Flights to Vientiane, Laos

Vientiane is the capital of Laos, a low-rise, unhurried city spread along a bend of the Mekong River with Thailand on the opposite bank. Golden stupas, French colonial villas, bakeries and riverside markets give it a character unlike any other capital in the region. Many travellers start their Laos journey here before heading north. Search flights to Vientiane on Traveloka to compare times, fares and baggage in one place.

About Wattay International Airport, Vientiane

Location

Wattay International Airport (VTE) lies on the western side of Vientiane, a short ride from the riverside centre. Because the city is so compact, you can land, drop your bags and be strolling along the Mekong promenade on the same afternoon.

Terminals

The airport has an international terminal and a separate domestic terminal a short walk apart. International arrivals clear immigration and customs before reaching the arrivals hall, where you will find currency exchange counters and SIM card stalls. Check the entry requirements for your passport before you fly to Laos.

Getting to and from the airport

Taxis can be booked at the counter in the arrivals hall, which avoids haggling, and ride-hailing apps operate in the city. An airport shuttle bus also runs towards the centre. Tuk-tuks are handy for short hops around town once you have settled in.

Direct and connecting flights to Vientiane

Travellers from Singapore can look for nonstop services when they are available, or connect through regional hubs such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Select the Direct filter to see only nonstop flights to Vientiane, and compare connecting options by total travel time and layover.

Some travellers fly into Udon Thani in north-eastern Thailand instead, then cross the Mekong over the Friendship Bridge by road. It can make sense when combining Laos with Thailand. For onward travel inside Laos, the Laos-China Railway now links Vientiane with Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang, a scenic alternative to a domestic flight.

When to fly to Vientiane

The dry season from about November to February is the most pleasant time to visit, with warm days and cool evenings. March to May becomes very hot before the rainy season sets in, lasting until around October. Rain usually falls in heavy afternoon bursts, and the countryside turns lush and green.

Lao New Year, Pi Mai, is celebrated in mid-April with water fights and temple ceremonies, while the That Luang Festival, usually in November, draws huge crowds to the national stupa. From Singapore, the June and December school holidays and Chinese New Year are busier, so check the fare chart on this page to see how prices usually move.

Popular places in Vientiane

Pha That Luang

The gold-covered great stupa is the national symbol of Laos and appears on its official seal. Visit in the late afternoon when the gilding glows in the low sun.

Patuxai

This monumental arch on Lane Xang Avenue is often compared with the Arc de Triomphe. Climb the stairs for a view over the city's wide boulevards.

Wat Si Saket

One of the oldest surviving temples in Vientiane, its cloister walls hold thousands of small Buddha images set into niches.

Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan)

Located south-east of the city near the Friendship Bridge, this riverside sculpture park is filled with giant concrete figures of Buddhist and Hindu deities.

COPE Visitor Centre

This small but moving exhibition explains the legacy of unexploded ordnance in Laos and the work of helping survivors with prosthetic limbs and rehabilitation. It adds real context to any visit.

Mekong riverside and night market

In the evening, the promenade along the river fills with joggers, food stalls and a lively night market, perfect for sunset over the water.

Where to stay in Vientiane

Most visitors base themselves in the compact centre around Nam Phu fountain and the riverfront, where cafés, temples and restaurants are all within walking distance. Streets along the Mekong offer sunset views. The quieter Sisattanak district, south-east of the centre, has embassies, leafy lanes and a more residential feel, while the area near That Luang suits those who want space and calm.

Food to try in Vientiane

Larb

Laos's national dish is a zesty salad of minced meat or fish with lime, fish sauce, chilli, toasted rice powder and herbs, eaten with sticky rice.

Tam mak hoong

A fiery pounded green papaya salad, often more pungent than its Thai cousin thanks to fermented fish sauce.

Khao piak sen

Thick, hand-cut rice noodles in a silky chicken broth, a comforting breakfast found at street stalls across Vientiane.

Khao jee pâté

A legacy of French rule, this baguette is stuffed with pâté, cold cuts, pickled vegetables and chilli sauce.

Mok pa

Fish mixed with lemongrass, dill, chilli and herbs, wrapped in banana leaf and steamed until fragrant. Look for it at morning markets and family-run restaurants.

Sticky rice

Called khao niao, it is the heart of every Lao meal. Diners roll a small ball with their fingers and use it to scoop up dips such as jeow, a smoky chilli relish.

The Mekong sunset is waiting. Line up cheap flights to Vientiane on Traveloka and let a Price Alert tell you when fares for your dates move.