Vientiane province
The capital of Laos, Vientiane, is a bustling city set on the swirling waters of the Mekong River. For many years Vientiane was a sleepy backwater capital of an equally backwater state, but as Laos has slowly opened up to foreign investment and tourism, Vientiane has gone through vast changes and continues to expand.
While the Lao capital is now home to a vibrant wealth of hotels, bars and restaurants, Vientiane still retains sleepy tree-lined dirt roads and somnolent temples -- and people. The pace of life, as in all of Laos, is best described as slow or even bordering on glacial.
Vientiane may lack the overwhelming charm of Luang Prabang, but it still has enough sights and attractions to hold a traveller's interest for a few days, and with an international airport and an easy overland route into Thailand, this remains one of the primary gateways into Laos. Many choose to rush through, spending little more than a night in town while awaiting a visa or onward connection, but as with most Lao destinations, a longer stay can be rewarding.
North of Vientiane lies the backpacker and independent traveller magnet of Vang Vieng -- a village that became a tourist town in way too short a period of time. The state of the place is such a debacle that other regions in Laos now use Vang Vieng as a model of exactly how they don't want their own locales to develop.
Packed with travellers pigging out on banana pancakes and magic pizzas while watching back to back Friends episodes, Vang Vieng is a disheartening place to visit for those who saw it before all these changes hit. There's not a less Lao town in Laos -- we guarantee it. Nevertheless, the scenery around Vang Vieng is beautiful and the hordes go there for a reason: with its picturesque rivers, jagged cliffs and mysterious caves, there is a wealth of natural beauty here just waiting to be explored.
There is more to Vientiane's surrounds though than just Vang Vieng: Nam Ngum dam, Lao Pako and the sculpture garden to name but three. Look around a bit and chances are you'll find something interesting.
