Laos – Primal Tennis

For me, visiting and playing tennis in Vientiane, Laos, was a dream come true. Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, is a hidden gem travel destination bordering the Mekong River that separates Laos from Thailand. In Vientiane, Laos, the top tennis clubs for visitors are the Vientiane Tennis Club, Anothai Sporting Club, Alley 8 Tennis, Phupha Tennis Club, Vasy Sports Center, and Nongbone Tennis Club. There is also pickleball played at Pickleball Vientiane, Anothai, and Le Society Sports Lounge & Cafe (MITS Pickleball). During my visit to Vientiane, I enjoyed visiting all the top tennis clubs I could find throughout the city. I was pleasantly surprised to see a passionate and thriving tennis community in a country not well-known for its tennis. In this article, I'll offer my feedback and key features of each tennis club, allowing you to pick the perfect one, whether you're just visiting or settling down permanently. Later on, I'll also advise on where to stay and things to do in Vientiane if you are visiting, including my favorite hotel and areas to check out. Vientiane Tennis Club Vientiane Tennis Club is perhaps the best-located tennis club if you are visiting Vientiane. Most tourists, including myself, find accommodation along the Mekong River near the night market. I could walk to the Vientiane Tennis Club in 20 minutes from my hotel. Some other clubs on this list may be one hour or more walk from the night market. The Vientiane Tennis Club has two hard courts, a pro shop, a two-story deck, a restaurant, and lighting for night play. They have a few tennis pros or hitters on call if you want to hire someone for lessons or hitting. In the pro shop, they have all the equipment you need to play. By the way, I play tennis with Rafael Nadal's racquet, which is available on Amazon - Babolat Pure Aero Rafa OriginTennis Racquet. Anothai Sporting Club I was very impressed with the quality of Anothai's tennis facility. From the pro shop to the court surfaces, everything here is top-notch. Anothai is the second closest tennis facility to the night market. I walked there in about 40 minutes. Me, taking a selfie in the Anothai clubhouse. View of the indoor tennis facility at Anothai. Anothai has the most covered courts in Vientiane, allowing for good play during rainy days. They have three indoor hardcourts, lighting, a great pro shop, and tennis pros. The club also features indoor pickleball, basketball, and a climbing gym. Want to play pickleball in Vientiane? Check out my article: Where To Play Pickleball In Laos: A Guide For Visitors Alley 8 Tennis If you're staying in the tourist area, you should book a taxi or rent a motorbike to reach Alley 8 Tennis. However, the trip would definitely be worthwhile because Alley 8 is one of my favorite tennis facilities in Vientiane. Alley 8 main gate and entrance. Me, on Alley 8 hardcourt. Me, at Alley 8 covered red clay court, Lao's first clay court. Alley 8 advertises that it is home to Lao's first-ever clay court, which I visited, as you can see in the photo above. The red clay court is covered with a roof, allowing play during rain. They also have one nice hardcourt. Phupha Tennis Club Like Alley 8 Tennis, Phupha Tennis Club is a bit of a trek if you're coming from the night market tourist area. However, Phupha has the most beautiful scenery and surroundings of any tennis facility I visited in Laos. Check out my magazine-esque quality photo below. Phupha main entrance and sign. Incredible photo I took on one of Phupha's hardcourts. Phupha Tennis Club has three hardcourts, a pro shop, and tennis professionals on-call. It is a local favorite that is hidden off the beaten track. I drove there on a motorbike that I rented and almost got lost. But when I finally found it, I was sure glad I did! *Are you going to visit Luang Prabang? Check out my guide to tennis there: Tennis in Luang Prabang, Laos: A Guide For Visitors Vasy Sports Center Vasy Sports Center was recommended to me by a local expat. And he was right. Vasy has two beautifully well-maintained red clay tennis courts. In my opinion, Vasy has the nicest tennis courts in Vientiane, but they are not the cheapest either. Me, taking a selfie in the Vasy Sports Center parking lot. Very well maintained and beautiful red clay courts. Like Alley 8 and Phupha, Vasy is not walkable from the tourist area of town. You'll need to hire a taxi or drive to get to it. But if you want to treat yourself to the best courts in Vientiane, go for it! NongBone Tennis Club Nongbone Tennis Club sign. Nongbone's one hardcourt is in decent shape. Nongbone is another tennis facility that I checked out. It is a small facility, having only one tennis court, but it is well-maintained and in good shape. For an authentic, local vibe, consider checking it out. Where To Stay In Vientiane My morning view from the Sunset Mekong Apartment/Hotel in Vientiane, Laos. I highly recommend checking out the Sunset Mekong Apartment (link to book on Agoda), where I stayed for almost a week. Although it says "apartment," you can book short stays at a daily rate, similar to a hotel. The rooms are excellent, with a comfortable bed, hot water, air conditioning, a kitchen, and a friendly staff. You can even stay there long-term if you want to live in Laos for a few months. It is located just a few minutes walk from the night market and is right on the Mekong River, with a view of Thailand on the other side of the river. Want to play with Roger Federer's racquet? Check it out on Amazon: Wilson RF 01 Pro Unstrung Performance Tennis Racket My Favorite Things To Do In Laos Me, Feeding elephants in Luang Prabang. While Vientiane is an excellent place for a few days or weeks, you'll definitely want to visit Luang Prabang, a cozy, off-the-beaten-path town. Luang Prabang is a Unesco World Heritage Site, an honor given to cities that are special historically and culturally. In Luang Prabang, I went on one of the best tours of my life, called the 1 DAY Mekong Cruise to Pak Ou Caves, Kuang Si Waterfalls, & Local Villages (link to book on Viator). The tour included lunch at an elephant sanctuary, impressive waterfalls, a sunset cruise on the Mekong River, and visiting the Pak Ou caves.