R&R in vientiane with a sidetrip to udon thani

[Marmite the Dog]

John, Ex manager of Lao singapore construction

He used to work on the Underground construction in Bangkok with the guys I used to socialise with back then.

[beerlaodrinker]

It seems mandatory to have wander around the morning market although i reckon the russian or chinese ones are better

[beerlaodrinker]

He used to work on the Underground construction in Bangkok with the guys I used to socialise with back then.

He is working on a beergut now

[Bangyai]

Great thread and pics. Thanks for taking the time to share.

[ataloss]

Excellent travelLog, Beerlaodrinker. Thank you for taking the time.
It's been a long time since last I was in Vientiane: I am pleasantly surprised at how well it's grown(up).
Your presentation has spurred me into taking a longer trip soon.

[Loombucket]

Nice pictures there Beerlaodrinker. Thanks for sharing.

[nevets]

Yes very nice pics thanks for taking the time .

[ribblerat]

You mentioned that the traffic has increased , what sort of level now is it at , i've not been to Vientiane since 2003 ...Anything like Chiang Mai level or worst ..

[supernovadw]

Nice report!

I must however disagree with you saying that the nightlife is boring. It's certainly better than anywhere I have been in the UK and better than most of the places I have been in Thailand to be honest! Maybe just personal opinion but I really enjoy the night life in Vientiane!

Bars wise I like 'Bor Pen Nyang' Pretty universal place in my opinion, i.e. good for the younger and older generation alike.

Clubs wise I'm probably pretty biased because I met my wife there but Don Chan Palace is my favorite place!

As for restaurants there are of course a big choice! A good place to go if your feeling very hungry is the all you can eat (And drink!) restaurant at the airport, I can't remember it's name but it's good food and about 80,000 Kip per person for all you can eat and drink beer and wine!

[Gerbil]

The Lao brewery building is nice.

[Tarl]

Heading to Vietiane in April with my partner for 4 nights for the first time. Looking forward to it a little bit more after seeing your pics - very much appreciated.

I do like the sense of humour associated with some of the pics also

[beerlaodrinker]

You mentioned that the traffic has increased , what sort of level now is it at , i've not been to Vientiane since 2003 ...Anything like Chiang Mai level or worst ..

Maybe not as bad as chaing mai , but to give you an idea i recntly read in the vientiane times that vientianes population is about 850 000 people and has over 600 000 vehicles registered, the article didnt elaborate what percentage were motorbikes and what were cars, Either way lots of traffic in the mornings lunchtime and knock off time the worst,

I do like the sense of humour associated with some of the pics also

Thanks

[supernovadw]

Traffic wise it certainly is getting busy but still if you compare it to Bangkok it's really nothing! Peak times do get busy but at night the traffic calms down alot! My friend lives in Lad Prao Bangkok and 24 hours a day there is busy traffic whereas in Vientiane it does quieten down considerably outside of peak times.

[beerlaodrinker]

Nice report! I must however disagree with you saying that the nightlife is boring. It's certainly better than anywhere I have been in the UK and better than most of the places I have been in Thailand to be honest! Maybe just personal opinion but I really enjoy the night life in Vientiane! Bars wise I like 'Bor Pen Nyang' Pretty universal place in my opinion, i.e. good for the younger and older generation alike. Clubs wise I'm probably pretty biased because I met my wife there but Don Chan Palace is my favorite place! As for restaurants there are of course a big choice! A good place to go if your feeling very hungry is the all you can eat (And drink!) restaurant at the airport, I can't remember it's name but it's good food and about 80,000 Kip per person for all you can eat and drink beer and wine!

Im a fair bit older than you Supernova( double your age actually) So our tastes probably vary vastly when it come s to nightlife and whats considered nightlife in vientiane , You can indeed have a lot of fun at night in vientiane but for me it seems the fun takes a lot of work before it happens then the clock strikes 12 and everyone goes home, or goes to the don chan palace, The bor pen nyang is indeed universal and is fine if you like a cold beer a rooftop view of the river, and having a natter with universal visa runners decked out in chang wife beaters, ive also spent a lot of time (and money) fucking about all over the globe, Nighlife capital of SE asia its not, trust me, agreed the west coast at the airport is a good buffet

[charleyboy]

Thanks for the report Beerlao. 'Twas a blast from the past. I was there in 2000
and remember the Samlor pub very well, as for Buddha park...I thought it was very weird but enjoyable.
Cheers, Charley.
PS. I stayed at Le Parasol blanc near to the 'Arc.'

[beerlaodrinker]

^ An excellent little hotel the le parasol, had mates staying there once, Lots of new hotels have gone up in recent years there is a huge one still under construction near don chan palace on the river with some smart looking (but pricey villas ) that they built for the summit recently nearby, i also saw a couple of months back a place on the T4 road called Dork Jumpa which was pretty impressive to, chinese owned , biggest swimming pool ive seen in vientiane also, will take the kids for a swim when it gets a bit hotter and grab a photo,

For the Colonial experience i reckon you couldnt beat the setha palace set in a renovated old style froggy mansion



Will set you back about $500 a night though

[bushwacker]

Really enjoyed your pics. Should plan a trip there sometime as living in Thailand the wine is very expensive. The city does look different than Thai typical towns. cheers

[beerlaodrinker]

Plenty of changes going on

CP All Plc, the operator of 7-Eleven convenience stores, will expand into Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam as it seeks to benefit from an integrated Asean market from Dec 2015.
Managing director Piyawat Titasattavorakul confirmed that CP All has submitted a proposal to 7-Eleven’s parent company in the US to open stores in four of Thailand’s neighbouring countries.
It is the next step after CP was approved to open 7-Eleven stores in China by the end of 2013 or early 2014

Coca-Cola Co. (KO) plans to begin bottling its products in Laos by 2014, moving in on Southeast Asia’s smallest economy where rival PepsiCo Inc. (PEP) has deep distribution lines.
While Coca-Cola’s beverages have long been available in Laos through third-party distributors, the Atlanta- headquartered beverage giant plans to build its first bottling facility in the country as part of a drive to deepen its presence across Southeast Asia. The move comes amid signs of slowing sales in China, its once-reliable growth engine, and as the company expands elsewhere in Asia.

[beerlaodrinker]

At the end of last year 175 beggars were sent to the Vientiane Assistance Centre while others went back to their parents or families. But about 105 others still live in the city centre, said the Head of Vientiane’s labour and social division, Mr Vilasack Nammounty. The plan for beggars coming to the capital from the provinces is to hand them over to provincial officials for training and if they returned to beg they would be sent to Don Thao and Don Nang islands.

Ive been to those islands they keep the males on one island and the femaleson the other one, hell of a swim if they want to escape

[beerlaodrinker]

A bit more about what the Lao media are saying

Construction of the embankment running from Kaoliew village in Sikhottabong district, Vientiane, to the Australian Embassy Recreational Club is nearing completion and should be finished by next year as targeted, according to project officials. Those in charge of
overseeing the Mekong River Integrated Management Project, on which work began in 2009, held a meeting in Vientiane yesterday to valuate its progress so far. The embankment runs through 23 villages and three districts. The government undertook the project as part of efforts to prevent flooding along the capital’s main riverbank area. As well as building a 12.6km embankment, a 2.6km road has been laid along the river from the Pakpasak fork to Thatkhao, and 14.5 hectares of land have been landscaped and transformed into the Chao Anouvong Park. As construction of the embankment in Sikhottabong district advances, 185 families are being displaced. Each has been allocated new land in nearby Nongniew village, to replace that which they have lost. Those in charge of theproject have said all the families are being compensated for the loss of their homes and land. The project is being supported by the Republic of Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund, which has given Laos a low interest loan of more than 300 billion kip (about US$37 million) to carry out the work, according to Vientiane Vice Mayor Mr Keophilavanh Aphaylath. Mr Keophilavanh said the embankment project was one of 160 of its kind being carried out across Vientiane as part of socio-economic development plans for the city, and one of 21 projects being carried out to mark the 450th anniversary of Vientiane as the capital of Laos.

Its getting easier and easier to get out of town by air these days

That left hand engine doesnt fill me with confidence

A direct flight between Luang Prabang province and Khon Kaen province in Thailand was officially launched on Friday by Laos’ first privately-owned airline, Lao Central Airlines Public Company (LCA).The flight aims to boost tourism between the two provinces as well as in the northern provinces of Laos and the north-eastern provinces of Thailand. “The service will benefit both countries,” Phongsavanh Group Chairman, Prof. Dr Od Phongsavanh, said at the opening ceremony at Khon Kaen airport. The ceremony was attended by Thai Transport Deputy Minister General Prin Suwannathat, Vientiane Vice Mayor Mr Somvandy Nathavong and LCA staff. Khon Kaen Governor Mr Somsak Suwansujarit said the flight was a valuable link between Khon Kaen and Luang Prabang. It would enable people in 20 provinces in the northeastern, or Isan area, of Thailand to visit the World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang. “We also believe this flight will be attractive to overseas visitors coming to the north-east, or Isan, area of Thailand,” Mr Somsak said.In the past people in Thailand had to travel to Bangkok and take a flight from there to Luang Prabang. “It was a waste of time and extremely expensive,” Mr Somsak said.

“A direct flight between Jakarta and Vientiane will bring the people of Indonesia and Laos closer together, strengthening the friendship between the two Asean countries.” The Indonesian official said Laos and Indonesia expect to launch the direct flight at the end of 2013, two years ahead of the Asean Economic Community coming into being in 2015. He said Asean is currently enjoying strong economic growth and this is the perfect time to connect one city in the region to another. While Laos and Indonesia have good diplomatic relations,

Even more ways to get the fuk outta dodge

NATIONAL carrier Myanmar Airways International plans to launch direct flights from Yangon to Vientiane, Hong Kong and Seoul later this year, a spokesperson said last week.
“As part of our expansion plan, we will add a few more Airbuses very soon and expect to use them to fly directly from Yangon on our new routes to Vientiane, Hong Kong and Seoul. We are now in discussions with authorities from Laos and we hope to start operating [to Vientiane] from October,” said Daw Aye Mra Tha, the airline’s marketing and commercial executive.

[beerlaodrinker]

The new city pillar


And the newly renovated nam phou fountain which was a bit tatty before


Hello malacious how da fuk are ya come in and pull up a chair
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 6 (2 members and 4 guests) beerlaodrinker, Malicious

[beerlaodrinker]

The swimming pool at the settha palace

Busted arse backstreet of vientiane

[beerlaodrinker]

Notice a lot of these sort of cocktail bars opening up lately , a bit fuckin gay i reckon this ones in a good location by the river though, called smile dee

[beerlaodrinker]

This used to be the novatel

[beerlaodrinker]

And if you are the holder of a pommy passport and need assistance , the pomgolian embassy is back in town again after a long abscense, ( They are housed in the old aussie embassy near that luang) should be handy for a lot of folk i would imagine



The old Lao museum, which will move to a new building soon


Dont see so many of those ancient old buses rattling around town now , japan donated a shitload of nice new ones




And the Lao stock exchange, Not many companys listed as yet, i think the Lao,s are still getting there heads around it, Im waiting for Beerlao to list personally

Decent medical cares a bit hit n miss but it seems to be improving all the time , The Mahosot hospitals a bit grungy but in the centre of town ,