Trying to decide whether to spend a day or two in Vientiane on our way to Luang Prabang (where we'll be for 4 nights)or skip it. Can anyone that has been to Vientiane give us a sense of the place? Worth visiting or worth skipping?

We went to Vientanne a few years ago and stayed there for three days. I really enjoyed the city (town) and the people. It is a relaxing city and not at all frenetic like other asian cities. There are plenty of places to see ie temples, museum, morning markets, budha garden, the Mekong and it is generally a nice city to walk around and look at the architecture. Remember, of course, that Laos is a poor country, and the infrastructure of other cities does not exist to the same extent as others.

Thanks for the input, Crossjay.

Hi jodo - frankly, I'd skip it. I had three days there in October 06 and, despite my best efforts, could find little to love about it. Almost everybody comes in, does the two hour tour, stays a night and leaves.

Good for backpackers and people who are new to Asia and don't know that there's a lot better stuff to do -

I'd head straight to Luang Prabang and have an extra day there. [L.P. is great, by the way - the more time you have to explore, the better it'll get.]

We were there in November on our way to Luang Prabang. We stayed one night, which was our first night after leaving Seattle, and thoroughly enjoyed it. When we were transferring planes in Bangkok to go to Vientiane, I had second thoughts, since we were getting there in the early evening and then leaving the next day in the early afternoon. I am really glad that we were able to see the city, even it was a brief visit. A lot of the buildings were somewhat dilapidated - it has the feel of an old colonial city that had seen better times, yet I found a certain charm to it The layout of the city was very pleasant with wide boulevards, some old French architecture, some wonderful temples and various monuments. I enjoyed walking along the banks of the Mekong in the evening, interacting with the extremely friendly Laos people.

We stayed at the Settha Palace and got a guide through the hotel for a morning tour before we left for Luang Prabang. The hotel was perfection. The rooms were charming, spacious, and very well appointed. The grounds and pool area were very beautifully landscaped and peaceful. If I had it to do over, i would have spent two nights there so that we had a full day to see the entire city.

There's not a lot of reason to linger in Vientiane. It's a pleasant enough town but there is more to see elsewhere.

http://www.travelsinasia.com/Laos/LuangPrabang.htm

Thanks again for your input.

Vientiane as a city was totally unappealing to us, difficult to walk in as many streets are broken and full of rubble. That said, Wat Sisiket is lovely and the cloister around it, an unusual feature in wats, is worth seeing, with its many Buddha figures.

If you stop first in Vientiane, Luang Prabang will seem like heaven on earth when you get there.

Shellio, how long were you there? What else did you do?

Two weeks ago we spent four hours in Vientanne. We were forced to take an earlier flight from Luang Prabang to Vientanne (en route to Hanoi)because we were bumped by some government big wigs. So in four hours we took a driving tour of the central area, a lunch near the water and two hours shopping at Carol Cassidy's weaving studio. The shopping was rewarding but I thought the city unappealing. Modern buildings, little charm. I'd say its a must skip.

Good for backpackers and people who are new to Asia and don't know that there's a lot better stuff to do -

What you really mean, I suspect - is no good for people you have two weeks only and just want to go where their neighbours have gone. And never really touch the sides.

No - I wouldn't put it on my list of must see places. But then what else are you going to do, OP? spent 6 days in Luang Prabang?

I had a similiar experience to Robbietravels, spending a few hours in Vientiane on the way to Hanoi. Coming from LP, VT just did not seem that charming or wonderful. I think it has undergone a lot of development in just the past year or so (big hotels now, etc). A few hours to look around was plenty. Add the extra to LP as others have said.

OK...so we don't stay 2 days in Vietiane...here's our choice: 1)one night in Vientiane, an extra day in LP, which would make 5 nights in LP; 2) skip Vientiane altogether, add 1 day to LP and another extra day in Golden Triangle area of Thailand. We know that travel is personal, but hearing others' ideas and experiences has really helped us fine-tune our trips.

Any more thoughts?

Jodo-

Sorry not to answer you earlier. We stayed 2 nights in Vientiane. Besides Wat Sisiket, we visited the home of the Emerald Buddha, a museum that was previously a wat, the Golden Stupa, and I'm sure some other places, none of which was memorable. As it was over the holidays, Carol Cassidy's workshop was closed.

We seem to be in a minority re Luang Prabang. We also spent 5 nights there, mostly because of raves on this site, which was 2 nights too many. Keeping in mind that we're not outdoor people, so no trekking, biking, etc., we were bored after a couple of days wandering the town. It seems very backpacking-tourist oriented and has a lot of shops selling the same things, along with the very repetitive night-market vendors. On the other hand, outlying villages are rather interesting, and the visit to Pak Ou caves was one of the highlights of our month-long trip.

I would keep LP to 3-4 days and try someplace else as well.

thanks, everyone, for your thoughts. We have watched (and read) others who grapple with their itineraries, sometimes for months!!...kinda funny, but absolutely necessary if you're gonna be in charge of your own trip. We've got another week, at most, to finalize and get in-country flights nailed. If anyone out there has a cent or two to add, please do. (the last of our trip, by the way, is in the Chiang Mai area. We've allocated 4 nights, having been there before. We start in BKK (5 days.) Any other itinerary ideas are welcome.

There are other places in Laos besides LP and Vientiane. Some are to die for - but maybe you need to get on a bus to see them - so no "in country flights" would be required.

We stayed for about a week in both. Vientiane is harder to get to know, although I loved it. We were made to feel so welcome there, perhaps this was because we were persistent in our quest for new sights to see and we had the good fortune of meeting a wonderful tuk tuk driver (vehicle with a small lawn mower powered engine) who took us everywhere and invited us to his niece’s wedding.

However, given the choice and as you only have a few days, I would go for a whizz round tour of Vientiane, followed by most of my time in Luang Prabang.

Things to do in Luang Prabang:

Get up really early to watch the monks receive rice. Then walk around the Luang Prabang peninsular and see the round rice cakes drying on upright racks. See the restoration of this heritage city. Don’t forget to visit Wat Xieng Thong with its beautiful glass mosaics and the Royal Funeral carriage housed nearby.

Climb Mount Phousi.

Visit the Palace museum.

Take a trip to the Pak Ou caves (a half day trip).

Visit the picturesque Tat Kuang Si waterfalls with stunningly beautiful turquoise pools. You can swim here. (again a half day trip).

Tum Tum Cheng cookery school— fabulous food--this includes a guided tour around the local market some way out of Luang Prabang.

The night market.—gentle bargaining--things to buy duvet/comforter covers, cushions, jewellery, hand made paper, lampshades, terracotta and gold paintings. Have a look at the food stalls.

Go to see a dance performance at the theatre next to the palace.

For more information on

Vientiane
http://www.epinions.com/content_217881874052

Luang Prabang
http://www.epinions.com/content_212779372164

For photos:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/GoListDet...Elephants.html

Oh, I am getting so nostalgic. I was never bored. Is there any room in your suitcase for me?

Regards,

Gill.

Gil, all Fodorites are welcome (and in fact do come vicariously). Only 47 days and counting.!! We arrive in BKK on February 23, our 38th wedding anniverary. Can't wait. We're gonna give Vietiane a peak (come late in the afternoon from BKK, stay the next whole day, following day LP.) That seems to take into consideration all the input (and our curiousity) We figure since we'll be at the Settha Palace, it can't be but so bad. And we felt mad at ourselves for skipping Phnom Penh in Cambodia last year, hovering as we did in Siem Reap.
Lastly, we had a somewhat similiar dialgoue about Hue in Vietnam---that turned out to be one of our unexpected highlights.
We'll let you guys know. Meanwhile, there's 47 more days to change our minds...one of the beauties of traveling independently. We keep reading, just in case more ideas come into your heads!

Jodo,
If you don't mind---where r u flying out of? We're from NJ and starting to look at flights etc for late Feb thru March. We are thinking: Bangkok to LP to Hanoi to HC to Cambodia & back to BKK.
Thanks,

Our itinerary is: BKK to Vientiane- then Vientiane to LP. LP to Chiang Mai. How long are you going for? On previous trips we visited Hanoi, Siem Reap, HCMC, and of course BKK. (We actually divided it into two trips, but included other stops.) I would say that depending on how much time you have, this is going to be a fun journey. We loved Vietnam (and we are actually in the minority having liked HCMC too) You're covering alot of ground here, though, so you need at least three weeks (and not mind airports!) We had a great experience with VietnamStay both times we used them. (and you don't pay until you get there!)
We'll be in BKK February 23-27th. Maybe our paths will cross.