Not to miss, when your are in Vientiane

See the locations on Vientiane Google Map


Picture by mypuffin
Gate to That Luang


Nam Phou: A square with e fountain and lots of restaurants around in the middle of Vientiane.


Anousavari Monument: Also: Patuxai, meaning: Victory Gate. Climb up and have a good view accross Vientiane. The monument, built between 1957 and 1968, is dedicated to those who fought in the struggle for independence from France. It looks like Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but its design is Laotian. You discover many Buddhist mythological figures like kinnari (half-female, half-bird).

Picture by Hugo Martins


That Luang: A stupa, the most important religious monument of Laos, with 30 small stupas around and Vat That Luang Neue in the north and Vat That Luang Tai in the south. That Luang has been built by King Settathirat in 1566. During That Luang Festival (2011 from 10-12 November) hundreds of monks representing all Lao temples gather to accept alms from the people and fireworks are displayed at night.

Picture by David Whitmore

Picture by mypuffin

Picture by Bruno [BRA]

Picture by Philip Roeland
Vat That Luang Neua

Philip Roeland
Vat That Luang Neua


Vat Sisaket: The oldest temple in Vientiane, built by King Anou in 1818. You find here more than 2,000 small Buddha statues in the niches, made of wood, stone, silver and bronze. The ordination hall in the centre is decorated with mural paintings of the past lives of Buddha.

Picture by Peter Broer

Picture by Many Moon Honeymoon

Picture by daibera


Vat Si Muang: Also: Si Mueang. The sim (ordination hall) is divided into two rooms. In the front room you find usually a monk giving blessings. The back room houses the main altar. On the top of the alter you see a gilded stone - the city pillar (lak muang). The temple was built on the ruins of a Khmer Hindu shrine, remains can be seen behind the sim. In front of the temple you see a statue of King Sisavang Vong (he ruled from 1904 to 1959). He holds a palm leaf manuscript, the first legal code of Laos. Read more about Vat Si Muang. See a video by nfsutton.

Picture by Philip Roeland

Picture by Peter Broer


Vat Ong Teu: The large bronze Phra Ong Teu Buddha image gives the temple its name. It has been constructed by King Settathirat in the 16th century. The complex consists of a sim (ordination hall), a ho rackhang (bell tower), a ho kong (drum tower), a that (stupa), and a kuti (monks’ living quarters). When Siam sacked Laos in 1827-28 Wat Ong Teu was destroyed. After 1843 the French reconstructed the monastery and added a school. Until today the vat is a school for Theravada Buddhism. Read more about the architecture of Wat Ong Teu. See a video and listen to the drums

Picture by dalbera



Vat Inpeng:

Picture by GothPhil

Picture by whl.travel


Ho Phra Keo - the temple of the Emerald Buddha: Setthathirat Road. Open: From 8 till 12 am and 1 till 4 pm. A temple has been built here in the 16th century. The Emerald Buddha, a dark green statue, about 66 centimetres tall, carved from a single jade stone, was kept here during 215 years. King Setthathirat brought it to Vientiane, when he moved the capital from Lanna (today Chiang Mai) zu Vientiane. 1788 it was taken to Thailand by King Taksin. Today the Emerald Buddha is kept in Wat Phra Keo in Bangkok (read more). The temple building was destroyed in 1828 and rebuilt between 1936 and 1942. But the doors are from the original building. The verandah houses Buddha statues from all over South-East Asia. Ho Phra Keo now houses a museum which contains a copy of Pha Bang, the gilded throne, Khmer Buddhist stelae, bronze frog drums, wooden carvings and palm-leaf manuscripts. See the gallery by laostravelguide

Picture by mypuffin
Bronze Buddha in the subduing Mara position. See another picture by Adam Carr

Picture by dalbera


Vat Mixai:

Picture by Backpack Foodie

Picture by GothPhil


Vat Hai Sok: It has an impressive five-tiered roof, topped with elegant golden spires. The windows and facade are beautifully carved in wood. Gilded multi-headed nagas flank the steps. See pictures on orientalarchitecture.com, on The Guide Hog and by farida. See also the video by inranfle.

Picture by iambents

Picture by iambents
Drum tower


Lao National Museum: On the first floor the museum presents one of the original Jars from the Plain of Jars and various stone and bronze age implements. The second floor explains the 18th Century Laotian Kingdom.


Talat Sao Mall and Market: In the corner of Thanon Lane Xang and Thanon Khu Vieng. The morning market has two floors two floors: textiles, electronics and watches on the first, clothing, gold, and jewelery on the second floor. Talat Sao Mall has three floors, escalators, some cafés and a food court.


Talat Khua Din Market:

Picture by Hanoi Mark
See more pictures by mmm-yoso!!!


Sunset over the Mekong River:

Picture by fredalix


Chou Anou Road:

Picture GothPhil


Xieng Khouan (Buddha Park): 24 km south of the town centre, off Thanon Tha Deua. Open from 8 am to 4.30 pm.

Picture by thich8

Buddha Park, a collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures, has been built in 1958 by
Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, who - as priest - merged Hindu and Buddhist philosophy and had many followers. He moved to Thailand at the time of the 1975 Lao revolution. In 1978 he realized the same kind of park at Wat Khaek in Nong Khai. A concrete monument in the grounds of Buddha Park has three levels with interior spiral stairs. The three levels represent hell, earth and heaven. Buses with the direction Xieng Khuang depart every half and hour from Talat Sao terminal.

Picture by LightOnDude

Picture by chericbaker


Herbal sauna at Vat Sok Pa Luang: Also: Luong. This forest temple is in Muang Sisauanak and well known for its herbal sauna and massage. For the sauna you get a sarong-like loin cloth. When you come out you are supposed to drink herbal tea and not to wash off the perspiration for at least several hours - some say six- to allow the herbal steam to soak into you pores. Read more about this sauna experience of Daniel Haber. The sauna is open from 1 to 8 pm. Read also the experience of bohemiantraveler.com. The nearby Wat 51 Amphon (Thanon Si Amphon) also does herbal saunas. Wat Sok Pa Luang is also known for its course of instruction in vipassana (Buddhist meditation). The abbot and teacher is Ajahn Sali Kantasilo, a Thai who came to Laos.

Picture by Scorchamac From the street you only see this door to Vat Sok Pa Luang

Picture Ben Beiske
The steam for the sauna is produced by a wood-fire.

Trekking around Kiet Ngong and Phapho wetlands - in Xe Pian National Protected Area

See the locations on Xe Pian National Protected Area and Kiet Ngong Wetlands Google Map

Picture by Pretre
Xe Pian Wetlands, seen from Wat Phu Asa

Picture by intothegreen

Picture by Pretre
Lizard outside Kingfisher Lodge

Picture by gardnergp
Near Khiet Ngong

One of the largest and least altered wetland in the region with swamps, lakes and marshes at the foot of Phou Asa, a large rock outcrop renown for its intriguing ruins and superb views of the dense semi-evergreen forests below: This is the area between Kiet Ngong Village and Pha Pho village, in the the 2,400 km2 Xe Pian National Protected Area (also: Se Pian). See Map of Beung Kiat Ngong Wetlands. These wetlands are connected to several small streams: Houay Ta-kuan, Houay Ta-euang, Xe Khampho, Xe Pian and Xekong River. During the wet season these areas are all connected and they are a passing way for varieties of fish to move upstream. About 43 species have been reported, for example Walking catfish (Clarias spp.), Snakeheads (Channa striata) and Swamp eel (Monopterus albus). Read more on Ramsar Wetlands. See on Facebook. Study Xe Pian Leaflet. See a slide-show of Xe Pian National Biodiversity Conservation Area


Xe Pian NPA is considered to be one of the most important areas in Indochina for waterbirds. Here you find the vanishingly rare Giant Ibis, the White-winged Wood-Duck, the Sarus Crane, the Lesser Adjutant and the White-shouldered Ibisother. It's also known for large mammals. Although Rhinoceros, Kouprey, Eld’s Deer, and Hog Deer have already disappeared from the area, Asian Elephant, Tiger, Gaur, Banteng, Leopard, Sun Bear, Black Bear and Dhole (Wild Dog) are still found here. These species are very difficult to see, more visible are Yellow-cheeked Gibbons and hornbills.

Almost 10'000 people live within Xe Pian NPA, many practicing traditional agriculture and collecting forest plants. Kiet Ngong’s traditional houses, wooden temple and working elephants offer a window into Lao rural life.

Activities: Elephant rides from Kiet Ngong Village to the top of Phou Asa and back are popular. They can be booked through the Visitor Information Centre in Pakse or Champassak District or with a tour company. Phou Asa can also be reached by a walk along a 7 km long forest trail. The summit provides a view over large areas of southern Laos. The forests of Xe Pian and Dong Hua Sao (another National Protected Area) appear to stretch out endlessly from the Kiet Ngong wetland. To the north you see the Bolaven Plateau with its waterfalls. Ahead to the east is the Xe Khong floodplain in Attapeu, and lining the horizon are the Annamite Mountains on the Vietnamese border. At the top of the mountain is a ring of stone pillars. You can take elephant-back treks as well from the village Pha Pho (read here) and here.

According to ecotourismlaos.com village guides are available to take visitors on half- or full-day walks to Phou Asa and its surroundings, interpreting its many medicinal plants and non-timber forest products. The eco-trail begins at the foot of Phou Asa and offers 3-4 hours of steady walking through tall semi-evergreen forest. Some trees along the trail are labeled, and there are good places to rest or observe birds. An important natural resource, which can be seen on the walk, is the Mak Chong (Malva Nut) tree. It only grows in original forest and reaches its greatest abundance in southern Lao. "In some years, the Mak Chong harvest from Xe Pian alone may be sold for more than US$ 1,000,000 in China. Local harvesters only receive a tiny fraction of that revenue, but it is a significant source of income nonetheless", writes ecotourismlaos.com.

During the dry season (November-April) there is a trail around the wetland to Donlay Island, which takes about two hours if walked slowly. On the way you will pass the Giant Rock (Hin Huoa Yak in Lao), a sacred place with a superb view. The trail continues to Phapho Village. Donlay Island can also be reached by canoe.

Mountain Biking to Dong Hua Sao National Protected Area is another possibility. From Kingfisher Ecolodge at Kiet Ngong you cycle 20 km to Lao Gna village, do a forest walk and have a picnic lunch with villagers.

On offer is also Ta Ong Trail, a 2 days Journey by canoe along the Ta Euang river from Palay Bok village, whose guides will teach you about medicinal plants and wildlife spotting. You stay overnight withfamilies in Ban Ta Ong, a Brow village known for its traditional giant crossbow. At dawn you walk through thick forests for birdwatching and, if you are lucky, to listen to the song-like calls of the endangered yellow-cheeked crested gibbon. Read about a trekking tour from Pha Pho to Ta Ong.



Where To Sleep:
In Kiet Ngong village there are five small, local-style huts about 250 m south of the last house in the village (1 km from the temple). And a home-stay offers the contact with a local family.

Kingfisher Ecolodge: A bit outside the village. Bungalows with beautiful view of the wetlands. During winter time bring some additional covers with you. In the ecohouses two rooms share a bath. Very good reviews von tripadvisor.com. See view from a room on panoramio.com. See pictures of the wetlands.

Boun Hom Guesthouse in Pha Pho village: Phone: 030 5346293. Read here.


How to get here:
It takes 1 hour from Pakse to Kiet Ngong. In Ban Thang Beng you turn east. You can travel by taxi or a songthaew bus from the southern bus station in Pakse (8 km east of town). Get off the public bus at Km 48 junction with Route 18 in Thang Beng village. Here you can visit the Xe Pian NPA Office. From here you follow Route 18 for 7 km eastwards then you turn right for the last 1,5 km toBan Kiet Ngong. To get to Ban Pha Pho, continue along Route 18. After 5 km turn right at Ban Kele and take a dirt road for 15 km to Pha Pho. There is also a bus from Atapeu on Route 18.
Another possibility is to travel on the Xekong River along the border of Cambodia and then up in the Xe Pian River. Three waterfalls along the Xe Pian River - Tad Saepha, Tad Samongphak and Tad Saeponglaican - can be reached by foot or by boat with a local guide. Tad Phapong, a waterfall on the Xe Xou River, is accessible by trekking or boating and is noted for its many colorful rocks that line the riverside.


Read also Lonely Planet for Southern Laos