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A little out of the main guesthouse area, the recently renovated Thong Bay is a sanctuary of beauty and tranquillity. It's a traditional Lao house set in grounds graced with banana trees, coconut palms and several salas for relaxing in. The elegant house has a lovely balcony plus a ground floor, retro-style lounge room. The 10 rooms are either fan-cooled or air-con, with or without bathrooms, but the shared bathrooms are clean and very contemporary. Grass roofed rooms feature bamboo canopy beds romantically draped in muslin, splashes of colour from local textiles, and French colonial shuttered windows. Be aware that, as is common with many older Lao houses, the infrastructure is prone to water damage from heavy rains, so look carefully around the rooms before you choose. The guesthouse does laundry, serves food, offers bicycle and motorbike rental, books bus tickets and can help with visas. Staff can organise a buffet of either Lao or Western food for small groups of people at $5 per person. The guesthouse is very keen to promote Lao cuisine and their fabulous chef gives cooking classes. For a maximum of 10 people, the class will start at 10:00 with a trip to the market to learn about the ingredients, then a buffet lunch of the dishes you've just prepared is served. The cost is $10.Thong Bay is sister to the bungalows of the same name in Luang Prabang.
Contact details:
Ban Nong Douang, Vientiane. T: (021) 242 292
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* Travelfish researchers visit and review properties on an anonymous basis. By that we mean they show up, in person, and pretend to be either be a potential guest, or somebody looking for a room for a friend or relative. Where possible the researcher will inspect at least a couple of rooms. The rates you see above are what either the desk staff told us they were, or what were in the brochure when they just told us to quit bugging them and look in the brochure. For mid-range hotels and up, always shop around online for a competitive rate. Click here to find out more about what makes Travelfish different with regards our accommodation reviews.
Added to Travelfish on: 5th July, 2004
Last visited or updated on: 25th July, 2008
An amazing house - 20th January, 2009
We just loved our stay at Thong Bay -- our upstairs room was simple but big enough and charming, with a lovely open lounge area (hammock, chairs, pillows, etc) just outside our room. I sat out here and watched an amazing electrical storm with lots of rain early one morning, very cool! Shared bathroom was spotless, and there was no one else sharing during our stay. A bit of a walk to town center, but I think we preferred to stay out in this quiet, friendly neighborhood. Service was very good as well -- definitely recommended.
Thong Bay Guesthouse reviewed by CunningMcFar on 20th January, 2009, rated
Stayed here 3/2005
This is a Travelfish recommended reviewer
Total reviews submitted: 43.
CunningMcFar also reviewed: A-One Inn, Anouxsa Guesthouse, Auberge Sala Done Khong, Baan Lotus, Bougainvillier Hotel, Cave Lodge, Champasak Palace Hotel, Fern Resort, Golden Gate Hotel, Golden Gate Hotel, Kampot River View Guesthouse, Lai Thai Guest House, Mutmee Guesthouse, New Siam II Guest House, Pakse Hotel, Royal Hotel, Salachampa Hotel, Sang Tong Huts, Sayo Guesthouse, Soppong River Inn, Sri Isan Hotel, Tamarind Village Hotel, Thong Bay Guest House, Top North Hotel, Two Dragons Guesthouse.
Don't bother booking - 8th January, 2008
We booked well in advance as we wanted to rendezvous here with friends. Said they had lost record of our booking and were booked out. Friends stayed there and said people with bookings were being turned away at least once a day. GH operator attributed the problem to their ISP, which has got to be a lot of ..... !
Thong Bay Guesthouse reviewed by srsdj on 8th January, 2008, rated
Stayed here 12/2007
This is a Travelfish recommended reviewer
Total reviews submitted: 11.
srsdj also reviewed: Attapeu Palace, Boulaven Guesthouse, Joes' Guesthouse, Le Jardin Organique Vang Vieng, Pakse Hotel, Saysekong Hotel, Sedone River Guesthouse, Souksamlane Hotel, Sunset Guesthouse, The Tadlo Lodge.
No booking for us :( - 3rd November, 2006
I arranged to stay here via their website and even double checked via email they had our booking 2 days before. They said they would pick us up at the airport for $5 but did not show, so we got a taxi and turned up but they said they did not have our booking despite me clutching an email from THEM to me saying 'your booking is confirmed etc'. They had rubbed our names out but would not admit to the mistake so we had to find other accommodation - which to me was a better option anyway. Thongbay is too far out if you want to wander around Vietiane. I stayed at the Chanthpanya and it was GREAT
Thong Bay Guesthouse reviewed by alison on 3rd November, 2006, rated
Stayed here /
This is a Travelfish recommended reviewer
Total reviews submitted: 13.
alison also reviewed: An An Hotel, An An Hotel, Ban Pack Luck Villa, Hanoi Backpackers Hostel, Hiep Hoa, New Siam II Guest House.
Very nice - 26th February, 2008
We turned up on the off chance after a recommendation from some other travellers and got a lovely room in a very well furnished guesthouse with lots of character. Paid $20 for a big clean room with mozzie net, en suite shower (can't remember if it was hot)and balcony. Peaceful garden with nice food and beer. The staff were friendly, they organized us a tuk tuk to the bus station for 5am, although they didn't know how to get to Kong Lo on the bus.
Thong Bay Guesthouse reviewed by GandN on 26th February, 2008, rated
Stayed here 12/2007
Total reviews submitted: 9.
GandN also reviewed: Bungalows Riverside and Restaurant, Mi Thuna Guest House and Restaurant, Pakse Hotel, Rosy Guest House, Saise Guesthouse and Resort, Shambara Boutique Hostel, Sypaseuth Guesthouse, Wendy House.
very over-rated! - 28th November, 2007
The place was run by a NZ guy and his Lao wife when we visited. We stayed in the most expensive room available (USD20) and it was definately overpriced. The bed was just a mattress on the ground (no clean sheets), you had to go outside to reach the bathroom and the place was not clean.
Even though we booked online to stay two nights we returned the next night after sight-seeing to find that they had kicked us out of our room and claimed we only booked one night.
They packed up all our stuff and we didn't notice until a couple days later that our good torch was missing.
The owners were quite rude (especially when we returned the second night) and the food and drinks were overpriced.
Also beware if the guy offers you some of his Lao-Lao whiskey. It is very strong and he only offers it because he thinks it is funny to watch tourists be sick.
Thong Bay Guesthouse reviewed by Mars on 28th November, 2007, rated
Stayed here 1/2007
Total reviews submitted: 6.
Mars also reviewed: Bungalows Riverside and Restaurant, Chiang Mai Thai House, Mun Nork Island Resort, Orchid Guesthouse, Sisavang Guesthouse.
owen & angie - 5th December, 2006
Don't bother! This place may have changed ownership recently. The European owner we dealt with was indifferent and arrogant. Our room was infested with mosquitoes, and we had to ask for repellant and a coil. The food was ok but expensive and we were overcharged for a downstairs room with no windows. Go to town and get a better deal anywhere. Above all, stay away from this place until the owner learns about value for money!
Thong Bay Guesthouse reviewed by owenb on 5th December, 2006, rated
Stayed here 11/2006
Total reviews submitted: 2.
owenb also reviewed: Khoun and Khone Guesthouse.
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