Vientiane

It is the quiet, charming capital city of Laos, situated along the Mekong River bordering Thailand. As the nation’s largest economic and cultural hub, it features a unique blend of French colonial architecture, tree-lined streets, and ancient Buddhist temples. The city is known for its relaxed atmosphere and landmarks like the gilded Pha That Luang stupa, a war monument resembling the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, featuring traditional Lao designs- Patuxay and Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan) which features over 200 Hindu and Buddhist cement sculptures.

It is widely considered a very relaxed, quiet capital with a “small town” feel, despite being the administrative center.