Under $100: Vientiane

Laos isn’t known for extravagance or as having a vibrant nightlife, but the charm of the capital city of Vientiane is certainly worth a visit. If nothing else, you can spend an entire day in this quaint, peaceful city barely spending any money at all.

Patuxay Monument © Asiantraveler | Dreamstime

Your trip should begin at the Laos National Museum, where you’ll find beautiful murals mixed with somewhat odd displays of war artifacts, dinosaurs and even bricks of cocaine. It certainly isn’t the Louvre, but they put forth an earnest effort with some surprisingly unique and pleasant results. Entrance to the museum is roughly $2.

The next stop should be the Xieng Khuan Buddha Park. Located approximately 24 kilometers outside of Vientiane, the quirky little park is full of sculptures depicting various Hindu and Buddhist mythology. You’ll need to catch a cab, which should cost no more than $10. The entrance fee to the park is only $1.

Xieng Khuan Buddha Park © Sergeychernov | Dreamstime 35961811

After a walk through the park you’ll probably want to relax, so partake in a relaxing herbal sauna and spa treatment at the Wat Sok Pa Luang Lao Sauna. An herbal session in this forest temple costs less than $10 and will leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. The whole experience takes place in a wooden hut in the middle of a relaxing Buddhist temple.

You might have noticed we’ve left out food so far. That’s because where you eat makes little difference. A good meal in Vientiane will never cost you more than a handful of dollars, so feel free to sit down at any place that strikes your fancy. All in all, we’d be surprised if you spend more than $50 exploring this charming little city.