If you end up in Vientiane, it’s probably by mistake or sheer necessity. I won’t sugar coat it, the capital is hardly a shining stop on people’s Laos itinerary. Most people end up spending a night or two tops to get to other parts of Laos or are hopping on a flight to other parts of Asia.
I spent two nights in Vientiane before making my way down to Pakse, and the city’s hostel scene is as understated as you’d expect. Personally, I think this is exactly what you need. A couple days to recharge, get some life admin in and rest up before the rest of your adventures.
Hostels in Vientiane aren’t the party ragers you’d find in Luang Prabang, nor the social hubs you’d find in Vang Vieng. They actually tend to be more modern, cleaner and devoid of any social scene. Lean into it. Here are my favourite hostels in Vientiane: chill, cosy and often with a wicked brekky.
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
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Need the short version? Start with these Vientiane hostels
Where to stay, hostel by hostel
There are heaps of cool places to stay in Vientiane; it’s just about knowing where to look for them. I’ve broken down my fave digs below.
1. Barn 1920s Hostel: Best Overall Hostel
- Price tier: $
- Best for: Backpackers wanting a clean and central base in Vientiane
- Highlights: Garden and shared lounge, free breakfast, banging location
- Dorms from: $7.80
- Private rooms from: $12.00
- Location: Phai Nam Street, Vientiane
Barn 1920s is one of those hostels that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled into a boutique hotel rather than a spot for backpackers. The 1920s theme is committed: vintage lounge, record player in the lobby, and well-designed communal spaces that feel very easy to unwind in. The Drip 1920s café is where a free coffee, tea, or matcha comes with every night of your stay. The drip coffee is some of the best in Laos, and if you consider yourself a coffee snob, this place will win you over fast.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- In-house Drip 1920s café serving some of the best drip coffee in Vientiane
- Night food market right outside the door
- 1920s-themed building with vintage decor and record player in the lobby
Free self-serve breakfast in the morning gives you an easy reason to get talking to whoever else is around, and the best night market in Vientiane is right outside the front door. For foodies, the location alone is worth the booking. It’s not the most social hostel you’ll pass through in Laos, but as the most popular in Vientiane you’ll have no trouble meeting people if you want to.
2. Sailomyen Cafe & Hostel: Best for Flashpackers
- Price tier: $
- Best for: Flashpackers, solo travellers, digital nomads
- Highlights: Bar and restaurant on-site, 24-hour reception, small and chilled hostel
- Dorms from: $8
- Private rooms from: N/A
- Location: Saylom Road, Vientiane
Sailomyen is the kind of stop that makes you realise not every hostel needs a packed social calendar to be worth your money. It’s slick, well-run, and feels a cut above what you’d expect at this price point. The loft-style design is a nice touch, the facilities are clean and modern throughout, and the in-house cafe downstairs is a solid reason to linger over your morning, or park yourself with a laptop and get some life admin done.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Loft-style design with in-house café on the ground floor
- Free brekky
- Air-conditioned dorms with privacy curtains
Free breakfast is included, and the rest of the cafe menu is worth working through too. Staff are clued up on the city and happy to point you in the right direction. Dorms are comfortable with quality mattresses, hot powerful showers, and privacy curtains on every bed. There’s also a rooftop terrace with decent views over the city for when you need some air between tasks. If you’re looking to maximise on comfort for your stop off in the city, this is well worth booking.
3. Barn Laos Hostel: Best for a Chill Base
- Price tier: $$
- Best for: Backpackers after a quieter base
- Highlights: Shared lounge and terrace, great location, air-conditioned dorms with privacy curtains and personal lockers
- Dorms from: $9
- Private rooms from: $18
- Location: Khoualuang Village, Vientiane
Barn Laos Hostel is the perfect detox spot after the inevitable chaos of Vang Vieng. From the friendly front desk team to the free breakfast that gets you back on track, this place is all about taking it easy. The Wi-Fi is solid, the dorms comfy and the fully equipped kitchen is a lovely surprise – it’s not every day you see that in a hostel in SEA. Free brekky is provided too in the form of a self-service station provided with eggs, toast, fruit, and coffee.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Bike rental on-site (a fab way to explore the city)
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Super cosy dorms
Nestled on a peaceful side street, it’s just a 10-minute stroll to the buzzing night food market. The facilities are modern and spotless, with bathrooms so pristine they might just ruin you for other hostels. The team are super friendly and handle onward transport effortlessly, meaning one less thing to stress about. My bus to Pakse even showed up directly outside the hostel – talk about convenient. For a quiet spot, Barn Laos Hostel is perfect for recharging before diving back into the adventure.
4. SYRI Guesthouse Vientiane Hostel & Cafe: Best for Central Location
- Price tier: $
- Best for: Travellers after a central base, foodies, sightseers
- Highlights: Friendly staff, space pod dorms, chilled communal spaces
- Dorms from: $5
- Private rooms from: N/A
- Location: Central Vientiane, near Wat Sisaket and Laos National Museum
SYRI Guesthouse sits right in the heart of Vientiane, a couple of minutes from the Mekong and walking distance from the night market, the Laos National Museum, and most of what you’d want to tick off in the city. Reception staff are friendly and clued up. They can sort tuk-tuks, minivans, day trips to Buddha Park, luggage storage, and pretty much anything else you need before moving on.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- In-house café and restaurant serving American and Asian breakfast
- Two-minute walk to Laos National Museum
- Lovely sun terrace to chill out in
The dorms are comfortable and the common area is a solid spot to hide from the heat in the middle of the day. Room options run from standard dorms to space capsules if you want a bit of a Japanese hostel vibe. Each capsule comes with a plug, reading light, tray table, and small mirror. I was surprised by how nice the bathroom area was, super boujey with free shampoo and shower gel – this is far from the other more grotty hostels I stayed in in Laos.
5. Petit Espace: Best for a Quiet Stay
- Price tier: $$
- Best for: Budget travellers after a central, low-key base
- Highlights: In-house cafe, friendly staff, pod-style dorms
- Dorms from: $14
- Private rooms from: $40
- Location: Samsenthai Road, Vientiane
Petit Espace delivers exactly what you need for a chilled stopover in Vientiane. The beds are spacious and ridiculously comfortable, with clean rooms that’ll make you feel right at home. The changing and washing areas are spotless, and breakfast hits the spot with options like eggs and bread to start the day right.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Cosy common areas
- Free brekky
- Great location to walk and explore the city
The location is spot-on, within walking distance of the city’s main attractions. It’s not a particularly social spot, but let’s be real, most people aren’t here for that. Perfect for a low-key night, with friendly staff who go out of their way to help.
Get insured for your trip to Vientiane
Unfortunately, things can go wrong when you least expect it. This is why good travel insurance is essential before you head on your trip to Vientiane.
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Where I’d stay in Vientiane
As you can tell, hostels in Vientiane seem to be very same-same. They’re a chill base, often with brekky chucked in, and within walking distance of most spots you’d want to tick off whilst in the city. So long as you pick something within your budget, you can’t really go wrong with any of the hostels on this list.
If I were to go back to the city, I’d crash at Barn 1920s Hostel purely for the free coffee alone. I’m a sucker for some freebies, and this takes the edge out of the limited options you’ve got in the city.
I love a place which forces you to slow down, take inventory and reflect for the rest of your travels – this is exactly what a good hostel in the city should do. After all, you can’t appreciate the chaos without a bit of calm to balance it out.
- Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in Laos for a wealth of info!
- Check out the best places to stay in Vientiane before you arrive.
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate Southeast Asia backpacking guide.
