Quick answer
Light use in Laos (maps, ride apps, messaging, some social media) stays under 1 GB a day, so 10 days · 10 GB covers about a week in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. For two weeks, pick 15 days · 15 GB. For a month, 30 days · 20 GB, or 30 days · 30 GB if you use hotspot or make a lot of video calls.
How much data do common apps use?
These are rough figures. Real use depends on video quality, auto-play, and app settings.
- Maps and ride apps: small. A day of navigation and booking rides is usually well under 200 MB.
- WhatsApp and Telegram text: very small. Photos and voice notes add more.
- Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook: heavy, because video plays automatically. An hour can use several hundred MB to over 1 GB.
- Video calls: often 0.5 to 1.5 GB per hour.
- Streaming video: from about 1 GB per hour, and more in HD.
Which plan should I pick?
Every plan gives one data allowance for the whole trip, with no daily limit and no daily reset. You can use a lot on a travel day and little on a beach day. Plan days start when the eSIM first connects in Laos, not when you install it.
The plans are 10 days · 10 GB ($6.50), 15 days · 15 GB ($8.00), 30 days · 20 GB ($11.50), and 30 days · 30 GB ($13.50).
- About a week, for example Vientiane and Luang Prabang: 10 days · 10 GB.
- Two weeks: 15 days · 15 GB.
- A month, light to moderate use: 30 days · 20 GB.
- A month with heavy hotspot use or lots of video calls: 30 days · 30 GB.
- If you watch or post a lot of video on a shorter trip, choose a bigger plan than your trip length suggests.
How can I make my data last longer?
- Turn off video auto-play in Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
- Set photo backup to Wi-Fi only.
- Download offline maps and streaming episodes on hotel Wi-Fi.
- Use hotel and café Wi-Fi for big app updates.
- If you share a hotspot with a laptop, turn off its automatic updates and cloud sync.
Frequently asked questions
Is 10 GB enough for a week in Laos?
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For light to moderate use, yes: maps, ride apps, messaging, and some social media. If you watch or post a lot of video, choose 15 days · 15 GB instead.
Can I use the eSIM as a hotspot?
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Yes. Hotspot is included, so you can share data with a laptop or another phone. It counts against your plan’s data.
Can I buy a second plan if I run out?
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Yes. Plans cannot be topped up, and the eSIM stops when its data or days run out, so buy a new plan on this site. It arrives as a new QR code, which you install as a second eSIM.
Related guides
Vientiane eSIM guide: data for LOCA, tuk-tuks, and the Mekong riverside
A relaxed capital on the Mekong, with tuk-tuks on every corner.
Luang Prabang eSIM guide: the old town, waterfalls, and the Mekong
Temples, the night market, and early mornings by the Mekong.
Laos trip checklist: eSIM, entry rules, and apps
What to sort out in the days before you fly.