Lao National Museum, Vientiane (2024) - Images, Timings

Lao National Museum, Vientiane Overview

The Lao National Museum is located in the capital city of Vientiane in Laos. It houses the history of Laos and elaborate details of the events that shaped the history of this country. It is one of the attractions worth exploring for tourists visiting Vientiane to get to know and understand the rich history and culture of Laos.

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Best time to visit

The best time to visit Laos National Museum is during the afternoon so that you can escape the hot weather outside.

Lao National Museum History

The Laos National Museum was established in 1925. It is built in typical French colonial style of architecture as it was built during the French occupation of Laos for administration and residence of French Governor. It is an important building in Laos history because this was the place where the independence of Laos was declared.

The building then served various purposes. It functioned as the headquarters of Laos government, and also as the prime minister's office until 1975. In 1980, the building was converted to exhibit the revolution of the 1970s. And in 1985, it was transformed into a museum. The present version of Laos National Museum was inaugurated in 2000.

Significance

The museum showcases the history of Laos, the struggle for freedom from colonization and communism, the story of the wars the country fought and its devastating impact. There are sections also dedicated the culture and traditions in Laos.

Exhibits

The Laos National Museum is home to over 8000 artefacts acquired from across the country. Prominent among the collections include the artefacts about the Siamese invasion in the 19th century and the Vietnam war. The ground floor houses the mysterious Plain of Jars, obtained from northern Laos. Notable collections also include evidence about the Khmer culture in the south of Laos and the evolution of communism in the country.

How To Reach Lao National Museum

Lao National Museum is located on Thanon Samsentha road in the city centre of Vientiane. It takes about 30 minutes to get there on foot. You can also get there by hiring a Tuk-Tuk for about 5 USD for a round trip that can be shared as well. Or you can rent a motorbike daily for about 8 USD per day that would also give you the flexibility to combine multiple attractions.