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Top 7 Things To Do In Vientiane, Laos

Posted By: Renegade Travels | Posted in: Laos, Vientiane

Vientiane is pretty small for a capital city and has a quite laid-back and sleepy atmosphere. But there’s enough to keep you occupied for a few days. Here’s our pick of the top top 7  things to do in Vientiane.

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COPE Visitor Centre

Cluster Bombs That The USA Dropped On Laos
Cluster Bombs That The USA Dropped On Laos

If you only have time to visit one place in Vientiane, then come here. This is definitely the best attraction in Vientiane and is a place that everyone should visit. COPE was formed in 1997 in response to the need to provide UXO (unexploded ordnance) survivors with the care and support that the need. This is mainly by supplying them with orthotic and prosthetic devices.

USA Bombing Led To 1000s Of Lao People Losing Limbs
USA Bombing Led To 1000s Of Lao People Losing Limbs

COPE tells the story of USA bombing missions over Laos from 1965-1973, when around 260 million submunitions were used, of which between 13-78 million did not explode. It’s very sad that the USA always feels the need to bomb innocent civilians. There is simply no excuse for dropping millions of cluster bombs on civilians.

Prosthetics At COPE Visitor Centre, Vientiane
Prosthetics At COPE Visitor Centre, Vientiane

As well as taking a look around the visitor centre, you can also spend some time watching various films about cluster bombs. These have been used in many parts of the world, and it makes me both sad and angry to think how countries like the USA, UK and Israel are so willing to devastate the lives of innocent people for nothing.

USA Conducted 580,000 Bombing Missions Over Laos
USA Conducted 580,000 Bombing Missions Over Laos

This exhibition has been a real education for me, as it shows how individual people are affected by cluster bombs. It’s over 40 years since the bombing missions by the USA, but hundreds of people a year are still being killed or injured by those cluster bombs. Around 50% of these are children.

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COPE Visitor Centre, Vientiane, Laos
COPE Visitor Centre, Vientiane, Laos

Imagine having to wear one of these for the rest of your life just because the USA decided to drop millions of cluster bombs on your country. It’s truly shocking what some countries will do to innocent civilians.

Prosthetics At COPE Visitor Centre, Vientiane
Prosthetics At COPE Visitor Centre, Vientiane

COPE Movie

COPE Visitor Centre Details

Website: copelaos.org

Opening Hours: Sun-Sat 09:00-18:00

Entry: Free

COPE Visitor Centre Map

COPE Visitor Centre Map
COPE Visitor Centre Map

Patuxai & Patuxai Park

Patuxai, Vientiane, Laos
Patuxai, Vientiane, Laos

Patuxai is a huge structure that resembles Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, and is located at the northeastern end of Avenue Lane Xang.

Approaching Patuxai From Avenue Lane Xang
Approaching Patuxai From Avenue Lane Xang

As you approach Patuxai from Avenue Lane Xang, it looks quite impressive, but up close it’s often described as a monster of concrete.

Patuxai, Vientiane, Laos
Patuxai, Vientiane, Laos

The building of Patuxai was started in 1962 but never finished. The area is now popular with local people as a gathering place. Perhaps the best thing about Patuxai are the views from the top.

View From Top Of Patuxai Looking Towards Patuxai Park
View From Top Of Patuxai Looking Towards Patuxai Park

You can see the whole of Vientiane from the top, with the best views being towards Patuxai Park and Avenue Lane Xang.

View From Top Of Patuxai Looking Down Avenue Lane Xang
View From Top Of Patuxai Looking Down Avenue Lane Xang

Videos Of Patuxai



Pha That Luang

Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos
Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos

Pha That Luang is generally considered to be the most important national monument in Laos. You could easily spend a couple of hours exploring the stupa and surrounding temples.

Giant Sleeping Buddha At Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos
Giant Sleeping Buddha At Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos

The stupa is thought to have existed since as early as the 3rd century when it was built as a Hindu temple. It later became a Buddhist temple.

Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos
Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos

The stupa is open to the public and costs 5,000 Kip ($0.65) to enter. The surrounding temples are free to enter, although most were closed when we were there.

Beautiful & Colorful Temple At Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos
Beautiful & Colorful Temple At Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos

There is one temple area with open sides that is worth spending some time at, as it has a beautiful and colorful ceiling.

Temple Complexes At Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos
Temple Complexes At Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos

As is befitting a national monument, this area is very well looked after.

Temple At Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos
Temple At Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos

Video Of Pha Tha Luang

That Dam (Black Stupa)

That Dam (Black Stupa), Vientiane, Laos
That Dam (Black Stupa), Vientiane, Laos

There isn’t much to see here except a black stupa in the middle of a roundabout. What makes it somewhat interesting is that many Laotians believe that the stupa is inhabited by a seven-headed naga. This attraction will only take a few minutes to walk around.

 

Khua Din Market

Khua Din Market, Vientiane, Laos
Khua Din Market, Vientiane, Laos

Khua Din Market is a very lively local market where they seem to sell everything that you could possibly need.

Live Chickens At Khua Din Market, Vientiane
Live Chickens At Khua Din Market, Vientiane

The market is near Khua Din Vegetarian Buffet, so it’s a good place to spend some time before or after lunch.

Fruit & Vegetables At Khua Din Market, Vientiane
Fruit & Vegetables At Khua Din Market, Vientiane

The market is located next to the bus station, which is at the junction of Khouvieng Road and Nong Bone Road.

Khua Din Market, Vientiane
Khua Din Market, Vientiane

Lao National Museum

Lao National Museum, Vientiane, Laos
Lao National Museum, Vientiane, Laos

The Lao National Museum is located on Rue Samsenthai in a French colonial building. The museum highlights the revolution of the 1970s. The building that houses the museum was built in 1925 and was originally the French governor’s residence.

Mekong Riverside Walk, Anouvong Park And Night Market

Anouvong Park & Statue, Vientiane, Laos
Anouvong Park & Statue, Vientiane, Laos

This is a pleasant place to take a stroll and seems to be where all the locals hang out in the evenings. You’ll see thousands of them running, playing badminton and other sports.

Mekong Riverside Walk, Vientiane
Mekong Riverside Walk, Vientiane

It’s quite cool here in the evenings, with a nice breeze. And right next to the Riverside Walk and Park is the night market.

Vientiane Night Market
Vientiane Night Market

The night market seems to be a mainly local affair, with less focus on tourist goods.

Hotels In Vientiane

For our first few days in Laos we stayed at the excellent AV Hotel. We chose the Executive Suite, which is 45 sqm, and were very happy with our stay there. For other hotels is Vientiane, check out Agoda Vientiane Hotels.

Executive Suite At AV Hotel, Vientiane
Executive Suite At AV Hotel, Vientiane

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