A Visit to Vientiane

Last month, when I visited Vientiane, the capital of Laos, I did not see any McDonald’s, Jollibee, or any other fast food restaurant that’s a staple in major cities of the world. What I noticed was the presence of Buddhist temples in every road, an obvious indication that majority of the people there are followers of Buddha.

Pha That Luang, the Buddhist monument
and national symbol of Laos

Aside from the temples, another famous landmark of Vientiane is the Patuxai Victory Gate or Monument in the middle of the Patuxai Park. The monument was built in honor of the people of Laos who fought against France for their independence. It is similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris but the artwork is Laotian. My friend and I paid an entrance fee of 3,000 kip (about 40 US cents) to climb the tower where we had a spectacular view of the city.

Patuxai Victory Gate

View of Vientiane from the rooftop of Patuxai Victory Monument

A visit to Vientiane would not be complete without a stroll at the banks of Mekong River. We strolled at sunset and saw long rows of red tents for the night market. There are numerous food stalls where people can choose a variety of seafood (big tilapia, clams, squids, shrimps) and meat (beef, pork, chicken, frog) for dinner by the river. Plastic tables and chairs are set in the open air for dining. A few mats with pillows are laid on the floor for those who prefer a more relaxed dining. Next to the food stalls are the tents where locals sell clothes, bags, paintings, and other souvenir items. Further down, there was a group of people engaged in aerobic exercises.

Sunset at Mekong River

Dining at Mekong River

According to a friend who has been working in Vientiane for some years, tourists usually just pass through this city before going to the more popular destination Luang Prabang, the former royal capital. Vientiane is so small that it can be explored on foot, by tuk-tuk, or by bike. Food and accommodation are inexpensive. Local food is good, a bit spicy but flavorful.  

There are no direct flights going to Laos from the Philippines and I had to take a flight first to Bangkok before catching the plane to Vientiane. Though there are no direct flights going to Laos from the Philippines, once you’re in Vientiane, if you have the time and patience for long trips, you could cross-country to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.

At Mekong River where you can see Thailand, which is
just across the river
This photo courtesy of B. Lee