The Laos immigration website is down for me, and my flight is tomorrow so I need to find out ASAP. Someone just told me today that you need to bring an “approval letter” even for visa-on-arrival at airports. Is that true? (I am a U.S. Tourist coming from Vietnam)

Anyone gone to Laos recently who can verify? Thanks.

If so, what even is it? How do I go about getting it (without doing an eVisa, as I assume that to be totally separate stuff from VOA). How long will it take to get? Will I get turned away at the airport tomorrow for not having one?