Despite being the capital of Laos, Vientiane isn't exactly a bustling metropolis.

That's probably a good thing, or at least I thought so.

The main attraction in Vientiane is the Pha That Luang; a fairly large gold stupa. The second most famous attraction is probably the Patuxai (which I may have spelled incorrectly) -- a triumphal arch similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris (that's not a mere coincidence either). You can see both in less than an hour, and it makes a nice outing for the morning. There is also a pretty nice park along one section of the Mekong, complete with a path and benches, that makes for a truly excellent early morning stroll or jog -- it's just a block away from the Lane Xang hotel (which should be easy to find, even if you're not staying there).

Compared to other SE Asian cities, Vientiane seems practically abandoned. The traffic is fairly light, and it just somehow seems like there aren't quite enough people around. Since my friend & I were only in Vientiane so that we could get to Luang Prabang, we didn't spend a huge amount of time exploring the city -- we tended to stick to the streets immediately off the Mekong.

So, by now you're probably wondering why I rated Vientiane so highly. The reason is simple: there are some REALLY nice restaurants on the bank of the Mekong. They look like grass huts (which, in essence, they are), and there's a whole strip of them -- they all open later in the day, so do your sightseeing in the morning and then swing on over.

These restaurants offer a wide array of foods; try to find one that has multiple Lao specialties on the menu, as the quality is likely to be better. Next, order some Laap (I liked the chicken), some form of rice (I recommend sticky rice) and at least one Beerlao.

The laap is fabulous, outrageously spicy (*not* just hot -- simply laden with spices), and the Beerlao is 5% and cheap (tasty too!).

It's a great way to spend an afternoon. Watch the sun set over the Mekong, and then see the lights in neighboring Thailand flick on as evening comes.

There are certainly worse ways to spend a day.

I just wish that I could find Laap like that in the U.S., and I miss Beerlao so much I think I might have to start an import/export company for the sole purpose of providing myself with a steady supply. I really miss those restaurants -- the food took forever to get, but that's because everything was outrageously fresh, and the dishes just took forever to make. The wait was worth it, and the Beerlao was cold.

Sigh.



Recommended: Yes