Laos

Conditional

Issuer: No permit for casual public photography; government permission (Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism channels) for commercial filming, and Ministry of National Defense sign-off for aerial work near sensitive locations

Personal photography needs no permit. Foreign commercial productions need government approvals and typically a local partner; requirements are opaque, so confirm through official channels or an experienced fixer before budgeting.

Licensed by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (civil aviation department); drones over 200 g require a license, and aerial photography of security-sensitive locations needs Ministry of National Defense permission

Luang Prabang's old quarter, Mount Phousi, and the riverside temples are effectively no-fly for casual users, and the airport is about 2 km from the center. For depth, see Drone Authority.

Yes to photograph in public

Street photography is lawful. At the Luang Prabang morning alms round: no flash, keep distance, do not block the monks; it is a religious ceremony, not a photo event. Avoid military subjects.

Restricted (incidental use only)

Law No. 38/NA of 2017 (Art. 115.3) permits reproducing public artworks only where the inclusion is incidental and the work is not the object of the photograph. A commercial image whose main subject is a copyrighted Lao artwork or modern building has no panorama defense. Temple architecture centuries old is out of copyright and safe. Wikimedia Commons classifies Laos as no-FoP.