Experience Two Sides of Laos With Amari

Amari connects a two-stop Laos journey through Vientiane and Vang Vieng, pairing Mekong-side culture and local flavors with mountain scenery, outdoor adventure and riverside stays

Laos is a destination that rewards travelers who slow down. Rather than racing between landmarks, its appeal often lies in the spaces between them: a morning coffee, a local market, an evening beside the river or an unplanned detour into the countryside.

For international travelers, Vientiane and Vang Vieng offer two very different introductions to Laos within one trip. Connected by rail, the capital brings together temples, food and life along the Mekong River, while Vang Vieng shifts the focus to limestone mountains, caves and the Nam Song River.

Amari makes the pairing particularly easy, with Amari Vientiane and Amari Vang Vieng providing two distinct hotel experiences that reflect their respective destinations.

Start With Mekong Life in Vientiane

Vientiane may be the capital and economic and cultural center of Laos, but its atmosphere remains relatively unhurried.

Landmarks such as Pha That Luang, Patuxai and Wat Si Saket provide a starting point, but travelers should also leave room for local markets, small cafés, Lao coffee and cycling through quieter streets. Toward evening, life gravitates toward the Mekong, making the riverfront a natural place to slow down and watch the city shift into its nighttime rhythm.

Food offers another route into local culture, from noodles and river fish to dishes flavored with Lao herbs and ingredients.

Located beside the Mekong River, Amari Vientiane places guests close to these experiences. Approximately 4.8 kilometers from Wattay International Airport, the hotel has 242 rooms and suites, a swimming pool, fitness center and Breeze Spa.

The Amari experience also extends into dining. Amaya Food Gallery combines international and Thai cuisine with dishes influenced by Lao flavors and ingredients, while Stellar Rooftop Bar offers a different perspective on the capital, particularly around sunset when the Mekong becomes the backdrop for evening drinks.

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From the Capital to the Mountains

From Vientiane, travelers can continue by rail to Vang Vieng, where the character of the journey changes almost immediately.

Here, temples and city streets give way to limestone mountains, caves, waterways and open countryside. Kayaking along the Nam Song River and exploring caves offer more active ways to experience the destination, while those looking for a slower stay can make the surrounding scenery the main event.

Set beside the Nam Song River, Amari Vang Vieng has more than 160 contemporary rooms incorporating details inspired by Lao craftsmanship, with views toward the mountains and countryside.

The experience here is naturally more connected to the outdoors. Days can be spent exploring the river and surrounding landscapes before returning to the hotel to relax and dine against a backdrop of mountains and water.

One Amari Journey, Two Sides of Laos

What makes Vientiane and Vang Vieng work together is their contrast.

In Vientiane, the experience revolves around culture, cuisine, temples and the Mekong. In Vang Vieng, mountains, waterways and outdoor adventures take over. Amari’s presence in both destinations helps link the two into a straightforward journey, with each hotel providing a base that responds to its setting.

Both properties follow Amari’s “More of What You Love” philosophy, incorporating food, relaxation, wellness and local experiences into the stay while encouraging guests to explore beyond the hotels themselves.

For travelers considering their first trip to Laos, combining the two destinations offers an accessible way to see more without packing too much into the itinerary: begin with the understated rhythms of Vientiane, take the train north, then change pace amid the mountains of Vang Vieng.

The result is an Amari experience that shows two very different sides of Laos while leaving enough time to actually enjoy both.

[PHOTO: Courtesy of Amari]