Life in Vientiane, modest capital of Laos, flows along as languidly as does the Mekong River on the banks of which the city is situated. Resembling more a sprawling series of villages than an inter-connected urban metropolis, Vientiane is a sleepy place dotted with a mix of Laotian temples and French colonial buildings, most of them crumbling into decay. Paddy fields still dot the outlying suburbs and even intrude into the city centre in places. Downtown is characterised by narrow lanes that run off the main streets, where bakeries sell croissants alongside vendors touting noodle soup and sticky rice.

Most of the city's places of interest are concentrated in a small area in the commercial district, easy to explore on foot, between the bamboo and thatched beer gardens on the riverbank and Talaat Sao, the morning market. There are some fine Wats (temples) to visit, like Wat Si Saket, one of the city's oldest, surrounded by a lush tranquil garden. Other grand buildings are the unfinished Patuxai monument, resembling the Arc de Triomphe, and the new Chinese-financed cultural centre. The Lao Revolutionary Museum is worth a visit simply because it is a now rare example of a communist propaganda collection, while the Kaysone Phomvihane Museum is dedicated to Laos' post-war leader.

Hotel name	Location	Hotel Rate	Booking
INTER CITY HOTEL	14-25 Quai Fa Gnum, Ban Vat Chanh, Chanthabury, Central, Vientiane, Laos	3Star	Stay
VANSANA HOTEL	Phonthanh Road, P.O. Box 881 Vientiane, Laos	3Star	Stay
LANE XANG HOTEL	1 Fangum Rd, Ban Siangyeun, Vientiane, Laos	3Star	Stay
LE PARASOL BLANC HOTEL	Sibounheuang Rd., P.O. Box 815, Vientiane, Laos	3Star	Stay
BEAU RIVAGE MEKONG HOTEL	Fa Ngum Road, Ban Sythane Neua, Vientiane, Laos	3Star	Stay
ROYAL DOKMAIDENG HOTEL	Lane Xang Avenue, P.O. Box 3925, Vientiane, Laos	3Star	Stay
NOVOTEL HOTEL	Unit 9, Samsenthai Road, P.O. Box 585, Vientiane, Laos	4Star	Stay
DON CHAN PALACE HOTEL	DON CHAN PALACE HOTEL	5Star	Stay
LAO PLAZA HOTEL	63 Samsenthai Road, Vientiane, Laos	4Star	Stay
TAIPAN HOTEL	2-21 Francois Nginn Street, Ban Mixay Muong Chanthabury, P.O. Box 4148 Vientiane, Laos	3Star	Stay
SETTHA PALACE HOTEL	6 Pang Kham Street, P.O. Box 1618, Vientiane, Laos	5Star	Stay
PARKVIEW EXECUTIVE SUITES HOTEL	14-25 Quai Fa Gnum, Ban Vat Chanh, Chanthabury, Central, Vientiane, Laos	4Star	Stay