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Voykit pocket guide · Laos
Vientiane
ວຽງຈັນ
Give Vientiane one or two nights on the way between Thailand and Luang Prabang: a slow, low-rise capital of temples and a Mekong promenade, not a highlight in itself.
Vientiane is the capital of Laos and sits on the Mekong River across from Thailand. The centre is compact, with temples, a riverside promenade and French-era buildings. It is a low-key city with few major sights, and it is the main entry point by land from Thailand at the Nong Khai / Thanaleng border crossing.
- Country
- Laos
- Local name
- ວຽງຈັນ
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (cooler, dry, low humidity)
- Avoid
- Mar–May (very hot, often 38–40°C, seasonal haze) and Jul–Sep (Mekong flooding, heavy rain)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- LAK
- Money
- Lao kip (LAK) in small notes for markets, tuk-tuks and food stalls.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₭150,000–300,000 excl. bed · Mid ₭350,000–700,000 excl. bed · High ₭900,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Unitel, Lao Telecom and ETL sell SIMs at airports and shops; passport registration required.
- Emergency
- Police 191 · Fire 190 · Ambulance 195
- Plugs
- Types A, B, C, E, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Most sockets take flat US and round European pins.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Round up or leave LAK 10,000–20,000.; Guides and drivers: LAK 50,000–100,000 a day.; Massage: LAK 20,000–30,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; bottled and refill water everywhere.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop at bus stops and markets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Beerlao (large bottle) | ₭15,000–25,000 |
| Noodle soup (fŏe) at a local shop | ₭20,000–35,000 |
| Short tuk-tuk ride in town | ₭20,000–50,000 |
| Lao-grown coffee | ₭15,000–25,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VTE · Wattay International
- About 4 km west of the centre; taxi or hotel transfer 10–15 min
Get around
The old quarter is compact and walkable in a morning. Tuk-tuks and metered taxis cover longer distances; agree the fare before getting in a tuk-tuk. Bicycles are an easy, cheap way to cover the temple circuit and riverside without traffic.
See and do
Known for
- That Luang golden stupa
- Patuxai victory monument
- Wat Si Saket's cloistered Buddha niches
- Mekong riverside evening market
- Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan) | Tuk-tuk or local bus, about 25 km | Half day |
| Nam Ngum Reservoir | Car, about 90 km | Full day |
Sleep
- Near the Mekong riverfront
- Walkable to the evening market, cafes and sunset drinks; can be noisy near the main road.
- Around Nam Phu fountain / old French quarter
- Central, restaurants, easy walk to Wat Si Saket and the morning market.
Language
Lao is tonal and written in its own script, close to Thai; Isan Thai speakers understand it. English is common in Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng tourist trades; French signs and older speakers survive.
- 'Sabaidee' (hello), 'khop jai' (thank you), 'bor pen nyang' (no problem).
- WhatsApp and WeChat for businesses; LINE is less common than in Thailand.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Nop (palms together) and 'sabaidee'; avoid: Loud greetings and hugs
- Temples: Covered shoulders and knees, shoes off; avoid: Pointing feet at images; women touching monks
- Keeping calm: Stay relaxed; 'bor pen nyang'; avoid: Anger in public
- Baci ceremony: Keep the white strings on your wrist for three days; avoid: Cutting them off
- Head and feet: Keep feet down; avoid: Touching heads
Scams and watch-outs
- Tuk-tuk drivers often quote a flat, inflated price to tourists: agree the fare before setting off, or ask your hotel for a fair range.
- Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) to enter temple compounds, especially That Luang.
- Unexploded ordnance from the Vietnam War era remains in rural Laos: stay on marked paths outside the city if you head into the countryside.
- ATMs charge a fixed withdrawal fee per transaction (confirm locally, it adds up): withdraw larger amounts less often.
Low-crime capital; road traffic and unagreed tuk-tuk fares are the main day-to-day friction, not personal safety.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Vientiane yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- That Luang golden stupa
- Patuxai victory monument
- Wat Si Saket's cloistered Buddha niches
- Mekong riverside evening market
- Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Ministry of Information: www.tourismlaos.org/
- Wikivoyage — Vientiane: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Vientiane
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/vientiane). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.