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Vientiane

Vientiane in October 2025: the gold of Pha That Luang, sunset colours behind the Patuxai arch, and a first hello to Laos at the arrivals wall.

October 2025, and a new country for both of us. We rolled in from Bangkok, and Laos starts saying hello in yellow and gold before you are even out of the arrivals hall.

Inga and Dileep taking a selfie in front of a bright yellow Welcome to Laos sign in the arrivals hall
Straight off the plane and already on brand.

Vientiane is a capital that refuses to hurry. The two big landmarks are within an easy tuk-tuk of each other, and both are best taken slowly.

Selfie of Dileep and Inga in sun hats in front of the golden stupa of Pha That Luang under a blue sky
Pha That Luang, the great golden stupa. It is on the banknotes, and in person it somehow out-golds them.
Inga and Dileep in front of the Patuxai victory arch at sunset, the fountain pool reflecting the clouds
Patuxai at sunset: a Parisian silhouette dressed head to toe in Lao ornament.
Selfie of Dileep and Inga with a smiling companion in front of Patuxai at golden hour
Golden hour company at the arch.

After Bangkok's pace, Vientiane feels like someone turned the volume down and the warmth up. We stayed longer at every stop than we planned to, which tells you everything.