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Vientiane Travel Guide
As the capital of Laos, Vientiane is the gateway to the country's sights and attractions, be it the caves of Pak Ou or the famous Plain of Jars at the foot of the Assamese Cordillera. While it is indeed an essential Southeast Asian destination, most tourists often just stay there for a while and then immediately head to the nearby historic city of Luang Prabang.
Vientiane is a place whose essence travelers cannot grasp at first glance, being a city of 730,000 people that feels like a small village. Its landscape is odd as well, made up by patches of open-air markets, ancient temples, French mansions, and excellent cafes.
Backwater Capital
It takes a while to appreciate Vientiane. The city's charm is something that grows on a traveler as time passes by. There are only few places like it in the world, being a national capital set in a rural surrounding. The advent of the modern age has obviously been stalled in the city, and it is very rare to spot high-rise buildings there. It is like a cross between a large village and a small town.
Most of Vientiane's sights are concentrated in the riverside of the Mekong, Nam Phu, and Samsenthai, the remnants of the Lan Xang Kingdom, which ruled the land between the 14th and 18th centuries. It also has an undeniable French influence in its architecture and culture, being a French protectorate in the 19th century.
Highlights
Despite its lack of modern development, Vientiane still is home to Laos' only nightclubs, churches, and bowling alleys. It is also a city drenched in cultural heritage. The thousands of travelers who visit it often find themselves touring its numerous temples and monuments, particularly the Pha That Luang which is the most sacred Buddhist temple in Laos; and the Wat Si Saket which in turn is the oldest.
The city is not only all about sights - unique experiences are at a premium there as well. Taste the French-influenced Laotian cuisine, get a traditional herbal sauna at its temples, or lie down in a hammock by the river and take in the scenery and small-town atmosphere.
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