Top 10 Points of Interest & Landmarks in Vientiane, Vientiane Prefecture

April 3, 2022 Timmy Ribble

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. Phou Khoun Observation Site

Phou Khoun, Vientiane 0100 Laos
Excellent
74%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 31 reviews

Phou Khoun Observation Site

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.

2. Patuxai

Vientiane Laos http://www.visit-laos.com/vientiane/patuxai-victory-monument.htm
Excellent
24%
Good
45%
Satisfactory
28%
Poor
3%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 2,764 reviews

Patuxai

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.

3. Great Sacred Stupa (Pha That Luang)

That Luang Road, Vientiane 0100 Laos
Excellent
36%
Good
44%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
3%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 1,596 reviews

Great Sacred Stupa (Pha That Luang)

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.

4. Vientiane City Pillar Shrine

Rue Setthathirat Street near Wat Si Muang, Vientiane 0100 Laos
Excellent
16%
Good
48%
Satisfactory
35%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 92 reviews

Vientiane City Pillar Shrine

5. Wat That Foon

Nongbone Road, Vientiane 0100 Laos
Excellent
19%
Good
62%
Satisfactory
19%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 37 reviews

Wat That Foon

6. Kaysone Phomvihane Museum

Avenue Kaysone Phomvihane National Highway 13 km 6, Ban Sivilay, Muang Saythani,, Vientiane, Laos, Vientiane 0100 Laos http://www.tourismlaos.org/show_province.php?Cont_ID=775
Excellent
20%
Good
60%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 10 reviews

Kaysone Phomvihane Museum

7. The Walking Street

Quai Fa Ngum Vientiane New World, Vientiane 0100 Laos +856 20 28 899 778 http://web.facebook.com/walkingstreetlao/
Excellent
29%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
35%
Poor
6%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 17 reviews

The Walking Street

The Walking Street is a lively night market at the Mekong river in Vientiane. The market is mostly outdoor with many shops and stalls in three different Zones, offering a wide range of products, cloths, accessories, food and drinks. Experience the cozy and special atmosphere

8. Patuxai

Vientiane Laos
Excellent
40%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 5 reviews

Patuxai

9. Wat Ong Teu

Vientiane Laos
Excellent
18%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
42%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 60 reviews

Wat Ong Teu

Reviewed By DannyS43 - Baku, Azerbaijan

Wat Ong Teu is located on the Main Street of Vientiane, so you can’t miss it. It’s really beautiful and in great condition. But what make it different are amazing gold incrusted tower and giant white Buddha at the yard of the temple.

10. Namphou Circle

Rue Setthathilath, Vientiane 0100 Laos +856 20 58 586 464 http://www.facebook.com/moonlightvientiane
Excellent
13%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
47%
Poor
8%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 111 reviews

Namphou Circle

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