Why go
- Capital of Laos.
- Served by Khoksa Airfield.
History
Vientiane is the capital and largest city of Laos. Comprising the 5 urban districts of Vientiane Prefecture, the city is located on the banks of the Mekong, close to the border with Thailand. Vientiane was the administrative capital during French rule. The city had a population of 840,000 as of the 2023 census. Pha That Luang, an icon of Buddhism, is located in Vientiane. Other Buddhist temples can be found there, such as Haw Phra Kaew, which formerly housed the Emerald Buddha.
Where to stay
Vientiane, Laos · souphattra.com
XH9P+246, Unit11, Khaemkong Road Oumoung Village Sikhottabong District, Vientiane, Laos · eastinhotelsresidences.com
Nongduang Nua Village, Building B, 20 Rue Samsenthai, Vientiane 01000, Laos · ihg.com
P.D.R, 160 Quai Fa Ngum, Vientiane, Laos · laseinehotels.com
Chaofa Ngum Road, Village 01000, Laos · amari.com
Nongduang Nua Village, 20 Rue Samsenthai, Vientiane 01000, Laos · ihg.com
Vientiane, Laos · laopoethotel.com
XJMP+2R6, Vientiane, Laos · lethatluangdor.com
Street, Chao Anou Road, Vientiane, Laos · salanaboutique.com
25 Manthalath Road , Ban Xieng Ngeun, Chanthabouly District, Vientiane 01000, Laos · dhavarahotel.com
XJ82+CMV, Khun Bu Lom Rd, Vientiane, Laos · khamvongsahotel.com
XJ73+R22, Chao Anou Road, Vientiane, Laos · bit.ly
248 Khouvieng Road, Vientiane, Laos · sites.google.com
WJV8+FRR, Thatkhao Village, Sisattanak District, Vientiane, Lao PDR, Laos · sites.google.com
Vientiane, Laos · laoplazahotel.com
Bourichane Road, Phonsinouan Village, Sisattanak District, Ban Phon Kheng 00856, Laos · booking.muongthanh.com
Street, 6 Rue Pangkham, Vientiane, Laos · setthapalace.com
89, XJ72+JRW, Unit 9 Fa Ngum Rd, Vientiane 01000, Laos · therivavientianehotel.top
Phonsinuan Vientiane, 01160, Laos · grandhotelvientiane.com
Vientiane, Laos · laotelhotelvientiane.com
2, 2-12 Francois Nginn Street, 12 Rue Francois Ngin, Vientiane, Laos · lecharmevientiane.com
XHCP+CJH, 40 Dongnasok Road, Ban Nakham, Sikhottabong District, Laos, ຮ່ອມ 5, Vientiane, Laos · sparkdesignhotel.top
Unit 6 Piawat Village, Sisattanak District, Vientiane, Laos, Vientiane, Laos · sites.google.com
02, unit 01 Frangcois Ngin, road, Laos · facebook.com
Central Liao Road, Building No 3, 4 No.3, Vientiane 01000, Laos · facebook.com
Saylom Rd, Vientiane, Laos · vientianeplazahotel.com
114 ຖະໜົນປາງຄຳ, Vientiane, Laos · vientianegardenboutiquehotel.top
Nam Phu Square Setthathirath Road Ban Xieng, Ngeun LA Vientiane, Chanthabury 01000, Laos · all.accor.com
Souphanouvong Avenue, Sikhotabong, Laos · discoverasr.com
XJ97+CJ6, Vientiane, Laos · azaleaparkviewhotel.com
059 3 Rue Pangkham, Vientiane, Laos
XJ6G+66C, Tatmay Road, Phosinoun Village, Sisattanak District, Vientiane, Laos PDR Vientiane, Vientiane, Laos
Indoor
Restaurants & places to go
International, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-23:30 Features: outdoor seating
Breakfast, Restaurant · Fresh fruit shakes Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-21:30 · 61 ຖະໜົນ ແຫ່ງບຸນນ້ອຍ
Restaurant · North- & South- Indian Food Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-22:00 · rotihouselao.com
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00 Features: takeaway · Thadeua Road · 1112.com
Chilean, Latin American, Sandwich, Tacos, Coffee, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 09:00-18:00; Fri-Sat 09:00-21:00 Features: vegan options · ທະຫນົນສາມແສນໄທ,… · bacancafe.com
Chinese, Noodles, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-21:00 Features: vegan options · Canthabūlī · facebook.com
Lao, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-00:00 · Mekong Shore Boardwalk · facebook.com
Coffee Shop, Cake, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30 Features: outdoor seating, air conditioning · Nongbone Village, Vientiane, 01160 · begonia-cafe.com
Fried Chicken, Fast Food, Fries, Chicken, Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 09:30-21:00 Features: halal · Hom 3 Chemin Nongbone, Vientiane · chic-station.com
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:30-14:30, 18:00-22:30 · delhidurbarlaos.com
Seafood, Chicken, Noodles, Kebab, Curry, Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-23:30 · 001 Quai Fa Ngum · dhaka-restaurant.com
Cake, Tea, Breakfast, Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:00-21:30 · Setthatirath Road · facebook.com
Burger, Sandwich, International, Ice Cream, Cake, Coffee Shop, Noodles, Pasta, Pancake, Breakfast, French, Tea, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:00-21:00 ·… · facebook.com
Japanese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-21:00 · Lao-Thai Road · facebook.com
American, Burger, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su-Fr 11:30-15:00,18:30-21:30 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, delivery · 17/1 Sihom, Vientiane · facebook.com
Fusion, Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-22:00 · Manthtourath St. · thestateofpasta.com
Asian, Coffee Shop, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00 · Ban Ngongphaya ຮ່ອມ 22, vientaine, Laos, 10000 · facebook.com
Korean, Barbecue, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00 Features: air conditioning · facebook.com
French, Bakery, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Su 06:30-20:30 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway · Sokpaluang Road, Vientiane
Vietnamese, Lao, Sandwich, Pastry, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:00-20:00 Features: delivery · Sisattanāk
Crepe, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Su 07:30-21:30 · ບ້ານ ທົ່ງກາງ ຮ່ອມ 7, Vientiane, Lao P.D.R, 10010
Ice Cream, Ice Cream · Ice Cream ice cream · swensens1112.com
Mexican, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su-Fr 17:00-21:00
African, Restaurant · Opening hours: 24/7 · ຖະໜົນ ມັນທາຕຸລາດ
Local, Lao, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00 · 129 Sithong Road
German, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-14:00,17:00-21:00
Crawfish, Shrimps, Pork Ribs, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-20:00 Features: takeaway
Fish, Soba, Ramen, Grill, Sushi, Seafood, Sausage, Friture, Japanese, Noodles, Chicken, Curry, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-14:00, 17:00-22:30; Su…
Steak, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-24:00
Buffet, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-21:00 Features: vegetarian options
Rice Noodle, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 07:30-18:00
Indonesian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Su 10:00-20:00 · Chemin Khounta, 01000
Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Su 17:30-22:30
ອາຫານລາວ, ອາຫານທະເລ, ສົ້ມຕຳ, ເຂົ້າຜັດ, Restaurant · Opening hours: 04:00 - 12:00 · ຖະຫນົນ ຂຸນບູລົມ, ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ
Sandwich, Cafe · Sandwich cafe · scandinavianbakerylaos.com
Regional, Asian, Restaurant · Regional/Asian restaurant · facebook.com
Filipino, Restaurant · Filipino restaurant · foodpanda.la
Ice Cream, Bubble Tea, Cafe · Features: takeaway
Chicken, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Curry, Thai, Lao, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-19:30
Tex-Mex, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Th 11:00-14:00,16:00-21:00;Fr 11:00-14:00,16:00-22:00;Sa-Su 11:00-22:00
Bagel, Breakfast, Cake, Coffee Shop, Pasta, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:00-21:00
Meat, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-14:30, 17:00-22:00
Suki, Grill, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:00
Italian Pizza, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-21:00
354 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Wattay International Airport (VTE) 5.5 km to the centre
Vientiane, VT, LA — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 8 airlines (Lao Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, FlyNordic…) · direct flights to 17 destinations incl. Bangkok, Hanoi, Kunming, Luang Prabang, Phnom-penh… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 8 airlines, 17 direct destinations
- Lao Airlines QV (A320, ATR 72, A321) · 14 routes: Bangkok, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Huay Xai, Kunming, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Muang Xay, Pakse, Phnom-penh*, Phon Savan, Savannakhet, Seoul, Singapore
- Vietnam Airlines VN (A321, ATR 72) · 3 routes: Hanoi, Phnom-penh, Vinh
- China Eastern Airlines MU (737) · 2 routes: Kunming, Nanning
- FlyNordic LF (737) · 2 routes: Bangkok, Luang Prabang
- AirAsia AK (A320) · 1 route: Kuala Lumpur
- Bangkok Airways PG (A319) · 1 route: Bangkok
- Jin Air LJ (737-800) · 1 route: Seoul
- Thai Airways International TG (734) · 1 route: Bangkok
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Khoksa Airfield 34 km to the centre
VT, LA
Getting there by ferry
Kaolieo
Ferry terminal · 9.6 km from the centre
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Khoksa Airfield; 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By water: 1 ferry terminal within 20 km (nearest: Kaolieo, 9.6 km).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Vientiane. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.
Tours & experiences
Sightseeing