Things to do in Vientiane

11 activities, venues and outings in Vientiane, from theatres and live music to parks and tours.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Do
Champakham Massage & Spa
Here you can enjoy traditional Lao massage in private cabins. Friendly owner & staff. If you choose full body massage you'll get your feet washed before starting. If you wish to take a shower after your (oil) massage, you're welcome to do so. Spa services include body scrub, bathtub... Good value for money (example: full body massage for 60K Kip [around US$7], full body scrub starting at 80K Kip [around US$10]). Wifi available.
Closed · opens 9 am
Do
Hire a bicycle from Lao Bike
Explore the region with a good quality bicycle. Rent by the day or longer. This shop also sells and repairs bicycles.
US$2-6 per day
Do Not mapped
French Cultural Centre
Centre Culturel et de Cooperation Linguistique
Has a French library and a small theatre that shows plays and films.
Do Not mapped
Kuanjai Sikhot Boxing Gym
Muay Lao (kickboxing)
The national sport of Lao PDR. Similar to muay Thai, but is not a tourist trap unlike many gyms in Thailand.
Do Not mapped
Lao Experiences Cooking Course and Food Tours
Learn about Lao cooking and culture. Cook Lao-style in the garden on a quiet stretch of the Mekong River.
Daily
Do Not mapped
Lao Massage
This massage shop is particularly delightful. The massage parlor does not really have a name, and the most prominent sign merely says "now open". Your masseur or masseuse will be grateful for a tip. The staff will be happy if you have the decency to take a shower before you go. They won't say anything to your face, but smelly foreigners make their job less than pleasant.
US$3-6/hour
Do Not mapped
Nam Ngum Lake
A local favourite. There are floating restaurants along the lakeshore; their specialty is fish fresh from the lake. Cruises among the lake's islands can be booked here, which makes for a relaxing couple of hours. Just enquire at your guest house/hotel or at any travel agency (where they will then try to sell their tours).
Do Not mapped
Tour via Vientiane ByCycle
Vientiane ByCycle offers awesome guided bicycle tours through and around Vientiane. They take you off the beaten track to places where you usually would not go ordinarily. Along villages, temples, school yards, bank of Mekong River, crematoria, markets and local businesses. They have excellent quality mountain bikes.
Do
Lao National Stadium
Chao Anouvong National Stadium
Rue Le Ky Huong
Do
Patuxay Park
Thannon Lan Xang
Do Not mapped
Monk Chat
Once a month, local monks gather for chats with tourists.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Vientiane (CC BY-SA 4.0).