The Capital of Laos, Vientiane, is a small city that you can visit in a couple of days. It is home to some of the most incredible places to see in Laos such as Pha That Luang or Buddha Park.
In this post I tell you about the 20 essential things to see and do in Vientiane and I add several links to other posts that may be useful to you about where to stay, how to get there...
20 ESSENTIAL THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN VIENTIANE, LAOS
1. Visit the Pha That Luang temple, an essential thing to see and do in Vientiane
This impressive temple located in the middle of the city is a sacred monument for Laos. Pha That Luang Temple was built in the 13th century and has needed several renovations throughout history. The last renovation was in the 1930s, after the temple was partly destroyed during the Thai invasion of 1828.
The temple stands out for its impressive 44-meter-high golden stupa. It is located on top of a three-level square base. The entire stupa is decorated with Buddha images and representations of the Buddhist religion.
It is a very important Buddhist pilgrimage site worldwide. Every year it receives thousands of people who visit the temple to pray and give offerings.
2. The Royal Palace of Vientiane
The Royal Palace of Vientiane is the official residence of the President of Laos. This incredible palace was built in the 17th century, although its current image is due to many renovations throughout history. Its last renovation dates back to 1990. The palace complex has many buildings, all of them in the Lao style. The main building is a two-story pavilion with a thatched roof. Its interior is decorated with paintings and sculptures of great historical value.
3. Patuxay, the triumphal arch of Vientiane
Patuxay is a memorial built between 1962 and 1968 to honor the Laotian soldiers who died in the French War of Independence. This triumphal arch is 45 meters high and is decorated with sculptures of Buddha and other religious motifs.
Patuxay means “The Gate of Victory” in Laotian. This place was designed by architect Souphanouvong and today, it is a very important symbol of Laos.
4. Visit the Talat Sao morning Market, one of the best things to do in Vientiane
This local market is open daily from before dawn. There are plenty of fresh produce stalls here and in the mornings it's a bustle of activity. Stopping to enjoy the atmosphere, watch the locals go from here to there or even have breakfast here at some of their sweet stops is one of the best things to do in Vientiane. I recommend getting up early to arrive early.
5. Visit Wat Si Saket
Wat Si Saket is one of the essential temples to see in Vientiane. It was the only temple that survived the Thai invasion in 1828.
The temple was built in 1828 by order of King Anouvong. It is Siamese style with a terrace that completely surrounds the temple. The temple houses around 10,000 Buddha statues, of different sizes, colors and styles. The oldest statues in the collection date from the 16th century.
6. Visit Wat Phra Kaew
Another temple to visit in Vientiane is Wat Phra Kaew. This temple was built in 1565 by order of King Setthathirath I and was the royal temple of the Capital of Laos, Lan Xang, until the Thai invasion in 1828.
The temple complex is divided into two. In the front part of the complex there are several buildings and in one part of the temple is the Emerald Buddha, a jade Buddha statue. At the back there is a huge garden with a grove of trees, plants and several Buddha statues.
7. Visit the National Museum of Laos
The National Museum of Laos is one of the most important museums in the country. The building where it is located is a colonial building built in 1925. The museum was founded in 1990 and contains a collection of more than 10,000 objects that include archaeological finds, art collections and historical objects. In addition to several information panels, explaining the history of Laos. The museum is open every day from 9am to 4pm and costs around 1.20 euros.
8. That Dam Stupa
That Dam is a stupa located in the middle of a roundabout between Chantha Khoumane and Bartholonie streets. This stupa hides several legends, although the most popular is that during the Thai conquest, a seven-headed nâga lived in this stupa. This nâga did his best to protect them and many believe that, thanks to him, the destruction of the city was not so severe. Although it is a legend that many tell, to this day the stupa has not been removed, since they believe that it brings good luck.
9. The COPE visitor center
The COPE Visitor Center is an information center that tells the story of unexploded ordnance victims and people with disabilities in Laos. The center has a permanent exhibition that explains how the Vietnam War affected Laos, although Laos was not at war, it received thousands of bombings by the United States. In addition, the exhibition includes artifacts, photographs, testimonies and information panels.
10. Take a sunset walk along the banks of the Mekong River
On the banks of the Mekong there is a kind of beach with fine sand. And although it is possible to bathe, the truth is that there is not much desire, the water is of dubious quality, but one of the great things to do in Vientiane is to walk along the shore. Throughout the day it is a good time, there are always fishermen working, and you can see flocks drinking on the shore, children playing ball, people walking... in the afternoon it is a good time to walk, when the sun is already setting and It's not so hot.
11. Wat Si Muang
Wat Si Muang is a beautiful temple built in 1563, during the reign of King Setthathirat. It is a Buddhist temple that includes a prayer hall, an ordination hall and a viharn, a meditation hall. It is one of the most important temples to see in Vientiane.
12. Vientiane Night Market
The Vientiane Night Market is the main entertainment venue once night falls. Many stops with traditional food, clothing stalls, fakes, footwear, technology, crafts... it is the perfect place to go to dinner for very little money. You can literally have dinner for less than 2 euros. Also, if you want to buy a souvenir, this market is a very good option, it is much cheaper than other cities.
13. Try the Laap in Vientiane
Laap is a traditional Lao dish and you can try it all over the country. Although our favorite place was precisely in the night market. It is a salad made with minced meat, usually chicken or pork, with lemon juice, fish sauce, rice and spices. It's very good.
14. Wat Ong Teu
Another of the essential temples to see in Vientiane. It is a Buddhist temple that was built in the 16th century by order of King Setthathirat. It was originally a Buddhist temple. The temple is composed of a prayer hall, an ordination hall and a meditation hall.
15. Visit Buda Park, an essential thing to see and do in Vientiane
Buddha Park, also known as Xieng Khuan, is a park about 25 kilometers from Vientiane. It was built in 1958 by the Buddhist priest and artist Buleau Sulilat. In it we find more than 200 statues of Life of different sizes and shapes. In addition to other mythological figures. I explain everything you need to know about Buda Park in this post.
16. Visit the Lao Textile Museum
The Laos Textile Museum is a private collection with more than 1,000 textiles from different regions of Laos. In addition, there you can learn more about the textile industry, handmade artisanal textiles... and the importance of the textile industry in Laos.
17. Chao Anouvoung Park
This park located on the banks of the Mekong River in the city center is one of the green spaces in Vientiane. Although everywhere you look you will see green, this is a good place to walk, have a picnic and escape the heat of the city to take refuge under the treetops. Additionally, the park is home to several statues, a pond, and several picnic areas. The main area is paved and with few trees, I recommend visiting it in the afternoon.
18. Wat Mixai
Wat Mixai is a small temple built in 1563 during the reign of King Setthathirat. It was built to celebrate the victory of the Laotians over the Burmese. The temple of Thai Buddhist architecture is composed of a prayer hall, an ordination hall and a meditation hall. It is dedicated to Mother Si Muang, a goddess who protects the city.
19. Take a walk along the Mekong River
There are several tours that take a boat ride on the Mekong River. They are usually walks of approximately 1 hour and from the boat you will enjoy beautiful views of the river, the shore, the mountains that surround the city, the fields... It is a beautiful walk that is worth taking. You just have to get close to the river and you will see that there are several boats that offer this service, for a cost of approximately 4 euros per person.
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I hope you enjoy your trip to Laos and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue readingmany more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!