That Luang Festival
by ValbyDK
That Luang Festival is an important Buddhist festival and is held around the That Luang Stupa (read my other tips). Normally the festival is held in November – during the full moon of the 12th lunar month…
The festival is 3 days of religious ceremonies and a week of general festivities and entertainment – and people from all over Laos travels to Vientiane to celebrate.
I went to the festival area a couple of times during my stay in Vientiane, and quite a sight with the many orange-dressed monks around the stupa - combined with the huge festival area with modern music and stalls where you can buy anything. If you are in Vientiane in November check out the festival schedule.
Just wander
by jmmorgan
Vientiane is quite a small place. It is very easy to get about on foot. There is plenty of local transport around to get you to out of the way places or for when you feel a little weary. The Lao people are not at all pushy and will simply smile at you. They have not yet entered the world of mass tourism and intense competition for your dollars.
the curfew?
by richiecdisc
With some lights finally flickering in the distance, we knew we were close to the city center and looked forward to leaving the once cozy but now unfriendly feeling road behind. Once in town, we went for something to eat and on our way home, we ran into the Aussie couple, sitting at an outside café. They invited us to join them and soon I convinced them to hit a beer garden that had Beer Lao on tap. We had a fun night there, downing the easy drinking beer into the night. But it would not be into the wee hours. It seemed that Laos has a curfew that we had missed out on as we had been in bed early every night since our arrival. Yes, indeed, at 11 PM, we were asked to leave the bar and go home within a half-hour. I was too tired to be upset over what seemed absurd and once in bed, I realized it was all for the better. Sure, it was only 11:30 PM but in less than eight hours, we would be on a plane to Hanoi. And Vietnam would prove to me a bit more trying in the patience department than its backwater sister was. We would need all the sleep we could get to tackle it.
Patouxay Park
by picek
Park behind Patouxay monument is popular public area among Lao. In terms of design it's not very special but large fountain (with music at times) draws population to pose for pics which will hang in Lao living rooms, especially for those visitors who come from other provinces - as they are many of them who will visit their capital once or a few times in their lives. Youngsters, couples, families with children, elders and foreign tourists like to promenade at that park - while Lao seem to prefer it from tourist district by Mekong which is more expensive and somewhat feels exclusive. One can snack at the snack shop or buy fruits from fruit sellers by the road - which normally will charge higher price to foreigner.
There aren't many trees at the park (see them at its north end) - with trimmed bushes and paved platform it's somewhat too hot place to hang out at daytime except on overcast days. For that reason it will get most crowded in evenings between and after sunset... and modest light and water splashing show will be used to draw attention and praise of local visitor. The site is excellent to watch people in their amusement and to meet locals.
Kissing in Public
by SumTingWong
Kissing on public is very rude in Laos, especially kissing like the europeans do when they meet people. This is considered extremely rude and inappropriate in Laos, as well as much od Southeast Asia. Instead of kissing you can nop' and or shake hands. To say hello in Lao is: SaBaiDee and to ask how are you is: SaBaiDeeBoh?!!!
the power plant that holds the empire
Pha That Luang
Morning Market, Vientiane
The front of Istanbul Restaurant in Vientiane
