The 7 Biggest Museum in Vientiane

Laos, a Southeast Asian country known for its rich history, culture, and natural beauty, is home to several museums that showcase its unique heritage and diverse collections.

Here are the five largest museums in Laos:

• National Museum of Laos (Vientiane): The largest museum in Laos, the National Museum of Laos houses a vast collection of artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of Laos from prehistoric times to the present day. The museum’s collection includes sculptures, textiles, ceramics, and musical instruments, as well as historical documents and photographs.
• Haw Pha Kaew Museum (Vientiane): Located within the grounds of the Wat Ho Phra Keo temple complex, the Haw Pha Kaew Museum showcases a collection of Buddha images and other religious artifacts from Laos and neighboring countries. The museum’s highlight is the Pha Kaew, a large emerald Buddha that was once housed in the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
• Luang Prabang National Museum (Luang Prabang): Housed in a former royal palace, the Luang Prabang National Museum displays a collection of artifacts that provide insight into the history and culture of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The museum’s collection includes royal regalia, textiles, and religious objects, as well as exhibits on local history and ethnic groups.
• Savanhnakhet Provincial Museum (Savanhnakhet): The Savanhnakhet Provincial Museum exhibits a collection of artifacts that highlight the history and culture of Savanhnakhet Province. The museum’s collection includes ceramics, textiles, and musical instruments, as well as exhibits on local history and the province’s role in the Laotian Civil War.
• Oudomxay Provincial Museum (Oudomxay): The Oudomxay Provincial Museum showcases a collection of artifacts that reflect the diverse ethnic groups and cultures of Oudomxay Province. The museum’s collection includes textiles, jewelry, and musical instruments, as well as exhibits on local history and traditions.

The 7 Biggest Museum near Vientiane

Lao National Museum

• Address: 328 13, Vientiane, Laos
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 3.6 (124)
• Opening hours:
  
  Monday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 – 4:00 PM

  Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 – 4:00 PM

  Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 – 4:00 PM

  Thursday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 – 4:00 PM

  Friday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 – 4:00 PM

  Saturday: Closed

  Sunday: Closed
• Reviews:
  
  Chanon Kachorn✭✭✭✭✭

  a week ago

  Great place to learn about Laos history and the artefacts they’ve preserved throughout these times. There were some explanation of the artefacts and displays but quite briefly. Free wifi, air conditioned, and there’re 3 floors of exhibition. Lockers available for free with bathroom and a small gift shop. Careful with timing, in Laos they usually have break during noon time so it may look like it’s closed but is actually accepting visitors. Spent roughly 1 hour here.

  Ticket 30,000 kip for foreigners and 5,000 kip for locals

  Simon Proudman✭✭✭

  a month ago

  Impressive building but not so impressive collection. Gives you a basic understanding of the history of the country with extremely limited artifacts.

  Huge rooms have few display cabinets with poorly presented items and limited descriptions. Could be a must see, but really is a place for the real history buffs and they will probably leave disappointed.

  Ha Hoang✭✭✭✭✭

  2 months ago

  But a long but complicated history. One building for ancient and one building for modern Lao history. It’s very special with a part of Dinosaur skeleton and bronze drums ( could see a lot in Hanoi museum and hochiminh museum). It’s took over 10 kms from metropolitan and combined with the other famous near by but I don’t have enough time for visiting but a glimpse. Tickets about 35.000 kips

  Mathias Forrisdahl✭✭✭✭✭

  6 months ago

  One of the best museums in Vientiane. Has a chronological exhibit showing different artefacts and situations from Lao history. If you are to visit one museum in Vientiane id reccommend this one highly. Price for foreigners is 30,000kip. Very friendly staff too, albeit not the standard of museum you’re used to in the west.

  Felis RK Phenn✭✭✭✭

  10 months ago

  Visited on Tuesday, and there was nobody at the ticket office at the first (30000k for foreigner) The museum looks majestic, but the content inside was not so satisfying (at least not as much as the president museum next to it)

  Till March, 2023, there are 3 floors inside, the 1st one for prehistoric times, 2nd one for ancient time, 3rd one for contemporary construction (no wonder that half of this floor was under construction),the booklet said that part would be something like different affairs organized by government.

  Not bad but the content doesn’t match with the price (for contradiction, Kaysone Phomvihan museum only change for 5000kip, and the staff was much more enthusiastic)

Lao Textile Museum

• Address: Ban Nongtha-tai, Chanthabouly District, Laos
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.6 (259)
• Phone: +856 20 55 811 991
• Website:
• Opening hours:
  
  Monday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

  Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

  Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

  Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

  Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

  Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

  Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Reviews:
  
  Ece Meşe✭✭✭✭✭

  a week ago

  Best museum in Vientiane with lovely people. Nicely and clearly illustrated. We learned so much about how silk is produced and natural dye is made, and also so much more about people of Lao and what textile means for their cultures. In the end of our visit we were served an amazing cup of tea as well. We definitely recommend.

  Tracey Sullivan✭✭✭✭✭

  a month ago

  Lovely family and museum. Really interesting seeing how the indigo is made and we were served a delicious butterfly pea tea after our tour.

  Joedy Franssen✭✭✭✭✭

  5 months ago

  Lovely experience to see how naturally indigo is fermented, and explore different techniques of tie die. I was introduced to a new tea, and it blew me away the moment I added lime! Staff can show you the process of making silk to making beautiful patterns.

  Nanzyx Official✭✭✭✭✭

  12 months ago

  I would recommend you guys to visit here. This is such a nice place that you must come to visit in Vientiane. It’s far from center around 5 km. The cost for entry is 30K kip which is very reasonable. Here you can learn about silk and you can see inside the wooden house upstair. After your visiting they have tea for you and can also shopping for silk or souvenir. I give 5 stars to this place ! ມ່ວນຫຼາຍ ????

  Niko Eleftheriadis✭✭✭✭✭

  a year ago

  This beautiful place is very welcoming. As there isn’t much to do in Vientiane, its a good place to learn a bit about the history of lao textile making and colouring. The lady there is very kind and showed me a few things and how to use the weaving table. At the end she even offered me a free tea, which was super tasty. It changed colours after putting in the lime, super cool!

Vientiane Museum of Contemporary Arts

• Address: Southern Bus Station, Laos
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.6 (77)

Lao People’s Army History Museum

• Address: XJJJ+QJV, Vientiane, Laos
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 3.8 (175)

Trick Art Museum Laos

• Address: XJ6V+6HV, Vientiane, Laos
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 3.9 (37)

Kaysone Phomvihan Museum

• Address: 2J4V+JXG, Vientiane, Laos
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4 (196)

COPE Visitor Centre

• Address: Boulevard Khou Vieng, Vientiane, Laos
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (584)

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Top Museum Alternatives in Vientiane

In addition to its famous museums, Vientiane offers a variety of alternative cultural attractions that are worth exploring. Here are three top museum alternatives that are popular among visitors:

• 1. COPE Visitor Center: The COPE Visitor Center is a must-visit destination for those interested in learning about the history and impact of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos. The center provides a comprehensive overview of UXO clearance efforts and offers insightful exhibits that shed light on the devastating effects of landmines and bombs dropped during the Vietnam War era. Visitors can also watch documentaries and participate in guided tours to gain a deeper understanding of the ongoing work being done to make Laos safe from UXO.
• 2. Lao Textile Museum: For an immersive experience into Lao traditional textile production, a visit to the Lao Textile Museum is highly recommended. The museum showcases a wide array of textiles including silk, cotton, and natural dyes, and provides valuable insights into the intricate processes involved in their creation. Visitors can witness live demonstrations of weaving techniques and even try their hand at weaving. The museum also offers workshops for those interested in learning the art of Lao textile production.
• 3. Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center: The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Laos’ ethnic minority groups. Through its exhibitions, interactive displays, and educational programs, the museum offers visitors a chance to discover the diverse traditions, customs, and crafts of different ethnic communities in Laos. The center is known for its well-curated exhibits that showcase traditional clothing, jewelry, handicrafts, and traditional rituals of various ethnic groups.

These alternative cultural attractions in Vientiane provide unique insights into different aspects of Lao culture, history, and society. Exploring these museums is a great way to deepen your understanding of the country and its people.

Thank you for taking the time to read our article. For more in-depth reviews and comprehensive ratings on the Museum spots, please explore the recommended articles listed below.