I intended to stay at least 4 days in Vientiane to apply for my Myanmar tourist visa application at the embassy there. One full day would’ve been enough to visit the major tourist spots.

What really made my trip to Vientiane remarkable were the new friends I met. It was the only destination in Laos where hostel dorms were easy to come by.

Vientiane was an excellent rest stop in between long bus rides between northern and southern parts of Laos.

Itinerary Overview

Day 1

• Walk to bus stop
• Songthaew bound for Vientiane passed by
• 10:15am – departure from Vang Vieng
• Vang Vieng to Vientianne bus – 40,000 kip
• 3:45pm – Arrival in Vientianne
• Driver dropped me off at Northern bus station
• Ride jumbo to Mixay guesthouse – 10,000
• Told driver to drop me off at the “guesthouse.” He misunderstood and dropped me off at Mixay temple, which was around the block. No biggie.
• See dorm rooms at Mixay GH. Did not like it.
• Walk next door to RD guesthouse. Liked the dorm somewhat met Mai, a Japanese university student studying journalism and Iranian language (say whut?).
• Check-in at RD guesthouse
• Dorm aircon – 35,000kip
• Walking tour of Vientiane. Seen a lot of it already under 2 hours of walking.
• Small bacon baguette sandwhich – 5,000kip
• Meal at resto “along” the river. Great sunset
• Grilled pork ribs – 35,000
• Rice x 2 – 10,000
• Dinner at noodle shop infront of Mixay temple
• Pork noodles – 10,000
• 1.5L bottled H20 – 4,000

Day 2

• 8:30pm – wake up
• Breakfast at guesthouse sandwich shop along the main highway
• Tuna sandwich – 15,000kip
• Coffee – 5,000kip
• Extend +1 night – 35,000kip
• Rent bike 24H – 10,000kip
• US$50 deposit
• Withdraw – 1,000,000kip
• Change 240,000+ to US$30
• Bike to Myanmar embassy. Had some trouble finding it. I was supposed to turn left at the Indian embassy but there was a lack of obvious signage. I missed it. When I arrived at the Myanmar embassy, it was already 30 minutes to closing time for the morning office hours (the only time they accept visa applicant, afternoon is just for pick-up).
• 11:45am – take passport sized photos and brown envelope – 25,000kip
• Eat at local eatery near a big school
• 2 viands + rice – 10,000kip
• Cendul-like fruit with ice dessert – 3,000kip
• Bike back to guesthouse
• Sleep
• Bike around town.
• Early dinner at random Thai place
• Fried rice – 12,000kip
• Grocery run
• 1 pack virginia – 6,000kip
• Dinner at Taj Mahal (shared tab between 4 of us)
• 25,000kip each. 2 viand, 4 rice, 4 beer Lao
• +1 beer downstairs at RD guesthouse coz I can’t sleep well – 10,000kip

Day 5

• 7:45am – wake-up
• Lunch at Makphet (Modern Laod Food; Behind Wat Ong Teu, parallel to Sethathirat Road, Vientiane) – 50,000kip
• Haircut at Tony Paris (cut by Tony himself) – 80,000kip
• Shower
• Went out to the noodle place along Rue Hengboun (near Lao National Cultural Hall).
• 5:33pm – money left