Must-Visit Attractions in Vientiane

This massive monument is Laos’s answer to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Featuring traditional Laotian carvings, it is a war memorial dedicated to those who fought in the struggle for independence from France. It was built in 1968 from funds meant for an airport expansion, donated by the United States. Located along Lane Xang Avenue, it’s within walking distance from downtown, and you can climb its seven flights of steps for a panoramic view from the top.

The Night Market, also known as the Chinese Market, bursts into action along the Mekong riverfront as the sun goes down, and stays open until 9:30pm. From their red-roofed tents, merchants sell backpackers’ clothing and inexpensive electronics, as well as souvenirs such as Buddhist paintings and handicrafts. Feel free to haggle before handing your cash over – you can normally get 10 to 30 percent off the price.

The great golden stupa is a national symbol of Laos. Legend has it that part of Buddha’s breast bone is buried here, having been brought to Laos by an Indian missionary. Although it dates back to 300CE, the current structure was built in 1566, when the 44-metre, gold-plated statue of King Setthathirath was installed. In November, this is a good place to witness the city’s three-day Boun That Luang Festival, which includes candlelight processions and fireworks.

The COPE Visitor Centre is a necessary stop in order to understand the country’s hardships and recovery efforts following the Lao Civil War. Two million tons of explosives were dropped onto Laos by the United States between 1964 and 1973 – and unexploded devices continue to kill and maim people in rural areas to this day. COPE (Cooperative Orthotic & Prosthetic Enterprise) provides artificial limbs and rehabilitation services – this is the place to learn all about its vital work.

Vientiane, like the Lao cities of Thakhek, Savannakhet and Pakse, lies on the banks of the Mekong River. From November to March, the dry season reveals a sand bank at the river’s edge – perhaps the closest this landlocked country ever gets to a ‘beach’. Bars and restaurants make the most of this: swing by the Beach Garden, which lays out seating on the sand and puts on live music most nights. The Laos menu includes delicious sun-dried beef, fish soup and dumplings.

Around 10% of people in Laos have a disability, and disabled women are among the most marginalised group of society. This non-profit organisation empowers them through practical training and life skills. Book a tour to meet trainers and trainees, take part in a Lao blessing ceremony and eat lunch in the garden. You can also book an hour-long handicrafts workshop, where you’ll learn how to turn newspaper into accessories, picture frames, coasters and placemats.

Also known as Haw Phra Kaew, this temple-turned-museum is full of Buddhist relics. The ornate gold-and-white shrine was built in the 1560s to house the Emerald Buddha, which has since been sent to Bangkok – having been moved to Vientiane from Chafing Mai by King Setthathirath. However, there’s still plenty to see, with carved Buddhas and Khmer deities, along with the temple’s original 16th-century lacquered doors, adorned with Hindu carvings.

That Dam, which translates as black stupa, is an incongruous black spike protruding from a quiet roundabout on Chantha Khoumane road. However, people know this monument for miles around, thanks to the legend of the seven-headed Naga serpent – the spirit who protects the citizens of Vientiane and is said to reside here. The brick stupa was once covered in gold, but this was pillaged by the Siamese when they invaded in the late 1820s.

This lively outdoor market is lit up by festoon lights, marking the way through a maze of streets around Vientiane New World shopping centre. You’ll find clothes and accessories for sale, but the main draw is the range of Asian food, from Japanese sushi to Vietnamese noodles and good old barbecue meat-on-a-stick. Join the young locals by hiring a pair of rollerblades and scooting around the rink, while speakers pump out American and Thai pop music.

The colourful temple of Wat Si Muang is the site of the Khmer-era lák méuang (city pillar), believed to be the home of another guardian spirit of Vientiane. As the legend goes, a woman sacrificed herself to calm angry spirits by jumping into the hole where the pillar was to be placed. Shrouded in cloth and behind a seated Buddha, the ancient artefact contrasts to the century-old temple, which was rebuilt by the French – the original was destroyed by Thai invaders in 1828.

Tad Moun Waterfall, 25 miles from Vientiane city, is accessible by bike ride or tuk tuk. The falls themselves are more akin to mild rapids – and they only exist in the rainy season – but the whole area is geared up for enjoyment, with thatched huts to hire and vendors selling ice cream and Beerlao beer. As well as a swimming area, you can use inflatables to ride the rapids, or kayak down the river and back again.

Nam Ngum translates as beautiful water, and with its 300 lush mini islands, this reservoir matches its namesake. Hydropower is one of the top exports of Laos, and the country’s largest lake has the bonus of providing an ideal setting for boat rides, swimming and fishing. It’s 80km to the north of Vientiane, but package tours will take you there – many of which include a cruise to nearby fishing villages and lunch aboard a floating restaurant.

Kaysone Phomvihane, the first leader of an independent Laos, lived in this building until his death in 1992. It’s inside the former USAID/CIA compound – a place that was a luxurious bubble of restaurants, swimming pools and tennis courts, before the Americans were ejected in 1975. Two floors contain information and artefacts about Lao revolutionary history and Kaysone’s life. Outside the museum are two statues, one of the president and the other of socialist workers surrounding the Lao flag.

Wat Si Saket, built in 1818, is the only temple in Laos to have completely survived the Siamese occupation, which came a decade later. More than 2,000 ceramic and silver Buddha sculptures are displayed in the temple’s cloisters – and inside is an opulent scene of pillars and gold plating. It is still an active monastery, where you can see monks roaming among the garden’s fruit trees and pavilion.