Vientiane

Laid-back temples on the Mekong

Vientiane serves as Laos’s capital along the Mekong River. The city features wide boulevards lined with trees and colonial buildings that reflect French influence from earlier centuries. Local markets sell fresh produce, handmade crafts and aromatic street food. Temples such as Wat Si Saket display intricate details and host daily ceremonies. The atmosphere feels relaxed, encouraging visitors to explore at a slower pace while learning about Lao history and culture through museums and community events.

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City in Laos

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 5.9

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	5
Accessibility:	4
Tap water:	3

Read details

2/5

English is spoken in most hotels, restaurants, and tourist sites, but less so in local markets or with older residents. A few Lao or French phrases will go a long way and are appreciated.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Vientiane Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

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Good for relaxed city culture and temples. Visit golden Buddhist temples, walk riverside promenades, explore markets and museums and enjoy cafés along the Mekong.

Place score

6.3

Best at:

Architecture

Historic sites

Religious sites

Walkable

Local cuisine

Personal score

Suited for

👶 5

Families

🧓 4

Seniors

❤️ 7

Couples

🛡️ 6

Travel Beginners

Laos – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A , Type C Type A: Type C: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Lao Kip (LAK) £1 ≈ LAK 29,949
Cashless info:	Rating 3/5 Cashless payments are available in larger cities and tourist areas, but cash is still the dominant payment method. Credit cards are accepted in some places, though mobile payments are not as widespread. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not common in Laos, but it is appreciated for good service. In restaurants, a small tip of around 5-10% may be given, especially in tourist areas. Taxi drivers may appreciate rounding up the fare.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is not widely accepted in Laos, and alcohol consumption is generally restricted to licensed venues like bars and restaurants. Drinking in public spaces can be considered disrespectful.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in many indoor public places, including restaurants and shops. Designated smoking areas are available in certain locations.

Lao New Year (13–16 April)	The biggest holiday in Laos with water fights, festivals, and family celebrations
That Luang Festival (November)	A religious festival with processions, prayers, and cultural performances

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 191 (Police), 195 (Ambulance), 190 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Tuk Tuk, Lao Taxi
Other:	Laos is a peaceful and beautiful destination with many outdoor activities, including trekking, visiting Buddhist temples, and cruising along the Mekong River. Travellers should be prepared for basic amenities outside of tourist areas.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Vientiane, Laos

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Apr

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High season:	Jan. - Feb., Nov. - Dec.
Shoulder season:	March - April, Oct.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Pi Mai (Lao New Year), April 13 to 15: city-wide water fights, many shops and restaurants close

That Luang Festival, around the November full moon: week-long temple fair with processions, hotels fill up

Don't miss

🕌 Admire the golden stupa at Pha That Luang
🏛️ Climb to panoramic views atop Patuxai Victory Monument
🗿 Explore the surreal Buddha Park sculptures
🍢 Shop and savor street food at Riverside Night Market
⛩️ Visit the historic Wat Sisaket temple complex
🎗️ Learn at the COPE Visitor Centre museum

You've been here?

Why travel to Vientiane?

Travel to Vientiane if you love a slower, more authentic city experience. The city is dotted with ancient temples, quirky monuments like Patuxai and markets brimming with handicrafts and textiles. Don’t miss Buddha Park’s surreal statues or the poignant COPE Visitor Centre, which tells the story of Laos’ recent history. The riverside night market is a must for foodies and people-watchers. Just be aware that attractions are spread out, so be ready to use tuk-tuks or bikes and the heat (especially from March to October) can be intense. English is spoken in tourist areas, but less so elsewhere and the city’s infrastructure is still developing, so expect the occasional rough edge.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Buddha Park
2 COPE Visitor Centre
3 Patūsai
4 Wat Si Muang
5 Wat SiSaket Ticket office - foreigners 30.000 kip
6 Wat Ong Teu
7 Lao National Museum

🎡Places for activities

1 Lao Textile Museum

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Mekong River
2 Macky's riverside kitchen

🛍️Shopping

1 Morning Market
2 Ban Anou Night Market
3 Vientiane Center

🎈Events

Boun That Luang Festival (November)
Lao New Year (Pi Mai, April)
Boat Racing Festival (October)
Vientiane International Film Festival
Boun Ok Phansa (End of Buddhist Lent)
National Day (December 2)
Boun Khao Padap Din (Ancestor Festival)
Boun Bang Fai (Rocket Festival)
Night Market Food Festival
Traditional Music and Dance Events

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Plan slow days; Vientiane is relaxed, not rushed.
Use tuk-tuks or walk downtown; agree the fare before starting your ride.
Visit Pha That Luang and key temples early; midday heat makes sightseeing draining.
Pair the Mekong riverside at sunset with the night market for an easy, local evening loop.

How to travel to Vientiane

Wattay International Airport (VTE) is just a short drive from the city center, with flights from regional hubs like Bangkok, Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur. International buses connect Vientiane with Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. The Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge offers easy train and bus access from Nong Khai, Thailand.

Access summary

From Wattay Airport (VTE): Taxi or airport/local bus, about 15–30 minutes.
From Bangkok: Direct flights to Vientiane, flight time roughly 1–1.5 hours.
From Luang Prabang: Domestic flights about 45–60 minutes; buses take 8–10 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Vientiane

Vientiane has a range of accommodation, from riverside guesthouses and boutique hotels to budget hostels. Most places are centrally located and within easy reach of the main sights. Book ahead during festivals or peak dry season, as rooms fill up quickly.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Crowne Plaza Vientiane By IHG

9.2

Salana Boutique Hotel

9.0

S Park Design Hotel

8.5

Azalea Parkview Hotel

8.4

Eastin Hotel Vientiane

9.0

Muong Thanh Luxury Vientiane

8.5

Mintra Hotel Vientiane

9.3

Green Park Boutique Hotel

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Vientiane

Attractions are spread out, so tuk-tuks, taxis and bikes are the best ways to get around. Walking is pleasant along the river and in central areas, but the heat can be tiring. Local buses exist but are infrequent. Renting a bicycle or scooter is popular for exploring further afield.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-72 %

Daily expenses in Vientiane are around 72% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-34 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to LAK) is 34% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£20	£54	£128
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£7	£32	£64
🍝 Food per day	£11	£18	£52
🚕 Transportation per day	£2	£4	£12

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£7.50
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£1.80
🍟 Fast food combo	£4.10
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£4.10
☕ Cappuccino	£1.30
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.05

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.35
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£7.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£3
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£15
🤧 Cold medication	£2.80
💇 Basic haircut	£1.40

Safety information overview

General safety

Vientiane is generally safe, with low violent crime. Petty theft can occur in crowded markets or on public transport. Take care with valuables and avoid poorly lit areas at night.

Health & Medical

Medical care is basic compared to Western standards. Pharmacies are common, but bring essential medications. Tap water is not safe to drink — use bottled water. Mosquito-borne illnesses are a risk, especially in the rainy season.

Accessibility

Sidewalks can be uneven and some attractions lack ramps. Tuk-tuks are not wheelchair accessible, but some hotels and malls are. Plan ahead if you have mobility needs.

Tap water

Tap water is not safe to drink. Bottled water is widely available and inexpensive. Refill your bottle at your accommodation and stay hydrated, especially in the heat.