Perched on the banks of the meandering Mekong River, low-key and often overlooked Vientiane is a welcome respite from the bustle of other Asian capitals and delights with temples, markets and a relaxed riverside restaurant scene. With French colonial architecture and magnificent Buddhist temples, Vientiane boasts a rich mixture of cultures to savour. If you want a change of pace from the high energy cities of Vietnam or Thailand this is the place to head.
- This is a great city for a spot of shopping with both a morning market and a relatively low-key night market
- Reflecting the city’s laidback vibe is the charming Mekong Riverside Park, which comes alive in the evening as people come to watch the sun set and explore the night market
- There is a growing café culture a strong, perhaps due to the French influence. Laotian coffee, produced in the country’s highlands, is sweetened with condensed milk
- For a capital city, Vientiane has relatively few museums and renowned sights; however Buddha Park and COPE Visitor Centre are well worth a visit
Top hotels in Vientiane
Good to know
Time difference:
GMT +7 hours
Currency:
Lao Kip
Flying time to destination:
13 hours
When to visit
| Jan | 28°c |
| Feb | 30°c |
| Mar | 32°c |
| Apr | 33°c |
| May | 32°c |
| Jun | 31°c |
| Jul | 31°c |
| Aug | 30°c |
| Sep | 31°c |
| Oct | 30°c |
| Nov | 29°c |
| Dec | 27°c |
Recommended Vientiane Hotels
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Far East 2019
Luang Prabang
