Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Vientiane
High on the list of any visit to
VIENTIANE
should be
WatSisaket
, a picturesque Buddhist
monastery containing what is thought to be the oldest structure in Vientiane.
Wat Simuang
,
however, is the most popular temple with worshippers; it's said the guardian spirit of Vien-
tiane inhabits the sacred stone pillar here. Another top attraction is
ThatLuang
, Laos's most
important religious building, best viewed at sundown when its golden surface glows like a
lamp. Aside from temples and stupas, the
museum of Lao art
, housed in the former royal
temple of
HawPhaKaew
, and the socialist-era
LaoNationalMuseum
are also worth a vis-
it.
As with other urban centres in the region, the majority of Vientiane's merchant class are eth-
nic Chinese and Vietnamese, whose forefathers emigrated to Laos during the French era. For-
eign expatriate workers comprise a significant percentage of the capital's population, which
adds a
cosmopolitan
touch to the place and has given rise to a wide choice of places to eat.