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Voykit pocket guide · Laos
Vientiane
ວຽງຈັນ
Give Vientiane one or two nights on the way between Thailand and Luang Prabang: a slow, low-rise capital of temples and a Mekong promenade, not a highlight in itself.
Vientiane is the capital of Laos and sits on the Mekong River across from Thailand. The centre is compact, with temples, a riverside promenade and French-era buildings. It is a low-key city with few major sights, and it is the main entry point by land from Thailand at the Nong Khai / Thanaleng border crossing.
- Country
- Laos
- Local name
- ວຽງຈັນ
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (cooler, dry, low humidity)
- Avoid
- Mar–May (very hot, often 38–40°C (100–104°F), seasonal haze) and Jul–Sep (Mekong flooding, heavy rain)Mar–May (very hot, often 100–104°F (38–40°C), seasonal haze) and Jul–Sep (Mekong flooding, heavy rain)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- LAK
- Money
- Lao kip (LAK) in small notes for markets, tuk-tuks and food stalls.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₭150,000–300,000 excl. bed · Mid ₭350,000–700,000 excl. bed · High ₭900,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Unitel, Lao Telecom and ETL sell SIMs at airports and shops; passport registration required.
- Emergency
- Police 191 · Fire 190 · Ambulance 195
- Plugs
- Types A, B, C, E, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Most sockets take flat US and round European pins.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Round up or leave LAK 10,000–20,000.; Guides and drivers: LAK 50,000–100,000 a day.; Massage: LAK 20,000–30,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; bottled and refill water everywhere.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop at bus stops and markets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Beerlao (large bottle) | ₭15,000–25,000 |
| Noodle soup (fŏe) at a local shop | ₭20,000–35,000 |
| Short tuk-tuk ride in town | ₭20,000–50,000 |
| Lao-grown coffee | ₭15,000–25,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VTE · Wattay International
- About 4 km (2.5 mi) west of the centre; taxi or hotel transfer 10–15 minAbout 2.5 mi (4 km) west of the centre; taxi or hotel transfer 10–15 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The old quarter is compact and walkable in a morning. Tuk-tuks and metered taxis cover longer distances; agree the fare before getting in a tuk-tuk. Bicycles are an easy, cheap way to cover the temple circuit and riverside without traffic.
See and do
Known for
- That Luang golden stupa
- Patuxai victory monument
- Wat Si Saket's cloistered Buddha niches
- Mekong riverside evening market
- Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan) | Tuk-tuk or local bus, about 25 km (16 mi)Tuk-tuk or local bus, about 16 mi (25 km) | Half day |
| Nam Ngum Reservoir | Car, about 90 km (56 mi)Car, about 56 mi (90 km) | Full day |
Sleep
- Near the Mekong riverfront
- Walkable to the evening market, cafes and sunset drinks; can be noisy near the main road.
- Around Nam Phu fountain / old French quarter
- Central, restaurants, easy walk to Wat Si Saket and the morning market.
Language
Lao is tonal and written in its own script, close to Thai; Isan Thai speakers understand it. English is common in Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng tourist trades; French signs and older speakers survive.
- 'Sabaidee' (hello), 'khop jai' (thank you), 'bor pen nyang' (no problem).
- WhatsApp and WeChat for businesses; LINE is less common than in Thailand.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Nop (palms together) and 'sabaidee'; avoid: Loud greetings and hugs
- Temples: Covered shoulders and knees, shoes off; avoid: Pointing feet at images; women touching monks
- Keeping calm: Stay relaxed; 'bor pen nyang'; avoid: Anger in public
- Baci ceremony: Keep the white strings on your wrist for three days; avoid: Cutting them off
- Head and feet: Keep feet down; avoid: Touching heads
Scams and watch-outs
- Tuk-tuk drivers often quote a flat, inflated price to tourists: agree the fare before setting off, or ask your hotel for a fair range.
- Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) to enter temple compounds, especially That Luang.
- Unexploded ordnance from the Vietnam War era remains in rural Laos: stay on marked paths outside the city if you head into the countryside.
- ATMs charge a fixed withdrawal fee per transaction (confirm locally, it adds up): withdraw larger amounts less often.
Low-crime capital; road traffic and unagreed tuk-tuk fares are the main day-to-day friction, not personal safety.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Vientiane yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- That Luang golden stupa
- Patuxai victory monument
- Wat Si Saket's cloistered Buddha niches
- Mekong riverside evening market
- Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (Lao National Tourism): www.tourismlaos.org/
- Wikivoyage — Vientiane: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Vientiane
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/vientiane). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.