Vientiane is hardly one of the nice capitals of the world. At simply over 300,000 people with no main industries, it is not a financial powerhouse. Nonetheless, it’s a comfortable, stress-free place massive sufficient to be of curiosity but remaining intimate. This, mixed with the Laotians’ easygoing angle, makes Vientiane one of the vital drawback-free cities in the world. 

The city sits on a bend of the Mekong River, which forms Laos’ border with Thailand. It is a nice and relaxed place to spend a couple of days. 

Simply wandering around Vientiane's leafy promenades with a mixture of Laotian temples and French colonial buildings, most of them crumbling into decay, pausing at the thatched beer gardens on the river financial institution and the morning market of Dalat Sao, are a joy. No one takes much curiosity in you except you need attention, and no person seems focused on ripping you off. The native markets are a pleasing experience and an excellent place to buy native handicrafts.  

Meals in Laos are just like Thai cuisine: Vietnamese and Chinese language dishes are also common. Laotian espresso is very good. There are a number of good hotels and a spread of international and Laotian restaurants. As is the case in Vietnam, other than the buildings, there may be little left from the colonial interval, but one of the

French legacies are an appreciation of fine meals, and a ubiquitous supply of croissants. 

Though it lacks the heritage websites which are a function of most Asian capitals (most had been destroyed by the Thais in 1827), it has enough to keep you occupied for at least a few days: the relaxing environment usually lures people to remain longer.  

Vientiane can simply be explored on foot or by bicycle to go to its WATS, museums, colonial structure and ‘Buddha Park’. Pha That Luang, 4km from the town centre, is Laos’ most sacred shrine. Constructed in the 16th century, sacked by the Thais in 1827 and restored (badly) by the French in 1900 (they did a better job in an additional restoration accomplished in 1935), it’s interesting rather than spectacular. The bottom of the sputa has walkways and stairs connecting the completely different levels, designed for the devoted to climb. Each degree has completely different architectural features pertaining to Buddhist doctrine. 

Different imposing civic buildings are the unfinished Patuxai monument, paying homage to the Arc de Triomphe, and a brand new Chinese-financed cultural centre. 

The national Lao Revolutionary Museum has an effectively-presented pre-history part; however its fundamental asset is an uncommon collection of a communist propaganda with slogans corresponding to ‘barbaric slavery below the imperial yoke of France’, ‘capitalist working dogs’ and ‘imperialist puppets’. 

The Xieng Khouan (Buddha Park) is an eclectic assemblage of Buddhist and Hindu statues scattered round a riverside meadow, dominated by a big reclining Buddha. A whole bunch of concrete structures combine Buddhist and Hindu philosophies representing quite a lot of deities. Long-established by a self-titled ‘holy man’, the park was created to promulgate his beliefs and to disclose his concepts in regards to the universe.