Lao is landlocked; therefore there is no direct access to the ocean. Currently, Lao PDR uses all existing ports in Vietnam and in Thailand. International trade and transport services depend on neighboring countries for access to seaports.
There are a total of 35 water transport companies. Even though there is no seaport, two ocean-going vessels amount to, for both goods and passengers, to about 2,759 units. These vessels are of 1,500 and 3,000 dead weight tonnages.
An agreement on commercial navigation in Lanxang-Mekong river between Lao PDR, China, Myanmar and Thailand has been signed.