Somerset Vientiane Stay — Spacious Room and Great Pool, but Shower Pressure Falls Short

When choosing a place to stay for a few days in Vientiane, Laos, I always use the same criteria: is the room spacious, is there running water, and can I swim after 4 p.m.? Somerset…

Vientiane Capital · Somerset Vientiane

When choosing a place to stay for a few days in Vientiane, Laos, I always use the same criteria: is the room spacious, is there running water, and can I swim after 4 p.m.? Somerset Vientiane nailed two out of three. Being a serviced residence, it's more like a 'furnished apartment' than a hotel, and with only SOMERSET / VIENTIANE written on the granite sign beside the main entrance, first-time visitors might need to tell the tuk-tuk driver the name twice.

Somerset Vientiane main entrance with cream-colored six-story building and tiled roof porch, Singapore and Laos flags hanging, and granite sign — Main entrance. An 'OUT' sign marks the left pillar, with a security guard on duty. The Lao signage above the porch and bougainvillea flower beds catch the eye.

Room: Space This Generous at This Price Is Rare in Vientiane

The moment I opened the door after check-in, I thought, "This has a separate living area." Despite being a studio, the bed area, sofa and table area, and dining/work table each occupy different zones. I could unfold my luggage completely and still have a clear walking path. The wall by the bed is painted olive green with two framed pictures—this color alone livens up the room. A black wooden built-in cabinet spans an entire wall, with a luggage rack positioned in front. Open the balcony door and you see a blue glass building directly across—I can't say the view is exceptional.

The floor is entirely tiled, so walking barefoot is pleasant. However, dropping something at night produces a loud echo. The large cylindrical pendant light centered in the ceiling is attractive, but the shade has yellowed, and this single fixture leaves the whole room dim. You need a desk lamp to read comfortably. Details like these reveal the property's age.

Spacious studio room with tiled floor, double bed before olive-colored wall, sofa and low table, unpacked luggage, and black built-in cabinet — Plenty of space even with luggage fully unpacked. The bed, sofa, and dining table occupy separate zones.

And this is the part I must be honest about. The shower pressure is genuinely very low. Water does come out, but it flows at a level where cupping your hands would collect meaningful amounts. With shampoo throughout my hair, rinsing took twice as long, so starting the second day, I switched to removing the shower head from its wall bracket and holding it close to my head to wash. The pressure felt weaker during evenings between 7-9 p.m.—peak shower hours—than during the day. Given the room size and price, I concluded it's tolerable, but if water pressure matters to you, check it immediately after check-in and report any issues to the front desk.

Pool: This Is Where the Real Value Lies

The courtyard pool is impressive from the start. It's not the 'Instagram pool' newer hotels build on rooftops these days, but an actual rectangular pool where you can swim proper laps. The water was so clear the floor tiles were visible beneath the surface, and throughout my four-night stay, I never saw floating debris or fallen leaves. Daily maintenance is evident. A tile-inlaid NO DIVING sign runs along the deck edge, so please respect it.

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Ixora and palm trees grow tall on either side, creating afternoon shade. My favorite time was around sunset. Thanks to the dry season's hazy sky, the sun descends as an orange orb that's not harsh, reflecting plainly across the water. At that hour, almost no one is around, so you can claim a sun lounger. During the day, long-term family guests bring their children out to play.

Large rectangular courtyard pool at sunset with clear water reflecting the sunset, palm trees, white sun loungers on deck, and NO DIVING tile marking — The pool just before sunset. The water is so clear the floor tiles are visible below. The NO DIVING tile lettering marks the front deck.

Breakfast is modest. True to its serviced residence nature, 'simple breakfast' describes it perfectly. You start mornings with bread, coffee, and fruit, then eat proper meals outside—a rhythm that suits this place. From day two on, I'd just have coffee at breakfast and head out for khao piyac (rice noodle soup). Breakfast offerings and service hours vary by season and rate plan, so confirm inclusion when booking—I checked on arrival.

Location and Getting Around

Vientiane itself is small enough that location won't hurt you much, but this property sits on a main road outside the tourist center, not in its heart. Step out the main entrance and you immediately spot the MEKONG HOTEL sign, with a restaurant street featuring Beerlao billboards extending beside it. Sidewalks are intermittent and motorcycles use the shoulder, so avoid the road's inner edge when walking at night. Lanes are wide and traffic lights sparse, so wait for traffic to clear completely before crossing.

Vientiane main road at dusk, four-story building with MEKONG HOTEL sign, tangled electrical wires on pole, passing black Honda vehicle — The main road in front. The MEKONG HOTEL sign and Beerlao billboard across the street, under a dry-season evening's red sun.

I found ride-hailing apps more comfortable than tuk-tuks. With tuk-tuks, foreigners are often quoted fares two to three times the normal price, making negotiation essential, but apps eliminate that step. Fares vary by time and destination, so check the app directly for accuracy.

Parking and Safety

For those with rental cars or vehicles, this is a surprisingly major advantage. The property has a long row of covered parking spaces, protecting your car's interior from Vientiane's brutal midday heat that can turn cabins into saunas. Parked vehicles are mostly white SUVs and pickups—standard models here like Hilux, Pajero Sport, and CR-V. Security staffs the gate, and there's dedicated motorcycle parking. The photo below was taken one evening heading toward the parking area; the sun setting through the frangipani tree branches looked unusually red that day.

Covered parking lot with white SUVs and pickup trucks lined up, red sunset visible beyond frangipani trees — Covered parking lot. Cars heating up less makes quite a difference in this climate.

Summary

What I Liked — Uncommonly spacious room for this price tier, well-maintained large pool, covered parking, quiet courtyard.
What I Missed — Shower pressure. You don't adapt to that in a day or two. Lighting is also dim, and the balcony view faces the building across the street.
Best Suited For — Travelers staying in Vientiane for three nights or longer, whether unpacking to work from the room or staying with children. If you're here just one night before moving on, there's little reason to come this far.

Room rates, breakfast inclusion, and pool hours vary by season, so I recommend confirming them on-site or through your booking platform before reserving. I've written the above based solely on what I observed during my actual stay.