Although it is the capital city of Laos, Vientiane is nothing like the crowded, chaotic South-East Asian cities that most people are familiar with. It is a laid back, relaxed sort of place.
One of the former Kings greets you on the road from the airport into the city. You don't hear too much about the Kings these days; they don't quite fit the politics of modern Laos.
The French were in Laos from the late 19th Century until the middle of the 20 Century and many streets have French names. Patuxai (the Victory Gate) is Laos version of the Arc De Triomphe. To annoy the French it is just a little bit higher than theirs!
There are the usual array of Wat such as the two below.
Vientiane stands on the Mekong River with Thailand on the other bank, convenient for Thai TV Soaps (much loved by the Lao) and being able to use your Thai Mobile Phone!
You don't need to travel far before you are back in the countryside. The photo of this rural Wat is mainly to show the scaffolding on the building work - it is bamboo.
The photo below is a popular waterhole to cool down on those hot Laos days. There wasn't a lot of water but everyone seemed to be having fun.
Rice is the main crop throughout all of Asia and the rice fields are not only incredibly important and an integral part of Lao life, they are also very beautiful.
It is so interesting how even though there is such a similarity with all the temples etc. in these places there is also a difference. The French influence is very similar in Hanoi where I visited some years ago. Hanoi has very grand French architecture like Laos. Great photos again John.
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