Vientiane is not comparable to Bangkok or other Asian capitals. You’ll surely notice that when you first arrive here. However, that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to do here. Vientiane has a lot to offer and there are some activities that you definitely shouldn’t miss. Especially in cultural terms, there is a lot to discover, but that’s by far not all. Just check this page and you’ll understand what we’re talking about.
Cultural activities
As we have already mentioned, Vientiane is especially interesting from a cultural point of view. Three obligatory attractions are the Buddha Park, Patuxai and Pha That Luang, but that’s not all. Laos has a very interesting culture and especially if you’re interested in Buddhism, you should spend some time in Vientiane. There are many different temples and monuments. Some of them are really impressive. If you’re interestd in cultural sights, you can definitely spend a few days in Vientiane.
Museums
If you like to visit museums, Vientiane is a great place to explore. The different museums all have their unique appeal. For example, the COPE Visitor Centre educates you about the impact of unexploded explosive ordnance in Laos, while the Trick Art Museum takes a more lighthearted approach and just aims to entertain its visitors. In some museums you can learn a lot. You can learn a lot about the culture and history of Laos, including Siam. In the past times, Siam was a huge empire that encompassed today’s Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Even parts of Vietnam, Myanmar and Malaysia were part of it. That’s why the language of Laos is very similar to Thai.
Markets
As an Asian city, there are of course some markets in Vientiane. The most interesting of them is the Vientiane Night Market. The market is located near the Mekong River and only opens in the evening. It can’t be denied that it’s quite impressive and in no way inferior to other major night markets. We would even go so far as to say that it is one of the best night markets we’ve ever seen. There are many stalls selling food, clothing, small electronic devices and much more. Near the river there are some bars and restaurants and you can even visit a small fair. At the fair you can try your luck and maybe win one of the prize. We did only win a few drinks. Maybe you’ve more luck or skill.
Shopping malls
If you’ve ever been to a shopping mall in Asia, you know how impressive they can be. However, the shopping malls in Vientiane are not comparable to those of other major Asian cities. Even the largest shopping mall the Vientiane Center Lao can hardly keep up with the average shopping mall in Thailand. That doesn’t mean it differs much from the classic shopping malls. There are food stalls, restaurants, various shops, an entertainment area and of course a cinema. You definitely can spend some time here. In the future, with the economic upswing of the country, the whole thing is going to look different anyway.
Beerlao Brewery
The beer in Laos is really good. If you haven’t tried the famous Beerlao yet, you should definitely do it. It won some international awards for a reason. And if you generally like to drink beer, you can’t miss the Beerlao Brewery under any circumstances. Otherwise you would regret it. Just register at their website and prepare for an unforgettable tour to the home of the famous Beerlao. You can learn how the beer is made, try some samples and buy t-shirts or other merchandise. You shouldn’t have a problem finding the beer factory. We’re sure that every tuk tuk driver knows it.
Cost of activities in Vientiane
For many of the activities in Vientiane you won’t have to pay anything or only a little. High entrance fees are very rare. For example the entrance fee for Patuxai is only 3.000 Kip. That’s about 34 US cents. Nevertheless, you won’t necessarily get away cheaply. The cost of a tuk tuk trip can quickly skyrocket and finding your way around, if you aren’t living here for some time already, isn’t that easy. Of course you can also rent a scooter. Just don’t underestimate the traffic in Vientiane under any circumstances. We personally advise you to look for a friendly tuk tuk driver and rappel with him some places. Of course, you should agree on a fair price in the first place. With some negotiating skills that’s definitely possible.