Vientiane Hotels

Start your Vientiane journey with a visit to the Lao National Museum, where you’ll find everything from royal gems to prison torture devices. Cool and freaky! If you’re after a religious awakening, why not pay a visit to one of the oldest Vientiane temples, Wat Si Saket? It’s pretty and may even amp up your spiritual and enlightenment status. But if that doesn’t appeal, hit up Talatsao Mall for absolute shopping heaven. There really is something for everyone…

Vientiane’s Top 10

Vientiane History

• Pha That Luang - A Buddhist stupa, it is one of the Laos’ most popular tourist destinations.
• Wat Si Muang - Built in 1563, the spirit of a young girl guards this famous temple.
• Buddha Park - Just outside of Vientiane, this park has a large collection Buddhist sculptures.
• Patuxai - This memorial monument was inspired by French architecture.
• Ho Pra Keo - This is one of the highlights of Vientiane for those interested in religious artefacts.

Vientiane Art & Culture

• Lao National Museum - Learn about the history of Laos at this popular Vientiane museum.
• Sisaket Temple - The oldest temple in the city, making it a popular attraction with tourists.
• Hor Phrakeo - This temple is now a museum with a collection of Buddhist sculptures and artefacts.
• Xieng Khouang Buddha Park - A Buddhist statue park that was built in the 1950s.
• Vientiane Trade Fair - Held in November, this fair is a showcase of products and crafts made in Vientiane.

Vientiane Shopping

• Talat Sao - Found in Vientiane, this is a traditional morning market for local products and food.
• Panggkam Street - This is one of the best spots in Vientiane to find arts, crafts and antiques.
• Ban Nong Buathong - The weaving district of Vientiane, a great location to see traditional weavers.
• Talat Thong Khan Kham - One of the largest markets in Vientiane and sells just about everything.
• Samsenthai Street - This is the main shopping street of Vientiane where everyone shops.

Gay & Lesbian Vientiane

• Lak Song - Popular spot with the young gay crowd and one of the trendiest spots in town.
• River Garden - A restaurant and guesthouse that caters to gay and lesbian travellers.
• Don Tan Palace - A large disco popular with the gay and lesbian community.
• Soradith - This Vientiane disco and hotel caters largely to the gay and lesbian community.
• GQ - Open until midnight, this has become a popular spot for gays and lesbians in Vientiane.

Vientiane Events

Chinese New Year is celebrated in style every January/February. Think: dragons, parades, dragons, music, dragons and probably more dragons.

May’s Boun Bang Fai (aka the Rocket Festival) fills the sky with cool, homemade rockets and the streets with colourful parades.

Mid-October sees Boun Ok Pansa (Boat Racing Festival), which celebrates the end of Buddhist Lent. Candlelit processions, parades and boat racing excite locals and visitors alike.

Pha That Luang is flooded with activity for the That Luang Festival in November. Fun ’n’ fireworks abound.

Hmong New Year in December is a wild one. Take a gander at locals in traditional garb and try your hand at cotton-ball throwing. Yep, cotton-ball throwing. Fun.

When To Go

Vientiane has pretty mild weather all year round, so there’s little chance of encountering extreme temperatures.

May to September sees a lot of rain, so make sure to waterproof everything if you’re visiting around then.

Wanna get your tan on? Naughty little sun-worshippers should visit from late December to March when the sun is at its brightest.

Getting Around

Tuk-tuks and jumbos are a must. They’re fun, they’re kooky and only a tad dangerous. Negotiate the fare before you hop on for a ride.

Buses are cheap, but they’re not exactly modern or well equipped.

Traffic is pretty chilled in Vientiane, so if you want to rent a car you won’t be having many traffic jam nightmares.

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