Lani's House By The Ponds — Hotel in Vientiane Capital

|We had hoped to change some money at the airport on arrival early evening but only one bank was sort of open but staff had decided to go for a break with no notification of time of return. Suffice it to say that you will quickly be made aware of other ‘facilities’ to change money at the small airport, so make sure you know the exchange rate. Just as well as we discovered that we had arrived on the first day of a 3-day holiday with no banks open. Remember you are in old Soviet-style communist country and flags displaying the hammer and sickle are everywhere, though you are free to move around but read up on changing money before you go.||The hotel is as described, set down a lane a short walk from the main road and is quiet (and safe) but is very central and the convenience is a real plus for the hotel, especially given the heat – see the following paragraphs. The hotel is just about a 3-star and is a converted house. We had a family room on the ground floor which was spacious and clean but was basic and the beds are OK. The toilet/shower was a nice size and whilst the shower head was simple, the water pressure was good and the shower had its own heater, making for a very nice shower in the morning/evening. Wifi was good, as was the aircon, a good sized ‘fridge and tea/coffee maker, drinking water provided every day, so the room was comfortable enough. Hand your room key in at reception when you leave in the morning and your room will be cleaned. Breakfast was included and was a surprisingly good mixture of eggs, veg, fruit, bread and tea and coffee. The verandah, for breakfast, was outside and as the hotel immediately adjoins a small temple, the view was very pleasant, along with the garden and ponds. The hotel does not offer a washing service but turn left at the end of the lane and you will find a couple of places nearby which will do the washing for you at a very reasonable price. A special mention has to be made of Lai, a very pleasant man who seems to run the hotel almost singlehandedly but who was helpful at all times, so our thanks to him.||What you really need to remember, for those who have visited Thailand, is that Laos is the poor relation in many respects and Vientiane does not have much to offer for sightseeing (apart from wats/temples) or shopping, though the people can be pleasant. Food is just not to the same standard as Thailand though we did find one restaurant with nice local food nearby (see my separate report on the Baan Maii 2 Restaurant) and which we eat at regularly after being disappointed at other places. ||You turn right at the end of the lane and then left at the first crossroads, very close, and you will find restaurants, shops, massage joints etc and a night market with all the usual stalls selling clothes etc at the end of the road. Turn right at the same crossroads and you will find a supermarket and pharmacy nearby, along with restaurants etc; you will also find a night market with stalls selling food. If you want temples, the hotel immediately adjoins a small temple, there is another temple opposite at the end of the lane and more close by to both the left and right which are worth a visit as you walk along the road. Transport by tuk tuk is easily available and Lai will advise on costs.||Can I recommend this hotel and would I stay there again – an easy yes to...

Lani's House by the Ponds is a peaceful boutique hotel located on Setthathirat Road in central Vientiane, just a short walk from the Mekong Riverbank and nearby temples. The property is surrounded by a lush garden with many trees, providing a calm and green atmosphere in the city.

We stayed 3 nights in an upper-floor room with a large balcony, which was comfortable and equipped with air conditioning, ceiling fans, and Wi-Fi, though there is no TV, electric kettle, minibar, or other entertainment. Room rate was 80 USD per night.

The hotel is run by only one receptionist and his wife, so service can feel limited. Professionalism could be improved, and cleanliness could be better maintained. Breakfast is included, consisting of bread, eggs, fresh fruit, tea, coffee, and lime juice, but there is no other food or beverage service, and there is no pool, gym, or additional entertainment.

Payment was a bit inconvenient — they could not accept BCEL QR, so we finally paid via bank transfer. They do accept cash and cards.

Overall, Lani's House by the Ponds is a quiet and green retreat in the heart of Vientiane, ideal for travelers looking for a short,...

I stayed at Lanis by the Pond as a solo traveller. Very convenient location a few mins walk from the food night market, Hard Rock Cafe for live music, etc. This is a little haven in the city, next to a wat and surrounded by greenery. Breakfast on the terrace was calming with generous portions of eggs, fruit, warm fresh bread and a cafetière of coffee. My room was large, clean, good aircon, a generous number of water bottles. Just need to bring your own toiletries, soap provided only which was fine. Would recommend this place for the location, generous breakfast, good sized and comfortable rooms for a...