1Pha That Luang (national symbol)
Gold-stupa Buddhist monument, 16th-century, featured on Lao currency + national emblem. LAK 10,000. 1 hour.
Photo: Coalfruit1012, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Wattay International Airport (VTE) · Laos
24-Hour Layover in Vientiane: What To Do
By AirConnect Editorial
Photo: Phillip Maiwald (Nikopol), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Quick answer
Can you leave the airport on a 24-hour layover in Vientiane?
Entry
Visa-on-arrival USD 35-45 (30 days) for 150+ nationalities. E-visa via laoevisa.gov.la USD 50 (30 days). 1 passport photo + USD cash. ASEAN visa-free 30 days.
Into town
Tuk-tuk to centre (negotiate): 15 min, LAK 80,000–120,000.
Time outside
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip
Times from VTE arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.
Top Vientiane: Where to Go
The sights in Vientiane worth leaving the airport for.
1landmark
Wat Sisaket + Patuxai (Victory Gate)
Oldest Vientiane temple (1818) with 6,840 Buddhas + Lao's answer to the Arc de Triomphe (climb for panorama). LAK 5,000 + LAK 5,000.
3Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan)
Surreal sculpture park 25km southeast with 200+ Hindu + Buddhist statues including 40m reclining Buddha. LAK 15,000. 1 hour.
Photo: Dezwitser, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
food
Mekong riverside (Chao Anouvong Park)
Mekong-front sunset esplanade with night market + food stalls. Free to walk. Best 5pm-10pm.
Itinerary ideas for Vientiane
Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.
3 hours in Vientiane
Stay airside — 3h is too tight
See the 3-hour planPhoto: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.
24 hours
You are here24 hours in Vientiane
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip
Insider tip
VTE is 4km from centre — closest international airport to a Southeast Asian capital. Slow + quiet city. For 3-hour layovers: Patuxai + Wat Sisaket. For 6+ hours: add Pha That Luang. Vientiane is the least intense Southeast Asian capital — easy + peaceful.
Into Vientiane
Getting to Vientiane City Centre
| Mode | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tuk-tuk to centre (negotiate) | LAK 80,000–120,000 | 15 min |
| Taxi (fixed) | USD 9–12 | 10 min |
| Hotel pickup (book ahead) | USD 8–15 | 10 min |
Eat like a local
Eat Like a Local in Vientiane
Laap (minced meat salad — Lao national dish). Khao soi (Lao version). Sticky rice + grilled river fish. Tam mak hoong (papaya salad). Beerlao.
24 hours in Vientiane
24-Hour Itinerary
1
Day 1 — Arrival
Into Vientiane and check in to your hotel
Take Tuk-tuk to centre (negotiate) (15 min, LAK 80,000–120,000). Most hotels hold bags before check-in.
2
Day 1 — Afternoon
Pha That Luang (national symbol)
Gold-stupa Buddhist monument, 16th-century, featured on Lao currency + national emblem. LAK 10,000. 1 hour.
3
Day 1 — Evening
Dinner like a local
Laap (minced meat salad — Lao national dish). Khao soi (Lao version). Sticky rice + grilled river fish. Tam mak hoong (papaya salad). Beerlao.
4
Day 2 — Morning
Wat Sisaket + Patuxai (Victory Gate)
Oldest Vientiane temple (1818) with 6,840 Buddhas + Lao's answer to the Arc de Triomphe (climb for panorama). LAK 5,000 + LAK 5,000.
5
Day 2 — Late morning
Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan)
Surreal sculpture park 25km southeast with 200+ Hindu + Buddhist statues including 40m reclining Buddha. LAK 15,000. 1 hour.
6
Day 2 — Departure
Back to Wattay International Airport
Head back to Wattay International Airport by Tuk-tuk to centre (negotiate) (15 min, LAK 80,000–120,000). Be at the airport at least 2–3 hours before an international flight.
Your questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa for a 24-hour layover in Vientiane?
Visa-on-arrival USD 35-45 (30 days) for 150+ nationalities. E-visa via laoevisa.gov.la USD 50 (30 days). 1 passport photo + USD cash. ASEAN visa-free 30 days. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.
Is 24 hours enough to leave Wattay International Airport?
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip. Getting into Vientiane by Tuk-tuk to centre (negotiate) takes 15 min each way.
How do I get from Wattay International Airport to Vientiane centre?
Tuk-tuk to centre (negotiate): 15 min, LAK 80,000–120,000. Taxi (fixed): 10 min, USD 9–12. Hotel pickup (book ahead): 10 min, USD 8–15.
Getting out of Wattay International Airport
Skip the taxi rank and lock in your fare before you land.
Pre-book a fixed-price transfer
Our pickDriver waits at arrivals with your name, tracks your flight, and the price you see is the price you pay. English-speaking, fixed price. No surge, no haggling at 2am.
Check transfer pricesRenting a car instead? Compare rentals with free cancellation.Things to do in Vientiane
Lock in a few experiences before you go — the good ones sell out.
Tours, tickets & day trips
Our pickGetYourGuide has the deepest catalogue for Vientiane and free cancellation on most experiences — book now, decide later.
Browse VientianeJust need timed-entry attraction tickets in Vientiane? Try Tiqets.Want a private driver-guide? Trip.com Private Tours in Vientiane.Trains & buses from Vientiane
Compare overland routes — often cheaper, more scenic and skip the airport queue.
Photo: Engin Akyurt on Pexels.
Hotels near Vientiane Airport
With 24 hours, a day-use hotel room is worth it — shower, sleep, and recharge before your next flight.
Find hotels in Vientiane
Hotels, hostels & more · Trip.com
Search hotels
Also useful for your Vientiane trip
Stay connected abroad — no roaming bills
Buy a travel eSIM before you fly and install it by QR code.
Airlines that fly to Vientiane
See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from VTE.
Flights to Vientiane from 15 cities: fares and airlines →
Lao Airlines route mapAir Busan route mapAirAsia route mapChina Eastern route mapChina Eastern Airlines route mapChina Southern route mapChina Southern Airlines route mapDonghai Airlines route mapGX Airlines route mapHainan Airlines route mapHong Kong Airlines route mapJeju Air route mapJin Air route mapKunming Airlines route mapMyanmar Airways International route mapQingdao Airlines route mapScoot route mapThai AirAsia route map
Vientiane travel deals
Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.
How a layover in Vientiane works
01
Check you can leave
Visa-on-arrival USD 35-45 (30 days) for 150+ nationalities. E-visa via laoevisa.gov.la USD 50 (30 days). 1 passport photo + USD cash. ASEAN visa-free 30 days.
02
Head into town
Tuk-tuk to centre (negotiate): 15 min, LAK 80,000–120,000.
Photo: Artem Yellow on Pexels.
03
Back in time for your flight
Head back to Wattay International Airport by Tuk-tuk to centre (negotiate) (15 min, LAK 80,000–120,000). Be at the airport at least 2–3 hours before an international flight.
Ready for Vientiane?
Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.