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Vientiane

Laos travel guide

What to see in Vientiane

One of the most laid-back capitals in Asia, on the Mekong.

Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 5 must-see places
  • Best time: from November to January
  • Typical food: Khao piak sen
Photo: Aaron Smith from London, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0

Vientiane highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Pha That Luang

    The golden stupa, the symbol of the country.

  2. Patuxai

    The victory arch.

  3. Wat Si Saket

    Thousands of Buddhas.

  4. Buddha Park

    Sculptures by the river.

  5. Mekong riverside

    A night market.

Day trips from Vientiane

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to Vientiane

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Vientiane are from November to January. If you can, avoid April (intense heat).

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar with warnings
  4. Apr with strong warnings
  5. May with warnings
  6. Jun with warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with warnings
  9. Sep with warnings
  10. Oct with warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings
  • February

    Lunar New Year (approximate dates)

    Millions of people travel at this time: trains and flights are full and expensive, and many shops and restaurants close for several days.

    What to do: Book transport weeks in advance and expect closures for the first three days.

  • from March to May

    Intense heat

    From March to May temperatures reach 35–40 °C with high humidity; April is the toughest month.

    What to do: Visit temples at sunrise, rest at midday and drink plenty of water.

  • March, April

    Field burning

    In March and April it’s very hot and smoke from burning fields leaves a haze over the north.

    What to do: The best time is November to February, dry and cool.

  • from June to October

    Rainy season

    It’s usually heavy afternoon downpours, not whole days of rain. Everything is greener and there are fewer tourists.

    What to do: Plan outdoor visits for the morning and save the afternoon for museums, covered markets or a massage.

Typical food of Vientiane

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Vientiane from your kitchen).

Khao piak sen
Photo: Spencer · CC BY-SA 4.0

Khao piak sen

A thick, comforting soup of chunky rice and tapioca noodles, with chicken, fried garlic and spring onion. It’s the breakfast of Vientiane’s stalls.

  • Serves 4
  • 1 h 15 min

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken thighs
  • 1 piece of ginger and 1 lemongrass stalk
  • Dough: 200 g rice flour, 50 g tapioca starch, hot water
  • Fish sauce and salt
  • Fried garlic, spring onion, coriander, lime and chilli

How to make it at home

  1. Simmer the chicken with the ginger and lemongrass in 2 litres of water for 40 minutes. Shred it and keep the broth.
  2. Knead the flours with hot water into a soft dough, roll it out and cut into thick strips.
  3. Cook the noodles directly in the broth for 6–8 minutes: their starch thickens it.
  4. Season with the fish sauce and return the chicken.
  5. Serve with fried garlic, spring onion, coriander, lime and chilli.

The trick: The noodles cook in the broth, not separately: that’s what makes it thick.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: a market stall or a riverside restaurant. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Laos guide.

Frequently asked questions about Vientiane

What to see in Vientiane?

Pha That Luang, Patuxai, Wat Si Saket, Buddha Park and Mekong riverside.

What to see in Vientiane in one day?

Don’t miss Pha That Luang, Patuxai, Wat Si Saket, Buddha Park and Mekong riverside. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

What’s the best time to travel to Vientiane?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Vientiane are from November to January. If you can, avoid April (intense heat).

What day trips can you take from Vientiane?

Vientiane.

What is the typical food of Vientiane?

Khao piak sen. A thick, comforting soup of chunky rice and tapioca noodles, with chicken, fried garlic and spring onion. It’s the breakfast of Vientiane’s stalls.

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More in Laos

Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.