Things to Do in Vientiane, Laos - Vientiane Attractions
Things to Do in Vientiane
Popular things to do
Book these experiences for a close-up look at Vientiane.
Top Attractions in Vientiane
Parks • Monuments & Statues
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Observation Decks & Towers
Speciality Museums
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What travelers are saying
- kansasrodOSKALOOSA1,396 contributionsThe sad truth about the impact of unexplored bombs (UXO) is brought to you in a 23-minute video. Many international organizations have shown support for this place. Lest we forget…Written November 27, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- TonyBHelsinki, Finland61 contributionsCool place to visit in Vientiane. Price was 40 000kip for foreigners. Beautiful garden with many Buddha statues. If you walk a bit further you come to the Mekong.Written November 6, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- BillyGabrielManado, Indonesia745 contributionsgreat temple and yes this is one of Vientiane's landmark.
if you're visiting in the afternoon, please bring your sunscreen with you as it could be so hotWritten October 31, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - TonyBHelsinki, Finland61 contributionsAn icon of Vientiane. Came here during my two day stop at my trip through Laos. A few shops by the monument where you can buy souvenirs.Written November 5, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- OrderintheHouseBrisbane2,563 contributionsMy wife and I did a short 5 day Wendy Wu “Laos in Focus” private tour, organised through Asia DMC Laos, in January 2020 which focused on Luang Prabang and Vientiane. While in Vientiane we visited a number of important temples including Wat Ho Phra Keo, Wat That Luang Tai and Pha That Luang (Great Stupa) [all reviewed separately] as well as Wat Si Saket ( or Wat Sisaket), the subject of this review.
Wat Si Saket can be described as the temple of over 10,000 Buddhas – that’s how many are located here, There are quite a number inside the ornate sim (ordination hall) and also along the inner walls of the impressive arcade or cloister which surrounds a neat courtyard.
The temple was built in 1820 by King Anouvong, the last King of Vientiane and the temple is one of the surviving buildings after the mass destruction caused by the Siamese armies, that looted and burnt the city in 1827. It is an important temple in that it is the oldest one in Vientiane still in its original form.
There are a number of buildings scattered throughout a lovely landscaped area with the centrepiece, like most Lao temple complexes, being the sim . This sim has a most impressive five tiered roof decorated with Naga serpent and bird finials. The roof gable is nicely decorated with various motifs. The sim interior hall is surrounded by a veranda and right around its perimeter are tall evenly spaced yellow coloured columns. An interesting item to observe on the sim’s veranda is a 5 metre trough carved to resemble a naga snake used in cleansing rituals of Buddha images during the Lao New Year. Behind this trough is an ornate window with an interesting motif. There is also an intricate gilded seat on another side veranda.
Inside the sim is the principal Buddha image seated on a high pedestal and the lower part of the interior wall is adorned with ancient murals. The upper part of the interior wall contains hundreds of small niches with Buddha images. Like many of the Lao temples, taking photographs inside the sim is not permitted and nor are photos allowed of the inside taken from the outside. A prominent sign outside makes it very clear that there are penalties that will apply to anyone caught not observing the “no photography” rule. The sign advises that the rules are in place, among other reasons, to protect the precious images and to prevent theft and associated schemes.
Fortunately, however, photographs can be taken of the many Buddha images on display along the walls of the cloister. There are several long rows of small Gothic style lancet shaped niches containing small Buddha images, usually in pairs, similar to what can be seen on the walls inside the sim. In front of these small Buddhas in the niches of the cloister walls are larger seated Buddha images. All the images throughout the walled cloister are arranged very neat and orderly and are evenly spaced between each other. The continuous Buddha image display along the entire length of the cloister wall looks very impressive.
This was a very pleasant visit to this temple museum. The huge collection of Buddha images of varying sizes is quite amazing.Written July 6, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Kk like laos ReviewLuang Prabang, Laos19 contributionsOne of the place i visit on 1st of May 2022, I heard my friend that this place is very sacred, can be blessed, and I have seen with my own eyes, it is different from many temples I have been,on the day I go there are many people come to worship, they bring candel, flowers... to worship BlessingsWritten May 2, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- 4alastair4Worcester, UK241 contributionsCan recommend this location as it's a very comfortable part of Vientiane just to chill out
The evening market stalls whilst I was there were not too crowded and there were many cafes where you could eatWritten February 17, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Lotte L1 contributionWe had a wonderful time at the textile museum. We experienced the full process of making silk clothes. They even let us do it ourselves! Also, the staff is extremely friendly and take the time to explain everything really well. Amazing experience!!Written November 29, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Perry BHong Kong, China2,465 contributionsI found the Night Market to be noisy and colourful and featuring some nice Lao-patterned clothing. I enjoyed the atmosphere there a great deal and felt that I was getting some insight into the culture of the Laotian capital. Well worth a visit on on evening of your holiday.Written August 18, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- milliesmum2016Christchurch, New Zealand1,809 contributionsThis huge reclining Buddha is cute when compared with the reclining Buddha is Rangoon. Not a fair comparison anyway and one best avoided. He is set in beautifully kept gardens, which are still being decorated by further religious figures, under construction. He is right beside the big stupa. His temple complex incudes other religious buildings, with one particularly nice open air shrine or audience hall, nit sure what it is really, which is lined with lovely paintings of important scenes from the Buddha's life and heavily involving elephants. I loved those!
It's actually a really lovely temple, quite domestic in atmosphere, with cats and chickens happiy running aroundthe place.Written February 1, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - OrderintheHouseBrisbane2,563 contributionsMy wife and I celebrated our 40th anniversary in January 2020 on an 18 day Asian adventure which included a short 5 day Wendy Wu “Laos in Focus” private tour organised through Asia DMC Laos. We enjoyed a three night stay in Luang Prabang and one night in Vientiane.
With only a limited time in Vientiane, we were given a “whirl wind” two hour tour that covered the main city attractions including a twenty minute glimpse of the beautiful Wat Ho Phra Keo Temple ( also known as Ho Phra Keo or Haw Phra Kaew).
A former monastery and serving as a royal temple of the Lao monarchs, Wat Ho Phra Keo Temple was originally built in 1565 on the orders of King Setthathirath (one of the great leaders in Lao history) and the Emerald Buddha (actually carved from a type of jade) was originally housed here. The temple was destroyed during the Siamese invasion of 1828 and rebuilt by the French during the colonial period between 1936 and 1942. The temple is now used as a museum offering displays of fine examples of Lao religious art. The Emerald Buddha was taken from here in 1779 to Thailand and it now resides in a Temple in Bangkok of the same name.
The focal point of the museum complex is the sim (ordination hall) which is a very ornate building. It has a multi-tiered roof which is very appealing to the eye with gilded ridge and bargeboard ornaments. It has stairways at the main and side entrances to the veranda which incorporate a mythological Naga serpent on the side parapets of the stairways with its head looking away from the temple. The gable end incorporates pleasing gilded decoration. At the top of the gable is an image of Indra mounted on a triple-headed elephant. Under this is a row of deities. These were stunning features. Another lovely aspect of the exterior of the sim are the imposing maroon and gold columns around the entire perimeter of the sim. The veranda contains an impressive gallery of 18th century bronze Buddha images and other artefacts. There are interesting displays of religious artefacts in the sim’s interior hall – however photography is not allowed here, a courtesy we respected. We also had to observe Lao custom by removing our shoes before entering.
It was nice wandering through the pleasing landscaped gardens on the complex with statues set among the trees. On the way to the sim in these gardens we passed one most interesting sculpture displaying the most intricate carvings of animals, flowers and buildings embedded in the original material – well worth a photo stop.
This was just a quick visit to this temple museum. However, it was worth a glimpse to admire its beauty and religious significance. We were pleased it was included on our whirl wind tour.Written July 7, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Jean-Paul S2 contributionsI stumbled across the centre while walking through Vientiane. I had planned to visit it though. It's small, two rooms, but gives a really good insight into this problem (UXO) and their legacy in Laos.
The young lady working there, Souk, was such a help and answered all my questions. Honestly, one of the better customer service people I've come across, so friendly, engaging and commited to her work!
It's worth a look, would take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour/hour and a half depending on your interest level.Written August 26, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Felicity T2 contributionsThe driver was really sweet, as we arrived the two staff girls came to greet us and they were very helpful during the whole process and show ing us each step by step to complete our tie-dyeing and weaving! It was very worth the time and I would recommend trying it for yourself!Written June 8, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- SeeMoreLiveMoreSingapore, Singapore526 contributionsA linear park downtown, nothing much to recommend for it, except that it is nice greenery amidst the traffic. Statue after which the park is named is impressive and worth a see if you are around there.Written February 24, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- TonyBHelsinki, Finland61 contributionsNice little piece of history in the capital city of Laos. Be mindful of the traffic. There are a few park benches by the monument where you can enjoy an icecream etc.Written November 18, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Vientiane
- The top attractions to visit in Vientiane are: See all attractions in Vientiane on Tripadvisor
- The best outdoor activities in Vientiane according to Tripadvisor travelers are: See all outdoor activities in Vientiane on Tripadvisor
- The best day trips from Vientiane according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- Tour in Private Minivan with Chansay!
- Private Tour: Vientiane City Tour Full Day with Buddha Park
- Full Day from Vientiane: Lao Conservation Trust for Wildlife
- Explore Vientiane and Local Villages Biking Tour
- Complete Vientiane in a Day
- The most popular things to do in Vientiane with kids according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- Wat Si Muang
- Vat that Khao
- Great Sacred Stupa (Pha That Luang)
- Buddha Park
- MAG Visitor Information Centre
Vientiane Attractions Information
| Attractions | 184 |
|---|---|
| Attraction Reviews | 17,645 |
| Attraction Photos | 17,822 |
| Local Time | Wednesday 4:53 AM |