Things to Do in Vientiane
Top attractions, best neighborhoods to wander, and the food you shouldn't skip in Vientiane, Laos — 2026 traveler picks.
Top places to see
Pha That Luang (national symbol)
Gold-stupa Buddhist monument, 16th-century, featured on Lao currency + national emblem. LAK 10,000. 1 hour.
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.
Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan)
Surreal sculpture park 25km southeast with 200+ Hindu + Buddhist statues including 40m reclining Buddha. LAK 15,000. 1 hour.
Mekong riverside (Chao Anouvong Park)
Mekong-front sunset esplanade with night market + food stalls. Free to walk. Best 5pm-10pm.
Book tours + skip-the-line tickets
Compare tours + attractions in Vientiane across GetYourGuide, Tiqets and Trip.com — free cancellation on most, and prices match direct booking.
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? Try Tiqets.Want a private driver-guide? Trip.com Private Tours in Vientiane.Eat here first
Laap (minced meat salad — Lao national dish). Khao soi (Lao version). Sticky rice + grilled river fish. Tam mak hoong (papaya salad). Beerlao.
Local 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.
Where to stay
Hotels across Vientiane — filter by neighborhood + budget on the map below.