Vientiane
Travel Advice for Seniors: Vientiane
We nearly decided not to travel to Laos because of time constraints on our four- week trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. But reading up on Laos, it intrigued us, and it seemed like it was a little less touristed, both plusses. So, we added it to our itinerary and were very glad that we did.
Lao People’s Democratic Republic is a landlocked country, but the Mekong River runs through it. It is a communist country with huge mountains, beautiful French architecture in some areas and plenty of temples and monasteries. Originally, the Kingdom of Lan Xang, it was colonized by the French in 1893. Vientiane is the capital of Laos.
We arrived Vientiane following a two-day cruise at Halong Bay, Vietnam. After a refreshing sail, we were ready to do some power-touristing again. Vientiane is the largest city in Laos, with a beautiful view of the Mekong. It also has several significant monuments of national importance.
Laos, may be less touristed, but it is still necessary to dress modestly and speak using your “indoor voice” as with all southeastern Asian countries. Modest dress and respectful behavior is required in the many pagodas and temples. Many monuments have uneven walking surfaces and stairs, and it was comfortably warm when we visited in February. Plan on taking water with you and plan some breaks into your day. Not a lot of people spoke English and we were glad to have service of a competent guide. As with any foreign country, do learn how to at least say “please” and “thank you” in the language of the country.
Laos is still dealing with unexploded ordinance left over from the Vietnam war. There is the COPE museum and also a Disabled Women’s clinic here that we skipped due to time constraints but may be of interest.
When we were there, the night market was going full tilt and was worth a walk to experience. Vientiane is well known for this night market. It was mostly inexpensive imported clothing items of interest to the locals and was low on souvenir type items, so we didn’t buy much, but it was worthwhile to walk through the market and see the vendors interacting with the locals. Also, it is completely worth it to catch the sunset.
We only had one full day to enjoy Vientiane, so we made the most of it. We started at the Buddha Park, which sounds and is a bit kitschy, but was still an interesting tour. Apparently, one person had collected 200 Buddhas and Hindu gods and created a lovely park along the banks of the Mekong to house them. It was relaxing to walk through the park and there weren’t many tourists at all
The afternoon was a tour of the main historical sites of Vientiane: Wat Sisaket, Wat Phra Kare, the Patuxai War Monument and the fabulous golden Pha That Luang. A wat is the generic name of a Buddhist temple in Laos.
Wat Sisaket is one of the oldest surviving temples in Laos, featuring thousands of small niches that house images of the Buddhas. There are over 10,000 of them in the temple walls, not to mention the larger Buddhas.
Wat Phra Kaew, or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha was our next stop. The actual icon of the Emerald Buddha is now in Bangkok, Thailand, but this is its original home. The Emerald Buddha is so revered because it lends legitimacy to the king and afforded the nation protection. Originally built in 1565, it is now a museum.
The Patuxai War Monument is worth at least a photo stop. It is a beautiful victory arch dedicated to those who fought for liberation from the French.
Saving the best for last was a stop at Pha That Luang, the golden centerpiece of Vientiane. This is the most sacred temple in Laos and is their national symbol. The Buddhist stupa was built in 1566 by King Setthathirat. It is built in three tiers to represent the path to enlightenment, with each tier presenting more information about the journey. The giant gold-covered stupa is said to house the ashes of the Lord Buddha. You can’t actually go inside a stupa, but there is plenty to see in the courtyards and cloisters. The site’s main function is for rreligious ceremonies and pilgrimage.
Also wanted to note that we had an exceptional lunch at Kualao Restaurant. The restaurant is a restored colonial mansion with a great outdoor patio area. The food was very good and we highly recommend it.
Next day, we were off to Luang Prabang for a couple of days stay in this ancient royal capital.
Where we stayed: Salana Boutique Hotel. Breakfast included. Nice hotel, convenient location.
How we got there: Flight from Hanoi to Vientiane.This was part of a four-week private tour through Southeast Asia, touring Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.
General Accessibility Information: Laos is generally not considered very handicapped accessible. Some tour operators may offer accessible tours and some high-end hotels may be accessible. Call in advance to verify and make specialty arrangements.See our sections on specialty apps and accessible travel for more on accessibility assistance.
