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Vientiane


Dumplings, zakuski (small dishes eaten with vodka), pickled herring, blinis and caviar – peeps, Russian food is really tasty. And even if you don't agree or haven't tried it, this lively restaurant is worth a visit just for the kitsch factor (diners are encouraged to don fur hats and take selfies in front of a mural of Moscow's Red Square).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Vientiane attractions

1. COPE Visitor Centre

2.18 MILES

Laos has the dubious distinction of being the most bombed country on earth, and although the American War in neighbouring Vietnam ended more than 40 years…

2. Wat Si Muang

2.29 MILES

The most frequently used grounds in Vientiane are those of Wat Si Muang, the site of the lák méuang (city pillar), which is considered the home of the…

3. Sacred Heart Cathedral

2.45 MILES

Also known as Vientiane Cathedral, this is the spiritual home of Catholicism in Laos, built during the French colonial period in 1928.

4. Haw Pha Kaeo

2.6 MILES

Once a royal temple built specifically to house the famed Emerald Buddha, Haw Pha Kaeo is today a rather dusty, lacklustre national museum of religious…

5. Presidential Palace

2.64 MILES

It's not possible to go inside the Presidential Palace, as unsurprisingly it is reserved for the president and government officials. It is, however, a…

6. Wat Si Saket

2.64 MILES

Built between 1819 and 1824 by Chao Anou, the last monarch of the Kingdom of Vientiane, Wat Si Saket is believed to be the city's oldest surviving wat…

7. Wat Xieng Nyean

2.78 MILES

This centrally located temple has a convenient entrance on Rue Fa Ngoum, the riverfront road.

8. That Dam

2.84 MILES

That Dam sits on a quiet roundabout near the centre of Vientiane. Legend has it that this stupa was once coated in a layer of gold. The gold is said to…