Mandala Boutique Hotel in Vientiane, Laos

There is nothing more satisfying than being greeted by a beautiful and relaxing hotel or guesthouse after a long day of travel. While we were conducting a visa run to Vientiane, Laos, we treated ourselves to a three night stay at the Mandala Boutique Hotel and our experience there is well worth sharing.

The Mandala Boutique Hotel is located off a quiet street roughly 1.5 km from the city center of Vientiane, Laos. This is near the downtown river area and conveniently close to the Royal Thai Consulate. We arrived at a bed and breakfast sporting clean lines, traditional Laotian decor, and well maintained grounds. Two women greeted us at the front desk and allowed us to check in our room early, at noon.

Mandala Boutique Hotel’s Superior Room

We had a great first impression of our room. It smelled fresh and lightly of lemongrass and the decor tastefully reflected nature and Buddhist themes. The sleek teak floors and furniture were clean and the bathroom was stocked with spa-like smelling shampoo and hand soap (no conditioner, though) and good body towels. We were also happy to find hand towels and wash cloths, something Southeast Asian hotels (in our experience ) have lacked.

The bed was very comfortable. Just the right firmness but with soft sheets, and a fluffy duvet. The mini-fridge was stocked with beer, wine, soda, and some snacks (for a small price) and there was complimentary tea, coffee, and a large bottle of drinking water. There were wine glasses in the room, and we were pleasantly surprised that a French press accompanied the small packages of fresh ground coffee. There was also a work station area to set up our laptop.

Bathroom

The Mandala Boutique Hotel is one of the few places we’ve stayed at where both the room and the bathroom were in great condition. Both the sink and shower had hot and cold water temperature controls worked, the water pressure was good, and the shower had both a traditional extendable shower head and a rain shower head. Credit has to be given in that the bathroom had been recently scrubbed free of the mildew that commonly plagues Southeast Asian showers.

Outdoor Seating Area

The Mandala Boutique Hotel has several shaded outdoor seating areas with many chaises and padded benches for lounging or sitting. The open air concept made for a peaceful and pretty walk around the hotel and grounds. The hotel also offers bicycles and umbrellas, free of charge, for those who wish to tour the city on their own schedule. Laundry service is also right outside the gate of the hotel.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served from 7am to 10am in an open-air area separate from the hotel.  There is nice variety of fresh fruit, yogurt, granola, croissant and bread with jam, coffee, and tea to choose from. There is an a la cart menu, which included fried eggs with real bacon; scrambled eggs; omelet with ham, scallions and tomatoes; soup with either rice or rice noodles with chicken, pork, or beef.

Suggestions

We recommend walking barefoot or using slippers throughout the hotel because the wood floors are slick. Avoid wearing socks! Also, bring a plug adapter if you plan to use any electronics with three prongs (i.e., laptop) as the plugs only accept two prongs.

Nearby Attractions

The Mandala Boutique Hotel is about a 10 minute walk west towards the Chao Anouvong Park (featuring the Chao Anouvong Statue). Further west is a strip of restaurant and bars serving both local and non-local cuisine.

There are also food stalls and small shops selling snacks, fruit, and beverages on the way. Along the Mekong River, running parallel with Fa Ngum Road, is a long paved street where many people were riding bikes, skateboarding, walking and jogging, or simply hanging out. Further west is a large playground near some public bathrooms, as well as a large area of red tents selling clothes, souvenirs, paintings, jewelry, and wood carvings.

Location and Contact Information

Address: Baan Phiavat 33 Unit 10, Sisattanak District Vientiane, Laos
Phone: +856 21 214493
Website: MandalaHotel.asia

The Mandala Boutique Hotel helped to make our trip to Vientiane, Laos comfortable and we plan to book them again on future trips. We highly recommend the Mandala Boutique Hotel to anyone visiting Vientiane or who is popping in for a night and looking for a hotel in Vientiane near the Royal Thai Embassy.

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