→
Cheap Calls from Pretoria to Laos
Make affordable international calls from Pretoria, South Africa to Laos . Rates from $0.29/min with no app required.
Landline Rates
$0.29/min
Mobile Rates
$0.38/min
Dial Code
+LA
Calling Laos from Pretoria
Pretoria, with a population of 742k, is a major city in South Africa with a significant community that maintains connections to Laos . Whether you have family, friends, or business contacts in Laos, making international calls from Pretoria doesn't have to be expensive.
Traditional phone carriers in South Africa charge premium rates for international calls to Laos, often between $1.50 and $3.00 per minute. DialAnyone lets residents of Pretoria call Laos for as little as $0.29 per minute — saving up to 90% on every call. All you need is an internet connection and a web browser.
Pretoria's modern telecommunications infrastructure means you'll enjoy crystal-clear HD voice quality on every call to Laos. DialAnyone uses WebRTC technology, the same standard used by major tech companies for voice and video calls, ensuring reliable connections.
Pretoria and the World
Pretoria's character is dual and sometimes contradictory: government capital with the Union Buildings, ministerial residences and civil service offices — but also a university city, home to the University of Pretoria and UNISA's largest campus, with tens of thousands of students from across sub-Saharan Africa cycling through every few years. The civil servant calling abroad to coordinate diplomatic business uses a different channel than the Congolese student calling Kinshasa to assure his mother he's fine, but both pay the same high per-minute rates when they call international numbers on standard South African plans.
Area code 12 covers the city, and Vodacom and MTN dominate here as they do nationally. What distinguishes Pretoria from Johannesburg's commercial churn is a more stable, Afrikaner-and-government-employee middle class on contract plans alongside the student and migrant prepaid base. The contrast matters for international calling: a civil servant can absorb an international add-on cost that would seriously inconvenience a student on a R50 top-up.
Who Calls Abroad from Pretoria
The diplomatic presence in Pretoria makes it unique among South African cities for the breadth of its foreign communities. Embassies bring staff from every continent, and their families maintain intensive calling connections to home countries, from Zimbabwe and Mozambique on the immediate regional level to Germany, the US, France and China further afield. The student population at the University of Pretoria and the Soshanguve-based Tshwane University of Technology draws heavily from Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Namibia and the DRC. Afrikaner communities maintain links to Namibia and to Afrikaner diaspora communities in Australia and the Netherlands. An emerging corridor to the UK and Canada follows South African professionals and nurses who emigrated during the post-2008 economic squeeze.
Time Difference: Pretoria to Laos
Laos is 5 hours ahead of Pretoria.
| Time in Pretoria | Time in Laos |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | 1:00 PM |
| 12:00 PM | 5:00 PM |
| 5:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| 9:00 PM | 2:00 AM (next day) |
To catch people during waking hours in Laos (9 AM to 9 PM), call between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM Pretoria time — that lands between 12:00 PM and 9:00 PM local time in Laos.
How to Call Laos from Pretoria
1
Open DialAnyone in Your Browser
From Pretoria, simply open dialanyone.com on your phone, tablet, or computer. No app download required.
2
Create a Free Account
Sign up in under a minute. No credit card required to get started.
3
Enter the Laos Number
Type the Laos phone number with country code +LA. DialAnyone will auto-format it for you.
4
Click Call
That's it! Your call connects instantly from Pretoria to Laos in HD quality.
Dialing Laos from Pretoria: Number Format
When calling Laos from Pretoria using a traditional phone, you need the international dialing prefix followed by the Laos country code (+LA). The format is:
IDD + LA + local number
The international dialing prefix (IDD) from South Africa is "00" (or "+" from mobile phones). A complete dialed number looks like 00 8562023123456. With DialAnyone, you can skip the IDD entirely — just enter the Laos number in the format +8562023123456 and DialAnyone handles the routing.
Pretoria to Laos: Rate Comparison
| Calling Method | Rate to Laos | Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Carrier | $1.50-3.00/min | 0% |
| Calling Card | $0.10-0.50/min | 50-70% |
| VoIP App (requires download) | $0.05-0.15/min | 70-85% |
| DialAnyone (no app needed) | $0.29/min | Up to 90% |
Why Pretoria Residents Choose DialAnyone for Laos
✓
Call any phone number in Laos — landline or mobile — directly from Pretoria✓
Rates from Pretoria to Laos start at just $0.29/min✓
No app download required — call from any browser in Pretoria✓
Save up to 90% compared to South Africa carrier international rates✓
HD voice quality using WebRTC technology over Pretoria's internet✓
Credits never expire — buy once, use whenever you need to call Laos✓
Works on any device: phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer✓
Send SMS to Laos from Pretoria at low rates tooTelecommunications in Laos
Laos has made significant strides in improving its telecommunications infrastructure over the past few years. The country is served by several mobile network operators, including Lao Telecom, ETL (Electronics and Telecommunications Lao), and Unitel, which is a subsidiary of Viettel Group from Vietnam. These carriers provide extensive 4G coverage across major cities and some rural areas, although 5G is still in its early stages of deployment, with a focus on urban centers like Vientiane.
Mobile phone usage is widespread, with a penetration rate exceeding 90% as of 2023. This high rate of mobile adoption is facilitated by affordable devices and competitive pricing for prepaid services. Despite the prevalence of mobile phones, landline availability is limited primarily to urban regions, with many households relying solely on mobile communication. Internet access has also improved, with broadband services expanding in cities, although challenges remain in rural connectivity. Overall, Laos's telecommunications landscape is evolving, making it easier for both locals and foreigners to stay connected.
Dialing Laos from Abroad
To make an international phone call to Laos, you will need to follow a specific dialing format. Begin by dialing your country’s international access code, which varies by country (for example, it’s 011 for the United States, 00 for the UK, and 0011 for Australia). Next, dial the country code for Laos, which is +856.
After that, you will need to enter the area code for the city you are calling. For instance, Vientiane, the capital, has an area code of 21, while other regions have their own unique codes. When calling a mobile number, you can skip the area code and simply dial the mobile number directly. Mobile numbers in Laos typically begin with a "0," which should be omitted when calling from abroad. For example, if you are calling a mobile number like 020-1234-5678, you would dial +856 20 1234 5678. There are no special prefixes required for either mobile or landline calls.
Best Times to Call Laos from Pretoria
Laos operates on Indochina Time (ICT), which is UTC+7. Unlike many countries, Laos does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so this time zone remains consistent year-round. Typical daily schedules in Laos can vary, but most businesses operate from around 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday.
People are generally most available for personal calls in the early evening after work hours or during weekends. However, it's advisable to avoid calling on national holidays, which can affect availability. Key holidays include Pi Mai (Lao New Year) in mid-April, and the Boun Khao Phansa, a Buddhist festival that usually occurs in July or August. Weekends are typically reserved for family time and socializing, making them less ideal for business calls. Being mindful of these factors can help you choose the best times to reach your contacts in Laos.
Calling Etiquette in Laos
In Laos, the culture surrounding phone communication is influenced by traditional values and social norms. People often answer calls with a polite greeting, such as “Sabaidee,” which means "hello." This reflects the importance of respectful interactions in Lao culture. When addressing someone, it is customary to use titles and family names, especially in a formal context.
Cold calling is generally less accepted in Laos compared to Western cultures; personal relationships often precede business communications. For personal calls, it’s common for friends and family to check in with each other regularly. When it comes to business, it is advisable to schedule calls in advance and confirm the recipient's availability, as this demonstrates respect for their time. Preferred communication channels can vary; while phone calls are common, emails are often used for formal business correspondence. Understanding these nuances can enhance the effectiveness of your communication in Laos.
Laos Phone Numbers: What to Expect
Lao mobile numbers dominate everyday communication. Unitel (Viettel) numbers typically start with 20 30x or 20 99x in full local format; Lao Telecom (LTC) and ETL each have their own prefix bands within the 020 space. The leading 0 is dropped internationally, so a number written locally as 020 5512 3456 becomes +856 20 5512 3456. Vientiane landlines carry the area code 21 and are found mainly on business and government contacts; provincial capitals like Luang Prabang use 71 and Savannakhet uses 41. These fixed lines are meaningful for reaching hotels, embassies, or larger companies, but personal contacts almost universally use mobiles. Numbers beginning with 1700 or similar service-range prefixes are domestic-only and won't connect from abroad.
Beating Carrier Rates in Pretoria
Students are the argument in concentrated form. A first-year student from Harare or Kinshasa living in a Hatfield commune buys data in weekly bundles, owns a smartphone, and needs to call home at least weekly on a schedule parents depend on. The R20 top-up that covered a good domestic call does not survive contact with international per-minute rates on prepaid. Data — already purchased, already loaded — is the obvious vehicle. The same calculation applies to the diplomatic household that faces roaming costs on a foreign SIM while maintaining a local South African number. Pretoria's decent 4G coverage across its main residential zones means data-based calling rarely degrades in quality, and the benefit scales from the student in Arcadia to the department official who needs to reach a counterpart in Europe without filing an expense claim for the carrier overage.
Cost-Saving Habits for Calling Laos
Laos runs on ICT, UTC+7, with no daylight saving. That makes Vientiane's business hours (roughly 8 AM to 5 PM on weekdays) fall in the middle of the night for East Coast North America, so calls from the Americas need to target early morning your time or catch evenings in Vientiane. From Australia's east coast, the overlap is much friendlier — a 10 AM call in Sydney reaches Laos at 8 AM. Landline calls to Vientiane's 021 numbers cost less than mobiles on most international plans, worth using when calling an office or guesthouse. Pi Mai, the Lao New Year in mid-April, is a genuine three-to-seven day celebration where business activity essentially stops and even personal calls may go unanswered as people travel home. Pre-announcing a call via WhatsApp improves pick-up rates considerably, particularly since many Laotians are cautious about answering unknown international numbers on the first attempt.
How Laos Rates Compare
At 34 credits per minute (about $0.29/min), calling Laos is around the global average on DialAnyone. For context, here is how it stacks up against other popular destinations called from Pretoria:
India
$0.09/min
Mexico
$0.0025/min
Philippines
$0.18/min
Who Calls Laos from Pretoria?
Families & Friends
People in Pretoria staying connected with loved ones in Laos. Regular calls to check in, celebrate milestones, and maintain bonds across borders.
Business Professionals
Pretoria-based businesses with clients, suppliers, or partners in Laos. Professional calls at a fraction of traditional international rates.
Expat Communities
Laos expats living in Pretoria who need to call home regularly for family matters, legal issues, or staying in touch with their roots.
Travelers & Students
People in Pretoria planning trips to Laos, or students maintaining connections while studying abroad in South Africa.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I call Laos from Pretoria?▼
From a regular phone in Pretoria, dial 00 (the South Africa exit code), then LA, then the local number without its leading zero — for example 00 8562023123456. With DialAnyone, just open your browser, enter the number as +8562023123456, and click call — the international routing is handled automatically. Rates start at $0.29/min.
What is the cheapest way to call Laos from Pretoria?▼
DialAnyone offers the cheapest calls from Pretoria to Laos starting at $0.29/min. Traditional carriers from South Africa typically charge $1-3/min for international calls. With DialAnyone's VoIP technology, you save up to 90% on every call. No monthly fees, no contracts — just pay-as-you-go credits.
Can I call mobile phones in Laos from Pretoria?▼
Yes! DialAnyone lets you call both mobile and landline numbers in Laos directly from Pretoria. Mobile rates to Laos start at $0.38/min and landline rates from $0.29/min. The recipient doesn't need any app — their phone rings normally.
What time should I call Laos from Pretoria?▼
Laos is 5 hours ahead of Pretoria. To reach people during waking hours there (9 AM to 9 PM), call between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM Pretoria time — that's 12:00 PM and 9:00 PM in Laos. DialAnyone works 24/7, so you can call whenever convenient.
Do I need an app to call Laos from Pretoria?▼
No app needed. DialAnyone works directly in your web browser from Pretoria or anywhere in South Africa. Just go to dialanyone.com, log in, and start calling Laos. Works on any device — phone, tablet, or computer — as long as you have an internet connection.
Is the call quality good when calling Laos from Pretoria?▼
Yes. DialAnyone uses HD VoIP technology (WebRTC) to deliver crystal-clear calls from Pretoria to Laos. Pretoria's modern internet infrastructure ensures excellent call quality. The audio quality is typically better than traditional phone calls.
Call Laos from Pretoria Today
Start calling Laos for just $0.29/min. No app, no contracts, no hassle.
Try DialAnyone Free