Laos (+856) dialing prefix handbook.
The +856 prefix covers Southeast Asia's fast-growing Mekong economy — from Vientiane's capital hub to Luang Prabang's heritage tourism. Here's the verified Laos country code, ISO references, live local time, and Ringflow's direct Lao routes.
Laos at a glance.
The geography, area codes and ICT time zone you need before placing your first call into Laos.
Laos country information
Every route into Lao lines.
Landline, mobile or business VoIP — the +856 prefix reaches Vientiane, Paksé and all provinces. Pick what fits your traffic.
Direct calls using landlines & mobile phones
Dial Laos directly from any landline or mobile by entering your international exit code, then the country code +856, and finally the local number.
International calling cards for Laos
Pre-paid international calling cards remain a convenient, low-cost way to reach Laos. Each card gives you a PIN and an access number to place global calls.
VoIP services for contacting Laos
VoIP apps like Skype, WhatsApp and Viber — and business VoIP from Ringflow — route calls to Laos over the internet, usually at far lower rates than traditional carriers.
What shapes Lao voice traffic, Mekong corridor.
The fundamentals behind calls to and from Laos — the +856 code, Vientiane, the ICT zone and the two-digit area-code plan.
How to call Laos.
A Lao number drops the trunk zero when dialled internationally. Here's the anatomy and dialling order.
Number anatomy
Start with the exit prefix
Press + on a mobile (hold the 0 key), or dial 00 from most countries, or 011 from North America.
Add the Laos code
Dial +856. This identifies Laos on the global telephone network.
Enter the area or mobile prefix
Type the first part of the local number. Drop the leading 0 if there is one.
Finish with the subscriber number
The remaining digits route the call to the specific line in Vientiane or elsewhere.
Dialling Laos (+856) from other countries
The exit prefix changes by origin; the Laos code stays +856.
| Calling from | Exit prefix | You dial, then the national number |
|---|---|---|
| United States & Canada | 011 | 011 856 |
| United Kingdom & most of Europe | 00 | 00 856 |
| Australia | 0011 | 0011 856 |
| Japan | 010 | 010 856 |
| Any mobile (E.164) | + | +856 |
Browse the full country code index.
Search by country name, ISO code or dial prefix. Click any country for its dialing rules and Ringflow's local number availability.
FAQ
Calling Laos, answered.
What businesses and travellers ask most before dialling Laos on +856.
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Dialling Laos without misdialling
Laos’s calling code is +856 , which puts it in East Asia and a group of global services. The codes below are the ones a caller actually reaches by mistake, so they are worth checking before a number goes into a CRM or an outbound list.
| Dial this by mistake | and you reach | Why it happens |
|---|---|---|
| +855 | Cambodia | One digit out on the last position |
| +852 | Hong Kong | One digit out on the last position |
| +853 | Macao | One digit out on the last position |
| +850 | North Korea | One digit out on the last position |
Other Asia countries in the same numbering zone: Bangladesh +880, Cambodia +855, China +86, Hong Kong +852, Japan +81. Laos's capital is Vientiane.