Vientiane Capital

Temples & Stupas Vat Sisaket, constructed by King Anouvong in 1818, is located on Lane Xang Avenue near the Presidential Palace, and is the only temple in the “Old City” that survived the Siamese invasion in 1828. The temple’s main hall presents shelves displaying 6,840 Buddha images and a library with Buddhist manuscripts dating to … Read more

Along Lane Xang & Talat Sao Scour Lane Xang Concourse from temples and markets near the Presidential Palace to Patuxay monument and the revered That Luang Stupa. Lang Xang’s tree-lined avenue presents French colonial architecture, with the Presidential Palace standing at is head and Rue Setthathirath passing its front gate. Though closed to the public, … Read more

  The capital sits at a cultural, tourism, and business crossroads, and the city’s accommodation reflects this mix. Sip on your morning coffee on a patio overlooking a garden courtyard in town. Enjoy the Mekong sunset with a drink on your high-rise hotel balcony. Room rates for the 400-plus establishments can place you in a … Read more

  In 1357 King Fa Ngum held a celebration for the unification of all Lao territories, which enhanced his power throughout the Lane Xang Kingdom and neighbouring kingdoms. It was administered from the Pakpasak area in present day Vientiane. In 1560, King Saysettha moved the Lane Xang Kingdom’s capital from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, naming … Read more

Vientiane Capital is often the first stop for visitors to Laos, and the city offers plenty of activities and attractions. More options are opening up to get there by air, road, and rail, and a public bus service is reaching areas of the city few have visited. Hotels are now seeing the capital’s potential, and … Read more

Most visitors to the capital stay in the downtown area, where they can take in the main attractions. Many rent a bicycle or motorbike, which makes it quicker to reach Patuxay, That Luang, and the suburbs, which are well worth exploring. Tuk tuks are plentiful, and make it easy to get around the city centre, … Read more

By Air (International) The number of flights and airlines landing at Vientiane’s Wattay International Airport continues to increase, and they are arriving from more destinations including Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, and southern China. Airlines offering direct flights include Lao Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Vietnam Airlines, Silk Air, AirAsia, Thai Smile, and Jin Air. Many global … Read more

  Along Lane Xang Presidential Palace: Lane Xang’s tree-lined avenue presents French colonial architecture, with the Presidential Palace standing at is head and Rue Setthathirath passing its front gate. Though closed to the public, this sizeable landmark displays elegant Beaux-Arts architecture complete with tall colonnades. Opened in 1986, the home of government functions and ceremonies, but … Read more

  Start at That Luang, Laos’ most sacred religious structure. See Vat Sisaket, constructed in 1818, and is the only temple that survived the Siamese invasion in 1828. Step into Vat Phra Keo, constructed in 1565, to house the Emerald Buddha. That Dam, a city landmark constructed in the 16th century, is the home of … Read more

  Vientiane sits across the Mekong from Nong Khai, Thailand, and the two cities are linked by the 1st Thai-Lao Bridge. Vientiane has no major river port, and only a few luxury cruises call on the Lao capital city and its well-known sites. They use the Mekong Landmark Hotel as their landing. No downriver cruises … Read more