Vientiane. RIP tourism?

[2Prick]

Just got back from there.

It's been bad for local businesses there since the recession hit, but the last year has been the worst. Now it's almost totally dead. Loads of places shut down. Whole areas ghost towns.

Is this the end for SE Asia's sleepiest and once most endearing capital city?

[Necron99]

Probably didn't help that they concreted over and made largely inaccessible their one prime attraction.

[2Prick]

^ Yes, ruining the riverside shacks and stalls of food and drink sellers was absurd.

But it still had some attraction regardless. Now it's just a transit zone for people arranging visas for elsewhere. And even those numbers are dwindling dramatically.

[benbaaa]

I think that huge esplanade was a big fuck up. Instead of hundreds of people relaxing in the shade watching the sun go down, eating and drinking, now it's just half a dozen sweaty joggers pounding the concrete in the sun.

[reddog]

^ Yes, ruining the riverside shacks and stalls of food and drink sellers was absurd.

But it still had some attraction regardless. Now it's just a transit zone for people arranging visas for elsewhere. And even those numbers are dwindling dramatically.

i really liked sinking a few beer lao's along the old riverside, not the same now

[Fluke]

Just back from there after a Visa run .
Found it to be expensive , everything closes at ten PM , although one or two eating places stay open until 2 am, but after that everything is closed . No 24 hour convenience stores . Nothing to see or do there . Not looking forward to going back

[Albert Shagnastier]

"heroin's shit too, least they could do is provide quality heroin"

Some fuckers eh?

[terry57]

i really liked sinking a few beer lao's along the old riverside, not the same now

Real bummer when they fuk up a perfectly good area. Shits me no end.

[beerlaodrinker]

It's been bad for local businesses there since the recession hit, but the last year has been the worst. Now it's almost totally dead. Loads of places shut down. Whole areas ghost towns.

Ive no idea what the fock your on about.Whole areas ghost towns? been here 7 and a half years now, the construction never stops, new hotels, houses etc, roads and infrastructure all gradually being updated ,and you dont see many old cars on the road, there all new mate. plenty of people have cash in the pocket to spend, agreed they certainly fucked up the riverfrontage , that could of been a gold mine if done properly

i really liked sinking a few beer lao's along the old riverside, not the same now

Plenty of other places to do that as well, i was out on the piss last night, job done


,

[beerlaodrinker]

Found it to be expensive , everything closes at ten PM

12000 kip maximum for a king brown of beerlao expensive?

[Necron99]

Found it to be expensive , everything closes at ten PM

12000 kip maximum for a king brown of beerlao expensive?

I thought it was pretty cheap.

[2Prick]

It's been bad for local businesses there since the recession hit, but the last year has been the worst. Now it's almost totally dead. Loads of places shut down. Whole areas ghost towns.

Ive no idea what the fock your on about.Whole areas ghost towns? been here 7 and a half years now, the construction never stops, new hotels, houses etc, roads and infrastructure all gradually being updated ,and you dont see many old cars on the road, there all new mate. plenty of people have cash in the pocket to spend, agreed they certainly fucked up the riverfrontage , that could of been a gold mine if done properly

i really liked sinking a few beer lao's along the old riverside, not the same now

Plenty of other places to do that as well, i was out on the piss last night, job done


,

It's all dormant though. None of those new, upmarket places are attracting tourists. Take a look. You'll see bugger all business going on. Just skeleton staff and the odd out of place 50s couple sitting on public display.

And the backpacker scene is almost finished.

I go there once a month and have done for the last 8 years.

In terms of construction, you are correct.

In terms of it being a tourist destination, you've been looking at it through the wrong set of lenses.

There's more to Vientiane (or at least there used to be) than just Sticky Fingers and Khop Chai Deu.

[nigelandjan]

Hope things are working out for Superloveydovey haven't heard from him lately

[boatboy]

It's all dormant though. None of those new, upmarket places are attracting tourists. Take a look. You'll see bugger all business going on. Just skeleton staff and the odd out of place 50s couple sitting on public display.

And the backpacker scene is almost finished.

Cool, sounds like a great time to visit .
If only it wasnt so expensive (relatively) to get into

[Necron99]

^ Expensive to get to?
3000 baht return on nok air. With a meal and free drinks.
Bus to Nong Kai from BKK..
Relative to what?

[boatboy]

^ Expensive to get to?
3000 baht return on nok air. With a meal and free drinks.
Bus to Nong Kai from BKK..

To get from BKK on the dates I want shows as $269 return with Bankok air and $418 with air lao
From Saigon $269 is the cheapest one way I can get (skyscanner)

Not interested in a bus

Relative to what?

The saigon to bkk flight for $50 I have booked with AA
The bkk to CM flight for $50 I have booked with AA
The Oz to Singapore flight for $200 I have booked with scoot

[beerlaodrinker]

In terms of it being a tourist destination, you've been looking at it through the wrong set of lenses.

Then im not the only one, in yesterdays vientiane times it was reported that Laos had received from the european council on tourism and trade The worlds best tourist destination award for 2013 The worlds best tourist destination is awarded to a country for its achievements in the tourism sector , it is conferred on countries that comply with the UN tourism Division, Unesco and the ECTT principals on fair and ethical tourism, safety standards and the preservation of historical, cultural and natural sites,

There's more to Vientiane (or at least there used to be) than just Sticky Fingers and Khop Chai Deu.

No shit,

And the backpacker scene is almost finished.

Bollocks
Fuk me i must be looking at it through the bottom of a beerlao bottle eh,

[beerlaodrinker]

[QUOTE="nigelandjan"]Hope things are working out for Superloveydovey haven't heard from him lately[/QUOTE He seems to be going well nige ,

[Butterfly]

Probably didn't help that they concreted over and made largely inaccessible their one prime attraction.

a request by the Chinese apparently,

it shrunk the whole area and complete destroyed the riverfront,

like all those Asian cities, the locals can't help but fuck it up

time for a new French invasion of the place,

[Fluke]

Found it to be expensive , everything closes at ten PM

12000 kip maximum for a king brown of beerlao expensive?

I thought it was pretty cheap.

It may be cheap compared to some places , I had Baht and paid for everything in Baht and things were 20-50 % more expensive in Laos than Thailand .

[Necron99]

^ because you were using baht.
Many places shaft you.

[Fluke]

For example : Can of Coke 5000 Kip = 20 Baht . In Thailand 14 Baht .

[TonyBKK]

I'm headed to Vientiane next week. Is the Sprirt House in the Beau Rivage Hotel still open? Quite enjoyed it on my last visit.

Samlo still open after hours? Been a while since I banged a backpacker

[Butterfly]

Samlo still open after hours? Been a while since I banged a backpacker

still plenty of those there, if you don't mind their smelly feet from walking all day in the city without shoes

[Warrior]

Found it to be expensive , everything closes at ten PM

12000 kip maximum for a king brown of beerlao expensive?

I thought it was pretty cheap.

It may be cheap compared to some places , I had Baht and paid for everything in Baht and things were 20-50 % more expensive in Laos than Thailand .

That is because many things in fact are imported from TH.