Anonymous participant if you have an international license that includes Category A (meaning you are licensed for motorbikes) and your home license also covers the category you bypass the actual driving part of the test.
I'd assume they asked them. Better that than being stuck in Laos for the foreseeable. I suspect them saying he needs to fly is simply them moving responsibility as I doubt he'd be allowed to enter by air either but they have mechanisms to deal with that at air borders