The capital of Laos – Vientiane, is considered the most laid-back capital in Southeast Asia, and sometimes even a „sleepy capital“.

If you compare it to other capitals such as Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur you can certainly get that impression, as the city looks like rather small town, then the capital of any country.

Vientiane as well as all of Laos is not yet well developed, but there are several places worth visiting in this city. Be sure to reserve at least two full days to explore Viantiane and see what it has to offer.

In this post, you’ll learn about 8 places worth visiting while in the Lao capital.

After reading several articles on the Internet about Vientiane, we ourselves did not know what to expect, but on the spot it turned out that in the capital there are several places worth visiting.

We saw a few beautiful temples, an amazing night market full of delicacies, and we had some good food, so what more do we need to consider a stay in the capital as successful?

Maybe a massage, so we also couldn’t skip on that.

#1 Admire Patuxay Monument

Somewhat reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the Patuxay Monument is one of the most important sites in Vientiane. Otherwise known as Victory Gate, Patuxay Monument is dedicated to those who fought for independence from France.

The Patuxay Monument is beautifully decorated and is located in the middle of a small park with a large fountain.

The monument is one of the most visited places by tourists, so many locals use this place as a place to sell souvenirs, if you haven’t bought them yet, this is a great time to do so.

Entrance to the area by the monument is free, and it is best to visit the place in the late afternoon, when the sun is a little lower and does not heat up so much.

#2 Try the local breakfast at the morning market

The Morning Market in Vientiane is not the largest and can be a bit hard to find, as it is located behind a large local shopping center.

At the market you can buy a local breakfast consisting mainly of meat soup, as well as fruits and vegetables. If you don’t eat meat it can be hard to find something to eat at this market, but sesame balls and fried bananas are a safe and very tasty option.

This place is much smaller then markets you may know from other places in Asia, and it is more dedicated to the locals then to tourists.

#3 Visit Pha That Luang

Pha That Luang is the most important Buddhist monument in Laos, most important national monument, and national symbol. Also known as the Great Stupa, it was built in the 3rd century and was destroyed several times over the years, only to be restored again.

Great Stupa is located right next to big garden with other interesting buildings, temples and Buddha statues.

Monument is really big with several small temples, on each side where locals are praying.

It costs $1.75 (LAK 30,000) to enter the area around Pha That Luang, and on site, in addition to the gold-painted stupa, you’ll also see a gallery of images of what the monument has looked like over the years.

#4 Walk around Wat Si Saket

Built in 1818, Wat Si Saket is one of the oldest temple in Vientiane. In addition to the temple itself, in the long galleries surrounding the place you can admire as many as 10,000 Buddha sculptures, most of which were sculpted in the 16th and 18th centuries.

Entrance to the grounds costs $1.75 (LAK 30,000), and when visiting the site be sure to dress appropriately covering your shoulders and knees (especially women).

#5 Visit Wat Si Muang

The Buddhist temple of Wat Si Muang is the most colorful and most visited temple in Vientiane.

Painted in a vibrant orange color and richly decorated with gold ornaments, the temple is very busy. In addition to the peaceful music that can be heard throughout the grounds around the temple, you will also hear numerous car horns that drive right up to the temple.

Around the shrine you will see numerous colorful figurines, paintings, as well as gold Buddha statues.

Entrance to the temple is for free.

#6 Try the local food at the night market

Vientiane has as many as two Night Markets, the first of which is located right next to the Mekong River. Is ideal for shopping or playing for the youngest, because in addition to many places selling clothes, there is also a small amusement park, with toy cars and a bouncy castle.

Residents of the capitals are very proud of this night market and often recommend this place as the first place that newcomers must visit.

The second Night Market, located only 500 meters from the first, is a paradise for every foodie. When it gets dark the place is very crowded and overcrowded with food stalls.

Those who love seafood will be in paradise here.

#7 Go for a massage

In the capital you will encounter massage studios practically on every street, but unlike in Thailand, here no one will urge or persuade you to come inside, if you happen to pass by one of them. But be sure to go inside and let yourself relax.

Many people here opt for a feet massage, which after all the sightseeing and walking is understandable, while the neck and shoulder massage is also very relaxing.

Massages in Laos are very cheap and an hour of this pleasure is only $6 (LAK 100,000).

#8 Take a stroll down Rue Samsenthai

This is the main street where you’ll find cafes and restaurants where you’ll taste delicious dishes. Have breakfast at Joma Bakery Café, enjoy an afternoon coffee at Coco & Co, or go for an evening drink at Moonlight Lounge.

There is also a small Lao Silk Store on this street, where a local seamstress sells her products. So if you’re looking for something unique for yourself or loved ones, this is a cool option to support the local community.

• Kaogee | Delicious soups, toasts and cakes
• Coco & Co | Decent coffee and tasty cake
• Nila Cafe | Amazing pancakes and sodas
• Joma Bakery Cafe | Great breakfast
• Pizza Company | Best Pizza in Asia

The capital of Laos will probably be the first or last place in Laos you will visit.

If you’re starting your trip from the capital, you’ll likely get here by air, check your flights to Vientiane, Laos .

The road from the airport is only 15-20 minutes by car and the easiest way to get to the center is by Grab, download the Grab app before your trip to Vientiane .

If Vientiane is the last destination during your Laos trip, from other places such as Luang Prabang or Vang Vieng you can get here by minivan. Ask your Home Stay about arranging this transfer.

It is also possible to get to Vientiane by train, but the train station is far from the center, so it generates additional costs because you have to add cab or Grab fare, and locals say it can be quite pricey.

All the places mentioned in this article are within walking distance, so you can easily get everywhere on your feet.

You can easily get to places a little away from the center by Grab. You can also hire scooter, but only if you feel confident on the roads in Asia.

The best months to visit Laos’ capital, Vientiane, are between November and February, when the weather is beautiful and sunny and temperatures are a bit cooler.

Remember that every year in March and April is the burning season for local farmers. This can make the air very polluted and breathing difficult.

During our stay in Vientiane we used an overnight stay near the Patuxay monument and it was an ideal location to get everywhere on foot without much effort.

Patuxay Palace is well located, clean and tastefully decorated and the staff is very friendly and helpful.

If you are looking for a different place, located a bit closer to the center, check Booking.com carefully and find a hotel that suits your needs.

Depending on the country you’re coming from different Visa requirements apply. Most of the countries will require a Visa on arrival or eVisa. Check your Laos visa requirements before your travel.

In Laos, cash is still largely handled. Places such as night markets, local stores and even restaurants only accept cash.

ATMs in the city can be found mostly around the Night Market, but sometimes they don’t accept all cards, or accept them only after the fifth or tenth attempt. So it’s worth having at least two cards from different banks, e.g. Visa and Mastercard, so that you don’t have a problem with withdrawing cash.

If you manage to find an ATM that accepts your card, withdraw more money so you don’t have to worry about it later.

At the airport, and border crossings, only cash is accepted, so it’s worth having $40 with you for the visa, as well as $1 for scanning the photo from your passport (if you don’t have prints) and $1 for “service”.

If you don’t have dollars, the airport also accepts Thai Baht, and Euros.

There are also ATMs at the airport (right at the airport exit), and if you don’t have cash, customs officials allow travelers to go out to withdraw it, but here again there may be a problem with withdrawing. So if you have the opportunity, take some cash with you so you don’t have to worry about it.

In Luang Prabang, unfortunately, a few times it happened to us that in stores or markets we were given bad change, so it is worth checking before putting money in your wallet.

As in every country there are different mobile operators, so it is no different in Laos. When we buy a Sim card in a new country, we always look at the most important criteria for us. Coverage and internet credit for a fair price.

After some research and our trip across Laos, we can recommend Unitel without hesitation.

Remember that at registration it is necessary to show your passport!

The prices are per person, except for the accommodation and Taxi, which we rent for 2 people.

Accommodation: $5 – $10 / night

Restaurant: $3 – $20 / meal

Snack: $1 – $2/ meal

Taxi: $1 – $2.50 / ride

Pleasure: $3 – $8 / event

Activity: $1.75 / event