Your stay — Phetmanyxay
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The Property — Phetmanyxay
Phetmanyxay is a modest, family-run 3-star on Rue Nokeo Koumane, a few blocks from the Mekong. The lobby feels like someone’s well-kept front room: tiled floors, a wooden reception desk, and a small Buddha shelf. It’s clean, quiet, and basic — suited to budget travellers or those who just need a bed near the night market. No pool or restaurant, but the staff are genuinely helpful and the location is decent for exploring central Vientiane on foot.
Chronicles of Vientiane
Vientiane was founded as a fortified trading post by King Setthathirath in 1560, who moved the Lan Xang capital here from Luang Prabang. The Siamese razed the city in 1828, destroying most temples except Wat Si Saket, which still stands. French colonial rule from 1893 rebuilt Vientiane as a sleepy administrative town, leaving broad boulevards, shuttered villas, and Patuxai—a war monument modelled on the Arc de Triomphe. Today it’s a laid-back capital where Lao, Thai, Vietnamese, and French influences mix over bowls of khao piak sen and baguettes.
Best Time to Visit
Full Vientiane guide →Best months
November to February: dry, cool, low humidity, and the city feels pleasantly uncrowded. Days are 25–30°C, evenings are fresh.
Peak / festival surge
December and January are peak: good weather drives most visitors. Hotel prices can rise 30–50% over low season. That Buddhist festival That Luang (usually November) also spikes demand briefly.
Budget shoulder season
March and October: still warm but cheaper rooms and fewer tourists. March can be hazy from burning; October has occasional rain but clear afternoons.
Weather & packing
Vientiane has a sharp wet–dry monsoon; July is deep wet season with daily downpours. Pack a lightweight rain jacket and waterproof shoes, plus a thin long-sleeve for evening mosquitoes.
Live City Briefing — Vientiane
- The Vientiane–Nong Khai railway extension opened in 2024; visitors can now take a direct overnight train from Bangkok or a 20-minute cross-border shuttle from the Thai side.
- Several riverfront bars and cafes on Chao Anou Road have closed in 2025–26 due to a city-led riverside redevelopment project; expect some construction noise and limited dining options along the Mekong.
- July is peak rainy season: the Mekong can flood low-lying streets near the night market, and the That Luang esplanade often gets muddy. Check local flood warnings before heading out.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Phetmanyxay, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the inner courtyard (away from the main road). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still within the building's quietest zone.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor, especially those close to the reception or any ground-floor bar/restaurant area—can get noise from foot traffic and early morning kitchen prep. Also skip rooms directly above the main entrance if there's a lobby or gathering space.
Best views
Upper floors facing the Mekong River side offer the best views over the city and river (if orientation allows). Otherwise, a courtyard view is quieter than facing the main street.
Quietest floors
3rd and 4th floors are typically the quietest in a 3-star hotel of this size, away from both street-level noise and roof-level machinery.
🔊 Noise notes
Vientiane's main roads can be busy with motorbikes and tuk-tuks, especially early morning and late afternoon. If the hotel is on a side street near the Mekong, street noise may be lower but still present from local bars or restaurants.
Insider tips
1) Ask for a room on a floor with a window that opens—some budget hotels seal windows, making rooms stuffy without AC. 2) If you need quiet for sleeping, request a room away from the lift shaft and any stairwell doors that bang.
- 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 — Phetmanyxay
Free WiFi in lobby and rooms, speeds sufficient for browsing and email (roughly 10 Mbps down); no login required.
Single lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections.
Complimentary print copy of Vientiane Times at reception daily (limited copies); no digital newsstand.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 12:00 if room not ready; late check-out until 12:00 subject to availability (fee 50,000 LAK per hour after 12:00).
Free of charge at front desk, no lockers.
Step-free access via side ramp to ground floor; no dedicated wheelchair-accessible rooms; upper floors only accessible by lift.
Free on-site parking for up to 10 cars, first-come, first-served; nearest public car park is at Phonthan Park (approx. 5 min walk), cost 5,000 LAK per hour, 30,000 LAK overnight; no EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: A deposit of 50% of total stay may be charged at booking; incidental card hold of 200,000 LAK at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: ວັດ ຂຽງຍືນ (148 m · ~2 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: ວັດ ມີໄຊ (204 m · ~3 min walk)
- Place of worship: ຫໍກາງ (228 m · ~3 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: ວັດ ຫາຍໂສກ (Vat Haysok) (364 m · ~5 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Mellka Shopping Mall — 563 m · ~7 min walk
MAG UXO Visitors Centre — 464 m · ~6 min walk
Lao National Theatre — 38 m · ~1 min walk
Funderland — 1.8 km · ~23 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 111 m · ~1 min walk
Sisouk Chinese Pharmacy — 140 m · ~2 min walk
K-Mart — 137 m · ~2 min walk
ສະຖານີລົດເມຕະຫຼາດເຊົ້າ — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Lao Kip, LAK
Exchange at banks or gold shops along Fa Ngum Quay and Samsenthai Road for fair rates; avoid airport and tourist bureaux due to poor rates.
Cards accepted at mid-range hotels, larger restaurants, and some supermarkets; cash is king for street food, markets, and taxis.
Not expected, but rounding up or leaving small change in restaurants is appreciated; taxis and hotel staff don't require tips.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Iced Lao-style coffee with sweetened condensed milk from street stalls: about 10,000–15,000 LAK.
Lao-style noodle soup (pho or khao piak) from a local eatery: roughly 20,000–30,000 LAK.
Stir-fried noodles or a larb (minced meat salad) with sticky rice at a simple restaurant: around 30,000–40,000 LAK for a main.
Chao Anouvong Park along the Mekong riverbank is busy with evening food stalls; also the morning market (Talat Sao) area for cheap eats.
Phimphone Minimart and MM Market (run by a Thai chain) are common budget supermarkets in central Vientiane.
Talat Sao (Morning Market) is the main spot for affordable clothing, especially local textiles and knock-off sportswear.
Local tuk-tuks and jumbos (shared taxis) cost around 10,000–20,000 LAK per short ride; from Wattay Airport, a shared shuttle to town centre is 30,000 LAK or a tuk-tuk 40,000–60,000 LAK.
Use jumbos (shared taxis) instead of private tuk-tuks; eat at local noodle stalls rather than tourist-area restaurants; buy bottled water in bulk from supermarkets.
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 Phetmanyxay
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 111 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Sisouk Chinese Pharmacy — 140 m · ~2 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 Phetmanyxay?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the inner courtyard (away from the main road). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still within the building's quietest zone.
Which rooms should I avoid at Phetmanyxay?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor, especially those close to the reception or any ground-floor bar/restaurant area—can get noise from foot traffic and early morning kitchen prep. Also skip rooms directly above the main entrance if there's a lobby or gathering space.
Is Phetmanyxay noisy?
Vientiane's main roads can be busy with motorbikes and tuk-tuks, especially early morning and late afternoon. If the hotel is on a side street near the Mekong, street noise may be lower but still present from local bars or restaurants.
Which rooms have the best views at Phetmanyxay?
Upper floors facing the Mekong River side offer the best views over the city and river (if orientation allows). Otherwise, a courtyard view is quieter than facing the main street.
What are insider tips for staying at Phetmanyxay?
1) Ask for a room on a floor with a window that opens—some budget hotels seal windows, making rooms stuffy without AC. 2) If you need quiet for sleeping, request a room away from the lift shaft and any stairwell doors that bang.
What time is check-in at Phetmanyxay?
Check-in at Phetmanyxay is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Phetmanyxay have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi in lobby and rooms, speeds sufficient for browsing and email (roughly 10 Mbps down); no login required.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Phetmanyxay?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Phetmanyxay?
Lao-style noodle soup (pho or khao piak) from a local eatery: roughly 20,000–30,000 LAK.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Phetmanyxay?
Local tuk-tuks and jumbos (shared taxis) cost around 10,000–20,000 LAK per short ride; from Wattay Airport, a shared shuttle to town centre is 30,000 LAK or a tuk-tuk 40,000–60,000 LAK.
When is the best time to visit Vientiane?
November to February: dry, cool, low humidity, and the city feels pleasantly uncrowded. Days are 25–30°C, evenings are fresh.
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.