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Vientiane - Things to Do in Vientiane in March

Things to Do in Vientiane in March

March weather, activities, events & insider tips

March Weather in Vientiane

33°C (92°F) High Temp
22°C (71°F) Low Temp
43 mm (1.7 inches) Rainfall
70% Humidity

Is March Right for You?

Advantages

  • Perfect transition weather - March sits right at the end of Vientiane's cool season, giving you warm days around 33°C (92°F) without the brutal 38°C+ (100°F+) heat that arrives in April. You can actually walk around midday without feeling like you're melting, which matters when temples don't have air conditioning.
  • Minimal rain interference - With only 43 mm (1.7 inches) spread across 10 days, you're looking at brief afternoon showers that last 20-30 minutes rather than the monsoon downpours of July-September. Locals don't even bother with umbrellas half the time, just duck into a shop for a beer Lao and wait it out.
  • Shoulder season pricing without shoulder season crowds - Most tourists haven't figured out that March is actually brilliant for Vientiane. Hotels along the Mekong are typically 30-40% cheaper than December-February peak season, and you can walk into Wat Si Saket at 9am without navigating tour groups.
  • Mekong River at ideal levels - The river sits at a comfortable middle point in March, not the muddy flood stage of rainy season but not the exposed sandbar look of late dry season either. Morning walks along the riverside promenade are genuinely pleasant, and sunset views from Chao Anouvong Park hit differently when the water looks this good.

Considerations

  • Humidity starts climbing - That 70% humidity is the kind you feel in your clothes by 11am. Cotton and linen become your best friends, and polyester shirts will make you miserable. The air has a thickness to it that takes a few days to adjust to if you're coming from temperate climates.
  • Unpredictable afternoon weather - Those 10 rainy days are scattered randomly throughout the month, and forecasts in Laos are more suggestion than science. You might plan an afternoon at Buddha Park 25 km (15.5 miles) outside town and get caught in a surprise downpour. Locals just build flexibility into their schedules.
  • Peak heat building toward month's end - Late March starts flirting with the hot season, and by the last week you're looking at days that feel closer to 35°C (95°F). If you're heat-sensitive, aim for early to mid-March rather than the final week before Lao New Year.

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Best Activities in March

Early Morning Alms Giving and Temple Circuits

March mornings in Vientiane hover around 22-24°C (71-75°F), which is about as comfortable as it gets for the 6am alms giving ceremony along Setthathirath Road. The monks make their rounds before the heat kicks in, and you should too. After participating respectfully (buy sticky rice from local vendors, not tourist packages), you can walk the temple circuit - Wat Si Saket, Wat Pha That Luang, Wat Si Muang - before 9am when temperatures are still reasonable and light is perfect for photography. By March, the cool season crowds have thinned out but the weather hasn't turned punishing yet.

Booking Tip: No booking needed for temples, just dress respectfully with covered shoulders and knees. Entry fees run 5,000-10,000 kip (about 0.50-1.00 USD) per temple. Go independently rather than with tours - temples are walkable or a short tuk-tuk ride. For alms giving, buy offerings from local vendors along the route for 10,000-20,000 kip, not from hotels charging 100,000+ kip for the same thing.

Mekong Riverside Cycling Routes

The Mekong riverside road stretches for about 8 km (5 miles) through central Vientiane, and March weather makes it actually rideable in late afternoon. Rent a bike around 4pm when temperatures drop from peak heat, cycle past Chao Anouvong Park toward the night market area, and stop at riverside beer gardens where locals gather. The 70% humidity is noticeable but not suffocating like it will be by May. You'll see why Vientiane locals do everything either very early or after 4pm - they're not lazy, they're smart about the climate.

Booking Tip: Bike rentals through guesthouses or rental shops typically cost 20,000-40,000 kip (2-4 USD) per day. Look for bikes with working brakes and gears - quality varies wildly. Avoid midday cycling in March; stick to 6-9am or 4-7pm windows. Most rental places don't require advance booking, just bring your passport for deposit.

Buddha Park and Countryside Day Trips

March is your last good month for Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan) before April heat makes the 25 km (15.5 miles) trip out there feel like punishment. The park is entirely outdoors with minimal shade, so that 33°C (92°F) March high is manageable where 38°C (100°F) April heat is genuinely dangerous. Go early - leave Vientiane by 7:30am, spend 2-3 hours exploring the bizarre concrete sculptures, and be back in town by lunch. The countryside is still green from residual cool season moisture, and rice fields look better than the brown they'll turn by late April.

Booking Tip: Local bus number 14 runs to Buddha Park for 6,000 kip, or hire a tuk-tuk for the day at 200,000-300,000 kip (20-30 USD) negotiated price including wait time. Entry to the park is 15,000 kip. Tours through booking platforms typically run 800,000-1,200,000 kip (80-120 USD) for private transport and guide. Worth going independently unless you specifically want historical context explained. See current tour options in the booking section below.

Cooking Classes and Market Tours

Indoor cooking classes are brilliant March backup plans when afternoon showers hit, but the real value is the morning market component. Talat Sao and morning markets are most active 6-8am, and March mornings are cool enough to actually enjoy wandering through. You'll learn about Lao ingredients that don't exist in Western supermarkets, then spend 2-3 hours cooking in air-conditioned or well-ventilated kitchens. Classes typically cover laap, tam mak hoong (papaya salad), and sticky rice basics.

Booking Tip: Cooking classes through guesthouses and cooking schools run 250,000-400,000 kip (25-40 USD) per person including market visit, ingredients, and lunch. Book 3-5 days ahead in March as class sizes are small, typically 4-8 people. Morning classes starting 7-8am are better than afternoon sessions because you experience markets at their peak. Check current cooking class options in the booking section below.

Nam Ngum Lake Excursions

About 90 km (56 miles) north of Vientiane, Nam Ngum Lake makes a solid day trip in March before hot season makes the journey less appealing. The reservoir is huge, surrounded by hills that are still relatively green, and you can take boat trips to small islands or just enjoy lakeside restaurants. March water levels are good, and the 10-day rain forecast means you've got decent odds of clear weather. It's what Vientiane locals do on weekends when they want to escape the city.

Booking Tip: Organized day trips through booking platforms run 600,000-1,000,000 kip (60-100 USD) including transport, boat ride, and lunch. Going independently by bus or hired car costs 300,000-500,000 kip for transport, plus 100,000-200,000 kip for boat rental at the lake. Leave early, aim to be at the lake by 9-10am, and return by 4pm to avoid afternoon traffic back to Vientiane. Check current tour options in the booking section below.

Vientiane Night Markets and Evening Food Scenes

March evenings are genuinely pleasant along the Mekong - temperatures drop to 24-26°C (75-79°F), there's usually a breeze off the river, and the night market sets up daily from 5pm onward. This is peak time for street food, browsing handicraft stalls, and watching the Vientiane social scene. The riverside walking street closes to traffic, and you'll see why locals consider evening hours the best part of the day. By May this will feel sticky and hot; March still has that comfortable evening quality.

Booking Tip: Night markets are free to browse, and street food runs 15,000-40,000 kip (1.50-4 USD) per dish. No booking needed, just show up after 5pm any day of the week. Bring small bills - 20,000 and 50,000 kip notes - as vendors often claim they don't have change for 100,000 kip notes. The scene peaks 6-8pm before tapering off around 9:30-10pm on weeknights, later on weekends.

March Events & Festivals

Late March

Lao New Year Preparations

While Lao New Year (Pi Mai Lao) officially happens in mid-April, late March sees Vientiane starting preparations. Markets stock up on special foods, temples get cleaned and decorated, and there's a building energy in the city. If you're here in the last week of March, you'll catch the anticipation phase - not the main event, but interesting if you're culturally curious. Worth noting that some businesses start closing for extended holidays in the final days of March.

Essential Tips

What to Pack

Lightweight rain jacket or small umbrella - those 10 rainy days mean brief afternoon showers lasting 20-30 minutes. Not monsoon gear, just something to keep you dry during sudden downpours. Locals often skip umbrellas and just wait it out in shops.
Cotton or linen clothing, absolutely avoid polyester - 70% humidity means synthetic fabrics will make you miserable by mid-morning. Loose-fitting natural fibers dry faster and breathe better. Pack more shirts than you think you need because you'll change midday.
SPF 50+ sunscreen and reapply frequently - UV index of 8 is serious, and you'll be outside more than you expect walking between temples and along the Mekong. The sun feels deceptively mild in morning hours but still burns.
Temple-appropriate clothing - at least one outfit with covered shoulders and knees that's also cool enough for 33°C (92°F) weather. Lightweight long pants or a long skirt, and a breathable shirt. You'll be removing shoes frequently, so slip-on sandals are smarter than laced shoes.
Small daypack for water and layers - you'll need to carry 1-2 liters of water daily, plus that rain jacket. A 20-liter pack is enough. Vientiane isn't a heavy walking city but you'll still accumulate distance between temples.
Electrolyte packets or rehydration salts - available at pharmacies in Vientiane but easier to bring from home. The humidity and heat combination means you're sweating more than you realize, and plain water isn't always enough.
Insect repellent with DEET - March isn't peak mosquito season like the rainy months, but evening hours along the Mekong still see some activity. Dengue exists in Laos year-round, so better safe than sorry.
Power adapter for Type A, B, C, or F outlets - Laos uses multiple plug types inconsistently. A universal adapter is smartest. Power cuts are rare in central Vientiane but happen occasionally.
Cash in small denominations - ATMs dispense mostly 100,000 kip notes, but street vendors and tuk-tuks need 20,000 and 50,000 kip notes. Break large bills at convenience stores or restaurants, not at market stalls where vendors will claim no change.
Light scarf or sarong - multipurpose for temple coverage, sun protection, or as a towel in a pinch. Takes minimal pack space and you'll use it more than expected.

Insider Knowledge

Vientiane operates on two schedules in March: morning people (6-10am) and evening people (4-9pm). The midday hours 11am-3pm are genuinely slow as locals avoid peak heat. Plan your outdoor activities accordingly and you'll understand why that restaurant is empty at 1pm but packed at 7pm - it's not the food quality, it's the climate.
Book accommodations at least 2-3 weeks ahead if you're arriving late March, because Lao New Year in mid-April creates a booking crunch. Hotels fill up with regional tourists and diaspora Lao returning home. Early March is more flexible, but late March gets tight. Prices don't spike much, but availability drops.
The French colonial architecture everyone photographs looks best in early morning or late afternoon light - harsh midday sun washes out the pastel colors. The Presidential Palace, Patuxai monument, and old colonial buildings along Lane Xang Avenue are all better shot before 9am or after 4pm anyway, when it's also cooler.
Tuk-tuk prices in Vientiane are negotiable but follow rough patterns: short trips within central area run 20,000-30,000 kip, longer trips to Buddha Park or airport are 60,000-100,000 kip. Always agree on price before getting in. Grab app works in Vientiane now and shows fair prices, which gives you negotiating baseline even if you take a traditional tuk-tuk.

Avoid These Mistakes

Trying to do outdoor activities during midday hours 11am-2pm - tourists fresh off the plane don't realize how much the heat affects energy levels. You'll see empty streets at noon not because nothing is happening, but because locals are smart enough to be inside. Plan indoor activities (museums, cooking classes, lunch, massage) for these hours.
Overpacking cold weather clothes - some travelers see '22°C low' and pack sweaters. That low temperature happens at 5-6am and warms up fast. You might want long sleeves for air-conditioned restaurants, but you won't need actual warm layers. One light long-sleeve shirt is plenty.
Assuming everything stays open regular hours late March - as Lao New Year approaches in mid-April, businesses start closing early or taking extended breaks in the final week of March. Government offices, banks, and some restaurants have irregular schedules. If you need official business done, don't save it for late March.

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February

Travel guide for February

April

Travel guide for April

Climate Guide

Weather and seasonal patterns for Vientiane

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