Location: Vientiane
Top Things to do in Vientiane
What to do and see in Vientiane, Vientiane Prefecture: The Best 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. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 .
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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
7. Buddha Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 2,367 reviews
This sculpture park is a collection of hundreds if Buddhist and Hindu statues scattered around a meadow.
Reviewed By E6054CTjoh
The park is so beautiful, absolutely worth seeing! We found this sign on a tree and it was a lot cheaper than any of the other tours we found. Plus he took us to the friendship bridge, the gate, a beautiful all silver temple, and the Pagoda and gave us a great insight into National history and legend of the places. He was so friendly and funny, we even went for a beer with him afterwards. And 8$ for all you get is really nothing. The other drivers and hostel tours take 12$ and you just get a ride there and back. Just text him, he was available the same day for us.
8. Mekong Riverside Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 746 reviews
Reviewed By Twwrn
In the evening after 6 the Mekong Riverside Park comes alive with vendors galore and here is where you can purchase souvenirs from traditional clothing for him and her, silk, accessories, tshirts, anime phone cases, artwork, not to mention food! Bartering is allowed and you can get a lower price in most cases. US currency is accepted here BUT make sure it's NEW, undamaged bills or they will NOT accept them, credit cards are accepted. The view of the Mekong by sunset is a sight to behold and many gather if only to view this and take pictures.
9. Vat that Khao
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 226 reviews
Reviewed By OrderintheHouse
My wife and I enjoyed a short 5 day Wendy Wu “Laos in Focus” private tour in January 2020 organised through Asia DMC Laos, as part of an 18 day Asian adventure to celebrate our 40th anniversary. We enjoyed 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 Vat That Khao Temple next door to the iconic Gold covered Great Stupa. Research I have undertaken in preparing this review suggests that while this review is listed under Vat that Khao, the actual name of the Temple appears to be Wat That Luang Tai. Deciding the temple’s correct name however, is immaterial as it is the overall beauty of the temple complex that will be remembered. The temple complex has a very ornate entrance gate. A real feature is a Pavilion building with a beautifully decorated exterior, which has the most amazing collection of murals around a high ceiling inside, which I understand illustrate the most important and decisive moments from the life of Buddha. The entrance to the building has around 8 blue steps with an orange strip down the centre and flanked by two dragon figures on either side. Moving around the inside of the Pavilion one can only marvel at the intricacy of these murals. This building is well worth spending several minutes inside just to gaze sideways and upwards and admire the artwork. The whole place is very spacious. The place has two levels of ceilings. The lower ceiling around the perimeter of the interior of the building has murals and is held together by white painted columns and the higher ceiling in the centre with the life of Buddha murals or frescoes is propped up by 8 ornate gold and red coloured columns. A couple of the building’s sides are open to the elements with no walls. These sides have an ornate white vase-like railing at the base and at the top overhanging from the roof along the outer top edge are what I describe as very attractive semi circular carved-out panels with murals on both the panels' exterior and interior. Another great “must see” feature is the good sized gold imaged reclining Buddha resting very peacefully around landscaped gardens on an impressive, decorative gold and red painted bed. Finally after seeing the reclining Buddha we headed out to the imposing Great Stupa next door but not before passing a covered area containing two rows of several Gold imaged Buddha statues wearing orange cloth sashes with one of the Buddha statues looking down at a resting elephant and a kneeling monkey statue. The overall effect looked very attractive. Our first look at the Great Stupa was from the grounds of this temple complex and it proved a definite WOW factor. Vat that Khao or Wat That Luang Tai was the ideal entrée for the main course which was the Great Stupa (Pha That Luang), next door (reviewed separately). We did not go into the grounds of the Great Stupa but we managed to get some simply stunning photographs of this majestic icon of Vientiane from outside. This gold-covered large Buddhist stupa from ground to pinnacle is 147.6 feet (44 metres) high. The scene was simply majestic, leaving an indelible impression on the mind.
10. Vientiane Night Market
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 430 reviews
Reviewed By Shrinkingworld - Brisbane, Australia
It’s not just a night market it’s a social hub where locals meet up for a variety of things. Situated in the park on the waterfront the market has everything you might be looking for. Around the area there is music booming from the variety of exercise classes that are taking place. Beside the market, great place for people watching
