Where to Stay in Vientiane (2023 • COOLEST Areas!)

Vientiane is stacked with awesome budget backpacker hostels, family guesthouses, and swanky accommodations. These are our highest recommendations for places to stay in Vientiane!

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Best Airbnb in Vientiane: Big bed king size by side Mekong river

Suitable for 2 guests, this property is within walking distance of the Mekong River and has amazing views. It’s the perfect place to choose when you’re deciding where to stay in Vientiane for one night or for a longer stay. You’ll have your own key, access to a garden area, and a balcony where you can sit, drink coffee, and enjoy the balmy days and nights.

Best Hostel in Vientiane: Mali Namphu Swimming Pool

If you’re trying to decide where to stay in Vientiane on a budget, this should be your first choice. It’s a short walk from the Night Market and boasts a swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, and a terrace where you can enjoy the balmy summer nights. Each room is air-conditioned and comes with a private bathroom, a small fridge, and a writing desk.

Best Hotel in Vientiane: Beau Rivage Mekong Hotel

Located in one of Vientiane’s best neighborhoods, this hotel is a great base for your trip to this city. The rooms are stylishly decorated and include everything you’ll need for your trip, and the hotel is surrounded by shops, restaurants, bars, and Vientiane’s most popular attractions.

FIRST TIME IN VIENTIANE

FIRST TIME IN VIENTIANE

Ban Haysoke

When you’re deciding where to stay in Vientiane for your first time, you can’t go past the city center. And this is exactly where Ban Haysoke is located.

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ON A BUDGET

ON A BUDGET

Ban Anou

Ban Anou is incredibly popular amongst travelers backpacking Laos on a budget due to its lower prices, cheaper accommodation, and nightmarket pumped with glorious street food.

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NIGHTLIFE

NIGHTLIFE

Ban Mixai

If you’re trying to decide where to stay in Vientiane for kids, Ban Mixai is a good choice. It’s close to the riverfront and the center of town and surrounded by things to do, eat and see.

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COOLEST PLACE TO STAY

COOLEST PLACE TO STAY

Watchan

Watchan is a central area that’s based around the riverfront and an old Buddhist temple, Wat Chan. This is one of the best places to stay in Vientiane if you want to be close to everything.

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Vientiane is the capital of Laos and the largest city by size and population. Despite that, it’s still a fairly small city by modern standards. Like most of Asia, there are still a lot of Vientiane accommodation options available, most of them in the city center where you can be close to everything.

The first place you should look in for great accommodation is Ban Haysoke. This neighborhood is very close to the center of the city and contains everything you could want to see or do for a short or long stay. It’s also the best area in Vientiane to stay in if you’d like to be close to the river.

If you’d like to be even closer to the best place to eat in Vientiane, then you should try Ban Anou. This is where the famous Night Market is and it’s also very close to the city’s center for the ultimate convenience. It’s also very close to Ban Mixai, which is where you’ll find the most tourists as well as the most restaurants, cafes, and bars. So, if you don’t mind fighting the crowds at the best spots, this area is ideal.

The fourth neighborhood, Watchan is based around the famous temple of the same name. It’s pretty much as close to the riverfront as you can get and is surrounded by great food and all the attractions at the city center.

Finally, if you’d like to be a little way out of the city center, this is the best area in Vientiane to stay in. It’s close to attractions that appeal to kids like the Lao ITECC cineplex and Ocean Park while still being close enough to the city to be convenient.

If you’re ready to book one of the best places in Vientiane to stay, then here’s where you should be looking.

When you’re deciding where to stay in Vientiane for your first time, you can’t go past the city center. And this is exactly where Ban Haysoke is located. This is where all the tourists want to be and it’s also where you can shop, eat, and explore all day without getting bored or running out of things to do.

This neighborhood is right on the riverfront and it’s always busy. It also contains a huge range of places to eat and stay for every budget point. If you’re looking to explore everything the city and beyond has to offer, this is a good central base where you’ll find excellent tour and transport options.

Best Hotel in Ban Haysoke: Ibis Vientiane Nam Phu

If you’re deciding where to stay in Vientiane with kids or with your friends, then try this conveniently located hotel. It’s close to the city’s best sightseeing and offers babysitting, a laundry service, a coffee bar, and clean, comfortable rooms.

Each room includes a seating area, coffee and tea making facilities, and cable television. There’s a restaurant and bar on-site as well as lots of them in the surrounding streets, so you’ll never be short of somewhere to sit down and have a snack.

Best Airbnb in Ban Haysoke: Modern Studio Apartment

Suitable for 2 guests, this apartment is close to the river and Night Market and offers a spacious and private base for your stay. It’s one of the coolest places to stay in Vientiane because of the incredibly convenient location and special features. When you stay in this apartment, you’ll get a discount to the nearby burger place and be able to train with Muay Lao fighters at a nearby gym for a special price.

Best Hostel in Ban Haysoke: Lucky Backpackers Hostel Vientiane

This hostel in Vientiane is perfectly located to give you easy access to the entire city. It offers private rooms as well as dorms, which makes it the perfect choice when you’re deciding where to stay in Vientiane for families or on your own. All private rooms have their own bathrooms and there are shared bathrooms for the dorms.

Things to See and Do in Ban Haysoke

• Go shopping and look for some unique souvenirs.
• Head over to the Night Market to experience the madness and amazing food.
• Eat everything that looks tasty in the many restaurants.
• Check out the famous Presidential Palace.
• Spend a day going temple hopping in the area.
• Learn more about Vientiane at the National Culture Hall.
• Head down to the park in the morning or evening to join one of the local exercise classes.

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Ban Anou is incredibly popular amongst travelers backpacking Laos on a budget due to its lower prices, cheaper accommodation, and nightmarket pumped with glorious street food. The entire neighborhood is based around this market, which was renovated in 2018 to include permanent stalls. The market contains some of the best street food in the city and is definitely an experience that shouldn’t be missed.

But Ban Anou has more to offer than just great shopping and eating. It’s located close to the Mekong Riverfront and surrounded by eateries both local and foreign. It’s also convenient to all the best attractions in the city.

Best Airbnb in Ban Anou: SYRI Boutique Guesthouse

If you’re deciding where to stay in Vientiane for one night or for longer, this is a good choice. The hosts are extremely welcoming and will do everything they can to ensure that you have a good stay. The space is suitable for 2 people and the building is close to the Mekong River and city Museum. You’ll have your own sleeping cabin and be able to use the shared bathroom and pantry.

Best Hostel in Ban Anou: Petit Espace

This hostel is one of the best places in Vientiane to stay if you want to get to know your fellow travelers. There are lots of common areas where you can socialize including a cozy café and a bar. The dorm rooms are comfortable and have box beds as well as air conditioning to keep you cool on long summer nights.

Best Hotel in Ban Anou: New Usouk Boutique Hotel

This hotel in Vientiane has free Wi-Fi, a safe, laundry facilities, and a mini-bar. In your room, you will also find a television with cable and a private bathroom. This hotel is a great choice when you’re deciding where to stay in Vientiane for nightlife as it’s positioned close to bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

Things to See and Do in Ban Anou

• Eat at the Night Market every night you can.
• Buy souvenirs of your trip at the night market.
• Just wander around and marvel at the mass of seething humanity and the variety of goods.
• Go a little way out of the area to see Patuxai, a 1960s war memorial that combines a European-style arch & traditional Laotian carving

If you’re trying to decide where to stay in Vientiane for kids, Ban Mixai is a good choice. It’s close to the riverfront and the center of town and surrounded by things to do, eat and see.

This is another heavily touristed part of Vientiane, but it’s also crammed with restaurants, cafes, and famous historical and cultural sites. As a bonus, it’s close to the riverfront, so you can enjoy all the activities and tour opportunities as well.

Best Airbnb in Ban Mixai: Downtown Studio Near Mekong River

Enjoy one of the coolest places to stay in Vientiane in this apartment. It’s within walking distance of the Mekong River and the Night Market and you’ll get the entire space to yourself. Suitable for up to 2 guests, it’s clean and cozy and will suit travelers who are looking for a homier feel.

Best Hostel in Ban Mixai: PVO Hostel

This brand-new hostel is located in one of the best areas to stay in Vientiane for food and sightseeing. It offers budget rooms and a range of services including bike hire, bus and train ticket services, and free Wi-Fi. The staff are friendly and always helpful and there are a range of room sizes available to suit every travel group.

Best Hotel in Ban Mixai: LV City Riverine Hotel

If you’re looking for the comforts of home in one of Vientiane’s best neighborhoods, you’ll find it at this hotel. It’s located in the heart of the city’s entertainment district, so you’ll never go hungry or get bored. There are 20 modern rooms available, each of them equipped with all the modern comforts and a few extras to make your stay special!

Things to See and Do in Ban Mixai

• Sisaket Temple, a 19th-century Siamese-style temple with a museum.
• Haw Phra Kaew, a former temple that was originally built in 1565 for the Emerald Buddha.
• Wat Si Muang, a Buddhist temple that brings good luck and dates back to the 16th century.
• Watch the sunset with a drink in hand at the Spirit House.
• Go shopping for food or souvenirs at the Night Market.

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Watchan is a central area that’s based around the riverfront and an old Buddhist temple, Wat Chan. This is one of the best places to stay in Vientiane if you want to be close to everything. It’s right on the edge of Chao Anouvong Park, so you can enjoy some green spaces while you’re in the city.

And it’s also convenient to all the most popular tourist attractions in the city center, so you can literally wander around on foot and enjoy the city. Basically, this is the best neighborhood to stay in Vientiane to be close to everything you could want to see during your stay.

Best Airbnb in Watchan: Wonderful Condo 3

If you want an entire apartment to yourself, then you can get one overlooking the Mekong. Located in the best neighborhood in Vientiane to stay in for convenient access everywhere, this condo offers a private bathroom, a balcony, and is within easy walking distance of the main streets and night markets. And if you love watching the sunset, there’s no better place to see it then from this apartment.

Best Hostel in Watchan: Funky Monkey Hostel

This hostel is surrounded by restaurants, which is why it’s one of the best places in Vientiane to stay for great food. It’s newly renovated and offers clean, comfortable rooms, friendly staff, and comfortable budget dorm beds. The hostel is also close to some of the best attractions in Vientiane, so you’ll never get bored when you stay there.

Best Hotel in Watchan: Sala Inpeng Bungalow

If you’re trying to decide where to stay in Vientiane for nightlife, this bungalow is a good choice. It offers richly decorated rooms with all the comforts you’ll need for your stay as well as free Wi-Fi and a laundry service. It’s also located close to everything as well as the best nightlife the city has to offer.

Things to See and Do in Watchan

• Spend an evening at the night market.
• Spend an afternoon at the scenic Chao Anouvong Park or take a picnic and have a meal there.
• Make sure you see Wat Chan, a quieter temple located in an older part of the city.
• Take a day to go sightseeing and people watching on the riverfront.
• Grab a tour heading out of the city to the famous and slightly creepy Buddha Park.

Sometimes when you travel, you just don’t want to be in the city center with all the noise, people and traffic. This is particularly true when you’re trying to decide where to stay in Vientiane for families. If you want peace and quiet so the little ones can sleep but lots of entertainment options at the same time, then Sapahnthong Gang Village is a great choice.

This area is away from the center but still sees enough tourist traffic to be a comfortable place for travelers to stay. You’ll find everything from a Hard Rock Café to a water park for the kids in this part of town. And luckily, it’s close enough to the center of the city so you can explore during the day and retreat at night for some peace.

Best Airbnb in Sapahnthong Gang Village: Private Room

Located in the best neighborhood in Vientiane to stay in for a bit of peace and quiet, this budget accommodation option will suit solo travelers or couples. It’s a private room in a townhouse with a private bathroom and a balcony for your use. The townhouse is located close to restaurants and cafes as well as important landmarks in the city.

Best Hostel in Sapahnthong Gang Village: Lao Golden Hotel

This is one of the best places in Vientiane to stay for a short or long stay. It’s located a little outside the center area, so you can enjoy some peace and quiet, but close enough for convenience. The hotel has a coffee bar and a restaurant on-site for your convenience and the rooms are comfortable, modern, and clean.

Best Hotel in Sapahnthong Gang Village: Heuang Chaleun Hotel

This hotel in Vientiane is close to parking and shops and offers a spa area where you can enjoy some relaxing treatments. Each room is air-conditioned and includes free Wi-Fi, a desk, and a minibar. The rooms are large, modern, and clean, and will suit a range of travel preferences and group sizes.

Things to See and Do in Sapahnthong Gang Village

• Watch a movie on hot days at the Lao ITECC cineplex.
• Cool off at Ocean Park on water slides and in splash pools.
• Head to the Thatluang Lake Specific Economic Zone where you’ll find a huge variety of restaurants, shopping, and bars.
• Check out a local gym for some Muay Lao boxing or see one of the tournaments.
• Head out to see the beautiful golden stupa, Pha That Luang.

Here’s what people usually ask us about the areas of Vientiane and where to stay.

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Final Thoughts on Where to Stay in Vientiane

Whether you’re trying to decide on where to stay in Vientiane for your first time or on a return trip, you’ll be spoiled for choice. All you have to do is decide what kind of trip you really want to have, whether you’d prefer to be in the middle of all the action, or if you want a more peaceful area. And then, it’ll be time to dive into the rush of the city and explore all that it has to offer.

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