VIENTIANE
TOP 7 TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF VIENTIANE
Vientiane is the capital and largest city of Laos which lies on the banks of the Mekong River, facing Thailand. With a long-standing history, it is now the economic centre of Laos after having been the administrative capital during the French Colonial. Despite having said to be the capital city, Vientiane defies the stereotypical image of a city. In addition to the absence of skyscrapers, it possesses a laid-back and relaxed atmosphere as a quaint and charming city. Vientiane is small enough that it’s not an overwhelming city (population 135,000) and you can find your way around quite easily. If you do get lost, there is usually a Tuk-tuk eagerly waiting to whisk you away to your destination. Vientiane is a clean comfortable city with seemingly several Internet cafes on every block. In that regard, this is a well connected city. There are many amenities setup for tourists here – nice guesthouses, cheap lodging, good restaurants and several sites worth seeing. This is also a fairly safe city. Nice hub to take some time off from moving – and meet other travelers.
1.PUTUXAI VICTORY MONUMENT
Patuxai Victory Monument is one of the best known landmarks in Vientiane and was designed to resemble the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
It is however also carved with symbols of Hindu Gods and has an additional five towers which resemble traditional Laotian buildings making this something of an East meets West kind of attraction.
The monument is part of the wider Patuxai Park and this is a great place to come if you want to go for a serene walk at sunset.
You can also take in the views across Vientiane from the top of the Patuxai Victory Monument either by climbing a set of stairs to the viewing platform or using an elevator.
2.XIENG KHUAN
Xieng Khuan is also known as Buddha Park and is some 25 kilometers outside Vientiane.
As you would guess from the name, is known for having more than 200 religious statues which are scattered all over the lush grounds.
The piece de resistance here is a sculpture of a reclining Buddha which is some 40 meters high and the park was the brainchild of a monk who designed the area in 1958 and who was interested in both Hindu and Buddhist sculpture, which is why you will find a mix of different influences here. As you walk around make sure to look out for the sculpture of Indra who is atop a three headed elephant and who is considered to be the king of the gods in Hinduism.
Other highlights include famous gods on horseback as well as deities with multiple faces and arms.
3.THAT LUANG
That Luang is also called the Vientiane Great Stupa and has the claim to fame of being the most sacred building in all of Laos as well as one of the most picturesque.
The stupa dates from the 16th century and is a large complex that features the central sputa covered in gold leaf which soars to a height of 148 feet.This is then surrounded by pretty turrets in the typical Laotian style and the whole complex is around four kilometers outside of the center of Vientiane so it makes a great place to visit as part of a day trip.
4.WAT HO PHRAKEO
Wat Ho Phra Keo is a Buddhist temple in Vientiane which was built in 1565 and is also one of the most spectacular buildings in the city.
It is famous as it used to be the location of the famous Emerald Buddha statues which was stolen by Laotian royalty from Thailand before being retaken in 1778 and returned. You can still see the statue in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok and the temple in Laos is still known as the ‘Temple of the Emerald Buddha’ in reference to the story of the carving.
Even without the sculpture, this is also a very pretty temple in its own right, so it is well worth a visit.
5.WAT SI MUANG
Wat Si Muang is one of the most popular temples in Vientiane and is a great place to visit if you want to see some of the finest Laotian Buddhist design work in the country.
The temple takes its name from Si Muang who, local legend has it, was a young Laotian woman who sacrificed herself to please the local gods and allow for the building to be erected some 400 years ago.
The design features of the temple are truly stunning and you will also be able to watch long streams of pilgrims here worshipping at the temple.
6.WAT SI SAKET
Wat Si Saket has the claim to fame of being the only surviving temple in Laos from before the invasion of Siam in 1828. Unfortunately much of the city was razed to the ground at this time, but the temple managed to avoid being demolished and you can come here to check out the 5,000 sculptures of the Buddha for which it is also famous.
Other design points to look out for also include the yellow pillars that hold up the roof of the temple which is itself painted a vibrant shade of red.
7.THE COOPERATIVE ORTHOTIC AND PROSTHETIC ENTERPISE
The Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise is also known as COPE and is a charity in Vientiane that aims to treat and rehabilitate locals who have been the victims of unexploded landmines left over from the Vietnam War. There are a number of centers across Laos but you can visit the one in Vientiane which has educational galleries to teach you more about the overall mission of COPE and videos of the work that they do in rural areas of the country. You can also visit the prosthetic making workshops here to learn how artificial limbs are made.
ALL THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE TRAVELLING TO VIENTIANE
Things to do in Vientiane:
- Discover local flavors at the Morning Market
- Find Heaven and Hell at Buddha Park
- A panoramic view of the city from the top of Patuxai
- The Center of Buddhism in Laos, Pha That Luang
- Visit the sacred Temples of Vientiane
- Discover the mighty Mekong River
- Trekking in Phou Khao Khuay National Park
- Appreciate Laos Coffee on a whole new level
- Create your own handicrafts with local artisans
- Learn about the outgoing impact of the Secret War at the COPE Visitor Centre
General information about Vientiane:
The city of 700,000 boasts a colonial past with buildings of French architecture found mainly along the Mekong River and baguettes are sold openly on the streets.
Most businesses operate from 10am till 8pm with the exception of a few outdoor beer gardens that offer a limited night life. There is only one modern shopping centre in Vientiane, which is tiny by Kuala Lumpur’s standard, although the World Trade Centre is near completion.
There are no KFCs and McDonald’s here. The sole international chain is run by Swensen’s with its Pizza Company branches. But therein lies the charm of Vientiane.
Most Lao people speak and understand the Thai language. Many are keen followers of Thai soaps. Both languages share some similarities when it comes to pronunciation. Both nations are overwhelmingly Buddhist where temples dot every city block. However, that is where the similarity ends.
Thai’s laissez-faire attitude towards sex doesn’t apply in Laos. In fact, it is illegal to enter into a sexual relationship with a Lao national outside of marriage.
How to get to Vientiane
You’re most likely to arrive in Vientiane via air or land.
Vientiane’s airport, Wattay International Airport (airport code VTE) is the gateway to Laos. Flights to Vientiane come from other major Asian cities, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Guangzhou, Nanning, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. If coming from further afield, you can connect to Vientiane from one of these cities.
The Laos national airline, Lao Airlines, flies into Vientiane, as do Thai Airways, AirAsia and Vietnam Airlines. Flights are generally very affordable. Having said that, it can be cheaper to fly into the city of Udon Thani in neighbouring Thailand and then cross the border overland via the Friendship Bridge (a journey which takes about 1.5 hours).
Wattay International Airport also services domestic destinations, including Luang Prabang, Pakse and Savannakhet. Flying in Laos is a good option if you’re short on time.
To get from the airport to Vientiane (the airport is just under 4 kilometres from the city centre), you’ll pre-pay for a taxi at the airport at a fixed price; the trip will cost you under US$10.
You can also get to Vientiane by bus. There are three bus stations in Vientiane: the Northern Bus Station, the Southern Bus Station and the Morning Market Bus Station, each of which receives buses from different cities in Laos and around Asia. The bus network around Laos is cheap but keep in mind that timetables change often and journey times can take longer than advertised.
Many guesthouses and hotels will also sell tickets to Vientiane via private minibuses which cost more than the public bus system but are likely to be less crowded and more direct.
THE WEATHER & BEST TIME VISIT VIENTIANE
With a tropical monsoon climate, Laos has a wet and dry season. Vientiane is warm and humid year-round, but the best time to visit Vientiane is between November and February when the days are drier and cooler. Keep in mind, though, that even then the temperatures are in the high 20s/low 30s (Celsius).
The rainy season starts around May and June and lasts until October. In August and September Vientiane can receive up to 300 millimetres of rain, but it usually doesn’t rain all day long, rather the rains come in quick downpours throughout the day.
FOOD & DRINKS
Laos is an exciting country to visit if you’re a foodie and Vientiane is a gateway to Laotian food. You will find all the popular and delicious Laotian foods in the nation’s capital. The Mekong River is the source of much of the food in Southeast Asia, so freshwater seafood is popular. Farming is also extremely common, so meat dishes consisting of pork, beef and chicken are common. In Southeast Asia, you must eat rice with every meal, and Laos is no exception. So, you will be able to try many rice dishes in Laos as well. Noodle soup is a popular breakfast and if you are more adventurous, you can even try eating a number of different insects like crickets or grasshopper. Here’s a look at some foods you must try when you’re in Vientiane.1.Nam Khao
Nam khao is a crispy Lao salad consisting of deep-fried rice balls that are shredded and mixed with various condiments and toppings. Although it appears in numerous regional varieties, besides rice balls, it mostly employs sour som moo pork, sausages, various herbs, and sliced shallots.
The whole salad is often generously seasoned with a flavorful dressing, then topped with chili peppers and chopped peanuts. This nutritious, time-consuming national favorite is easily available at many food stands and grocery stores throughout the country.
2.Khao Niao
Khao niao, meaning sticky rice, is immensely popular in Laos and Northern Thailand as part of the everyday food combinations. It is so deeply embedded in the countries’ culture, the Lao people sometimes refer to themselves as “children or descendants of sticky rice”.
Making the dish involves letting the rice soak in water overnight, then steaming it over a charcoal fire the next morning and putting it in little baskets after it cools down. It is eaten by hand without utensils, either by itself or as a part of a more substantial meal.
It is quite a heavy dish, so the Lao people generally recommend not eating it in the evening.
3.Khao piak
If Vietnam has pho and Japan has ramen, then Laos has khao piak. This rice noodle soup is typically made with a chicken broth and you can have many added ingredients as toppings, such as crispy pork, cubed pork blood and, of course, chopped green onion. It’s a refreshing way to start your day when you are travelling through Laos. Khao piak or rice porridge, are typical breakfasts in Laos.
4.Mekong catfish:
There are plenty of delicious fish to be caught in the Mekong River and one of the most popular is catfish. These fish taste very good grilled and they have a strong, earthy flavour. You can get one of these fish grilled on a skewer on just about every corner. Empty lots in town are filled with makeshift markets, where locals grill these fish on an open flame. It’s a filling meal that will cost you practically nothing.
5. Drink: Beerlao is also a quality and surprisingly delicious and fragrant alcoholic beverage. The beers range from the blond Beerlao Original, Beerlao Gold to the dark Beerlao Dark. It’s more popular among the locals than foreign names such as Tiger Beer and Tuborg.
