Vientiane and the northwest - The Rough Guide to Laos - page 119

packers, with super-cheap bunks, walls covered in murals and a sociable bar area out front.
Dorms here are quit e cramp ed, but there's a TV room to stretch out in and private doubles
are available. Dorm 60,000K , double 280,000K
Villa Manoly Ban Simuang, next to Honour International School and around the corner
from Wat Simuang 021 218907, villa-manoly.com ; map . Indeed a villa, and an attractive
place too, with a pleasant upstairs terrace and spacious grounds. The singles and doubles are
pretty basic and need freshening up, but they have high ceilings and en-suite hot showers.
J ust a short walk from the river, it has friendly owners and a lovely outdoor swimming pool.
p $35
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EATING
The culinary scene in Vientiane caters to virtually every taste, from sausage and sauerkraut
to Korean BBQ. Vientiane also has a large concentration of French and Italian restaurants,
the best of which compare favourably to those in Bangkok. If you plan to head out to the re-
mote provinces for a while, take the opportunity to indulge in the capital's Western culinary
offerings before hitting the trail.
FOOD STALLS AND MARKETS
For cheap, home-style cooking, head for the outdoor food stalls found in or around any of the
city's markets. Crusty baguettes ( khào ji ) are a speciality of Vientiane, and vendors selling
these French-inspired loaves, plain or filled with Lao-style pâté, can be found around town.
Heng Boun Road food stalls Heng Boun Rd, between Khoun Boulom Rd and Chao Anou
Rd; map . For cheap, tasty snacks throughout the day and into late evening, try the food carts
near the Home Ideal shop on Heng Boun Road: here you'll find good Lao-style khào pûn
(noodles with sauce), tam màk hung and excellent shakes.
TalatKhouadin Just east of the Talat Sao bus station; map . This dusty, partially covered mar-
ket is Vientiane's cheapest place to buy fruit, vegetables and the like. Come early to watch
locals buying fish and meat. Daily sunrise-sunset.
VangthongNightMarket Along Khoun Boulom Road, north of the National Stadium; map .
This narrow, food-focused night market sets up near the bowling alley on Khoun Boulom
Road in the early evening and stays open till about 10pm, selling fresh fruit, sweet coconut
desserts and ping kai (grilled chicken). Daily sunset-around 10pm.
GROCERY STORES AND WINE SHOPS
For many travellers, especially Europeans, one of the great pleasures of returning to Vientiane
after a long journey upcountry is the availability of cheeses, wine and other imported goods
to accompany those crusty baguettes which are a speciality of the capital.