Working and Networking
- Social Events for Expats
- Friday Night Drinks at various embassy clubs (e.g., Australian Embassy Recreation Club)
- Best Coworking Space
- Toong Samsenthai; Daily pass ≈ 150,000 LAK ($7), located in the city center
- Best Cafe for Work
- Common Grounds (Simeuang) or Naked Espresso (Dongpalan); $3–$5 per session
- Networking Events
- Austcham or BBGL (British Business Group Lao) monthly networking mixers
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Loca (Reliable, card payment enabled); Xanh SM (Electric cars)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Vientiane Motorbike Rental; Scooter approx. 150,000–200,000 LAK per day
- Best Beach Nearby
- No ocean access (landlocked); closest is beach-like 'Nam Ngum' Reservoir (90km)
- Top Regional Airline
- Lao Airlines (Connects to Bangkok, Hanoi, Chiang Mai)
- Top International Airline
- AirAsia, Thai Airways, Vietnam Airlines
- Highway Access
- Vientiane-Vang Vieng Expressway (Reduced travel time to 1.5 hours)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Vientiane Railway Station (Lao-China Railway) for high-speed trains to Luang Prabang
- Public Transport Passes
- Vientiane City Bus (Green Buses); smart cards available at the Central Bus Station
- Regional Travel
- Sleeper buses to Pakse or international buses to Nong Khai/Udon Thani (Thailand)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Alliance International Medical Centre (Phonsavuang); French Medical Centre
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Mani (Ban Thongkang); Classes approx. 120,000 LAK ($5.50)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Sengdara Fitness; Professional facility with pool, $60–$80/month
- Laundry Services
- Panda Laundry or local 'giat op' shops; 15,000–20,000 LAK per kg
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodpanda (widely available); Loca Food
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Laap (minced meat salad) and Khao Niew (sticky rice); ~50,000 LAK
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Reunion Cafe (Chinese vegan) or Cocoon; meals $4–$8
- Best Dessert Spots
- Parisian Cafe; Croissants and cakes from 40,000 LAK
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Talat Sao (Morning Market) for textiles; Parkson Mall for retail
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Lazada (via Thai shipping agents) or local Facebook Marketplace
- Grocery Delivery
- Foodpanda Shops or Kok Kok Mart
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Rue Setthathilath and the Mekong Riverside sunset bars
- Local Brewery
- Beerlao (Lao Brewery Company); standard bottle 20,000 LAK
- Wine Bars
- Gecko Wine Bar; glass from 90,000 LAK; Chokdee Cafe
- Street Food Stalls
- Ban Anou Night Market for grilled meats and papaya salad
- Popular International Cuisine
- Pimenton (Spanish/Steaks) or Acqua (Italian); meals $15–$30
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Patuxay Victory Monument; Pha That Luang (Gold Stupa)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Lao National Museum; COPE Visitor Centre (UXO history)
- Historical Sites
- Wat Si Saket (thousands of Buddhas); Ho Phra Keo
- Religious Sites
- Wat Si Muang (City pillar and local worship hub)
- Annual Events
- Boun That Luang Festival (November); Pi Mai (Lao New Year, April)
- Cultural Districts
- Ban Anou / Simeuang areas
- Theater Venues
- Palais de la Culture (National Culture Hall)
- Local Markets
- Vientiane Night Market (Mekong Riverfront); Khua Din Market
- Music Scene
- Wind West (Live rock/blues); Jazzy Brick (Jazz)
- Street Art
- Scattered murals around the Riverside alleys and Rue Francois Ngin
- Cooking Classes
- Tuk Tuk Lao Cooking School; approx. $35 per person
- Art Galleries
- M Gallery; T'Shop Lai Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Presidential Palace (Architecture only); Wat Ong Teu
- Local Heritage
- Lao Textile Museum (Silk weaving and traditional dyeing)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan); 25km from the city
- National Parks Nearby
- Phou Khao Khouay National Biodiversity Conservation Area
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Mekong River Road; dedicated paved paths for sunset cycling
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Top of Patuxay Monument; sunset over the Mekong toward Thailand
- Birdwatching Locations
- Nong Thakhay wetland area (South of Vientiane)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Sandbars on the Mekong during dry season (November–April)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL Laos; Lao Post (near Morning Market); Kerry Express
- Tech Repair Services
- Banana IT or shops in Sanjiang Chinese Market
- Table Tennis Spots
- Vientiane Table Tennis Club (near National Stadium)
- Language Classes
- Vientiane College; Language Institute of Laos
- Libraries & Study Spots
- National Library of Laos (New building on Thadeua Rd)
- Community Centers
- Home Ideal (Activity space); French Institute (Institut Français du Laos)
- Gaming Lounges
- Cyber Cafes in Dongdok (University District)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Dansavanh Nam Ngum Resort (Casino is outside city limits)
Essentials
- City
- Vientiane, Prefecture du Vientiane, Laos
- Population
- 950,000
- Internet Speed
- Wifi: 30-50 Mbps, 5G: 100+ Mbps (Lao Telecom)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 21,500 LAK, 1 EUR ≈ 23,200 LAK (Lao Kip)
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; 20L water jugs cost 15,000 LAK
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type A, B, C, E, F sockets (Multi-standard)
- SIM Card
- Unitel or Lao Telecom; 100GB for 30 days ≈ 150,000 LAK ($7)
- Banking for Expats
- BCEL (Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao) widely used; OnePay app for QR
- Accommodation
- Serviced apartments like Muong Thanh or Somerset; monthly ≈ $500–$1,200
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate; BCEL OnePay QR codes used everywhere, cards limited to hotels
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Facebook Groups (Expats in Vientiane); $25–$50/night
- Budget Accommodation
- Barn1920s Hostel (Simeuang); beds from 180,000 LAK ($8/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Riverside/Chanthabouly (Night Market area, near Mekong)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Phonxay or Sisattanak (Quiet, leafy, near embassies and cafes)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $72,000 in newer developments)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,100 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $44,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,600 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $96,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $900 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $54,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $120,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $850 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $68,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% standard rate; potential exemptions in Special Economic Zones
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10%
- Tax System
- Territorial/Resident basis; 183-day rule for tax residency
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 25% (over 15,000,000 LAK monthly)
- VAT
- 10% (standard rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No; minimal regulations on foreign subsidiaries currently
- Property Tax
- Land tax is applicable yearly, usually low fixed amounts based on land size
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 1% to 2% (Land Transfer Tax/Registration)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- None specifically; however, enforcement on remote foreign income is very low