Wattay Airport (VTE) to Downtown Vientiane

From Wattay International Airport into town: two options

Vientiane's gateway is Wattay International Airport (VTE). According to the terminal operator (L-JATS), buses and airport taxis run between the airport and downtown Vientiane. That gives you two choices: Vientiane Bus, booked at a counter in the arrival lobby, or an airport taxi or minivan at a fixed fare by destination.

This post walks you from the arrival lobby to your neighbourhood step by step. Whichever you choose, follow the airport's advice and have cash ready for the ride into the city.

• Full Vientiane travel guide →
• Incheon → Vientiane flights →

Airport bus: the Vientiane Bus counter in arrivals

Once you clear immigration and reach the arrival lobby, you will find the Vientiane Bus reservation counter. This is the bus the terminal operator (L-JATS) mentions between the airport and the city.

Check routes, times and fares at the counter or through official information. Vientiane Bus also runs city routes; check those routes and fares in the official information before you go.

• Where: Vientiane Bus reservation counter in the arrival lobby
• To: downtown Vientiane
• Routes, times and fares: at the counter, or check the official information before you go
• Payment: have cash ready, as the airport advises

Airport taxi and minivan: fixed fare by destination

Airport taxis and minivans charge a fixed fare by destination. The airport website posts a taxi and minivan tariff by destination.

However, the posted tariff dates from 2019, so fares may have changed. On arrival, check the current fare for your destination at the counter before you ride. The airport advises having cash ready for transport into the city.

• How fares work: fixed by destination
• Tariff on the airport website: from 2019, so it may have changed
• Current fare: check at the counter on arrival
• Payment: have cash ready

At a glance

Each way into town and what to prepare, one line each. Items marked 'check official information' are best confirmed before you go or at the arrival counter.

• Vientiane Bus: book at the arrival-lobby counter; check routes, times and fares in the official information
• Airport taxi or minivan: fixed fare by destination; the 2019 tariff may have changed, so check at the arrival counter
• Transport money: have cash ready, as the airport advises (Lao kip, LAK)
• Once in town: agree tuk-tuk and taxi fares before you ride

Where to head: choosing your neighbourhood

Because taxi and minivan fares are set by destination, decide which neighbourhood you are staying in before you reach the counter; it makes checking the fare easy.

For a first visit, the Chanthabouly temple quarter works well. Wat Si Saket stands right across the street from Haw Phra Kaew, and the former royal palace (now the Presidential Office) is close by, so the old temples link up on foot. For evening walks, sunsets and dinner, look at the Mekong riverside and Nam Phou; for landmarks, Lane Xang Avenue with Patuxai and the That Luang side.

Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the Mekong riverside and Nam Phou, and the areas around That Luang and Patuxai, as places to be careful, so watch your belongings wherever you stay.

• Chanthabouly temple quarter (around Haw Phra Kaew and Wat Si Saket): first visit, walking between temples
• Mekong riverside and Nam Phou: evening walks, sunsets, dinner
• Lane Xang Avenue and That Luang side: landmarks, festival visits

Once in town: tuk-tuks, taxis and walking

Take a tuk-tuk or taxi between central sights or to places a little farther out such as That Luang. Agree on the fare before setting off. Some sights, like COPE on its official site, provide a Lao-language audio clip for drivers, so showing your destination in Lao helps.

Haw Phra Kaew and Wat Si Saket face each other across the street, so they are easy to see together on foot. Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises avoiding more than 30 minutes of sun exposure and walking with at least one other person after dark (after 6 p.m.) or on quiet streets.

Avoid driving or renting a motorbike. According to the ministry, traffic accidents are very frequent, especially in the capital; rental shops don't check licences, but you will be fined as unlicensed after an accident.

Arrival-day checklist

For how to spend your time in town, from the temples to the Mekong riverside, continue with the Vientiane 1-night, 2-day plan below. If you are weighing Vientiane against Luang Prabang, the comparison post helps too.

• Cash: have cash for the ride into the city, as the airport advises
• Currency: Lao kip (LAK). Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says US dollars and Thai baht are also widely usable, but exchanging at a bank in advance is better value
• Taxi and minivan fares: the 2019 tariff may have changed, so check at the arrival counter
• Mosquito repellent and your usual medicines
• Emergency numbers: police 1191, fire 1190, Vientiane rescue 1623 / 1624 / 1625
• Entry requirements: check the official information before you go

• Full Vientiane travel guide →
• Vientiane in 1 night, 2 days →
• Luang Prabang vs Vientiane →

FAQ

Related reading

Itinerary · LaosVientiane in 1 night, 2 days: temples, the Mekong and safetyWattay Airport and cash, then Haw Phra Kaew, Wat Si Saket, the Mekong, Patuxai, That…Comparison · LaosLuang Prabang vs Vientiane: Which for a First Trip?First trip to Laos: the old royal capital of Luang Prabang or the capital, Vientiane?…SafetyHow to Avoid Taxi Scams AbroadHow to avoid overcharging, detours and change tricks at airports and tourist spots, use…

All articles →