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It had been nearly two years since I first stepped foot into Vientiane, Laos. Although it may now be a little busier than I remember, this sleepy little capital city hasn’t really changed a lot. It’s quite a different place compared to the rest of Laos. Although small, Vientiane is certainly still a city, full of traffic filled streets and lots of modern buildings; and, as is a common occurrence in poorer countries, a lot more money and effort is put in here compared to other towns in the country. It’s not uncommon to see wealthier people sipping coffee in air conditioned cafes and coffee shops, or eating a meal in a fancy restaurant.
Vientiane may be a different world compared to the rest of Laos, but it still has its charm and atmosphere, a strong cafe culture left behind by the French, along with plenty of tourist sites to check out.
In this photo essay, I’ll take you through the capital of Laos during my recent return to the city, where we stayed for nearly a week. A lot of people don’t have anything great to say about Vientiane, but after viewing these photos, you may change your mind and want to stop in for a few days.
A Buddha statue at Ho Phra Keo – Vientiane’s oldest temple, now a museum
Flowers on a hedge in the gardens of Ho Phra Keo
A monument and statue in the riverfront parklands
Browsing the night market along the riverfront at sunset
The setting sun makes some coming storm clouds glow above the city
A young local couple watch the sunset over the Mekong River
Sunset on the Mekong River
A group of guys watch the exercise group that sets up each evening along the riverfront
Walking through the riverfront parklands as night sets in
Visiting Buddhist monks read a sign amongst tourists in Wat Sisaket
The Viharn (main shrine) at Wat Sisaket
Buddha statues of different sizes at Wat Sisaket
Little alcoves containing tiny Buddha statues in the wall of the inner courtyard at Wat Sisaket
Patuxai: The huge victory monument in the centre of the city
The ceiling inside the arches of Patuxai
View of the parklands below from the top of Patuxai
View of the city and a huge government building from the top of Patuxai
Walking up to That Luang
The huge golden stupa of That Luang
Another beautiful Vientiane sunset
A glowing horizon as locals exercise along the riverfront just after sunset
Super stunning pictures Dean. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Jen! I’m glad you enjoyed the photos.
Your photographs are absolutely suburb! Another country to add to my bucket list! Thank you x
Thank you so much. I think Laos should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Gorgeous! I traveled to Vientiane in 2008; it really is such a beautiful city. Thank you for nudging at those memories! 😀
Hi Terri. I’m sure Vientiane has changed a bit since you visited, but it is certainly still a nice place to visit. Glad I could bring back some memories for you 🙂
[…] Photo journey through Vientiane – the capital city of Laos. Follow me as I explore the city’s sites and temples as well as watching the beautiful sunsets over the Mekong River. […]
Love the photo of the guys pointing towards the crows of people along the riverfront… the long shadows are great.
Hi Stephanie. Thanks for checking out my photos. I like that photo a lot as well. Cheers
Great. Love all the photo. It’s really good shot.
Thanks Andie.
[…] at sunset in Vientiane, Laos. The riverfront is a happening place at the end of the day in Vientiane. Locals come down to exercise along the great walking path along the river, while others join the […]