In a nutshell
- Vientiane is the capital of Laos and the largest city in the country. Yet you can reach almost all the attractions on foot and explore them in 1–2 days.
- The top things to do in Vientiane include the Pha That Luang Temple and the Patuxai Triumphal Arch. But the promenade along the Mekong River and the night market are real highlights too.
- In this article, we’ll not only cover the must-sees in Vientiane, but also tell you the best way to get there and where to stay. Our top hotel pick is the Riverside Hotel.
The Sights of Vientiane on a Map
To help you get a better sense of orientation, we’ve marked the top things to do in Vientiane on a map.
Except for Highlights #1 and #10, all attractions are easily walkable from the center of Vientiane.
Buses run to the spots farther out, or you can grab a taxi or rent a scooter or bicycle.
Pha Tat Luang
What you need to know: Pha That Luang is the most famous temple in Vientiane — and honestly, it lives up to the hype. The golden stupa you see in the photo is the headline act, but there’s seriously a lot more worth seeing here. Don’t miss the reclining Buddha statue; it’s particularly impressive.
Is it worth it? Absolutely. If there’s one thing to do in Vientiane you can’t skip, it’s Pha That Luang. It’s also one of the top highlights in Laos.
Tickets: Admission costs 30,000 kip (about $1.40), paid in cash on-site. Make sure to cover your knees and shoulders when visiting.
How do you get there? The golden temple is about 3.5 kilometers outside the city center. You can walk (it’s a longer stretch), ride a bicycle or scooter, or grab a taxi. Public buses also run from the Talatsao Bus Station.
Patuxai
What you need to know: Between the city center and That Luang stands the Patuxai Triumphal Arch. Built in the 1950s and 60s, it commemorates the Lao people who fell fighting for national independence. The monument looks strikingly similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris — a vivid reminder that Laos was a French colony before independence.
Is it worth it? Definitely. Patuxai is a stunning structure, and we find it fascinating just how strongly the French influence shows here.
Tickets: For 20,000 kip (just under $1), you can climb to the top of the arch — way cheaper than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, where admission runs about $17.
Our tip: Visit Patuxai in the morning or evening. Mornings are less crowded, and in the evening it’s beautifully lit up — just note that entry closes at 5 PM.
Ha Phrakeo Museum
What you need to know: The Ha Phrakeo Museum is one of the most important places to visit in Vientiane. The former temple complex was originally built to house the Emerald Buddha — which now resides in Bangkok. Today it’s home to many Buddha statues and other artifacts.
Is it worth it? It’s okay. Historically, the place is absolutely fascinating — though there aren’t many signs or exhibits to give you context, which is a shame.
Tickets: Admission costs 30,000 kip (about $1.40).
Wat Si Saket
What you need to know: Right in the center stands Wat Si Saket — the oldest temple in Vientiane. It’s the only temple in the city that survived the Siamese attack of 1827. Today you can explore dozens of Buddha statues and a small museum on the temple grounds.
Is it worth it? Definitely, if you’re interested in history and religion.
Tickets: Admission costs 30,000 kip (about $1.40). Remember to cover your shoulders and knees when visiting.
Important note: Photography is not allowed inside.
Wat Si Muang
What you need to know: Another significant temple worth seeing is Wat Si Muang. It’s a bit farther out — about a 15-minute walk from Wat Si Saket — and it’s wonderfully colorful, with all kinds of figures and decorations. Wat Si Muang is also heavily frequented by locals, so be respectful when you visit.
Is it worth it? Yes! We really loved how colorful Wat Si Muang is — it feels genuinely alive. And admission is free, which makes it an easy yes.
Presidential Palace
What you need to know: The Presidential Palace is a genuinely beautiful building whose architecture — like so many structures in Laos — shows clear French influence. Unfortunately, you can’t enter the grounds or get very close, but you can catch some good views from the street.
Is it worth it? It’s okay. There’s not a lot to do here. That said, since the Presidential Palace sits almost right next to the Ha Phrakeo Museum, it’s easy to stroll past and snap a few photos.
That Dam Stupa
What you need to know: The That Dam Stupa sits on a traffic circle in the center of Vientiane. Unlike most stupas, it’s overgrown with weeds and hasn’t been specially maintained. You can walk around it, sit on a bench, or take photos from the roadside.
Is it worth it? Not really. We stopped by because our hotel was nearby, but honestly we weren’t very impressed. Skip it if you’re short on time.
Our tip: When taking photos, stay on the sidewalk — don’t step into the road. Traffic around the stupa can move fast, and a scooter or car can appear out of nowhere.
Vientiane Night Market
What you need to know: Like almost every destination in Southeast Asia, Vientiane has its own night market. It takes place in Chao Anouvong Park by the Mekong, and you can pick up all kinds of things here. Note that most food stalls aren’t directly on the market itself — look closer to the river or toward the center.
Is it worth it? Yes. You can wander through at a leisurely pace and easily combine it with a walk along the Mekong promenade — a really nice way to spend an evening.
Our tip: For food, head toward the center rather than right by the river. We found the riverside prices noticeably higher, and the vendors were pretty pushy.
Mekong River
What you need to know: Vientiane sits right on the border with Thailand — only the Mekong River separates the two countries. The river flows almost directly past the city center, where a long promenade makes for a great walk.
Is it worth it? Yes. We’re always drawn to the water, and Vientiane was no exception. During the dry season, the Mekong’s water level was quite low — but the promenade walk was still really enjoyable.
Our tip: A bit north of the center along the Mekong promenade, there’s a spot with several bars and seating right by the river (view on Google Maps) — a real local favorite that most visitors miss entirely.
Buddha Park
What you need to know: About 20 kilometers outside of Vientiane lies the Buddha Park — a genuine attraction in its own right. Think of it as a garden filled with all kinds of statues from both Hinduism and Buddhism. It’s a great place to wander around and take lots of photos.
Is it worth it? If you’re on a family trip with kids in Laos, absolutely. Otherwise, it depends on your taste. We didn’t make a special trip out there — but that’s really a matter of personal preference.
Tickets: Admission to the Buddha Park costs 60,000 kip.
How do you get there? Bus No. 14 runs to the Buddha Park from the Talatsao Bus Station in the center and costs 18,000 kip (about 80 cents). We’d only recommend the bus if you have plenty of time — depending on traffic, the ride can take up to an hour. Alternatively, you can take a taxi, though be warned: prices are reportedly very high!
Our Hotel Recommendations for Vientiane
We recommend staying as centrally as possible in Vientiane — especially if you’re making just a short stop in the capital during your Laos itinerary.
The Riverside Hotel is a centrally located option with excellent value for money. The rooms are lovely, modern, and clean — and a delicious breakfast is included in the price.
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
Getting to Vientiane
You have plenty of options for getting to Vientiane. Since the best mode of transport depends mainly on where you’re coming from, here’s a breakdown by departure point.
From Luang Prabang or Vang Vieng to Vientiane
If you’re coming from northern Laos, you’re probably traveling from Luang Prabang or Vang Vieng.
From Vang Vieng, a bus (usually group vans) takes about 2–3 hours and costs around $10.
You can also take the train from Vang Vieng, but the stations in both towns are outside the center, meaning you’ll need to factor in extra time and costs for transfers. The 1-hour train journey doesn’t really make up for that. Train tickets cost around $17.
Book your ticket from Vang Vieng to Vientiane on 12goasia
From Luang Prabang, we recommend the train. The journey takes about two hours — significantly faster than the bus, which takes at least eight hours.
Train tickets cost between $22 and $27.
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From Southern Laos (Pakse) to Vientiane
From southern Laos — home to popular spots like Pakse, Champasak, and the Bolaven Plateau — you’re looking at about 12 hours by bus. We’d recommend taking a night bus to make the most of the journey. It costs around $22.
If long bus rides aren’t your thing, you can also fly to Vientiane from the airport in Pakse.
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From Vietnam to Vientiane
If you’re combining your Laos trip with a trip through Vietnam, there are direct buses from various cities in Vietnam (such as Da Nang or Hanoi) to Vientiane.
The buses take just under 24 hours (including the border crossing) and are usually comfortable sleeper buses — meaning you’ll have actual beds or reclining seats.
Prices are around 800,000 kip to 1,000,000 kip ($35–$40) for a bus ticket.
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From larger cities like Hanoi and Saigon, there are also direct flights to Vientiane.
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From Bangkok to Vientiane
If you’re coming from Bangkok, you can fly or travel by bus or train.
Buses take longer than trains (about 15 hours), so we’d skip them. By train, you can make the journey overnight in about 12 hours — that’s our pick. Train tickets start at $10.
Flying is significantly more expensive but also much faster if you’d rather not deal with a long overnight journey.
Book your ticket from Bangkok to Vientiane
Flying to Vientiane from Abroad
There are no direct flights to Laos from most Western countries. You’ll need to plan for at least one stopover — most commonly at a Bangkok airport.
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Arriving at Vientiane Airport
The airport in Vientiane is only about 4 kilometers from the center and has an international terminal and a domestic terminal.
Entry at Vientiane Airport
If you land at the domestic terminal, the arrival process is very straightforward — you can walk almost directly from the plane to the exit.
If you’re arriving from another country, you’ll need to apply for a visa on arrival at the airport (unless you have an online visa) and go through customs.
We share more details about entering Laos in our article with the best travel tips for Laos. Always check the latest official entry requirements before you travel.
Services at Vientiane Airport: SIM Cards and Currency Exchange
There are several shops at the airport where you can buy a SIM card right after arrival, in case you haven’t picked up an eSIM in advance.
You can also exchange money at the airport, but the rates are often unfavorable. We recommend withdrawing Lao kip from an ATM instead — there are ATMs at the airport too.
Our tip: In many hotels in Laos, you can pay in US dollars. If you have dollars on hand, it’s worth holding onto them rather than exchanging them.
From Vientiane Airport to the City
The cheapest way into the city is by shuttle bus. A ride costs 40,000 kip (just under $2), and the buses run to the central Talatsao Bus Station. You can ask to be dropped off at any point along the route. More info about the buses can be found on the airport website.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi — it costs around 60,000 kip. You shouldn’t have to pay much more than that.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vientiane
How many days do you need in Vientiane?
We recommend spending 1–2 days in Vientiane.
That’s enough time to see all the major highlights. Since there isn’t a huge amount else to do in the city, we wouldn’t necessarily suggest staying longer.
When is the best time to visit Vientiane?
We recommend the dry season from October to April — it’s not as hot and there’s very little rain.
Keep in mind that from mid-February to April is the Burning Season, when air pollution can be quite high. In Vientiane itself you won’t notice it as much, but in the surrounding areas you will.
Is Vientiane safe to visit?
Yes, Vientiane is a safe travel destination.
We felt very comfortable in the city ourselves and haven’t heard of other travelers having problems either.
Just be cautious with road traffic and avoid walking in remote areas late at night.
What is the nightlife like in Vientiane?
We didn’t go out in the evenings in Vientiane ourselves, so we can’t give you firsthand advice on the nightlife.
Vientiane isn’t really known for its nightlife, but there are some bars and clubs to check out. Your best bet is to ask at your accommodation for specific recommendations.
How do you pronounce Vientiane?
You pronounce it almost exactly as it’s written — with one exception: the E at the end is silent, and the stress falls on the final a. It sounds something like: Wijen-tijaan.
What was Vientiane previously called?
Nakon Luang Vien Chang.
