Situated on the Mekong River in southern Laos, the city still has remnants of its French heritage, a time when it was part of French Indochina. An overview of the most popular attractions in Vientiane:

Walk Around Town

A stroll around Nam Phou fountain, the central point of Vientiane with its myriad of cafes, tailors, souvenir shops and restaurants is a must. Keep walking toward the Mekong river and enjoy the vistas of the sunset while sipping a drink on the riverside. Nothing fancy here but certainly a relaxing time ahead, very “Lao style”.

Pha That Luang

That Luang, or the Great Stupa, in Vientiane is a national symbol (its image is on Laos’ official seal) and also the most sacred monument in the country. From the outside That Luang looks more like a fortress surrounded by high walls and it features two temples with the main stupa, the top of which is covered with gold leaf, standing 148 feet tall. The beautiful architecture is in Lao style, influenced by Buddhist beliefs – these include finely-gilded, red-lacquer doors, pointed lesser stupas, many Buddha images and beautiful flower and animal images.

Locals say that it was originally built as early as the third century to house a breastbone of the Lord Buddha brought to Laos by an Indian missionary. However, the current structure was built by King Setthathirat in 1566 on the site of a 13th century Khmer ruin. He named Vientiane the capital after Luang Prabang in the mid-sixteenth century. An elegantly crafted statue of him stands in front of the main entrance to That Luang

Vientiane Riverfront

Starting stroll around Nam Phou fountain, the central point of Vientiane with its myriad of cafes, tailors, souvenir shops and restaurants is a must. Keep walking toward the Mekong river and enjoy the vistas of the sunset while sipping a drink on the riverside. Nothing fancy here but certainly a relaxing time ahead, very “Lao style”.

Located on the Mekong River that separates Vientiane from Thailand, you  will find a colorful night market, lined with stalls selling daily necessities and food to snack on while walking the promenade.

Vientiane night market, which is spread across the road from popular rooftop bar and Wat Chan — the halls of the temple will be ringing with evening prayers. Most stalls cater to locals, though a few sell tourist trinkets that pale in comparison to what’s available at the Luang Prabag night market. Still, it’s great to wander through and see the latest local fashions and trends.

Patuxai – Victory Arch Vientiane

Patuxai is reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris but with Laotian characteristics, including four arches and five ornate towers at the top. The arch or gateway, as it translates, was built to commemorate Laos gaining its independence from France. This Vientiane attraction is dedicated to the Laotian soldiers who died in World War II and in the battles for independence from France. Patuxai is sometimes known as the “vertical runway” because it was built with American money and materials intended for a new airport. Visitors can climb up to the 7th story for a nice view of Vientiane.

Buddha Park

Buddha Park (aka Xieng Khuan) is a famous sculpture park with more than 200 religious statues including a huge 40-metre high reclining Buddha image. The best spot for photography here is on top of the giant pumpkin structure standing about three stories high. The entrance is crafted to look like a demon’s mouth (about three metres high) with a stone ladder inside leading to a bird's eye view of the entire Xieng Kuan Park.

Buddha Park Highlights It was built in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, a monk who studied both Buddhism and Hinduism. This explains why his park is full not only of Buddha images but also of Hindu gods as well as demons and animals from both beliefs.

Wat Sisaket

Wat Si Saket located in Vientiane is famous for its cloister wall housing thousands of tiny Buddha images and rows with hundreds of seated Buddhas. These images mainly date from the 16th and 19th centuries and come in all sizes and are made from wood, stone and bronze – more than 6,800 Buddhas in total.

If visiting the temple early in the morning, visitors will come across the many locals that go to pray and make merit as well as to offer food to the monks. It is a charming daily ceremony to witness. The temple is quite shady as it is surrounded by tropical fruit trees.

COPE Visitor Centre

Laos is the most heavily bombed country in history, with about 30 percent of the ordinance failing to explode properly. Even though Laos is at peace now, these devices are still going off, killing and maiming people. COPE, short for Cooperative Orthotics and Prosthetics Enterprise, works to rehabilitate people whose lives have been destroyed by these devices, which include bombs and grenades. Visitors to the center can learn more about the problem of unexploded devices in Laos as well as the treatment provided to victims. An excellent gift shop offers fun, offbeat souvenirs that support a good cause.

Lao National Museum

The Lao National Museum is a good place to learn about the Lao people from prehistoric times on as well as spend a few hours out of the sun. It’s located in an old French colonial building that is falling apart and some of the exhibits are faded, but this doesn’t detract from the contents. The bottom floor concentrates on the country’s early history, with dinosaur bones and pottery shards. The upper floor deals with a more modern Laos, including French colonization and fight for independence, and United States’ presence during the Vietnam War.

Wat Phra Keo

Vientiane boasts several beautiful temples or wats, but one of the most impressive and interesting of them is Wat Ho Phra Keo. It was originally constructed in 1565 as the Lao royal family’s personal chapel, and as a home for the Emerald Buddha after it was snatched from northern Siam (Thailand). This sacred jade statue was reclaimed by the Siamese in 1778 and now sits in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok. Even without the Emerald Buddha, however, Ho Phra Keo is well worth a visit.

The only part of the old royal palace that has survived, the temple is no longer used for religious purposes and is now a museum. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, as it is often known in English, is richly adorned with carved wooden features, a magnificent 16th century lacquered door with Hindu carvings, numerous Khmer stone carvings and a variety of Buddha statues.

Wat Si Muang

The home of Vientiane’s original city pillar sits at the junction of Rue Setthathirath and Samsenthai. Built in 1956, the holy believe the temple guards the spirit of a local pregnant girl, name “Si” who jumped to her death as a sacrifice, when the pillar was lowered into place. The golden temple annually attracts crowds to the colourful Phasat Pheung (wax pavilion) procession held two days before the That Luang Festival in November.

Patuxai Victory Monument

With its crenellated upper level topped with five ornate towers in the traditional Laos style, the Patuxai Victory Monument cuts a distinctive figure on the Vientiane skyline. It forms the centrepiece of Patuxai Park, and is dedicated to the Laos who were killed in the fight to gain independence from France, as well as from the nation’s earlier occupiers, Siam and Japan.

Situated at the end of one of the capital’s grand avenues, the large, square arch is reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. However, as a monument to Laos’ resilience and eventual independence, Patuxai was designed to pay homage to its national culture and traditions. Its exterior embellishments feature both Buddhist religious symbols such as lotus leaves and the stupa-shaped towers, and statues of animist kinnari (half-female and half-bird figures) and nagas (dragons).

ACTIVITIES

Street Food Tour by Tuk Tuk

Vientiane is a foodie’s paradise just waiting to be devoured. This gourmet safari visits local restaurants, hole-in-the-wall eateries, markets, factories and outdoor kitchens – so you can sample a smorgasbord of authentic and modern Lao food.

Handicraft Trail by Tuk Tuk

Lao handicrafts are renowned for their beauty and there are so many different ethnic designs and traditions. Explore a journey through the artisanal traditions of Laos – from the loom to the kiln to the boutique.

A day that showcases Laos traditional hand-made arts and crafts, especially suitable for the most discerning of shoppers and artisans.

Alms Giving

Alms giving is the respect given by a lay Buddhist to a Buddhist monk. During this process, locals believe that this will help in making merit for your future as well as your loved ones who have passed away and even for your afterlife as well. It is not restricted to only Buddhist believers.
​At 5:30 am each morning, hundreds of monks leave their respective temples. Bare feet padding softly on the sidewalks, they are in a walking meditation. Traversing the streets of Salana Boutique Hotel in long, straight lines, carrying their heavy alms bowls over one shoulder, it is time for the daily almsgiving. 

Vientiane Orchidees

The Orchid Farm was created in 2006, born from a passion for orchids and the desire to be part of the conservation of the unique Lao biodiversity while at the same time impacting economic and social development.

Outdoor Activities

If you are active person, there are still multiple outdoor activities for you.  It can be trekking exploring Phou Khaokhuay NPA, visiting the hidden waterfalls, plenty of wild orchids, and plantation…

Also, you can cycling in coutryside, along Mekong river and padde to discover one of islands, called ‘Don Xing Xou’ which is used as for farming taking advantage of the year round fertility, it is also home to a beautiful beach at the far end in dry season.