Vientiane Travel GuideVientiane is the capital city of Laos with a population of around 250,000 people. It's a small city compared to most of the other capital cities in South-East-Asia. If you are looking to escape the crowd, busy traffics and high rise buildings then this is the place for you. You can be like thousand of people made tours to Laos for both business and pleasure.  This sleepy city was blessed with many unique landmarks, great Buddhist attraction sites and some colonial buildings left over during the French era. This is a very family, friendly city where things and time seem to go slowly so you can build memories to last a life time. There are a wide range of accommodation to choose from in Vientiane. You can find 5 stars hotels to a simple guest house to suit your needs and budget. You can check and compare Vientiane accommodation and guest houses before you make a booking. To save you time and money our recommendation for you is to book your accommodation online before you leave home. Talat Sao (Morning Market) is a favorite place for locals and oversea visitors. Here you can shop for local products and Lao fine arts. The market is situated in Lane Xang Avenue and only walking distance from hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions.
Around the city there are some historic attractions like Pha That Luang, Ho Pra Keo, Buddha Park and Patuxai that you do not want to miss while you're in Laos; most of these sites are related to Buddhism. If you're not sure how to get to visit these sites by yourself do not worry, there are tours agents that can take you where you want to go. Remember everywhere you go in Laos you will find temples and temples in nearly every city, town and village because majority of Lao people believes in Buddhism.
friendly people and comfortable accommodation while you are away from home. So don't leave home without booking as you will get discounts and save time by booking online. Moving around the city: There are many mini electric buses that run on specific route from Tala Sao (Morning Market) to many diffent suburbs around Vientiane. The fares are very cheap, riding from Talat Sao to Dong-Dok about 9km away is only 1,500 kips (US$0.20 ). These mini buses are also environmental friendly, make sure to use them and you will save money too.
Tourist Information Travelers can drop by this office and find out more information about Vientiane as you can pick up brochures and maps for US$1.00. Lao National Tourist office Vientiane Emegengy Numbers Ambulance 195 Money and Banks The currency of Laos is "Kip". There are no coins in circulation. Notes of Kip are ranging from 50kip to 20,000kip. Us dollars and Thai Bath are widely accepted in most shops, restaurants and hotels. Major currencies and traveller's cheques in US dollars and pounds sterling can be exchanged at most leading banks. Following banks charge cash and travellers cheques and issue cash advances against Visa and MasterCard. Some have ATMs that work with foreign cards.
Address: 75/1-5 Thanon Lane Xang Tel: 213535 Also has ATM Address: 97/6 Thanon Lane Xang Tel: 214575 Address: Thanon Lane Xang Tel: 214377 Communication Post Office Lao post office located next to Talat Sao market at cnr Thanon Lane Xang and Thanon Khu Vieng. Reliable postal services to anywhere in the world. Hours 8am-5pm Monday to Friday and 8am to noon on saturday and Sunday. Telephone And Internet Access The cheapest way to use mobile phone in Laos is to buy a prepaid phone card from phone shops or mini markets. Alternatively, check with your phone company if it has international roaming coverage there. Laos is now have internet cafes. The prices are cheap, connection is fast and reliable and internet shops are widely available in the main cities. Many of the shops are also offer international phones services too. Here are some of them that most commonly used by westerners are on Thanon Sethathirat and Thanon Nokeo Khumman. Rates wary from US$0.70 to US$1.50 an hour and most of them have international telephones facilities for about US$0.30 per minute.
Hospital and Medical Services
Get in by air: If you are in Thailand, flying to Vientiane is easy. Wattay international airport is only 4 km west of the city. This is not a very busy airport, only limited international and domestic flights services operates here daily. There are flights to and from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia and Yunnan, west China almost every day. Visit air travel to Laos for full details.
If you do not have Laos visa yet do not worry, 15/30 days Visa are now available on arrival at the airport and the fee is US$30 to US$42 (depending on your nationality). Airline Offices
Get In By Road
Bus Leaving Vientiane
Northern Bus Station Time Table
Southern Bus Station Time Table
Media In Vientiane: The daily newspaper Vientane Times is an English language and is run by the government. Most of the news are local events, announcements and international news. Khaosan Pathet Lao (KPL) is also an official government newspaper, published in three languages: Lao, French and English. Here you can read national news, weekly news, weather forecasts and much more... Vientane Mai is a local newspaper in lao language. Paxason newspaper is also another local newspaper in lao languague. Lao Star Channel - (This is a new TV station) Vientiane Weather:
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If you arrive from Thailand by bus, the most common means of entry is by the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge (Khoa Mittaphap). Crossing on foot or by bicycle is not permitted but bicycles can be carried on buses. You can take the shuttle buses for 20 bath just to cross the bridge to Laos.
