Vientiane is the capital of Laos, but feels very unlike any of the other megacity capitals in the region. That’s because of Vientiane’s small size, making the city an easy see-it-all in 1 or 2 days kind of city. Curious to see what you can see and do in and around Vientiane? Then continue reading as I’ll take you along all of the best things to do in Vientiane in this travel guide.
Some of the must-visit sights in Vientiane include a visit to the golden Pha That Luang Temple, Wat Sisaket and the Patuxai arch. Venture a little further afield to explore the thousands of buddha statues in various sizes in Buddha Park. And dive into some of Laos’ history by visiting the COPE Centre.
Aside from all of the best things to do in Vientiane you’ll find sections with practical information, tips on where to eat, where to sleep and how to get around. You will also find some nightlife tips and for your convenience I’ve bundled everything in this Vientiane travel guide in a practical travel map.
10 Things To Do in Vientiane
I had a great time in Vientiane, despite having less than 48 hours in the city. If you plan it well you can see most of the things to do in Vientiane in about 1.5 days.
If you’ve been travelling around southeast Asia for a while already and you feel all templed out, you can spend less time visiting the temples and squeeze everything into day day. But don’t miss out on the Pha That Luang temple and Buddha Park.
1. Pha That Luang temple
First thing to do in Vientiane is to take a taxi to the UNESCO-listed Pha That Luang temple. You can of course also walk there from the centre, but it’s better to walk back from the temple to the centre and visit some sights on the way back.
The Pha That Luang temple is Vientiane’s and also Laos’ most important and shiniest temple. The gold coloured stupa is impressive, but what’s even more impressive are the grounds surrounding the main temple.
The temple, just like pretty much any temple in the country feels very alive. I was lucky enough to be invited for lunch by a very lovely group that were doing good deeds inside the adjacent temple. At the same time there was a ceremony going on outside.
It’s moments like this that I really treasure. A unique experience that makes those long flights across the globe worth all the time and effort. So whatever you do when in Laos, visit temples, because chances are you will also have a unique experience.
2. Patuxai
Not too far away from the Pha That Luang temple you’ll find another significant Vientiane sight. It’s the Patuxai temple and if you thought it looks very French, then you’re right! Patuxai is the Arc de Triomph of Vientiane, and despite not being in Paris, had the French arch as inspiration.
Fun fact: The arch was built with the cement the United States gifted to build an airplane landing strip. The locals sometimes refer to Patuxai as the vertical landing strip. Love it!
The ceiling of the arch is impressively painted with depictions of the gods Vishnu, Brahma and Indra. You can also buy a ticket for a small fee and climb the stairs to a viewing platform overlooking the city.
In front of the arch you can also see a fountain, that is actually a musical fountain gifted by the Chinese. When I was there, no water unfortunately, so I couldn’t experience how it sounds. Let me know in the comments section below how your experience was.
3. That Dam Stupa
The That Dam stupa is situated on a pretty ugly roundabout, but I do think you should include it on your ‘route touristique’ from Patuxai to Wat Sisaket. What’s interesting about it is that the stupa is one of Vientiane’s oldest still standing structures and is said to be over 500 years old.
What’s even more interesting though is the Vientiane legend: Usually a stupa is built to enshrine some sort of Buddhist relic, such as ashes of a monk or something. But for this stupa it is unknown what’s housed inside. That said, the locals like to think the seven headed snake Naga is enshrined inside. And will wake whenever Vientiane is in crisis.
4. Wat Sisaket & Haw Phra Kaew
Another one of the oldest buildings in the city is Wat Sisaket, that just like the That Dam stupa survived quite some wars. It’s a tranquil temple complex where one of the buildings houses thousands of little buddha statues. Definitely worth checking out.
Just a short walk away from Wat Sisaket you’ll find another complex, Haw Phra Kaew. This former temple used to house the most important Buddha statue of Laos, which has been relocated to the Phra Bang temple in Luang Prabang.
What’s left are the throne, a bunch of other Buddha statues and religious artifacts. The most important piece is probably a 2,000 year old stone jar from the UNESCO World Heritage listed Plain of Jars.
5. Buddha Park
What is definitely one of the highlights of Vientiane is the Buddha Park situated just outside the city. Grab bus 14 from the city centre and it stops close by.
The Buddha Park houses thousands of incredible Buddha statues. Now if you’ve been travelling around southeast Asia you’ve certainly had your fair share of Buddha statues, but this place should for sure be on your list of things to do in Vientiane.
Buddha Park is a really nice place to walk around at the end of the afternoon. My favourite spot is the bunker looking structure with a scary looking monster with its mouth wide open. You can go inside and descend, but you can also climb up and then outside again for some excellent views.
6. Wanwan Food Park Center Point
If you did all of the previous things to do in Vientiance in the order described you must have worked up quite an appetite. So back in the city centre head to the Wanwan Food Park Center Point.
Here you can find a lot of street food stalls selling all sort of Lao and southeast Asian classics. The atmosphere here is great with locals and tourists mingling and tasting food and having some drinks.
7. Night Market & Amusement Park
Right next to the mighty Mekong river you can visit the Amusement Park. The bright colours are stunning, although the attractions are more orientated to kids and not so much adults. It’s a fun place to check out though before you continue to the night market.
The night market in Vientiane is faily large where you can find all the usual suspects freshly imported from next door China. So expect a lot of cheap Chinese plastic rubbish and replicas. There’s also souvenir t-shirts from your favourite beer brands and flip flops if you need to replace yours.
Further east along the river, but adjacent to the night market is another food market. It lacks the vibe of the Wanwan Food Park Center Point, but if you want to pause with a beer this is a good place before heading back to the centre for more nightlife (check more options in the nightlife section below).
8. COPE Centre
A must visit in Vientiane is the COPE Centre which you can find just outside of the city centre. During the US’ interference in the region, the US army dropped a lot of cluster bombs on Laos. The aim of the US was to fight communism in Vietnam. But somehow they thought it was a smart idea to bomb Laos as well, making it the most bombed country in the world!
Large parts of Laos are still off-limits to this day because of unexploded bombs. But most of all the history is still visible because many Lao miss one or more limbs. The COPE Centre is helping victims of these bombs with protheses and by helping to find remaining bombs.
So if you want to learn a little more about Laos’ dark history that still has an effect on everyday life here, then certainly put a visit to the COPE Centre on your list of things to do in Vientiane.
9. Wat That Kao & Wat Si Muang
Close to the COPE Centre you can find two more temples that are worth a visit. Start at the Wat That Khao, a temple very much off the tourist trail. Don’t expect anything spectacular, but enjoy the authenticity of the place and the resting Buddha.
Closeby and on your way back to town step onto the grounds of Wat Si Muang. This colourful temple is very well kept and large parts were undergoing reconstruction works when I visited (in November 2023).
Just like at Pha That Luang I stumbled upon festivities in both temples, so if you want to see locals in their day to day life, then certainly visit temples while you’re in Laos.
10. More temples in the centre of Vientiane
Speaking of temples there’s even a couple more interesting ones in the city centre. Worthy of checking out are Wat Chan, where you can also find a cool coffee place called Dam Dam (see the coffee shop section below).
And also Wat Ong Teu drew me in from far away, since the music was playing so loud. I think I still have an ear problem because of then. But once you’re on the grounds there’s a festive atmosphere and lots of people worshipping.
And I think that’s it for all of the best things to do in Vientiane. Continue for more practical information such as where to stay, where to eat and how to get around.
Vientiane Map
To help navigate your way through all of the things to do in Vientiane I’ve created a map on wanderlog. It helps to get a sense of the size of the town (it’s small), what to see, where to have your coffee and where to sleep.
Where To Stay in Vientiane
Vientiane has a nice range of hotels to suit every style and budget. Don’t want to do too much research? I did it for you with the recommended hotels below.
- Souphattra Heritage | If only the best is good enough, then stay at the luxurious Souphattra Heritage hotel right next to the Mekong river.
- Lao Poet Hotel | A stay at this high-end boutique hotel comes with stylish rooms and a lovely rooftop pool. And all that right in the centre of Vientiane.
- Syri Boutique Guesthouse | On the northern end of the city centre you can stay at Syri Guesthouse (I did) with friendly service, situated close to most of the city’s sights.
- Barn Hostel | The best budget place in town is the Barn Hostel. The hostel gets good reviews for cleanliness, guest services and modern ambiance.
Where To Eat & Drink in Vientiane
Restaurants
The culinary capital of Laos is without a doubt Luang Prabang, but you can find some nice places to eat and drink in Vientiane too. Check out some of the options below.
- Acqua Italian Restaurant | When in Laos, eat pizza? Well what can I say… their pizzas are divine. The dough of the Napoli style pizzas melt on your tongue, so when you need a break from Asian food dive into one of the excellent pizzas.
- Night Market | Just east of the night market and amusement park you’ll find some food places. Nothing too special, but the vibe here can be nice and it’s popular with other travellers.
- Wanwan Food Court Center Point | In the centre of Vientiane you can get some street food at the Wanwan Food Court Center Point. And there’s more street food vendors in general on the streets of the city centre.
Best Coffee Shops in Vientiane
Vientiane has some pretty good places for an excellent cup of (iced) coffee.
Le Trio Coffee – If you love coffee, you’ll love Le Trio Coffee. This coffee shop has an old style manual La Victoria Arduino espresso machine. And yeah I realise I might sound like a total geek talking about that machine, but really if you’re a fellow coffee aficionado you know. If you’re lucky you can see the beans getting roasted in the back of the cafe.
Slow Coffee – Another place with pretty good coffee is Slow Coffee. Don’t worry though, they’re pretty fast serving you your coffee. Besides the coffee they have excellent green teas and matcha lattes. The place is air conditioned with fast wifi, so also a good place to get some work done.
Dam Dam – This place is very tiny and hidden in the gardens of Wat Chan. I found it, but unfortunately it was closed the only time I could visit. Reading the reviews online the place almost seems mythical, so do check it out.
Vientiane Nightlife
Despite Vientiane being the capital of Laos, it’s surprisingly quiet at night. If you’re after nightlife and party then Laos is not the place to be. However, I did find some cool places to visit for you.
Cocoon Bar – This hidden bar in a side street of a side street is a real hidden gem. Once through the door you’re welcomed by some fantastic cocktail shakers. The ladies serve truly delicious cocktails in a beautiful decor.
Sugar Bar – If beer towers are more your style, then visit Sugar Bar. Apart from the affordable food there’s a great atmosphere here with both locals and tourists (backpackers) visiting.
Vientiane Travel Guide
In this Vientiane travel guide section you can find practical information for your visit to Vientiane. If you’re visiting more places in the country then also check out my Laos one week itinerary and travel guide.
Best Time to Visit Vientiane
Just like the rest of Laos, the best time to travel to Vientiane is during the dry season, which runs from November to April. During this period, the weather is more pleasant, with cooler temperatures and less humidity, making it ideal for outdoor activities and sightseeing.
Visiting Vientiane in the shoulder months of October and April can also be a good choice, as the weather is still relatively dry, and you can avoid the crowds.
The wet season, from May to October, brings heavy rainfall and higher humidity, which can make travel more challenging. However, the landscape is lush and green, and you might appreciate the lower number of other visitors.
Visa Application for Vientiane
Most nationalities can apply for an eVisa to enter Laos on the official Lao eVisa website. The application process is pretty straightforward. After you’ve verified that you are from an eligible country you can create an account and start the application process.
Prepare a .jpg file of a 4x6cm photograph and a .jpg from your passport bio page and you should be good to go. Also determine where you want to enter the country.
You can apply 60 days in advance and once you entered the country your visa is valid for 30 days. It typically takes 3 business days to receive you eVisa in your e-mail. The price for most nationalities is $50 + fees and can be paid with Visa and Mastercard.
Getting to Vientiane
Vientiane is connected by bus, train and plane. While the train is certainly the best option to Luang Prabang, my choice for getting to Vang Vieng is by bus on the new highway. Check out my recommended options below.
Getting to Vientiane by air
Vientiane (VTE) is serviced by a handful of airlines, such as China Southern, Air Asia and Vietnam Airlines. There are no direct flights to Vientiane from Europe or other continents. Check google flights for the cheapest tickets and book directly through the airline.
Take the train to Luang Prabang or the bus to Vang Vieng
The Chinese built a railway station that is connected to the city with shuttle buses. The high speed train connects Vientiane to Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang. The train is the best option only if you’re directly going from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. Take the bus to Vang Vieng to save time and money.
Because the train station is quite far out of town and trains sell out in advance, ask your hotel to buy a ticket for you. Getting a ticket online is also possible, but only through a handler on 12go.asia. Also on 12go.asia you can get bus tickets between Vientiane and Vang Vieng.
Getting Around in Vientiane
Vientiane is a compact city making it easy to walk around to most sights. If you want to venture a little further afield, such as to Pha That Luang temple or Buddha Park then the following information will help you.
- Taxi | Easiest way to get to or from the airport and are ready for you upon arrival at the airport. Your hotel can order a taxi for you to take you back to the airport. Also a taxi is the most convenient way to get to Buddha Park or Pha That Luang.
- Shuttle bus | When you arrive to Vientiane by train, there are shuttle buses waiting to transport you to your hotel.
- City bus | City bus 14 will take you from the central bus station to Buddha Park.
Get Travel Insurance for Vientiane
If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. Honestly, it might sound cliché, but I firmly believe it’s true. Travel insurance gives me peace of mind, because if something happens I don’t have to worry about expensive bills.
I always have travel insurance, 365 days a year, because I travel quite a lot. And it usually turns out cheaper than taking out separate policies for each trip. Find my recommendations for travel insurance below.
- Under 50 years old? | My recommendation is to check out Heymondo Annual Multi-Trip travel insurance. It covers all your trips for a year up to 60 days per trip. You can also get insurance through Heymondo for trips with specific travel dates. As a reader of Next Journey Ahead you get 5% off your Heymondo travel insurance.
- Over 50 years old? | Older than 49 and travel a lot? Then you want to check out World Nomads travel insurance. They also offer annual travel insurance, or you can insure trips with specific travel dates.
- Digital Nomad? | If you’re always on the move then I recommend checking out the Nomad Insurance of SafetyWing. This insurance company offers subscription based insurance. That means it renews every month until you cancel. But you can also insure specific travel dates.
Staying Connected in Vientiane with an eSIM
In all my travel guides my advice is to check before you travel whether your phone and data provider also got you covered in Laos. If not then you can buy and install an Airalo eSIM in your phone. I always use Airalo when my data plan from home doesn’t cover my travel destination. No more swapping of physical SIM-cards.
You can buy the Laos eSIM right here. Or for even better value the Asia eSIM right here that also has coverage in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and other Asian countries.
Tip: If you rely on Google Maps to get around, then download the map before your visit to save data.
Final Thoughts on Vientiane
Vientiane might not be the most well known capital in Southeast Asia, and that’s also understandable. It doesn’t have many big ticket attractions and it’s also quite small. But still I had a great time exploring the temples, night market and Buddha Park.
Have you been to Vientiane, or have any questions? Then leave a comment, or reach out to me on Instagram. Also sign up for my newsletter to receive new itineraries and travel guides when they get published.
Planning your trip to Vientiane and Laos? Then check my Laos Travel Guide, or continue reading with the latest Laos articles below:
