Sanjiang Mall: Chinas growing influence in Vientiane

See the location on Sanjiang Mall Google Map

Laos’ economy quadrupled in size between 2002 and 2010. Its traditional investors have been Thai and Vietnamese, but in 2010, by investing $344 million over the course of just six months, Chinese companies overtook them both. Iain Manley writes this in an interesting article about the Chinese merchants of Vientiane. When staying in Vientiane he discovered a large community of immigrants from China who had arrived recently around Sanjiang Cheng – Three Rivers City – a wholesale market, also known as Xang Chieng Market. Its the largest mall for Chinese products in Southeast Asia, writes Manley. The market is located in Oumong, opposite Wat Tay Yai, and the Lao people call it Talat Jin (Jin means Chinese). A more detailed report has been published on oldworldwandering.com. And a guide to Vientiane's chinatown has been published on travelfish.org. Read also: China Gives Southeast Asia’s Poorest First Time Access to Consumer Goods.

Nightlife in Vientiane

See the locations on Vientiane Google Map

Blue Sky Bar:

Déjà vu:

Future Night Club: Luang Prabang Road (near Novotel). "It follows the Thai format and there is no dance floor. Revelers stand around their table laden with Black Label and Beer Lao and jiggle about madly", comments travel.nytimes

Le Club Disco: Lao Plaza

Lunar 36: Don Chan Palace Hotel. "A night out here is a great opportunity to mix with Laos’s university students and office workers over a few drinks", according to visit-mekong.com.

On The Rock Pup: "Those who venture in will be within arms reach of the band playing a range of western, Thai and Laos covers", notes visit-mekong.com.

Snow White & One Dwarf: Jazz.

The Jazzy Brick: 47/1 Setthathirath Road. "Customers will only be allowed in to sip expensive cocktails if they are properly attired; no shorts or sleeveless shirts allowed.", notes Frommers. "The atmosphere is very relaxed and the interior exactly like it should be in a jazz bar; dark, wooden en smoky", adds Nice to Share.

The Bor Phen Nyang: Fa Ngum. A rooftop bar with great Mekong View. "A combination of drunk backpackers, ragged commercial sex workers, and some unsavory-looking types on visa renewals from across the river makes it all feel a little rough", notes travel.nytimes.com.

Read more: Vientiane Nightlife - What to Do at Night in Vientiane

What about the bus from Vientiane to Luang Prabang? Be aware of spirits!

Picture by Catherine Murray
The bus can look like this...

... and also like this...

Picture by Thaths
... because also pumpkins have to be transported

Should you fly from Vientiane to Luang Prabang or should you take the bus? Well, the busride will not be a too easy one. But first this:

In Vientiane buses leave at Northern Bus Station. You have the choice:
VIP buses: Depart 08.00, 9.00, 20.00. Costs: 140 000 to 170 000 kip one way, 10 hours. You will get a bottle of water, a small snack and will stop for a lunch.
Air-con Buses: 06.30, 07.30, 09.00, 11.00, 13.30, 16.00, 18.00, 19.30. Costs: 120 000 to 130 000 Kip, 10 hours.
Local Bus: 11 hours, 70 000 Kip
Mini Buses: To Vang Vieng, there you have to catch another Mini Bus to Luang Prabang. Ticket includes pick-up from hotel or guesthouse at around 10.00 or 14.00. Costs: 60,000 Kip).
See laomeow.blogspot.com

In Luang Prabang buses leave at Naluang Bus Station.
VIP buses: 08.00 and 09.00.
Express Buses: Depart 06.30, 08.30, 11.00, 14.00, 17.30, 18.30, 19.30.
Mini Buses: Only to Vang Vieng (09.00, 10.00, 14.00, 100,000 kip).

And what's your experience on this bus ride? You will see a breathtaking landscape, mountains and valleys in all kinds of green colour, Lao rural life with waterbuffalos and playing children - if mist or clouds don't cover everything and prevent you from seeing anything...

Picture by sarahstarkweather
Near Vang Vieng

But why does the bus take 10 hours for 384 km on a road, that is mostly paved? "It soon became clear", notes Safari mkubwa sana!: "There are numerous deep pot holes scattered randomly around. Some pot holes take minutes to cross and the bus driver generally needs to drive quite slowly to spot them before it's too late."

Worse: During the rainy season there can be interruptions of the road by land slides or trees falling on the road. In august 2011 a land slide has entirely swept away a stretch of road. "Buses are forced to stop on either side of the landslide, and passengers walk across to join another bus on the opposite side. As the buses have to stop at points where they can turn round, the total distance to walk is around 1.5-2km", writes lhm on Thorntree Forum. This seemed to be between between Kiew Kacham and Phou Khoun.

And why did it happen? "A lao friend told me that the landslide was caused by spirits/ghosts who were not happy that the people in a village nearby ate a very big snake", notes tictocchoc on Thorntree forum.

So if you cannot take easy situations like these, if you cannot sleep in a bus, because the way onward is not open, if you cannot live without air-con, when the air-con is broken, if you are afraid of ghosts, you will remember this journey as horrible...

But see the views you miss, when you don't go:

Picture by taylorandayumi

More views on videos on youtube 1, on youtube 2. Or have a look at pictures on this blog.

And well, if you want to fly, there are daily flights by Lao Airlines.

Eco-Lodges near Vientiane

See the locations on Vientiane Hotels and Guesthouses Google Map


Rivertime Ecolodge Resort: 29 km northeast from Vientiane. in the forest on the south bank of Nam Ngum river. Seven private lodges and two 3-bed dormitories, all lodges with wide balconies overlooking the river towards the mountains of Phou Khao Kwai National Protected Area.

Picture by Rivertime Eco Lodge
See more pictures on their facebook gallery

Picture by Rivertime Eco Lodge
Nam Ngum River, seen from the resort


The Garden Restaurant with a big organic vegetable garden is adjacent to Rivertime Resort. It has also a floating restaurant. See the location on Rivertime Ecolodge Resort Google Map. Read reviews on tripadvisor.com: what you can await and what not.
Activites from Rivertime Resort: Try the 20-minutes-forest-trail from the resort. Riverboat trips, cycling to a village of the Lao Loum ethnic group (Ban Thadokkham with a highle revered temple) or a Lao Soun ethnic village (Ban Jut Nung). Across the river from the resort is another Lao Loum village called Ban Na Taer (with a temple with turtles. Visit to a local traditional healer, traditional Lao massage. The resort also organizes visits to local schools and to the main agricultural research centre of Laos.


Ban Pako: Bungalow Resort on an ancient temple site on the banks of the Nam Ngum river about 50 km from Vientiane. Closed now, reopening after upgrading (new bungalows on the river) around april 2012. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com. See the location on Ban Pako Google Map

Tours from Vientiane: Join the nature at Phu Khao Khouay National Park

See the locations on Phu Khao Khouay National Park Google Map

Phu Khao Khouay National Park: By greendiscoverylaos.com. Phu Khao Khouay means "Buffalo Horn Mountain". Mountains, rivers and forests of this National Protected Area offer great opportunities for exploring the nature and inviting for trekking, canoeing, wildlife watching, picnicking and camping. There ist also a very interesting Phu Khao Khouay National Park Facebook Page.

The village Ban Na for example is famous for watching wild Elephants. For that you spend a night at the Elephant Observation tower. Read more about Ban Na. If you want to go on your own: Pick-ups from the southern bus station in Vientiane leave[ from 9a.m & 5p.m every 30minutes. Families in Ban Na offer homestays. If you go on your own call Mr. Bounthanom (phone 020 220 82 86).

Picture by Atar Shadmi Elephant tower in Ban Na

The village Ban Hathkai is starting point for trekking tours into the mountains or to the twin waterfalls Tad Xay and Pha Xay. The area is also rewarding for its orchids,ferns and flowering plants. Most trips include a boat trip on the Nam Mang River. Ban Hatkhai can also be reached by boat from Thabok (in just over an hour). You go there negotiate for the price. Families in Ban Hathkai offer homestays. Call phone 020 224 03 03. Read more about Ban Hathkai.

Picture by Art Vogel Rhynchostylis gigantea - an orchid

Tad Leuk is a waterfall within the Nam Leuk, The Tad Leuk Visitor Information Centre offers an exhibition of the flora and fauna of the area, informations in Lao as well as English and with a small library with reports about the regional plants and wildlife. It's starting point of the "Houey Bone Nature Trail" (1.5 kilometres). A small restaurant offers Lao meals and a guidebooklet for the trail. And you can walk in two to three hours to Tad Xang waterfall. Read more about Tad Leuk.

Picture by Anannya Deb Tad Leuk

Ang Nam Leuk is an artificial dam lake, where you can do boat trips. Read more about Ang Nam Leuk. There is criticism about the dam project.

Find links and informations about tour operators offrering trips to Phou Khao Khouay

Orchid-Trek: By exotissimo.com

Vang Xang - Buddhas carved out of stone

Picture by thomaswanhoff

Vang Xang (Vang Sang) means "pond of elefants". The Buddha reliefs on cliffs here are said to date from the 10th to the 12th century after Christ, from the Angkor peroid. Near Ban Phone Savang. Read more about Lao Buddhist Sculpture.

Hotels and Guesthouses in Vientiane with reviews of people, who have been there

See the locations on Vientiane Hotels and Guesthouses Google Map


Hotels in Vientiane


Ansara Hotel: From 125 USD. Close walking distance to Mekong river, restaurants and night markets. very good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture by Ansara Hotel

Picture by Ansara Hotel
Savvy Room


Beau Rivage Mekong Hotel: From 50 USD. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com. Just around the corner you find Papapya Spa. "Note that some rooms have a glass shower stall in the bedroom — a romantic touch if you're a couple or quite awkward if you're not", adds travelfish.org

Picture by sarahstarkweather


Chanthapanya Hotel ***: 138 Norkeokoummarn Road. Phone (856-21) 244 284. Large rooms and a pool. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com


Green Park Boutique Hotel: From 195 USD. The hotel ist situated a bit outside of the city centre.

Picture by dalbera


Salana Boutique Hotel: From 90 USD. There might be some traffic noise, according to reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture by larique


Setha Palace Hotel: From 179 US-Dollars. For lovers of the French colonial style. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture by iambents
The pool

Picture by iambents
Room 111


Guesthouses in Vientiane

Lani's House By The Ponds: 281 Setthathirat Road. Old house in a small lush garden. Charming place with great location according to very good reviews on tripadvisor.com.


Mali Namphu Hotel: 114 Pangkham Road. Phone 856 21 215093. Critical reviews on tripadvisor.com


Villa Manoly: 29 Ban Phiawat. Away from town centre. Quite good reviews on tripadvisor.com. A "charming colonial villa set amid rambling green grounds", according to travelfish.org. Picture of the pool on travelpod.com, another picture by nicinchiangmai.


Villa That Luang: 109 Route 23 Singha; Nongbone Village; Xaysettha District. Good, but too far out of the town according to tripadvisor.com.