Vientiane is the capital city of Laos and, unfortunately, a destination that is often skipped by travellers. While Vientiane doesn’t have the best nature-like destinations like Nong Khiaw, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang, it still has a lot to offer as a travel destination. Vientiane has amazing temples, great museums, cute cafes and the famous Buddha Park. This guide will cover how many days to spend in Vientiane, where to stay, where to eat and what to do. It’ll also explain how to get around Vientiane and how to get there from different destinations around South East Asia.
How many days to spend in Vientiane
A lot of travellers will tell you to skip Vientiane, particularly if you’re on a tight timeframe. While Vientiane is probably not going to be your absolute favourite place in Laos, it is still very much worth a visit. The majority of the sights in Vientiane are within walking distance of the city centre or a short Tuk Tuk drive away, so you don’t need heaps of time. You can easily tick off all the sights and enjoy Vientiane in 1-2 days. 1 day would be perfect if you’re on a short time frame and are travelling at a fast pace. 2 days will allow for a more relaxed travel pace while still visiting all the key sights.
How to get to Vientiane
Vientiane is the capital of Laos and is a major hub city connecting with many other destinations in Southeast Asia. They have an international airport, so it is easy to fly in and out of Vientiane if you need to. There are also many convenient bus connections between destinations such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Hanoi. Most travellers will either start or end their travels in Laos in Vientiane due to how convenient it is to enter and exit from other neighbouring countries.
It is also easily accessible to many destinations in Laos, such as Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Don Det and Phonsavan. You can read about the different transport types in Laos and my tips for which to use in my transport guide here. For booking any bus or train transfer, 12GOAsia is one of the most reliable and convenient websites. Alternatively, you may be able to book these directly with your hostel for a better price, including pickup from the hostel.
How to get to Vientiane from Vang Vieng
There are two transport options to get from Vang Vieng to Vientiane: bus/van or train. The train is definitely the better option in terms of duration and how comfortable it is. The train only takes one hour and costs 334k LAK Lao Kip ($17 USD). Trains depart daily at 12:50 pm, 3:40 pm, 4:45 pm, 5:45 pm and 8 pm. While the train is more comfortable and faster than the bus, it is more expensive and trains depart and arrive at stations that are further out of the city centre. This means you will have to factor in the cost of getting to and from the train stations from the city centre.
Buses/ Vans from Vang Vieng to Vientiane can take anywhere between 4-6 hours, and it is a bit of a rough journey. The roads between Vang Vieng and Vientiane are not in the best condition, with lots of bumps, twists and turns. Whether you get a bus or van will depend on what time of day you depart and availability. They depart daily at 7 am, 9 am, 11:30 am, 1 pm, 1:30 pm and 3 pm. Expect to pay around 180k LAK Lao Kip ($9 USD). Buses will usually pick you up from your hostel in Vang Vieng and drop you into different locations in Vientiane. Ideally, booking a bus to drop you at Soutchai Travel is better for getting into the city centre. Northern Bus Terminal is the other major stop, but it is a little bit further away.
How to get to Vientiane from Luang Prabang
There are a few ways you can make the journey from Vientiane to Luang Prabang: plane, train, or bus. The flight to Vientiane from Luang Prabang is only 40 minutes. Expect to pay around 514k LAK Lao Kip ($25 USD) for a budget airline without any baggage. It can be much higher, though, depending on availability for your travel dates. In my opinion, the best way to travel this route is by the high-speed train. The train takes 2 hours and costs 550k LAK Lao Kip ($27.50 USD). The train route is super scenic and very comfortable and will get you there in a good amount of time.
If you’re on more of a budget, you can get a bus direct from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, but be warned, it is a rough and bumpy ride on Laos roads. The journey can take anywhere between 5-9 hours, depending on traffic and how many stops the bus makes. Buses depart daily at 7:30 am, 8 am, 8:30 am, 11 am, 2 pm, 5 pm and 6:30 pm. Expect to pay 347 LAK Lao Kip ($18 USD). The bus will depart from Luang Prabang Southern Bus Station and arrive at Vientiane Northern Bus Station. Both bus stations are a good 10-15 minutes out of the city centres.
How to get to Vientiane from Bangkok, Thailand
To get to Vientiane from Bangkok, you have two options: flying or getting two buses. The quickest option is flying, which takes around 70 minutes. Air Asia has direct flights starting from 950k LAK Lao Kip ($47 USD). This is for a budget ticket with no checked baggage included. Prices can be higher for certain dates as well, particularly if you’re booking a last-minute flight.
The most popular way to get to Vientiane from Bangkok among backpackers is by catching two buses. There’s a bus that leaves nightly from Mochit Bus Terminal in Bangkok at 8 pm. It takes around 10.5 hours to get to a town called Nong Khai, where the bus terminates at 6:30 am. Expect to pay 250k LAK Lao Kip ($13 USD) for this bus. This town is right on the border with Laos and only a 45-minute drive to Vientiane.
You can either do the border cross yourself using taxis/grabs and local buses, or you can go through a company that helps you. I opted to book through a company that will pick you up in Nong Khai and take you directly to your hostel in Vientiane. This will cost an additional 206k LAK Lao Kip ($10 USD). If you are opting for this service, make sure you tell the first bus that you need to be dropped off at the train station in Nong Khai. The tour agency which runs the second bus is called RG Adventures, which is next to the train station. The bus departs at 8:30 am from this tour agency and will get you into Vientiane at around 10 am (depending on the traffic at the border).
How to get to Vientiane from Chiang Mai, Thailand
Getting to Vientiane from Chiang Mai is a bit of a longer journey as there are no direct connections. The easiest and quickest option is to fly from Chiang Mai to Vientiane via Bangkok. Air Asia has flights from around 1,292k LAK Lao Kip ($65 USD). This will be a budget flight, not including any checked baggage. The flight will take around 8 hours, including the stopover in Bangkok.
The most budget-friendly way to get from Chiang Mai to Vientiane involves two buses. There’s a bus that leaves nightly from Chiang Mai Arcade 2 Terminal at 8 pm. It takes around 12 hours to get to a town called Nong Khai, where the bus terminates at 7:30 am. Expect to pay 390k LAK Lao Kip ($19 USD) for this bus. This town is right on the border with Laos and only a 45-minute drive to Vientiane.
You can either do the border cross yourself using taxis/grabs and local buses, or you can go through a company that helps you. I opted to book through a company that will pick you up in Nong Khai and take you directly to your hostel in Vientiane. This will cost an additional 206k LAK Lao Kip ($10 USD). If you are opting for this service, make sure you tell the first bus that you need to be dropped off at the train station in Nong Khai. The tour agency which runs the second bus is called RG Adventures, which is next to the train station. The bus departs at 8:30 am from this tour agency and will get you into Vientiane at around 10 am (depending on the traffic at the border).
How to get to Vientiane from Hanoi, Vietnam
If you’re short on time but have a bit of spare cash, there are direct flights from Hanoi to Vientiane with both Vietnam Airlines and Lao Airlines. These flights generally cost 2,585k LAK Lao Kip ($130 USD), not including checked baggage. The benefit of this is the flight time is only 70 minutes. You may also be able to find indirect flights with budget carriers like Air Asia with stopovers in Bangkok for around 1,771k LAK Lao Kip ($88 USD).
If you are on a budget, though, your best option is the direct sleeper bus. But be warned, it is a 23-hour bus ride. The bus departs Hanoi Nuoc Ngam Bus Terminal at 6 pm and arrives at Vientiane Southern Bus Terminal at 5 pm the next day. Expect to pay 387k LAK Lao Kip ($20 USD). The bus is a sleeper bus, meaning the seats recline to almost flat. The bus is fairly comfortable as they give you a blanket and have a toilet on board. They will make a lot of food and toilet stops along the way, though.
How to get to Vientiane from Siem Reap, Cambodia
Getting to Vientiane from Siem Reap is not a super popular travel route, so there are no direct travel options. The quickest way to get to Vientiane from Siem Reap would be to fly with Air Asia via Bangkok. This would be a 10-hour journey, including the stopover, and would cost around 2,081k LAK Lao Kip ($100 USD). Keep in mind this is a budget carrier, so it will not include any checked bags.
The other option for getting to Vientiane from Siem Reap is by a van and then a sleeper bus transfer. The bus departs at 8 am from Siem Reap AVT Agency (Asia Van Transfer). You’ll travel by day in a small van to Pakse in Laos, where you’ll then connect with a sleeper bus and board to travel through the night to Vientiane. You’ll arrive in Vientiane at 7 am after a 23-hour journey. Be warned, the sleeper bus you will catch will have twin share beds, meaning as a solo traveller, you will have to share a bed with a stranger. You can read my full experience of catching a sleeper bus in Laos like this here. The van transfers can be a bit less comfortable as they are pretty cramped with not the best AC. Expect to pay around 1240k LAK Lao Kip ($62 USD).
How to get to Vientiane from Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Getting to Vientiane from Phnom Penh is not a super popular travel route, so there are no direct travel options. The quickest way to get to Vientiane from Phnom Penh would be to fly with Air Asia via Bangkok. This would be a 14-hour journey, including the stopover, and would cost around 1,835k LAK Lao Kip ($91 USD). Keep in mind this is a budget carrier, so it will not include any checked bags.
The other option for getting to Vientiane from Phnom Penh is by a van and then a sleeper bus transfer. The bus departs at 4:30 am from Phnom Penh AVT Agency (Asia Van Transfer). You’ll travel by day in a small van to Pakse in Laos, where you’ll then connect with a sleeper bus and board to travel through the night to Vientiane. You’ll arrive in Vientiane at 8 am after a 28-hour journey. Be warned, the sleeper bus you will catch will have twin share beds, meaning as a solo traveller, you will have to share a bed with a stranger. You can read my full experience of catching a sleeper bus in Laos like this here. Also, the van transfers can be a bit less comfortable as they are pretty cramped with not the best AC. Expect to pay around 1266k LAK Lao Kip ($62 USD).
If you are already in Pakse, after visiting 1000 islands, you can book a ticket from Pakse direct to Phnom Penh, which cuts out the sleeper bus.
How to get around Vientiane
While Vientiane is the capital of Laos, it is quite a compact city, with most of the tourist spots being within walking distance. So you will be able to get to major sights such as temples, the Patuxai monument and museums on foot. Other sights, such as the Buddha Park and the COPE Limb Centre, are only a short Tuk Tuk or Grab drive away. Vientiane has both Grabcars and Tuk Tuks readily available, so it is very easy to get around. The only thing to note about getting around Vientiane is that it can be a bit sketchy walking around near the night market/ river at night.
Where to stay in Vientiane
Unfortunately, as many people skip Vientiane or only do a quick stopover in the city before heading to other parts of Laos, the hostels aren’t as sociable and busy as other parts of Laos. A lot of people opt to stay in an affordable hotel or guesthouse for the night before heading elsewhere in Laos. There are no party hostels, but there are a few decent social hostels and flashpacker hostels. You can book all accommodation here.
Petit Espace
Petit Espace is the flashpacker hostel in Vientiane! The beds are pod-style with curtains, comfortable pillows and duvets. The bathrooms are super clean, and they have a basic but free breakfast included. The main downside is the hostel is not very social, so expect to get a great night’s sleep but not to make many friends here.
Barn Hostel
The most social hostel in Vientiane (so ideal for solo travellers!). The beds are fairly comfortable, with clean bathrooms. The real value is in the common areas, which are pretty social. They also have free breakfast, and you get a free coffee voucher for every day of your stay that you can use to purchase a coffee from their cafe.
What to do in Vientiane
It is a common misconception that there is nothing to do in Vientiane. There are a lot of cool places to visit and things to do, but it is a big city compared to the other spots in Laos, where the sights are more focused on nature.
Buddha Park
If you only do one thing in Vientiane, make sure this is the one thing you do! Buddha Park is located around a 30-minute drive out of Vientiane and is (as the name would suggest) a big park full of Buddha Statues. There are Buddhas of all shapes and sizes, with some very unique Buddhas and some you can climb inside. It costs around 45k LAK Lao Kip ($2.25 USD) to enter the Buddha Park.
COPE Centre
Another unique place to visit is Vientiane. COPE (Cooperative Orthotic & Prosthetic Enterprise) is a visitor centre that sheds light on the ongoing effects of UXOs (unexploded bombs) in Laos. They have a number of exhibits, including a documentary about the effects of UXOs and Lao people living with missing limbs. It is completely free to enter, but leaving a donation (even a small one) is recommended.
UXO Museum
The UXO Museum is another great museum to visit to understand more about the history and impact of UXOs (unexploded bombs) in Laos. If you’re also heading to the COPE Centre, I will visit the EXO Museum first as it gives a better overall history. The museum is free to enter, and they have lots of photos, video documentaries, information to read and interactive exhibits. If you can, donations are welcome to help the efforts of Laos people to find and destroy UXOs. Also, just a pre-warning, this museum deals with some heavy topics so it can be an emotional visit.
Temple Hop around the city centre
There are a number of stunning temples and other sights in the centre of the city that you may want to visit. Sights like the Patuxay Monument (Laos Arc De Triomphe), Pha That Luang, Wat Si Muang and Wat Sisaket. They are all within walking distance from the centre of town, or you can get a Tuk Tuk or Grab to drive you. Wat Si Muang is free to visit, but the other sights have small entry charges. The Patuxay Monument is free to visit, but if you want to climb to the top, it will cost 3,000 LAK Lao Kip ($0.10 USD). Wat Sisaket and Pha That Luang both individually cost 5,000 LAK Lao Kip to enter ($0.25 USD). As these are sacred sights, make sure you are in appropriate temple attire with shoulders, knees and torsos being covered.
Where to eat in Vientiane
Vientiane, being the capital of Laos, has a greater range of cafes and restaurants than other tourist spots in the country. Mainly, they have a really strong cafe culture with lots of cute brunch spots. Of a night, most backpackers will head to the night market for affordable street food for dinner.
Joma Cafe
Joma is actually a popular local cafe chain in Laos, which was founded in Vientiane in the 90s. They serve great baked goods and pastries and really good coffee and tea. Joma is the perfect place to grab a quick to-go breakfast or even nab a seat at the front and people-watch. They have a couple of locations around Vientiane, including one near Pha That Luang Temple and another just opposite the night market.
Common Grounds Cafe
This is the best cafe in Vientiane! Located just opposite the UXO Museum, Common Grounds Cafe have comfortable seating and strong AC. They serve really great brunch foods and even better coffee.
Night Market
The Vientiane Night Market is located along the river and is open every night from 6 pm until 10 pm. They have a range of different Laos foods, drinks and desserts. The night market is also a great place for clothes or souvenir shopping as they have a good range.
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