Laos Calling Code: +856

Complete guide to calling Laos — international dialing code, step-by-step instructions, and FAQ.

How to Call Laos from Abroad

About Laos Calling Code

Laos's international dialing code is +856. This code is assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and must be dialed before the local phone number when calling Laos from another country. Laos is located in Asia.

Laos is known locally as ສປປລາວ — Vientiane is the capital. When saving an international contact, write the number in full international format with +856 so it works from any country.

Country calling codes (also known as ISD codes or dialing codes) are telephone numbering plan prefixes defined by ITU-T standards E.123 and E.164. Each country is assigned one or more unique prefixes to facilitate international direct dialing.

Where the +856 Calling Code Is Used

The country code +856 is assigned to Laos, located in South-Eastern Asia, with the capital Vientiane. This code is part of the international telephony numbering plan and is used for all calls made to Laos from outside the country.

When you see a phone number written as +856 ..., the +856 prefix tells your telephone network to route the call to Laos's national telephone network. After the country code, you dial the local area code (dropping any leading 0) and the subscriber number. The same format applies whether you are calling a landline or a mobile phone.

Country codes are allocated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T Recommendation E.164) and are grouped by geographic region. Calling codes starting with 8 are generally assigned to the region around Laos, in South-Eastern Asia. When a phone number is stored internationally, the leading zeros of the domestic area code are omitted after the country code — this is why you will often see numbers written as +856 followed directly by the area code and number.

Laos Phone Number Formats

Phone numbers in Laos follow the ITU E.164 international format: country code + area code + subscriber number. Below is the general structure used for both landlines and mobile numbers.

Most countries use a closed or open telephone numbering plan. In an open plan, the length of local numbers varies and the trunk prefix (usually 0) is dropped when dialing internationally. In a closed plan, all national numbers have a fixed length regardless of area. When dialing Laos from abroad, always replace the leading trunk zero with the country code +856.

Time Zone in Laos

Laos is in the Asia/Vientiane time zone, which is UTC+07:00 relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). If you are calling from a different time zone, remember to account for the time difference when scheduling your international call.

When planning a call to Laos, the time difference matters: a good time to reach businesses in Vientiane, the capital, during their working hours may be early morning or late evening in your own time zone. Many international callers use the UTC offset as a quick reference to avoid calling in the middle of the night.

Some countries observe daylight saving time (DST), which shifts the local clock by one hour during summer months. If Laos uses DST, the effective offset changes twice a year — check the current UTC offset before dialing if your call is time-sensitive. For most purposes, however, the standard offset shown above is sufficient.

Emergency Numbers in Laos

If you need urgent help while in Laos, dial the local emergency numbers below. Note that these numbers are only for use inside Laos.

Service	Number
Police	191
Fire	190
Ambulance	195

Example: Calling Laos Numbers in Practice

Here is how a typical call to Laos works, depending on where you are calling from:

If the number you are calling has a domestic trunk prefix (often 0) in front of the area code, omit it when dialing from abroad. The country code +856 replaces the trunk prefix entirely.

Calling Laos from Major Countries

International exit codes differ by country. Use this reference when dialing Laos (+856) from abroad:

Calling From	Exit Code	Full International Dialing
United States	011	011 856 [local number]
United Kingdom	00	00 856 [local number]
Australia	0011	0011 856 [local number]
China	00	00 856 [local number]
Japan	010	010 856 [local number]
India	00	00 856 [local number]
Germany	00	00 856 [local number]
France	00	00 856 [local number]

On mobile phones, the + symbol replaces the exit code entirely — just dial +856 followed by the local number.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the calling code for Laos?

The international calling code for Laos is +856.

How do I call Laos from the United States?

Dial 011 (US exit code), then +856, then the local phone number.

How do I call Laos from the United Kingdom?

Dial 00 (UK exit code), then +856, then the local phone number.

Can I use the + symbol instead of the exit code?

Yes! On mobile phones you can dial +856 directly followed by the local number. The + symbol automatically replaces your country's exit code.

How do I call within Laos?

If you're already in Laos, simply dial the local number directly. You do not need to use the country code +856 for domestic calls.

What is the capital of Laos?

The capital of Laos is Vientiane. When calling the capital from abroad, dial +856 followed by the local area code (without the leading 0) and the number.

What are the emergency numbers in Laos?

Police: 191, Fire: 190, Ambulance: 195. These numbers are only valid inside Laos.

Other Countries in Asia

Nearby countries and their calling codes:

Calling Laos from Kazakhstan or Malaysia works the same way: dial your local exit code first, then +856, then the local number. Within Asia, many callers simply use the + symbol on mobile to avoid exit-code differences.