Elsewhere in the country: Level 4 (travel ban) — some regions: L4 (travel ban): Golden Triangle SEZ, Bokeo / L1: rest of the country
Visits to the listed regions should be cancelled or postponed (see Details for other areas).
checked 2026-10-05 · Details ↗ This is the Korean government’s advisory — also check your own government’s travel advice.
The Lao capital is a low, flat city spread along the Mekong. The golden That Luang stupa, the national symbol, old temples such as Wat Si Saket and Haw Phra Kaew, and the Patuxai monument are all in town, so one or two days on foot and by tuk-tuk is enough. In the evening, the Mekong riverside is the place to unwind at sunset.
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Check prices →According to Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the climate is tropical monsoon, with a rainy season roughly May-September and a dry season October-April. March-May brings almost no rain and daytime highs above 40°C, and heavy rain in June-October can flood roads. To avoid both heat and rain, November-February, early in the dry season, is the most comfortable. The That Luang Festival is held every year for seven days and nights around the full moon of the 12th lunar month (around October-November).
According to the terminal operator (L-JATS), buses and airport taxis run between the airport and downtown Vientiane, and the Vientiane Bus reservation counter is in the arrival lobby. Check routes and times at the counter or through official information.
The airport website posts a fixed taxi and minivan tariff by destination, and the airport advises having cash ready for transport into the city. The posted tariff dates from 2019, so check current fares at the counter on arrival.
Haw Phra Kaew and Wat Si Saket face each other across the street, so they are easy to see together on foot. Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises avoiding more than 30 minutes in direct sun and walking with at least one other person after dark (after 6 p.m.) or on quiet streets.
Use them between central sights or for places a little farther out such as That Luang. Some sights, like COPE on its official site, provide a Lao-language audio clip for drivers, so showing your destination in Lao helps. Agree on the fare before setting off.
Vientiane Bus, mentioned by the airport, links the airport and the city. Check city routes and fares officially.
According to Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, traffic accidents are very frequent, especially in the capital, and many drivers are unlicensed. Rental shops don't check licences, but you will be fined as unlicensed after an accident; signs in the city are hard to read and there are many one-way streets, so the ministry advises against driving.
Good for: First visit, walking between temples
Haw Phra Kaew and Wat Si Muang are in Chanthabouly district, with Wat Si Saket directly opposite Haw Phra Kaew, and the former royal palace (now the Presidential Office) is close by, so the old temples link up easily on foot.
Good for: Evening walks, sunsets, dinner
In the evening locals and travellers stroll the riverside, eat and drink at small restaurants and watch the sunset. Because foreigners gather here, Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also flags it for bag snatching and drugged drinks.
Good for: Landmarks, festival visits
Patuxai stands in the middle of Lane Xang Avenue, and beyond it That Luang sits in Ban That Luang, Saysettha district. Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the tourist areas around That Luang and Patuxai as places to be careful, so watch your belongings.
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The golden great stupa that symbolises Laos and is said to enshrine a relic of the Buddha. It was enlarged in 1556 by King Setthathirath, who made Vientiane the capital of the Lan Xang kingdom, and his statue stands before the west entrance. It is 45 m tall and was regilded in 2016-2017. Wat That Luang Neua to the north has a large assembly hall (Ho Thammasapha). Check hours and fees officially.
A 49 m gateway, formerly called the Victory Monument, in the middle of Lane Xang Avenue. Built in 1957-1962, its interior is decorated with traditional Lao motifs including kinnari figures. Officially you can climb to the top daily 8:00-16:00 for city views, and a plaza with fountains and flowers lies below. Check the fee officially.
The former royal temple built by King Setthathirath to house the Emerald Buddha. The Emerald Buddha is no longer here, but the temple keeps precious relics such as bronze Buddha images and stone inscriptions. Officially open daily 8:00-17:00.
Built in 1818 under Chao Anouvong, the last king of the Vientiane kingdom, and the only temple to survive the invasions of 1827-1828 unburned. A cloister surrounds it on all four sides, and 2,052 small Buddha images sit in niches inside the ordination hall. Officially open daily 8:00-17:00.
The temple of the city pillar (lak muang), tied to the legend of Nang Si, who threw herself into the pit when the pillar was raised. Locals come daily to make wishes, especially on Tuesdays and Buddhist holy days. It is open from early morning to evening, and Ho Lak Muang opposite preserves ancient pillar stones found with an inscription dated 1540.
An exhibition on the history and impact of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos and on rehabilitation work. Entry is free (donations welcome) and it is open daily; its official site lists two different closing times, so check hours officially. Short documentaries are also screened.
Every evening locals and travellers walk and rest along the Mekong to watch the sun go down; the airport operator itself names the riverside sunset as Vientiane's special charm. Avoid quiet stretches after dark.
Small restaurants line the riverside, ideal for dinner with a sunset view. Don't accept free drinks or food from strangers.
Vientiane has 83 large and small markets where you can taste and buy fresh and dried produce and see everyday local life.
Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises drinking bottled or boiled water and checking that ice is clean. Eat vegetables, seafood and meat cooked, and eat small portions until you are used to local food.
According to Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, some areas sell food containing cannabis or shakes with toxic mushrooms. They are illegal in Laos too, can be punished and can cause serious harm, so never try them.
Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.
Transfer from the airport and check in → Haw Phra Kaew (8:00-17:00) → Wat Si Saket opposite (8:00-17:00) → Wat Si Muang and Ho Lak Muang → a Mekong riverside walk and dinner at sunset.
Patuxai viewing deck in the morning (8:00-16:00) → tuk-tuk to That Luang → COPE Visitor Centre in the afternoon → leave plenty of time for the airport.
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