Vientiane
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At a glance
- Country
- Laos
- Region
- Vientiane Prefecture
- Population
- 850,000
- Best time to go
- November to February
- Main airport
- Vientiane Wattay International (VTE)
- Coordinates
- 17.98°N, 102.63°E
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Overview
Vientiane must be one of the most laid-back capitals in Asia. Spread along a bend of the Mekong, with Thailand on the far bank, it mixes gilded temples, French colonial villas and wide, quiet boulevards.
Two or three days is enough to see the main sights at a gentle pace. Evenings are for watching the sun set over the river, then eating at the night market or a riverside restaurant.
Things to see
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Photo: Coalfruit1012, CC0 Pha That Luang
The great golden stupa is the national symbol of Laos and the focus of a major festival each November.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Stefan Fussan, CC BY-SA 3.0 Patuxai
A monumental arch decorated with Lao motifs; climb to the top for views down Lane Xang Avenue.
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Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0 Wat Si Saket
The city's oldest surviving temple, its cloister walls lined with thousands of small Buddha images.
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COPE Visitor Centre
A sobering exhibition on unexploded bombs from the Indochina wars and the people working to help survivors.
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Photo: Dezwitser, CC BY-SA 3.0 Buddha Park
A riverside garden of eccentric concrete Buddhist and Hindu sculptures, about 25 kilometres south-east.
Tickets and tours
Things to do
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Sunset on the Mekong
Walk the riverfront promenade as the sun drops behind Thailand, then browse the night market.
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Photo: Jpatokal, CC BY-SA 4.0 Eat Lao food
Try laap, a spicy minced-meat salad, with sticky rice and papaya salad at a local restaurant.
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Herbal sauna
Steam in a temple herbal sauna, then sip tea and cool off on the terrace.
Where to stay
Riverside and centre
Near the Mekong and Nam Phou fountain, walkable to restaurants, temples and the night market.
Hotels in Riverside and centreAround That Luang
Quieter and more residential, a short ride from the centre.
Hotels in Around That Luang
Getting around
The centre is flat and walkable, and bicycles are easy to hire. Tuk-tuks and ride-hailing apps cover longer distances.
Wattay airport is about 15 minutes from the centre by taxi. Trains on the Laos–China Railway run north to Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang.
When to go
November to February is dry and comfortably warm. March to May is very hot, and the rainy season runs from around May to October.
Plan your trip to Vientiane
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.