Vientiane, Laos: A Not-So-Ordinary City in Southeast Asia

Ever been to a laidback city before? Well, that’s the picture of Vientiane, the capital of Laos- a Southeast Asian country landlocked by Thailand in the West, Vietnam in the east, China and Myanmar in the North and Cambodia in the South.

In the past years, Laos has become a common destination for backpackers in South East Asia. The real thrill however lies in its different provinces but Vientiane has its own beautiful places to offer to travelers. I hope my list will encourage you to visit one day.

It is easy to go around Vientiane, especially if you stay near the Mekong. Just use your GPS or ask for a city map at your hotel and you're ready to go :)

Patuxai

Patuxai or the Victory Monument is a similar structure of Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The ceiling has a story to tell too. You can climb Patuxai for less than a dollar  (5000 kip). From the top,you can have a glimpse of the city.

On the second floor, you can find stores selling Lao souvenirs. 

The Patuxai 

National Museum

For 10000 kip,  you can have a tour of their museum. It is one of the places that a tourist must visit in order to understand the country’s history and its people groups.

Pha That Luang

This stupa is the national symbol of Laos- emphasizing their adherence to the Buddhist beliefs. The Buddhists said that  monks buried a holy relic of Buddha here.  It must be interesting to visit during the That Luang Festival every November. 

Entrance Fee: 5000 kip

The Pha That Luang

Near Pha That Luang is a Buddhist temple where you can see the many different faces of their gods and a big statue of the leaning Buddha.

Haw Phra Kaew

The Haw Phra Kaew

It houses different kinds of Buddhas- from the smallest to the biggest. Many Buddhists visit to pray and pay respect to the large Buddha statue. Taking picture inside the museum is prohibited.

Entrance Fee: 3000 kip 

Wat Si Saket

This is a Buddhist wat featuring a large statue of Buddha inside. Buddhist monks spend time here to pray. Silence and modesty is  observed.

Entrance Fee: 3000 kip 

The Presidential Palace

The Presidential Palace is near the Mekong River. It has a modern architecture design and beautiful in the pictures (with a sunset on the background!)

The Presidential Palace

Buddha Park

This park is a little bit far from the city. You need to hire a tuktuk  to go there ( if you are on an arranged tour, definitely you will visit this place). It is an old park housing a huge leaning Buddha, the different kinds of gods in Buddhism and Hinduism and a man-made cave. Entrance Fee: 3000kip

Night Market near Mekong River

From 5pm to 10pm, the flea market is up near the Mekong River. The place is crowded with tourists and locals trying to buy cheap goods in the night market. Local products are also sold here so it is a must to go! A lot of street foods are available and it is a great place to try Lao food without hurting your wallet. The night market closes at 10pm though. 

COPE 

A center that introduces the history of cluster bombing in Laos and an open invitation on how foreigners can help :) They have a mini-museum, a store (proceeds go to the victims of cluster bombing) and an ice cream shop! (Free Entrance)

Inside the mini-museum of COPE

Mekong River J

Go biking in the street near Mekong, you’ll find Buddhist temples in every corner! The rent for bikes is just 10000 kip a day. 

Where to stay? 

Many backpacker hotels are situated near the Mekong River. It is a great place to get your hotel because everything is available there (grocery store, restaurants, street foods). I recommend Vientiane Star Hotel if you’re looking for a cheap but clean place to stay. The staffs are friendly and accommodating. 

Laos is a beautiful country and I can't wait to explore its gems in the future! For now, let's savor the memories of its laidback capital city :) Til next post!