Quiet and relaxing, Vientiane has much more to offer than most visitors realise. From beautiful temples and the Patuxai monument to chilled out riverside cafés, this sleepy capital has more than enough to fill your schedule, albeit at a leisurely pace, for several days.
LAOS © willyverhulst
Most travellers visit Vientiane as a stopover on the way to Laos’ other destinations — typically Luang Prabang or adventure mecca Vang Vieng. Vientiane’s excellent restaurants, cafés and spas make it a fun place to spend a few quiet days before starting your adventure.
Although Vientiane isn’t as developed as major cities in Thailand or Vietnam, it’s growing into a more developed tourist destination every year. New hotels, from cheap backpacker hangouts to upmarket boutique hotels, open on a frequent basis, along with new places to eat and drink.
Our quick guide to Vientiane covers all of Vientiane’s key areas and things to do, as well as the best places to stay in the city. You can also find dining recommendations for a variety of prices, from cheap street food and local eats to Vientiane’s high-end dining options.
Main Areas of Interest in Vientiane
Patuxai at Night © fischerfotos
Vientiane is a small, surprisingly walkable city. The vast majority of businesses and sights that are of interest to tourists can be found in Central Vientiane, which covers the area around Don Chan Road and Chou Anouvong Park, extending back several blocks from the river.
We’ve listed Vientiane’s main areas of interest below, almost all of which are found around the Don Chan Road/Riverside area.
- Riverside
Almost all of Vientiane’s best restaurants, cafés and bars can be found in the central area near the Mekong River. The Riverside area, which runs along Don Chan Road near Chou Anouvong Park, is Vientiane’s tourist centre and home to most of the city’s tourist-focused businesses.
This is also where you’ll find several of Vientiane’s landmark buildings, such as the Presidential Palace and Lao National Cultural Hall. Almost all of Vientiane’s hotels are located around here, making it a great place to base yourself as a visitor to Vientiane. - That Dam
Located several blocks back from the Riverside, That Dam is a small stupa that acts as a minor landmark. The area around That Dam is home to a variety of cheap hotels popular with budget travellers and backpackers, as well as the American Embassy.
This area is a short distance from Vientiane’s morning market and also within walking distance of the main Riverside area, making it a great place to stay if you’re visiting Vientiane on a tight budget but want to be close to the action. - South Riverside
To the south of the tourist-focused Riverside area, you’ll find a variety of luxury villas and hotels, such as the famous Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel. This part of the Riverside area is quieter and less developed than the more popular tourist zone further north. - Patuxai
Further inland, the area around the Patuxai monument is home to many of the NGOs operating in Laos, as well as several Lao government buildings. Aside from the monument itself, there is little of interest to tourists in this part of Vientiane.
Things to Do in Vientiane
Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos I © danou_info
- Pha That Luang
Built in 1566, Pha That Luang is a large golden stupa in the northeast of Vientiane that serves as the official symbol of the city. Measuring 45 metres in height, the stupa is covered in more than 500 kilograms of gold leaf, giving it its impressive appearance. - Vientiane City Pillar Shrine
Located a short walk from the Riverside area, the Vientiane City Pillar Shrine is a modern shrine built to honour the founders of Vientiane. The shrine was built in 2012 and as such doesn’t quite have the historical appeal of Pha That Luang, but is still a picturesque addition to Vientiane. - Patuxai
Constructed from 1957 to 1968 to celebrate the people who helped Laos achieve independence from France, Patuxai is a war monument that showcases the five principles of coexistence. The interior of the monument depicts mythical symbols and gods such as Brahma and Vishnu. - Wat Si Saket
Built in 1818, Wat Si Saket is one of the oldest temples in Vientiane. The temple houses more than 2,000 Buddha images made from ceramic and silver, some of which date back to the 13th century, as well as a small museum. - COPE Visitor Centre
COPE Visitors Centre provides services to the tens of thousands of disabled people in Laos — one of the world’s most heavily bombed countries. The centre contains an eye-opening exhibit on the extent of the “secret war” in Laos and its long-term effects on the country. - Bicycle Tours
Vientiane is one of Southeast Asia’s best cities for cyclists, and riding a bicycle through the city is a great way to see the sights from a different angle from other visitors. Several companies in Vientiane offer half-day cycling tours of the city, usually at very competitive prices.
Best Luxury Hotels in Vientiane
- Settha Palace
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Located right at the heart of Vientiane’s tourism and sightseeing area, Settha Palace is a luxury hotel with a variety of comfortable rooms and suites. Facilities and services include a large pool in a garden setting, a spa, several restaurants and a London-style taxi for pick up services. - Green Park Boutique Hotel
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One of Vientiane’s best hotels, Green Park Boutique Hotel is a luxurious five star hotel with a variety of rooms overlooking a central garden and pool. The hotel is a 15-20 minute walk from Vientiane’s tourist centre, making it a good option if you prefer a fairly quiet location.
Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel
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Located right beside the Mekong River on Rue Thomas, the Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel is a large luxury hotel with a variety of rooms overlooking the city and river. The only downside of this hotel is its location — it’s about three kilometres from the commercial centre of Vientiane.
Best Mid Range Hotels in Vientiane
- Salana Boutique Hotel
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Located right in the heart of Vientiane’s commercial and tourism district, Salana Boutique Hotel is a small four star hotel with clean and comfortable rooms, free Wi-Fi and streetside dining. An excellent option if you want to be within walking distance of Vientiane’s best cafés and eateries. - S Park Design Hotel
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S Park Design Hotel is a mid-sized hotel located a five minute walk from Vientiane’s main tourist and commercial centre. Rooms are extremely modern and comfortable, while the hotel itself has all of the facilities and amenities you’d expect from a four star property. - Sabaidee@Lao Hotel Vientiane
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Another option in the centre of Vientiane’s tourism and commercial district, Sabaidee@Lao is a clean and comfortable four star hotel. The rooms at this hotel have everything you’ll need for a pleasant stay, while the hotel itself has only basic dining facilities.
Best Budget Hotels in Vientiane
- Moonlight Champa
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Moonlight Champa is a modern budget hotel located less than 10 minutes from Vientiane’s main tourist and commercial area. Rooms here are clean and comfortable, especially considering the low prices, but don’t offer much in the way of space. - Green Box Hotel
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Located a short five minute walk from Sisaket Temple and the Presidential Palace, Green Box Hotel is one of Vientiane’s best budget hotels. A variety of rooms and beds are available, from capsule beds in shared rooms to small private double rooms. - Khampiane Boutique Hotel
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Located in the heart of Vientiane’s tourism and commercial area, Khampiana Boutique Hotel has a great selection of comfortable, affordable rooms for visitors to Vientiane. The rooms here offer comfortable beds and a good level of cleanliness, although they’re definitely on the small side.
Places to Eat and Drink in Vientiane
Street Food Vendor, Vientiane, Laos © rogerleephoto
Despite its sleepy atmosphere, Vientiane is home to one of the best international dining scenes in Southeast Asia. World class French, Italian and Indian food is easy to find, as well as cheap and tasty Lao street food.
- Le Silapa
There are many French restaurants in Vientiane, but Le Silapa is undoubtedly the best. Located at the heart of Vientiane’s commercial area, Le Silapa serves a great selection of classic French favourites with excellent desserts and an extensive wine list. - Acqua Wine Bar and Restaurant
Acqua Wine Bar and Restaurant offers a great variety of Italian dishes from its location on Rue Francois Nginn. Prices are on the high end for Vientiane but still very reasonable, with complete multi-course meals available for less than $15 per head. - Kiku
While landlocked Laos might not seem like the best destination for fresh sushi, Kiku manages to pull it off. This Japanese restaurant serves fantastic sushi and a range of other Japanese dishes in an unassuming location in the basement of the Lao Plaza Hotel. - Namaste India
Cheap and tasty, Namaste India serves excellent Indian curries, barbecued meat dishes, snacks and more. Prices here are extremely reasonable even for Laos, with set menu options priced at less than five dollars. - Noy’s Fruit Heaven
No trip to Vientiane is complete without a fresh fruit smoothie or two, and Noy’s Fruit Heaven is undoubtedly the best place to go. This restaurant serves excellent fruit smoothies, as well as a selection of healthy dishes from Asia, Europe and the Middle East. - Common Grounds Cafe and Bakery
Common Grounds Cafe and Bakery is arguably the best place in Vietnam to get a fresh cup of espresso coffee. With fast (by Vientiane standards) Wi-Fi and a variety of cakes and other café snacks, it’s also easily one of Vientiane’s best casual workspaces.
How to Get to Vientiane
The Friendship Bridge over The Mekong River © dfataustralianaid
As the capital of Laos, Vientiane is well connected to other regional centres and capitals by air and road. There’s also a cross-border shuttle train connecting Vientiane to the railway network of Thailand, making it possible to reach Laos by train.
By Air
- The easiest way to get to Vientiane is by air. Vientiane’s Wattay Airport is small but serves flights to and from a variety of international destinations.
There are two daily flights to Vientiane from Bangkok, as well as every-other-day services from Hanoi and Singapore. Flights to Vientiane are available on a daily basis from Phnom Penh and Kuala Lumpur. - You can also fly into Vientiane from regional centres such as Kunming, Seoul and Busan. Flights to Vientiane are usually not available every day, making it important to book ahead of time if you need to travel on a specific date.
If you’re located in Thailand and want to travel to Vientiane, the cheapest way is to fly to Udon Thani (a Thai city located close to the Lao border) and book a bus to take you into Laos. Direct bus services are available from Udon Thani Airport to the Thai border city of Nong Khai.
By Train
- Vientiane has been connected to the Thai railway network since 2009, making it relatively easy to travel to the city by train from Bangkok. Four shuttle trains connect Thailand with Laos on a daily basis, running across the border to the town of Tha Naleng.
- The shuttle services are deliberately timed to depart 90 minutes after the arrival of each train from Bangkok, giving you plenty of time to pass through immigration before making your way into Laos.
- Tha Naleng is approximately 13 kilometres from Vientiane, meaning you’ll need to catch a local tuk-tuk into the city. Expect to pay about 100 baht per person (Thai baht is accepted in areas close to the Thai border) for the 20-30 minute trip into Vientiane.
By Bus
- Buses connect Vientiane with most major cities in Isaan (North East Thailand), such as Nong Khai, Udon Thani and Khon Kaen. This makes it easy to travel all the way from Bangkok and only need to transfer buses once in Isaan to reach Vientiane.
- Most buses will stop briefly at the border, allowing you to show your visa to immigration and pass through into Laos. If you don’t have a visa and need to apply for one on arrival, you will normally need to arrange your own transportation as the bus might continue without you.
- Buses to Vientiane are also available from Vietnam (approximately 24 hours of nonstop travel from Hanoi) and Cambodia (25 to 27 hours). Because of the travel time and condition of many of the buses used for this route, it’s generally worth spending slightly more to fly into Laos.
