Vientiane is the vibrant capital city of Laos, nestled along the Mekong River. The city exudes a spellbinding mix of Asian and French influences. In blog post I will highlight how to visit the top sights of Vientiane, Laos in a 2 day itinerary. I had a short, but memorable 2 day visit to Vientiane between my travels in the North of the country, shortly before taking an overnight bus to Don Det in the South of Laos. Whether you’re stopping by on a longer journey through Laos or making a quick detour, this guide will give you itinerary ideas that will help you make the most of your time in Vientiane.
Content:
- SIM Card
- Transportation
- 2 day itinerary of the Top sights in Vientiane
- Where to stay in Vientiane
- Final thoughts on Vientiane
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SIM Card:
Whether you’re visiting Vientiane for a longer or shorter itinerary, it’s always a good idea to get a SIM card so you can stay connect, navigate and get bus schedules and other information on-the-go. Physical SIMs can generally be bought at airports and most train/bus and other transportation hubs around Laos. There are also stores that will sell you SIM cards and associated data plans – just make sure they install the card for you and make sure it actually works before leaving the store.
The most convenient way to get a cellular plan in Laos is to get an eSIM. Airalo’s Asia Regional eSIM would be my strong recommendation in this case. A 1GB plan covering 7 days starts at just $5USD and covers 18 countries in Asia including Laos and its neighbours – Cambodia and Vietnam. Not only is the Asia regional plan convenient for those visiting a number of different SE Asian countries on the same trip, it is actually cheaper than the Laos-only plan which costs $9.50USD for a 1GB plan.
Transportation:
I took the bus between Vang Vieng and Vientiane. The new highway linking the cities means that a road transfer is comparable in travel time to the rail transfer and the bus transfer will pick you up from your hotel in Vang Vieng and drop you off in the city centre in Vientiane, whereas you need to get to and from a rail station outside of town in both cases to commence your transfer by rail – so bus it was. You can search bus schedules and book tickets online here.
If you are coming to Vientiane from further north (ie: Luang Prabang) I would highly recommend booking a train ticket (scroll down on the booking site to find the train option) instead as the stretch of road between Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng is not modernized yet and can take 6 – 9 hours to travel by bus.
2 day itinerary of the Top sights in Vientiane, Laos:
Day 1: Southeast Asia’s Champs-Elysee, and Markets
Arrive by bus or train in the morning.
Afternoon: visit the COPE centre for rehabilitation:
If you arrive during the day in Vientiane, be sure to visit the COPE centre for rehabilitation. The centre teaches visitors about the terrible human costs of the extensive mining that happened in Laos over the course of the Vietnam war. Funds raised at the centre are used towards rehabilitation of victims of landmines in Laos.
After visiting the COPE Vistor’s centre; walk, (or take a tuktuk) to the Presidential Palace on the end of the Vientiane “Champs-Elysee”, or the Ave Lang Xan (Avenue of a Million Elephants). While you can’t actually visit the Presidential Palace. You can still view it from the gates. Walk along the Ave Lang Xan to the Patuxay Monument, Lao’s version of the Arc de Triomphe.
There’s a water and light show that happens at the fountains near the arc every evening that starts around 5:45pm – 6pm and goes on for about an hour that is worth taking in.
Afterwards, walk (or take a tuktuk) to the Vientiane Night Market. After wandering the stalls get a bite to eat at one of the many food stalls at the end of the night market, or dine in style at some of the best restaurants in Laos.
Day 2: Buddha Park, Markets, and National Monuments
Walk (or take a TukTuk) to the Vientiane Central bus station. If you have not had breakfast yet, you can get food at the morning market next to the bus station. Take the number 14 green and white bus to the Buddha Park.
I found 1.5 hours to be more than ample time at the park – and that included a lunch stop at the beautiful onsite restaurant by the river (very inexpensive pricing).
Take the number 14 bus back into Vientiane, and from the central bus station, take the number 23 or 29 bus to the Pha That Luang – the symbol of Laotian nationhood. While in the area, check out the impressive Ho Thammasapha temple a 2 minute walk away, as well as the Wat That Luang Tai temple which is right across from the Pha That Luang.
If interested, the National Assembly building of the Lao PDR is also just a 5 minute walk away – although there is no public access for tourism purposes to the building that I am aware of.
As dusk draws near, take a tuktuk from the Pha That Luang area to Chao Anouvong Park (approximately 50,000kip) to watch the sunset over the Mekong river and Vientiane. The park is centered around a monument to King Anuvong – the last King of Vientiane – who instigated the Lao Rebellion in 1826 – 1828 in order to end de facto Siamese (Thai) rule and recreate the former kingdom of Lan Xang. The offensive got within 3 days of the Siamese capitol of Bangkok, but was ultimately fought back – with Siamese forces eventually taking the capital of Vientiane. While the rebellion was unsuccessful, Anouvong is seen in Lao history as an important figure in promoting a sense of Lao identity and is a symbol of independence against foreign forces. A massive statue of the king stands stalwart overlooking the Mekong river – which is also the Lao-Thai border.
Finish the evening by wandering the Vientiane night market for some food and shopping or try another one of Vientiane’s many fine restaurants before heading back to your hotel or hostel.
Where to stay in Vientiane, Laos:
Luxury:
Given I would only be in Vientiane for one night, I used some IHG points and treated myself to a night at the Crowne Plaza Vientiane. The Crowne Plaza is probably one of the best hotels in the city, with a 3rd floor outdoor infinity pool that offers beautiful views of the city while you swim or lounge in one of their in-pool sun loungers. There’s also a gym and spa with changing rooms, lockers, jacuzzi, sauna and showers, with towels, soap and toiletries that are free for guests to use 24 hours a day.
As I was taking the evening overnight bus to Pakse, staying at the Crowne Plaza was doubly amazing, as the hotel allows guests to continue to use their facilities for the rest of the day after checking out. Therefore, I was able to store my valuables in one of the lockers at the spa during the day after checking out of my room in the morning – spend the entire day sight-seeing, and then go for a swim, hot tub and sauna before showering and getting ready to leave for the night bus that evening. The stay was worth every penny (or point in my case), and something you might consider if you’re doing a similar layover-style one night visit to Vientiane as I did.
For a full French-immersion, consider La Hotel Seine, which offers a French European-styled stay complete with croissants for breakfast, right by the riverside in Vientiane.
Mid-range:
With its modern, spacious rooms, and stunning rooftop infinity pool – COSI Vientiane Nam Phu offers a luxury feeling for mid-range prices. The hotel is located close to Vietiane’s scenic riverside, and is close-by to excellent restaurants, shopping and tourism points of interest.
For a unique mid-range stay, consider the Villa de Mekong, which features traditional-styled Mekong river bungalows situated next to the Vientiane riverside, in the heart of the city.
Budget:
For Budget travelers, Barn Laos Hostel, SYRI Guesthouse Vietiane Hostel & Cafe, and TT Hostel are all well-reviewed hostel in the central tourist district located close to many major points of interest in Vientiane.
Final Thoughts on Vientiane, Laos:
Although my time in Vientiane was brief, it left a lasting impression. In all my travels through the former French Indo-China, Vientiane feels the most like the Paris of the East – the city even has its own version of the Champs-Elysee (in the form of the Ave Lang Xiang). The sublime mix of East and West is an enchanting element of the city. The city’s landmarks and welcoming atmosphere make it a memorable stop for anyone traveling through Laos. With two full days, you can explore an impressive variety of attractions—from the sobering history of war at the COPE Visitor’s Centre; to the symbol of Laotian nationhood at Pha That Luang, to the otherworldly sculptures at the Buddha Park. If your itinerary allows, there is certainly scope for you to linger longer and dive deeper into the city’s unique blend of history, culture, and cuisine.