Discover Vientiane's most important cultural and historic sights on this guided tour of the Laos capital. Explore its temples, monuments and more with an expert English-speaking guide.
Vientiane Guided City Tour Itinerary
On the morning of your tour, at approximately 9 am, your guide will collect you from your hotel in Vientiane. From there, you'll make your way to the beautiful temple of Wat Si Saket, the oldest Buddhist monastery in the Laos capital. As you learn about its history, marvel at how well its original architecture has been preserved, despite being sacked by the Siamese army in the 19th century.
Continue your route exploring more of Vientiane's Buddhist sanctuaries, including Haw Pha Kaeo, a former temple that was originally built in the 16th century to house the precious Thai Emerald Buddha statue. Its historic façade and terrace are as impressive as its interior, which is nowadays a museum dedicated to religious art. Next to the temple, you'll have excellent views of the Presidential Palace located on the banks of the Mekong river.
Half way through your tour, you'll visit the COPE visitor centre, an organisation that works hard to support the victims of Vietnam War bombings. Did you know that Laos is the most-bombed country in the world? To this day, the area still has a huge number of land mines buried in the fields and villages around the countryside, which poses a massive danger to the local population even now, more than 40 years after the end of the war.
After reflecting on the tragic events of Laos' history, you'll make your way to Patuxai, the country's version of the Arc du Triomphe. Literally meaning "Victory Gate", this monumental arch, built in ornate Laotian style, is dedicated to the soldiers who died in World War II and in Laos' war for independence from France.
Next, you'll visit the impressive Pha That Luang, an enormous gold-covered Buddhist stupa, considered a national symbol of Laos and one of Vientiane's most important landmarks. Discover its history as you stroll around the grounds surrounding it, where you'll find beautiful gardens, temples and monuments.
Finally, after taking a walk down the picturesque Mekong riverbank, your guided tour of Vientiane will come to an end and you'll be dropped off at your hotel.
Full-Day Vientiane Tour
If you want to immerse yourself further into Vientiane's culture and history, there is the option to book a full-day guided tour of the Laotian capital. You'll begin your tour at 9 am, and after visiting Wat Sisaket, Haw Pha Kaeo, Patuxai and the Pha That Luang Stupa, you'll take a well-earned break enjoying a delicious lunch in a local restaurant.
After eating, you'll visit the iconic Buddha Park, a green space that is home to more than 200 statues of Buddha and other symbols of Buddhism, before taking a peaceful stroll alongside the green mountainous banks of the Mekong River.
The rest of your full-day tour will see you visiting the Laos Disabled Women's Development Centre, where you'll learn all about the essential work the association does to provide aid to and advocate for the rights of Laotian women with disabilities. A truly inspiring experience.
After eight hours exploring Vientiane, your tour will end back at your hotel.
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