La Vie en Vientiane (Part 3): Other Things to See or Do in Vientiane

Vientiane Esplanade and the Chao Anouvong Park beside the mighty Mekong

In my previous post, I gave the must-sees of Vientiane for a 1-day visitor. Personally, I stayed in Vientiane for 4-days, something other travel-bloggers would freak out to know. Many travel-bloggers would only give Vientiane 1-day, and a few even say "it is a city that can be missed" in the Southeast Asian backpacking circuit.

However, I have my own travelling style and my own travelling preferences. I could say, it was worth staying in Vientiane for 4-days. It feels great to actually take time and imbibe the rhythm of this little metropolis.

Here are some more things one could see or try out while in Vientiane:

1. La Palais Presidentiel (The Presidential Palace)

Brief Background

Located at the other end of Lane Xang Avenue opposite the Patouxai, this building was built beginning in 1973 but its completion was delayed because of the transition in government at the advent of the Pathet Lao revolution in 1975. Its doors opened in 1986. Despite the name, this is not the official residence of the President of Laos - actually no one resides here. This place is closed to the public and is used only on state function.

La Palais Presidentiel de Laos

Rear Facade of the same Palais Presidential de Laos

Cross Beaux-arts and Lao Architecture

Tip
The rear facade is as grandiose and as beautiful as the front, so make sure to take a photo of both.
   
2. Old Colonial Houses

Brief Background

These houses were built back in the Mission Civilisatrice or the Civilising Mission days of French colonialism in Indochina. They are scattered throughout the old quarter of Vientiane, some retaining their very quaint Provençal charm, others retrofitted and converted into offices like that of the Bank of Siam or the Asian Development Bank and a few, worn down and in various state of disrepair.

 
3. Photograph the Various Embassies (especially the Embassy of the Sultanate of Brunei)

Brief Background

Embassies are mirrors of the country that they represent. If one walks in the old quarter of Vientiane, beside the Palais Presidentiel, is the Embassy of the Sultanate of Brunei. I find it intriguing because it is a fusion of three different architectural milieu. There is of course the overarching, French Provençal style, but which has been Asiaticised by obvious Lao elements, and rounding it up, the Brunei government added certain Islamic touches. Now that's one architectural feat I haven't seen yet in my travels except in Vientiane.

The Embassy of France though is less intriguing due to its very inhibiting high walls, one is left only to imagine what sort of structures are inside.

Walking from the Patouxai Monument to the Pa That Luang through 23 Singha Road, one would see more embassies and or residences of some ambassadors or defence attaches which are beautiful.

4. Take a Rest at the Eglise Catholique de Sacre Cœur (Sacred Heart Catholic Church)

Brief Background

Of course, as a Catholic, it is a must for me to visit the local Catholic Church, especially when part of my schedule falls on a Sunday. The Sacred Heart Church is located across the French Embassy. The architecture is not really noteworthy, coming from a country with so many Catholic churches. But of course, it is a welcome respite in a country such as Laos, it breaks the monotony of going one wat after another. The courtyard is well shaded with very old trees which make it a real good place to cool off a bit from the oppressive tropical noonday heat.

5. Watch the Sunset at Chou Anouvong Park and the Night Market

Brief Background

Like many places in Southeast Asia nowadays, a long stretch of walk or esplanade can be found usually adjacent to some rivers. In Vientiane, it is not just any river, it is the Mekong River and for some geographic peculiarity this is an esplanade right next to the border of Laos and Thailand. My mobile phone company apparently cannot roam through any Lao network, but in this esplanade, my phone picks up the Thai telecom company from across the border.

The sun setting in the Mekong in Vientiane

A statue of Chao Anouvong, the last King of the Lao Kingdom of Vientiane is centrally placed in the esplanade. At the other end of the walk is an open space that turns up as the night market at dusk, here one can shop for souvenirs, shirts, shoes, paintings, etc. Along this sprawl many street food vendors also open from dusk to late in the evening.

Chao Anouvong Park

6. Shop at the Talat Sao or Morning Market

Brief Background

Shopping for pasalubong is best done here at the Talat Sao. Here one can go around for hours bargain hunting for the best silks there are. Before you buy silk though, make sure you are trained to recognise whether the silk is a cheap import form neighbouring Thailand or an original hand-woven silk from Laos, be discriminating. Other items are available too, and if you are quite confident of your eye for genuine antique artefacts, you can find here a string of antique shops that might interest you.

At the back of Talat Sao is the busiest food scene I found in the whole of Laos, here meets the grilled food hawkers, the baguette paté vendors, the roadside Lao phô restaurants etc. It was very difficult for me to stop myself from trying all of the offerings there.


Apparently I do not have photos taken in the Talat Sao.

To be continued...