Laos was the 2nd travel destination for my Indochina experience. Originally, Cambodia was supposed to be my penultimate country but I changed my mind since I already went to Siem Reap a couple of years back. Considering the good food, respectful people & laid back attitude of the area, Vientiane seems like a satisfactory replacement.
Careful research helped me identify the main tourist spots to visit, in order to maximize my limited time, & first & foremost to be suggested was ‘Patuxai’. I think this is because aside from being a symbol of Laotian independence, it stands out in the middle of the city, making a good reference point for those unfamiliar with the area. Dubbed as Lao’s version of France’s Arc de Triomphe in Paris, this structure is no mere copy cat as it is decorated with uniquely Lao symbols such as the Kinnari (half female half bird). Inside, are several floors of gift/souvenir shops selling various Laotian trade goods & keepsakes.
The next destination was relatively close, ‘That Dam’ is a stupa (a mound like structure containing Buddhist relics) in the heart of the city. Honestly, I was little disappointed by this venture, as I have seen other wats/stupas that are grander, larger or more intricate, plus the lack of literature on the site providing detail on the landmark. Still, there was that quaint charm of something very very old amidst the landscape of a progressive new cityscape.
The next day I visited the Lao Natural History Museum, which was an adventure in itself, given that this was my first country visited with the least amount of English language proficiency. I had to communicate mostly with hand gestures, & pointing at maps, the only advantage is that this increased my charade skills to the max. It took me awhile but I finally found the museum. It was well maintained but seen better days. The displays ranged from pre history of the country to modern time, mostly its rise to independence from the French colonizers like Vietnam, while espousing the greatness of communism & socialism.
The next stop was ‘Ho Pra Keo’, a former temple that previously housed the Emerald Buddha that now resides in Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok. Unfortunately, due to another stroke of bad luck, the temple was under construction & my visit was limited only to the façade. Undeterred, I dashed off to the next item in my itinerary, which was ‘Pha That Luang’. Pha That Luang is another stupa located smack dab in the middle of the city & is generally regarded as the most iconic image in Laos. This Buddhist attraction receives may visitors a year to admire the golden roof with its distinctive Laotian design. The inside walls display many Buddha statuettes in various states of mudra poses. Some are damaged & beheaded due to tomb raiders breaking the statues in search of hidden treasures within. You cannot help but be gripped with sadness to see such priceless relics destroyed by mans greed. The entire building is 3 floors high, & they used to allow visitors to climb all levels, but in order to minimize further damage, the cordoned off the area & tourist must content themselves to viewing Pha That Luang from the first level only. The entire area is not limited to the stupa, as there are other places of interest within walking distance, for example they have their own version of a reclining Buddha, albeit a smaller one compared to the one in Bangkok.
To cap off my evening, I decided to visit the Vientiane night market. To my displeasure though, the market, although long & numerous in stalls, only sells modern merchandise (cell phone accessories, women’s wear, gadgets, etc.) & not anything traditional. This makes the market a paradise for bargain hunters but not for buyers looking for Laotian memorabilia. The street food stands though was where I found myself & enjoyed what locals would eat. Laotian food, though it shares a flavor palette with its South East Asian neighbors, is uniquely Lao, & must be tasted to really get to know the people & their culture.
On my last day, I wandered & window shopped at the Talat Sao mall, to get an idea on how mall life is other countries, since my home country of the Philippines is heavy on the mall culture. Suffice it to say, I am happy that there are still things the Philippines is the best at.
All in all, my stop over here was a happy one. If you enjoy the relaxed life, laid back, keeping it cool, hakuna matata type of existence, Vientiane may be the place for you.