Plan your trip to Vientiane, Laos

Compared to the hectic, bustling capitals in other Southeast Asia countries, Vientiane’s deliciously relaxing atmosphere makes it feel like the small town it is. After you’ve done the round of temples, the best thing to do here is wander down to one of the riverside beer gardens, kick back with a cold Beerlao (the Lao national beer) and watch the sun set over the Mekong.

However, the temples and stupas (Buddhist monuments) are numerous and extremely interesting, and include Wat Si Saket, the oldest standing temple in Vientiane, and Pha That Luang, the national symbol and most important religious monument in Laos. Other notable sites include Patuxai, a local rendition of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, the Lao National Museum and the nearby Buddha Park, a bizarre outdoor collection of huge concrete sculptures of Buddhist and Hindu deities and real and imaginary beasts.

Vientiane is the largest city in Laos, with an estimated population of 200,000 in the city itself and some 700,000 in Vientiane Prefecture.