The Palais Presidentiel in Vientiane

Listed as one of the landmarks in Vientiane, the Palais Presidentiel is an imposing structure along Lane Xang street.  The Palais, built in 1973, is a huge, beautiful French building.
Monarchy in Laos has been banished in the early 70s, and therefore, no monarchy lives in the palais. It is now used for formal government ceremonies.



View from Lane Xang Street



I  wish it was possible to go inside or roam its garden, just like the beautiful palaces in Germany or in the United Kingdom.However, it is closed to the public.  When I passed by the palais, coming from the patouxai, there were government officials coming out of the palais ( complete with steady siren blasts to announce their presence and to clear the street so they can pass, unhampered, of course).  

 

 

 

 The palais is a stone's throw away from the Chao Anouvong monument and park, which is the best place to view and take photos of the palais, as the park is not as busy as the Lane Xang Street. .

 

 

Vientiane: Something Laotian, Something French

Something Laotian and something French... Isn't Vientiane lovely? :).

Early this year, my work took me to Laos, a socialist and predominantly Buddhist SouthEast Asian country. I knew that it is a small country, as compared to its neighbors, Cambodia and Vietnam, and I have expected Vientiane, its capital city, to be very laid back.

Well, it is indeed laid back, as compared to other Southeast Asian capital cities, but Vientiane surprised me with its French architecture  amidst the Buddhist temples, ,monuments of its past monarchy , the Mekong riverside restaurants and some bullet riddled world war 2 buildings.

I was billeted at Beau Rivage Hotel Mekong. Beau Rivage (which means beautiful shore) sits very close to the Mekong River and is pretty close to the city center and other attractions.Everywhere in the hotel is a display of Lao traditional blanket weaves. The hotel felt very homey. 

My room at the 2nd floor

I loved strolling along the Mekong River- early in the morning, before I went to work, and in the evenings.  Many people jog, while I tirelessly take (tons of) pictures of lovely sunrise.  I can't have enough of sunrise. 

Mekong sunrise

Mekong sunrise

These early morning walks before also allowed me to see glimpses of the daily lives of the locals:  make shift markets along the roads, "baby" monks roaming around with alms bowl and some old ladies sitting by the road and waiting for the monks to pass by to give them something. There are also those bullet riddled buildings remnant of world war 2.

At night restaurants set up tables and chairs for al fresco dining at the riverside. My favorites were the grilled fish and hotpot. 

Dining at Mekong riverside

Despite it being a business trip, I had Saturday off and I went to see some sights. Luckily, many are within walking distance from my hotel: the Palais Presidentiel, which is very French, as is the Patuxai.  The different Wats or temples are also within the city center:  the Ho Pra Keo and Wat Sisaket.  The Chao Anouvong statue is also by the Mekong river, on the same street as the hotel.

Different sights in Central Vientiane

Well, I wish to be back some time again!