9 Best Nightlife in Vientiane

Lao Bowling Centre is where locals enjoy a night out with loud music, cold beer, and a few rounds of bowling. Sure, the balls are a little chipped, the scoreboard is temperamental, and instructions are somehow in Spanish, but the 10-lane bowling alley is one of the few places in Vientiane that stays open past midnight. 

Fees include shoe hire (bring your own socks) – you can even follow the locals by playing barefoot!

The Spirit House Bar & Restaurant is an all-day riverside spot that really comes alive in the evening. The stylish wooden interior and tasteful background music give the bar an upmarket feeling, which attracts mostly expats and affluent locals. 

Cocktails are must-tries at Spirit House Bar & Restaurant – you’ll find creative combos like martini mixed with sake and pickled ginger, and green-tea infused gin and tonic. There’s also a good range of international beers, wines and (as the name would suggest) spirits.

The Vientiane Night Market takes place along the Mekong Riverfront, where you can see rows of red-roofed stalls selling handicraft, clothes, and electronics. Vendors begin to set up their stalls around sunset – the market is busiest around 8pm, so head there early to avoid a large crowd. 

The Vientiane Night Market is well worth a visit in the evening for its gorgeous sunset alone, as well as the many street food stalls selling authentic Lao dishes.

Beer connoisseurs need to look no further than the colourful and quirky Chokdee Café and Belgian Beer Bar. Located on the main riverfront of Vientiane, it’s known for serving international lagers, ales and ciders – Guinness, Magners, Savanna Dry, Leffe, Hoegaarden, La Chouffe – and of course, no watering hole in Vientiane would be complete without the local Beerlao.

Chokdee Café and Belgian Beer Bar has an extensive food menu to complement your beer sampling session. Standouts include mini hamburgers, cheese plate, pork cold cuts, and spring rolls.

Moonlight Lounge is an upmarket bar and club about 350 metres west of the Presidential Palace. The early evenings see the lounge playing jazzy house and ambient beats, while vibrant parties with hip-hop, dance, and trap music take place until the next morning. 

The extensive drinks list at Moonlight Lounge includes cocktails, draft and craft beers, wines, and over 20 types of bourbons. You can also enjoy cigars and hookah pipes during your late night out at this Vientiane nightlife spot. 

The Vangthong Evening Food Market attracts locals and tourists looking to enjoy authentic Laotian food at affordable prices. After sunset, the market becomes a hive of activity with dozens of stalls preparing traditional dishes such as bla kan sung (grilled fish), sai oua (Laotian sausage), and bet yang (roasted duck). 

A walk through Vangthong Evening Food Market also provides plenty of good photo opportunities – just make sure you ask for permission before clicking that shutter.