Location: Vientiane
Top Things to do in Vientiane
Countries
What to do and see in Vientiane, Vientiane Prefecture: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do
Vientiane is the capital and largest city in Laos. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Vientiane is a city steeped in legend and history. The city is the home of the massive gilded stupa, Pha That Luang, a national symbol of Laos. The streets are lined with trees, French colonial buildings, street markets, Buddhist temples, and noodle shops. Just outside the city is Buddha Park, a garden littered with over 200 cement sculptures depicting the gods and monsters of Buddhist and Hindu myth.
Restaurants in Vientiane
1. MAG UXO Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 78 reviews
The UXO Visitor Centre provides visitors with an opportunity to learn more about the most bombed country in the world per capita, and about the work that MAG has been doing in Lao PDR since 1994 to save lives and support development for local communities by clearing the deadly remnants of the bombings.
Reviewed By Gapyearizzie
The visitor centre is very small but contained a lot of important information about the issue of UXOs in Laos, something many western people will be unaware of until they visit this country. The centre had interactive games and videos, as well as bombs and models to help convey the message. The staff were very friendly and welcoming and were happy to answer any questions. They also had free, locally grown tea and coffee as well as calendars that you could take. The whole exhibition is by donation, and it was lovely to be able to support such a worthy cause.
2. Wat Si Muang
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 257 reviews
Reviewed By vand658
I 1st visited Wat Si Muang a few years back when I visited Vientiane, although it wasn't until I appreciated here did I realise the beauty and history behind the school. We went to Wat Si Muang when I moved in with the house I live in to get numerous blessed water to distribute all around the house. It was then that a buddy clarified the story behind Wat Si Muang. Typically there was a number of attempts at developing a temple in that spot that had been unsuccessful, one day someone (can't remember who) told the people that someone must lose the presence of theirs by shifting in the really effectively therefore the temple may be set up, that specific must be wanting. Which continues to be when a pregnant lady came also and forward after the sacrifice of her, the temple was successfully built. There is a division of the temple which people are in a position to go to offer due to this specific individual, as well as likewise I believe the title of her was Si Muang. Just how accurate would be the story? I couldn't allow you to know, although it'd been told to me by the Lao buddies of mine.
3. COPE Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,464 reviews
Reviewed By b3n07l0 - Launceston, Australia
This is a museum dedicated to the legacy of the US bombing campaign in Laos known as the ‘secret war’ of unexploded ordinances and the ongoing human impacts which include maiming and death of farm workers and children and the work of COPE and their partners in UXO clearances and the provision of psycho-physical needs of victims. Profoundly moving. Free entry but donations are graciously received and go to find their work in the field.
4. Houey Hong Vocational Training Centre for Women
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 105 reviews
Houey Hong Vocational Training Centre trains Lao women in weaving, natural dyes, sewing, tailoring and business administration. Beautiful handwoven silk items are made on the premises, along with other products in a range of Lao textiles. Visitors can see the weaving and natural dyes, as part of the every day working environment at the centre. There is a retail shop, where handmade items of excellent quality can be purchased at reasonable prices. For those interested in textiles, or looking for a fun hands-on experience, there is a range of workshops ranging from a half day, full day, to several days. You can learn about natural dyes, and different weaving techniques.
Reviewed By bridgesontheroad - Bargara, Australia
This is a great workshop providing vocational training in textiles, dyeing, weaving and business admin to local women. We went on the short tie-dyeing workshop where we produced one scarf each and it was good fun and very good value. It was also really interesting to be guided around the centre and see the immense amount of work that goes into the weaving in particular.
5. Phou Khoun Observation Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By offroadvietnammotor - Hanoi, Vietnam
I actually wanted to try this longer ride from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang when I turned right at Kasi. Local friends told me it would take two hours longer than the shorter road. Honestly, it's only one hour longer but I had breath-taking views, good roads. Only thing is Lao/Chinese container trucks (I met ~40 in total) made it a bit hard at time. There are many long and steep up or down hill (~5km) so get ready if your bikes have problems.
6. Phat Tich Temple
7. Lao Textile Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 81 reviews
Reviewed By Traveltone1 - Brighton, United Kingdom
Even if you not interested in textiles it’s fascinating to see the looms and the silk making process . The way dyes are made from plants is educational and the visit was topped by a cup of blue tea made from a plant of the pea family .
8. Patuxai
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 2,764 reviews
The "Victory Gate" of the city was built in 1962 out of U.S.-purchased cement that was intended for a new airport.
Reviewed By Travelling_SE_Asia - St. Albans, United Kingdom
Built between 1957 and 1968 out of US purchased cement destined for an airport, the victory gate is rather like the Arc De Triomphe, except it was built in honour of those who struggled in their efforts to gain independence from France. It’s a rather nice monument set in very nice, well-kept grounds. There’s a great city view and a runway style pathway leading up to and through the arc. Well worth a visit.
9. Great Sacred Stupa (Pha That Luang)
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,596 reviews
A 24-carat, 45-meter high Buddhist shrine.
Reviewed By OrderintheHouse
As part of an 18 day Asian adventure to celebrate our 40th anniversary, my wife and I enjoyed a short 5 day Wendy Wu “Laos in Focus” private tour in January 2020, organised through Asia DMC Laos, incorporating a three night stay in Luang Prabang and one night in Vientiane. Our all too short stay in Vientiane included a “whirl wind” tour of the main city attractions including the delightful Wat That Luang Tai Temple culminating with a view of the next door iconic gold covered Pha That Luang, commonly known as the Great Stupa. Out of interest, the Encyclopaedia Britannica defines a “Stupa” as a Buddhist commemorative monument usually housing sacred relics associated with the Buddha or other saintly persons. What an impressive sight the gold covered Great Stupa is. It is a stunning building that dominates the landscape. It is an imposing Buddhist stupa with a height from ground to pinnacle of 147.6 feet or 44 metres. It has a unique, pyramid-like shape and is surrounded at the base by 30 smaller spire-shaped stupas. The entire stupa is divided into three tiers, each narrower than the last, each conveying a reflection of part of the Buddhist doctrine. The first level measures 67 metres by 68 metres; the second is 47 metres along each side; and the third level is 29 metres along each side. The pinnacle of the Stupa is covered in pure gold leaf. Building of the Stupa began in 1566, under the direction of the Laotian king Setthathirat when he decided to move the capital from the city of Luang Prabang to Vientiane. At the front of the Stupa is an interesting statue of King Setthathirat seated on a large stone plinth holding a weapon of warfare and enclosed in a special fenced off area. In 1828, Pha That Luang was almost completely destroyed by the invading Kingdom of Siam and abandoned after that. It was the French in 1930 who decided to rebuild the Stupa along King Setthathirat’s original plans. It was apparently nearly destroyed in 1940 during the independence movements of Southeast Asia, however after World War II further reconstruction followed, leaving us with the splendid structure we see today. We would have really appreciated the opportunity to go inside the grounds and get a closer look at this architectural masterpiece. However, time was not on our side given that our city tour had been delayed by a couple of hours. Never mind, it was better to see the Great Stupa even from a distance than not at all. The visit to Pha That Luang was preceded by an equally impressive visit to the temple next door - Wat That Luang Tai (reviewed separately under Vat That Khao) with its highlights of an incredibly beautiful Pavilion building housing intricate, colourful murals or frescoes on the life of Buddha and of course the imposing gold covered reclining Buddha. Together with the Great Stupa the two attractions made for a Vientiane travellers’ dynamic temple duo – definitely not to be missed. Also, you get some very good initial views of the Great Stupa from within the grounds of Wat That Luang Tai. To us, the sight of Pha That Luang, the Great Stupa, is up there with some of the best unique architectural achievements we have had the privilege to see and visit including, to name three, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, the Opera House in Sydney, Australia and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. How fortunate then that we were able to see this most splendid gold covered structure. It has left a lasting imprint on us. The world is indeed a beautiful place to enjoy when we can admire a unique architectural masterpiece like this.
10. Wat Si Saket
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,289 reviews
This temple contains 6,840 Buddha images of gold, silver and bronze.
Reviewed By romualdass245 - London, United Kingdom
close to the city center, 20k entrance but worth it. Nice temple with great authentic feel. Best time to visit is mid day. not that many people
