Chang Palace Vientiane

The breakfast was surprisingly good, with local dishes like noodles, pork and cabbage, and the staff were very nice. My room was huge, though a little old, and the bed was quite hard. The air conditioning was an older model but cooled the room well. It’s an older hotel near the airport, around 8-10 minutes from town by InDrive. A ride to Vientiane city costs 40-50,000 kip (usd 1.80). The hotel is in a pleasant night area, though the streets aren’t well lit. I felt it was very safe, as does the rest of the city. Paying by card was a problem because the machine didn’t seem to work, but the staff kindly let me pay cash after I went to an ATM. They’re also building a new extension at the moment.

The hotel was still quite new when I stayed in July 2017. Rooms are spacious and well equipped, so I thought it was good value, and the staff were friendly. It’s very close to the airport, though away from the main shopping and sightseeing spots. Breakfast was very basic. They offer free daily trips to anywhere you want to go, which is useful if the timing works for you.

I left early and got a refund for the unused part of my booking. I wouldn’t return. The hotel feels worn out and needs a good clean and some care. It’s in Chinatown and geared toward Chinese guests, so if you aren’t Chinese, you may not enjoy it. The breakfast runs for two hours, but honestly I wouldn’t bother. It’s nothing a European would call breakfast.

The staff were helpful and friendly, and the room was neat and clean. The bathroom had both a regular shower and a rain shower, plus soap and a toothbrush. Everything seemed thoughtfully arranged, with a lot of attention to detail.