Vientiane Nightlife

The Lao National Theatre on Manthatulat Road features an interesting performance of traditional music and dancing aimed directly at the tourist market. It plays nightly from December to March. At other times it can be seen in the Lane Xang Hotel. The old "Russian Circus" established in the 1980s is now known as Hong Kanyasin. It performs from time to time in the National Circus venue in the north of town.

There are no raunchy live shows or titillating "cabaret" as in Thailand or the Philippines. Several hotels have night clubs catering to the wealthy local "elite" and foreigners. Beyond that, there are some very popular tightly-packed discos, night clubs and music and karaoke pubs that play a mix of Lao, Thai, Western and other Asian pop music, and where beer is still cheap by any standards.

There's no shortage of places for a quiet beer in Lao. In particular, the Mekong shoreline is packed with near-identical but pleasant bamboo-and-thatch beer gardens offering cold beer and spicy snacks. These are the place to start, and perhaps finish, a Vientiane evening. There are, however, a few more-sophisticated options.

Martini Lounge, just a block from the Mekong, opens at 6 p.m. Movies are shown on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8 p.m., while Thursdays are salsa nights, and most Fridays a DJ is spinning an eclectic music mix. Jazzy-Brick, on Thanon Setthathirat near the fountain, is perhaps the classiest and most expensive bar in town. There are two clubs near the Novotel hotel: DTech, in the hotel grounds, and Future, just outside, which plays '80s and '90s songs with a big video screen.

Other clubs worth checking out are Meena on Thadeua Road, which is popular with Lao teenagers and some foreigners who are in the know, and Marina, out on Airport Road, probably the biggest and most ostentatious of Vientiane's nightclubs. It has a diverse crowd and music, and there's a bowling alley next door.

Note that everything is supposed to close down before the start of the curfew, although some clubs stay open until 2 a.m. or later. The extremely popular Don Chan Palace Hotel Nightclub is open until 4 a.m. on weekends.

Le Banneton

568 Ban Mixay
Rue Nokeokaummane

Delicious French Pastries...
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Vista Wi-Fi Cafe

011 Francois Ngin Street
Vientiane

Internet & WiFi Cafe...
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Martini Lounge

Rue Nokeokoummane

Friendly Hangout...
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Centre de Langue Francaise

Avenue Lane Xang

French Culture...
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Watcharaphorn

That Deua
Ban Phoxay

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Sky Net

Hengboun Road, near Cultural Center
Ban Haisok

Cyber Heaven...
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Inter Hotel Restaurant

24-25 Fa Ngum Road

Old English Pub Style...
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Restaurant Kat

Thanon Fa Ngum
Vat Chan Village, Chanthabouly District

Pleasant Setting for Lao Food...
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Sukvimani KM2 Restaurant

Luang Prabang Road

Dine and Dance Until Late...
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Hash House Harriers

Samsenthai Road
Asian Vehicle Rental

Fun Run and Drinking Tradition...
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Xayoh Cafe

Thanon Samsenthai Road
Next To Cultural Hall

Snazzy Local Bar...
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Douang Deuane Restaurant

Norkeokoummane Road

Where Stories Accompany Food...
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Au Bon Cafe

That Dam Road
Next to the That Dam stupa

Typical Lao Eatery...
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Samlo Pub

101 Sethathirat Road

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Wind West

Luang Prabang Road
Next to the Shell Petrol Station

Live Background Music...
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Boun Khoun Khao

Throughout the city

Giving Back...
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Snooker Karaoke

Thanon Chao Anou

Karaoke in its Finest Form...
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Sakura Japanese Restaurant

Km 2 Luang Prabang Road
Ban Khoutathong

Charming and Cozy...
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Lao Bowling Centre

Ban Sisaket
Chanthaburi District

Bowling Bowling. Bowling...
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Bor Pen Nyang & Restaurant

Fa Ngum Road, Wat Chanh Village
Downtown

Don't Worry, Be Happy!...
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