You can get a one year licence that qualifies you to drive in Laos and Thailand as far as Nongkhai without taking a test. This is green and for foreigners only and costs 200,000 kip. You need to show a licence from any other country. A 5 year Lao licence is available at 800,000 kip and is the same as a Lao licence, written in Lao and French. Either can then be used to get an International Licence for one year to drive in other countries including Europe. If you have no licence and want to take a test, you enrol in a driving school, pay 1 million kip and need to be able to locate first gear, drive 50 metres in the car park and reverse to stop in a certain space -- you do not need to attend the driving lessons.