Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ic potential. French colonial mansions were restored for use as offices, and scores of vener-
able old trees were cut down in road-widening projects to accommodate the ever-multiplying
number of cars and motorbikes.
In 2009, Vientiane hosted the 25th Southeast Asian Games, attracting more foreign invest-
ment and renewing debate about the city's rampant development. Vast new banks and hotels
have since opened across the city, particularly on Lane Xang Avenue. With a sky-scraping,
Chinese-funded entertainment complex now planned for the area east of Chao Anouvong
Park, the changes - both good and bad - look set to keep on coming.
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Nam Phou
With a few exceptions, most of Vientiane's sights are within comfortable walking distance of
Nam Phou Place
. The city's most obvious meeting point, Nam Phou was once the centre of
a roundabout, but the renovation of the fountain and the blocking off of half the roundabout
