Vientiane Tours

Nestled beside the Mekong River, delightful Vientiane is Laos’ capital and largest city, but this former French Indochina trading post still exudes a laid-back ambiance and ‘Old-World’ charm. Virtually destroyed by Siamese invaders in 1827, Vientiane was significantly rebuilt by French colonials with a true Parisienne vibe, characterized by its leafy boulevards, bevy of cafés and bakeries, and its iconic Arc de Triomphe-esque Patuxai Arch.

Vientiane tours reveal a repertoire of riverside spectacles, from its dazzling dragon boat racing festival at the end of Buddhist lent, to its beautifully outré Buddha Park (Wat Xieng Khuan), where locals relax in gardens littered with more than 200 Buddhist and Hindu sculptures. It is also the birthplace of Beerlao the national beer, and home to Laos’ national symbol and most important monument, Pha That Luang, a 147-foot-high, gold covered stupa, allegedly home to a holy relic, believed to be the breastbone of Buddha himself.