Nam Phou Square and Fountain

Nam Phou Square is an open civic space in central Vientiane, arranged around a fountain and a small public park. It is best understood as a public square rather than a single monument: water, planted areas, walking paths and the surrounding city meet in one recognizable urban setting. The name Nam Phou is commonly associated with the fountain that gives the square its identity.

After a period under private concession, the Lao government returned the Nam Phou area to public use and renewed the square. The country’s official tourism authority reports that the refreshed space includes green areas, trees and public seating, with the fountain again part of an accessible civic place. The site covers about 4,000 square metres. In 2017, the area had been converted into a live-music venue with restaurants and bars; it was later used for other purposes. Its return to public use restored the square as a place open to residents and visitors.

Nam Phou also works as a useful point of orientation in the capital’s historic centre. The state news agency KPL describes Nam Phou public park as the centre of a heritage route linking important cultural and historic buildings within roughly a two-kilometre radius. That places the square in a wider walking context: visitors can pause by the fountain, use the planted space for a short rest, then continue toward the nearby streets and landmarks of Vientiane. The square’s value comes from this combination of a recognizable fountain, a public green space and its position among the city’s historic surroundings.

Address

Nam Phou Public Park, central Vientiane, Vientiane Capital, Laos

On the map