Vientiane is the largest city and the capital of Laos. It lies on the banks of the Mekong River, bordering Thailand. That Luang, one of the most important monuments in the entire city, is located here. Vientiane has become an incredibly popular tourist attraction, and is renowned for the many tourist attractions that you can visit. The food in Vientiane is also incredibly good, so you are going to have the time of your life here. But, if you are visiting Vientiane on a budget and want to cover your trip to get the best of Vientiane, you should start off by making a shortlist. Here are five of the greatest attractions that you can visit in Vientiane.
- The Patuxai Victory Monument
One of the biggest Vientiane attractions is the Patuxai Victory Monument. It was designed to look similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and has widely become known as one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. There are gorgeous carvings of Hindu gods and five additional towers are installed here, resembling the traditional Laotian buildings. This creates a very unique hybrid of places from the east to the west. The monument is located in the Patuxai Park, so it’s a great place to just walk around and enjoy the sunset. Scaling the Patuxai Victory Monument is easy, and you can get some gorgeous views of the city of Vientiane.
- Xieng Khuan
Commonly known as the Buddha Park, Xieng Khuan is situated around 25 kilometers away from the city. There are more than 200 statues of religious beings installed all over the green grounds. The center of attraction is the 40 meter high statue of a reclining Buddha. The whole park was conceived by a monk in 1958, and you are going to see a mix of Hindu and Buddhist statues here.
- That Luang
The most religious and one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. The stupa was built in the 16th century and has a large complex with a central stupa that climbs upwards to a height of 148 feet. There are pretty turrets all around the stupa, and the place is a fantastic choice for people who want to go for a day trip.
- The Vientiane Night Market
The Night Market of Vientiane is an incredibly beautiful place. It’s located right at the waterfront and starts up around sunset. You can find a range of different food stalls from where you can buy some traditional Laotian snacks. It’s also one of the least expensive food places throughout Vientiane.
- Wat Ho Phra Keo
One of the oldest Buddhist temples in the city, Wat Ho Phra Keo was built back in 1565. The temple is known as the Temple of Emerald Buddha because the Emerald Buddha once used to stand here, though it was taken back by the Thai authorities. If you are going to Vientiane, don’t forget to visit these main attractions!
