Vientiane Laos

The bus ride from Vang Vieng to Vientiane was uneventful. The scenery was fairly uninteresting, and the road was rough, often disintegrating into dirt tracks. We bumped along for most of the way and were glad to get off at the other end. Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, awaited us, promising new adventures and discoveries.

I wish I could say that we explored the countless Wats in Vientiane. I also wish I could say that we visited the Lao version of the Arc de Triomphe, also known as the Vertical Runway or Patuxai by its official name. But I can’t. We did see Patuxai from the back of a tuk tuk and walked past many Wats, but that was it, I’m afraid. After a while, the Wats of Southeast Asia become a little like the churches of Europe—they all start to look the same.

Instead, we wandered the streets, soaking up the atmosphere of the old Vientiane French colonial town. Our home base was the Mali Namphu Guesthouse, a charming place set around a shady courtyard. It provided a serene retreat from the bustling streets and was a perfect spot for lazy afternoons.

Our culinary quest continued in Vientiane, but we struggled to find good Lao food. We tried various mom-and-pop street restaurants, believing that if anyone could do authentic food, it would be them. Unfortunately, we were a little disappointed. The food was okay, and we had some pretty good grilled chicken, but it lacked the taste sensations we experienced in Luang Prabang.

However, our disappointment with Lao cuisine was offset by some delightful discoveries. We stumbled upon an Italian restaurant called Aria, where we enjoyed excellent pasta and pizza. The highlight, though, was a French restaurant named Le Provencal on Rue Panhkham. There, I had the best pizza since I left Italy, a culinary surprise I hadn’t anticipated in Laos.

After a few days of not doing very much in Vientiane, it was time to head back to Thailand. We had a flight to Bangkok from Udon Thani. Unfortunately, we missed the international bus thanks to a late mini-van driver, and all other buses were booked for that day. However, Asia being what it is, it was easy to find alternative transportation. We secured a mini-van to the border and then another to Udon Thani.

We spent the night in Udon Thani, a quiet interlude before our flight to Bangkok. We were eagerly anticipating our return to the delightful Aquatini restaurant in Bangkok. On our last visit, we had eaten an amazing fish with lime and chili dish, and we were looking forward to enjoying it again.

Our time in Vientiane may not have been filled with grand adventures or extensive sightseeing, but it was a pleasant interlude in our travels. The city’s quiet charm, combined with our culinary discoveries, made for a memorable stay. As we boarded the plane to Bangkok, we carried with us the simple yet delightful memories of Vientiane, a city that offered us unexpected pleasures and a gentle pace, a perfect pause in our journey through Southeast Asia.