It is challenging to find teaching positions in Laos located in rural areas. Most opportunities to teach English are offered in the more populated regions of Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Pakse.

Vientiane – Situated on the Mekong and Thai border, this capital city is the economic center of Laos, with an urban population around 800,000. The highest number of teaching jobs in Laos are found here, in private, public, or international schools. There are no shortages of museums, markets, or monuments, and many come to see the famous Buddhist temples and statues that occupy the city’s streets. The National University of Laos is located here, along with vocational schools where you can learn traditional dyeing and weaving techniques in your free time. You can enjoy a day at the spa, and then relax by the river and sample the nation’s world class cuisine.

Luang Prabang – This north central region lies at the convergence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is an old world kind of beauty to this region, encircled by mountains, littered with royal palaces and colonial style buildings, and enveloped in a particularly Buddhist atmosphere. If you like a little adventure, teaching in Luang Prabang could be for you. Any given weekend you can hike to a waterfall, explore caves, ride elephants, motorbike, or mountain bike your way around. Though smaller than the capital, there are still plenty of teaching jobs available in this enchanting city.

Pakse – This third largest city and capital of the Champasack province is located in the southeast part of the country, where the Mekong and Se Don rivers meet. The population of the entire province is just over 650,000, and includes people of Chinese and Vietnamese descent as well. Life here is more laid back and the European influence is less noticeable. The area is known for abundant animal life and the production of high quality Arabica coffee. There won’t be quite as many teaching jobs in Pakse, due to decreased population, so it will simply take more time to secure a placement here.