Beautiful
French-influenced architecture, Buddhist temples, and natural beauty make
Vientiane a must-see stop on any tour of Laos.
Vientiane is usually just a stopover for tourist as they make their ways
to other places in Laos, but make no mistake, this sleepy capital is more livable
and navigable than other Southeast Asian cities.
What to Do in the City
Pha That Luang
The
great golden stupa is a national symbol of Laos both in national sovereignty
and Buddhism. This gold-covered Buddhist
stupa is believed to contain a breastbone of the Buddha, which was placed in the
original stupa in the 3rd century BC. The current stupa was built in 1566 when the Lao
capitol was moved to Vientiane and later went through restoration in the 1930’s.
Cost: 10,000 LAK/1.11 USD
Patuxai Victory Monument
Patuxai
Monument was built to commemorate those soldiers that died fighting for independence
from France. The monument resembles the
Arc de Triomphe with a Laotian twist; not to mention double the gates and
slightly taller. It is said that it was
built with concrete gifted by the United States to build an airport, but the
Lao government had a different idea in mind.
The
tower is ornate with paintings and carvings of both Hindu and Buddhist
symbolism. The four towers hold spiral staircases that
will take you through three sections of souvenirs and artifacts until you reach
the top. From there you will have a
great panoramic view of the central city and the gardens below.
Cost: 3,000 LAK/0.33 USD to climb to the top.
Buddha Park
If you
are looking for something a little different than norm, then Buddha Park is where
you should go. Buddha Park, also known
as Xieng Khuan, was designed and built in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat. The park is filled with over 200 concrete
sculptures of Buddhas, Hindu gods, and other demons and mythological creatures.
Of particular note is the giant, three-floored
sculpture of a pumpkin. The door to the pumpkin is found through the mouth of a
mythological creature that sits at its base, and the floor levels represent
Hell, Earth, and Heaven. Atop the
pumpkin you will be able to get a good view of all of the park.
Buddha
Park is about 24 km southeast of the city center, so you will need some
transportation to get there. Local bus #14
will take you all of the way there for 8,000 LAK/0.89 USD. I also recommend checking out the Lao
Disabled Women’s Development Center which is nearby while your there.
Cost: 15,000 LAK/1.67 USD
Lao Disabled Women’s Development Center
The Lao
Disabled Women’s Development Center is a non-profit organization that empowers
women with disabilities by offering vocational training, employment, and support. The center trains the women in an array of
things from sewing to computers skills. While
at the center the women make products out of recycled newspapers and other
materials that the center then sells to support itself.
The
center is 18 km southeast of the city center, so you will need some
transportation to get there. Local bus #14
will take you all of the way there for 8,000 LAK/0.89 USD. I also recommend checking out Buddha Park
which is nearby while your there.
Cost: 50,000 LAK/5.56 USD for a tour.
100,000
LAK/11.10 USD for a tour and handicraft class.
80,000
LAK/8.89 USD for lunch.
100,000
LAK/11.10 USD for a traditional Baci (Lao ceremony)
Ho Pha Kaew
Ho Pha
Kaew was originally built in 1565 as the royal family’s personal chapel and to
house the sacred jade Emerald Buddha after it was stolen from the Siamese. The Buddha statue was latter reclaimed in
1776 when the Siamese sacked Vientiane and can be seen at the temple of the
same name in the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
The temple is a beautiful building in its own right and is now a museum that
houses important Lao cultural treasures.
Cost: 10,000 LAK/1.11 USD
Wat Si Muang
Wat Si
Muang is one of the most beautiful temples in Vientiane and is home to Vientiane’s
original city pillar. It is said that a woman
sacrificed herself to appease the gods by jumping in a hole where the pillar
now stands. Today the temple is known as
a place that gives good luck.
Wat Si Saket
Wat Si
Saket is one of the more unique temples in Vientiane. Famed for being the only temple to survive the
Siamese attack, it is the only temple to still have its original form. What makes it unique is the temple’s style of
architecture; more Siamese than Lao. The
temple is also home to over 2,000 buddha statues that sit along the corridor
and crevasses that surround the temple.
Cost: 10,000 LAK/1.11 USD
Wat Ong Teu
The
original temple was built in the mid-16th century over an early 3rd
century site. Like many of the other
temples in Vientiane, it was destroyed in the Siamese attacks. The temple today holds an important position
as the national center of Buddhist studies.
That Dam
That
Dam means Black Stupa and this monument is said to house a seven-headed Naga
serpent who protects the citizens of Vientiane. The brick stupa was once
covered in gold, but according to legend, the Siamese took it when they invaded
Vientiane in the 1820’s.
Night Market
Every
night, the Chao Anouvong Park transforms into a bustling and vibrant night
market, full of all the touristy stuff you’ve come to expect on Southeast Asian
travels. It’s a great place to get out
in the evening and take a stroll even if you don’t plan to buy anything.
Where to Eat
Vientiane,
like all capitals, has an array of national and international restaurants
throughout the city. But if your looking
for the best experience, and cheap food, then along the river is your best bet. Here you will find many little restaurants
and beer gardens serving cheap Lao and Thai food.
Where to Stay
Like
all capital cities, you can find a variety of hotels and hostels in every price
range. I recommend finding a place in
the central city or near the night market to make it easier to see the
different sights. When booking my hotels,
I always use Agoda to find the best hotel in my location and price range.
How to Get Around
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| Vientiane bus route map. |
Vientiane
is fairly small so walking or cycling is the best way to visit most of the
sights. If you prefer a bike, most
hotels can arrange a rental for 10,000 LAK/1.11 USD. For the sights that are further away, like Pha
That Luang and Buddha Park, you might want to take the local buses. Google Maps does a good job at helping you
find the right bus.
How to Get There
Plane
If you
are flying to Vientiane, I suggest using the Skyscanner widget below to book
yourself a cheap ticket.
If you
fly into Vientiane, the airport is located 3.5km east of town and there is a
bus to the Central Station for 15,000 LAK/1.67 USD. Flights to Laos are not cheap though and a
popular way to save money is to fly into Udon Thani, Thailand, and cross the
border by bus from there.
Bus
The
bus is the best option if you are already in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, or
Thailand. The Southern Station
(conversely located 11km northeast of the city center) services Southern Laos,
Vietnam, and Cambodia. You can then take
the local bus #29 to the Central Station for 4,000 LAK/0.44 USD. The Northern Station (located 8km northwest
of the city center) services all locations in Northern Laos and China. You can take bus #8 to the Central Station
for 5,000 LAK/0.56 USD. The Central
Station services Vientiane and Thailand.
12GO is an easy way to book buses
online.
Powered by 12Go Asia system
Train
There
is an option to cross the border into Laos by train, but it by far the least
convenient way of getting to Vientiane.
The rail line goes from Nong Khai, Thailand, to Thanaleng, Laos, where
you can get a visa-on-arrival. Thanaleng
is in the middle of nowhere, about 20 km from Vientiane, with very few
transportation options. The train ride
costs only 20 THB/0.63 USD, but then you will have to find a way to make the
other 20 km yourself. On the other hand,
you can pay 300 THB/9.40 USD and have a minivan waiting take you into the
capitol.
The
silver lining is that if you want to take a train to Laos from Bangkok,
Thailand, the train schedule is set up for you to take the overnight train to Nong
Khai and still have enough time to buy your ticket to Laos.
What is your favorite place in Vientiane?
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