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Vientiane holidays

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

Ansara Hotel, Vientiane

Vientiane holiday highlights

Perched on the banks of the meandering Mekong River, low-key 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.

Discover ornate temples and colonial-influenced architecture; enjoy the city's many contrasts – you'll find agriculture hidden behind tree-lined avenues; French colonial architecture next to gilded temples; freshly-baked bread served next to soup noodles stalls. In Vientiane, dine on mouth-watering classical French or traditional Laos cuisine in one of the many restaurants.

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