Vientiane

ປະຊາຊົນລາວ | The People of Laos

Why visit

Vientiane is a low-rise capital with Mekong evenings, temples, French-era traces, markets, and a slower rhythm than many Southeast Asian capitals. It works when Laos needs an easy first city.

When to avoid

The least practical period for a visit to Vientiane, Laos for a trip is during the rainy season, which typically occurs from May to October. Heavy rainfall can lead to flooding and transportation disruptions, making it challenging to navigate the city. Additionally, the high humidity during this time can be uncomfortable for travelers not accustomed to such conditions. It is advisable to plan your trip during the dry season, from November to April, to avoid potential weather-related issues and read all that Vientiane has to offer.

Plan Vientiane

Current conditions and the practical reference material that helps turn the saved places into a trip.

The next week in Vientiane

7-day forecast from Open-Meteo. UV badges flag days when sun protection matters (3 and above is moderate; 8 and above is risk territory for unprotected fair skin within 30 minutes).

Today

Thunderstorm

29° / 25°

40.2 mm

UV Moderate

Wed

Thunderstorm

29° / 26°

23.1 mm

UV Moderate

Thu

Thunderstorm

28° / 25°

20.7 mm

UV Moderate

Fri

Thunderstorm

27° / 25°

37.0 mm

UV Moderate

Sat

Thunderstorm

29° / 24°

25.3 mm

UV Moderate

Sun

Thunderstorm

30° / 25°

11.1 mm

Mon

Thunderstorm

29° / 25°

32.4 mm

Climate

Wet season (May-Sep)

About 82% of the year's rain falls in these months. Typical highs around 31°C, lows around 24°C.

Dry season (Oct-Apr)

About 32mm of rain a month, against 198mm in the wet season.

In August 4

Drag to scrub across the year.

JFMAMJJASOND

Weather

30° / 23°

Typical high / low

8 mm rainfall this month

Daylight

12.8h

05:51 – 18:36local

Airports

closest VTE · 7 km

Getting around Vientiane

Public-transit operators within 8 km of the city center. Click through to each operator’s site for routes, fares, and tickets.

Local transit operators

บริษัท ขนส่ง จำกัด (บขส.);The Transport Company Limitedนครชัยแอร์;nakhonchaiairเชิดชัยทัวร์;Cherdchai Tourสวัสดีอีสาน;Hello Isaanบุษราคัมทัวร์;Busarakam Tourภูวธรรมดีเวลลอปเม้นท์;Phuwatham Development

Operators and modes are aggregated from individual transit-agency GTFS feeds. Route classifications come from each feed’s route type codes.

About Vientiane

Vientiane is the capital 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.

Area: 3,920 km²
Mayor: Q134076227
Airport codes: VTE

Laos basics →Country context, advisories, and entry links for the practicalities shown above.

References3

The links below support the changing or licensed reference material on this page. Personal notes and ordinary geographic facts are not footnoted individually.

City background. Wikipedia summary may be clipped or paraphrased. Structured fields are cross-checked against the related references. Related: Wikidata.