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Laos Attractions

Attractions
Activities

Laos Attractions

Buddha Park - It's said that if a fool persists in his folly, he will become wise. Buddha Park is a fanciful sculpture garden full of Hindu and Buddhist statues, and it is a concrete testament to the obsession of Luang Pu, a shamanist priest who conceived and started building the park in the 1950s. The statues are captivating, whether they are snarling, reposing, or saving maidens in distress (or carrying them to their doom -- it's hard to tell). The huge reclining Buddha is outstanding; you can climb on its arm for a photo. There is also a big concrete dome to climb, itself filled with sculptures. The half-hour jumbo ride to get here, if you choose that route, is very dusty but fulfilling: You get a clear view of Thailand across the Mekong.

Morning Market (Talaat Sao) - Full of surprises around every corner, the Morning Market is the hub of local commerce and really where the action is. Here you can find anything, from the Thai version of that Britney Spears CD you've been chasing after to a Buddhist keepsake from one of the tourist shops or small-time trinket salesmen. Bargain hard. This is the Laos version of "mall culture," and sometimes the everyday tool department or stationery area gives a special glimpse into everyday life.

That Dam (the Black Stupa) - This ancient stupa was probably constructed in the 15th century or even earlier, though it has never been dated. It is rumored to be the resting place of a mighty naga, or seven-headed dragon, that protected the local residents during the Thai invasion in the early 1800s.

Patuxay (Victory Monument) - This monument was completed in 1968 and dedicated to those who fought in the war of independence against the French. Ironically, the monument is an arch modeled on the Parisian Arc de Triomphe. Its detailing is typically Lao, however, with many kinnari figures -- half woman, half bird. It's an imposing sight, and you can climb up for a good city view.

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Laos Activities

Shopping

Laos is famous for its hand-woven silk textiles. You can buy them as fabric or in ready-made wall hangings, accessories, and clothing. Finely crafted silver and ornamental objects are also popular souvenirs. The main shopping streets are Samsenthai and Setthathirat, around the Nam Phu Fountain area and the Morning Market.

Perhaps best known (not just in town but worldwide) is Carol Cassidy: Lao Textiles, off Setthathirat on Nokeo Koummane Road (tel. 021/212-123). Since 1990, Carol has employed local weavers. Using traditional Lao motifs as a base, she creates fine contemporary pieces. The cool colonial house alone is worth the visit, and be sure to stroll through the busy workshop area where up to 10 weavers work the looms and are happy to chat.

Satri Lao Silk, at 79/4 Setthathirat Rd., has fabrics, clothing, and housewares; and Couleur d'Asie (Namphu Sq.; tel. 021/223-008) has a fine ready-to-wear line. The unusual furniture and artworks displayed at T'shop Lai Gallery (Vat Inpeng Rd.; tel. 021/223-178) are also worth a visit. For anything from small carvings and authentic Buddhist doodads all the way up to priceless statues, furniture, and antiques, try Oot-Ni, just west of the Lao Cultural Hall on Samsenthai (tel. 021/215-911). Check out the household linens, bedspreads, kitchen textiles, place settings, plus baby items in great colors and quality, at Camacrafts (Nokeo Koummane Rd.; tel. 021/416-597). And the Mixay Boutic sells a host of souvenirs from its two shops in the town center (Ban Mixay; tel. 021/216-592).

For a unique shopping experience in Vientiane, contact Sandra Yuck at her private studio, Caruso, housed in a charming colonial property west of the hospital on Fa Ngum Road (P.O. Box 7866, Vientiane; tel. 021/223-644). Sandra carries a line of ebony wood boxes, trays, and accessories, as well as unique Lao bedspreads.