and Google devices.
- To activate this plan, you will need to provide your IMEI, EID/ICCID and preferred eSim Activation Date.
- On the specified date your eSim will be activated automatically in the USA no QR code needed.
- The plan must be purchased at least 2 days before the activation date to allow time for processing.
Our plans
Couldn't load pickup availability
How to get your Bliskt eSIM data?
Check Device Compatibility
Confirm that your smartphone or device supports our Blikst eSIM functionality.
Learn More
Follow Installation Instructions
Use the provided step-by-step guide to set up and activate your eSIM in few minutes. Then enjoy your trip.
Learn MoreBlikst eSIM Reviews
Marius
Smooth, simple, just works. Use it again.
Elinga
Quick activation and stable connection. Super handy 🌟 Used it during my trip in Madeira.
James
Lovely support, got an esim for UK. Had no issues.
Capone
I used to have 3 mobile but the internet connection was not the best, that’s why I started to use Blikst and I find it very useful
eSIM FAQ
The Blikst Laos eSIM runs on Star, which is Star Telecom operating as Unitel, the country's largest mobile operator. The plan delivers 2G and 3G data rather than 4G or 5G. That is honestly fine for WhatsApp, email, maps, cached translations and the occasional internet voice call, but it is not built for video streaming, Zoom or large photo uploads, so plan media around hotel Wi-Fi.
Unitel gives reliable 3G in town across Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Pakse and Savannakhet, plus the main highways and the Laos-China Railway corridor to Boten. Be realistic about the gaps, though. The far north around Phongsali, Muang Sing and Luang Namtha has signal only in town centres, the Plain of Jars fields drop out beyond Phonsavan, and Si Phan Don in the deep south is patchy away from guesthouse clusters.
Right after purchase you get a confirmation email with your eSIM details, then you scan the QR code to install it. Do this at home on stable Wi-Fi before you travel. Activation is automatic: when you land at Wattay (VTE), Luang Prabang (LPQ) or Pakse (PKZ) and switch airplane mode off, the line registers on Unitel by itself. Overland arrivals from Thailand, Vietnam or China activate once a Lao tower picks up your phone. Turn off data roaming on your home line first.
Most modern smartphones are fully compatible with Blikst eSIMs, though a few exceptions exist, so check our detailed compatibility list to confirm your device. As a quick check yourself, on an iPhone look under Settings then General then About for an EID number, or check your Android network settings. Your phone also needs to be carrier-unlocked. An eSIM is a separate digital line, so your physical home SIM can stay in the phone.
Less than you might expect, because guesthouse and hotel Wi-Fi covers a lot. A week in Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng fits comfortably on 3 GB. A two-week classic loop taking in the slow boat, Vientiane and the Plain of Jars sits on around 5 GB. Three-week south-to-north overlanders should plan 10 GB, much of it unused on offline rural days, while slow-travellers settling in for a month want 10 to 20 GB.
Yes, tethering and hotspot use are supported, so you can share your connection with a laptop, tablet or a travel companion's phone. Keep your expectations matched to the network, though: this is a 2G and 3G plan, which handles messaging, maps and email well but will struggle with anything heavy like video calls or big uploads through a shared connection. Lean on hotel Wi-Fi for that kind of work.
This is a data plan, so it does not come with a local Lao phone number for traditional calls or SMS. In practice that is rarely a problem here, since WhatsApp is the default channel for guesthouses, Luang Namtha trekking companies, slow-boat operators and motorbike-rental shops. You can call and message over the internet using apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime. Because the eSIM is a separate digital line, your home SIM and number can stay in the phone.
For shorter trips it usually wins on cost and hassle. Most US and European carriers charge steep roaming for Laos, often 10 to 15 dollars a day, or do not cover it at all, and the Blikst eSIM avoids that surprise. Local Unitel or Lao Telecom SIMs at Wattay, Luang Prabang and Pakse airports are cheap but need registration paperwork and you may be upsold a bigger bundle than you need. The eSIM wins on friction alone.