Top 5 Highlights of Vientiane

BUDDHA PARK - XIENG KHUAN

Buddha Park is the most famous sculpture park with more than 200 religious statues. The view from the very first moment leaves a great impression with the gate’s shape of a demon’s mouth with a stone ladder inside leading to a bird’s eye view of the whole Buddha Park. The park was built in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, a monk who studied both Buddhism and Hinduism, which is why the park consists of Buddha images, Hindu gods as well as demons and animals from both beliefs. Buddha Park is a great place for photographers who pursuing religions’ beauty. 

Entrance gate’s shape of a demon’s mouth.

Three-headed Buddha statue in Buddha Park.

• Location: Thanon Tha Deua, Vientiane, Laos

• Opening Hours: Daily 8 a.m – 5 p.m

• Price range: Entrance fee is US $0.6 per person, camera fee is US $0.4.

PHA THAT LUANG

The Great Stupa – Pha That Luang – is the holiest place of Vientiane in specific and Laos in general. This fortress-liked monument is a beautiful architecture with the influence of Buddhist beliefs. Annually, in November, the Boun That Luang Festival, numerous people from Laos and neighboring countries visit That Luang to say their prays, show their honors and to take part in a whole 3-day festival’s activities.  

Pha That Luang – the holiest place of Vientiane

• Location: Th That Luang, Vientiane, Laos

• Opening Hours: Daily 8 a.m – 12 a.m and 1 p.m – 4 p.m 

• Price range: Entrance fee is US $0.6 per person.

PATUXAI

For a great stroll in the afternoon in Vientiane, visitors should stop by Patuxai to enjoy the lovely view amongst the palm trees, fish pond as well as Vientiane’s modern architecture of Patuxai’s Park. The name Patuxai is derived from Sanskrit word for gate (patu) and victory (jaya) to mark as Laos’ resilience and independence. Therefore, all the external and internal decorations are reflections of national culture and traditions. 

Modern architecture of Patuxai’s Park.

Interior design inside Patuxai Monument.

• Location: P.D.R, Vientiane, Laos

• Opening Hours: Daily 8 a.m – 4 p.m 

• Price range: Fee to climb to the top is US $0.6/ person. Admission to the park is free.

WAT SI SAKET

What is lovely about the Si Saket Temple is that the decoration of the temple, different shades of green, bonsai and tropical fruit trees can easily be seen in every footstep in the area. The architecture of the temple still keeps its Laos’ traditional style with a little adaptation of Burmese-style roof. It would the perfect match for art lovers to see so many figurines and sculptures crafted by highly skilled workers.

Lovely Wat Si Saket of Vientiane.

• Location: Ave Lane Xang, Vientiane, Laos

• Opening Hours: Daily 8 a.m – 12 a.m and 1 p.m – 4 p.m 

• Price range: Entrance fee is US $0.6/ person. 

HAW PHRA KAEW

Haw Phra Kaew, or a more simple way to call its name Temple of Emerald Buddha, was originally built as Laos’ royal family’s personal chapel. In the present time, there is only a part of the temple left and no longer use for religious purpose but for reservation purpose. The interior of the temple is turned into a museum which keeps many Laos’ antique treasures such as a gilded throne, Khmer Buddhist stone tablets, wooden carvings, bronze frog drums and palm-leaf manuscripts.

Haw Phra Kaew - Temple of Emerald Buddha in Vientiane.

• Location: Prefecture, Laos, Vientiane, Laos

• Opening Hours: Daily 8 a.m – 12 a.m and 1 p.m – 4 p.m 

• Price range: Entrance fee is US $0.6/ person. Taking photograph is not allowed. 

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