Your stay — Phisitxay
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The Property — Phisitxay
The Phisitxay is a solid budget-to-midrange option in central Vientiane, with dated but clean rooms around a shaded courtyard. The lobby feels like a quiet, uncarpeted waiting room – functional rather than charming – but the staff are efficient and the location on Setthathirath Road puts you a short walk from the Mekong riverfront and morning market. It suits pragmatic travellers who want a no-frills base with reliable air-con and hot water, not those after character or a pool.
Chronicles of Vientiane
Vientiane became the capital of the Lao kingdom in the 16th century after moving from Luang Prabang, but was sacked by the Siamese in 1828, losing most of its original temples. The French rebuilt the city as an administrative centre from 1893, leaving behind wide boulevards and shuttered colonial villas. After the 1975 communist takeover, development stagnated, but the city since the 2000s has seen rapid investment, Chinese-built riverside promenades and a growing café culture. Today Vientiane is a sleepy yet outwardly modern Southeast Asian capital, where Buddhist stupas like That Luang share the skyline with glitzy casinos and hotel towers.
Best Time to Visit
Full Vientiane guide →Best months
November and December: cool, dry weather with highs around 28°C and very little rain; tourist numbers are moderate and hotel rates reasonable. January is also excellent, though slightly busier.
Peak / festival surge
Peak runs from late December through February, driven by the cool season plus international tourist arrivals over Christmas and New Year. Hotel prices at mid-range properties like Phisitxay can rise 20-30% above low-season rates. The Lao New Year (Pi Mai) in mid-April is also very busy, but the extreme heat makes it a punishing time to sightsee.
Budget shoulder season
The best shoulder months are March (dry but beginning to heat up) and October (end of rainy season; still green, lower prices). Both offer decent weather and far fewer crowds than the peak months, with rooms often discounted 10-15%.
Weather & packing
Vientiane in July is in the wet monsoon: expect heavy, short downpours almost daily and humidity above 80%. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket or umbrella and quick-dry shoes, plus a long-sleeved shirt for temple visits and mosquito protection after dusk.
Live City Briefing — Vientiane
- The Vientiane city loop bus service (#31) now runs every 20 minutes between the bus station and That Dam market, improving access to the hotel area, but tuk-tuk drivers remain the main option after 7pm.
- The Laos-China railway has boosted visitor numbers from the north, but the station is 20km from town – budget extra time and cost (around 50,000 kip by shared songthaew) for that transfer.
- July is peak dengue season here; the city is spraying larvicide in stagnant drains, but travellers should use DEET-based repellent day and night, especially around the Mekong riverbank.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Phisitxay, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd or 4th) at the rear of the building, away from the street. The higher you go, the less street noise you'll get from Vientiane's main roads.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception or front entrance – they catch noise from the lobby and street. Also skip rooms directly above the breakfast area or any open-air corridors on the lower floors.
Best views
Rooms facing the front will give you a look at Vientiane street life – expect a mix of scooters, shops and pedestrians. Rear-facing rooms show a more residential or courtyard scene, calmer but less interesting.
Quietest floors
Third and fourth floors are quietest, especially if you can face away from the street.
🔊 Noise notes
Vientiane is not a 24-hour party city, but motorbikes and tuk-tuks start early. The hotel sits on a main road, so morning traffic picks up around 6am. Also, any nearby karaoke or temple speakers can carry from adjacent streets.
Insider tips
1) If you have a scooter, park it in the hotel's fenced lot (most 3-stars here have one) – street parking is risky in Vientiane. 2) Check-in can be laid-back; ask for a top-floor rear room at booking, not at arrival – they fill quickly.
- 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 — Phisitxay
Free for all guests, speed roughly 15 Mbps down / 5 Mbps up; no login required, password supplied at check-in
Single lift serves all four guest floors; no stairs-only sections
No digital newsstand; complimentary English-language 'Vientiane Times' at breakfast counter (limited copies); building was originally a 1970s government guesthouse, no heritage quirks
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag drop from 10:00 without charge if room not ready; late check-out until 12:00 free, after 12:00 half-day charge (100,000 LAK), after 15:00 full night charged
Free secure storage at reception during same-day check-in/out; no overnight storage
No step-free main entrance; one step (15 cm) at front door; lift fits standard wheelchairs; no adapted bathrooms
Free on-site surface parking for about 10 cars (first-come, first-served, no reservation); nearest public car park 'Siam Square Parking' at 0.3 km, 5,000 LAK per hour or 40,000 LAK overnight; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking for all rates; credit card imprint of 500,000 LAK for incidentals at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: Wat Sala Daeng (236 m · ~3 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: ວັດພະໄຊຍເສຕຖາທິຣາຊ (543 m · ~7 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Bounkhamyong Temple (732 m · ~9 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Wat Saphanthong Tai (844 m · ~11 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
ວຽງຈັນເຊັນເຕີ້ — 1.5 km · ~19 min walk
ສວນ 23 ສິງຫາ — 932 m · ~12 min walk
COPE Visitor Centre — 814 m · ~10 min walk
Funderland — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
bfl — 750 m · ~9 min walk
ນ.ອຳພອນ — 776 m · ~10 min walk
Phonsavanh Minimark — 264 m · ~3 min walk
Central Bus Station (CBS-2) — 1.8 km · ~22 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Lao Kip, LAK
Most travellers change US dollars or Thai baht at private exchange booths in town; avoid the airport and hotel desks as they offer a worse rate.
Visa/Mastercard accepted in mid-range hotels, larger supermarkets and nicer restaurants; Amex is rarely taken. Contactless is hit-and-miss; carry cash for small vendors and street stalls.
Not expected but appreciated in nicer restaurants (round up or leave 5-10%). Taxis don't expect it. Hotel porters: 10,000–20,000 kip is fine.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A small iced Lao coffee (kaffe Lao) from a market stall or street cart: around 10,000–15,000 kip.
A bowl of noodle soup (pho or khao piak sen) from a simple local shop: 20,000–30,000 kip.
Grilled meat or laap with sticky rice at a street-side eatery: main dish around 30,000–50,000 kip.
Dusk market near the Mekong riverfront (along Chao Anou Road) and the area around Nam Phu fountain draw the most stalls with grilled skewers, papaya salad and noodle dishes.
Regular budget option is Phimphone Market (Talat Phimphone) for fruit, veg and dry goods; for packaged basics try the minimarts on Setthathirath Road.
Talat Sao morning market (the old morning market) for cheap T-shirts, textiles and sandals; haggling expected.
Local songthaews (shared pick-up trucks) run set routes for about 10,000–20,000 kip per ride. From the airport, hop a jumbo tuk-tuk shared with others for around 20,000–30,000 kip per person.
Always carry small bills (5,000–20,000 kip) because many small vendors can't break 100,000 kip notes. Drink local BeerLao instead of imported beer in restaurants. Book a guesthouse outside the very centre for half the price of Chao Anou area rooms.
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 Phisitxay
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · bfl — 750 m · ~9 min walk — pharmacy · ນ.ອຳພອນ — 776 m · ~10 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 Phisitxay?
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd or 4th) at the rear of the building, away from the street. The higher you go, the less street noise you'll get from Vientiane's main roads.
Which rooms should I avoid at Phisitxay?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception or front entrance – they catch noise from the lobby and street. Also skip rooms directly above the breakfast area or any open-air corridors on the lower floors.
Is Phisitxay noisy?
Vientiane is not a 24-hour party city, but motorbikes and tuk-tuks start early. The hotel sits on a main road, so morning traffic picks up around 6am. Also, any nearby karaoke or temple speakers can carry from adjacent streets.
Which rooms have the best views at Phisitxay?
Rooms facing the front will give you a look at Vientiane street life – expect a mix of scooters, shops and pedestrians. Rear-facing rooms show a more residential or courtyard scene, calmer but less interesting.
What are insider tips for staying at Phisitxay?
1) If you have a scooter, park it in the hotel's fenced lot (most 3-stars here have one) – street parking is risky in Vientiane. 2) Check-in can be laid-back; ask for a top-floor rear room at booking, not at arrival – they fill quickly.
What time is check-in at Phisitxay?
Check-in at Phisitxay is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Phisitxay have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests, speed roughly 15 Mbps down / 5 Mbps up; no login required, password supplied at check-in
Is there a city or tourist tax at Phisitxay?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Phisitxay?
A bowl of noodle soup (pho or khao piak sen) from a simple local shop: 20,000–30,000 kip.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Phisitxay?
Local songthaews (shared pick-up trucks) run set routes for about 10,000–20,000 kip per ride. From the airport, hop a jumbo tuk-tuk shared with others for around 20,000–30,000 kip per person.
When is the best time to visit Vientiane?
November and December: cool, dry weather with highs around 28°C and very little rain; tourist numbers are moderate and hotel rates reasonable. January is also excellent, though slightly busier.
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.