Vientiane - Things to do

Vientiane is the capital city of Laos which has numerous French architectural mansions and a handful of Buddhist Temples. This is the most-visited destination when coming to Laos, so let's review the top things to do in Vientiane with us below.

1. Taste local street foods in Vientiane

Vientiane has become home to several excellent restaurants at remarkably low prices. There are a number of restaurants catering to foreigners in the main tourist areas, along Lan Xang and Samsenthai Roads, as well as along the Mekong River. You can find everything from small roadside stalls to full restaurants.
Vientiane shares a lot of common street foods with the rest of Southeast Asia, especially Chinese noodles in various forms. Given a large number of visitors from Vietnam, it should be no surprise that 'Vietnamese noodle soup' (pho) can be also easily found.

Street food in Vientiane

 

2. Visit historical buildings and temples

Sightseeing in Vientiane is about exploring the history of this place, as there are many places to visit in Vientiane. Vientiane is mainly home to old temples and monuments; most are located in downtown Vientiane, so walking may be a good choice to visit them. With temples of high religious importance, intriguing museum exhibits, inspiring aid work, sights and smells of an exotic market, and the unusual monuments of Buddha Park, there is much to discover and admire in the capital city. Lao National Museum, Patuxai, Wat Si Saket, Ho Phra Keo Museum, and Pha That Luang is some of the places to explore.

Statues of Buddhas in Wat Si Saket

Pha That Luang

3. See Vientiane by Bicycle

Cycling in Vientiane is a perfect way to discover the main attractions of the city. You can even bike to the Lao -Thai Friendship Bridge or Buddha Park if you want to but it takes around 1-2 hours each way.

One of the bike routes that are good to be taken is the Mekong Riverfront Route, where you can bike along the river for around 2-3 km. During the trip, you have a chance to see locals hanging out on the riverfront and engaging in different activities. You might even chance upon some locals fishing. The other route that’s good to take is the City Landmarks Route, where you’ll cover the popular landmarks of Vientiane: Wat Ho Phra Keo, Wat Si Saket, Patuxai Monument, and Pha That Luang. This route will take about 30 minutes to bike. Be free to explore the city however you want and stumble upon different scenes in Laos.

Take some bottled water and take frequent rests and lock the bike when it is parked.

4. Try Tuk-tuk

Tuk-Tuks in Vientiane are operated by the Tuk-Tuk Association of Vientiane Capital. There are many Tuk Tuk stations in Vientiane but the nearest station in town is located at the Nam Phou Fountain on Samsenthai Road. The Tuk-Tuks operate between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm and are the most common mode of transport for short-distance trips.
Standard prices have been set by the Tuk-Tuk Association for each destination, though they are open to bargaining.

A Tuk-tuk

5. Massage in Vientiane

Another thing that you may want to try in Vientiane is the very affordable massages. The treatments can include head massage, oil massage, or herbal steam and sauna which make you feel comfortable both physically and mentally.

Although Vientiane probably is one of the smallest capital cities in the world, its attractiveness of it is undeniable. In case you are still confused about what to do, it may be helpful that we have many interesting tours to Vientiane available.