Vientiane, Laos: travel guide
The City of Sandalwood — Laos' charming capital of Buddhist temples, French colonial architecture, and riverside cafés.
- Country
- Laos
- Currency
- LAK
- Time zone
- Asia/Bangkok
- Nearest airport
- VTE
Top places to visit in Vientiane
Mekong Sunset Riverside Walk
Viewpoint · 4.6 rating · about 2 h
The Mekong River promenade at sunset — Vientiane best daily ritual. As the sun sinks over Thailand (literally visible across the river), locals gather along the riverfront park to exercise, eat street food, and watch the day end.
Patuxai Victory Monument
Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · entry LAK 5,000
Vientiane Arc de Triomphe — the Patuxai Victory Monument was built in the 1960s with American concrete aid money, then decorated in traditional Lao Buddhist motifs. The top floor gives panoramic views over Vientiane. A fascinating blend of…
Vientiane Night Street Food
Market · 4.4 rating · about 3 h
Nightly street food along the Mekong promenade with stalls serving Lao BBQ, grilled meats, fresh fruit shakes, and cold BeerLao. The most social and lively evening gathering in Vientiane.
Wat Si Muang Spirit Shrine
Temple · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h
Vientiane most visited temple and the site of the city pillar (lak mueang). According to legend, a pregnant woman sacrificed herself when the pillar was installed, and her spirit protects the city. Pilgrims come daily to ask for favours,…
Wat Sisaket Oldest Temple
Temple · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · entry LAK 10,000
The oldest temple in Vientiane (built 1818) and the only one that survived the Siamese sack of 1828. The cloister walls contain over 6000 miniature Buddha figures in niches — an extraordinary and unique spectacle of Theravada devotion.
Mekong Riverside Dining Strip
Cultural · 4.4 rating · about 3 h
The row of riverfront restaurants and bars along Fa Ngum Road facing Thailand across the Mekong — one of the most pleasant dining settings in Southeast Asia. Best at sunset with cold BeerLao and grilled Mekong fish.
Nam Phu Fountain Colonial Quarter
Cultural · 4.4 rating · about 1 h
The central fountain square of Vientiane surrounded by French colonial cafes, bakeries, and restaurants. The Namphu Fountain has been the social heart of the city since the French era — best for café au lait and croissants.
COPE Visitor Centre Vientiane
Museum · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h
A moving and important museum documenting the impact of unexploded ordnance (UXO) from the Vietnam War — Laos is the world most heavily bombed country per capita. COPE also provides prosthetic limbs and rehabilitation services. A sobering…
Wat Mixay Active Vientiane Temple
Temple · 4.4 rating · about 0.5 h
One of the most centrally located and frequently visited temples in Vientiane — an active monastery with a large golden Buddha and monks in saffron robes visible throughout the day.
Lao Textile Museum
Museum · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · entry LAK 30,000
A beautifully curated museum dedicated to the extraordinary textile traditions of Laos — silk, cotton, and natural dye techniques from all 49 ethnic groups. The museum houses rare antique textiles and has a working weaving studio.
Vientiane Lao Cooking Experience
Cultural · 4.6 rating · about 5 h · entry LAK 200,000
Half-day Lao cooking classes in Vientiane starting with a morning market tour and ending with lunch of Lao specialties — larb, mok pa, and tam mak houng papaya salad.
Beerlao Brewery Factory Tour
Cultural · 4.3 rating · about 2 h · entry LAK 50,000
A tour of the famous Beerlao brewery — the most beloved beer in Laos. The factory tour explains the brewing process and concludes with free samples of Beerlao Gold, Dark, and the original Lager.
Things to do
- Vientiane Mekong Sunset Promenade Walk Heritage Sightseeing · 1.5 h
- Vientiane Patuxai Victory Monument Sunrise Walk Heritage · 1.5 h
- Vientiane Night Market Mekong Street Food Beer Lao Heritage · 3 h
- Vientiane French Colonial Heritage Cycling Tour Heritage · 4 h · from LAK 346,000 per person
- Vientiane COPE Centre UXO Victims Heritage Visit Heritage · 2 h
- Vientiane Buddhist Meditation Morning with Monks Heritage · 2 h · from LAK 115,000 per person
- Vientiane Lao Cooking Class Street Food Larb Heritage · 5 h · from LAK 461,000 per person
- Vientiane Zipline Forest Adventure Near Vang Vieng Adventure · 10 h · from LAK 922,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- Vientiane Highlights Day Tour 8 h · from LAK 861,000
Where to stay in Vientiane
- Samsenthai–Setthathilat Corridor about LAK 4,200 per night
The compact central spine of Vientiane running between the two main tourist streets. Hotels, restaurants, COPE Centre, and the Mekong night market are all within a short walk. Best base for first-time visitors.
Hotels
- Settha Palace Hotel Vientiane 5-star · LAK 5,000 to LAK 15,000 per night
- Settha Palace Hotel 5-star · USD 150 to USD 350 per night
- Ansara Hotel 4-star · USD 90 to USD 220 per night
- Crowne Plaza Vientiane 5-star · USD 90 to USD 220 per night
- Lao Orchid Hotel 3-star · LAK 987,254 to LAK 2,068,533 per night
- Salana Boutique Hotel 4-star · USD 70 to USD 170 per night
Where to eat
- Lao Baguette Morning Stalls Vientiane Lao, Street Food, Bakery · about LAK 15,000 per person
- Mekong Riverside Evening Stalls Vientiane Lao, Thai, Street Food · about LAK 40,000 per person
- Dao Coffee Vientiane Coffee, Lao, Cafe · about LAK 30,000 per person
- Talat Sao Morning Market Food Lao, Street Food, Market · about LAK 30,000 per person
- Noy's Fruit Heaven Vientiane Extra Lao, Healthy, Cafe · about LAK 25,000 per person
- Joma Bakery Vientiane Central Extra Bakery, Western, Cafe · about LAK 80,000 per person
- Sunset Mekong Bar Restaurant Lao, Thai, Bar · about LAK 60,000 per person
- Scandinavian Bakery Vientiane Bakery, Western, Cafe · about LAK 80,000 per person
Getting around
- Scooter Rental main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Tuktuk main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Tuk-tuk "free tour"
Major tourist zones
Cheap city tour ends at gem shops where the driver collects commission.
How to avoid it: Use LOCA app. Confirm destination + price first.
Tuk-Tuk Overcharging
Central Vientiane, Patuxai area, Night Market
Tuk-tuk drivers quote foreigners prices 5–10× the local rate, especially after dark or for airport runs. Some quote in USD to obscure the actual cost. Prices vary wildly with no metering.
How to avoid it: Agree on the fare before boarding and in Lao kip. The going rate for a short inner-city trip is 20,000–30,000 LAK (about 1–1.50 USD). Download a currency converter to cross-check quotes.
Buddha Park "Closed Today" Misdirection
Tha Deua Road leading to Buddha Park
A tuk-tuk driver or stranger tells you that Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan) is closed today due to a "special ceremony" or "government event," then offers to take you to a different attraction where they earn a commission.
How to avoid it: Ignore these claims. Buddha Park is open daily 08:00–17:00 year-round except major Lao national holidays. Verify directly with your hotel or check the Tourism Authority of Laos website.
Currency Exchange Short-Change
Money changers near Talat Sao and Fa Ngum Road
Informal currency exchange booths near the market give you fewer notes than the displayed rate or sneak in fake or foreign-country notes (Vietnamese dong, Thai baht at par value) into the stack.
How to avoid it: Only exchange at licensed banks or official currency exchange booths with clearly displayed rates. Count your notes before leaving the counter. Banks (BCEL, Lane Xang Bank) are the safest option.
Best time to visit Vientiane
- May 34°C · WMO 1991-2020 normal for May: 225.6 mm, 15 days with >=1 mm (station 48940 Vientiane Capital).
- Jun 33°C · WMO 1991-2020 normal for June: 263.8 mm, 18 days with >=1 mm (station 48940 Vientiane Capital).
- Jul 32°C · WMO 1991-2020 normal for July: 299.8 mm, 20 days with >=1 mm (station 48940 Vientiane Capital).
- Aug 31°C · WMO 1991-2020 normal for August: 340.8 mm, 21 days with >=1 mm (station 48940 Vientiane Capital).
- Sep 32°C · WMO 1991-2020 normal for September: 265 mm, 17 days with >=1 mm (station 48940 Vientiane Capital).