VIENTIANE AT A GLANCE:

Tours from Vientiane | Attractions

Vientiane Hotels - Up to 75% discount under published rates |

Vientiane (pronounced 'Wieng Chan' by the locals) is, despite its checkered past, a laid-back city with a number of interesting wats and lively markets.  Vientiane, the capital city and seat of government sits on a bend in the Mekong River amidst fertile alluvial plains, has around 10 top-end hotels and as many guesthouses, many of them moderately expensive, but plenty of lower-priced rooms have become available in the last few years.  Most of the accommodation is in central Vientiane.  You can eat at cafes, street stalls, beer halls or restaurants, offering everything from rice noodles to filet mignon. 

For good Lao meals, try the Dong Palan Night Market on the east bank of the Nong Chan ponds.  Vientiane is not the illicit entertainment palace it was in the early 1970s: brothels are now prohibited, the marijuana stands have disappeared from the markets and beer has replaced opium as the nightly drug of choice.  Entertainment ranges from live music and discos - usually electrified Lao folk music or Western pop - to Thai, Chinese, Indian and even Bulgarian films.  Tribal crafts, fabrics, jewelry and furniture are all good buys in Vientiane.