Known as the capital of Laos and one of the smallest capital cities in Asia, Vientiane does not lack interesting scenes and places for travellers to enjoy. With a bit less than 1 million inhabitants, Vientiane does not bring you a busy city buzz like Singapore or Thailand, but its many temples, markets, rich cuisine, and friendly locals, this small city do offer its very own uniqueness. We recommend that you check out these places on your day trips from Vientiane when you travel Indochina tours Laos

Day trips from Vientiane – it starts with a delicious breakfast

Forget your Western breakfasts with sandwich and bacon. Even though Vientiane has quite a number of famous restaurants that offer fantastic Western style breakfasts and brunches, we recommend that you try something local. After all, that is why to travel to a different continent, right?

Xin mai with bread at Doi Ka Noi- source: internet

Doi Ka Noi is a restaurant located on Sisangvone Road. It is small, and serves only authentic Lao food. The restaurant prides itself on being a member of Slow Food, that’s it; you come to Doi Ka Noi to take your time enjoying a true Lao meal to the fullest. We recommend khao piak sen pla (fish noodle soup) or xin mai (meatballs) with freshly made bread.

Day trips from Vientiane – visiting Wats is a must

A ‘wat’ means a Buddhist temple in Lao. It is such a pity if you visit Laos without coming to at least one of its wats. There are two main temples in Vientiane center, namely Wat Sisaket and Wat Ho Phra Keo.

Located on Lan Xang Road, Wat Sisaket is known for its thousands of tiny Buddha statues (there are more than 6,800 Buddhas statues in here). The cloister walls have a rich history dated back to around from 1818 to 1820. It was built by the last king of Vientiane Anouvong and is the oldest temple in Vientiane that is still its original form.

Wat Sisaket -source: internet

Wat Ho Phra Keo means the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, for its original purpose of housing the emerald Buddha figurine when it was built in 1565. Even though this statue is now located in Bangkok’s Wat Phra Keo, Ho Phra Keo is still a destination to visit. Used to be the Laos royal family’s personal chapel, and is the only part of the royal palace that survived through Lao rebellion. Vientiane’s Ho Phra Keo is now a museum of religious art.

Wat Ho Phra Keo means in Vientiane -source: internet

Day trips from Vientiane – shopping for local handicrafts

Talat Sao morning market is located in the center. It is a four-story high shopping mall that sells everything from affordable silks, embroidery, gems, and Lao handicrafts to air conditioners and TVs. Right next to the modern high building is the open air market where fresh fruits, ice cream, vegetables and delicious grilled meat. Vientiane Talat Sao is the perfect place for you to sharpen your negotiation skills. Laos travel tours

Talat Sao morning market -source: internet

If you decided to stop here for lunch, we recommend trying the food court on the third floor.

Day trips from Vientiane – watching the sunset by Mekong River

You cannot end your day trips without sitting by the Mekong River bank and watching the sun go down. If you are lucky, you might catch the golden sunlight shining above the calm and water surface. In fact, we do recommend walking along the river bank at sunset because this is when the traffic gets heavier; you will want to relax a bit before going back to your hotel.

Sunset on Mekong River -source: internet

This is our recommended route of places to go on your day trips . People say that you only need 1 day to experience the uniqueness of Vientiane. While we do agree, we think that in order to understand a city, you might need a little more time. We hope you have gorgeous moments on your trip.

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Aisa Travel lover