![\"vl.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/www.asianinny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/02\/vl.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe capital of Laos is booming. Driven by rising foreign investment, plenty of foreign aid workers and a more urbane youth, change is coming as quickly as in any city in Asia. However, even with all this dynamism you won\u2019t see words like \u2018hustle\u2019 and \u2018bustle\u2019 being used to describe…<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The capital of Laos is booming. Driven by rising foreign investment, plenty of foreign aid workers and a more urbane youth, change is coming as quickly as in any city in Asia. However, even with all this dynamism you won\u2019t see words like \u2018hustle\u2019 and \u2018bustle\u2019 being used to describe Vientiane, which can still mount a strong argument for being the most relaxed capital city on earth.Vientiane means \u2018Sandalwood City\u2019, and is actually pronounced Viang Chan (Viang means \u2018city\u2019 or \u2018place with walls\u2019 in Lao; Chan means sandalwood); the French are responsible for the modern transliteration. The combination of tree-lined boulevards and dozens of temples impart an atmosphere of timelessness, while the kaleidoscopic architectural styles reflect it\u2019s historic influences, from classic Lao through Thai, Chinese, French, US and Soviet.<\/p>\n
As Laos continues to open itself to the world, Vientiane is where the struggle between a communist past and inevitably more capitalist future is most dramatically played out. Lao bands sing lyrics censored by the government to dancing youths who\u2019d look at home in any Western bar. The Lao National Museum still has displays glorifying the victory over capitalist foreign imperialists, but across the road another slick restaurant opens in what is becoming one of the best-value dining cities on earth. The contrasts are fascinating.<\/p>\n
Of course, Vientiane is not only about witnessing change. The 6400 Buddhas at Wat Si Saket, the religious art of Haw Pha Kaeo, and the lotus-inspired lines of Laos\u2019s gilded national symbol, Pha That Luang, speak of the historical importance of the city. Patuxai and the surreal Xieng Khuan (Buddha Park) may have less artistic merit, but like the city itself, they\u2019re not short of appeal.<\/p>\n
Climate
\nLaos has a tropical monsoon climate, with a pronounced rainy season from May through October, a cool dry season from November through February, and a hot dry season in March and April. Generally, monsoons occur at the same time across the country, although that time may vary significantly from one year to the next. Rainfall also varies regionally, with the highest amounts– 3,700 millimeters annually–recorded on the Bolovens Plateau in Champasak Province. City rainfall stations have recorded that Savannakh\u00e9t averages 1,440 millimeters of rain annually; Vientiane receives about 1,700 millimeters, and Louangphrabang (Luang Prabang) receives about 1,360 millimeters. Rainfall is not always adequate for rice cultivation, however, and the relatively high average precipitation conceals years where rainfall may be only half or less of the norm, causing significant declines in rice yields. Such droughts often are regional, leaving production in other parts of the country unaffected. Temperatures range from highs around 40\u00b0C along the Mekong in March and April to lows of 5\u00b0C or less in the uplands of Xiangkhoang and Ph\u00f4ngsali in January.
\n
\nMoney<\/p>\n
For cash, licensed money changing booths can be found in Talat Sao and a few other locations around town. You can also change at various shops, hotels or markets for no commission but at poor rates. The unofficial moneychangers hanging out near Talat Sao have particularly good rates but count your money carefully.<\/p>\n
Banks listed here change cash and travelers checks and issue cash advances against Visa and MasterCard. A couple also has ATMs that work with foreign cards, but it\u2019s often cheaper to get a cash advance manually. All are open 8.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday unless otherwise stated.<\/p>\n
Dangers & annoyances<\/p>\n
By international standards Vientiane has a very low crime rate, but readers\u2019 reports and local anecdotes suggest there\u2019s an increasing risk of getting mugged. Be especially careful around the BCEL Bank on the riverfront where bag-snatchers, usually a two-man team with a motorbike, have been known to strike; common sense should be an adequate defense. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare.<\/p>\n
The repaving of most streets in the centre of town has improved the situation, but manhole covers seem to be given less importance here than you might be used to and at the time of writing there were still more than enough storm water drains and open sewers big enough to swallow you \u2013 a thoroughly shitty end to any day.<\/p>\n
All businesses in Vientiane are supposed to close by 11.30pm, though some stay opens an extra hour or so. It\u2019s not dangerous to be out beyond midnight but you could be annoyed by military types if you\u2019re away from central Vientiane in an area where falang (Westerners) are seldom seen. If you are somewhere you shouldn\u2019t be (around the airport, for example) you might be escorted back to your hotel.<\/p>\n
Land<\/p>\n
Bus<\/p>\n
Our table gives timetable information. Buses use three different stations in Vientiane, all with some English-speaking staff, and food and drink stands. The Northern Bus Station (260255; Th T2), about 2km northwest of the centre, serves all points north of Vang Vieng, including China, and some buses to Vietnam. Destinations and the latest ticket prices are listed in English.<\/p>\n
The Southern Bus Station (740521; Rte 13 South), commonly known as Dong Dok Bus Station or just kh\u00edw lot l\u00e1k k\u00e1o (Km 9 Bus Station), is 9km out of town and serves everywhere south. Buses to Vietnam will usually stop here.<\/p>\n
The final departure point is the Talat Sao bus station (216507), from where desperately slow local buses run to destinations within Vientiane Province, including Vang Vieng, and some more distant destinations, though for these you\u2019re better going to the Northern or Southern stations. The Thai-Lao International Bus also uses this station for its trips to Nong Kai and Udon Thani.<\/p>\n
Boat
\nPassenger boat services between Vientiane and Luang Prabang have become almost extinct as most people now take the bus, which is both faster and cheaper.<\/p>\n
Occasional six-passenger h\u00e9ua w\u00e1i (speedboats) do run from Vientiane to Pak Lai, 115km away, and if you have the cash will go all the way to Luang Prabang \u2013 a full day\u2019s trip for at least US$240 for the boat. To charter a speedboat head out to Tha Heua Kao Liaw (Kao Liaw Boat Landing), which is 7.7km west of the Novotel (3.5km west of the fork in the road where Rte 13 heads north) in Ban Kao Liaw. It\u2019s best to go the day before you plan to travel.
\n
\nIf you get very lucky you might chance upon a rare cargo boat running to Luang Prabang, three to five days upriver. It would be an amazing trip, but you\u2019ll need patience to arrange it.<\/p>\n
Air
\nDepartures from Vientiane are perfectly straightforward. The Domestic Terminal is in the older, white building east of the impressive International Terminal. There is an (often unmanned) information counter in the arrivals hall, and food can be found upstairs in the International Terminal.<\/p>\n
Bus
\nThere is a city bus system, but it\u2019s oriented more towards the distant suburbs than the central Chanthabuli district. Most buses leave from Talat Sao bus station; to the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge costs US$0.40.<\/p>\n
Car & motorcycle
\nSmall motorbikes are a popular means of getting around Vientiane and can be hired from several places. The cheapest are from outside the Douang Deuane Hotel (Th Nokeo Khumman) where 110cc bikes cost US$5.50 a day, but we can tell you from experience that they\u2019re notoriously unreliable (we took back four in one day!). Much better Japanese bikes are available from PVO (214444; Th Fa Ngum; per day US$7). They also hire the best 250cc bikes, usually Honda Bajas, for US$20 a day, less for longer hire. Recommended.<\/p>\n
Taxi
\nCar taxis of varying shapes, sizes and vintages can often be found stationed in front of the larger hotels or at the airport. Some of these (usually the newer models) are fitted with air-con and meters and wear a \u2018Taxi Meter\u2019 sign. The meters, however, are ornamental only \u2013 you\u2019ll still have to negotiate the fare, which will be higher than in a naturally cooled jumbo. To call a taxi, try Lavi Taxi Company (350000).<\/p>\n
Bicycle
\nCycling is a cheap, easy and recommended way of getting around mostly flat Vientiane. Loads of guesthouses and several shops hire out bikes for between US$0.50 and US$2 a day; you won\u2019t need a map to find them.<\/p>\n
History
\nThe great Laotian epic, the Phra Lak Phra Lam, claims that Prince Thattaradtha founded the city when he left the legendary Lao kingdom of Muong Inthapatha Maha Nakhone because he was denied the throne in favor of his younger brother. Thattaradtha founded a city called Maha Thani Si Phan Phao on the western banks of the Mekong River; this city was told to have later become today’s Udon Thani, Thailand. One day, a seven-headed Naga told Thattaradtha to start a new city on the eastern bank of the river opposite Maha Thani Si Phan Phao. The prince called this city Chanthabuly Si Sattanakhanahud; which was told to be the predecessor of modern Vientiane.
\nContrary to the Phra Lak Phra Lam, most historians believe Vientiane was an early Khmer settlement centered around a Hindu temple, which the Pha That Luang would later replace. In the 11th and 12th centuries, the time when the Lao and Thai people are believed to have entered Southeast Asia from Southern China, the few remaining Khmers in the area were killed, removed, or assimilated into the Lao civilization, which would soon overtake the area.<\/p>\n
In 1354, when Fa Ngum founded the kingdom of Lan Xang, Vientiane became an important administrative city, even though it was not made the capital. King Setthathirath officially established it as the capital of Lan Xang in 1560. When Lan Xang fell apart in 1707, it became an independent kingdom. In 1779, it was conquered by the Siamese general Phraya Chakri and made a vassal of Siam.<\/p>\n
When King Anouvong raised an unsuccessful rebellion, it was obliterated by Siamese armies in 1827. It eventually passed to French rule in 1893. It became the capital of the French protectorate of Laos in 1899. The capital of Laos is booming. Driven by rising foreign investment, plenty of foreign aid workers and a more urbane youth, change is coming as quickly as in any city in Asia. However, even with all this dynamism you won\u2019t see words like \u2018hustle\u2019 and \u2018bustle\u2019 being used to describe…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-plan-your-vacation-to-asia-with-our-traveling-information"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.asianinny.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.asianinny.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.asianinny.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.asianinny.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.asianinny.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2272"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.asianinny.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2272\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.asianinny.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.asianinny.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.asianinny.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nSource: www.lonelyplanet.com\/laos\/northern-laos\/vientiane-province<\/a> ,
\ncountrystudies.us\/laos\/45.htm<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"