Foreign visitors to Laos are very likely to arrive or depart by plane from Vientiane Airport, the capital.

It would be a shame not to spend some time in the city to soak up the atmosphere and visit, among other things, Wat That Luang, which the Laotian nation hopes to have inscribed on the World Heritage List. Day and night, the general atmosphere in Vientiane is relaxed, much like in Luang Prabang, though a little less secluded.

My friends, my wife and I had landed in Luang Prabang Luang Prabang in winter 2025 where we rented a car to visit the north of the country, including the Plain of Jars.Plain of jars in winter 2025, and end in the capital where we caught our flights back to our respective homes. I think it's better to do the loop in this direction rather than the other way around, otherwise you risk being disappointed by the capital.

As we were staying in the presidential district along the Mekong, we had to take a tuk-tuk to visit Wat That Luang, which was 4 km away. As I already wrote in the column about Luang Prabang, I am quite easily impressed and it was my first time in Southeast Asia, so it was difficult for me to compare the Wat That Luang site with other Buddhist sites, but the building seemed impressive enough on the one hand, and unique in its form which has no equivalent in Europe on the other, that …

"Thanks" to some last minute flight schedule changes by Lao Air I found myself stuck for a day in Vientiane while waiting for my flight to Pakse. I used the time to visit the national symbol of Laos, That Luang. Laos may be Communist on paper, but it's very much Buddhist in daily life. So it fits that the national symbol is not the workers' palace or a mausoleum of the dear leader but a buddhist stupa.

OUV

I agree with Els that That Luang has only national importance and should not be inscribed. The level of craftsmanship and artistry leaves much to be desired and does not warrant an inscription. While the stupa dates from the 16th century, I also feel that many parts are not original and rather recent additions.

However, with Unesco nowadays you never know. Having not been to Thailand I also don't have a reference point for this type of structure.

Getting There and Around

Vientiane as capital is connected to all parts of Laos by bus. Be advised that while distances in Laos aren't that large, travel times are still high due to poor road conditions.

The international airport offers domestic flights to the big cities of Laos as well as some international flights. Near Vientiane you can also cross into Thailand via the Friendship Bridge. South of the border you will find a Thai world heritage site, Ban Chiang. I was looking into how to get …

The Grand Shrine (Pha That Luang) of Vientiane is a huge gold-covered stupa. It consists of 3 levels, surrounded by a cloister, plus a 45 meter high spire. It's the most important national monument of Laos, and that's probably what lead to its spot on the Tentative List. It was built in 1566 over an old stupa holding a holy Buddhist relic.

The stupa is located a few km's northeast of the city center of the capital of Laos - too far to walk in the heat. I took a tuktuk there. The driver suggested to wait so he could have the return trip as well - obviously knowing that a visit doesn't take long (and also of course preferring the tourist price for a ride). To an outsider like me it is a very weird object: an enormous glittering object under the radiating Laotian sun. Almost a golden spaceship. Entrance fee is 5000 kip (0,45 EUR). For that you can walk around the cloister and on the first level on the stupa.

Chances on WH status are very low I think: it is mainly a monument of national importance.