A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Vientiane vs. Benxi for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Vientiane or Benxi?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Benxi, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Vientiane or Benxi?

Vientiane

You wouldn't expect the capital city to have such a relaxing environment, but in Vientiane, Laos you can sit back and take in the beautiful scenery without feeling pressure to see every little thing. With Vientiane, what you see is what you get.

While picturesque temples and markets line the streets, the city is still experiencing a successful building boom. Even the Presidential Palace has undergone some hefty renovations.

Benxi

Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vientiane and Benxi, we can see that Benxi is more expensive. And not only is Vientiane much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vientiane would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vientiane and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Benxi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Benxi than you might in Vientiane.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Vientiane Expensive? and Is Benxi Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Vientiane or Benxi?

Benxi has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and Benxi, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Vientiane or Benxi?

Benxi has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Vientiane experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Vientiane or Benxi in the Summer?

Both Benxi and Vientiane are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year.

In the summer, Vientiane is a little warmer than Benxi. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vientiane in July average around 30°C (85°F), and Benxi averages at about 25°C (78°F).

It's quite sunny in Benxi. Vientiane usually receives less sunshine than Benxi during summer. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Benxi receives 214 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Benxi. It's quite rainy in Vientiane. In July, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Benxi. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Vientiane or Benxi in the Autumn?

Both Benxi and Vientiane during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Vientiane because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In October, Vientiane is generally much warmer than Benxi. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 28°C (83°F), and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In Benxi, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Vientiane. In the autumn, Vientiane often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Benxi. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Benxi receives 216 hours of full sun.

Vientiane usually gets more rain in October than Benxi. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vientiane or Benxi in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and Benxi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round.

Benxi can be very cold during winter. Vientiane is much warmer than Benxi in the winter. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Benxi fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than Benxi during winter. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Benxi receives 167 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Vientiane usually receives less rain than Benxi. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Vientiane or Benxi in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as Benxi. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

The heat can be very extreme in Vientiane. In the spring, Vientiane is much warmer than Benxi. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vientiane in April average around 31°C (88°F), and Benxi averages at about 11°C (51°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Benxi. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. In the spring, Vientiane often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Benxi. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Benxi receives 241 hours of full sun.

Vientiane usually gets more rain in April than Benxi. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Benxi and Vientiane