Why go
- Capital of Laos.
- Served by Khoksa Airfield.
History
Vientiane is the capital and largest city of Laos. Comprising the 5 urban districts of Vientiane Prefecture, the city is located on the banks of the Mekong, close to the border with Thailand. Vientiane was the administrative capital during French rule. The city had a population of 840,000 as of the 2023 census. Pha That Luang, an icon of Buddhism, is located in Vientiane. Other Buddhist temples can be found there, such as Haw Phra Kaew, which formerly housed the Emerald Buddha.
Restaurants & places to go
292 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 8 airlines, 17 direct destinations
- Lao Airlines QV (A320, ATR 72, A321) · 14 routes: Bangkok, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Huay Xai, Kunming, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Muang Xay, Pakse, Phnom-penh*, Phon Savan, Savannakhet, Seoul, Singapore
- Vietnam Airlines VN (A321, ATR 72) · 3 routes: Hanoi, Phnom-penh, Vinh
- China Eastern Airlines MU (737) · 2 routes: Kunming, Nanning
- FlyNordic LF (737) · 2 routes: Bangkok, Luang Prabang
- AirAsia AK (A320) · 1 route: Kuala Lumpur
- Bangkok Airways PG (A319) · 1 route: Bangkok
- Jin Air LJ (737-800) · 1 route: Seoul
- Thai Airways International TG (734) · 1 route: Bangkok
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Khoksa Airfield; 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By water: 1 ferry terminal within 20 km (nearest: Kaolieo, 9.6 km).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Vientiane. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.