Vientiane

General information

Many people are surprised that Vientiane is in fact a capital city as it radiates a relaxed atmosphere and small-town charm. An eclectic mix of colonial-French buildings and ancient temples along with colorful markets, can characterize Laos’ capital.  A morning walk around the center area is possible; however, the city’s streets are often unpaved and dusty.

The most enjoyable approach to explore Vientiane is to simply wander around; take a peek at the markets or visit some of the many temples where friendly resident monks will be delighted to chat. At dusk, almost everyone heads toward the Mekong river bank to watch the spectacular sunsets. Many small bars along the riverbank welcome visitors to gaze out across the Mekong to Thailand.

Due to recent isolation from the rest of the world, Laos retains some elements of its colonial heritage. Most surprisingly, the capital is populated with a high density of good restaurants and bars. Vientiane has international food suitable for almost any palate; meanwhile the local spicy delicacies are also popular.

Weather Summary

Vientiane has a tropical climate; the summer experiences a good amount of rainfall, while the winters experience very little. Temperatures reach their highest in April, averaging 27.9°C (82.2°F) and hit the lowest average of 20.8°C (69.4°F) in January. The average annual temperature is 25.4°C (77.7°F) and the average precipitation is 1622 mm of rainfall. December sees the least rain with an average of only 3mm and August sees most of the rainfall, averaging 337mm.

Highlights of Vientiane

Patuxay (Vientiane Arc of Triumph)

Patuxai, literally meaning Victory Gate or Gate of Triumph, formerly the Anousavary or Anosavari Monument, known by the French as Monument Aux Morts) is a war monument in the centre ofVientiane, Laos, which was built between 1957 and 1968. The Patuxai is dedicated to those who fought in the struggle for independence fromFrance. In romanising the name from the Laotian language, it is variously transliterated as Patuxai, Patuxay, Patousai and Patusai. It is also called Patuxai Arch or the Arc de Triomphe of Vientiane as it resembles the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. However, it is typically Laotian in design, decorated with mythological creatures such as the kinnari (half-female, half-bird).

Patuxai, literally meaning Victory Gate or Gate of Triumph, formerly the Anousavary or Anosavari Monument, known by the French as Monument Aux Morts) is a war monument in the centre ofVientiane, Laos, which was built between 1957 and 1968. The Patuxai is dedicated to those who fought in the struggle for independence fromFrance. In romanising the name from the Laotian language, it is variously transliterated as Patuxai, Patuxay, Patousai and Patusai. It is also called Patuxai Arch or the Arc de Triomphe of Vientiane as it resembles the
Read more

Climate chart in Vientiane

Average daily maximum temperature in
Average high
Average low
Rainfall
Average daily maximum temperature in
Rainfall
1000 mm
125°50°
800 mm
100°40°
600 mm
75°30°
400 mm
50°20°
200 mm
25°10°
0 mm
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Temperature (°F)(°C)
Rainfall
1000 mm
125°50°
800 mm
100°40°
600 mm
75°30°
400 mm
50°20°
200 mm
25°10°
0 mm
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Temperature (°F)(°C)
Explore another destination in Laos

Let’s get started

Contact your dedicated travel consultant today