Visting Vientiane

Laos (officially known as Lao People's Democratic Republic) is a landlocked country in the middle of the Indochinese peninsula of mainland Southeast Asia. Laos is surrounded by Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. The capital city is Vientiane. Other large cities include Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, and Pakse. Like Vietnam and Cambodia, Laos was a French colony and it also was affected by the Vietnam war in the 1970s.

Vientiane is the largest city in Laos with an estimated population of 760,000 (2015). Vientiane is situated along the Mekong River. It has two seasons, tropical wet (monsoon season) between April and October and dry between November to March. Two or three days is enough time to see all of Vientiane. Some highlights of my visit to Vientiane were:

Patuxai : The most prominent landmark in Vientiane is the memorial monument Patuxai which began construction in 1957 and was completed in 1968. The design is like the Arc de Triomphe with additional Lao motifs including “Kinnari,” a mythical bird woman.

That Dam:
That Dam, in Lao means black stupa in Lao, is a large stupa located in the middle of the city. Many Laotians believe it is inhabited by a seven-headed nāga who tried to protect them from an invasion by the Siamese army in 1827.

Wat Mixai :
Wat Mixai is one of the many Buddhist temples along Setthathilath Road in downtown Vientiane.

Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE) Museum and Centre :
COPE was formed in 1997 by agreement between the Ministry of Health of Lao PDR and a group of NGOs including POWER, World Vision and Cambodian School of Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O). COPE provides Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) survivors with the care and support they require, including orthotic and prosthetic devices, rehabilitation and physiotherapy. COPE is also a resource for skills development and training, upgrading clinical skills in physiotherapy, occupational therapy and P&O within the government rehabilitation services.

One place that had rave reviews that we didn’t have a chance to visit was Buddha Park. Buddha Park contains a collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures, scattered amongst gardens and trees. The park is 28 km from Vientiane at the edge of the Mekong River.

Patuxai

 That Dam

 
That Dam

Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise
(COPE) Museum and Centre