Gay Vientiane City Guide

First visit to Vientiane? Then our gay Vientiane city guide is for you.

Vientiane | ວຽງຈັນ

The capital city of Laos, located on the banks of the Mekong River, adjacent to Thailand, Vientiane is known for its French-colonial architecture, Buddhist temples and laid-back atmosphere.

Vientiane is now the largest city in Laos. The city has an estimated population of 210,000 in the city itself and about 700,000 in the Vientiane Prefecture.

Getting to Vientiane

By plane

Vientiane’s Wattay Airport, located 4 km west of the city, serves most major cities in Asia including Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Singapore, Hong Kong, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, and Kuala Lumpur.

By train

There are four shuttle services available Vientiane daily. From the station, you can catch a bus into town

Things to See & Do

Wat Si Saket – the oldest standing temple in Vientiane

Hophakaew Museum – a former royal temple which housed the Emerald Buddha (now in Bangkok’s Wat Phra Kaew)

Pha That Luang – national symbol and most important religious monument of the country.

Patuxai (Victory Gate) – a local version of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe.

Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan) – an utdoor collection of huge concrete sculptures of Buddhist and Hindu deities, and real and imaginary beasts.

Lao National Museum – a museum with extensive exhibitions about Laos’ history.

When to Visit

Vientiane has a tropical weather with a distinct wet and dry season. The best time of the year to visit the city is late December to early February when it’s dry and cool. The rainy season starts from April until October.

Visa

A visa on arrival is available for most nationalities at the airport, the Friendship Bridge and Tha Naleng train station. Some countries may need a pre-arranged visa (a passport photo may be required). You can also get a visa in advance at the Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in Bangkok.

Money

Banks and ATM’s are plentiful.