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Planning to visit Vientiane, the capital city of Laos? This guidebook, with its well-drawn maps and handy travel tips, will help you find places to visit, hotels, guesthouses, transportation, restaurants and the best shopping haunts around.
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| Help Save the Back-striped Weasel! |
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| The Back-striped Weasel (Mustela Strigidorsa) is an enigmatic mammal that can be found in Myanmar, Nepal, north east India, southern China, Vietnam, and Laos. Very little is known about its behaviour and biology because so far, only eight animals of this species have been examined scientifically. It is characterised by a narrow silvery dorsal streak extending from the occiput almost to the root of the tail, and of a corresponding yellowish ventral streak from the chest along the abdomen. It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because it faces a high risk of extinction in the wild. |
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| What's an a4trip guidebook? |
| An a4trip guidebook is a travel guide that'll provide you with the information you'll need to plan your trip and to find your way around. Our guidebooks are downloadable in PDF format, and are designed to be so compact, you can take it with you everywhere you go. |
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Vientiane, located on the banks of the Mekong River, is the capital city of Laos; but unlike other capital cities in the region, it has a more relaxed atmosphere, which makes it very popular with tourists. Here, Buddhism filters through every facet of life, which remains virtually unchanged and rooted in tradition.
A number of impressive temples or wats and religious landmarks dot the city's landscape, the most famous are: Wat Si Saket, which built in 1818, is touted as the oldest standing temple in Vientiane; Haw Pha Kaew, a former royal temple and now a museum of sorts of Buddha images; and Pha That Luang a layered gilded stupa dating back to the 16th century, which is the national symbol and most important religious monument in the country.
To get a feel for Laos' culture and history, do visit the Lao National Museum located at Thanon Samsenthai. Formerly known as the Lao Revolutionary Museum, it houses artefacts from the Stone and Bronze Ages, as well as provides insight to the nation's heroic struggles against the Siamese, French and Americans.
The next stop on your cultural trail should be the National Ethnic Cultural Park, which sits on Thanon Thadeua. On display are sculptures of Lao literary heroes, as well as models of traditional Lao houses and cultural exhibits. The park also includes a small zoo with monkeys, bears and birds, a children's playground, statues of dinosaurs, riverside bars, restaurants and souvenir shops. One of Vientiane's most striking landmarks, is the Patuxai or 'Victory Gate', the local equivalent of Paris' Arc de Triomphe. The concrete monument sits in a tree-lined park complete with fountains, and offers a shady retreat in late afternoons.
If you're up for venturing a little outside the city limits, tour groups will take you on day trips to weaving centres and cooking classes. Two of the most popular stopovers on half-day excursions are: the Buddha Park, an outdoor collection of concrete sculptures of Buddhist and Hindu deities built in 1958 by mystic Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat; and the Ban Hom Tai agricultural village, located 16 kilometers from the city.
On a full-day excursion, you could go trekking at Ban Viemthene, go boat riding on Nam Ngeun Lake or visit the archaeological site of Vangxang. Back in town, there are many street markets to explore, offering up Laotian food and handicrafts such as traditionally-woven silks, tribal jewellery and intricately handwoven baskets. If you like gold and silver, check out Samsenthai Street, which trades precious metals at below market prices. To find the best deals on local silks, head on down to Setthathirat and the Morning Market.
Dining in Vientiane is an experience unto itself because you can dine either on the water or beside it. There are many restaurants on stilts, as well as chilled-out riverside joints serving Laotian, Thai, Southeast Asian and European cuisine. Vientiane is served by the Wattay International Airport, which is located about 4 km west of the city. Within the city, there are bus services and taxis, but you may also like to hire a tuk tuk for a day.
If you're planning to visit Vientiane, you may obtain your Visa through the Lao Embassy or Consulate, or via an eligible tour company. You also have the option of obtaining a Visa upon arrival at the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge and the Wattay airport; this applies for visits not exceeding 15 days. The cost of a Laotian Visa is between US$30 to US$50, depending on the type of Visa required.
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