I'm looking for moderately priced hotels in Vientiane, Laos. Just a simple and clean room, nothing too fancy. Any suggestions? Thanks!

I stayed at the Mali Namphu Guest House at 114 Th Pangkham. Its very close to the centre of Vientiane and clean and comfortable. Cost from memory about $15 per night with a basic breakfast in the courtyard included.

Enjoy Laos!

Thanks silverwool. I just sent them an email so hopefully they will be available.

I've stayed at Mali Namphu too and its a good spot - quite cheap. Last July I stayed at Sala Inpeng which is a very small place - 9 rooms but quite different just a little further from the centre but still just walking distance - quite unique and lovely owners. Something of an oasis in the middle of town. Look them up under http://www.salalao.com/Sala_Inpeng/Content/Roomrate.htm

The other I've stayed at (but a fraction dearer) is the Villa Manoly also a good spot but just a bit further to go. Not that anywhere in Vientiane is that far.

More expensive than the above, but still moderate, is the Taipan. It is very central, right off the river road and a few blocks from the fountain.

Does anyone rent rooms for a longer stay. Say, 6 months? Hotels are great, but I may fall in love with Laos and want to stay a couple of years.

You can rent accomodation for longer periods. Park View apts will rent from anywhere from 1 night to seeral years, but the cost is very expensive - about $1000 a month, I believe. It is not difficult to rent an apt or a house for 1 year. Expect to pay anywhere from a min od $150 for a bed sitter, (which I saw advertised last week), to $4000pm for a huge place with a pool.
You can rent a Laos style place cheaply outside of the centre, but you may have to put up with a Laos kitchen and toilet.

A new apartment hotel has opened up across from the Laos Plaza hotel, but I am not sure of the costs for long term rental. Another option might be to share a house with someone working for an ngo.

By the way, this is an old thread, but I would not stay at any of the places mentioned above. Laos Orchid Hotel has very nice rooms for $45.00pn. Villa Manoly is a restored french colonial villa with a small pool for $30.00pn. The Vayakorn hotel has decent and clean rooms for about $15.00pn. All of these are better choices imo than those posted above.