Leave Vientiane for Transit

A City with Little of Remark

Vientiane is the capital and largest city of Laos - and an important transit stop between the north and and south of the country, and into and out of the country. I spent three days in Vientiane and found it unremarkable - neither particularly livable nor noteworthy for tourist attractions. My recommendation is to only stop in Vientiane if you need to for transit - and to not stay long. If you do stay, I recommend just treating it like you would a home base - shop, eat, get massages, and have fun. If you want to hit the most common tourist destinations, they’re below. Fair warning: None of them are exceptional.

• Shop: You can go to Talat Sao, the morning market, or the night market along the Mekong River.

• Visit a National Monument: The Patuxai Victory Monument is a bit similar to the Arc de Triumph - combining French and Laotian influences in the design. Pha That Luang Temple is a national symbol for its golden stupa.

• Head to a Sculpture Garden: Outside of the city, you will find Buddha Park. It has over 200 sculptures of Buddha, Hindu gods, and other mythological creatures.

While I didn’t dislike Vientiane, I also don’t think it offers much as a tourist destination. It doesn’t have the rural and nature-scape charm of much the country, and doesn’t have the urban energy of other capitals in Southeast Asia. It’s just forgettable.