Vientiane
Understand
Compared to the hectic, bustling capitals in other Southeast Asian countries, Vientiane's deliciously relaxing atmosphere makes it feel like the small town it is. After you've done the round of temples, the best thing to do here has always been to wander down to the riverside, relax with a cold Beerlao - the Lao national beer - and watch the sun set over the Mekong.Of course, the booming tourism industry is changing this by slowly but surely bringing the excesses of Thailand and China to this formerly sleepy city. It has also become famous for bedbugs. Just like any other Southeast Asian capital/major city, Vientiane is experiencing a building boom. Even it's Presidential Palace is having a major makeover-addition and a new convention center is coming up (Feb'12).
History
Settled since at least 1000 AD, Vientiane became an important administrative city of the Kingdom of Lan Xang ("million elephants") in 1545. Ransacked in 1828 by the Siamese, Vientiane sprung back in time to be again named the capital of the protectorate of Laos by the French, a position it kept after independence (1953) and after the communists took over in 1975. Today Vientiane is the largest city in Laos, with an estimated population of 210,000 in the city itself and some 700,000 in Vientiane Prefecture.[edit] Orientation
Vientiane is stretched out on the north-eastern bank of a bend in the Mekong River. From the river bank inland, the main roads running parallel to the river are Thanon Fa Ngum, Thanon Setthathirat and Thanon Samsenthai. The central district, Chanthabuli, contains most of Vientiane's government offices, hotels and restaurants. Vientiane's widest boulevard, Thanon Lane Xang, runs from the Presidential Palace (now used for government offices and for state receptions) to the northeast around Patuxai, the Victory Gate, towards Pha That Luang, the That Luang Stupa, the most important religious monument in Laos.Get in
A visa on arrival is available at Wattay Airport, the Friendship Bridge and Tha Naleng train station. Bring US$25-42 plus a US$1 bill (Washington) in cash (depending on your nationality) and a passport photo; see Laos#Get in for details. You can also get a visa in advance at the Lao Embassy in Bangkok; the only real advantages of doing this are that you need to spend less time queuing when you get to Laos and if you are traveling by through-bus from Udon Thani in Thailand to Vientiane the bus may not wait for visas on arrival to be processed.By plane
Vientiane's Wattay Airport is 4 km west of the city. International services are quite limited, but this is slowly changing.International flights
There are direct flights to/from:- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi: Thai Airways two flights daily (code share with Lao Airlines) and Lao Airlines one.
- Hanoi (Viet Nam): Lao Airlines three times weekly and Vietnam Airlines daily.
- Ho Chi Minh City (Viet Nam): Vietnam Airlines daily via Phnom Penh; Lao Airlines three times/week via Pakse
- Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia): AirAsia [1] three flights weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
- Phnom Penh (Cambodia): Vietnam Airlines daily.
- Siem Reap (Cambodia): Lao Airlines three flights weekly via Pakse.
- Chiang Mai (Thailand): Lao Airlines six times weekly via Luang Prabang.
- Kunming (Yunnan, West China): China Eastern Airlines operate four and Lao Airlines three flights weekly. Lao Airlines and the Lao Consulate both have offices in the Camellia Hotel, Kunming.
- Singapore: Lao Airlines flies three times a week.
From Bangkok many visitors choose to fly into Udon Thani in Thailand, and cross the border by bus, as this domestic flight is considerably cheaper than a direct international flight to Vientiane. There is a direct shuttle from Udon Thani airport to the Thai/Lao border at Nong Khai (about 50 km away) for 200 baht, and there are also direct cross-border bus services from Udon Thani (the city, not the airport!) to Vientiane. This option (flight plus bus transfers and immigration clearance at 2 points) takes at least 2 hours longer than a direct Bangkok to Vientiane flight. Be aware that you may have difficulty getting an international bus to Laos if you do not already hold a visa. Ticket officers for the buses sometimes check for this as the buses do not wait at the border long enough for the painfully slow visa on arrival process. If you are flying to Udon Thani you should also make sure you go to the correct departure airport. Nok Air flies from Don Muang, the old Bangkok airport, Thai Airways and Thai Air Asia from Suvarnabhumi [2], the new Bangkok airport.
[edit] Domestic flights
- Lao Airlines flies to five domestic destinations (three to five flights daily to Luang Prabang; once or twice daily to Pakse, four times per week to Huay Xai and Oudomxay, and six times per week to Xieng Khuang (Phonsavan).
- Lao Air, the second Lao airline, operates two flights weekly each between Vientiane and Phongsali, Samneua and Sayaboury (Sainyabuli) (aircraft: Cessna).
Transfer to the city
Many hotels offer a pickup service from the airport, or you can take a jumbo or taxi for US$7 (57,000 kips).You can buy a taxi coupon before you leave the airport building for US$7. Rides to the airport should be cheaper, around US$3 by tuk-tuk. From city to airport, tuk-tuk is 30,000 kip. Do not agree with 55,000 kip, shown on a pricelist by some tuk-tuk drivers. You can bargain down to 30k Kip, or simply walk away to find another tuk-tuk. Always agree with the price before boarding the tuk-tuk. If you don't mind walking the distance between the airport and the main road (less than 500m), you can take a local bus for less than US$1.By train
The railway link across the Mekong finally opened in March 2009, and there are now four shuttle services daily from Nong Khai to Tha Naleng, some 13 km away from Vientiane and reachable by shuttle bus from the Morning Market. The shuttle trains are timed to connect with overnight trains to and from Bangkok, with around 90 minutes buffer time at the Thai side of the border for buying tickets and Immigration. It's thus possible to hop aboard express #69 at 8 PM in Bangkok, arrive at Nong Khai at 9:30 AM and reach Tha Naleng around 10:30 AM. The train has first and second class air-con sleepers, which cost around 1200/800 baht respectively. Check State Railway of Thailand for the the up-to-date time tables and fares, as well as online ticket booking. A Lao visa on arrival is now available at Tha Naleng station, though you need to arrange your own onward transport to get into the city. This is a major drawback, as the station (unlike Friendship bridge) is located in the middle of nowhere, and songthaew drivers asked as much as 100 baht/person (even from Thai/Lao people) for a shared ride to Vientiane.The other option is to get off the train at Nong Khai and cross the border by bus via the Friendship Bridge. The Nong Khai station is just 1.5 km from the bridge, so if you take a tuk-tuk it should cost no more than 30-40 baht for all, after bargaining of course. Outside the station there's an information board listing the official prices to the nearby destinations. Most tuk-tuk drivers will stop at a travel agent just outside the station and try to coerce you to buy both a Lao visa and shuttle bus to Vientiane. Don't listen to them: you can get a visa and shuttle easily at the Lao border.
For those, who already have a Lao visa, or do not need one for a short visit (citizens of ASEAN countries, Russia and a few others), getting off the train in Udon Thani then taking direct cross-border bus to Vientiane bus is a good option. See below for details.
The train trip either way is pleasant if basic, if you have a sleeper. (Less than 800 baht.) You usually don't need air-con as the train isn't hot, though non-air-con often isn't available. (A few cold-blooded travellers do say the air-con is too cold.) Pack your own meals, beer, etc. The food on the train is expensive - and beyond awful. There is a 'change racket' operating among the catering staff: being seriously short-changed is the rule, not the exception. You need to note the prices on the menu, have baht (USD or kip will result in a big loss on the change) & have small denominations (a 1,000 baht note can serve an excuse for a 9-hour delay in bringing change; even then you will have to go looking for it).
By road
From Thailand
The Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (Saphan Mittaphap) from Nong Khai, Thailand is the most common means of entry. The bridge cannot be crossed on foot or by bicycle (theoretically; however people have been seen strolling the bridge), but there are frequent 20 baht shuttle buses just past Thai immigration. (The price changes depending on the time of day and day of week. You will get a receipt.) Bicycles can be carried on buses in the cargo compartment.Direct buses to/from Nong Khai (55 baht) , Khon Kaen(180 baht) and Udon Thani (80 baht) arrive and depart from the Talat Sao bus terminal. These are cheap, comfortable, hassle-free and popular, so book ahead or arrive early. Schedules change often, currently the buses start at 8AM and leave every 2 hours or so, until 6PM. Note: these buses are not an option if you plan to obtain a Lao visa on arrival at the bridge - the bus will not wait long enough. To get from the Udon airport to the Friendship Bridge, a 200 baht minibus fare can be purchased in the airport and will drop you off on the Thai side of the bridge.
Visas on arrival are available at the bridge. If you forgot your passport photo, they'll photocopy your passport for an extra US$1/40 baht (or do it on the Thai side for just 2 baht). When you get a visa on arrival, you get the entry stamp at the same time, so you don't have to wait in line afterwards. A 40 baht (or 9000 Kip) "entry fee" is sometimes charged once through. Just walk past the entry fee booth. If no-one stops you, you haven't done anything wrong.
Once through immigration, you can take a jumbo (posted price 250 baht, easy to bargain down to 100 baht or less for immediate departure with only one passenger) or taxi (300 baht) to any destination in the city. Shared jumbos are cheaper. You should be able to negotiate to a good deal less than 50 baht/person if you're prepared to share (and possibly wait).
The local bus (usually #14) to Talat Sao (the Morning Market) is the cheapest of all, 5,000 kip or 20 baht, but signage is nonexistent and you may be in for a wait (up to 20 minutes). The bus runs until at least 6:45PM or so.
It's about 25km from the bridge to Vientiane; allow at least 30 minutes.
When arriving via the Friendship Bridge, you might like to visit the Buddha Park sculpture garden before going on to Vientiane, and save yourself a return trip back past the border crossing later. The same local bus (usually #14) that connects Talat Sao (the Morning Market) and the Friendship Bridge checkpoint also continues on to Buddha Park. Ask the driver which way it's going, just in case.
The bridge immigration shuts quite late, around 10PM. (Ambulances can go through at any hour, in an emergency.) But check with the locals if you are unsure. Although note that the Thai clock is very different to the western one, so using 24 hour time may be a better way to ask.
Khon Kaen - Vientiane direct bus, 185 THB per way, departs twice daily from Khon Kaen Aircon Bus Terminal (Prab-argat) at 07:45 (usually delayed till 08:00) and arrives Vientiane Talat Sao Bus Station around noon. Second bus departs at 15:15.
From Vietnam
A direct bus from Hanoi takes at least 20 hours (despite what the travel agents might say, avg 24 hrs) and should cost about US$15-20. There is a twice a week VIP bus (better seats) and a local bus that departs every day. For the local bus: apparently you're not always certain of a seat and Vietnamese people tend to sit and never get up again until you've arrived.The journey from Hue is 14-18 hrs and should cost US$20-30. The bus arrives to Southern Terminal where you have to bargain hard with tuk-tuk. The ride to town after midnight is 30 000 kip. There are local buses heading towards town from here that usually stop at the central market priced at about 10 000 kip.
[edit] From Cambodia
The bus trip from Phnom Penh to Vientiane costs about $50 if you go 'VIP': this involves a sleeper (bed) for the night portion of your trip; however unless you have a partner you will share the rather small bed with a random passenger (of the same sex). The bed is comfortable, though there have been reports of leaking windows and flooded mattresses.At the Lao-Cambodian border, essentially the same form has to be filled out numerous times (to ensure each official gets his 'fee'). If you can't carry your luggage 500m from the Cambodian border post to the Lao, you're out of luck: the bus staff will have disappeared by now. The border process is hot, slow and enervating.
Regardless of what the travel agent or busline tells you, the Phnom Penh-Vientiane (or vice-versa) trip usually involves four separate buses, not two. The Phnom Penh-Lao border and Pakse-Vientiane legs are comfortable enough. However in between the border and Pakse (Southern Laos) you will be crammed into a minibus or open van, sit on other people's laps, etc, as the vehicle does the rounds of every guesthouse in the region. You will eventually be transferred into another van, and the process repeated. It can take 4-6 hours, and it is seldom clear where you are, where you are going, or who is in charge..
If the busline talks you into putting your luggage on a second bus (because of space problems), it is liable to vanish along the road.
The bus trip from Phnom Penh to Vientiane, or vice-versa, averages 27 hours.
From elsewhere in Laos
Buses to and from destinations in Vientiane Prefecture depart from the Talat Sao bus terminal, just east of the Morning Market. There is an informative schedule and schematic diagram of the bus piers painted on the central building, which is where you can also buy tickets.The Southern Bus Terminal, used by all buses coming from the south (including VIP), is on Thanon Kaisone Phomvihane (that is the first stretch of the "Route 13 South"), quite far from town (10km, ironically, north east of the center) leaving you at the mercy of the tuk-tuk bullies (starting from 15'000 KIP if you are lucky). Public bus number 23 stops by the entrance of the southern bus station and connects it with the Talat Sao bus terminal (Morning Market) at 5'000 KIP, from where it is a ten minutes walk into the tourist center. Mind you, that the existence of the city busses is going to be vigorously denied by most people you ask, as many have stakes in passanger transportation, want you to take their ride instead.
The Northern Bus Terminal, somewhat north-west of the city centre on the T2 road (now officially named Asiane Road), is where all buses to the north arrive and depart.
Note that if you buy a bus ticket, with quite a margin, in town, it should include the transfer to the respective terminal.
Cash & credit cards
Banks and Money Changers
Banks and money changers are plentiful in the city centre Money changer shops give a competitive edge than the banks. The best rates are at the shops along Rue Lane Xang in the section north of the Talat Sao morning Market.Phongsavanh Bank on Thanon Samsenthai is Vientiane's newest and privately owned bank and operates a currency exchange until about 20:30 on weekdays, and for shorter hours on weekends.
BCEL operates foreign exchange counters on the corner of Thanon Fa Ngum (the river promenade), Thanon Setthathilath (near JoMa), Thanon Pang Kham as well as at at the Friendship Bridge, just past the visa on arrival pick-up window. This bank charges no commission, gives better conversion rates, and has longer opening hours than most local banks. BCEL also has an exchange counter.
Home Ideal, a Chinese-owned store, offers a good foreign exchange rates. The store is a 2 minute walk on the next street over from Phongsavanh bank.
ATMs
ATMs are also plentiful, but often cause problems such as out of cash or "eaten card" and sometimes do not accept the major international credit and debit card networks. In addition, most have withdrawal limits of 700,000-2,000,000 kip and charge additional fees. For preventing such trouble, tourists should withdraw the money in the ATMs only at bank branches.- ANZV: Allows withdrawals of up to 2,000,000 kip per transaction with a 40,000 kip transaction fee. Supports both Visa and Maestro. There are 2 branches in Vientiane. The first is at the main ANZV office located mid-way down Lane Xang. There are now also various ANZV ATMs, for example on the corner of Thanon Fa Ngum and Rue Chao Anou and at various minimarts, like the City minimart and at some M Point marts.
- BCEL: Withdrawals are limited to 1,000,000 kip per transaction; however, you may make up to ten of these in one day. Mastercard and Maestro are readily accepted; Visa also. BCEL charges a fee of 20,000 kip per transaction.
- Joint Development Bank: Possible to withdraw up to 1,000,000 kip per transaction with a 30,000 transaction fee. Supports both Visa and Maestro.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are accepted by travel agencies and in better restaurants and shops, but many charge a non-negotiable 3% fee.Get around
When asking for directions or streets with "r" in them, be aware that Laotians just like any Chinese ('plied lice' from 'fried rice') or Thai-Vietnamese-Cambodian, pronounce them as "l". Example is Rue Setthathirat pronounced as "Lue Setthathilat".
Probably they are shy about their English skills or lack of it, but most locals are "dumb" on street directions, even people in police uniforms.
The map on the right, which is fully to scale, covers the centre only. Maps covering a larger area are available at bookshops and some mini-marts, but are not as detailed and not always to scale. Many storefronts feature addresses in Roman letters, and these are often the best way to determine the street one is walking. People navigate using landmarks, so name the nearest embassy, hotel or temple to where you want to go.
Since 2006 a major road upgrading project has been going on in the town centre and out of it up to way past the airport in the west and the Friendship Bridge in the east, financed by the Japanese government and planned and overseen by Japanese engineers. Largely gone are the hazards presented by missing drainage gully covers and sidewalks upturned by tree roots. Almost no trees have been cut - amazing! In the centre of Vientiane the through roads Thanons Setthathirat and Samsenthai and the side roads connecting them and down to the river now have sealed surfaces and sidewalks, and there is decent street lighting. A one-way traffic regime is in place (but the police are not enforcing it), and parking regulations have also been introduced. Markings for pedestrian crossings have been painted on the new roads, but the local drivers regard them as decoration. Don't rely on them!
Vientiane's rainwater drainage system, which also takes care of "grey water" from baths, sinks, laundry, etc. consists of gullies on the roadside, usually covered by concrete slabs. These slabs are sometimes damaged and very precariously balanced, or even missing altogether; people rapidly learn to take care before stepping on anything that looks like a slab! Waste from toilets is or should be collected in septic tanks (at every house), but those gullies can nevertheless smell abominably. In the centr things have improved markedly as a result of the road upgrading. The smell from the gullies is now no longer very noticeable.
Note: do not rely on the Google Earth view of Vientiane for locating the sights: many locations put there by well-meaning users (the "Google Earth Community") are clearly in the wrong place, not just a block or so away but some even in a wrong part of the town!
By taxi
Vientiane has a small fleet of genuine taxis retired from Bangkok, usually found lurking at the Friendship Bridge, the airport or in front of large hotels. Fares are set by bargaining, so figure on around US$0.50 per km or US$20-40 to hire one for the day, depending on car type and distance.Taxi Vientiane Capital Lao Group Co. Ltd. (21-454168, 21-454088, 90 Th Nongbone) advertises 20,000 kip for the 1st km, then 2,000 kip every 300m.
By Tuk-tuk or Jumbo
By bus
Rattly old blue-and-white buses and newer white minibuses connect the centre to the suburban districts, but they are not equipped with air-con and have no signage in English, although route numbers are usually (not always) posted on the front. The only bus likely to be of use to the casual visitor is the bus to/from the Friendship Bridge, which continues on to Buddha Park for a fixed fare of 5000K. (The bus to Wattay International Airport goes near the airport but not quite into it.)Routes from from Talat Sao:
- 14- Friendship Bridge, continues on to Buddha Park , 6000 kip
- 29- south bus station - 2000 Kip
By bike
Bicycles are perhaps the best way to get around the city. Most guest houses and hotels can arrange bike rental for around 10,000 kip per day. (The cheapest is apparently Douang Deuane Hotel, 8,000 kip, though their bikes aren't the best.) Although the city's flat terrain makes for good biking, one-way streets can be difficult to identify. You can usually choose to leave your passport, your driver's licence, about 1,000 baht, or a comparable amount of kip or dollars as a deposit.Despite the poor standard of local driving, cycling is fairly safe in the city because the traffic is quite slow (maybe because of the condition of the roads). But take extra care when the roads are wet, because many are unsurfaced (even in the city centre), and they can be muddy and slippery - innocent-looking puddles sometimes conceal deep potholes.
On foot
The city centre can be quite comfortably covered on foot, at least in the cool season. Pha That Luang, however, is 4 km away from the centre and thus a bit of a hike. Out of the city centre there are few footpaths so walking can be uncomfortable.By car
Take your free to discover the city by car, you can indepently drive yourself whenever and wherever you want.but be careful with local driving. In Laos there are a lot of car rental company, but if you are looking for a international standard & Service, you can try Europcar (Asia Vehicle rental), located on Samsenthai Road. just only 5 minutes from Namphu fountain.Future - by MRT
The MRT service will be opened in 2020.See
Vientiane is best viewed as a comfortable transit point for other places in Laos, or as a recuperative stop on the way out. It's a pleasant enough place, but generally, there is little reason to spend more than a couple of days here.- Lao National Museum (Revolutionary Museum ພິພິຕະພັນແຫ່ງຊາດ), Thanon Samsenthai (next to Lao Plaza Hotel). 8am-12pm, then 1pm-4pm. Formerly the Lao Revolutionary Museum by name, and as a suggestion, should aptly be rechristened as Lao Natural, Cultural, & Political Sciences History Museum, the historical exhibits on the first floor are modest though very interesting in depicting some of the early history. They include one of the original Jars from the Plain of Jars and various stone and bronze age implements. The second floor provides us with a great insight into the 18th Century Laotian Kingdom and the customs of the day. It would appear that the Loatians didn't treat their guests quite as well in those days, often keeping them from leaving the country for several months. The floor builds up to a fervently revolutionary pitch as it documents the heroic struggle of the Lao against the Siamese (Thai), French and American 'imperialists'. Exhibits include items such as socks worn by Politburo members when they escaped from prison and Kaysone Phomvihane's chest expander. The final rooms, on post-revolutionary Laos, are mostly a photo gallery of pressing topics such as the comrades of the 7th Plenary Session of the Laos People's Congress inspecting fertilizer production processes. The final rooms provide an insight into some of the modern advancements, though these are fairly dowdy and uninspiring. Visitors are forced to walk through the shop (items look like they have been on sale since the revolution in 1975). A guestbook regularly features amusing arguments between young western visitors on the subject of communism. Most exhibits are labelled in English, though some French labelling remains, occasionally to the exclusion of English. Foreigner: 10000 kip, Laotian: 2000.
- Patuxai (Victory Gate), Avenue Lane Xang. A local rendition of Paris' Arc de Triomphe. Besides the elaborate Buddhist embellishment, it differs from the original in having four gates instead of two and being just a bit higher (to spite the French). Reasonably impressive from afar, a surprisingly frank English sign inside the monument labels it a "monster of concrete" when seen up close - and the concrete in question was donated by the US, although it was supposed to go towards a new airport instead (hence the nickname "the Vertical Runway"). The monument itself aside, the palm tree-lined park around it complete with fountains is quite pleasant though lacking of shade during the day time. You can climb up to the 7th story (stairs only) for a nice view of central Vientiane and three levels of souvenir shops with less than enthusiastic sales people sitting about. Features a musical fountain nearby that attracts visitors from around Laos and Asia, as well as a World Peace gong presented by Indonesia. Roving cameramen will be happy to charge you for photos near these attractions. 3000 kip (to climb).
Patuxai, the Victory Gate
- COPE Visitor Centre, Khou Vieng Road (300m East of Water Park/Joma Cafe Opposite Green Park Hotel). 09:00-18:00. Explains Laos' legacy of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and the National Rehabilitation Centre's efforts to expand prosthetic, orthotic and rehabilitation services across the country. There are a number of exhibits and visitors can watch a number of short films on the subject. Exhibits are appropriate for all ages. An excellent gift shop offers fun, off-beat souvenirs that support a good cause. Free parking. Free.
- The Art of Silk, Manthatourath Rd, Lao Women's Union, ☎ 7719798 or 2202547. Mon-Fri 9am-4pm. A local magazine says "Phone before visiting, as there is no permanent staff." free(?).
- Kaysone Phomvihane Museum, km6 Dongdok Rd, ☎ 911215. Tue-Sun 9am-4pm. Museum about Kaysone Phomvihane. Foreigner: 5000, Laotian: 2000.
- Lao People's Army History Museum, Kaysone Phomvihane Rd, Ban Nongsangthong, ☎ 900662. Tue-Sun 8:30am-4:30pm. Museum about the army. Foreigner: 5000, Laotian: 2000.
- Memorial of president Souphanouvong, Kaysone Phomvihane Rd, Ban Phonsa-art. Tue-Sun 8:30am-4pm. Foreigner: 5000, Laotian: free.
Temples and Stupas
Some temples (indicated below) charge an entry fee of 2,000/5,000K for Lao nationals and foreigners and are open 8AM-4PM, with a Noon-1PM lunch break. The monks of those that don’t charge a fee will be grateful for a small donation in the box.
- Wat Si Saket now signposted as Sisaket Museum. Entrance fee 5,000 kips. Corner of Thanon Lane Xang and Thanon Setthathirat. With very contemplative ambience, probably the oldest standing temple in Vientiane and among the most atmospheric. Built in 1818 by Chao Anou in the Bangkok style and hence left unsacked when much of Vientiane was razed in a Siamese raid in 1828. Within the cloister walls are hundreds of niches housing Buddha images large and small, made of wood, stone, silver and bronze. In the centre of the courtyard is a five-tier-roofed sim (ordination hall) housing yet more Buddha niches and beautiful but fading murals of the Buddha's past lives.
- Hophakaew Museum. Entrance fee 5,000 kips. Thanon Setthathirat (opposite Wat Si Saket). A very stunning, elegant, and majestic structure, King Setthathirat's former royal temple, which housed the magical Emerald Buddha (pha kaew) after it was taken from Lanna (Chiang Mai). The Siamese took it back in 1779 - the image is now housed in Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaew - and came back in 1828 to raze the temple for good measure. The present structure is a 1942 reconstruction of dubious provenance. Today, the temple no longer operates and the interior has been turned into a small jumbled museum housing Buddha images; look out for the beautiful tall, lithe, long-armed Buddha in the hands-down "calling for rain" pose.
- Black Stupa (That Dam). Thanon Bartholomie (off Thanon Samsenthai near the US embassy). The mythical abode of a seven-headed dragon that protects Vientiane. It was renovated in 1995 but still has an attractive patina of age, and is slowly being overgrown again by lush grass vegetation. Warning: there have been dog attacks here at night.
- Pha That Luang. 5'000 kip Entrance fee (2'000 for Laotians). Thanon That Luang (2 km east from Patuxai). The national symbol and most important religious monument of the country, That Luang is a three-layered gilded stupa. The current version dates from 1566, although it has been ransacked and renovated numerous times since then. All days 08:00-12:00, 13:00-16:00. Accessing the inner courtyard gives you a slightly closer view of the stupa, and lots of Buddha statues. Vientiane's most important festival, Bun That Luang, is held here in November on the night of the full moon.
- There are two temples beside That Luang: Wat That Luang Neua to the north(ish) and Wat That Luang Tai to the south(ish), both presently being renovated.
- Wat Si Muang. Between Thanons Setthatirat and Samsenthai, about 1km east of the centre. Free. Disney-esque and gaudy in set-up, one would not think that it's a religious compound. Despite its small size, the temple is very active. Followers believe that lifting the small uddha statue 3 times from its cushion means that your prayers or questions will be answered. The city pillar is being housed in a pagoda-like structure now being constructed separately on another block northwest across the street.
- Wats Onteu, Inpeng, Mixay and Haisok are along Thanon Setthatirat right in the town centre, and therefore the most likely temples to be visited by tourists.
Nearby
- Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan) is a bizarre outdoor collection of huge concrete sculptures of Buddhist and Hindu deities and real and imaginary beasts. The reclining Buddha is especially impressive. Built in 1958 by mystic Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, who left the country after the communist take-over and, in 1978, went on to establish a nearly identical park (Sala Keoku or Sala Kaew Ku) across the river in Nong Khai, Thailand. Located some 24 km from the city, it's about 6 km to the east of the Friendship Bridge - hence it's well worth visiting on the way into or out of Laos if you're crossing the Friendship Bridge, thereby saving you an extra 48 km round trip if you visit from and return to Vientiane. Getting transportation from the Buddha park can be difficult so it is best to hire a tuk-tuk for the entire Vientiane - buddha park - friendship bridge (or vice versa) trip. Another idea is to take the bus. No. 14 leaves Talat Sao station to Xieng Khuan for 6,000K oneway, and it is no problem to flag down a bus on the way back or to the Friendship Bridge.
- On the main road (Thanon Thadeua), just before the access road to the Bridge branches off, is the National Ethnic Cultural Park where typical houses of various ethnic groups are on display, though only from the outside unless you happen to meet some kind of custodian who will be eager to unlock some of them and show the inside. There also are some statues of dinosaurs and a rather dismal looking small "zoo". Most times the only activity seems to be the kiosks where they sell soft drinks and chips, but there are said to be occasional cultural shows. Tour operators often take their guests here before or after a visit to the Buddha Park. Well, to have it in their brochures may serve to make those more impressive. It is not a place to go out of your way for, not as long as it is not made more attractive.
- The project for the preservation of the old Vientiane Wall, Ban Nonghai (traffic light the way to go to Thadeua), ☎ 330-164 or 560-7620. 8am-5pm. " free.
Do
- Monk Chat. Once a month, local monks gather at the Sangha College (Wat Onteu)for chat with tourists.
- Green Discovery Laos, in Thanon Setthathirat (next to Khop Chai Deu). Agency organising adventure tours and eco-tourism
- Picnicking on the Shores of Nam Ngum Lake, 90km from Vientiane. A local favorite. There are floating restaurants along the lake shore; their specialty is fish fresh from the lake. Cruises among the lake's islands can be booked here, which makes for a relaxing couple of hours. Just inquire at your guest house/hotel or at any travel agency (where they will then try to sell their tours).
- Lao Massage. Your masseur or masseuse will be grateful for a tip. The staff will be happy if you have the decency to take a shower before you go. They won't say anything to your face, but smelly foreigners make their job less than pleasant. The one next to The Drop Zone on Chao Anou Road is particularly delightful. The massage parlour does not really have a name, and the most prominent signboard merely says "now open". US$3-6/hour.
- Browsing & Watching @ French Cultural Centre (Centre Culturel et de Cooperation Linguistique), Th Lane Xang. Has a French library and a small theatre that shows plays and films.
- Grooming @ Holiday Barber, Th Chou Anou. This salon is right across from the Home Ideal department store. This place is the best salon in Vientiane. To get an idea of how reasonable the pricing is, here are some of the services and their prices: 1 hour long massage for 30,000 kip, mani/pedi + foot scrape for 30,000 kip, brazilian blowout 100,000 kip.
- Muay Lao (Kickboxing) (Kuanjai Sikhot Boxing Gym), (On the same road as the airport, going out of town; head towards the Sekhai Market. Make a right turn right before the market, then go straight and make the first left turn, go straight another 700 metres), ☎ 020 566 32835. The national sport of Lao PDR. Similar to Muay Thai but not a tourist trap like most gyms in Thailand
- Meditation @ Lao Dhamma Center (meditation at Lak 38), (located on route 13 - to the south - at km38). Peaceful Buddhist meditation centre with a daily schedule dedicated to sincere meditation practice. Welcome to foreigners. Hard to find such a place elsewhere in Laos.
- Tour via Vientiane ByCycle, Ban Sithan Neua (Tours start in front of cafe ''Spirit House.), ☎ +8562055812337. Vientiane ByCycle offers awesome guided bicycle tours trough and around Vientiane. They take you off the beaten track to places where you usually wouldn't go. Along villages, temples, school yards, bank of Mekong River, crematoria, markets and local businesses. They have excellent quality MTB.
Buy
- Lao Experiences Cooking Course and Food Tours, (Bookings at The Full Moon Cafe), ☎ 020 95553097/02055699429. Daily. Learn about Lao people and their culture. Cook Lao style in the garden on a quiet stretch of the Mekong River.
Markets and department stores
- Talat Sao - Morning Market, corner of Thanon Lane Xang and Thanon Khu Vieng. Despite the name, it is open from 9AM-4PM. a large collection of indoor stalls selling, well, pretty much anything. There are two floors: the first floor sells mostly textiles, electronics (watch out nearly all of them are counterfeit), and watches; the second floor has clothing, gold, and jewelery. Depending on the product, you should negotiate, discounts can vary from 10% to 33%.
- Talat Sao Mall. Has 3 floors and is the first public building in Vientiane with an indoor parking. At weekends folks from the countryside come and marvel at the escalators (which, in one local magazine article, were referred to in English as "electricity ladders"), and at the bravery of those who venture onto them. The Mall boasts a few cafés and a thai-style food court. Many vendors are Thais so they expect you to pay in baht, despite the signs urging you to pay in kip, and they also expect you to be typical dumb tourists who'll pay any price and still think it's a bargain. Souvenir t-shirts, 3 for 200 THB. That's fact that Talat Sao Mall is the place for dumped products from Thailand. Almost of products here are mentioned in many newspapers or fake product report sites. Do not buy anything.
- Home Ideal, Samsenthai Road. Large one stop shop for assorted products from stationery to housewares, clothing to luggage. Prices are fixed and reasonable.
Handicraft shops
Look for the "Stay Another Day: Laos" booklet for a guide to non-profit handicraft shops, sustainable manufacturing and other NGO stuff in Vientiane and elsewhere in Laos.Above all, silk and cotton weavings are for sale in the Morning Market and in many shops along Thanons Setthathirat and Samsenthai, and in several of their side roads. In the Morning Market you should bargain; in the other shops you may try to get a discount but don't count on it. Some of the better shops are:
- Mixay Boutic (yes, that's how they write it) in Thanon Nokeo Kumman (with a branch in Thanon Setthathirat) - they have some women weaving fabrics of the shop's own design on the premises, who you are welcome to watch. Beautiful wall hangings, not the cheapest in town but well worth the price. Also on sale are shirts and skirts, scarves, cushion covers and anything made of textiles.
- Laha Boutique, Thanon Francois Ngin: naturally dyed textiles (mainly cotton) from the south (Savannakhet).
- Kanchana: the Beauty of Lao Silk: traditional Lao silk weavings, hand-woven fabrics, textiles and clothing using natural dyes. Just off Thanon Samsenthai on Thanon Chantha Kumman, the road to That Dam.
- Lao Textiles, Thanon Nokeo Kumman. Founded 1990 by an American woman (Carol Cassidy), who now employs some 40 artisans, this firm offers modern cotton weavings using traditional motifs and- some of their work has been exhibited in international museums, with this reflected in the price. They are not particularly welcoming to visitors, including a locked front door, a bell that needs to be rung to request entry & very prominent 'No photography' signs.
- The Art of Silk, Thanon Manthatulat, run by the Lao Women's Union. Silk and cotton weavings in both traditional and modern designs.
- Mulberries Lao Sericulture Company, Thanon Nokeo Kumman. The sales outlet of a not-for-profit organisation that operates in about five hundred villages in Northern Laos, seeking to create income generating opportunities. Naturally-dyed, handmade Lao silk products.
- TShop Lai, Vat Inpeng Street, ☎ 856 (21) 22 31 78. Sells oils, shampoos, soaps, etc. made by Les Artisans Lao as well as honey and some nice handicrafts. Les Artisans Lao is a social venture allowing disadvantaged, uneducated and often marginalized people to receive an apprenticeship.
Supermarkets
Most Supermarkets offer groceries from Europe, wines from all over the world (thanks to the low taxation in Laos these are astonishingly low-priced considering the long transport routes); dairy products from Laos itself and Thailand (milk, yoghurt), butter and cheese from Europe and New Zealand, and everything else one may need.- Phimphone Minimart on Thanon Setthathirat next to JoMa. Opened again after renovations end December 2007, it is no longer merely a "minimart" but almost a full-grown supermarket. This place will surprise you in the amount of western stock it carries, but it is expensive, and the owners must make a nice profit on the exchange rate that they apply. Here it pays to pay in kip! A second shop with the same name (the owners are related, the shops are not) is on Thanon Samsenthai / corner of Thanon Chantha Kumman. Excellent, European-style bread is usually available (on Setthathirat), though the delivery schedule is a bit erratic.
- M-Point Mart is a relatively new convenience store chain, with at least five locations in Vientiane. Much like a 7-11. Stop by around 6pm and there will be a thai food cart right in front. Has the best pad thai in town. You can choose from pad thai, fried baby mussels, fried rice, mixed seafood platter. Price: 15'000 kip per plate.
- V-Shop on Thanon Khun Bulom netween Thanons Setthathirat and Samsenthai. Outside in front is a small express café where they serve some of the best coffee specialties in town (Lao Mountain Coffee), shakes, fruit juices, waffles, doughnuts – good for people watching on the edge of the chinese quarter.
- Riverside Minimart on Thanon Fa Ngum, the Mekong promenade.
- City Minimart on Thanon Samsenthai opposite Wat Si Muang - maybe the shop with the most extensive range of merchandise in the town, and somewhat cheaper than the shops more in the centre.
Books
Several stores around town, including the Full Moon Cafe, offer book buy/sell/exchange services. Some of the tomes on the shelves look as if they have been on a long, long trip in a back pack, but you can find interesting reading material.- Monument Books, Thanon Nokeo Kumman (next to the Vayakorn Guesthouse). Offers a good selection of English and French language books and magazines.
DVDs
Vientiane boasts one of the best DVD shops in Southeast Asia, with 10,000 titles of quality European, Asian and US movies. This is Seng Lao, about 100m toward the river down Chao Anou Street from the Home Ideal department store - on your left. Seng Lao has dozens of books displaying covers: you browse the books, and list your choices on a piece of paper they provide, at 10,000 kip ($US1.20) each. (Don't go to the nearby and better-marked Seng Dao DVD shop by mistake, as service and choice here are much inferior.). Mind the possible consequences of importing large amounts of illegally copied DVDs into your country.Bicycle
- Chinese bicycles and Mountain Bikes can be found in the Morning Market (Talat Sao) and in a few shops in the surrounding streets. Prices for a single gear bike start at about US$50, Mountainbikes at about US$80. In the tourist belt area, bikes are rented out for 10,000 kips per day as of Feb'12.
- Top Cycle Zone, 47 Dong Palan. the place to go if you want to buy a decent western style bicycle - or spare parts for one. Mountain bike: From US$350.
Alcohol
Watch out for fake brand name alcohol in Laos.- Vientiane State Import/Export Enterprises, Samsenthai Road (next to Phongsavanh Bank). a duty free, state owned liquor store. Limited selection but the cheapest price in town for popular brand name liquor by the bottle. This place is pretty good in terms of product authenticity but nothing is 100% guaranteed.
Eat
There are many restaurants in Vientiane. They offer a wide selection of cuisines, from Chinese specialities Tex-Mex. More restaurants are opened all the time, but many are there for just a few months before they go under; a few are successful and stay and may even flourish. It’s a question of offering something special, either in the way of the food served, or the atmosphere, or the friendly and competent service. There really is no need to go hungry in this town, but it is advisable to eat in places where there are many customers: there the food is likely to be good and fresh. Avoid empty places where the only guests are the flies buzzing around the food on display.Exotic treats
On the west side of the morning food market, one can sample fried cricket delicacies together with other bug-like critters.Budget
For authentic Lao food & dining experience there is one noodle soup shop on a nameless street (can't be located on the map also) across from the end of Rue Saylom next to a green Fuji film store and developing studio and conspicuously mispelled on its sign "DELICIOUS NOUDLE". This restaurant offers the best Lao white thick mucousy rice noodles with some pieces of chicken, fried pork, quail's eggs, etc. and the usual vegetable servings - spring onions, cilantro, mung bean sprouts (unlimited serve-yourself quantity). There's also the Kanom Ku (Chinese donuts) on the sides of unlimited servings as well, served ready to pick on every table. The big deal about it - it's all for 10,000 kips plus 1,000 kips per Kanom Ku consumed (honor system).Most importantly, the noodle soup tastes great, the broth is delicious.
On Lane Xiang, a dirt alley north of Hatsady Road and the Morning Market, across the Bank of Ayudhya is a small group of stalls offering local food patronized by office workers. The ambiance is similar to the morning and night street food markets in Luang Prabang and the vendors seemingly have not been adulterated by touristy mindset. At 9:30 am, flies hover rarely and the food is steaming hot, having just been lifted out of the cooking fire.
- Noodle shops can be found all over the town. They typically serve rice noodle soups ("feu", a close cousin to Vietnamese phở and Chinese 粉 fan2), often also fried rice and other rice or noodle-based dishes. Prices are very moderate: around 1 USD for a large bowl or plate.
- Ban Anou Night Market is only about 1 block long and starts setting up at sundown, but it has some of the best cheap eats in town. There's a wide range of street snacks available, including pho made with handpulled noodles, little lettuce wrapped snacks with peanut filling (miang), all types of grilled skewered meats, grilled sticky rice, local beverages made from coconut, chai tea, cornm grass jelly and more. Particularly worth trying are the small rice pancakes - two hemispheres of rice-based batter are fried in a tin, filled with minced pork and beansprouts and put together. About the size of a flattened tennis ball, absolutely delicious.
- Ray's Grille nestled on Rue Nokeokoummane (across the street from Mixay Guesthouse), owner Daniel serves up delicious Philly Cheesesteaks, kebabs, and quesadillas, all prepared, seasoned, and grilled fresh to order. Baguettes are freshly-baked each day, and sandwiches are given generous amounts of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Middle-Eastern options are accompanied by homemade tahini or tzatziki sauce. Also possible is a traditional family-style Thai feast prepared by Daniel's wife (just ask ahead of time). The quality of the food is rivalled only by the friendliness of the chef. 17,000 - 30,000 kip.
- Stay Hungry Burger, (Th Setthathirat near Nam Phu, in front of State Bookstore), ☎ +8562077516084. Stay Hungry Burger's claim is true, you really do stay hungry after eating there! — The burger you're about to unwrap is the smallest in town.
- Along the river: dozens of unpretentious restaurants and
beer gardens, from opposite the BCEL bank strung along the Mekong for
approximately 2km upriver (those upstream from the main beach promenade
are generally cheaper). All are pleasant places for a beer and a snack
or a complete meal while the sun goes down over the river. One of these
is one-time famous John's Restaurant, but since the owner married
an Australian and left for down under there is nothing to distinguish
it from the other places left and right. All serve inexpensive (but not
really cheap for Laos - in fact, the prices for most foods are much like
in Thailand) Lao, Thai and some Western food. Among the best is the
grilled fish, served by many of them. Take care when you're in for
boiled eggs: what you get here are incubated duck eggs. When you open
them you're in for a surprise (but at least the little bird does not
chirp). The Lao love them, they are hugely popular.
In 2005 one of the eateries along the river put Lao-style reed mats on the ground with low rattan "tables" (ka toke); diners sit cross-legged on the mat around the table. These became so popular that they can now be found at many of these establishments. They are much nicer than the rickety metal tables and plastic chairs that are the standard of all but the better restaurants in Laos. The riverside open-air restaurants have been known to use two menus, a cheaper one for locals and an expensive one for foreigners.
- Nazim Indian Restaurant on the Mekong river road: decent Indian food. Their toilet is not the cleanest in the country, perhaps because the patrons of some of the eateries on the river bank are directed here for certain needs when they are not simply sent down to the reeds at the water's edge. Nazim has opened another branch in Thanon Pang Kham, opposite the offices of Lao Airlines. There are at least 4 other Indian restaurants in the city centre, and all quite similar.
- Taj Mahal Restaurant, just south of the National Culture Hall, has good Indian food at good prices, if you don't mind listening to American pop music.
Vegetarian / Vegan:
- Nirvana Simuang Rd. (a small road connecting Sethattirat Rd. to Khou Vieng Rd. in Ban Simuang, Muang Sisattanak - close to the famous tourist site Wat Simuang). Delicious Lao traditional vegetarian/vegan food with some Western-style options. Nice change from the mostly Chinese-style offer of other buffets. High diversity and rotation rates. In the evening, ask for the menu (they have two - one basic one with pictures and another, much larger). 20,000 kip buffet at lunch hours. Open mon - sat. Family-managed, very clean. Some English spoken. Tel: +856 21 217 385.
- Vegan restaurant @ Talat Khuadin Inside the market opposite the Talat Sao. Pass the big basket shop and you will see a wooden sign pointing you down an alley. Offers a lunch time buffet serving vegan Laotian food. You can also get there from Th Mahosot: go north past the bus station and watch for the alley on the right. Down the alley you'll see a "vegetarian" sign on the left. The buffet os open from 10AM to 2:30PM for 20,000 kip per person.
- Vegan food stall @ Talat Sao food court (at the top level of Talat Sao shopping mall). All plates at 10 000 kip each. Buffet plates, excellent veg spring rolls (7 per plate) and noodle soups available.
- Fathima A Malaysian-Indian restaurant along the Mekong on Fa Ngum Rd., just around the corner from Mixay guesthouse. Numerous vegetarian options for 6-50,000 kip. Friendly staff and excellent service. Dish quality is extremely variable even for several exact-same dishes ordered on the same day. A bit of a pot-luck option.
- Happy Golden Age A reasonably priced (15000kip for noodle soup) Vegan Restaurant. Seems to be Vietnamese centric with assortment of mock meats and dishes. Staff was nice, place was clean, they spoke some English. Its where Rue Saylom curves behind the "Vientiane Plaza".
Mid-range
- Makphet, Behind Wat Ong Teu, just a block or two from the river. Training restaurant to give street kids skills in the hospitality industry. Excellent food and service. Inventive, interesting, well-presented and expertly-cooked modern Laotian food. Great alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Mushroom curry noodles and banana flower salad are both excellent.
- Lao Garden, 2km East on Tha Deua Road. For decent Lao, Thai and Western food in a charming environment, this is the place. Very popular with locals and with a great view of the Mekong. Mains cost between 30,000 - 100,000K. The fried fish laap is excellent. Often offers live music in the evenings. Meena nightclub opposite is a fun place to dance the night away with local Lao youth after dinner.
- Kong View Bar and Restaurant, 183 Luang Prabang Road: With the ongoing construction of the flood management levee and river park in Vientiane, this restaurant now offers the most optimal dining views of the Mekong. Thai owned, it features an extensive menu of what is best termed "Thai-Lao fusion". Not incredibly exciting food, but good. Portions on the small side, however. Also, the staff will invariably mess up your order. Keep a close eye on the bill, as well, as items tend to make it on there that you didn't order.
- Café des Arts, in Thanon Hengboun, near the Cultural Hall. Excellent home made pasta and pizzas for around US$6-7, as well as a good selection of wines including by the glass.
- Up 2 U just off of Thanon Lane Xang. Call Nok for English reservations/directions on (+856)206711784 11AM-11PM . 5 mins walk from the Morning Market this restuarant offers a good selection of Lao 'BBQ' dishes and soups as well as the usual rice dishes. The restuarant is situated just off the main road next to a large fishing pond surrounded by colonial houses - a welcome change from the busy riverfront. Good selection of beers & beverages also avaliable. Approx US$5-8 per person. It's popular with locals.
- Café Indochine, Thanon Setthathirat. Authentic Vietnamese food - particularly recommended: the set meals at about US$4-5. When there are more than just a few guests the kitchen staff may loose sight of their priorities.
- Just For Fun, by the That Dam, just off Rue Samsenthai. Bright, cheery, friendly place perfect for a leisurely bite and beer in the shadow of the That Dam. Wholesome, healthy Thai-influenced food and fresh desserts. Good selection of vegetarian dishes. Mains start at $US2.50.
- Le Provençal at Nam Phu (the Fountain) - French fare, excellent pizzas but the steaks sometimes leave much to the imagination. Main courses from about US$4-10.
- Lotus Restaurant, next to Cultural Hall. Serves traditional Lao and Western food, 08:30AM - 11:30PM. Price range: US$2-4.
- The Pizza Company/Swensen's, next to the National Culture Hall on Samsenthai Road, is the first international fast food chain to open in Laos. It features a similar menu to its Thai parent operation, though prices are 10-15% higher, since practically everything is imported from Thailand.
- Tex-Mex Alexia Restaurant and Bar, on Fa Ngum Road almost directly across from the Chinese Temple. Ostensibly a Tex-Mex eatery, expat Americans uniformly condemn the food. Yet the place is almost always packed. The bar does a lively business, serving up very strong margaritas. Live music many nights. Even if you don't fancy trying the food, it's a fine place to sip a drink and watch the city roll by. Caution to males: the pretties coming by your table to chat you up--sure the Lao are a friendly people, but Tex-Mex Alexia seems to have become a haven for the city's working girls eyeing some "foreign exchange".
- Benoni Cafe, on the first floor of Phimphone Market (entrance next to it), opnes from 10am to 5pm, and offers a wide range of asonable priced Asian and European dishes. The owners are Lao, but speak fluent English, French and German. daily specials and home roasted coffeebeans, basis for one of the best coffees in town. Busy at lunch time, discounts after 2pm.
- Khop Chai Deu, near the fountain. Inside (2 floors) and outside seating. Average Lao, Thai, Indian and Western food. Friendly service. Open until late evening. Price range: 1-4 USD. Try the “Lao Discovery” menu at US$6.5 (but check with the waiter how spicy it all is…). Noisy low-quality bands play Western popular music some evenings. Also a bar (see below). Buffet at lunchtime.
- Hong Kong Restaurant, opposite Lao Plaza Hotel. Lackadaisical Cantonese dishes (US$2-9) and a small selection of dim sum (US$1 per plate). There have been reports of them padding the bill. Check the bill carefully before paying! (That, by the way, is something you should do everywhere: in a country where they use a calculator to subtract 7 from 10 it comes as no surprise that their counting of beers consumed is not always accurate, although to be fair the mistakes are not always to the disadvantage of the customer.
- Inter Hotel Restaurant - Quai Fa Ngum, riverside, well prepared Szechuan food, about US$3 per dish. The hotel also runs the Inter Stone House in the same building round the corner; about the same or a slightly higher price range. Western and Thai/Lao food; their specialty is the sizzling steak on a stone platter, which however is not recommended (rather leathery meat with maltreated french fries and tasteless vegs). Offers little for vegetarians.
- JoMa, Thanon Setthathirat, and Scandinavian Bakery in the fountain square, extremely popular air-conditioned cafés and bakeries with simple lunches and excellent cakes & coffee. Free Wifi internet at JoMa. TV showing CNN upstairs at the Scandinavian.
- Le Croissant d'Or and Banneton Café, almost next to each other in Thanon Nokeo Kumman (running from the river to Thanon Setthathirat) have croissants and pastries and serve simple lunches. Banneton sells the best baguettes in town - tasty, not just something to chew. Their coffee is among the best in Vientiane, on a par with that at JoMa. The owners of Le Croissant d'Or also run the Vista café in Thanon François Ngin (free wifi internet when you spend 30,000 kip on food and drink).
- Sticky Fingers - Thanon François Ngin opposite the Tai Pan Hotel. High quality western style food at reasonable prices. They have won a national award for their grasshopper/cricket tacos! Also offer a wide selection of vegetarian options. There's happy hour on Wednesday and Friday nights, including half price cocktails. Open for breakfast and lunch on weekends only. Free WIFI. Hangout for expats and NGO volunteers.
- Full Moon Café, almost next to Sticky Fingers, nice interior with comfortable seating arrangements and relaxed atmosphere. Asian/European fusion cuisine.Ffriendly but unfocused staff and reasonable prices. Manager named Khamfanh speaks good English and can help with orders or information about Laos. Has a free book exchange: 1 for 1! Also offers free wifi.
- Via Via Opposite Riverside Hotel on Thanon Nokeo Kumman. Excellent wood-fired Italian style pizza and homemade pastas priced from US$4. Good selection of Belgian beers.
- La Terrasse, Thanon Nokeo Kumman, is popular with expats and tourists alike. It is one of the best French restaurants in Vientiane (very good pizzas, and excellent tender steaks at about US$5). Set three-course lunch is US$5.50, main dishes up to US$10. Closed on Sundays.
- Khao Nieow in Thanon Nokeo Kumman, almost next to La Terrasse. Set three-course meals at US$4.50. Steaks in two qualities: Lao beef at around 4 or 5 USD; New Zealand lamb and beef at about US$8 and above. To be tried on a cool evening: the fondue bourguignonne at US$26 for two and, a surprise in a place whose name means "Sticky Rice", excellent cheese fondue at US$28 for two - not something for the hottest months of the year, but nice around the year's end when temperatures drop.
- The restaurant in the Lane Xang Hotel on Thanon Fa Ngum has traditional Lao music and dance performances every evening from about 7PM, which you watch while eating your dinner of (recommended) Lao food. Get there early to secure a table with a good view of the stage. A meal for four, consisting of 5 or 6 dishes including drinks, will come at about US$30.
- Kua Lao at Thanon Samsenthai. Authentic Lao food with a good selection of vegetarian dishes; traditional Lao music and dance performances in the evening. Teh food is expensive by Lao standards with main dishes from US$6-12 and set meals at US$15.
- Le Côte d’Azur on Thanon Fa Ngum: a favourite of the expat community, serving generous helpings of mainly French food.
- The Spirit House on that tree-shaded part of the river promenade that has not yet been "upgraded" to Lao-style sterile banality like the stretch downriver (there are plans for it, but fortunately the money seems to have run out). It is about 0.3 km upstream from the end of the paved portion of the road. An excellent cocktail bar, it also offers a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu with competent and friendly service. Every evening there is 25% off all cocktails and a view of the sun setting on the mekong. Watch the waiters jump the puddles in the rainy season when you've chosen to sit outside on the terrace across the potholed road.
- Moon the Night Restaurant. Another 0.5km farther upstream from the Spirit House and somewhat difficult to find: the river promenade ends a few hundred metres before – best to take a tuk-tuk. (Directions: from the Novotel 0.5 km west, direction airport, past the Ford showroom, then turn into a soi on the left which after 200 metres takes you to the river. There ask around). A very pleasant spot to eat excellent Lao food. A large place, an extensive menu, competent and friendly service. Background music not too loud. Highly recommended. A meal of 6 to 8 dishes for 4 people costs US$15-20 including drinks.
- Phonethip Coca Suki Restaurant, Thanon Sailom opposite the Lao Telecom Service Centre. Part of a chain that also has restaurants in Thailand and Indonesia. Good Lao, Thai, Chinese and Western food. Reasonable prices and good, attentive service. Very popular at lunch time with office workers and students.
- Kop Kap, across from Tat Luang Temple. A favourite among ex-pats living nearby, if you crave Thai food. Packed during lunch time, the restaurant is known for its excellent Penang curry. Closed Sundays.
- Evening Dinner Cruises on the river – two different companies, on boat moored opposite Wat Chan and one 300 metres upriver. Not very impressive, neither the boat trip (1 hour, departure around 7PM: 1 km upstream then 2 downstream and back - only when the water level is high enough) nor the food. But very relaxing. This Lao maritime experience will cost you only slightly more than the same meal in one of the beer gardens on the river bank.
- Salana Corner 2 minutes walk away from the Mekong River on Chao Anou Rd. (+856)21254254 07.30AM-10.00PM . this restuarant & cafe is part of Salana Boutique Hotel and offers a good selection of Lao Western Dishes. Known for employing Lao Chefs from famous hotels in Laos, the restuarant is situated between wat Ong Teu and Wat Inpaeng, quiet but in a very good location. Good selection of beers & beverages also avaliable. Approx US$3-12 per person.
- Swedish Pizza & Baking House. Ban Anou Road. Tel (+856)215705. Open 7am - 9pm. Huge selection of excellent pizzas for around 45,000 Kip. The mocha shakes are particularly tasty. Also has a wide variety of fresh baked breads, pastries and cakes. Note that the location has changed recently (December 2011), it is now a block north of where current maps have it marked, closer to the night markets. The sign is currently hidden from view until you are well past Win Hotel.
Splurge
- L'Adresse de Tinay. Arguably the best French restaurant in town. Very inventive and especially tasty cuisine cooked up by Tinay, a French chef trained in Michelin starred restaurants in France. Located in a little street behind the temple 'Wat Ongteu' parallel to Setthathirath Road. Delphine, Tinay's wife, will make you feel at home from the moment you step in. Mains start at US$10 with set menus for less than US$20. Highly recommended. Email : ladressedetinay@gmail.com - Mobile Phone (020)56913434.
- Nam Phou. The first and arguably the best of the restaurants around the Fountain (Nam Phu), with good food and exceptional service. A favourite of NGO types.
- L'Opera: at the Fountain; good Italian food (but not quite comparable to what you get in the owner's home country). Good pizzas. Don't go there if you cannot stand opera music - it is played continuously in the background though not, fortunately, so loud that it drowns the conversation.
- Le Central on Thanon Setthathirat: good western food, main courses at US$8-15. Three-course set lunch for 75,000 kip (US$9.75).
- Le Silapa on Thanon Sihom (the road leading off the Setthathirat/Khun Bulom intersection), a small atmospheric restaurant with excellent French food and a good wine list. Main courses start at about US$15.
- La Belle Epoque in the Settha Palace Hotel - excellent food in an atmosphere of colonial elegance but the service needs improvement. Main courses starting at US$8.
- La Scala Italian Restaurant, Lak 3, Thadeua Road: excellent Italian food. Romantic setting in a beautifully maintained colonial home. Offers a lunchtime buffet Monday-Friday. Tasty Neapolitan-style pizzas. Has an extensive wine list, and pasta mains are priced from US$8.
- Balkan House, Thongsangnang village (From Thongkhankham market second traffic light left, than first street right opposite Nakhomesack hotel, down the street 300 m on the left side), ☎ 020 7709 729. Tue-Sun 8AM-3PM & 6PM-11PM. Traditional Yugoslav and Mediterranean homemade dishes, prepared by Montenegrin chef. From US$5-15.
- Le Nadao opposite the Patuxai park, excellent classical French fare, main courses starting at US$8. Booking is recommended (tel: 021-213174).
Chinese food
The massive influx in recent years of Chinese investment into Laos may be controversial, but one area in which it has had an undeniably positive impact is the vastly increased quality of Chinese restaurants in Vientiane. No reason anymore to settle for the ghastly Hong Kong Restaurant or uninspired banquet fare in the big hotels. Vientiane has a growing selection of authentic regional Chinese cuisine, particularly from the southwest.- Fu Man Lou 福滿樓 (Tel: 21-262249; mobile: 020-55519185), Luang Prabang Road: this restaurant is so successful it now has two locations. The one on the road to the airport is the best by far. It is the most established of the better Chinese restaurants in the city, and the Chinese diplomats posted to Laos often dine here. Food selection is multi-regional, but the Sichuan dishes are well done.
- Dihao Hunan Restaurant 帝豪酒店 (Tel: 21-262799), on T2 Road not far from Patuxai. If you are craving spicy Hunan fare, Dihao serves up some of the best you'll find this side of Changsha. Hunanese-owned and operated (the Hunan Chamber of Commerce is on the 4th floor), Dihao is likely the finest and most authentic Chinese restaurant in Vientiane at the moment. Staff speak Chinese and Lao, and the menu is same, but every dish has its own photo. Order anything containing chilies, and you can't go wrong.
- Jiu-Jiu Restaurant 久玖酒家 (Tel: 21-213059; mobile: 020-55333419), Luang Prabang Road (almost directly opposite the Marina Nightclub): an unheralded gem, this restaurant offers fantastic southwestern Chinese cuisine. The chef hails from Qujing 曲靖 in Yunnan Province. The food is best described as Yunnan-Sichuan fusion. Helps if you know Chinese, but the staff can speak Lao as well. Menu contains plenty of photographs, so if all else fails, just point.
- Restaurant Chengdu 成都食府, Luang Prabang Road. Formerly the 東北美食館 (Manchuria Gourmet), this restaurant opened with new name and management in January 2011. The owner/manager claims the chef is from Chengdu, but the heavily Manchurian-influenced food from the kitchen clearly puts the lie to that claim. It is obvious they have changed the menu to Sichuan fare, but kept a Manchurian chef who doesn't know how to properly prepare it.
- Classic Lao Di Fang 經典老地方 (mobile：020-54011387, 020-56199938), ASEAN Road (T2), near the Dihao Hunan Restaurant. Chinese Vegetarian. The owner is Taiwanese, so this place seemed promising, as vegetarian cuisine is very popular in Taiwan, and done to an extraordinary standard. Unfortunately, that level of quality did not follow this owner into Laos. The food is lackluster, and the management of the restaurant appears to suffer from neglect, most likely because the owner is rarely in Laos.
Drink
- Bor Pen Nyang, Thanon Fa Ngum (the river promenade), tel. +856-20-7873965. Breezy fourth-floor (no elevator) bar/restaurant which overlooks the Mekong. Travellers, locals, ex-pats, working girls, and ladyboys in seeming harmony. Claims the most extensive Fine Whisky Range in Laos and stocks a wide range of liquors. Special daily cocktail for 20.000 KIP. Pool & Snooker Tables on the 2nd Floor. At the back of the bar there is a winner stays/loser pays pool competition every night.
- Red Mekong Bar and Restaurant tel. +856-20-2222513. Happy hour between 6pm and 8pm. It's large red illuminated name sign can be easily seen from nearby Bor Pen Nyang.
- Martini Lounge, Thanon Nokeo Kummane, just a block from the Mekong and next door to Croissant d'Or Bakery. Opens at 6:00PM and closes well past the normal 11:30 curfew. Movies shown Monday-Wednesday 8:00PM. Thursdays are Salsa nights and most Fridays a DJ is spinning. Possibly plays the most eclectic music in Vientiane.
- Jazzy-Brick, Thanon Setthathirat nearly opposite Kop Chai Deu. A classy, and expensive, bar. The sign out front states "no shorts, no flip-flops allowed".
- Samlo Pub, Thanon Setthathirat opposite Wat Onteu. Was once one of only a few bars in town, and was packed every evening, especially between 11pm and 2am after other bars around town are closed. Perhaps quieter now that there is more competition. Has pool table and shows sports, but the "background" music often drowns the TV commentary. Drinkers from Bor Pen Nyang often come here when it closes, then move on again to the Don Chan Palace night club once Samlo closes.
- Khop Chai Deu Thanon Setthathirat next to the fountain square. The name means "thank you very much". Popular with tourists, expats and Lao hi-so type. OK food; mid-range prices; large selection of Western, Thai, and recently introduced classic Lao dishes. Great place to drink beer in the centre of town.
- Deja Vu, next to L'Opera Restaurant on Nam Phu Square (Fountain), a very classy and cozy bar, owned and run by Japanese-speaking Lao owner. Great drinks. Approx. 50K kip per cocktail. Closed Sundays.
- DTech, in the hotel grounds. Mainly techno.
- Future, just outside. 80s & 90s songs with a big video screen.
Meena: Across the street from Lao Garden restaurant. Popular with Lao teenagers.
Marina: Happening all nights of the week. Crowd changes from beginning, midweek, to weekend. Bowling alley and karaoke next door, same owner. Diverse crowd and music.
Romeo: Upgraded interior within the last 6 months. Diverse crowd and music.
Champa: Vietnamese owned 'super' club. Place to go for loud techno music.
Wind West: Different cover bands play throughout the night. Maybe the only Country & Western bar in Laos. A sit and listen to live band place, not a dance club.
Everything is supposed to close down before midnight before the start of the unofficial curfew, although clubs generally stay open until 1-1.30AM. The most notable exception is the extremely popular Don Chan Palace Hotel Nightclub which is open until 4AM on the weekend. It's an after hours club popular with working girls.
- GQ Bar and Massage. One of two gay bars in downtown Vientiane, off Rue Chao Anou (the same street as the Inter City and Orchid hotels, off Thanon Fa Ngum, along the river). Closes between midnight and 1AM, when many head off to the Don Chan Palace hotel nightclub. Friendly staff, cheap drinks, and occasional cabaret shows around 11PM.
- CCC Bar.
- CCC Bar, Supanvong Road, Ban Haai Sok. The second of two gay bars in downtown Vientiane, located next to Silapa Restaurant and catty-corner from Vat Inpeng. Friendly atmosphere and staff with good dance beats. Mixed drinks average around 30,000 kip, with happy hour between 7 and 9 PM. Second floor has a pool table.
Sleep
There are numerous places to stay in Vientiane, but there is little budget accommodation. Most options are mid to high-range for Lao standards, and can go up to astronomic prices, which are impossible to pay in local currency, and exceed yearly salaries of most Laotians. In recent years many new establishments have opened, but mid-2007 the Government announced plans to restrict the number of new permits: they wish to concentrate on quality rather than quantity (read: to increase prices). The days that anyone could convert their home to a guest house and get a share of the cake seem to be over.Normally, just get into the town centre (for instance the Nam Phu square) and start looking around along Thanon Setthathirat and its side streets. You’ll find something within minutes except in "peak season" (January) when it will be really difficult to find a room: book in advance!
High season is something like October through April or May; low season June through September.
Some places insist on an early nightly curfew and lock the front door without giving you a key. If you wish to enjoy the nightlife (what there is of it), make sure that you will be able to stay out and, more importantly, get in again. Often there will be a door man who sleeps near to the main entrance doors and can be woken up to get in, but its wise to check what system they have in place for getting back in during the small hours of the morning.
| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
| Budget | Under 120,000 kip |
| Mid-range | 120,000-400,000 kip |
| Splurge | Over 400,000 kip |
Budget
Budget accommodation in Vientiane fills quickly and can be difficult to find by late afternoon.- Benacam Guest House, Ban Watchan. checkout: 11.00am. Clean, nice rooms, great value. Nice bathrooms with great water pressure, real shower, clean linens. Rooms can be small, but have fridge and cable TV. WiFi, but signal can be weak in areas. Double room with fan, low season, 100,000 kip. (Upd Jun2012)
- Sabaidy Guest House, 203 Thanon Settathirat. checkout: 11.00am. Has lockers to keep your belongings in. Close to the center, dormitories with no doors or sheets on a bed for 20,000 kip, doubles for 50,000 kip. No WiFi, friendly stuff, shared toilets. Laundry for 9,000 kip/kg. WARNING:Bedbugs (Upd Oct2011)
- Mixay Guesthouse, 54 Thanon Nokeo Koummane. A simple room with fan and shared bathroom. Friendly staff. Clean but has ventilation issues in some rooms (especially on the top floor where there is a smoking section), watch your head on the stairs, watch your step, and sometimes you have to be patient with the staff. Free wifi, but only between 9:00AM and 11:00PM. Dorms with/without breakfast 50,000/45,000 kip, single with/without breakfast 70,000/65,000, Double with common bathroom with/without breakfast 90,000/85,000, double with bathroom with/without breakfast 100,000/90,000 kip, double with aircon with/without breakfast 110,000/100,000 kip. (upd. Oct2011)
- Seng Lao Hotel. On Th Chao Anou around 3 blocks up from Th Fa Ngum. Clean rooms with A/C and TV's at 115,000 for single 170,000 and 190,000 for twins and 260,000 for a triple. Very helpful staff can let you know where to find more local stuff in addition to normal tourist things. Reservations at Senglaohotel@Yahoo.com
- Soutchai Travel, Thanon Nokeo Koummane, ☎ 021 254512-5. (Formerly aYa Guest House). Right across from Mixay Guesthouse. Clean dorm rooms, moderately fast 24-hour wifi, small balcony, fan and aircon, lamp, locker/cabinet, towel, and water refill for 40,000 kip. Two common rooms, one with teevee. Discounted travel fares for guests. Friendly staff. Double room is 110,000 kip.
- Mixay Paradise, Th Francois Ngin. Partner to Mixay Guesthouse and just one block away. Prices are the same but this is a clean, new guesthouse. Same for the wifi as well, only between 11:00AM and 11:30PM. Staff are friendly, you can add breakfast for $1 USD. Besides the Wi-Fi issue highly recommended.
- Youth Inn, Th Francois Ngin, ☎ 021217130 (reservation.youthinn@yahoo.com). Got a nice cafe with couches downstairs, friendly staff. If you insist they might offer you an improvised dormitory, which is a three-bed room with window, fan and a closet. Aircon available in some rooms. Free wifi for guests with questionable quality. Internet stations are 8,000 kip/hour. Pay attention, bedbugs ! As of Jan 2012 there is a construction on the back side of the building going on. Workers tend to start at 5 am with noise. Dorm 25,000 kip, rooms 60,000+ kip.
- Youth Inn 2, Th Francois Ngin, (youthinn@hotmail.com). Newly opened Nov 2009. Very clean, rooms with air-con, fan, en-suite. Helpful and friendly staff. Free drinking water in room, bicycle hire 10,000 kip. 12h Free wifi with captive portal or Cyberia Hotspot wifi, 6,000 kip/hour. The original older Youth Inn is located on the other end of the same road near to the river and has slightly cheaper rooms but of a lower quality. Avoid 4th floor in cool season. Rooms 80,000 kip or 300 baht.
- RD Guesthouse. "Starting at 50,000 kip for a dorm bed, the "Relax and Dream away" Guesthouse isn't very dreamy but does have padded ceiling on the stairs (good for tall people) (but be careful going through doorways), and the library has a huge Korean selection, a modest English selection, and some other languages.
- Saysouly Guesthouse. Nice, atmospheric. Family suite upstairs is huge, clean, very comfortable and excellent value starting at 40,000 kip for a single. WARNING:Bedbugs (updated April 2012). They know it but don't care.
- DreamTime Eco Retreat, ☎ Mike- 020 77895721 (relax@dreamtime-laos.com). If you are looking for peace and quiet, this is the place. 7 Bonglowse scattered in the jungle with a small stream. Mike - the owner, is really nice and helpful with everything. Get a Different experience. Located 30 km from the city The price depends on the type of bungalow -30,000 - 90,000 kip.
Mid-range
- Asian Pavilion Hotel, 379 Thanon Samsenthai. A good if not quite their self-proclaimed "fascinating" mid-range choice formerly known as Hotel Constellation - as recorded in John le Carré's The Honourable Schoolboy - and Hotel Vieng Vilay. Rooms from US$26 with air-con, hot water, cable TV, breakfast and airport transfer..
- Baan Champa Lao Heritage Hotel, 125 Th Phnompehn (Anou Village), ☎ 0205023782, 205505840 (toy_siri@yahoo.com). Baan Champa clean modest hotel. It's relatively new. It's located in a quiet area. It's only 2 blocks from the National Museum and Cultural Centre. They are a family run hotel. You can book bus to Luang Prabang, and train tickets to Bangkok at the desk. They are extremely kind and helpful. Room rate US$15-25 incl breakfast(toast, fruit, tea, coffee.
- Beau Rivage Mekong Hotel, Thanon Fa Ngum (On the river road but at the shady tree-lined stretch that has not yet been “developed”, a few hundred metres upriver from where the road has been asphalted). New, very nice. All rooms have WiFi internet, courtesy of the HBRM spirit house next door. Room prices from US$40-70 depending on season and single or double occupancy.
- Chanthapanya Hotel, Thanon Nokeo Kummane. Owned and operated by the Chanthapanya family the hotel offers the charm of a family guest house while providing the comfort of a hotel. All rooms have air-con, Wi-Fi access, personal safe (too small for a notebook PC), cable TV, 24hr hot water. Wi-Fi access points are on floors 2 and 4, and reception is best there. Beware unpleasant smells from air con in some top floor rooms, and ask for a room with a view (meaning not the view of the neighbours' wall). They lock up early - check with Reception! From US$35 per room per night.
- D`Rose Hotel, No. 339 Pangkham Rd, Sisakhet Village (next to the Lao Plaza Hotel and walking distance to Nam Phou Fountain), ☎ +85621215038 (info@drosehotelvientiane.com). Mid size boutique hotel with the warmness of Laotian hospitality. Laundry service, free WiFi, airport transfer and it also accept credit card with secure facilities.
- Douang Deuane Hotel, Norkeokoummane Rd. "Has rooms starting at US$15 with aircon, TV and minibar. This hotel has been reported scamming travelers (producing larger than agreed bill at check-out.
- iHouse Residence Hotel, Pangkham Road (near Namphu Fountain) (Just North of the Namphu Fountain), ☎ +856 21 217 053 (happyihouse@gmail.com). iHouse Residence is a new and modern hotel located in the heart of Vientiane, Laos. It's rooms are designed for comfort with most all of the conveniences nearby. Rooms start at $25 USD and there are specials and promotions when reserving a room through their website.
- Inter City Hotel, 24-25 Thanon Fa Ngum (the river road). Totally renovated in 2004, now a boutique hotel. Ask for a room with a view of the river. Has rooms and corridors filled with countless statues with fierce faces, which generates a spooky feeling for some. Rooms are equally spooky with creaking floorboards, so check out the room before you check-in. WiFi is provided for free and there are also two free computers in the lobby. Note: the hotel location is not marked on the map, though it is given in the map legend (H6) - it is where the Inter Restaurant is marked(Restaurant 8). Room prices from US$35 (standard room) to US$61 (deluxe).
- Lani Guest House, Thanon Setthathirat (next to Wat Haisok). An old, French colonial-style house in a small garden set back from the main road. A quiet place to relax yet right in the centre. Prices from US$27.50 (single) to US$38.50 (double).
- Lane Xang Hotel, Thanon Fa Ngum. A majestic old hotel from decades ago, built 1960. It is one of the oldest hotels in Vientiane. Boasted the first elevator in the country. The charm of past glory - see the bathroom fittings! Hunter S. Thompson wrote dispatches from here after scrambling out of Saigon as it fell. They claim that English, French, Japanese, Thai, Russian, Vietnamese and (would you believe it?) Lao are spoken. Room rate US$30 -50 incl breakfast.
- Leuxay Hotel, 189/19 Ban Hongkhatay, Chanthabouly District, Vientiane, ☎ +856-20 265 111. Decent hotel in a slightly out of the way location. Free wifi in rooms plus computers for guest use in lobby. Lobby is also home to an air-ticket booking service and tour service. Small but pleasant garden that is mostly occupied by a clean swimming pool. Quiet environment, also not much noise between rooms. On-site restaurant is reasonable but by no means the best; breakfast options are (Jan2011) limited but make reasonable start to the day. Friendly staff. Most expensive rooms have large balconies overlooking swimming pool. Good business hotel or for tourists who don't mind being a little out of the way.
- Mali Namphu Guest House, (60 metres from Nam Phu (the Fountain)). Great central location near the fountain, clean rooms with aircon and own bathroom start from US$29 per night, garden rooms from $US35. A simple breakfast is included and is different every day, served in a nice garden setting. They provide Wi-Fi internet. Their laundry service is not good for your clothes or your budget.
- MIXOK Guest House, 188 Setthathirate Road, Vientiane, ☎ 0085621251606. checkout: 11:00 am. MIXOK Guest House is located in Vientiane City center, Standard room with Cable TV, private bathroom with hot shower, free Wifi in ther room and free break fast. Single room 110,000 Kip per night, double room / Twin room is 130,000 Kip per night.
- New Lao Paris Hotel, 118 Thanon Samsenthai (Sieng Ngeun Village), (infor@laoparishotel.com, fax: (856-21) 216-382). Renovated very clean hotel with quiet spacious rooms. Close to the National Museum, Cultural Centre and the American Embassy. French-run French restaurant on the premises. You can book a bus to Nong Kai, Udon Thani, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang at the desk. Airport pick up available upon request. Receptionists speak English and are extremely kind and helpful. Room rate 1000+ THB incl. cable TV, free bottled water, free Internet cafe and Wi-Fi, breakfast (eggs, toast and coffee).
- Orchid Guest House, Thanon Fa Ngum. Large rooms that face the river, with en-suite bathrooms and air-con are US$20. Friendly staff and nice location on the river. Rooms from US$12 (single) to US$15 (double).
- Sinnakhone Hotel. near Thai-Pan Hotel, newly opened in Nov '09, would clean with aircon, own bathroom, free wifi. A double room is 150,000 kip, and a double room with windows is 170,000 kip.
- Soupanphone Guesthouse (Soupanphone Guesthouse), 145, Ban Wat Chan (approx 300 metre from the Mekong promenade on the river), ☎ +856-21 261 468 (info@souphaphone.net, fax: +856-21 262 094). Clean guesthouse. Free Wifi, TV, aircon, warm water. Possibility for breakfast but not standard included. Nice large rooms with en-suite. Doubles 170,000 KIP.
- Vayakorn Guest House, 91 Thanon Nokeo Kumman (just off Thanon Setthathirat). Opened in 2003. Very clean, rooms with wood floors, air-con, hot water. Helpful and friendly staff. Free wifi but only reaches first floor rooms and lobby. Singles US$22 & doubles US$32 (Dec 2011).
- Villa Lao (Villa Nongduang or Thong Bay Guesthouse), Ban nong nuang, ☎ +856-21-242292. Comfortable two building hotel in a quiet area. The garden with nice seeting area and hammocks make for a relaxing stay. Rooms are traditional lao style and unique, thiugh a bit dark. Rooms have fan and aircon. Breakfast is not included, wifi internet will cost you US$1.5 a day. Overall it's a wonderful place for a great price. 170,000 kip.
Splurge
- Settha Palace Hotel, 6 Pang Kham Street (right at the end of the street, north from Nam Phu past Lao Plaza and Day Inn Hotels. Built circa 1932, the luxurious Hotel has been restored to its former charm. Re-opened in 1999, the French colonial architecture, its period furniture and its landscaped gardens with a free-form pool, complemented by modern facilities, are some of the features of this historical landmark in the heart of Vientiane. If you see a London taxicab cruising the streets, it’s theirs, used to ferry guests around. They have an excellent restaurant “La Belle Epoque” (see below) and an open air sidewalk café. Room rates from US$105.
- Green Park Boutique Hotel and Resort, Thanon Ku Vieng (About 1km east from the Morning Market). A newer boutique hotel built in Lao style - several buildings in a garden setting. Nice pool. It is somewhat away from the centre, but ideal to “get away from the bustle”. Recent guest complaints about lost or stolen items have been verified by local authorities. Be careful with your belongings at this hotel. (Shuttle bus to the city centre every hour until 22.00 PM). Room rates depend on season and start at 100 to 125 USD (single); 110 to 130 (double)..
- Don Chan Palace, (far out at the eastern end of the river promenade). This hotel was completed in 2004, almost complying with the municipality's town planning by-laws which at the time limited buildings in Vientiane to 7 storeys (Don Chan has 14). The place to be if you are looking for panoramic views, although this comes at a cost--this monstrosity has singlehandedly ruined the Vientiane skyline. It has a swimming pool overlooking the Mekong and a popular open-air beer garden overlooking the Mekong which gets crowded late in the evening. Rooms are showing their age, and often smell of stale cigarettes: slightly far from the centre but hotel provides shuttle service to city centre. Careful when shopping for jewellery in the shops in the lobby! Rooms at Don Chan: from US$68.
- Salana Boutique Hotel, Chao Anou Road, 112 Ban Wat Chan, Chanthabouly District (just 2 minutes walk away from the Mekong River and Chao Anou Park), ☎ +85621254254. Recently named by Frommer's Budget Travel Magazine as one of the best boutique Hotels in the world, Salana Boutique Hotel was revamped from the old site of Xaysana Hotel, and opened only recently in October 2010. Boasting a total of 41 rooms, Salana Boutique Hotel offers an excellent location in the centre of the city and near to the Mekong River, the recently finished Chao Anou Park as well and other nearby attractions. The hotel is well known among business travellers and tourists, and have received many positive reviews since opening. Rooms at Salana Boutique Hotel: from US$76.
- Mercure Vientiane, Unit 10 Samsenthai Road, P.O.Box 585, Samsenthai Road, Sikhotabong, 8562 Vientiane (150m west of the Fa Ngum park), ☎ (+856)21/213570/1 (resvn@mercurevte.com, fax: (+856)21/213572/3). Has absorbed the former Novotel in new premises, where it provides the standard it's 4-star status demands. Truly friendly staff with surprisingly good English, a peaceful courtyard with spotless pool, fitness center and steam bath. Very family friendly. Quality Sunday brunch (11:00-15:00) at 130'000 kip including use of pool and fitness center. Saturday and Sunday pool-side BBQ (15:00-18:00). Despite the price range, WiFi usage costs extra (starting from 20'000 kip per hour). Rooms from 49 USD (all prices +10% service charge +10% taxes).
Contact
Post
See the section on "Contact" in the article about LaosTelephone
See the section on "Contact" in the article about LaosInternet
Internet cafes
Internet cafes are ubiquitous in Vientiane, particularly along Thanon Samsenthai and the east end of Thanon Setthathirat. The going rate is 100 Kip per minute, usually charged in 10 minute increments. Charged by the hour from 5.000-6.000 Kip.- FastestNet, Thanon Samsenthai (between Lao Plaza and Asian Pavilion). Lives up to its name fairly well. No firewalls or program install restrictions. 100 kip per minute.
Wi-Fi and GPRS
If you have a laptop and Thai SIM card, 3G GPRS access via Thai network is a good option - if there is a signal in the place where you stay, of course. Thailand's TrueMove coverage is better in Vientiane than over the border in Nong Khai!Stay Healthy
Water
The city's waterworks are called Nam PaPaa, which some may joke means "water without fishes". Yes, the fishes have been removed but not everything else. Don't drink the tap water, no matter how long it's been boiled (it tastes very industrial) - stick to the bottled water available everywhere, though even that varies in quality. Some people have a major preference for clear plastic bottles.Mosquito-Borne diseases
Vientiane is free from malaria, but dengue is a real threat, especially during the rainy season. Take the necessary precautions against mosquito bites by wearing DEET repellent - available to purchase at any minimart. It is common practice to request a mosquito coil at dusk at outdoor venues.Dogs
They can be vicious, whether they're stray or just owned by irresponsible people who don't bother closing their gates. You don't need to be out in the suburbs to be attacked. Avoid anything but the most well-lit, busy streets at night.If you're bitten see a doctor. Even if you've had a rabies vaccination before your trip: you will still need a booster jab.
Pimps
Taxi drivers will offer ladies as bed partners for single men as part of their all-out sales pitch of Laos. These drivers may be Thais (to a non-expert's eye they may look and sound the same) since they operate on unmarked vans and they always mistakenly quote prices in Baht not in kips as if they are in Thailand.Swimming
Don't follow the example of the locals who will bathe in anything that looks like water. There is a real risk of picking up parasites! Swimming in public pools is okay. There is one in a kind of garden setting on Thanon Sok Paluang, and another, not in such a nice setting, on the road by the Stadium.Hotel pools are also safe. Some hotels with pools that you can use for a fee if you are not staying there: Mercure, Lao Plaza, Don Chan Palace, Settha Palace - and there are more. Recommended: the Sunday brunch (11:00-15:00) in the Mercure at 130'000 kip (+10% service charge +10% taxes) including use of pool and fitness center.
Gyms
The choices for gyms in Vientiane are limited, though good prices and adequate facilities are available. Most popular among the expat community is Sengdara Gym, located on Rue Dongpaina: expressionless reception staff and many under-employed young male staff standing around staring at you, but excellent equipment and a nice pool. Daily rates are between 30,000 and 50,000 kip. Be especially watchful at the pool with children or the infirm. At 7 PM on August 17, 2011, a 21-year-old Lao boy sank to the pool bottom and drowned. No-one noticed.For the more adventurous/frugal gym-goer is Vientiane Gym located near the Russian Circus on 15 Savang St. Daily rates are beween 5,000 and 10,000 kip.
Hospitals
In Vientiane
Vientiane's hospitals are a far cry from those in the West or even in Thailand. Mahosot and Setthathirat Hospitals can treat common conditions but for anything more serious you're better off heading to Thailand (see below) where there are good private hospitals with American or European trained doctors.For emergency dental treatment it's also best to go to Thailand; in Vientiane's dental clinics they seem to resort to tooth extractions a bit too easily.
Mahosot Hospital is on the river (go to their "International Clinic" where you pay more and get more personal service, but from the same doctors that work in the hospital itself); Setthathirat Hospital is away from the city centre on the T4 Road.
Medical Centre : Centre Médical de l’Ambassade de France Medical. With the support of the French Embassy in Vientiane, the “Centre Medical de l’Ambassade de France” opened its doors to the foreign community in Laos in April 2007. The medical centre provides primary health care, 24 hours a day 7 days a week, along with paramedical services, including dental care, physiotherapy, speech therapy and psychotherapy, to expatriates and tourists in Vientiane. (English-speaking.) Practice Dr. Jean Marie Hospied; Bvd Kouvieng. Simuang BP 7168.Vientiane. Laos Tel / Fax: 856 21 214150 cmaflao@gmail.com
Australian Embassy Clinic. The Australian Embassy Clinic provides limited general practice services with a small pharmacy and pathology department. Although the clinic is primarily for diplomatic staff and their families, Australian citizens may access its services on a fee for service basis. Reciprocal arrangements with other embassies means that citizens from certain other countries may also access the service. The clinic is located at the Australian Embassy at Km4 on Thadeua Road. Phone number: +856 [0] 21353840. Clinic Hours: 8.30-12.30 and 13.30-17.00 Monday to Friday. There is no after hours service. Email:Chittakone.keochanla@dfat.gov.au
The French Embassy clinic charges US$36 per consultation, and the Australian Embassy clinic US$75.
In Thailand
Recommended hospitals close to Vientiane are:- Wattana Hospital in Nong Khai, good for treating simpler cases. Tel. from Laos 0066-42-465201.
- Aek Udon International Hospital in Udon Thani, has more facilities. Tel. from Laos 0066-42-342555.
- Ambulance services to Thailand: The ambulances of
Wattana Hospital can cross the border to pick up patients in Vientiane;
they can also take them to Aek Udon Hospital. Ambulances of Setthathirat
Hospital (Tel. 021-351156) can also cross the border.
The bridge is open from 06:00AM till 10:00PM; outside these hours the gates are only opened for emergencies upon telephone request from the hospital.
Stay Safe
Vientiane is a fairly safe city in terms of crime. However, bag snatching from guests sitting in front of cafes is becoming more common. Bags in the baskets of (rented) bicycles or mopeds, even when moving along, are also far from safe. Do not leave a bag in an accessible position. If your bag is snatched, immediately start shouting: the perpetrators rely on tourists reacting by silently trying to chase them without alerting the numerous police boxes. The thieves are often drug addicts.Probably a bigger hazard than crime is the missing sewer covers on sidewalks. Additionally, there are many loose sidewalk stones that will tip if stepped on. Tread carefully and exercise extreme caution at night.
To prevent the development of a sex trade industry, which is so prevalent in neighbouring Thailand, Laotian law bans foreigners from having sexual relations with Laotian nationals other than their spouses. This law is enforced by the village chief and, given the fines, the incentive to enforce is high. The penalty is US$500 for the first offense, though as the text of the law is not available, the fine could be much more (the U.S. Embassy says US$5,000); the foreign offender can face prison or deportation and the Lao woman prison.
A Laotian prison is the last place anyone would want to be. If you take a girl to your room and she robs you, this law makes it almost impossible to obtain police assistance. Foreign women should note that, while rare, Laotian police enforce this law on both sexes. Bartenders are happy to provide stories of angry tourists confronting girls at the same bars they picked up the night before. Most hotels also do not allow foreigners to take girls to their rooms as it is officially prohibited.
Homosexuality is legal and there is a fairly open gay scene in Vientiane. Since the Pathet Lao took over in 1975, the Lao government has been completely silent on LGBT rights and homosexuality itself. Female homosexuality is relatively frowned upon for Lao women while male homosexuality is widely tolerated. A growing acceptance of homosexuality in Laos continues. Gay and lesbian travelers should be aware though that some hotels will impose the same restrictions as for straight people and not allow a Lao national into your room.
Illegal drugs are a problem throughout Laos and certainly so in Vientiane where even very young children can try to peddle "happy pills" to tourists. After declaring victory in the "war on opium" in 2005, it is not so much opium and heroin these days as methamphetamine that incurs the wrath of the authorities. Penalties are extremely harsh. Be extremely cautious of tuk-tuk drivers offering to sell you drugs, as they often collaborate with the police or police impersonators to "shake down" unsuspecting tourists. Current as of 2006, the Lao PDR criminal code for Drug Trafficking or Possession are:
Heroin: up to life imprisonment and 10 million kip ($1,316) fine; death penalty for possession of over 500grams Chemical substance: up to 20 years imprisonment 50 million kip ($6,578) fine Amphetamines: up to 5 years imprisonment and 7 million kip ($921) fine Opium: up to 15 years imprisonment and 30 million kip ($3,947) fine; death penalty for possession of quantities over 3 kilograms Marijuana: up to 10 years imprisonment and 20 million kip ($2,631) fine; death penalty for quantities over 10 kilograms
As noted above, dogs - whether stray or just owned by irresponsible idiots - are dangerous, especially at night. Stay on well-lit, busy streets.
Long trousers and sleeves are recommended when visiting a temple or official offices. Foreign women adopting the traditional long sarong (siin) are very appreciated.
Cope
Embassies
-
China, Wat Nak Rd, Sisattanak (Get
there: motorbike, tuk tuk (~15.000Kip from center 1 way), jumbo, small
white bus from capital bus station to engineering faculty (2.000Kip) +
5min walk), ☎ +856 21 315100 (chinaemb_la@mfa.gov.con, fax: +856 21 315104). M-F 9AM-11:30AM. To
apply for Chinese visa, pay only in U.S. dollars, valid for 90 days,
duration of stay 1m max but extendable. Standard fee US$32 (Americans
US$140) in 4 days, express extra fee US$30/20 in 1 day or 2-3 days.
French nationals need to provide one return air ticket, one hotel
booking.
-
Vietnam, No 85, 23 Singha Rd, Ban Phonxay, Saysettha District (Go to Patuxai and continue road from town center), ☎ +856 21 990986 (vnemba.la@mofa.gov.vn, fax: +856-21 416720). M 10AM-11:30AM & 1:30PM-4:30PM, Tu-F 8AM-11:30AM & 1:30PM-4:30PM. To
get visa, pay only in U.S dollars. need to fill a form, 1 picture, next
day delivery US$50, 2 days delivery US$45, 1 month duration, 1 day
delay.
-
United States, Rue Bartholonie, That Dam, ☎ +856 21 267 000, 21 267 111 (conslao@state.gov).
Get out
Bus
Buses take you to dozens of towns around Laos including most likely the ones on your itinerary. Minibuses operate from here to around the town suburbs itself, though there is nothing to see around the town that you need a bus to get to, and tuktuks will be more direct convenient and relatively cheap if you bargain.- Phou Khao Khouay National Protected Area for wonderful elephants and waterfalls and fresh highland scenery.
- Luang Prabang a supremely charming city in the north of the country.
- Vang Vieng for a party atmosphere head three hours north to the beautiful town of Vang Vieng. Buses from Talat Sao cost 35,000K, but can get a little crowded.
Buses to Cambodia: see above: Get In > By road > From Cambodia: The same information applies for the reverse journey.
Asking around the bus station for "Friendship Bridge" or "border" is effective. The last bus #14 leaves Talat Sao for the bridge and Buddha Park at 5:30PM according to the timetable, but it may run later. Don't believe anyone who tells you the bus is finished - just ask the bus driver.
There are no immigration fees when exiting Laos via the Bridge, except at weekends when a token 9000 kip or 40 baht (August 2010)"overtime charge" might apply. Just walk past the exit fee booth. If no-one stops you, you haven't done anything wrong.
Tickets from Vientiane to Udon Thani can only be bought from the Talat Sao bus station on the day itself for 22,000 kip.
Central bus station
Some bus are available from there at the same price than south bus station, most notably Tha Khek/PakseSouth bus station
Take bus 29 (3,000 kip, ~20min) to go there. Typical destinations are Tha Khek (60,000 kip), Pakse.North Bus Station
The northen Bus station is located about 10 Km from the city center. A tuk tuk will probably try to charge you about 50,000 kip, don't pay more then 10,000 Kip! As of Feb'12 one person including his baggage costs 20,000 kips.| To | Departs hours | Approximate Price (Kip) | Duration (Hours) | Comments | Last update |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luang Prabang (Local) | 6:30,7:30,8:30,11:00,13:30,16:00,18:00 | 110,000 Kip | 11-12 Hours | June 2011 | |
| Luang Prabang (Vip) | 8:00,9:00,20:00 | 130,000 Kip | June 2011 | ||
| Oudom Xay (Local) | 6:45,13:45 | 130,000 Kip | June 2011 | ||
| Oudom Xay (VIP) | 16:00 | 170,000 Kip | June 2011 | ||
| Oudom Xay(Local ?) | 17:00 | 150,000 Kip | June 2011 | ||
| Luang Namtha (Local) | 8:30,17:00 | 180,000 Kip | June 2011 | ||
| Phongsaly (Local) | 7:00 | 190,000 Kip | June 2011 | ||
| Xam Neua (Local) | 7:00,9:30,12:00 | 170,000 Kip | June 2011 | ||
| Xam Neua (Local ?) | 14:00 | 190,000 Kip | June 2011 | ||
| Xien Khung (Phonsavan) (Local) | 6:30,7:30,9:30,16:00,18:40 | 110,000 Kip | June 2011 | ||
| Xien Khung (Phonsavan) (Vip) | 20:00 | 130,000 Kip | June 2011 | ||
| Nong Hat (Local) | 11:00 | 150,000 Kip | June 2011 | ||
| Xaysomboun (Local) | 7:30 | 80,000 Kip | June 2011 | ||
| Sayabouly (Local) | 9:00,16:00 | 110,000 Kip | June 2011 | ||
| Sayabouly (Local ?) | 18:00 | 130,000 Kip | June 2011 | ||
| Pak Lay (Local) | 8:00 | 90,000 Kip | 6-7 Hours | June 2011 | |
| KenetHao (Local) | 10:00 | 100,000 Kip | June 2011 | ||
| Sana Kham (Local) | 6:30,7:30 | 70,000 Kip | June 2011 | ||
| Bokeo (Houay Xai) (Local) | 17:30 | 230,000 Kip | June 2011 |
Train
There is no rail terminal in Vientiane; the only train station in Laos itself is 20km away at Tha Naleng, beside the Friendship Bridge. Built with enthusiasm by the Australian government wishing for improved connections between Laos and Thailand, the Vientiane government has simply left it hanging as a useless station in the middle of nowhere with no plans to connect it to the town.If you do wish to travel by train (e.g. for decent sleeping quarters), the most convenient bus for rail travel to Bangkok leaves at 14.30 for 15,000 kip. This allows you to breeze through the border during a less busy time and on to the quiet charm of Nong Khai with an hour or two to spare before the "Rapid" train heads for BKK at 18:30, arriving supposedly at 07.00 but often closer to 08:00. Cost of this journey: 15,000 kip for bus to Nong Khai, 680 baht for 2nd class sleeping quarters to Bangkok.
There are plans for building a high speed railway from Kunming (China) to Vientiane, and extend to Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
Air
Wattay International Airport is close to the town but direct flights only operate to/from Laos' four more developed neighbours, Thailand, China, Cambodia and Vietnam, as well as AirAsia's direct service to Kuala Lumpur. Note that flights to Cambodia go via Pakse - meaning that there are no money changing facilties - so make sure you change your kip in town before you leave as it's not exchangeable outside of Laos. If you only have a small amount of kip, some shops at the airport may be able to give you change in US dollars if you buy something. When travelling long distance to Laos, aim for Bangkok and travel on from there. It is often cheap and relatively painless to travel to Vientiane over land rather than by air from its neighbours.Boat
Vientiane may be situated on the mighty Mekong; but it lives more in fear than in love with the river. There are no bridges across it in Vientiane, and there are no docks or promenades currently: a new levee is being built (due for 2010) that will separate the town from the river by 100 metres of parkland. As such, boat travel from Vientiane on the Mekong is extremely rare, slow and expensive, especially travelling upstream. Don't plan on it!http://wikitravel.org/en/Vientiane
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