It was sad to leave Vang Vieng as we left behind some undiscovered spots and attractions but the capital was waiting for us. According to Google maps it is only 160 km from Vang Vieng to Vientiane so it’s relatively easy ride on the flat road if no accidents happen to your motorbike. We got a flat tire and had really hard time to find mechanic and literally ended up repairing it on our own (some local kid provided us with all necessary tools and received generous Christmas gift for that). 1st of January is not the best day for traveling as most of the people we met were still celebrating or were having a hangover after New Years Eve celebration
Compared to the hectic, bustling capitals in other Southeast Asian countries, Vientiane's deliciously relaxing atmosphere makes it feel like the small town it is. Located on the bank of the Mekong river, the city consisted of much French colonial architectures and antique Buddhist temples surrounded by peaceful boulevards and treelined streets. It is nothing like any other capital cities you have experienced in South East Asia. The traffic is not as bad as Bangkok, the humidity is not as unbearable as Singapore, and the city is not as crowded as Jakarta. Not to mention all the hip cafes and French bakeries you can indulge yourself in when you are there. The main attractions of Vientiane are Pha That Luang, Wat Si Saket, Patuxai, That Dam and Buddha Park.
That Dam means Black Stupa and this monument is said to house a sevenheaded Naga serpent who protects the citizens of Vientiane. This brick stupa was once covered in gold, but according to legend, the Siamese took it when they invaded Vientiane in the 1820s
The Pha That Luang or “Great Stupa” is the most important Buddhist monument in Laos and definitely the most famous cultural landmark in Vientiane. It was built in 1566 after the King had made Vientiane the new capital of the Lan Xang Kingdom. But already in the 3rd century BC Buddhist monks erected a stupa to enshrine a sacred relict from the Buddha. In the 12th century the Khmer built a temple at this spot, of which remains have been found. So it has a much longer history than we think. Reportedly it is covered with 500 kg of gold leaf. The Pha That Luang stupa is built on 3 levels, which symbolize the ascent from the Earth to the sky. Don’t forget to check small coffee shops in the area while visiting this stunning stupa.
At the end of the avenue that leads to the Presidential Palace another remarkable monument of Vientiane appears, it’s Patuxai Victory gate. It was built between 1957 and 1968 and was dedicated to those who fought for independence from France. Five towers represent the five principles of coexistence among nations of the world. They also represent five Buddhist principles of “thoughtful amiability, flexibility, honesty, honor and prosperity”.
25 km southeast from Vientiane in a meadow by the Mekong River you can visit Buddha Park, also known as Xieng Khuan. That was our last destination in the area. The Xieng Khuan, or “Spirit City” park was built in 1958 by a priestshaman Bunleua Sulilat who integrated Hinduism and Buddhism in his sculptures. After the revolution in 1975 he fled from Laos to Thailand where he built another sculpture park. Both parks are located right next to the ThaiLao border (Mekong river), only a few kilometres apart from each other. The statues are made of reinforced concrete and are ornate, and sometimes quite bizarre, in design. They appear to be centuries old, though they are not. It’s definitely worth of visiting.
Basically we managed to visit main tourist attraction in two days and were really to proceed with our Lao trip down to the south. Caves and waterfalls were calling us!