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Vientiane
Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is located on the banks of the Mekong River. Across a narrow stretch of water is northern Thailand, a country with similar traditions and ethnic minorities; only a few hundred yards of water separate these two countries, but almost 50 years of isolation has left Laos a very different country from its neighbor. Vientiane is a composite of many cultural influences; wide tree-lined boulevards and timeless villas are the legacy of the French, whose influence stretched across Indochina from the late 1890s until the Geneva Accord of 1954. In Vientiane you will find the glittering stupa of That Luang, the largest stupa in Laos, constructed in 1566 by King Setthathirat. Vientiane, like its neighbor Phnom Penh, has the Patusay Victory Gate; both are reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Day 1: Arrival Vientiane (by air & road)
On arrival Wattay airport, you will be met and transferred to our centrally located hotel, After refreshment, we start visiting the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat PraKeo previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image, On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang stupa, we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxai which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe, Overnight in Vientiane (-/-/D).
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