As far as Southeast Asian capital cities go, Vientiane, although somewhat disheveled, is nice and compact and holds plenty of intrigue for tourists. It sits on the banks of the Mekong River, beyond which Thai territory sits a whisker away across to the south.
Before the French took a hold of Vientiane and colonized Laos, the City of Sandalwood was taken apart by marauding Siamese (Thais), who ripped down much of the city's architectural splendor. Few ancient temples remain, although the French went about rebuilding and established wide, leafy boulevards and big houses.
Today, Vientiane continues its rebuilding and is somewhat erratic as a result, although there is a burgeoning supply of neat shops, cafés, guesthouses and bars, and some fantastic markets from which to pick up quality local handicrafts and textiles.
Downtown Vientiane is where it's at and the various districts are all close together, making getting about on foot easy. The city is essentially split into villages, with the most interesting to tourists lying along the northern bank of the Mekong River.
lightbulb_outline Highlights:
- Join local worshippers at Wat Phra Keo, Wat Sisaket and That Luang, the city’s holiest monuments.
- Visit a workshop making beautiful traditional Lao textiles from locally-grown, high-quality silk.
- Learn about the impact of UXO (unexploded ordinance) on the Lao people and the efforts underway to eliminate these war relics.
wb_sunny Weather:
- Vientiane has a tropical climate with a dry season and a wet season typical of Laos and its neighbouring countries. Temperatures range from warm to hot, with some very humid days when the rains mark the start of the southwest monsoon season in May or June. Rainy conditions continue through to the end of October, then the northeast monsoon arrives bringing with it drier and cooler days. November through February feature the most comfortable, sunny days in Vientiane, then the temperatures rise in March, April and May. Vientiane has a tropical climate with a dry season and a wet season typical of Laos and its neighbouring countries. Temperatures range from warm to hot, with some very humid days when the rains mark the start of the southwest monsoon season in May or June. Rainy conditions continue through to the end of October, then the northeast monsoon arrives bringing with it drier and cooler days. November through February feature the most comfortable, sunny days in Vientiane, then the temperatures rise in March, April and May.
star_border Best time to visit:
The best time to visit Vientiane is during the cooler months of November to March, though it is also the peak tourist season so prices may be higher and the sites may have more visitors. Vientiane rarely feels, crowded however. If visiting in April expect some hot, sticky days but it's also a good chance to see how the locals cool down with their New Year's water festival. Similar to the famed Songkran festival in neighbouring Thailand, the Vientiane version is much more low-key though equally enjoyable.