Vientiane is the capital city of Laos and one of the best places to visit in this country. Unlike other bustling, hectic capitals of other Asian countries, Vientiane presents itself as a place with a deliciously relaxing atmosphere.
Once you are done touring the gorgeous temples found in the city, the next good thing you can do is relaxing with the national beer, Beerlao or wandering in the riverside. Tourism has been a booming industry in the city and everything thing including the Presidential Palace seems to be going through a significant makeover. With a car, you will be able to visit incredible places like:
- Lao National Museum: this is a place where the early history of Laos is depicted at its best and it is a place where you must visit. Besides learning about the historical aspects of the country and the city, you will also find some insights about modern museums at the museum as well.
- COPE Visitor Center: this center provides prosthetic, orthotic, advocacy and rehabilitation services for UXO accident survivors together with other disabled people. A gift shop is also located at the visitor center as well and there are all sorts of exhibits. Other museums found here include the Kaysone Phomvihame Museum and the Lao Army History Museum.
- Temples and Stupas: while a small fee is charged in most of these temples, others are free. The monks will always be grateful if you give a small donation though. The oldest and still standing temple in the city is Wat Si Saket. Others include the Hophakaew Museum, Black Stupa, Pha That Luang, Wat Si Muang and others. The town is full of many temples and all these are worth your admiration.
- Buddha Park: This is found just nearby and it is a place that you should consider driving to with your hired car.
Shopping is also something that you can engage in here in Vientiane. There are some great department stores and markets selling nearly all types of products including handcrafts. By hiring a car at Vientiane Wattay airport, you can get to tour the entire town easily and visit all the interesting places of interest here. Car hire companies are always available at the airport and you can rent any kind of car that you need to cater for your transportation.
