Vientiane
Capital of Laos
Vientiane is the capital of Laos and has a population of about 1 million in 2023. Visitors come to explore local landmarks such as Buddha Park, That Dam, and Wat Si Muang.
What to see
The city features several notable sights. Religious and historic locations include Buddha Park, That Dam, and Wat Si Muang.
When to go
January and December are cooler, with daily highs around 27 °C, lows of 16 °C, and minimal rainfall of 4 to 8 mm. Temperatures rise to daily highs of 34 °C in April, which sees about 94 mm of rain. The rainy season peaks between May and September, with monthly rainfall ranging from 254 mm to 369 mm and up to 26 rainy days in August.
Getting there
The nearest airport is Wattay International Airport, located 7 km from Vientiane.
Top sights in Vientiane
Weather by month
The warmest month is April, with an average high of 34 °C. The wettest is August, with about 369 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 27 | 30 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 27 |
| Average low, °C | 17 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 16 |
| Rainfall, mm | 8 | 17 | 43 | 94 | 254 | 298 | 346 | 369 | 286 | 105 | 15 | 4 |
| Rainy days | 3 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 14 | 3 | 1 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Vientiane (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Lao National Museum