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Gay Travel Laos: Vientiane, the Colorful Lao Capital
Vientiane, the often-overlooked capital of Laos, was a sleepy colonial town just ten years ago. Nowadays, it is hopping with progress, trendy shopping and dining, and even a bit of nightlife. You can reach Vientiane in just over an hour from Bangkok, or by air or road from Vientiane.
 Where We Shine: Purple Dragon knows all the popular night spots and we provide our guests with listings and a map. Your tour is private and you have the undivided attention of our guides, all of whom speak excellent English. Our guests
often remark that the highlight of their holiday was the charming company of our trained guides and their friendly introduction to Lao life and culture.
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There is more to Laos than Luang Prabang!
Vientiane is the cozy capital city of laid-back Laos. With red earthen roads, and no skyscrapers, "Sandalwood City" exudes a timeless charm but for ubiquitous cyber cafes. Hugging the banks of the mighty Mekong River, it sits opposite the town of Nongkhai in Thailand, united by the Friendship Bridge permitting easy access by land. While the people on both sides of the river are basically Isan and share a common language and culture, distinctions are immediately evident. Laos is not highly populated and even this largest of its cities is barely bustling. Nature here is more abundant and free-form than in Thailand and wild flowers and ancient tree-lined lanes abound. Temples are more colorful and less formal than their Thai counterparts, and Purple Dragon guests should not miss a chance to visit to a candlelit wat in the cool of evening for a real slice-of-Lao-life.
Arrive in Laos and transfer to your hotel. After lunch your personal guide will introduce you to Vientiane's famous sights: Wat Si Saket, its walls fitted with thousands of Buddha statues and 19th century mural paintings; Haw Pha Kaew, once the home of the famous Emerald Buddha (now in Bangkok's Grand Palace), offering a splendid collection of antiques and Buddhist sculptures; and Pha That Luang (closed Mon), Laos' most famous monument, an intricate structure designed to assist contemplation by Buddhist pilgrims as they circle and climb the stupa.
Your guide knows the best restaurants for Lao, French, and international fare and would be pleased to make some recommendations or even join you for dinner if you like. For those who enjoy nightlife, the city has many small, mixed clubs that roll on into the wee hours.
Depart at 10am to explore the Talaat Sao, the morning market, with its vast selection of hand-woven fabrics and local handicrafts. Afterwards, take a short drive out of town to visit the haunting Xieng Khuan (also known as Buddha Park), a surreal folk-art sculpture garden whose artist went on to create a sister garden, Wat Kaeg, on the Thai side of the river. Afterwards drop by a park filled with homes and cultural displays by Lao ethnic groups, including lowlanders, central Lao, and hilltribes. If you still have energy, consider paying a visit to the Lao Revolutionary Museum housed in a 1920s French colonial mansion, Wat Si Muang, site of the phallic city pillar and its spirit guardian, or Wat Sok Pa Luang, famous for its traditional herbal sauna and massage.
Free time until your airport transfer. Journey on to one of the Wonders of Asia,
Luang Prabang or awesome Angkor Wat, or extend your holiday with a visit to nearby Vietnam or Thailand.
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choose from these
VIENTIANE HOTELS
Standard: Novotel
Superior: Lao Plaza Hotel
Deluxe:
Green Park
VIP: Setha Palace
Club Sanook Members can take an instant discount when you combine our Luang Prabang and Vientiane packages. For details click on the icon below and join the club!
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Includes private airport transportation, accommodation, tax, service, and daily breakfast beginning on day two, personal guide on arrival, personal tour guide, car and driver on Day two. Not included: airfare, local transportation, admissions, beverages, other meals, gratuities, features not specifically mentioned in the itinerary, or items of a purely personal nature.
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