Wattay International Airport — Vientiane, Laos

Wattay International Airport, identified as VTE, is the principal gateway to Vientiane, the low-rise capital of Laos that sits along a bend in the Mekong River across from Thailand. As the country's busiest airport, VTE handles the bulk of Laos's international arrivals, connecting the capital to regional hubs such as Bangkok, Hanoi, and Kunming, along with a smaller set of longer-haul and charter routes. The airport has undergone periodic terminal upgrades, including work supported by international development assistance, aimed at accommodating steadily rising visitor numbers drawn to Laos's temples, colonial-era architecture, and Mekong River scenery. Vientiane itself remains comparatively compact and low-key among Southeast Asian capitals, and VTE reflects that character with a manageable, relatively uncongested terminal compared to the region's largest hub airports. Domestic flights from VTE also connect the capital to Luang Prabang and other provincial towns.