The 5 Coolest Neighbourhoods In Vientiane Laos

Vientiane might be billed as Southeast Asia’s smallest and sleepiest capital but there’s more there than meets the eye. With great watering holes, art, sports and temples galore, Laos’ capital is both livable and laidback. Rent a bicycle, motorbike or take a tuk-tuk to explore Vientiane’s top neighborhoods.

Ban Haysok and Ban Mixay

The Mekong Riverfront “Bans” or “villages” of Haysok and Mixay are as “downtown” as you can get in Vientiane. Grab a bite to eat and shop for everything under the sun at the night market, which was renovated in 2018 with permanent stalls. Participate in an early morning or evening exercise dance class in the park or watch the sun set with drinks from Spirit House or SunTara’s roof. While it’s certainly the most touristy area of Vientiane with many coffee shops, restaurants and hotels, it also boasts the Presidential Palace, National Cultural Hall and half a dozen temples worth checking out.

Ban Phapho and Ban Phivat

Ban Sokpaluang / VIS

Vientiane International School hosts weekly drop-in adult volleyball in their covered outdoor gym. In the same neighborhood is Kiettisack International School and a campus of Panyathip, meaning big western-style houses rented out to foreigners fill this neighborhood. The KFC of Laos: Khouvieng Fried Chicken has delicious fries and fried fowl at cheap prices and is open late. 30 Ml is a coffee shop and restaurant with a modern vibe, chic decor and great wifi. Flavours & Spices has some of the best Indian in town and plenty of cheap massage parlors and temples to visit make this area ideal to wander through if you’re looking for fewer tourists.

Ban Phonexay / Ban Sisavat Tai

No visit to Vientiane is complete without a walk up to the top of Patuxai or Victory Gate for the best panorama of the city down Lane Xang Avenue. Check out a class (like their free Saturday morning meditation) at Vientiane Yoga Studio. The British, Vietnamese, Thai and Indonesian embassies are in the neighborhood if you have passport issues or need to apply for a visa. Get dinner at Tamnak Lao restaurant while live performers dance and play traditional Lao music. The Vientiane Capital Library is just down from Patuxai. Check out the collection. Many of the children’s’ books were published in other languages with Lao translations pasted in.

Patuxai, a memorial monument, in Vientiane, Laos

Ban Phônthamua and Ban Phonpapao

For the ultimate family vacation experience, check out Ban Phônthamua and Ban Phonpapao. Order a meal at the Hard Rock Cafe Vientiane and see a movie (in English) at the Lao ITECC cineplex. Enjoy the heat at Ocean Park which is filled with water slides and splash pools. Try your hand at Muay Lao boxing at a drop-in class at Safaa Gym or show up as a spectator at a fight night. The Thatluang Lake Specific Economic Zone is under continuous development with more apartments, shopping, restaurants and bars in the works around the lake.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.