LAOS – Vientiane – Self-Guided City Tour

A self-guided exploration of Vientiane is a great way to discover the most important cultural and historical sites in Vientiane and to learn about their interesting history and the legends that surround them.

Theme

Art & Culture, Classic, Self-Guided Tours, Sustainable

Country - City

Laos - Vientiane

Market segment

Groups, Thematic Leisure

Price Level

$$

Level of difficulties

LEVEL 0

Max pax

10

Seasonality

All year round, but best from October to March

Arrival city

Vientiane

Departure city

Vientiane

Description

A self-guided exploration of Vientiane is a great way to discover the most important cultural and historical sites in Vientiane and to learn about their interesting history and the legends that surround them. It will be an interesting journey which will showcase very different sides of the city, from the ancient to the modern, from centuries old temples and stupas to towering modern skyscrapers and shopping malls that are still under construction as Vientiane tries to bring itself into the modern world.

Although marked by French colonization, Vientiane retains a strong Asian identity. The city’s main sites are dotted with distinctly French-influenced buildings which stand in harmony alongside ancient monasteries and other Asian-style edifices. Highlights of this self-guided tour include Wat Sisaket temple and its thousands of Buddha statuettes; the Wat Hophakaew museum housing various sacred artworks and artefacts; the Wat That Luang, the residency of the Supreme Patriarch of Laotian Buddhism and national symbol of Laos; and Patuxay, commonly named the “Victory Gate”.

Selling points

  • A carefully created full-day walking tour to explore the city’s main sites of French-influenced buildings which stand alongside ancient monasteries and other Asian-style buildings.
  • An application with a GPS route, points of interest with in-depth information, and suggestions to help travelers explore Vientiane on their own and at their own pace.
  • Ideal for those looking for more freedom in a tour.

Time And Transportation

From To Km By Duration Road condition
Starting Point Presidential Palace, Wat Sisaket, Wat Hophakaew 1 Walking 10-15 minutes Good
Presidential Palace Wat Si Muang, Kung’s Cafe 0.9 Walking 10-15 minutes Good
Wat Si Muang COPE Center 0.5 Walking 10 minutes Good
COPE Center That Dam 1.4 Walking 15-20 minutes Good
That Dam Patuxay, World Peace Gong 1.1 Walking 10-15 minutes Good
Patuxay That Luang, Reclining Buddha 1.7 Walking 25 minutes Good

Duration

  • On average it takes around 5-6 hours for the whole tour, depending on walking speed and how long is spent in each place (3-4 hours for visits and 2 hours walking)
  • On average these are the durations of a visit to each place:
    • Presidential Palace (from outside): 5 minutes
    • Wat Si Saket: 20-25 minutes
    • Wat Hophakaew: 20-25 minutes
    • Wat Si Muang: 5 minutes
    • Kung’s Cafe: 30 minutes
    • COPE Center: 20-30 minutes
    • That Dam: 5 minutes
    • Patuxay: 45 minutes
    • World Peace Gong: 5 minutes
    • That Luang: 20 minutes
    • Reclining Buddha: 10 minutes
    • Tuk-Tuk back to the center: 15 minutes

Min pax

1

Max pax

10

How to sell it

  • Best included in a self-guided tour program to Laos or combined with other destinations.
  • Good to include if travelers have a full day in Vientiane and want to try something new or want a day by themselves.
  • A walking city tour is the best way to experience what Vientiane is all about.
  • This can be sold as a standalone activity (think expats when the borders reopen), included in a hybrid guided/SGT tour, or as one of the components of the 7D6N module.

Why this activity

  • Developed as one of the first products in our self-guided project.

Good to combine with

If travelers include Vang Vieng in their self-guided itinerary we suggest including:

If travelers include Luang Prabang in their self-guided itinerary we suggest including:

If travelers include Hinboun in their self-guided itinerary we suggest including:

If travelers include Nong Khiaw in their self-guided itinerary we suggest including:

Do not combine with

Market suggestion

AUSTRALIA

CANADA

FRANCE

UNITED KINGDOM

ITALY

SPAIN

PORTUGAL

BENELUX

SCANDINAVIA

CEE

US

GERMANY

UK

BEST FOR FIT

Competitor comparison

  • No competitors currently offer self-guided tours.

Pros

  • Easia Signature
  • Cheaper to sell than a conventional city tour as there is no guide and no transport.
  • It puts Easia ahead of our competitors and shows that we are innovators as nobody else sells this type of tour in Laos.
  • Easy to add to a program where travelers have a full day in Vientiane.
  • Easy to operate as travelers basically take care of themselves.

Cons

  • Travelers need to have a basic knowledge of technology.
  • There is no guide to assist with on-spot issues.
  • Not all of the walking is nice as it is on roads in a city.

Information

  • Distance: 6.5 kilometers (with a return by tuk-tuk)
  • If travelers did not want to walk then it is also possible for them to rent a bicycle or motorbike and do it that way. Please note that we decided to create this as a walking tour due to the busy traffic so if travelers decide to do it by bike then it is at their own risk.
  • It could also be done by tuk-tuk, either negotiated by travelers on spot and with the driver guided to each place by the traveler and the app, or with a tuk-tuk booked by Easia.

Alerts

  • While this tour can be done all year round, we do not recommend it from late March to late May due to the intense heat, or during the rainy season (unless travelers buy an umbrella and don’t mind getting a bit wet).
  • The most dangerous thing in Vientiane are probably the drivers. At times travelers will be walking on the roads as the pavements are often nonexistent or occupied with cars and shops. They should be advised to stay close to the side of the road and be aware of traffic that may be approaching from behind. They should also be warned that when they need to cross the road they should take their time, don’t expect anyone to stop at a crossing, or even at a red light, and to always look both ways – even on one-way streets!
  • On this tour travelers will be responsible for paying for their own entrance fees and for negotiating a tuk-tuk back from Patuxay or That Luang (unless they want to walk back).

Important information

  • We recommend this tour be started in the morning and not be rushed. It can be a good idea to pick up a sandwich or some snacks at the start just in case the travelers don’t find a local restaurant they like the look of. Kung’s cafe (near Wat Si Muang) is a great place for lunch but it will be reached quite early in the tour so may be best for an early lunch or a late breakfast.
  • Some of the sites close around 16:00 so it’s best to try to get to the end of the tour by that time.

Price range

$$

Quotation guideline

  • Roadbook Template Trip:
    • https://protracer.mhikes.com/5f8865f28aabe9.86390725/travels/template/4921/details
  • On ERP the module for this tour can be found here:
    • Tour Classification: S41-Easia Active
    • Language: English
    • Tour Type: FIT
    • Tour Name: SGT – Vientiane – Vientiane Self-Guided City Tour – 1D – ENG
    • Tour Code: 210203104803

Sales should add the SIM card and internet package if necessary

  • On this tour travelers will be responsible for paying for their own entrance fees and for negotiating a tuk-tuk back from Patuxay or That Luang (unless they want to walk back). The costs they will have to pay will be as follows:
      • Wat Si Saket – 10,000kip/person
      • Wat Hophrakaew – 10,000kip/person
      • Patuxay – 5,000kip/person
      • That Luang – 10,000kip/person
      • Tuk-Tuk back to the center – 50,000-60,000kip/tuk-tuk (approximately – travelers will need to negotiate)

Inclusion

  • Self-guided program downloadable to the Roadbook app on the travelers’ phones.

Exclusion

  • Entrance fees.
  • Meals and drinks.
  • Transportation.

Different Choice

  • There are no other self-guided tours in Vientiane at this time.

English

Vientiane Self-Guided City Tour
Welcome to Vientiane – the laid-back capital of Laos! During your exploration of the city, you’ll visit the most important cultural and historical sites where you’ll have a chance to learn about their interesting history and the legends that surround them. It’ll be an interesting journey as you’ll get to see the different sides of the city, from the ancient to the modern, as you visit centuries old temples and stupas and also pass towering modern skyscrapers and shopping malls that are still under construction as Vientiane tries to bring itself into the modern world. Take your time, enjoy the hustle and bustle of the capital’s streets, and don’t be afraid to grab a tuk-tuk if you get tired of walking – that’s also a great experience to add to a tour of Vientiane!

Distance of the hiking: 6.32 kilometers
Duration of the hiking: approximately 6 hours, including stops.
Elevation: 10 meters accumulated ascent, 10 meters accumulated descent.

Notes: a sun hat and sun cream are recommended. Tuk-tuks can be found at the end of the tour for the return to the city center.

French

Visite guidée de la ville de Vientiane

Bienvenue à Vientiane – la capitale décontractée du Laos ! Au cours de votre exploration de la ville, vous visiterez les sites culturels et historiques les plus importants où vous aurez la chance d’apprendre leur histoire intéressante et les légendes qui les entourent. Ce sera un voyage intéressant car vous aurez l’occasion de voir les différentes facettes de la ville, de l’ancienne à la moderne, en visitant des temples et des stupas vieux de plusieurs siècles, mais aussi en passant devant des gratte-ciel et des centres commerciaux modernes qui sont toujours en construction, Vientiane essayant de s’adapter au monde moderne. Prenez votre temps, profitez de l’agitation des rues de la capitale, et n’ayez pas peur de prendre un tuk-tuk si vous en avez assez de marcher – c’est aussi une excellente expérience à ajouter à une visite de Vientiane !

Distance de la randonnée : 6,32 kilomètres
Durée de la randonnée : environ 6 heures, arrêts compris.
Élévation : 10 mètres de montée cumulée, 10 mètres de descente cumulée.

Remarques : un chapeau de soleil et de la crème solaire sont recommandés. Des tuk-tuks sont disponibles à la fin de la randonnée pour le retour au centre ville.

Spanish

Visita autoguiada a la ciudad de Vientián

Bienvenido a Vientián, la relajada capital de Laos. Durante su exploración de la ciudad, visitará los lugares culturales e históricos más importantes, donde tendrá la oportunidad de conocer su interesante historia y las leyendas que los rodean. Será un viaje interesante, ya que podrá ver las diferentes facetas de la ciudad, desde la antigua hasta la moderna, visitando templos y estupas centenarias y pasando también por imponentes rascacielos modernos y centros comerciales que aún están en construcción, ya que Vientián intenta incorporarse al mundo moderno. Tómese su tiempo, disfrute del ajetreo de las calles de la capital y no tenga miedo de coger un tuk-tuk si se cansa de caminar: ¡también es una gran experiencia para añadir a una excursión por Vientián!

Distancia de la excursión: 6,32 kilómetros
Duración de la caminata: aproximadamente 6 horas, incluyendo las paradas.
Elevación: 10 metros de ascenso acumulado, 10 metros de descenso acumulado.

Notas: se recomienda llevar un sombrero para el sol y crema solar. Al final del recorrido se pueden encontrar tuk-tuks para el regreso al centro de la ciudad.

Italian

Tour autogestito della città di Vientiane

Benvenuti a Vientiane, la rilassata capitale del Laos! Durante l’esplorazione della città, visiterete i siti culturali e storici più importanti, dove avrete la possibilità di conoscere la loro interessante storia e le leggende che li circondano. Sarà un viaggio interessante che vi permetterà di vedere i diversi lati della città, dall’antico al moderno, visitando templi e stupa vecchi di secoli e passando davanti a grattacieli moderni e centri commerciali che sono ancora in costruzione, mentre Vientiane cerca di entrare nel mondo moderno. Prendetevi il vostro tempo, godetevi il trambusto delle strade della capitale e non abbiate paura di prendere un tuk-tuk se siete stanchi di camminare: anche questa è un’esperienza da aggiungere a un tour di Vientiane!

Distanza dell’escursione: 6,32 chilometri
Durata dell’escursione: circa 6 ore, comprese le soste.
Dislivello: 10 metri di ascesa accumulata, 10 metri di discesa accumulata.

Note: si consiglia di indossare un cappello e una crema solare. Alla fine del tour si possono trovare dei tuk-tuk per il ritorno al centro città.

German

Vientiane Selbstgeführte Stadtrundfahrt

Willkommen in Vientiane – der entspannten Hauptstadt von Laos! Während Ihrer Erkundung der Stadt besuchen Sie die wichtigsten kulturellen und historischen Stätten, wo Sie die Gelegenheit haben, etwas über ihre interessante Geschichte und die Legenden, die sich um sie ranken, zu erfahren. Es wird eine interessante Reise sein, denn Sie werden die verschiedenen Seiten der Stadt kennenlernen, von der Antike bis zur Moderne, wenn Sie jahrhundertealte Tempel und Stupas besuchen und auch an hoch aufragenden modernen Wolkenkratzern und Einkaufszentren vorbeikommen, die sich noch im Bau befinden, während Vientiane versucht, sich in die moderne Welt zu integrieren. Lassen Sie sich Zeit, genießen Sie das bunte Treiben auf den Straßen der Hauptstadt und scheuen Sie sich nicht, ein Tuk-Tuk zu nehmen, wenn Sie des Gehens müde werden – auch das ist eine tolle Erfahrung, die Sie zu einer Tour durch Vientiane hinzufügen können!

Entfernung der Wanderung: 6,32 Kilometer
Dauer der Wanderung: etwa 6 Stunden, einschließlich Pausen.
Höhenunterschied: 10 Meter kumulierter Aufstieg, 10 Meter kumulierter Abstieg.

Hinweise: Ein Sonnenhut und Sonnencreme werden empfohlen. Am Ende der Tour stehen Tuk-Tuks für die Rückfahrt ins Stadtzentrum zur Verfügung.