Vientiane and the northwest - The Rough Guide to Laos - page 128

Embassies and consulates Australia, Thadua Rd 021 353800; UK, J. Nehru Rd, 030
770 0000; Cambodia, near That Khao, Thadua Rd 021 314952; Canada, c/o embassy in
Bangkok [phone]; China, near Wat Nak Noi, Wat Nak Noi Rd 021 315100;
Indonesia, Kaysone Phomvihane Ave 021 413909 or 413910; Ireland, c/o embassy in
Kuala Lumpur [phone]; Malaysia, That Luang Rd 021 414205 or 414206;
Myanmar (Burma), Lao-Thai Rd, Ban Wat Nak 021 314910; New Zealand, c/o embassy
in Bangkok [phone]; Philippines, Phonthan Rd 021 452490; Singapore, Thadua
Rd 021 353939; Thailand, Kaysone Phomvihane Ave 021 214580; US, Thadua Rd
021 267000; Vietnam, near Wat Phaxai, That Luang Rd 021 413400-4.
Emergencies Dial 190 in case of fire, 195 for an ambulance, or 1191 for police.
Hospitals and clinics Australian Clinic, Thadua Rd, in the Australian Embassy building
021 353840 (weekdays only); French Clinic, Khou Vieng Rd 021 214150; Alliance In-
ternational Medical Centre, Honda Complex, Souphanuvong Road 021 513095; Mahosot
Hospital, Mahosot Rd 021 214018.
Immigration office Hatsady Rd, not far from the tourist office 021 212520 (daily
8am-12pm & 1-4pm). Here you can extend your visa for $2/day. Travel agents in town tend
to charge $3/day for the same service.
Internet access True Coffee on Setthathilat Rd has the fastest computers in town (8000K/
hour), but there are dozens of smaller internet cafés dotted all around the city, each charging
around 200K a minute and closing at about 10pm.
Laundry Most hotels and guesthouses will wash clothes for you. The going rate across town
is 10,000K/kilo, though some hotels try to charge considerably more.
Newspapers The Vientiane Times is sold at the big hotels and most minimarkets; the
Bangkok Post is usually available at the Phimphone minimart on Samsenthai Road.
Pharmacies The best pharmacies are on Mahosot Road, north of the Talat Sao bus station.
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Excursions from Vientiane
If you need a break from Vientiane, it's easy enough to get out of the city in under an hour
and shuttle around the expansive Vientiane Plain by public transport or on a private tour.
The most popular destination for a half-day jaunt is the other-worldly Buddha Park , south-
east of town, which ties in well with a trip to the Beerlao Factory . If you have never seen
a “Buddha's footprint” you might consider travelling further east to Wat Phabat Phonsan .
North of the capital, the huge Ang Nam Ngum Reservoir is a pleasant retreat for boating,
fishing and swimming, with scores of islands to explore, as well as a casino. At the south-
ern edge of the reservoir is the vast Phou Khao Khouay NBCA , which can be visited on
an adventure tour from the capital. Downstream on the Nam Ngum River, Ban Pako is an