Parkson Mall Starbucks in Vientiane — The Current State of Laos' Most Plausible Shopping Mall Before Kok Kok Mega Mall Appeared

When looking for a place to open your laptop in Vientiane, you eventually narrow it down to just a few spots. I came to Parkson Mall again this time. This glass building stands on…

Vientiane Capital · Dongpalantha Hom 1

When looking for a place to open your laptop in Vientiane, you eventually narrow it down to just a few spots. I came to Parkson Mall again this time. This glass building stands on a major road branching toward ITECC on the eastern side of downtown Vientiane—and it was the most legitimate shopping mall in Laos until Kok Kok Mega Mall appeared. Now that everyone has flocked to the new mall, this place has definitely become quieter, but for those coming here to work, that's actually turned into an advantage. When you sit at the Starbucks on the second floor, there's barely any noise.

Standing at the main entrance, the building's size strikes you first. In the middle of the glass facade hangs a large 1664 BLANC advertisement, and below it, a PARKSON sign sits alongside Lao script ຜາກສັນ. Above the entrance is a Pepsi advertisement banner, and on the right glass is a NAGA information point with Chinese text alongside. This Chinese signage perfectly encapsulates the character of this mall.

Plaza in Front of the Building — The Lack of Shade Is the Real Downside

The first impression of Parkson Mall is "spacious," but that spaciousness becomes a liability in the plaza. There are neither trees nor canopies in the tiled plaza in front of the main entrance. Walking those few dozen meters from a tuk-tuk to the entrance on a dry-season afternoon is more grueling than you'd think, so it's better to tell your driver to drop you right under the entrance awning.

Walking along the first-floor exterior wall, Lotteria window ads line up in succession. GIANT DOUBLE BURGER, BULGOGI BURGER, FINGER CHICKEN FULL PACK—if you're Korean, you can read all the menu names. Lotteria in Laos is a franchise operated by Sokxay Group. Next to it stands a white-lettered sculpture reading I ♥ LAOS / PARKSON, but few people stop to take photos. The Chinese New Year decorations (red lanterns) stuck on the glass were still there when I visited, even though the season had passed. These details tell you about the mall's current state.

Location & Accessibility — You'll Miss Out If You Only Look at This Mall

Viewing the entire mall from across the street gives you a better sense of its scale. On the left stands an independent KAI TEA bubble tea shop (with "Fresh Tea, Healthy, Happiness" written on the window), and to the right are a large OPPO Reno8 series advertisement and a Vientiane Ngamta Cosmetics sign side by side. In front of the mall, motorcycles are packed densely on the sidewalk, with 60% OFF banners lined up. The road has a 20km/h speed limit sign.

Coming from downtown Vientiane (around Nampu Fountain or Talat), it's easiest to grab a tuk-tuk or use the LOCA app. It's not a walkable distance. Prices vary depending on negotiation and time of day, so I'd recommend checking the app fare once and comparing it with tuk-tuk prices. Since there's plenty of motorcycle parking space nearby, if you're someone who rents a scooter, this place is actually more convenient.

First-Floor Lobby — The Floor's Shine Catches Your Eye Before the People

Opening the door, the air conditioning hits you instantly. On days over 30 degrees outside, this temperature contrast feels welcoming at first, but after sitting for about two hours, you'll regret not bringing a light jacket. The lobby has high ceilings, and the marble floor bounces the light from the glass ceiling so directly that the floor's reflection catches your eye before the people.

Apply for the Digital Immigration Form (LDIF)

Deep inside the first floor, a large Lotteria store holds court. The menu board has photos for everything, so even if you don't know Lao, you can just point. When I visited, someone was setting up a photo shoot with a sculpture hanging red lanterns in one corner of the lobby, but there were only a few staff members and a handful of passersby. This is about the crowd density you get at Parkson on a weekday afternoon.

Starbucks — The Reason I'm Writing This

Taking the escalator up, Starbucks comes into view right ahead. The wood-toned facade features a large green siren logo, and next to it is a LUKFOOK JEWELLERY store. Standing at the entrance is an A-frame sign that reads "HELLO, LAOS. WE ARE SO GLAD TO MEET YOU." Since Starbucks hasn't been in Laos for that long, that greeting seems to have stayed intact.

This is the heart of this piece. This Starbucks is truly an excellent spot to open your laptop and work in Vientiane. The reason is simple: there are no people. As crowds shifted to Kok Kok Mega Mall, all of Parkson became quiet, and the seating area outside the store is completely empty. In that wide marble floor in the photos, there was just one cleaning cart and a handful of people. Inside the cafe, there's no competition for seats, so I was able to claim a spot by the wall with an outlet.

Impressions After Actually Working There

• Noise: Apart from the store's music, there's barely any human chatter. You won't feel self-conscious making phone calls or video calls. However, seats near the escalator do pick up mechanical sounds.
• WiFi: Text work and email were fine. If you're going to do large uploads, it's safer to prepare a Lao telecom SIM for tethering as a backup.
• Outlets: They're available at wall-side seats. They're not at every table, so check before claiming your spot.
• Air Conditioning: It's strong. I sat for three hours in a t-shirt and my shoulders got stiff. A long-sleeve is essential.
• Downside: The number of seats isn't huge, and the tables are a bit small for spreading out both a laptop and papers. If you like to work with everything laid out, this might feel cramped.

The price is definitely on the expensive side by Lao standards. When street-side Lao coffee costs just a few thousand kip, a Starbucks drink is many times that. But I don't think of it as "coffee price"—I think of it as "a few hours' rental of a quiet desk with the AC running." Calculated that way, you won't find many workspaces in Vientiane with this kind of value. Since prices change seasonally, I'd recommend checking the menu board on the spot.

The coffee tastes the same as Starbucks anywhere else, so there's not much to say about it. But if you're exhausted from the heat when you arrive, Frappuccinos definitely feel better than hot drinks. As you can see in the photo, the whipped cream comes piled full in the dome lid, but in Laos' heat, it starts melting within five minutes. If you're going to take a photo, do it right after you get it.

Upper Floors — The Eerie Silence Created by the Empty Atrium

Holding my coffee, I looked up from under the atrium. The curves of the floor railings connect via brass handrails, making four floors overlap in view. The ceiling features wood louver finishes with lights dotted throughout, and sky light filters through the gaps. Design-wise alone, it doesn't pale in comparison to malls in Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur.

The problem is that there are barely any people in this space. It was so quiet you could hear the red lanterns hanging from the lower floor swaying. For the mall, it's a sign of crisis, but for people like me, this silence is precisely what makes this place valuable. If you come to shop, you might be disappointed. If you come to work, you'll be satisfied—that's exactly what Parkson Mall is like now.

Good to Know Before You Go

• Store configuration and business hours can change by floor. In particular, the cafe closes on schedule with the store, so if you're planning to work late, it's best to ask about closing time on the day and secure a seat accordingly.
• While some stores accept cards, cash (kip) is still more convenient at many places in Laos. It helps to have a reasonable amount of kip on hand.
• Cheaper alternatives like Lotteria and KAI TEA are in the same building and right next door. On days when Starbucks prices feel steep, you can buy bubble tea at KAI TEA and sit on a bench inside the mall.
• If your purpose is shopping, honestly, Kok Kok Mega Mall has better store offerings. Parkson has changed character—it's now a place you come to when you need a "quiet indoor space."

For people staying in Vientiane for extended periods, the most frustrating lack is always "a place to sit and work." Riverside cafes are pretty but hot and spotty on WiFi, while downtown local cafes have cramped seating. Between these options, the second-floor Starbucks at Parkson seems like it'll become my default for a while. I think of it as buying air conditioning and quiet for the price of a coffee, and I'll definitely be bringing my laptop here again.