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City guide · Vientiane, Laos · 2026

Vientiane in 3 days: itinerary and top spots

Updated · 28 spots · open in 2025–26

Vientiane, Laos. From 28 spots whose locations we've checked, we picked a full 3-day route (not counting arrival and departure days) and the top 8 in each category. The areas you'll keep coming back to: City centre · Lane Xang Avenue · East of centre.

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🗺️ A 3-day route

Each day: two sights, one meal, one hot spot and one evening stop, grouped by neighbourhood so you can walk from one to the next.

Day 1 about 3h 40m at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    Pha That LuangThat Luang🏛️ Sight

    Gold stupa symbol of Laos; ticketed, cover up

  2. Lunch
    Khua Din MarketNext to Talat Sao🍜 Food

    Local market for fruit, ready food and snacks; mind belongings

  3. Afternoon
    Vientiane CenterEast of centre✨ Hot spot

    Biggest mall in town; cool off, change money

  4. Late afternoon
    Wat Si MuangSoutheast of centre🏛️ Sight

    Temple of the city pillar; locals come to make wishes

  5. Evening
    Nam Phou FountainCity centre🌙 Night

    Fountain square ringed by bars and restaurants

Day 2 about 4h 5m at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    PatuxaiLane Xang Avenue🏛️ Sight

    Lao victory gate; climb to the top for a small fee

  2. Lunch
    Pho ZapCity🍜 Food

    Noodle shop locals queue for; go early

  3. Afternoon
    Talat SaoLane Xang Avenue✨ Hot spot

    Morning-market hall and mall; exchange, silk, goods

  4. Late afternoon
    That DamCity centre🏛️ Sight

    Old black stupa tied to a seven-headed naga legend

  5. Evening
    Khop Chai DeuNam Phou🌙 Night

    Pub-restaurant with live music and draft Beerlao

Day 3 about 3h 35m at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    Wat Si SaketCity centre🏛️ Sight

    Thousands of tiny Buddhas in wall niches; oldest temple

  2. Lunch
    Common Grounds CaféNear the riverside🍜 Food

    Bakery-roastery café; good brunch and coffee

  3. Afternoon
    Setthathirath RoadCity centre✨ Hot spot

    Main street lined with cafés, agencies and temples

  4. Late afternoon
    Presidential PalaceRiverside🏛️ Sight

    No entry; photos from outside, opposite Wat Si Saket

  5. Evening
    Vientiane Night MarketChao Anouvong Park🌙 Night

    Red-tent riverside market in the evening; come for sunset

🍜 Where to eat in Vientiane: top 8

Specific restaurants, markets and food halls. Where there are queues, go right after opening.

  1. Pho ZapCityIn the route

    Noodle shop locals queue for; go early

  2. Kua LaoCity centre

    Lao cuisine in a colonial villa; evening folk show

  3. Common Grounds CaféNear the riversideIn the route

    Bakery-roastery café; good brunch and coffee

  4. Ban Anou Night MarketBan Anou

    Evening street food; skewers, Lao sausage, papaya salad

  5. Khua Din MarketNext to Talat SaoIn the route

    Local market for fruit, ready food and snacks; mind belongings

  6. Lao KitchenCity centre

    Traveler-friendly Lao food; try laap with sticky rice

  7. Sinouk CoffeeRiverside

    Café of a Lao coffee brand; beans make good gifts

✨ Vientiane hot spots: top 8

Trendy neighbourhoods, cafés, photo spots and complexes for the daytime.

  1. Talat SaoLane Xang AvenueIn the route

    Morning-market hall and mall; exchange, silk, goods

  2. Wat Sok Pa Luang Herbal SaunaSouth of centre

    Temple herbal sauna and massage; opens late afternoon

  3. Vientiane CenterEast of centreIn the route

    Biggest mall in town; cool off, change money

  4. Setthathirath RoadCity centreIn the route

    Main street lined with cafés, agencies and temples

🌙 Vientiane at night: top 8

Bars, izakaya and night views — one to end the evening.

  1. Vientiane Night MarketChao Anouvong ParkIn the route

    Red-tent riverside market in the evening; come for sunset

  2. Khop Chai DeuNam PhouIn the route

    Pub-restaurant with live music and draft Beerlao

  3. Nam Phou FountainCity centreIn the route

    Fountain square ringed by bars and restaurants

🏛️ Top sights in Vientiane

The places most first-timers don’t want to miss. Add a day in the app for the ones not in the route.

  1. Pha That LuangThat LuangIn the route

    Gold stupa symbol of Laos; ticketed, cover up

  2. PatuxaiLane Xang AvenueIn the route

    Lao victory gate; climb to the top for a small fee

  3. Wat Si SaketCity centreIn the route

    Thousands of tiny Buddhas in wall niches; oldest temple

  4. Haw Phra KaewCity centre

    Former royal temple, now a Buddhist art museum

  5. Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan)25km along the Mekong

    Park of 200+ concrete Buddhas; little shade, go early

  6. COPE Visitor CentreEast of centre

    Prosthetics and rehab for UXO survivors; free

  7. Wat Si MuangSoutheast of centreIn the route

    Temple of the city pillar; locals come to make wishes

  8. That DamCity centreIn the route

    Old black stupa tied to a seven-headed naga legend

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