1、,Vientiane,Vientiane,Introducing Vientiane,Compared to the hectic, bustling capitals in other Southeast Asian countries, Vientianes deliciously relaxing atmosphere makes it feel like the small town it is. Settled since at least 1000 AD, Vientiane became an important administrative city of the Kingdo
2、m of Lan Xang (“million elephants“) in 1545. Today Vientiane is the largest city in Laos, with an estimated population of 210,000 in the city itself and some 700,000 in Vientiane Prefecture.,This delightfully friendly capital, studded with crumbling French mansions, bougainvillea-blooming streets an
3、d steaming noodle stalls, is somewhere between a big town and a diminutive city; the kind of place you might find a Graham Greene protagonist. Its conveniently compact travellers enclave is based around Nam Phu, the Mekong riverside and Setthariat and Samsenthai streets. Full of things to see, from
4、Buddha Park to the Morning market and an impossibly rich selection of international cuisine most pointedly French youll find yourself slowly won over by the easy charms of this evolving backwater. The city may reveal its beauty less readily than Luang Prabang, but spend a few days visiting its unusu
5、al sights, sampling its excellent food and enjoying a Beer Lao at sunset by the river, and youll soon feel at home here.,Visit in Vientiane,Calm river,Lao man walking into calm river near canoe,Pha Tat Luang Festival 达銮节,Buddha Park ( Xieng Khuan ) 佛都,Buddha Park is a bizarre outdoor collection of h
6、uge concrete sculptures of Buddhist and Hindu deities and real and imaginary beasts. The reclining Buddha is especially impressive. Built in 1958 by mystic Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, who left the country after the communist take-over and, in 1978, went on to establish a nearly identical park ( Sala K
7、eoku or Sala Kaew Ku ) across the river in Nong Khai , Thailand . Located some 24 km from the city, its about 6 km to the east of the Friendship Bridge - hence its well worth visiting on the way into or out of Laos if youre crossing the Friendship Bridge, thereby saving you an extra 48 km round trip
8、 if you visit from and return to Vientiane.,Black Stupa ( That Dam ). 黑宝塔 （ 即大坝 ）,Thanon Bartholomie (off Thanon Samsenthai near the US embassy). The mythical abode of a seven-headed dragon that protects Vientiane. 1995 It was renovated in 1995 but still has an attractive patina of age, and is slowl
9、y being overgrown again by lush grass vegetation. Warning: there have been dog attacks here at night.,Tat Dam (Black Stupa),Hophakaew Museum,Wat Si Saket, the oldest standing temple in Vientiane,A very stunning, elegant, and majestic structure, King Setthathirats former royal temple, which housed th
10、e magical Emerald Buddha ( pha kaew ) after it was taken from Lanna ( Chiang Mai ). The Siamese took it back in 1779 - the image is now housed in Bangkok s Wat Phra Kaew - and came back in 1828 to raze the temple for good measure. The present structure is a 1942 reconstruction of dubious provenance.
11、 Today, the temple no longer operates and the interior has been turned into a small jumbled museum housing Buddha images; look out for the beautiful tall, lithe, long-armed Buddha in the hands-down “calling for rain“ pose.,COPE Visitor Centre (COPE的游客中心),There are a number of exhibits and visitors c
12、an watch a number of short films on the subject. Exhibits are appropriate for all ages. An excellent gift shop offers fun, off-beat souvenirs that support a good cause.,Patuxai ( Victory Gate ), Avenue Lane Xang patuxai（ 胜利门 ）， 万象大道,A local rendition of Paris Arc de Triomphe . Besides the elaborate
13、Buddhist embellishment, it differs from the original in having four gates instead of two and being just a bit higher (to spite the French). Reasonably impressive from afar, a surprisingly frank English sign inside the monument labels it a “monster of concrete“ when seen up close - and the concrete i
14、n question was donated by the US, although it was supposed to go towards a new airport instead (hence the nickname “the Vertical Runway“). The monument itself aside, the palm tree-lined park around it complete with fountains is quite pleasant though lacking of shade during the day time.,You can clim
15、b up to the 7th story (stairs only) for a nice view of central Vientiane and three levels of souvenir shops with less than enthusiastic sales people sitting about. Features a musical fountain nearby that attracts visitors from around Laos and Asia, as well as a World Peace gong presented by Indonesi
16、a.,Shopping in Vientiane,Lao Textiles, Carol Cassidy （卡罗尔卡西迪老挝纺织品）,Lao Textiles sells high-end contemporary, original-design fabrics inspired by older Lao weaving patterns, motifs and techniques. The American designer, Carol Cassidy, employs Lao weavers who work out the back of the attractive old Fr
17、ench-Lao house. They are internationally known, with prices to match.,Phaeng Mai Gallery phaeng清迈画廊,To see Lao weaving in action, seek out the weaving district of Ban Nong Buathong, northeast of the town centre in Muang Chanthabuli. The Phaeng Mai Gallery here is in a white, two-storeyhouse. It sell
18、s Lao textiles and is out past the National Circus most tuk-tuk drivers know it and will charge about US$2 one way.,Handicraft Products of Ethnic Groups 民族手工业产品,Beside the PTT office and opposite Talat Sao, this market-style place sells handicrafts from around Laos. The quality is variable, but at t
19、he least this is a good place to get an idea what is out there and how much it costs.,Phimphone Market,This store near Nam Phu has a wide selection of imported goods, including canned and frozen foods, magazines, personal hygiene and womens products . Theres more wine upstairs.,Bari Jewellery 巴里首饰,This shop, Bari Jewellery on Th Samsenthai trades primarily in gold and silver. It also deals in precious stones,
