You will be amazed by the fusion of oriental and occidental architectural influences. Today, Vientiane is home to about , local and foreign residents. Similar to the rest of Southeast Asia, the climate in the Laotian capital is tropical wet and dry with temperatures somewhat cooler during the dry than the wet season.
There are about 86 different languages spoken in Vientiane. The Lao or Laotian is the national language in the country. The Vientiane Lao, which is a Laotian dialect, is widely used in the capital as well as in Bolikhamsai. The cost of living in Vientiane is a bit higher than Neighbouring Thailand, but still significantly low compared to Western destinations.
Transportation barely cuts into your budget because the city is very walkable. Your living costs ultimately depend on your lifestyle habits. It hosts foreign embassies and consulates, international Organisations including the World Health Organisation and the United Nations.
The city is also the centres of international schools and top colleges and universities. The arch is actually a war monument, built between and to commemorate those who fought for independence from the French. So we already mentioned the amazing baguettes in Vientiane, and these sandwiches are everywhere! Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can have a baguette alone, or make it into a sandwich — a very popular street food here.
In fact, you will find tasty and cheap baguette sandwiches all over Laos! Being that Vientiane is the capital city, there is a wide array of food available. You can find some of the best Lao food around, including Laap or Larp — one of our favorites. Laap is a traditional Lao dish made with your choice of minced meat, combined with onions, chilies, lemon, herbs and spices, including mint — a popular ingredient in Lao food.
While we found many tasty Lao dishes, I think Lap was by far our favorite and we found ourselves craving it at times. Traditionally, it is served with sticky rice the primary style of rice in Laos , but you can also get steamed rice too. This slightly sweet, sour, spicy cold salad has a hint of peanut and is a great side dish to share. While there are many restaurants around Vientiane serving local Lao dishes, we were surprised to discover just how many international cuisines are represented here.
Many more than other places we have traveled! We found awesome pizzas and pasta, kebobs and Mediterranean food, hummus, and super tasty Mexican food.
After living in Asia for 2 years, we were loving having such a variety of food — we were shocked to find it in such a small town like Vientiane. And honestly, we never ate anything bad, everything was really tasty. While you can find baguette sandwiches for 15, — 25, kip, most restaurants were charging 30, — 60, kip for meals in Vientiane. So build that into your budget if you are planning a trip to Laos. Even though Vientiane is the capital city of Laos, it seems more like a small town.
It is quite walkable, and riding a bike around town is very popular. Most all guesthouses offer bikes for rent, or included in your stay. But you will also find bike rental shops everywhere. Be aware though — it can get quite hot! Wear sunscreen and drink lots of water if you are going to be riding around town. Motorbikes are available at many guesthouses or shops around town. We rented ours from our hostel, the Orange Backpacker. Being so hot outside, it felt good to cruise around with breeze.
But it was deceiving, and we both got a bit sunburned! Every night along the riverfront promenade area, locals set up a night market. People start setting up in the early evening, around 4 or 5 pm — and it goes on well into the night. There is a lot of clothing and accessories, for locals, but tourists will also find some souvenirs — including clothes, bags, crafts, and artwork.
We actually saw a number of beautiful paintings, with the shopkeepers painting right inside the tent. We have a weakness for art, so we had to hold ourselves back from buying everything! The night market in Vientiane is large, and it takes quite a while to walk it. We found ourselves walking up and down it most every night, because the whole promenade area along the river really is the place to hang out at night. There are also a lot of street food vendors nearby too. We strolled around numerous floors, and nearby alleyways, but we found this market to be boring and a bit of a bust.
Mostly local items, and not much character. Just kinda blah. Speaking of the river, at night this whole area really comes alive. Not only with the market, but there are many street vendors and people gathering all around. Just before sunset, the open areas are filled with group aerobics classes, and you can hear the pumping music and see the crowds getting their sweat on together. For a small fee, you can join in too. But if you just want to be lazy, like us, then just have a seat and watch the sunset.
This was actually one of our favorite activities in Vientiane. We would grab something to drink, or even a sandwich, and just sit for a good hour or two. A great cheap and relaxing activity in Vientiane. If you are looking for a great night out relaxing on the river, then make your way upstream from the Night Market and promenade area. Talat Sao Market Visit Talat Sao Market, a covered two- tory structure selling all sorts of produce and household goods. That Luang Stupa Visit the striking golden That Luang Stupa, Vientiane's most revered temple and Laos's national monument, which is attended daily by numerous local pilgrims.
Champasak Don khone Pakse Paksong. Vientiane Itineraries. All Itineraries. Interest Heritage. See Itinerary. Interest Architecture. Interests Tribal, Trekking. Capital to Ancient Capital: A Glimpse of Northern Laos Take in the stunning scenery and encounter friendly locals on this whirlwind 5-day adventure through Northern Laos. Interest Wildlife. Interest Tribal. Mountainscapes of Northern Laos: Magnificent Muang La This four-day trip into Northern Laos highlights some of the most fascinating culture the region has to offer - but also sets aside time for both adventure and relaxation at the stunning Muang La Resort.
Peak Laos: Heights of Phongsaly Discover the charms of Northern Laos with this five-day, off the beaten path itinerary. Interests Tribal, Off The Grid. Interest Motorcycling. Show More.
Lao Poet Hotel The former home of a famous Lao writer, the Lao Poet Hotel offers a fresh spin on 's Indochine design and boasts the only rooftop swimming pool in Vientiane. The property is comprised of 55 guest rooms and suites over eight floors, all featuring glamorous "urban jungle" decor; bursts of purples, greens and blues, and plays on texture with plush bedding and traditional textile rugs.
In addition to the rooftop pool, there's the Poet Spa and sauna. For dining, guests can choose between the lobby restaurant or rooftop pool deck, where menus mix Lao dishes with Western favorites. In particular, the rooftop deck is the best place to enjoy a signature cocktail when the sun is setting. Green Park Boutique Hotel This stylish boutique hotel is one of the city's finest properties and sits just a short drive outside the centre of Vientiane.
Built around a central swimming pool, it is a truly chic and tranquil retreat. There is also a restaurant and bar, with breakfast available to take away for those guests leaving early to go touring.
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