Vientiane city guide

Things To Do In Vientiane

Possibly the most relaxed capital in Asia: golden stupas, a Buddha park of giant concrete statues, French bakeries and sunset over the Mekong, with Thailand across the river.

Where to stay What it costs

Hostels in the city

6.3

Average, from 7,030 reviews

1 h

To Vang Vieng by train

Free

The COPE centre

Thailand

Across the Mekong

The slowest capital

Vientiane sits on a bend of the Mekong, with Thailand on the opposite bank. It is small, quiet and easy-going, a capital of temples, French colonial villas and riverside restaurants.

Its symbols are That Luang, the golden stupa that is Laos's national emblem, and Patuxai, a victory arch built with concrete meant for an airport runway.

The COPE centre tells the sobering story of the unexploded bombs that still litter the country. Two days is right, and the new railway puts Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang within two hours.

Where to stay

Stay in the centre, between the Mekong riverfront and Nam Phou fountain, where the guesthouses, cafés, temples and night market are all walkable. It is the most compact capital in Southeast Asia, and there is little reason to stay further out.

Centre

First-timers

Between the riverfront and Nam Phou fountain, all walkable.

Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 7 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.

Things to do

Things to do in Vientiane

Vientiane is one of the most relaxed capitals in Asia, a low-rise city of French colonial buildings, Buddhist temples and cafés along the Mekong.

Pha That Luang, a gold-covered stupa on the edge of the centre, is the national symbol of Laos and the site of the That Luang Festival every November. Patuxai, the Victory Gate, is a monument modelled on the Arc de Triomphe and famously built with cement donated by the United States for a new airport; climb it for the view down Lane Xang Avenue.

Wat Si Saket, built in 1818, is the oldest surviving temple in the city, its cloisters lined with thousands of small Buddha images. Haw Phra Kaew, across the road, once housed the Emerald Buddha before it was taken to Bangkok.

The COPE Visitor Centre tells the story of the unexploded bombs left from the 1960s and 1970s, when Laos became the most heavily bombed country per person in history, and of the people still injured today; it is free and essential.

In the evening, the riverfront fills with a night market, street food and people exercising. Buddha Park, Xieng Khuan, about 25 kilometres south-east, is a garden of giant concrete Hindu and Buddhist sculptures.

Free things

Free things to do in Vientiane

The COPE Visitor Centre is free, and so is the riverfront promenade along the Mekong, with its evening night market and street food.

Most temples are free or ask a small donation; Wat Si Saket and Pha That Luang charge a small fee. Walking the French colonial streets around Nam Phou costs nothing.

Food and drink

Eating and drinking in Vientiane

Lao food is fresh, herby and spicy, eaten with sticky rice, khao niao, rolled into balls with your fingers. Laap, a salad of minced meat or fish with herbs, lime and roasted rice powder, is the national dish, and tam mak hoong, green papaya salad, is everywhere.

Vientiane's French past means good baguettes: khao jee pâté, a baguette sandwich with pâté and vegetables, is the street breakfast, alongside strong Lao coffee. Feu, noodle soup, is the Lao take on pho.

The riverfront night market has grilled fish and meats. A street meal is €1.50 to €3; a restaurant meal €4 to €8.

Nightlife

Going out in Vientiane

Vientiane is quiet by night. Riverfront bars and beer gardens serve cold Beerlao, the national beer, and a few bars and clubs stay open later. There is an official closing time around midnight.

A large Beerlao is €1 to €2 in a local place.

Getting around

Getting around Vientiane

Wattay International Airport is about 15 minutes from the centre by taxi.

Tuk-tuks and the LOCA ride-hailing app cover the city; agree tuk-tuk fares first. The centre is walkable, and bicycles are easy to rent.

The Laos–China Railway reaches Vang Vieng in about an hour and Luang Prabang in about two. Laos–China Railway tickets go on sale a few days ahead and sell out, especially at weekends and holidays; buy them on the LCR Ticket app or at the station with your passport, and arrive early, as there are airport-style security checks. Stations are outside town centres.

The Friendship Bridge crosses the Mekong to Nong Khai in Thailand, about 30 minutes away by bus; Thai trains run from there to Bangkok.

Costs

What Vientiane costs

Vientiane is cheap. Dorms start around €5 and a careful day is €15 to €25.

Temple entry fees are under €1 to €2, the COPE centre is free, and a tuk-tuk across the centre €1 to €3. The train to Vang Vieng is a few euros, and to Luang Prabang about €10 to €15 in second class.

The currency is the Lao kip (LAK), which loses value quickly; prices here are euro equivalents, and many places also quote in US dollars or Thai baht. Carry cash: cards work only in larger hotels and restaurants, and ATMs have low withdrawal limits and fees.

Safety

Staying safe in Vientiane

Vientiane is very safe. Watch for bag snatching from passing motorbikes at night, and keep phones away from the roadside.

At temples, cover shoulders and knees and remove shoes. Women should not touch monks or hand things to them directly.

Outside the city, unexploded ordnance remains a risk in rural areas; stay on paths.

Emergency: 1191 police, 1195 ambulance.

Day trips from Vientiane

Giant sculptures, karst country and across the river to Thailand.

Buddha Park

About 45 minutes · Bus or tuk-tuk

A garden of giant concrete Hindu and Buddhist sculptures.

Vang Vieng

About 1 hour · Train

Karst mountains, lagoons and the river.

What's on

What is on while you are there

The That Luang Festival is the biggest in Laos.

Mid-April

Pi Mai

Vientiane

Lao New Year water festival.

Late October

Boat racing festival

Mekong

Races on the river.

November

That Luang Festival

That Luang

The biggest festival in Laos.

All events in Vientiane

Hostels

Where to stay in Vientiane

The top-rated places to stay in Vientiane right now, live from Hostelworld.

9.1 614

When to go

November to February is cool and dry.

29°

Jan

Cool and dry

31°

Feb

Dry

33°

Mar

Hot, hazy

34°

Apr

Hottest, Pi Mai

33°

May

Rains begin

32°

Jun

Wet

31°

Jul

Wet

31°

Aug

Wet

31°

Sep

Wet

31°

Oct

Boat festivals

30°

Nov

Dry season

28°

Dec

Peak

Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets: quiet busy peak

Average highs.

What your trip will cost

Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.

Prices are in kip locally; these are euro equivalents.

Nights 3

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Beds—
Food and drink—
Getting around—
Doing things—

Vientiane travel questions

The ones we get asked most.

How do I buy Laos–China Railway tickets?

On the LCR Ticket app or at the station, with your passport, a few days ahead; they sell out at weekends and holidays.

What is the COPE centre?

A free visitor centre explaining the unexploded bombs left from the war, and the work fitting prosthetics for people injured today. It is essential.

How do I get to Thailand?

By bus over the Friendship Bridge to Nong Khai, about 30 minutes, then train or bus on to Bangkok.

Is Vientiane worth visiting?

For a day or two: it is relaxed, with good food and temples, before Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang.

How many days do you need?

One or two.

When is the best time to visit?

November to February, when it is dry and cooler.

What should I eat?

Laap with sticky rice, papaya salad, and a khao jee pâté baguette for breakfast.

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