By Joleen Lunjew
When you arrive at Vientiane, you will be amazed at how laidback the city is compared to the other capitals of South-East Asia.Situated along the Mekong, Vientiane offers many temples as well as riverside stretches where visitors can relax in a restaurant as they watch the sun set over a nice meal.
Don't forget to wash your meal down with cold Lao Beer, the country’s national beer, which could very well be cheaper than mineral water.
Entertainment is limited in the city but there are a few good places if you look hard enough. Mekong Deck, a bistro and bar, is one of the newer establishments along the Mekong riverbank and a great place to chill out and relax with friends under the stars. Language isn’t a problem here, as the place is owned by Malaysians.
The grand Patuxai, Vientiane’s monument of independence.
We stayed not too far away at one of the two five-star hotels in Vientiane, Don Chan Palace, also Malaysian-owned. All the usual five-star amenities are offered here, but if you prefer something with more character and colour, you might want to check out the city’s boutique hotels.
Book yourself on a city tour, or if you are up to it, rent a bicycle and go out and enjoy the sights. It’s practical because the city is really not that big and the weather is just lovely.
There are plenty of temples, of course, with the oldest being Wat Si Saket, now signposted as Sisaket Museum. It is certainly worth a visit. Constructed Bangkok-style, the temple has interior walls that are riddled with small niches housing thousands of Buddha images large and small, made of wood, stone, silver and bronze.
In the centre of the courtyard is a hall that houses yet more Buddha niches and beautiful but fading murals depicting the Buddha’s past lives. The beautiful golden Pha That Luang (Great Sacred Stupa) is the most important national monument in Laos, and is a symbol of both the Buddhist religion and Lao sovereignty.
Legend has it that a reliquary was built here to enclose a piece of the Buddha's breastbone. There are many elderly ladies selling caged birds in the square. Releasing birds back into the wild is supposed to earn you merit, but I didn’t see the point in doing because as the birds will only be caught again in a vicious cycle of amusing the tourists.
For shopping, head to the stalls selling various local handicraft and souvenirs. Make sure to bargain here, as the goods can be cheaper than those sold at the more popular Morning Market.
Patuxai (Victory Gate), Vientiane’s local rendition of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, commemorates Laotians who died in pre-revolutionary wars. It was built in 1969 with concrete the Americans had donated for a new airport, hence the term “vertical runway” for the structure.
You won't feel the climb to the top of this seven-storey building for a view of downtown Vientiane because there are many shops occupying each floor that are bound to make you stop and have a look.
View downtown Vientiane from the top of Patuxai.
Bargain hunters should not miss visiting Talat Sao or Morning Market, a two-storey labyrinth that sells Lao silk, handicraft, jewellery, electronics, clothing, watches, and pretty much anything you can think off. Although slightly more expensive compared than the stalls at other tourist sites, Talat Sao’s goods are still reasonably priced, especially if you bargain.
And the variety here is simply amazing. Don't be fooled by the name as the market opens till late in the evening.
There are many other attractions in and around the city, so be sure to spend a few days here to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and take advantage of the ridiculously low-priced massages.
Yes, go ahead and soak up some history in Vientiane, one of South-East Asia's most laidback capital cities.
AirAsia Go Holiday, a subsidiary of AirAsia, offers holiday packages to Vientiane as well. Book your trip at http://goholiday.airasia.com.
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