Vientiane - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
You'll have to wash your fresh produce with baking soda and/or vinegar so you don't get sick. It is not uncommon to experience gastrointestinal distress when you first get here. French Clinic and Alliance Medical Centre are the only places in Vientiane that appear to offer decent medical services. We have a great Health Unit at the Embassy. You have to go to Bangkok or Singapore for more significant medical care. - Mar 2024
The medical system here is terrible. Most things require you to go to Thailand to get it checked. MedEvacs are very common. I personally used my R+R to go to see all my doctors and dentist. If you have any kind of medical condition, you should really reconsider coming here. If you plan to start a family, I would recommend you not come here. - Mar 2023
There are a handful of international clinics but any health issues that are marginally complicated or serious are done in Thailand. A Thai company is building a private hospital due to open in 2021 that could change things but for now medical care is limited. - Jun 2020
There are concerns about the quality of health care in Laos. Most people will choose to go to Thailand. This fact makes emergencies stressful. - Oct 2018
Post now has a MED unit that was receiving a FSNP when we were leaving. Most of us used the Australian Clinic, with whom we had a contract at the time. For dental and most medical visits, we arranged through Bangkok or Udon Thani Hospital. The local hospitals are very sad. We toured them and heard of stories from friends who had gone in for motorbike accidents and came out of the hospital with staph infections. - Jan 2014
