The Department of Culture Vientiane Capital reports that the Lao capital welcomed over 2.2 million visitors in the past year.
This exceeds the city’s annual tourism target, generating over US$621 million in revenues.
Per the report released on Tuesday, 27th January, the totals surpassed the 2025 target of two million visitors and US$600 million in revenue.
The report noted that cultural and heritage sites continued to draw strong interest, with Ho Phrakeo Museum, Wat Sisaket, and Pha Thatluang recording over 208,500 visits throughout 2025, with international tourists accounting for the majority.
Exceptional growth
Vientiane’s 2025 performance has come a long way since 2024, when the city recorded around 1.7 million tourist visits and earned over US$490 million in tourism income.
More than 300,000 visitors traveled to the capital’s main tourist sites throughout 2024, contributing over LAK 9 billion (approximately USD 400,000) to the local economy.
Key attractions for the year included Pha Thatluang, Patuxay, Ho Phrakeo Museum, and Wat Sisaket.
On a national level, Laos welcomed close to 4.6 million tourists in 2025.
Next steps
Over the next five years, Laos seeks to attract more than 43 million total visitors nationwide.
The projected target sees the entry of 22 million international tourists, 4.4 million each year, generating at least US$13 billion in revenue.
Looking ahead, authorities are setting their sights on improving tourism standards, preserving cultural heritage, and strengthening management systems to support sustainable growth and maintain Vientiane’s appeal as a key destination.
