Laos Place of Interest

Vientiane - is the capital of Laos with a population of presently 464.000, located on the bank of the Mekong River. Most travelers are fascinated by the city's exotic Eurasian setting. The confluence of several cultures has given Vientiane an appealing ambience.
Tree-lined boulevards, French historical dwellings and Buddhists temples dominate the scene of central Vientiane and impart a unique character of timelessness.
Vientiane's major attractions are its scenic Buddhist monasteries and the significant monuments that dominate the scenery of the capital which include Vat Sisaket, Vat Hoprakeo Patousay, That Luang stupa, Vat Ongtu, etc...

That Luang Stupa
Vientiane's That Luang stupa is the most impressive and biggest stupa in Laos, featured on the Lao insignia. This stupa was constructed in 1566 by King Setthathirat. The Siamese damaged it badly during their invasion in 1828, but it was restored in the 1936s. In mid-November, religious rites as well as a fair are held here during the That Luang festival.

Vat Phra Keo
Vat Phra Keo was also constructed by King Setthathirat. It was rebuilt after the Siamese razed it during the Siamese-Lao war of 1828. The building had housed the Emerald Buddha until it was taken to Bangkok following a skirmish with the Lao in 1778.

Patousay
The Patousay on Lane Xang Avenue is a large monument reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Its architecture incorporates typical Lao motifs. From the top one can have a panoramic view of the entire city.

Vat Sisaket
Vat Sisaket is the oldest temple of Vientiane, which has survived in its original form. Inside the main hall, and along the walls of the courtyard surrounding it, a total of 6,840 Buddha images rest in small niches or on shelves. At Vat Ong Teu resides the Buddhist Institute where monks can study their religion under the guidance of senior instructors.

Weaving Village
A half day excursion of South Vientiane, where you can see the breeding of the silkworms in most of the houses and traditional weaving. Tour ends with a visit to the Buddha Park near Thadeua, the border crossing point with Thailand and the National Ethnic Park beside the Friendship Bridge.

Dansavanh Nam Ngum Resort
About 60 kms from Vientiane, it is the eco-paradise hideaway. Nam Ngum lake. This majestic and serene location is a nature lover's paradise of over 250 square kilometers. Blossoming out of this beautiful environment is The Dansavanh Nam Ngum Resort. The initial phase of this eco-tourism is now open and features a hotel, restaurants, spa and gaming center. Future development will include the outdoor entertainment Park, a fun-fair venue, a lakeside, clubhouse, together with jetty boats, marine sports and golfing facilities. The lake is dotted with hundreds of picturesque islands, which can be explored by cruising around in small boats. It might also be interesting to watch the locals felling underwater teak trees, which were submerged when the Nam Ngum lake area was inundated. Near the lake, at Vangsang, primitive Buddha images, dating from the 11th century, are carved into a rock cliff.

Vangvieng
Vientiane Province offers impressive scenery. At Vangvieng, 160 km north of Vientiane municipality, breathtaking limestone formations nestle along the Song River. The rocks are honeycombed with numerous caves, the most famous of which is Tham Jang. Many of these caves can be reached by foot from Vangvieng.