Sites in Vientiane
“Sabaaidee!” Hello from Laos! It was great to meet Kris Peachey on our first day in Vientiane. She was a great tour leader showing us many sites around the city. We saw the Mekong River with the statue of Chao Fa Ngum, first king, looking towards Thailand. We visited a number of Wats (Buddhist temples)—some quite old and some newer. We don’t remember the names of all of them!
We climbed about 200 steps up Patuxai (which approximately means Arch of Triumph). It looks like its French namesake but has four archways rather than two. It was built in the 1960s from US cement which was supposed to be used to build an airport runway. There were good views of the city from the top.
Pha That Luang
We visited the most important national monument in Laos—Pha That Luang. It is the symbol of Buddhism and Laos sovereignty. Legend says that a piece of Buddha’s breastbone is enclosed in the stupa. There are two wats on the grounds of this monument; both are very colorful and interesting. There is also a large reclining Buddha.
One evening we went to see the Night Market near the river. Here, every evening from about 5-10 pm, hundreds of small stalls are erected. Locals and tourists were all enjoying the evening. (Khao toum is stuffed boiled sticky rice–stuffed usually with beans and pork.)
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- Kris and Sally Jo
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- Statue of Chao Fa Ngum
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- temple
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- row of Buddhas
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- temple
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- temple entrance
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- Buddha and altar
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- Burial stuppas
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- temple entrance
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- Buddhas
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- Patuxai (arch)
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- Patuxai (arch)
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- view from Patuxai
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- On top
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- view from Patuxai
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- siral stairs
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- temple entrance
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- temple near Pha That Luang
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- temple ceiling
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- reclining Buddha
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- Pha That Luang
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- spring rolls
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- khao toum
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- night market
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- night market
February 19th, 2015 at 11:47 pm
Great pictures with such brillianet colors. Is Buddha gold plated?