Vientiane

Vientiane is the capital of Republic of Laos. The town is small, but at the expense of that it is filled with many beautiful buildings with diverse architecture, monuments and temples that reflect the colorful history of the country. This major city of Laos is located on the northeast coast of the wide Mekong River.

What distinguishes it from other Asian mega-cities is that the peace and great charm of Vientiane can not be met anywhere else. In translation the name means - "royal sandalwood grove" or "city of sandalwood". In the local language the name means - Moon City. The old name of the city is Sisattanak.

Mekong River itself is the border between Thailand and Laos. Above it in 1990 thanks to Australian investment the Bridge Thai-Lao Friendship was built. It links Vientiane with Nong Khay in Thailand and is the most important transport link between the two Asian countries. Until then the city could be reached by air and landing on the nearby international airport Uatay. At the Friendship Bridge there has also been railroads built.

Today Vientiane is a charming spot for tourist visits as it can offer comfort, attractive historical and architectural monuments, and is quite entertaining. The strong city is divided into five areas and residents account for a total of about 750, 000 people. The five main districts in Vientiane are Chanthabouly, Hadxaifong, Sikhottabong, Xaysettha and Sisattanak, each of which poses different places and attractive scenery.

Since the city became the capital in the 16th century, its architecture still prints from every culture, passed through these lands. You can see the French colonial buildings, but also influences from the style of buildings in China, Russia, Vietnam and even the U.S..

The main square is called - Nam Poo and has built a beautiful fountain. In a sufficiently short space of this central zone are most of the other attractions such as - The gate Luang stupa and its king, the oldest temple in the city - Wat Sisaket and the Museum of the Lao revolution, which was marked by the socialist architecture.

An interesting place to visit is the morning market - Talat Sao, where besides vegetables, fruits and spices you can buy beautiful fabrics and craft goods.