The Lao capital stretches along the Mekong, facing Thailand. A low-rise, quiet city: 16th- and 19th-century temples, the Patuxai arch and, in the evening, the night market on the riverbank.
Photo by Christophe95 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo by Basile Morin on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo by Life on the road on Unsplash
Photo by Christophe95 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo by Kalinskie Gilliam on Unsplash
Photo by Meklay YOTKHAMSAY on Unsplash
Photo by yeowatzup on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Photo by yeowatzup on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Photo by Christophe95 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo by Christophe95 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo by Rob te Braake on Unsplash
Photo by Gerd Eichmann on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo by Life on the road on Unsplash
Photo by Life on the road on Unsplash
Photo by yeowatzup on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Photo by Adrian Fleur on Unsplash
Photo by Adrian Fleur on Unsplash
Photo by Alessio Roversi on Unsplash
Vientiane stretches along the left bank of the Mekong, facing Nong Khai. In September 2024 the river rose to 13.24 m here, above the 1966 and 2008 floods; the embankment protected the centre, and a new section was completed in July 2026. The city welcomed 2.2 million visitors in 2025. Since 2026 the tourism office has listed 30,000 kip as the foreigners' entry fee at the main sites.
Photo by Life on the road on Unsplash
The 45 m great stupa, built in 1566 by King Setthathirath and restored in 1953, is Laos's national monument; only its spire is real gold. Open 8 am to noon and 1 to 4 pm, closed on Mondays. Its festival, Boun That Luang, runs from November 21 to 24, 2026.
Photo by Basile Morin on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Built in 1818 under King Anouvong, it is the only temple in the city spared by the Siamese army in 1828. Its cloister holds 6,840 Buddha images in its niches. Open daily.
Photo by Kalinskie Gilliam on Unsplash
Built in 1565 by Setthathirath to house the Emerald Buddha and rebuilt in 1936, it has been a museum of Buddhist sculpture since the 1970s, across from Wat Si Saket.
Photo by Christophe95 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
The victory arch, begun in 1957 with cement meant for an airport runway, hence its nickname, the 'vertical runway'. Climb to the top for a 360-degree view of the city; light shows have been announced.
Photo by yeowatzup on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
About 25 km east, on the Mekong: more than 200 concrete statues begun in 1958 by Bunleua Sulilat, a 40 m reclining Buddha and a tiered 'pumpkin' you can climb. Bus no. 14 from the central bus station opposite Talat Sao.
Photo by Christophe95 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Chao Anouvong park, laid out in 2010 for the city's 450th anniversary, runs along the river around the statue of King Anouvong. The night market sets up there daily from 5 to 10 pm.
COPE, an hour well spent: the COPE visitor centre tells the story of the unexploded bombs that still injure people in rural Laos, and of the survivors' rehabilitation. Free entry, daily from 8:30 am to 4 pm, inside the medical rehabilitation centre on Khouvieng Road.
A large hotel facing the Mekong, a Lao-style boutique hotel in the business district, and a budget hostel.
Photo: Amari Vientiane
A five-star hotel with terrace pools above the river, a garden, spa and gym; shuttle to Wattay Airport, 4 km away.
≈ $110 a night
Photo: Green Park Boutique Hotel
Classic Lao architecture around a pool, a spa and rooms with balconies; Lao food on the terrace at the Sala Nong Chan restaurant.
≈ $190 a night
Photo: House Of Jars
An air-conditioned hostel with curtained bunk beds, lockers and shared bathrooms; guests praise its breakfast.
≈ $22 a night
Booking affiliate links · average nightly price checked in October 2026
3 km from the centre · taxi about $7
Official taxi with a coupon from the desk, around 58,000 kip, or a 15,000 kip bus to the central bus station, according to a 2025 guide. The e-visa is valid at the airport.
Luang Prabang in about 2 hours
The station is 14 to 17 km from the centre. A second-class ticket to Luang Prabang has cost 360,000 kip since April 2026; book on the LCR Ticket app, passport required.
Tickets and times on 12Go Affiliate linkFriendship Bridge or train
Since July 2024 the direct train from Bangkok arrives at Khamsavath station, 7 km from the centre, as do the shuttles from Nong Khai. Buses to Udon Thani on 12Go, €4 to €8, 2 to 3 hours. The e-visa is accepted at the bridge and at Khamsavath.
Buses and times on 12Go Affiliate linkBus · 7 to 9 hours to Thakhek
From the Southern Bus Station: on 12Go, departures for Thakhek at noon and 1 pm, then night buses, €9 to €16.
Buses and times on 12Go Affiliate linkTimes and prices checked on October 11, 2026 on 12Go: check again before you travel.
November to February are the most pleasant months: 27 to 30 °C in the afternoon, 17 to 20 °C at night and almost no rain. April approaches 34 °C. The monsoon runs from May to September, peaking in August at over 400 mm.
| Month | J (current month) | F (current month) | M (current month) | A (current month) | M (current month) | J (current month) | J (current month) | A (current month) | S (current month) | O (current month) | N (current month) | D (current month) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airhigh / low | ||||||||||||
| Rainmm | ||||||||||||
| Daysof rain | 2 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 25 | 12 | 3 | 1 |
| Mekonglevel | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Rising | Rising | High | High | High | Falling | Low |
| Our take | Ideal | Ideal | Fair | Fair | Fair | Difficult | Difficult | Difficult | Difficult | Good | Ideal | Ideal |
| Month | Low – high | mm | River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan (current month) | 11 | Low | |
| Feb (current month) | 14 | Low | |
| Mar (current month) | 38 | Low | |
| Apr (current month) | 76 | Low | |
| May (current month) | 254 | Low | |
| Jun (current month) | 312 | Rising | |
| Jul (current month) | 372 | Rising | |
| Aug (current month) | 409 | High | |
| Sep (current month) | 310 | High | |
| Oct (current month) | 102 | High | |
| Nov (current month) | 22 | Falling | |
| Dec (current month) | 8 | Low |
4 tours to book in Vientiane
Affiliate links GetYourGuide · Prices checked October 10, 2026
from$58
Availabilityfrom$71
Availabilityfrom$48
Availabilityfrom$10
AvailabilitySources: climate, Open-Meteo (ERA5 archive, 1991-2020 averages); sites and fees, Vientiane tourism office and Tourism Laos (2026); That Luang festival, Tourism Laos (September 2026) and Vientiane Times (2025); 2024 flood and embankment, Lao press; Patuxai, Laos Insider (2025); Buddha Park, Awaygowe (2026); COPE, centre's website; museums, Tourism Laos (2025); airport, Théo Courant (2025); Laos-China railway, Tourism Laos (April 2026) and Seat61 (2026); e-visa, official Lao portal; safety, France Diplomatie (September 2026); transport, 12Go (checked October 11, 2026); activities, GetYourGuide (checked October 11, 2026). Updated on October 13, 2026 by Pierre-Marie Coupry.
Photo by Christophe95 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo by Jim Holmes / AusAID on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels
