Tha Ngon: Floating Restaurants on the Mekong

Tha Ngon places a special emphasis on dining on the water. The floating restaurants are on the Mekong; at the eastern end of the Tha Ngon Bridge on Route 10, barges of various sizes are moored along both banks. When planning your trip, the focus here is primarily on the experience aboard the boat and which option suits your group.

Floating Restaurants and Houseboats

You can order a meal on an open barge and travel upstream. Another option is to rent a private houseboat with a crew and traditional food. This food can be spicy. The options offer different experiences: on an open barge, the meal you order and the trip go together; on a houseboat, the focus is on private use and the crew.

The size of the boats is also useful when planning. The floating restaurant boats can accommodate up to ten people, while larger boats can accommodate up to sixteen. So, if your group has more than ten people, the larger size category is relevant. Check in advance whether the capacity you need and the option you prefer are available for your dates.

If you are planning your trip around dining on the water, you can first decide whether an upstream trip or a private houseboat better suits your plans. The information about the food potentially being spicy is also useful when choosing a traditional dish. For specific arrangements, it is best to check availability rather than assume that a particular boat size or houseboat option will be available.

Vientiane: Monuments, Museums, and City Attractions

The wider destination of Vientiane offers other attractions. The Vientiane Heritage Route includes 59 important historic and cultural buildings in the city. A map, an interactive website, and an electronic brochure help with navigation; as these materials may be updated, it is worth checking the latest information when planning.

Historic landmarks in Vientiane range from Wat Sisaket, built by King Anouvong in 1818, to the original That Luang Stupa, erected by King Saysetthathirath in 1566. Patuxay was built in 1957. That Dam, also called the Black Stupa, is an ancient stupa associated with a local legend about a mythical naga protector. In this way, dated monuments and a story associated with a place offer different perspectives.

Vientiane’s museums also cover a variety of subjects. The Lao National Museum was established in 1980 as the Lao Revolutionary Exhibition Hall in the former residence of the French governor; its exhibitions cover the revolution and the present day. The Lao Textile Museum displays antique silk pieces made by various ethnic groups. More than 200 religious statues make up a collection of their own in Buddha Park; the main attraction is a 40-meter-long reclining Buddha statue.

For a stay with views of the river, the Mekong promenade in Vientiane offers sunset views. Anouvong Park on the Mekong is a good place to walk, relax, and exercise. Events also offer a seasonal point of reference: Boun Pha That Luang takes place each year around mid-November, while the annual boat races draw spectators to the riverbanks in mid-October. Exact dates and program details may vary; check them before making plans.

Discover more destinations: Thalat, Ban Chèng, Ban Nam Phuong, Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Toulakhom, Kenue Kang, Xang.

Return to the broader travel guide: Vientiane.