Vientiane - Please Don't Rush!
The full name of Laos is the Lao People's Democratic Republic or Lao PDR for short. Vientiane is the capital city, sitting on the banks of the Mekong river not far from Nong Kay in Thailand on the opposite riverbank. Vientiane has a sizeable expatriate community and the running joke amongst them is that the PDR in Lao PDR stands for Please Don't Rush.
One of the most attractive things about Vientiane is that things happen at t very slow pace. There is no rush, things will happen when they happen. It is such a delight to be part of it, especially when you have come from one of the western countries where people seem to have lost sight of what life is about and have let the 'rat race' impact on every aspect of their life and not just work. Well, there is none of that nonsense in Vientiane and long may it continue!
As a tourist location, Vientiane does not offer much for those who want to see ancient sites, spectacular monuments and a fun-filled tourist trail. It is not that type of city. If truth be told, the tourist sites could probably be done in a day, two days at most! But we love it and here is why.
Vientiane is a cool town that has an excellent vibe to it. Good bars, great restaurants, superb people and even a selection of night clubs. What's more, if you hit town at the right time (when the That Luang Festival, October Boat Festival, Lao New Year) then you will find a city engulfed in an enormous celebration in which everyone is welcome and no-one can avoid. Food and drink is exceedingly cheap in Vientiane, including the menus in restaurants that cater for the higher end of the market. French cuisine is also extensively on offer in the city centre, alongside tasty traditional Lao food.
It is also an excellent base to explore the surrounding countryside as well as arrange your trip to Vang Vieng, which is popular with backbackers and those who enjoy the great outdoors and watersports.
Things to do in Vientiane
- Visit the Swedish Bakery for pizza that will satisfy the hunger of any person, followed by some traditional swedish cakes.
- Go for a drink at Jazzy Bricks or Martini, two of the most stylish bars in town, to mix with young professional laoations. Upstairs at Martini you can watch movies whilst lounging on comfy sofas.
- Check out Khop Chai Deu terrace bar and restaurtant on the corner of Nam Phou square in the town centre. This terrace bar serves traditional Lao food as well as western dishes and live music each night and a pool table. Popular with tourists, expats and locals.
- Go for afternoon tea in the Settha Palace Hotel. This old colonial style hotel is probably the finest in Vientiane.
- Organise a trip to Vang Vieng for a few days of the great outdoors including tubing, kayaking, hill trekking and cafes aimed at backbackers. Vang Vieng is a great spot frequented by locals and tourists alike. Well worth the visit for some spectacular scenery.
- Have a night out at the Don Chan Hotel. On the banks of the Mekong, the Don Chan is the tallest building in Vientiane and cannot be mistaken. The hotel has a night club with an outdoor terrace and is a mecca for tourists seeking a late night drink as well as Lao girls seeking the company of a 'farang'. Open to 2am and gets busy after 11:30pm when the other bars shut.
- Head to Nam Phou one evening to eat one of the many restaurant on the square. A fine selection of restaurants offering a fine dining experience.
- Visit That Luang, one of the countries most famous sites, originally constructed in 1566 by King Setthatirat and restored in the 20th century around 1935.
- Take a trip to the Buddha Park (Wat Xieng Khouang), which is about 30 minutes out of town on the way to the Friendship Bridge) and includes statues that combine Buddhist and Hindu philosophy.
- Visit Wat Ho Prakeo, next to the Presidential Palace in central Vientiane. The Lao Royal family used this temple, which was the home of the emerald buddha stolen by the Thais and now found in Bangkok.
- Visit PakLak, a lively bar on the airport road, past the Novotel, which is popular with tourists and had some cabaret shows at the weekend.
