This paper treats an adaptive finite-element method for the viscous compressible flow governed by Navier-Stokes equations in two dimensions. The numerical algorithm is the two-step Taylor-Galerkin mettled using unstructured triangular grids. To increase accuracy and stability, combined moving node method and grid refinement method have been used for grid adaption. Validation of the present algorithm has been made by comparing the present computational results with the existing experimental data and other numerical solutions. Four benchmark problems are solved for demonstration of the present numerical approach. They include a subsonic flow over a flat plate, the Carter flat plate problem, a laminar shock-boundary layer interaction. and finally a laminar flow around NACA0012 airfoil at zero angle of attack and free stream Mach number of 0.85. The results indicates that the present adaptive triangular grid method is accurate and useful for laminar viscous flow calculations.