Yes, tourist visas are required in Laos. Currently, Laos has visa exception agreements with 15 countries, including Brunei, Luxembourg, Philippines, Switzerland, Cambodia, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, Mongolia, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Myanmar, and South Korea.
If your country isn’t in the list above, you can obtain a visa for Laos entry in 3 ways:
Apply for a visa at an Embassy or Consulate in Laos
Apply online through the official eVisa issuance website (https://laoevisa.gov.la/index), at around US $50 per applicant.
Visa on arrival (VOA) at most entry ports, from US$ 30 - 45 /person, depending on each nationality (Not all countries are eligible to apply for VOA, please check before traveling)