The BEST Vientiane attractions: Places to visit in Vientiane, Laos

Vientiane, Laos doesn’t feel like a capital city. It’s extremely laid-back. There’s no traffic. Fewer people live here than even in small cities next-door in Thailand. But that doesn’t mean it’s boring — far from it. Whether you’ve just arrived in Laos or are on a longer backpacking trip through the country, there are plenty of Vientiane attractions to keep you busy for a few days.

 

Whether you like temples, national monuments, museums, or just sitting in a cafe, this list of things to do in Vientiane will help you plan the perfect trip.

 

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The best Vientiane attractions for temple-lovers

 

 

I hope you’re not already “templed-out” from your travels around Southeast Asia — because Vientiane Laos has some must-see’s! You could spend a full day exploring all the city’s major temples.

 

Pha That Luang

 

More of a stupa like you’d find in Nepal than a typical Southeast Asian Buddhist temple, Pha That Luang is the most important Buddhist monument in all of Laos.

 

Legend has it that the “Golden Stupa” has been a sacred site since Indian Buddhists migrated here over 4,000 years ago. Today, the stupa houses important religious artifacts and images. A few small temples are on-site as well.

 

When you visit, you’ll inevitably meet some devout Lao folks, many of whom travel all the way across the country to get here and pay their respects. Monks also hang out on the grounds, eager to chat with friendly travelers and practice their English.

 

The stupa is 4 km from the Old Quarter — you can walk the whole way. Admission is 10,000 kip. Women must wear a long skirt (ankle-length) or rent one on-site for an additional 5,000 kip.

 

Wat Si Saket

 

The 150-year-old Wat Si Saket is one of the most important Vientiane attractions to visit. This temple combines elements of Thai and Khmer architecture.

 

Look out for the Naga Buddha in the main hall, and walk around the interior to see hundreds of beautiful murals. Parts of the temple may be crumbling from age, but it’s still a remarkable and peaceful site.

 

The temple is in the heart of the Old Quarter — an easy walk from most guesthouses. It costs 10,000 kip to enter.

 

Wat Si Muang

 

While Wat Si Saket has all the history, Wat Si Muang is where most locals go to worship. This busy temple in the middle of the Old Quarter has a reputation for granting visitors’ wishes.

 

The architecture is pretty typical for a Southeast Asian Buddhist temple. But the real reason to visit is to watch the local traditions. You’ll see people lifting pillows above their heads (the ritual to make a wish), making offerings, and leaving behind broken pottery to improve their luck.

 

The temple is just a few blocks from Wat Si Saket. It’s free to enter. You should dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered — as you would for any temple visit.

 

Top Vientiane attractions for museum lovers

 

 

Vientiane has a few good museums and one really exceptional one. The main focus is on the impact of the U.S.’s secret war in Laos during the Vietnam War era.

 

Visit Project COPE’s exhibition on UXO

 

Of all the places to visit in Vientiane, the single most important is the COPE project’s exhibition on UXO (unexploded ordinance).

 

During the Secret War, the U.S. government bombed Laos at an unthinkable scale. The idea was to disrupt the North Vietnamese’s supply routes through eastern Laos, and to address the spread of communism in Laos itself. But the whole thing backfired horribly — not only did it fail, but it left a tragic legacy of death and destruction that Laos is still recovering from.

 

See, during the bombing campaigns, some bombs and mines failed to detonate. They simply fell into the jungle, or landed in a river, or ended up in a village. Most adults know all to well the dangers of touching these devices, known as unexploded ordinance, or UXO. But too often, children stumble upon them and pick them up out of curiosity. Sometimes, they detonate.

 

The UXO crisis in Laos has left thousands of people — mostly young people — as amputees. Project COPE is a Lao-run charity helping these amputees rebuild their lives. It provides physical therapy and artificial limbs for any Lao person who needs them. Best of all, they cover the full cost of treatment, accommodation, food, and transportation for anyone who cannot afford it themselves. They even train some of the amputees in special skills to work at the center — I saw two former patients working with visitors, and I met another one who constructs artificial limbs.

 

You can see this amazing work in action at the COPE headquarters in Vientiane. It amazed me that in a place with so much potential to be depressing and gloomy, it was actually a very positive, uplifting atmosphere. It’s free to visit, but leaving a donation is the right thing to do.

 

Kaysone Phomvihane Museum

 

Ho Chi Minh left a legacy of state repression in Vietnam. Pol Pot massacred millions of his own people in Cambodia. In contrast, Kaysone Phomvihane led the Communist revolution in Laos — and it barely registered as a revolution.

 

The museum in Kaysone’s honor doesn’t exactly paint an objective picture of his life — it’s more like the museum at Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum in Hanoi, full of propaganda. But it’s a very entertaining way to get a glimpse into the cult of personality surrounding Laos’s most beloved leader.

 

The museum is a long walk or 40,000 kip tuk tuk ride from the Old Quarter. Admission is 5,000 kip. It closes from noon to 1 pm every day for lunch.

 

Lao National Museum

 

The Lao National Museum houses a somewhat-faded collection of artifacts from throughout Laos’s history. The biggest emphasis is on the rise of the Pathet Lao.

 

Again, the museum leans a bit heavily on propaganda, but it’s a good introduction if you don’t know much about Laos’s communist past. In addition, the first floor contains traditional pottery and other artisan and religious products from different minority groups.

 

The museum used to be located a short walk from the Old Quarter, in a gorgeous French Colonial mansion. It’s currently in the process of relocating. When it reopens, admission will be 10,000 kip.

 

What to do in Vientiane if you like monuments

 

 

Vientiane drips with French Colonial legacy. The locals have adopted baguettes as a key part of their diet, the main boulevard is modeled after Paris’s Champs-Elysées, and the crumbling houses would be at home in a small French town. But the city retains its authentically Lao side at the same time. Nowhere is this blend more visible than in the city’s monuments, which are some of the best Vientiane attractions to visit.

 

Patuxai

 

Paris has the Arc de Triomphe. Vientiane has … Patuxai. This giant concrete block in the middle of the downtown area commemorates the Lao people who died in pre-Communist-era wars, while serving as a symbol of independence.

 

Even more amazingly, Patuxai (which translates to “Victory Gate”) was built using cement donated by the U.S. government to build a new airport. The Lao never miss a chance to mock Americans’ neo-colonial misplaced goodwill.

 

The monument itself isn’t particularly noteworthy. But if you climb to the top, you can get great views over Vientiane and the Mekong River. It’s free to visit from below, or 3,000 kip to climb.

 

Buddha Park

 

One of the most endearingly popular Vientiane attractions, Xieng Khuan — or Buddha Park — has a quirky collection of bizarre Buddhist and Hindu sculptures.

 

There’s nothing ancient about these sculptures. A Lao artist created them in the late 1950’s. But they’re surreal and fascinating, and make for some fun photos.

 

The park is 25 km outside of central Vientiane, on the way to the Thai border. Most people rent a motorbike to visit. You could also take Bus 14 or charter a tuk tuk (for a pricey 200,000 kip). Admission is 8,000 kip including your camera.

 

Things to do in Vientiane if you like food and coffee

 

 

Foodies and coffee connoisseurs, take note — other than Luang Prabang, Vientiene may be the best cafe city in Southeast Asia. If you dream of sipping a cool iced coffee while looking out at the Mekong River, or enjoying a fiery curry on a street corner while rubbing shoulders with locals, this city has you covered.

 

JoMa Cafe and Bakery

 

This place, and its Luang Prabang counterpart, are and always will be my favorite cafes anywhere in the world. Even writing this has me aching with nostalgia for their chocolate chip cookies and big mugs of fair-trade, locally sourced coffee.

 

The staff is outstanding — they take service-oriented to a whole new level. And the interior has everything from comfy couches to gorgeous wooden seating. Its free (and fast!) WiFi makes it a good place to catch up on email. You can lounge for hours and nobody really seems to mind.

 

JoMa serves more substantial meals as well. It’s the usual salad-and-sandwich cafe fare. Mains start around 20,000 kip.

 

Scandinavian Bakery

 

Just a small step down from JoMa, Scandanavian Bakery is another great option for coffee in Vientiane.

 

The coffee is excellent and you can get really fantastic breakfasts starting around 10,000 kip. If you want something simpler, stick with the delicious pastries. Or come later in the day and try the massive chocolate brownies — simply to-die-for.

 

Taj Mahal Restaurant

 

If you’re tired of the usual Lao fare, Vientiane is a great place to branch out. But you don’t have to stick with sandwiches from traveler cafes. Instead, opt for Indian at the Taj Mahal.

 

This place had the best south Indian curries I had outside of India and probably the best garlic naan I’ve had anywhere, ever. Prices are extremely reasonable for what you get. Meals start at just 25,000 kip.

 

Lao options

 

Some of the best Vientiane attractions for foodies are the simple but tasty Lao restaurants you find on every street corner. Unlike most Southeast Asian capitals, the tourist market isn’t a big enough business here to have whole restaurants just for tourists. So most Lao restaurants lean heavily on the chilis for one of the most authentic dining experiences you can get in the region.

 

If you try one Lao dining experience in Vientiane, make it Ban Anou Night Market. Choose from grilled meat, sticky rice dishes, and more at this open-air set of food stalls. You can’t go wrong and at an average of just 10,000 kip, it’s easy on your wallet too. The Vientiane night market gets going around 5 pm.

 

Khambang Restaurant is the best option in town if you like your food super-spicy. Even the laap will numb your tongue and make your eyes water relentlessly (in a good way!). Frog’s legs are a specialty.

 

Finally, tiny, unmarked Han Sam Euay Nong is a classic guidebook-recommended gem. Try the pork noodles. The cheapest meals start at just 8,000 kip — less than you’d pay at a street stall. You can find it near the Lao Orchid Hotel.

 

Practicalities for visiting Vientiane and experiencing the best Vientiane attractions

 

 

Given Laos’s status as one of the poorest countries in the region, many travelers are surprised to learn that Vientiane is the most expensive capital city in Southeast Asia. Add $5 a day to your typical budget — food isn’t cheap, you’ll want some good coffee in an air-conditioned cafe, and accommodation is a good 20% pricier than elsewhere in Laos.

 

Vientiene is Laos’s biggest transport hub, so getting here is a breeze. You can fly into the modern airport — from where you could actually walk to the Old Quarter (or take a cheap taxi). Alternatively, you can reach any destination in Laos from one of the main bus terminals. The Northern Bus Station is about 4 km north of town and serves all domestic and international destinations to the north. The Southern Bus Station is inconveniently located 9 km out of town and serves all domestic destinations to the south and all buses to Vietnam. For more local destinations, go to the central Talat Sao Bus Station — which also serves Thailand.

 

Alternatively, you can book a backpacker van to nearby and popular destinations like Vang Vieng. This will add cost, but it’ll save you a pricey tuk tuk ride to the bus terminal, as the van will pick you up from your hotel.

 

Value for money at Vientiane hotels leaves something to be desired. Lucky Backpackers Hostel is the pick of the (admittedly mediocre) bunch. Dorms start at $6, or get a private room for $18.

 

Vientiane may not get the attention of Southeast Asia’s more glamorous capitals like Hanoi and Bangkok. But spend a few days exploring the best Vientiane attractions and you’ll find the city to be pleasant and charming. It’s a great place to slow down a little and soak up the atmosphere before continuing on to more adventurous places.

 

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