Vientiane, Laos City Travel Information
The Pha That Luang Temple, the national symbol of Laos.
City Description:
Vientiane stands out as the quiet capital of South East Asia. It is a refreshing stop after spending time in any of the other hectic capitals and major cities in the region. The traffic isn't slammed, the people live life at a slower pace and the amount of hassle you'll receive on the streets by touts is close to none.
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City Highlights:
At night a ton of locally owned and operated restaurants open up along the Mekong River. The food they serve is fantastic, the prices are great and the atmosphere is very, very relaxing. The restaurants are all open air and you sit on little cushions on the bare floor just like the locals when you eat. It is quite the experience and not to be missed on any trip to Vientiane.
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City Lowlights:
Getting to Vientiane can be difficult. The buses from other South East countries take quite awhile to arrive in Vientiane and flights exist, but are far from cheap compared to other flights in the region.
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Restaurants:
Throughout the city you can find many local eateries serving Laotian fare, however the best restaurants can be found directly on the Mekong River. They serve fresh food at great prices in an amazing atmosphere.
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Nightlife:
There are a good number of bars and clubs directly in front of the Mekong River as well as a couple inland, however the nightlife here isn't as raucous as it is in neighboring Thailand (with the added bonus of a much lower number of sex tourists).
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Public Transport:
The easiest way to get around the city is by "Tuk Tuk" which is a three wheeled motor bike that has a bench seat on the back two wheels. They also have taxis and a bus system.
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The People:
The people in Vientiane were very friendly and relaxed. I almost felt like I was at a beach town by the slow pace of life here and the attitude that came with it.
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Sights:
Vientiane has a good deal of temples and Stupas to check out with the most revered one being the Pha That Luang Temple, which is also Laos's national symbol. Besides that they have a couple of parks, the Mekong River and a museum or two.
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My Thoughts on this City:
I really enjoyed my time in Vientiane. It was so surprisingly chill which was very uncharacteristic for a capital city in South East Asia. Days were spent lounging around the city checking out some of the temples in the area while nights were spent relaxing with some great local food at one of the many local run, open-air restaurants on the Mekong River. I greatly enjoyed my time here. As for how to budget your time, I would be willing to say that three to five days would be enough for most.
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