7 unforgettable things to see in Vientiane

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There are plenty of things to see in Vientiane, Laos. The laid-back capital of Laos is Vientiane and is located northeast of the powerful Mekong River. Until 1953, the French colonial empire ruled over Vientiane. With a fascinating history, Vientiane is quite an enigmatic city today. The city’s architecture reflects its colonial past, with charming French-inspired buildings scattered throughout. Vientiane offers a rich tapestry of Laos culture, from ancient temples like Wat Si Saket to artistic park experiences like Buddha Park. In this article, we will share 7 things to see in Vientiane to help you with your next trip.

Things to see in Vientiane 

Here are just a few sights and activities to see during your time in Vientiane:

Patuxay Monument in Vientiane Laos

The first thing on our list is the Laotian Arc de Triomphe, a 1960s impressively large war memorial known as the Patuxay Monument, or ‘Victory Gate.’ The Lao government constructed it to commemorate the Laotian people who fought during the First Indochina War and World War II.

There’s a funny story behind all of this that we found out when we went here. The Lao government built it using American cement and funding given to the Lao government originally to design an airport. The Lao government had other ideas and instead built this. What an interesting turn of events! Although it resembles the original Arc de Triomphe, this structure is distinctly Laotian in its design aesthetics. It features Buddhist symbols like Naga and inscriptions throughout. The monument itself has five tower heads that represent the five principles of coexistence among nations around the world. It also reflects the Buddhist principles of: 1. Thoughtful amiability 2. Flexibility. 3. Honesty. 4. Honour 5. Prosperity. 

When you first arrive, you will notice multiple markets and souvenir stalls on the ground floors and a big water fountain outside. We felt it made this epic building slightly tacky, with a bunch of little souvenir shops right there. However, you have to respect the hustle, and it is a third-world country. If you’re lucky, you may also come across some monks in orange-robed attire passing through the monument.

How far is Patuxay Monument from Vientiane?

The monument is located about 20–25 minutes walk from the city centre of Vientiane on Lane Xang Avenue and can be accessed on foot, bike, and tuk tuk. We walked from our hotel, and it took us about 25 minutes.

Patuxay Monument is open from Monday to Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm and on weekends from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm Although it has ceased operation and access to the higher floors.

Wat Si Saket

Wat Si Saket is another location in Vientiane, Laos that is worth making your way there for a visit. A peaceful Buddhist temple for relaxation and contemplation among the local Laotian people. This 19th-century temple is known for its thousands of Buddha statues throughout and is one of the oldest in Vientiane. As you walk through, you feel a sense of serenity and calmness while exploring.

The cost of entry was 30,000 LAK | $1.45 USD | $2.27 AUD per person. We recommend visiting here if you are curious about the Laotian religion of Buddhism and the diverse Buddha statue positions.

Buddha Park

Buddha Park, or Xieng Khuan, is a mini-themed park of statues located outside Vientiane’s city centre. If you want to learn and go deeper into the culture of Laos, then this place is worth a visit. Inside the park reside Buddhist and Hindu deities, statues, and mythical creatures. Designed in the 1950s by a Lao monk named Bunleua Sulilat. It contains several hundred statues and a maze-like theme as you navigate your way through this uniquely spiritual park.

As you walk around, you become immersed in a path full of bizarre yet artistic statue designs. For example, at the start of the maze-like walk, they have a massive mouth that is open to walk inside its giant head. It kind of reminded me of the Luna Park entrance back in Sydney. However, Buddha Park’s maze-head statue is a much tighter fit, consisting of narrow stairwells inside. There are three levels, which are inspired to be Hell, Earth, and Heaven. The view from the top of the head is the monk’s creative expression of ‘heaven’ as you sit above the demons, statues, and mythical creatures below.

As you continue walking through the park, the major player in all of this is a giant reclining Buddha at 40 metres long. If you want to explore outside of the city centre of Vientiane, then this is worth the day trip out.

How do I get to Buddha Park?

To get to Buddha Park, you’ll need to leave the city centre which is 25 kilometers away. You can get there by public transport such as a bus ride, Lyft, or driving. The majority of tourists on a budget opt for the bus option, and there is a bus station at Xieng Khuang. You can catch the number 14, and there should be a few other tourists all heading to the same destination. The cost of the bus fare is about 6,000 kip per person. Most of the tourists catching the bus will be heading to the same spot or to BeerLao Brewery, another popular tourist destination.

You can also get a tuk-tuk or a Lyft over there. We were fortunate to have Jacinta’s family drive us, which took about 25 minutes.

On arrival, we paid 15,000 LAK | 0.92 USD | $1.44 AUD each to enter Buddha Park.

Check out Viator tours or GetYourGuide for booking day trips out to Buddha Park

COPE Visitor Centre 

Go and see the COPE Visitor Centre, a profoundly moving place doing great things in the world, the COPE Visitor Centre is a must-do on your Vientiane Laos list. The COPE Visitor Centre is a non-profit organization that helps local people in Laos, and it is located right nearby the Parkson Mall.

Have you ever wondered what war does to a society or population over the long term? Then here is the place to go and learn and become better informed about the Vietnam War and its impact on the Laotian country and people decades later.

There is a deeply moving story here that shares why the Laotian people are the way they are today and its history. The COPE Centre gives a different understanding of Laos’ past and its impact on the present. When you walk inside the COPE Centre they share the work they do to help local Laotian people by providing prosthetics. The reason why the Laotian people require prosthetics is due to the sheer number of UXO’s (unexploded ordinances) still in Lao post-Vietnam War, which ended back in 1975.

Laos is the world’s most heavily bombed country per capita. 260 million bombs were dropped on Laos from 1964 to 1973. More than half a million bombing missions were carried out over Laos. Also inside the COPE centre, are some very moving documentary films showing the resilience of the Laotians that have been impacted by the UXO’s and their positivity and courageousness in reintegrating back into normal society. A shout-out to the ‘Bomb Harvest’ documentary played at the COPE centre by fellow Australian Laith Stevens. The film follows Laith, a bomb disposal technician, and goes into the aftermath of the UXO’s and how it affects Laotian people every day. 

The whole experience is free, and all they ask for in return is a donation, which goes to support the work of the COPE Centre. You can also donate online to support the COPE Centre.

So for readers who want to engage in the culture and history of Vientiane Laos, this is worth putting down as an activity that will move you. COPE Centre is the place to go and visit, operating from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm every day. This is not to be missed, as it is vital to understand the history of this beautiful country and its people.

Pha That Luang

Pha That Luang—the Great Stupa, pronounced (Pha-Dat-lu-ang)—is the most significant Buddhist monument in Vientiane Laos. It is a golden-plated stupa believed to contain the breastbone of the Buddha, standing prominently 4 km from the city centre of Vientiane. It is believed that the first temple here was constructed in Vientiane Laos in the 3rd century. Today, it is a pilgrimage site for Buddhists everywhere, and for the local Laotian people, it is a national icon and symbol found on the Lao currency (LAK).

It is located 4 km from the city centre and can be accessed on foot, bike, or tuk-tuk. As far as opening times, it operates from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm daily.

People originally built today’s version back in 1566 and have since rebuilt it over several hundred years.

If you are planning a visit to Pha That Luang, just make sure to dress respectfully, with women wearing a long skirt that covers your knees and shoulders covered by a sarong or scarf (no midriff tops).

Eat the Lao cuisine

If you’re making the trip out to Vientiane, then you bloody well have to try the thriving food scene in Laos. It’s different in comparison to Western foods you have had growing up, but give it a go. Savour the flavours of the delightfully simple combination of Lao sausage (Sai Oua) and sticky rice (Khao Niew). Dig your palette into a hot bowl of Khao Piak Sen, the country’s signature noodle soup dish. Wash it down with a Beer Lao, one of the best lager beers in Southeast Asia. Even better when it costs less than $1 AUD ($0.64 USD) for a cold one.

If you’re nearby, you definitely need to try a Lao style ‘Pho’ or a ‘Mi Bet’ duck noodle soup (pictured above) from Miss Toon Pho Restaurant, it’s cash only, but a hidden local gem! You know it’s good when only locals flock to eat here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Visit the Vientiane Night Market 

Take a stroll out to the Vientiane night market and observe all the different food and souvenir stalls. Even better when you walk through here and can see the Mekong River in the distance and spot Thailand out onto the horizon. It operates from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm. You can easily walk through this in an hour. If you’re nearby, it is worth dropping by; even better if you can time it for the sunset.

Extra Things to See in Vientiane Laos

Outside of these cultural tourist destinations to go and see, there are a few other activities that can be done if none of these tickle your fancy. Here are a few bonus suggestions to keep you occupied when you want things to see in Vientiane, Laos:

• Go to the BeerLao factory in Vientiane
• Take a trip to the Lao conversation Trust for Wildlife
• Visit the Lao Textile Museum to learn about the traditional textile weaving techniques of Laos.
• A walk or bike ride along the Mekong Riverside Park

If interested, make sure you check out Viator for full-day tours of Vientiane.

Is Vientiane worth visiting?

Yes, absolutely. There is lots of different things to see in Vientiane! If you’re coming to Laos, you will want to include Vientiane on your list. This central city has a fusion of French and Laotian culture built into its cafe culture, architecture, and surroundings. It has a unique atmosphere compared to Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng, and you will enjoy exploring the laid-back capital of Laos, even for just a few days.

How many days do you need in Vientiane Laos?

Dedicating two days should be enough time to cover the major sites and things to see in Vientiane, Laos. Unlike the bustling capital neighbours like Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City, Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, has a more relaxed allure. You can likely squeeze in the majority of the landmarks in a couple days if you are short on time. We travelled from Vang Vieng and stayed a few days in the city centre of Vientiane. While exploring our surroundings, we also spent time visiting Jacinta’s family before flying out to Hanoi, Vietnam. 

If you’re coming from Vang Vieng and need to book a bus or train ticket, try out 12Go platform. This is the service we used to travel from Vang Vieng to Vientiane.

Reading online and hearing from other travelers’ experiences, Vientiane has had differing reviews on the length of time and whether it is worth the visit. Ultimately, the experience you will have when you travel here will depend on you as a tourist. For us, we really enjoyed our time here due to the family experience, and we would recommend two days for first-timers coming to Laos.

The Top Things to see in Vientiane

If you are short on time, here is a summary of the top things to see in Vientiane:

• Go and see the Patuxay Monument
• Visit Wat Si Saket to see the thousands of Buddha statues
• Visit the Buddha Park for a maze-like statue park
• Go and see the COPE Visitor Centre and become more informed about Laos history and Laotian people
• Pha That Luang 
• Eat the Lao cuisine. Go visit the Vientiane night market
• Take a Laotian cooking class

Conclusion for Vientiane Laos

Vientiane is a historic city with a fusion of Lao temples and French colonial architecture. It offers a rich cultural experience from its delicious food, smiling locals, and rough historical past. It is a great place for relaxation, exploration, and learning about the tragic lingering effects of war and the brave smiles of the Laotian people today. This is everything we plan to cover on things to see in Vientiane. If you want to learn more about Laos or enjoy its relaxed atmosphere, you should include it in your trip. Don’t forget to read on for the best Southeast Asia travel tips. If you’re new to our page, check out our other blogs.

Learn more about Vang Vieng, Laos activities