Chao Anouvong Stadium (Vientiane)

Chao Anouvong Stadium, also known as Laos National Stadium, is a stadium that was built in 1950 and is located in the centre of Vientiane, the capital of Laos.

From 2008 the venue was used for matches of several sides in the Lao League, with Lao Army FC winning the title that season. The 2008-09 season in the league was x called off as players from each participating club had been called up to represent the nation’s under-23 side in the SEA Games. 

Vientiane FC, former champions in 2005 and 2006 are one of the clubs who used the stadium for their home matches in 2010. The New Laos National Stadium was built outside the city in 2009, which saw several clubs use that as their base.

The 2013 season saw the Anouvong Stadium play host to the home games of Lao Lane Xang FC, Hoang Anh Attapeu, and Eastern Star FC. SHB Vientiane was formed in 2013 as SHB Champasak before changing its name in 2015 while moving into Anouvong Stadium.

They disappeared off the radar in 2016 with Lao Toyota becoming tenants of the venue. DK FC moved in for the 2017 campaign, remaining there the following season, before the stadium no longer staged Lao League games, with the newer arena being preferred.

The stadium was still used by locals looking to keep fit and running on the track, but it fell into a state of disrepair. However, Japanese investment saw the start of a refurbishment from the start of 2025 which would see facilities renewed and the whole complex to be renovated. 

Much of the work would allow more disabled athletes to compete and train as accessibility would be improved and it would become barrier-free.

My visit

Thursday 26th December 2024

Boxing Day means football to me, no matter where in the world I happen to find myself. The Lao League was on its mid-season break having adopted the European calendar post-Covid. I tried in vain to try and find any friendly games taking place. 

Not to worry. Vientiane had been an outstanding night out, one of my better Christmas Day evenings. Our hotel was interesting, to say the least, and was probably as well we were only there for one night. I’m glad my wife and I have a good sense of humour.

It was the first time I’d slept on a bed propped up by a pile of bricks. It certainly meant that some early morning walking to blow away the cobwebs was no inconvenience as I left Taew to pack ready for my return. 

Chao Anouvong Stadium was around ten minutes away from our accommodation. I feared the worst as I walked along Rue Nokeokoummane and saw locked gates ahead as I walked past the National Tennis Club. However, a small pedestrian gate was open.

The courtyard had a statue, and the whole place looked like an ideal inner-city venue. It showed signs of staging big events with the ticket office windows the front wall still intact, if requiring some attention to them. Access inside the arena was simple, and several early morning joggers were using the track. 

It was certainly a mess, but with the investment and plenty of work, it could be revived. Personally, I hope it returns as a venue for the Lao League. Who wants to travel several miles out of town when there is somewhere within walking distance of the city centre?

I headed back and found a superb coffee shop under what looked like a decent hotel, with my latte piping hot and croissants available, something not always the case in Thailand. The French influence on Laos certainly seemed to live on.