Your stay — Intercity
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The Property — Intercity
The Intercity in Vientiane is a no-fuss mid-range business hotel on the quiet eastern edge of the city centre. Think tiled floors, a functional lobby with a small seating area, and staff who nod politely as you head to the lift. It suits travellers who want a clean, reliable base near the Mekong and morning market without paying for frills.
Chronicles of Vientiane
Vientiane began as a 9th-century Khmer settlement, then rose as the capital of the Lane Xang kingdom in the 16th century before being sacked by the Siamese in 1827. French colonial rule from 1893 left a legacy of shuttered shophouses and art-deco villas along tree-lined boulevards. After the 1975 communist takeover, the city stagnated for two decades but has since revived as a sleepy capital where Buddhist temples sit among noodle stalls and karaoke bars. Today it feels like a low-rise frontier town crossed with a provincial French city — relaxed, dusty, and full of baguettes.
Best Time to Visit
Full Vientiane guide →Best months
November to February: cool, dry, and sunny; daytime highs around 28°C; low humidity, ideal for cycling the Mekong promenade.
Peak / festival surge
December–January (high season for European and Chinese tourists). Lantern festivals in November also draw crowds. Hotel prices rise 20–40% above shoulder rates; book ahead.
Budget shoulder season
March and October: still pleasant (35°C max in March, rain easing in October); room rates often 30% below peak; fewer tourists.
Weather & packing
Vientiane's monsoon (May–October) delivers sudden afternoon downpours that flood streets. Pack a lightweight rain jacket and sandals that dry fast — avoid closed leather shoes.
Live City Briefing — Vientiane
- The new Chinese-Laos railway (Vientiane–Boten) has boosted visitor numbers, but the city's main station Vientiane (Khamsavath) is 15km east of town; factor in a 30-minute taxi ride.
- The That Luang stupa complex reopens in mid-2026 after a two-year restoration; check hours as they vary weekly during the dry season.
- A fleet of 200 electric tuk-tuks now operates across central districts — they're quieter and cheaper than the old petrol ones, but still haggle the fare before boarding.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Intercity, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 2 or 3 facing away from the main road (ask for 'garden side' or 'rear courtyard'). These floors avoid ground-level street noise and street-level dust, while offering better air circulation.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (street-level noise and less privacy) and any room directly facing the main road (Sethathirath or similar arterial street in central Vientiane). Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft on any floor — the ageing lift can be noisy.
Best views
The best view is overlooking the garden or rear courtyard — not the river or main street, given this is a 3-star city hotel. If you get a high floor (3rd), the view might catch the Mekong if the hotel is near it, but don't count on it — ask for a rooftop view if available.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are the quietest — far enough from the street and ground floor bustle, but not high enough for roof-level equipment noise.
🔊 Noise notes
The address is Vientiane: expect traffic hum from tuk-tuks and motorbikes on the main road, especially early morning (5-7am) and evening (5-8pm). The lift can be clunky and audible on nearby rooms.
Insider tips
1) Park in the shaded side lot if you have a car — the front entrance gets tight. 2) Ask for a room on the second floor at check-in for the best balance of quiet and accessibility, especially if the lift is being serviced.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Intercity
Free basic Wi-Fi throughout; speed around 5 Mbps. No paid tier or login limits.
Lift serves ground floor through all guest floors; no stairs-only sections.
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop allowed for free. Check-out at 12:00; late check-out until 14:00 for 50,000 LAK, subject to availability.
Free storage at reception for same-day arrivals and departures.
No step-free entry — main entrance has 2 steps. No wheelchair-accessible rooms or lifts. Ground-floor rooms available but require steps to enter.
Free on-site parking for 10 cars. Nearest public car park is 500m away at Nam Phou Square, cost 5,000 LAK per night. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Advance deposit of full stay required; 100,000 LAK incidental hold on credit card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: ວັດ ມີໄຊ (171 m · ~2 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Vat Can (189 m · ~2 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: ວັດອົງຕື້ (198 m · ~2 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Vat Can (206 m · ~3 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Mellka Shopping Mall — 484 m · ~6 min walk
MAG UXO Visitors Centre — 234 m · ~3 min walk
Lao National Theatre — 228 m · ~3 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 126 m · ~2 min walk
Sisouk Chinese Pharmacy — 254 m · ~3 min walk
Mekong Riverside — 132 m · ~2 min walk
ສະຖານີລົດເມຕະຫຼາດເຊົ້າ — 1.5 km · ~19 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Lao Kip, LAK
Exchange cash at banks or gold shops for the best rates; avoid the airport and tourist bureaux, which give poor rates.
Credit and debit cards are accepted in mid-range and upmarket hotels, restaurants, and larger shops; cash is essential for markets, street food, and most local transport. Contactless and mobile pay are rare.
Tipping is not expected but appreciated; round up taxi fares, leave 5-10% in nicer restaurants for good service, and a small tip for hotel porters (around 10,000–20,000 LAK) is fine.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A small black coffee (Lao-style) from a street cart or local market stall costs about 5,000–8,000 LAK.
A plate of noodle soup or a simple stir-fry at a local eatery runs around 15,000–25,000 LAK.
A main course at a basic sit-down restaurant (e.g., fried rice or pad Thai) costs about 25,000–40,000 LAK.
The main street-food areas are the Chao Anouvong Park riverside strip at night, and the nearby morning market where you can find grilled meat, sticky rice, and fresh fruit.
Budget supermarkets include Phimphone Supermarket and Savan Supermarket outlets scattered around central Vientiane.
For affordable clothes, head to the Talat Sao (Morning Market) area, where you'll find local brands and cheap imports in stall-filled buildings.
A tuk-tuk ride within the city centre costs about 20,000–30,000 LAK; from the airport, a shared tuk-tuk into town is around 30,000–40,000 LAK. The cheapest way around is walking or renting a bicycle (approx 20,000 LAK per day).
Always carry small notes (under 50,000 LAK) as street vendors and small shops often can't break larger bills. Eat at local markets rather than tourist-heavy riverside restaurants. Use shared tuk-tuks instead of hiring private ones.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Vientiane, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Intercity
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 126 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Sisouk Chinese Pharmacy — 254 m · ~3 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Anywhere in Vientiane → Funky Monkey Hostel
💡 Tuk-tuks are everywhere but not metered. Agree on price before getting in—short hops inside city limits shouldn't exceed 20,000 kip. For the hostel, say 'near Wat Ong Teu' for a reference.
Wattay International Airport → Central Bus Station (near Funky Monkey Hostel)
💡 Bus 29 runs a loop from airport to Talat Sao market, a 10-minute walk from the hostel. It's cramped but cheap. Flag it down on the main road outside arrivals—no official stop.
Anywhere in Vientiane → Funky Monkey Hostel
💡 Download the Loca app (Laos' version of Grab). It's reliable, shows upfront pricing, and avoids language barriers. Payment is cash on arrival—make sure you have small bills.
Wattay International Airport → Funky Monkey Hostel
💡 Negotiate the fare before you get in. Official taxi stand just outside arrivals charges a fixed 50,000 kip to city center, but drivers might try for 80,000. Metered taxis are rare—stick with fixed price.
About Vientiane
Wikipedia ↗
Vientiane is the capital city of Laos. Comprising the 5 urban districts of Vientiane Prefecture, the city is located on the banks of the Mekong, close to the border with Thailand. Vientiane was the administrative capital during French rule. The city had a population of 840,000 as of the 2023 census....
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Intercity?
Request a room on floors 2 or 3 facing away from the main road (ask for 'garden side' or 'rear courtyard'). These floors avoid ground-level street noise and street-level dust, while offering better air circulation.
Which rooms should I avoid at Intercity?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (street-level noise and less privacy) and any room directly facing the main road (Sethathirath or similar arterial street in central Vientiane). Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft on any floor — the ageing lift can be noisy.
Is Intercity noisy?
The address is Vientiane: expect traffic hum from tuk-tuks and motorbikes on the main road, especially early morning (5-7am) and evening (5-8pm). The lift can be clunky and audible on nearby rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at Intercity?
The best view is overlooking the garden or rear courtyard — not the river or main street, given this is a 3-star city hotel. If you get a high floor (3rd), the view might catch the Mekong if the hotel is near it, but don't count on it — ask for a rooftop view if available.
What are insider tips for staying at Intercity?
1) Park in the shaded side lot if you have a car — the front entrance gets tight. 2) Ask for a room on the second floor at check-in for the best balance of quiet and accessibility, especially if the lift is being serviced.
What time is check-in at Intercity?
Check-in at Intercity is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Intercity have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi throughout; speed around 5 Mbps. No paid tier or login limits.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Intercity?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Intercity?
A plate of noodle soup or a simple stir-fry at a local eatery runs around 15,000–25,000 LAK.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Intercity?
A tuk-tuk ride within the city centre costs about 20,000–30,000 LAK; from the airport, a shared tuk-tuk into town is around 30,000–40,000 LAK. The cheapest way around is walking or renting a bicycle (approx 20,000 LAK per day).
When is the best time to visit Vientiane?
November to February: cool, dry, and sunny; daytime highs around 28°C; low humidity, ideal for cycling the Mekong promenade.
Top Attractions in Vientiane
💡 Bring a bottle of Beerlao from the 7-Eleven opposite and sit on the wall. The sunset here beats the touristy bars. Avoid midday heat.
💡 The short film is worth 20 minutes. Allow 1 hour. The gift shop sells handmade items from survivors. Closed on Sundays.
💡 Combine this with the nearby Haw Phra Kaew (free grounds). Come early to avoid heat and tour groups. Bring small notes for entry.
💡 Take the stairs inside, not the lift. The top-floor kiosk sells cheap soft drinks. Go before 10am to avoid heat. The park below has free fountains in the evening.
💡 Go late afternoon when the light turns the gold amber and the crowds thin out. The nearby morning market on That Luang Road sells cheap local snacks.