Vientiane Travel Guide

What it is: The capital and largest city of Laos, a laid-back riverside town with Buddhist temples, French colonial buildings, and a slower pace than most capitals.

Affordability: Very budget-friendly, with cheap street food, affordable guesthouses, and low-cost transport.

Safety: Generally safe, though petty theft and occasional scams can happen.

Popularity: Often overlooked compared to Luang Prabang, but a key stop for travelers heading through Laos.

Tourist Infrastructure: Limited but improving, with enough hotels, restaurants, and tuk-tuks for travelers.

Accommodation Options: Budget guesthouses, mid-range hotels, and a few high-end riverfront options.

Dining Scene: A mix of Lao street food, French cafés, and international eateries, with strong Vietnamese and Thai influences.

Nightlife: Quiet but charming, with beer bars along the Mekong and a few expat-friendly pubs.

Weather: Hot year-round, with a rainy season from May to October.

Best Time to Go: November to February, when it’s cooler and dry.

Known For: Buddhist temples, French colonial architecture, Mekong River sunsets, street food, Beerlao, night markets, relaxed atmosphere.

Top Attractions: Pha That Luang • Patuxai Victory Monument • Buddha Park • Wat Sisaket • COPE Visitor Center • Mekong Riverside Park • Talat Sao Market • That Dam.

Introduction#

The trade off in a backwater like Vientiane is the lack of infrastructure and organization. Some of the dusty streets are riddled with potholes, and for every beautiful temple or colonial structure there are five times as many drab, communist-era buildings.

There are two main themes in local sightseeing: Buddhist temples and French colonial architecture. The latter is found on wide avenues fringed with trees in the historic quarter. Visitors will find everything from government buildings to decrepit mansions that have seen better days.

Life goes on in the temples, or wat, of Vientiane. Worshippers come to make merit while tourists arrive for the sights, smell of burning incense and the chance to watch the tenets of Buddhism play out before them. Tourism hinges on temple-hopping across town.

But there’s plenty to do beyond this. As tourism takes off, an increasing number of guest houses, bars and restaurants spring up across the city. Diners can enjoy spicy curries side-by-side fine, French fare. And there’s no better way to top off a day of sightseeing than watching the sun set over the Mekong River with a bottle of Beer Lao at hand.

For many, a trip to Vientiane is simply a necessary stopover on a foray into Laos. It may not have the charm of Luang Prabang or the sophistication of other Southeast Asian capitals, but this city has plenty of surprises in store for those willing to give it a chance.

Things to Do

Vientiane Attractions

Morning Market

Talat sao, as it’s locally known, is a lively shopping venue perfect for picking up souvenirs, snacks and handicrafts.

Wat Si Sake

The defining feature of this 19th century temple is its eye-popping collection of buddha images.

Pha That Luang

This gilded stupa was built in the 16th century, refurbished in the 1930s and remains the city’s most iconic structure.

Victory Gate

France’s influence in laos is undeniable once you feast your eyes on patuxai, a blatant homage to the arc de triomphe.

Wat Si Muang

This is the best temple for visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of worshippers in their elements. locals flock here to make merit by draping flower garlands around the buddha image.

Wat Haw Pha Kaew

Once home to bangkok’s emerald buddha and now serving as a provincial museum, this temple has seen periods of war, occupation and reconstruction.

Buddha Park

Well outside city limits, this park is home to hundreds of buddha images including an enormous reclining buddha statue.

Fountain Square

This is where you’ll find all the best french, italian and german restaurants along with the most happening bars.

Lao National Museum

This history museum has some interesting finds including a stone jar from the plain of jars.

Lying close to the border with Thailand in northern Laos, Vientiane is a lazy Southeast Asian capital beside the Mekong River that has developed enormously since the turn of the millennium. On a much smaller scale than nearby Bangkok, Hanoi and Phnom Penh, little Vientiane is a capital that can be seen on foot and makes a great place to take things easy when the rest of Asia seems a little too hectic.

With its long colonial past and much shorter communist present, Vientiane is a city that boasts a number of interesting monuments and temples to explore. The first place most tourists head to is Pha That Luang, a gleaming gold temple dating back to 1566 which is the national symbol of Laos. The other main monument in the city is Patuxai, Southeast Asia|Asia’s version of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Visitors can go to the very top for great views of the city’s normally quiet main thoroughfare.

For many, a visit to Vientiane means a chance to sample some of the great local food, the highlight of which is the numerous reasonably priced French restaurants. Close to the river, especially near the famous fountain area, there are about half a dozen French eateries with superb steaks, authentic French baguettes and varied wine lists. Vientiane also has a handful of good Indian and Italian restaurants in addition to those that sell local and Thai food.

Highlights

Pha That Luang: Vientiane’s must-see attraction, with its impressive gold leaf decorated pavilions.

Patuxai: Laotian proof that Vientiane can keep up with Paris, this Arc de Triomphe look-a-like is a good place for views of the city.

The Fountain: looks sleepy but this is where you will find the best French restaurants, Italian eateries and even a German bakery. A handful of good bars are also close by.

Morning Market: a large collection of retailers at what most rank as the busiest place in the city.

Buddha Park: out of town near the Thai border, this garden features large Buddhist statues in concrete.

Lao National Museum: get busy and brush up on your limited Laotian history knowledge at this informative exhibition.

Getting There#

Vientiane-Wattay International Airport is the main port of call for visitors, usually via direct flight from Bangkok (1 hour). Less frequent connections are made to Chiang Mai, Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City. Flights to Luang Prabang take 40 minutes and are much preferred to overland travel as roads are in variable condition.