Vientiane the Capitol of Laos
Vientiane is located on the north shore of the Mekong river accross from Thailand. There are many restaurants overlookng the river where you can forget you are in a city.
The Riverview Hotel where I stayed. My room was a single room on the top floor. The men's and women's washrooms/showers were outside the room and there was a deck used for drying sheets during the day. I had the whole floor to myself.
View from my room.
The Nah Nah restaurant near the hotel was a great place for breakfast or a snack.
A favorite -- 'shakes' made with fresh fruit and ice in a blender -- very refreshing and full of flavor. This is a papaya shake.
A favorite for lunch - spicy papaya salad at a restaurant overlooking the Mekong river.
A view up river. I had a relaxing lunch at the restaurant to the left the day before. Looking at the picture I don't know if I can say more about what it was like --- except that I wish I were there now.
The cook huts were between the street and the seating area. As you walked along the street you could see the menu and fresh ingredients at the cook huts before deciding to eat there.
The main road leading from the President's Palace (a wall compound ).
The Canadian flag (fourth from the left) actually unfurled itself as I approached. I was a bit to late to catch it in the pic though :-(

The ceiling inside the passageway.
Entrance to Wat That Luang.
The temple and grounds are said to be a symbol of Laos sovereignty.
Wat That Luang
View when waling inside the walled area.
A temple on the same grounds.
Inside the temple.
A place for a Laos herbal sauna and massage. The sauna is in the middle area and the message to the right.
Entrance to the massage. Inside there may be a dozen people but all you see is the golden glow of a single light hanging on a cord from the ceiling. The thick steam has very rich ginger and spice aroma. When you came out the air feels cool and you feel good.
A small temple back near the hotel.
A Buddha on the grounds.
Down the river away from the tourist area.
Cooking sticky rice. The rice is in the wicker basket being steamed by water in the pot below.
My last dinner is Laos. Grilled fish with a traditional salad: lettuce, fresh mint, chopped tomatoes, noodles and small eggplant.
View from my table on my last dinner in Vientiane.