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.

Dozens die as Lao Airlines crashes before landing in Pakse

See the locations on Ban Phaling Google Map



22.10.2013
Lao Airlines and its insurance company have paid 20 million kip and US$5,000 respectively to the family of each of the victims of last week's plane crash, as The Cambodia Herald reports. This payment is intended to cover funeral expenses and further compensation is expected in the future, according to the Director General of Lao Airlines' Planning and Cooperation Department, Mr Sitthideth Duangsitthi. So far 43 bodies - out of 49 victims - have been recovered and 17 identified. The flight recorder of the plane that plunged into the Mekong River near Pakse, has been located and retrieved, as The Nation writes.

17.10.2013:
There is no hope that somebody could have survived the crash of flight QV301 by Lao Airlines from Vientiane to Pakse on Wednesday. The airplane went down into the Mekong near Ban Phaling village in Phonthong district, Champassak province. Rescuers in fishing boats pulled bodies from the Mekong River on Thursday. Divers from Thailand were helping. According to Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee the bodies of 15 victims have been recovered, reported Associated Press. Lao Airlines released a second updated list of the 44 passengers' nationalities: On board were 16 Lao nationals, seven French, six Australians, five Thais, three Koreans, three Vietnamese and one person each from China, Malaysia, Taiwan and the United States. The bodies are kept at Vat Chin in Pakse district, as The Nation reports. Victims families and relatives find contact informations on Facebook-Page of Lao Airlines.


16.10.2013:

Very sad news from Laos: Dozens of people were killed in southern Laos when a plane of Lao Airlines crashed into the Mekong River on October 16, as BBC reports. Flight QV301 from the Laotian capital Vientiane (leaving 14.45) came down about 8km (5 miles) from Pakse airport. A Lao Airlines statement on Facebook gave a total of 49 dead. According to BBC among the dead are seven people vom France, five Thai nationals and three South Koreans and as well as citizens from Laos, Australia, Canada, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, the USA and Vietnam.

The plane that crashed has been identified by the news as ATR 72-600, which is a French-Italian manufactured twin-engine turboprop plane. French media say that the plane was brand new, delivered in March 2013. It crashed during stormy weather into Mekong River, near Don Khong according to Bangkok Post. This newspaper publishes the names of the victims.

Pakse page on Facebook shows pictures of parts of the crashed plane. Facebook Page "We Love Laos" shows the plane in Mekong River.

Chinese money brings big change:A railway from the North of Laos to Vientianeand Thailand

China has just opened the worlds longest Highspeed-Railway from Beijing in the north along 2298 km to the southern boom city of Guangzhou. There were a lot of international headlines around the first train on this line. And they helped to forget the big problems with Chinese Highspeed Trains as the Wenzou train collision in the not so far past.

But the Chinese Railway policy has much bigger ambitions. It is under way to create a Highspeed Railway System in Southeast Asia, linking China to Laos and Thailand and creating connections from China to Singapore.

Laos is forcing plans for a $7 billion railway link from the capital Vientiane in the South to the Chinese border in the North (passing the towns of Phonhong, Vangvieng, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay and Luang Namtha). The construction shall begin early in 2013. The line will be completed around 2014, said Laotian Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad at an international rail conference in Beijing. "While the exact route isn't clear, the rail line is expected to connect the southwest Chinese city of Kunming with Singapore, passing through Laos, Thailand and Malaysia", wrote wsj.com.

The project is financed by a 30-year loan from Export-Import Bank of China, according to rfa.org. China will be responsible for the construction. "Beijing is seeking to secure raw materials from neighboring countries to feed massive infrastructure investment and its manufacturing industry", wrote wsj.com. There is one more railway project in Laos: On December 24 a contract was signed for a US $5 billion railway line from Savannakhet to Lao Bao at Vietnam border. The construction is undertaken by Malaysian company Giant Consolidated, writes enjoy-laos.com.

Meanwhile preparations for four highspeed-railway lines in Thailand are going on. Funding is to come from a proposed 2-trillion-baht investment programme dedicated to new infrastructure projects over the next seven years. In November 2012 Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said according to Bangkok Post the government is planning four high-speed rail lines to support trade and tourism within the country. The four high-speed rail lines are Bangkok-Nong Khai-Vientiane; Bangkok-Ayutthaya-Chiang Mai; Bangkok to Hua Hin; and an expansion of the Airport Rail Link in Bangkok to Chon Buri, Pattaya and Rayong. These plans are supported by a Study of Thailand Development Research Institute Foundation. And China is aggressively lobbying the Thai government to select its train and construction technology, writes Bangkok Post. Chinese Deputy Railways Minister Lu Chunfang told Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra that its construction costs average only US$20 million per kilometre compared with $81 million in Japan and $50 million in Germany. Thailand and China signed a memorandum of understanding on April 15 to conduct a feasibility study for the Bangkok-Chiang Mai and Bangkok-Nong Khai high-speed rail links. Thailands government plans to open international bidding early next year on the first phase of the high-speed rail project. Chinese government officials advising Thailand have suggested that it begins with a 54km route linking Bangkok and Ayutthaya as it would fall in line with the government's push to have the ancient capital serve as host for the 2020 World Expo, noted Bangkok Post.


Update from April 5 in 2013:

The ruling Party in Laos has given the go-ahead to the government to officially negotiate the controversial US-Dollar 7.2 billion loan with China to finance the high-speed railway project linking the two countries, notes Radio Free Asia.


Read also:
Growing Chinese influence in Cambodia: A railway from Preah Vihear, a steel plant and a seaport in Koh Kong

China and Laos: An Uneasy Embrace
by Prashanth Parameswaran for The Jamestown Foundation

Sanjiang Mall: Chinas growing influence in Vientiane

See the location on Sanjiang Mall Google Map

Laos’ economy quadrupled in size between 2002 and 2010. Its traditional investors have been Thai and Vietnamese, but in 2010, by investing $344 million over the course of just six months, Chinese companies overtook them both. Iain Manley writes this in an interesting article about the Chinese merchants of Vientiane. When staying in Vientiane he discovered a large community of immigrants from China who had arrived recently around Sanjiang Cheng – Three Rivers City – a wholesale market, also known as Xang Chieng Market. Its the largest mall for Chinese products in Southeast Asia, writes Manley. The market is located in Oumong, opposite Wat Tay Yai, and the Lao people call it Talat Jin (Jin means Chinese). A more detailed report has been published on oldworldwandering.com. And a guide to Vientiane's chinatown has been published on travelfish.org. Read also: China Gives Southeast Asia’s Poorest First Time Access to Consumer Goods.

Nightlife in Vientiane

See the locations on Vientiane Google Map

Blue Sky Bar:

Déjà vu:

Future Night Club: Luang Prabang Road (near Novotel). "It follows the Thai format and there is no dance floor. Revelers stand around their table laden with Black Label and Beer Lao and jiggle about madly", comments travel.nytimes

Le Club Disco: Lao Plaza

Lunar 36: Don Chan Palace Hotel. "A night out here is a great opportunity to mix with Laos’s university students and office workers over a few drinks", according to visit-mekong.com.

On The Rock Pup: "Those who venture in will be within arms reach of the band playing a range of western, Thai and Laos covers", notes visit-mekong.com.

Snow White & One Dwarf: Jazz.

The Jazzy Brick: 47/1 Setthathirath Road. "Customers will only be allowed in to sip expensive cocktails if they are properly attired; no shorts or sleeveless shirts allowed.", notes Frommers. "The atmosphere is very relaxed and the interior exactly like it should be in a jazz bar; dark, wooden en smoky", adds Nice to Share.

The Bor Phen Nyang: Fa Ngum. A rooftop bar with great Mekong View. "A combination of drunk backpackers, ragged commercial sex workers, and some unsavory-looking types on visa renewals from across the river makes it all feel a little rough", notes travel.nytimes.com.

Read more: Vientiane Nightlife - What to Do at Night in Vientiane

What about the bus from Vientiane to Luang Prabang? Be aware of spirits!

Picture by Catherine Murray
The bus can look like this...

... and also like this...

Picture by Thaths
... because also pumpkins have to be transported

Should you fly from Vientiane to Luang Prabang or should you take the bus? Well, the busride will not be a too easy one. But first this:

In Vientiane buses leave at Northern Bus Station. You have the choice:
VIP buses: Depart 08.00, 9.00, 20.00. Costs: 140 000 to 170 000 kip one way, 10 hours. You will get a bottle of water, a small snack and will stop for a lunch.
Air-con Buses: 06.30, 07.30, 09.00, 11.00, 13.30, 16.00, 18.00, 19.30. Costs: 120 000 to 130 000 Kip, 10 hours.
Local Bus: 11 hours, 70 000 Kip
Mini Buses: To Vang Vieng, there you have to catch another Mini Bus to Luang Prabang. Ticket includes pick-up from hotel or guesthouse at around 10.00 or 14.00. Costs: 60,000 Kip).
See laomeow.blogspot.com

In Luang Prabang buses leave at Naluang Bus Station.
VIP buses: 08.00 and 09.00.
Express Buses: Depart 06.30, 08.30, 11.00, 14.00, 17.30, 18.30, 19.30.
Mini Buses: Only to Vang Vieng (09.00, 10.00, 14.00, 100,000 kip).

And what's your experience on this bus ride? You will see a breathtaking landscape, mountains and valleys in all kinds of green colour, Lao rural life with waterbuffalos and playing children - if mist or clouds don't cover everything and prevent you from seeing anything...

Picture by sarahstarkweather
Near Vang Vieng

But why does the bus take 10 hours for 384 km on a road, that is mostly paved? "It soon became clear", notes Safari mkubwa sana!: "There are numerous deep pot holes scattered randomly around. Some pot holes take minutes to cross and the bus driver generally needs to drive quite slowly to spot them before it's too late."

Worse: During the rainy season there can be interruptions of the road by land slides or trees falling on the road. In august 2011 a land slide has entirely swept away a stretch of road. "Buses are forced to stop on either side of the landslide, and passengers walk across to join another bus on the opposite side. As the buses have to stop at points where they can turn round, the total distance to walk is around 1.5-2km", writes lhm on Thorntree Forum. This seemed to be between between Kiew Kacham and Phou Khoun.

And why did it happen? "A lao friend told me that the landslide was caused by spirits/ghosts who were not happy that the people in a village nearby ate a very big snake", notes tictocchoc on Thorntree forum.

So if you cannot take easy situations like these, if you cannot sleep in a bus, because the way onward is not open, if you cannot live without air-con, when the air-con is broken, if you are afraid of ghosts, you will remember this journey as horrible...

But see the views you miss, when you don't go:

Picture by taylorandayumi

More views on videos on youtube 1, on youtube 2. Or have a look at pictures on this blog.

And well, if you want to fly, there are daily flights by Lao Airlines.

Eco-Lodges near Vientiane

See the locations on Vientiane Hotels and Guesthouses Google Map


Rivertime Ecolodge Resort: 29 km northeast from Vientiane. in the forest on the south bank of Nam Ngum river. Seven private lodges and two 3-bed dormitories, all lodges with wide balconies overlooking the river towards the mountains of Phou Khao Kwai National Protected Area.

Picture by Rivertime Eco Lodge
See more pictures on their facebook gallery

Picture by Rivertime Eco Lodge
Nam Ngum River, seen from the resort


The Garden Restaurant with a big organic vegetable garden is adjacent to Rivertime Resort. It has also a floating restaurant. See the location on Rivertime Ecolodge Resort Google Map. Read reviews on tripadvisor.com: what you can await and what not.
Activites from Rivertime Resort: Try the 20-minutes-forest-trail from the resort. Riverboat trips, cycling to a village of the Lao Loum ethnic group (Ban Thadokkham with a highle revered temple) or a Lao Soun ethnic village (Ban Jut Nung). Across the river from the resort is another Lao Loum village called Ban Na Taer (with a temple with turtles. Visit to a local traditional healer, traditional Lao massage. The resort also organizes visits to local schools and to the main agricultural research centre of Laos.


Ban Pako: Bungalow Resort on an ancient temple site on the banks of the Nam Ngum river about 50 km from Vientiane. Closed now, reopening after upgrading (new bungalows on the river) around april 2012. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com. See the location on Ban Pako Google Map

Hotels and Guesthouses in Vientiane with reviews of people, who have been there

See the locations on Vientiane Hotels and Guesthouses Google Map


Hotels in Vientiane


Ansara Hotel: From 125 USD. Close walking distance to Mekong river, restaurants and night markets. very good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture by Ansara Hotel

Picture by Ansara Hotel
Savvy Room


Beau Rivage Mekong Hotel: From 50 USD. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com. Just around the corner you find Papapya Spa. "Note that some rooms have a glass shower stall in the bedroom — a romantic touch if you're a couple or quite awkward if you're not", adds travelfish.org

Picture by sarahstarkweather


Chanthapanya Hotel ***: 138 Norkeokoummarn Road. Phone (856-21) 244 284. Large rooms and a pool. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com


Green Park Boutique Hotel: From 195 USD. The hotel ist situated a bit outside of the city centre.

Picture by dalbera


Salana Boutique Hotel: From 90 USD. There might be some traffic noise, according to reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture by larique


Setha Palace Hotel: From 179 US-Dollars. For lovers of the French colonial style. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture by iambents
The pool

Picture by iambents
Room 111


Guesthouses in Vientiane

Lani's House By The Ponds: 281 Setthathirat Road. Old house in a small lush garden. Charming place with great location according to very good reviews on tripadvisor.com.


Mali Namphu Hotel: 114 Pangkham Road. Phone 856 21 215093. Critical reviews on tripadvisor.com


Villa Manoly: 29 Ban Phiawat. Away from town centre. Quite good reviews on tripadvisor.com. A "charming colonial villa set amid rambling green grounds", according to travelfish.org. Picture of the pool on travelpod.com, another picture by nicinchiangmai.


Villa That Luang: 109 Route 23 Singha; Nongbone Village; Xaysettha District. Good, but too far out of the town according to tripadvisor.com.