Vientiane, the capital of Laos offers lots of culture and architecture. After a long day of visiting the main attractions listed below I can recommend having a drink at one of the many cafés or bars along the Mekong watching the spectacular sunset.
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1. Pha That Luang – the symbol and sanctuary of Laos
was built in the 16th century. Women have to wear a long skirt to visit the Pha That Luang. You can rent them at a tent outside of the Pha That Luang.
And do not forget to cover your shoulders.
It is sourrounded by a wall where different statues of Buddha are displayed.
Outside the temple I watched people buying birds in cages. If you buy a bird in a cage you have to set the bird free which it is said will bring you luck.
2. Wat Sisaket
The Wat Sisaket is the oldest temple in Vientiane with thousands of Buddha statues.
3. Patou Xai – the Arc de Triomphe of Vientiane
The Patou Xai was built in the 60s to honour the fallen heroes of the Laotian army. It is 49 m high and offers a great view above Vientiane. In the floors inside are shops you can take a look at while getting up and down the building.
4. Wat Si Muang
is the most visited temple in Vientiane. Maybe because it is said a visit to the temple brings you luck (especially if you want to get pregnant). Inside the temple the golden statue gives shelter to the ghost of protection of Vientiane.
5. Wat Phra Keo (Haw Pha Kaew)
is situated close to the Wat Si Saket and is nowadays a museum showing beautiful buddhistic sculptures.
6. Buddha Park Xieng Khuan (City of Ghosts)
Altough the Buddha Park is about 24 km away from Vientiane I included it to the Top Things List about Vientiane. I hope you don´t mind ;).
At the Buddha Park also known as Xieng Khuan (City of Ghosts) there are more than 200 Hindu and Buddhist statues. Through a demon´s mouth you can enter a building. Stairs bring you up. You walk up through hell, the earth and up to heaven. On the top of the building you have a great view of the Buddha Park.
Entering the Demon´s Mouth
You might also like:
FASCINATING LUANG PRABANG – CITY ALONG THE MEKONG
ALONG THE MEKONG – FROM HOUEI SAY TO LUANG PRABANG
AT THE KHOUANG SI WATERFALLS – TURQUOISE BEAUTY AND LAZY BEARS
Have you been already to Laos or is it on your list? Let me know about you and your experiences in the comment section.
zuletzt aktualisiert am June 6, 2022
Wer weiß, ob ich es irgendwann einmal bis nach Laos schaffe? Mir gefällt das Foto des Bronze-Buddhas so gut!
Wer ein Fan ist von Buddhastatuen ist in Laos im Paradies. Ich habe noch nie so viele Statuen auf einmal gesehen und jede sieht anders aus und ist aus einem anderen Material. Ob aus Holz, Bronze, Jade und in allen möglichen Größen.
Sehr sehr tolle Bilder. 2002 hab ich von Vientianne irgendwie nicht soviel mitbekommen. Den Arc de Triomphe kenn ich natürlich, aber alles Andere hab ich leider verpasst. Vielleicht war das damals aber auch alles noch nicht so zugänglich. Muss wohl nochmal hin :). GlG, Nadine
Schade, dass du die anderen Sehenswürdigkeiten (noch) nicht gesehen hast.
Ist wirklich lohnenswert sich Laos/Vientiane genauer anzusehen und vor allem finde ich, dass Laos, abgesehen von den Minen, im Moment ein sicheres Reiseland ist.
Great list of things to do in Laos 🙂 Hopefully, I’ll be making my way back soon to do some of them! =)
Thanks, Lily. I´m sure you do. If so, let us know about it.
Wow this looks excellent! I really want to go to Laos now. Setting the bird free and walking through the devils mouth look great!!
Laos is indeed beautiful. I didn´t set the birds free because they catch them again. But there are many people who try it. Maybe it brings them luck. 😀
It’s great to see so much well-preserved history in Vientiane. Would love to walk through the dragon’s mouth. That’s a great shot of the bird-seller and I like that you are supposed to let the bird free.
The devil´s mouth is interesting to walk through. Especially because you get a great view on top of it, overlooking the whole Buddha Park.
Love those Buddha statues, how beautiful! I’ve still not been to Laos, but it’s on my list – my boyfriend went a few years ago and I know he wants to go back 🙂
Hope you can make it to Laos. The nature there is stunning.
Been to Vientiane, but I think I missed some stuff (skipped the buddha park for example, but I’d love to walk into that dragon’s mouth)
The devil´s mouth in the Buddha Park is really interesting but as I mentioned it is not exactly in Vientiane. Maybe you missed it because of that. Hope you had a great time in Vientiane.
Yet another place for my wish list. That Buddha Park looks amazing.
I always have the same problem. The wish list is growing and growing. 😀
Lovely photos!! I was just in Vientiane this past February! Really nice to read this post. I like your pic of the Arc de Triomphe staircase in particular 🙂
Great. I would love to go back to Laos again spending more time at the different turquoise water pools. Have you been there too?
Ooo! Laos is most definitely on my list, and I like these ‘… for good luck’ things. Definitely buying a bird in a cage when I get there 😉
If you like the “good luck” stuff you will love Laos. 🙂
Great post! I do have to say though for anyone wanting to go, PLEASE don’t buy those birds in cages. Use your money instead to support locals and businesses that don’t exploit animals.
That´s what I told in the comment section too. The birds are caught afterwards again. I just took some pictures of the woman and her cages but didn´t buy a bird cage.
I’ll be visiting Laos soon so this list is really tempting me even more! Judging by the top things you’ve listed, you must have had a wonderful cultural experience 🙂
Some great buddhas! Well written post.
Thank you, Bente.
Beautiful pictures! This is a part of the world that I hope to set foot on soon.
You really should. 🙂
Nice post and educational! I’m curious now about Laos….
Thank you, Jeanette.
I’ll make it there someday. And when I do, one of the first things I’ll do will be to make into that dragon’s mouth. 🙂
Actually it´s called the demon´s mouth. 😉 I´m sure you will have a great time there.
What stunning temples, I love all the detail. I too want to climb into the Demon’s Mouth.
The Demon´s Mouth is really intersting to climb into and you are provided afterwards with an amazing view.
The Wat Sisaket looks stunning! Hope to get to Laos in the near future!
You really should. Laos is a great country.
We’ve been in Vientiane not so long ago but got to admit I prefer other areas in Laos. Maybe because when we were there it was just too hot to do much!
But great article, makes me want to come back in Laos!
I liked other areas too like the villages along the Mekong or the turquoise pools in the forests. I can understand you didn´t enjoy it that much when it was so hot.
We loved Vientiane when we visited, especially Buddha Park! Such a crazy spooky place!
I was there during the day so it wasn´t spooky. But around sunset I´m sure it´s kind of spooky.
Beautiful! I love the name “Arc de Triomphe de Vientiane” thats so cute! Looks like an awesome spot to visit.
Awesome post! Takes me back to 2006 when i was cruising round Laos. I really enjoyed Buddha park. We hired motorbikes and took the ride out there. I really want to go back now!
Wow. 2006. I guess there were only a few tourists at this time. Renting a motorbike sounds like fun.
The Demon’s Mouth certainly has a fearsome aspect to it! I absolutely love visiting Buddhist temples and would love to head to Laos. Thanks for sharing these great places to visit!
I like to visit Buddhist temples as well. Hope you can visit Laos soon.
Buddha Park Xieng Khuan (City of Ghosts) looks incredible. We decided to skip Vientiane during our last trip, but now I regret. Have to come and see it all!
The Buddha Park is something different. I´m sure you would like it as well as Vientiane. Now you have another reason to travel to Laos again. 😀 It´s such a beautiful country.
Love the demon’s mouth! I was in Vientiane in 1997, and in Luang Prabang in 2012. LP is such a relaxing town.
1997? I´m sure Vientiane was a lot less crowded by tourists these days. 🙂
Laos, Vietnam, Kambodscha und natürlich Thailand stehen ganz ganz oben auf meiner Liste – aber dafür bräuchte ich mindestens 4 Wochen am Stück Urlaub – und selbst dann hätte ich sicherlich noch nicht mal die Hälfte an den interessanten Dingen gesehen 🙂
Viele Grüße
Andreas
Ja, Andreas, ich weiß, wovon du redest. Darum am besten ein oder zwei Länder raus suchen und diese besuchen und beim nächsten Urlaub die anderen. 😉 Vietnam und Thailand stehen bei uns auch noch aus. Südostasien ist schon eine faszinierende Gegend.
I know Vientiane gets a bit of a bum rap for being boring; however, I actually think it is a decent city to stopover for a few days.
Really? Boring? I don´t think so. I agree with you. It´s a city to stay a couple of days. There is a lot to see.
Hi,
Just connected via Twitter… And had a first glimpse of your blog – Nice! Find it funny to read this post, as I just wrote exactly the same one about… 2 hours ago! Several things in common, a few different ones.
Cheers
Gilles
What a coincidence. Will check your post. 😉