Country Code 856 – Laos

Calling to Laos

• Do not include a leading ‘0’ in the international call sequence – it is only used in Laos for domestic long distance calls.
• A leading '+' in the phone number means 'dial your country's exit code'.
• Calling from a mobile phone: dial from on the country where you're currently located.
• Calling from a VoIP or satellite phone: dial from on the country where the phone is registered.

Cambodia’s country code may be mislabeled:

• Country code 00 856 (exit code of ’00’ used in many European, Asian, and African nations followed by Laos’ country code of ‘856’).
• Country code 011 856 (exit code of ‘011’ used in the United States and Canada followed by Cambodia’s country code of ‘856’).

When calling to a mislabeled country code, remove the exit code from the call sequence and replace it with the exit code of the country the call is dialed .

… to a mobile (cellular) phone

Use the same call sequence.

Laotian mobile phone numbers occupy area code ‘020’ (’20’ when dialed from outside the country).

When calling a mobile phone user, dial to the country where the mobile phone is registered, regardless of where the person is roaming.

… to a VoIP phone

Dial VoIP phone numbers based in Laos with the same call sequence as a regular landline phone.

There are no designated VoIP exchanges in Laos.

When calling a VoIP phone user, dial to the country where the VoIP phone is registered, regardless of where the person is roaming.

… to a satellite phone

Laos does not have a country-specific satellite phone system.

Most satellite phones operate on their country code – calls to these satellite phones follow their call sequence.

… sending a fax

Use the same call sequence.

Calling within Laos (domestic dialing)

‘0’ is used as a trunk prefix when calling within between different area codes in Laos. When calling within the same area code, you do not need to dial the trunk prefix ‘0’ and the area code.

Local calling (inside the same area code)

To call within the same area code, dial only the local phone number. Do not dial the trunk prefix ‘0’ or the area code.

Long distance calling (between different area codes, or between mobile phones)

To call within different area codes, dial the trunk prefix ‘0’ followed by the area code and local phone number.

Lao phone numbers explained

Number explanation

Lao phone numbers are eight digits.

The first two digits are an area (geographic) code.

Mobile numbers being with ’20’. They are dialed the same way as all other numbers in Laos.

An example of a Lao phone number

The Dharva Hotel lists its phone number in Vientiane as +856 (21) 222238.

Number explanation

Local example – calling from another location in Vientiane

When calling within the same area code, dial only the local phone number.

Long distance example – calling from Pakxe, Laos (on the other side of the country)

When calling between area codes, dial the trunk prefix ‘0’ as well as the destination area code and local phone number.

International example – calling from outside Laos

Dial the exit code of the country the call is dialed from, followed by Laos’ country code of ‘856’, followed by the area code and local phone number.

Area codes

… by province

20	Mobile (020-2 ETL, 020-5 Lao Telecom, 020-7 Beeline, 020-9 Unitel)
21	Vientiane Prefecture
23	Vientiane
31	Champasak
36	Attapeu
38	Sekong
34	Salavan
41	Savannakhet
51	Khammouan
54	Bolikhamsai
61	Xiangkhoang
64	Houaphan
71	Luang Prabang
74	Sainyabuli
81	Oudomxay
84	Bokeo
86	Louang Namtha
88	Phongsali
23	Xaisomboun

… by city

Luang Prabang (Louangphrabang)	71
Muang Xay (Oudomxai)	81
Pakse (Pakxe)	31
Phonsavan (Ban Phonsavan)	61
Vientiane (Capital)	23
Savannakhet	41
Thakhek	51
Xam Neua (Xam Nua, Sam Neua)	64

Phone books, directories, and number lookup

• Lao Yellow Pages – The primary yellow pages business directory for Laos. Includes search and the ability to browse by category.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Foreign affairs Ministry for Laos. On the left-hand sidebar, there is a drop-down menu for other ministries within the Lao government.

Calling from Laos

’00’ is used as an exit code when dialing an international phone call from Laos.

Sources and more resources

• Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications – Primary regulator for Lao telecommunications networks.
• APT (Asia-Pacific Telecommunity) – Intergovernmental organization that works with government, manufacturing, and research & development in the telecommunications industry.
• ITU (International Telecommunications Union) – United Nations specialized agency for information and communications technologies.
• International Telecommunications Union – DIALLING PROCEDURES (INTERNATIONAL PREFIX, NATIONAL (TRUNK) PREFIX AND NATIONAL (SIGNIFICANT) NUMBER) (IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITU-T RECOMMENDATION E.164 (11/2010)) – A collection of dialing procedures for all countries and regions of the world. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
• International Telecommunications Union – Lao P.D.R. (country code +856) national numbering plan on file with ITU – Details of Laos’ telephone numbering plan as submitted to the ITU. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
• Wikipedia – Telephone numbers in Laos – Wikipedia entry for telephone number data for Laos. Includes specific number ranges for each city as well as detail on calling procedures.
• BT – the Phonebook – Laos International Codes – Summary of phone codes for Laos from the BT phone book.