A small, relaxed capital on the Mekong
Vientiane is one of Asia's most unhurried capitals, strung along the Mekong opposite Thailand. Its great landmark is Pha That Luang, a golden stupa and national symbol, while the Patuxai monument echoes the Arc de Triomphe. Wat Si Saket has thousands of small Buddha images in its cloister walls, and COPE Visitor Centre explains the lasting impact of unexploded ordnance in Laos. French bakeries and cafés recall the colonial era, and evenings are spent at the riverside night market.