- Vientiane — The former Royal Palace has been converted into a museum and a theatre.
- Wats (temples) in Vientiane.
- Definitely lost in translation. (one of the most ‘liked’ photos on my timeline.)
- Vientiane’s city centre is quite compact. The architecture is a mix of practical structures and colonial buildings. The grandest ones are the wats (temples) and government offices.
- Green Park is a lovely boutique hotel on the edge of the city centre. It is adjacent to the biggest mall (I think 4 floors) in Vientiane.
- Patuxay, literally means the Victory Gate. It’s sometimes referred to a mink mini Arc de Triomphe of Vientiane even though the design is quite different. The surprise of the visit is reading the description plague of the monument (read it yourself; it’s photo #5)
- Luang Prabang is definitely more lively than Vientiane. The old town has been designated as a UNESCO site in 1995 for its well preserved architectural, cultural, and religious heritage. It was also the royal capital of the country until 1975. Although the town is populated with tourists, it manages to retain a relax and calm atmosphere.
- This Luang Prabang Library has a program whereby visitors can purchase books for the children in the villages.
- Wat Xieng Thong (Temple of Golden City) is one of the many temples in Luang Prabang. I really enjoy the mosaic, paintings, and craving on the doors. Laos’s a predominately Buddhist country and the temples play an impotent role in the society.
- The famous bamboo bridge over the Nam Khan River. The bridge is only operational when it’s not the raining season. I didn’t get to do as much as I would like for the 3 days I spent in Luang Prabang because it rained the first two days and I have been fighting a cold.
- Even though the old town is catered to tourists, Luang Prabang manages to retain its unhurried and rustic charm. However, China and Laos government has a joint venture building a high-speed rail linking the two countries. Once it’s completed, Laos would have to find a way to deal with mass tourism.
- Harvesting coconuts in Luang Prabang