Vientiane

Despite being the capital, Vientiane is often known as the world’s largest village as it retains a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere and small town feel. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, the city exudes real old world charm with its mix of Chinese shop houses and the faded grandeur of French colonial architecture. The tree-lined boulevards and lack of heavy traffic makes it an ideal place to explore on foot and despite being the smallest capital in South East Asia, there is plenty to see.

• Enjoy Vientiane’s timeless charm and quaint French architecture
• Indulge in the steaming noodle stalls of Vientiane
• Get hands on experience of working with fabrics at the Laos textiles centre
• Visit the famous weaving village of Ban Phone Ngeun

There are many ancient temples and pagodas such as Wat Ho Phakeo, a former royal temple, Pha That Luang, the most revered of all the religious sites and Wat Sisaket, one of the capital’s oldest temples. There are some great morning markets and other shopping opportunities with silver jewellery and hand-woven textiles being local specialities.

And many would say a visit to Vientiane is not complete without a relaxing sundowner at one of the numerous riverside bars to enjoy a spectacular sunset view…and who are we to argue!