Vientiane Archives - Asian Itinerary https://asianitinerary.com/category/laos/vientiane/ Travel, Holiday, Adventure Fri, 30 Aug 2024 05:50:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Wat Si Saket https://asianitinerary.com/wat-si-saket/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wat-si-saket Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:43:51 +0000 http://asianitinerary.com/?p=25825

Visiting Wat Si Saket on our last day in Vientiane was indeed a great idea! Wat Si Saket is one of the must-visit temples in Vientiane as it is the oldest Buddhist temple of the town still standing, still is in its original form, and it has the oldest monastery in the country. HISTORY Built by the Siamese in 1818-1824 on the order of King Anouvong (aka Setthathirat V), the last King of Laos’ Lane Xang Kingdom, as his  private monastery, Wat Si Saket architecture is early Bangkok-Buddhist-style mixed with King Anouvong’s unique style. The SI in the name derives from Sri, a Sanskrit title of veneration which was prefixed to the name of the Wat Saket in Bangkok. Wat Si Saket is one of the very few temples that survived the attack and destruction by the Siamese armies during the Siamese-Lao war of 1828, when Vientiane was looted and burnt. The temple compound was later used by the armies of Siam as their headquarters and lodging place, perhaps thanks to its features, a surrounding terrace and ornate five-tiered roof, that helped to keep it safe. The subsequent French colonial government refurbished Wat Si Saket in 1924 and again in 1930. THE BUDDHA STATUES Wat Si Saket is most famous for its walled cloister and galleries containing thousands (the number of them is not certain) of tiny Buddha images seated in different postures. This is a kind of open-air museum; these images come in all sizes and are made from wood, ceramic, stone and bronze, dating between the 16th and 19th centuries. THE ORDINATION HALL (SIM) This inner building, located in the center of the cloister, is reserved for use by the monks. Its ceiling is decorated with relief mouldings, a popular Lao religious architecture in the early 19th century. It can be visited but not photographed as the flash lights may further damage the murals; long rows of niches in the cloister walls  contains small silver Buddha statues, usually in pairs – similar to those of the outside cloister walls, and ancient dry-stucco fragile murals depicting scenes of the Buddha lifetimes adorn the interior wall. Moisture and capillary salt deposits badly damaged the paintings over the times, and a restoration project funded by the Embassy of Germany is under way. A main Buddha image seated on a high pedestal is sided by large images of Buddha seated in the Bhumisparsha mudra. The multi-tiered Sim is decorated with Naga decorative elements. OTHER STRUCTURES Wat Si Saket compound houses many interesting features including a museum and a Ho Trai – a library with important texts – set on a stone platform and featuring Burmese-style roof. The temple grounds host lovely surrounding verandas, several stupas, a drum tower, a wooden cabinet where the Tripitaka ancient Buddhist manuscripts were kept, and an open pavilion sheltering a large seated Buddha image. Highly skilled craftsmen fashioned lovely sculptures such as a Khmer-style Buddha seated on a five-metre long beautifully detailed wooden naga snake, which will make art enthusiasts happy. A glassed storage room contains lots of broken Buddha images discovered during excavation works. Next to the cloister is a more recent kuti, or monks and novices sleeping quarters. ________________ Overall, Wat Si Saket gave us an excellent overview of Buddhist architecture in Laos. The place is shady enough thanks to the many tropical trees there, and is still a charming place of study and worship to this day, which makes it special as you can still come across many locals that go to pray and make merit as well as to offer food to the monks. Dress modest and ensure women wear long skirts. Sarongs are available at the entrance. Wat Si Saket is located on Lan Xang Road, at the intersection with Setthathirat Road, right across the Presidential Palace. This location used to mark the centre of the old city. You can walk there from most of Vientiane main central hotels, or hop on a tuk-tuk for about 20,000 Kip per person. Wat Si Saket opens daily from 8am to noon and from 1pm tp 4 pm, entrance fee is 5,000 Kip per person, a minimum of 1 hour visit is advised. Asian Itinerary was kindly accommodated by Ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel during their whole stay in Vientiane. Read about Ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel HERE BOOK A ROOM AT Ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel AT DISCOUNTED RATES HERE ! COME ON TOUR WITH US Discover the magic of our latest trip! An experience that will take you to enchanting places, blending culture and adventures with our travel branch FANTASIA ASIA – click on the following programs to know more: https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/the-north-adventure-8-days-7-nights/ https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/the-new-the-ancient-capital-7-days-6-nights/ https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/enchanting-laos-9-days-8-nights/ https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/luang-prabang-tour-4-days-3-nights/ https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/laos-fantasy-12-days-11-nights/ Watch here for our VIDEO on Laos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shuI9Aa_-pQ&t=35s

The post Wat Si Saket appeared first on Asian Itinerary.

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_MG_1652

Wat Si Saket entrance

Visiting Wat Si Saket on our last day in Vientiane was indeed a great idea! Wat Si Saket is one of the must-visit temples in Vientiane as it is the oldest Buddhist temple of the town still standing, still is in its original form, and it has the oldest monastery in the country.

HISTORY

Built by the Siamese in 1818-1824 on the order of King Anouvong (aka Setthathirat V), the last King of Laos’ Lane Xang Kingdom, as his  private monastery, Wat Si Saket architecture is early Bangkok-Buddhist-style mixed with King Anouvong’s unique style. The SI in the name derives from Sri, a Sanskrit title of veneration which was prefixed to the name of the Wat Saket in Bangkok.

_MG_1639

A seat reserved for use by the monks

Wat Si Saket is one of the very few temples that survived the attack and destruction by the Siamese armies during the Siamese-Lao war of 1828, when Vientiane was looted and burnt. The temple compound was later used by the armies of Siam as their headquarters and lodging place, perhaps thanks to its features, a surrounding terrace and ornate five-tiered roof, that helped to keep it safe. The subsequent French colonial government refurbished Wat Si Saket in 1924 and again in 1930.

THE BUDDHA STATUES

_MG_1611

Famous for thousands of tiny Buddha images seated in different postures

Wat Si Saket is most famous for its walled cloister and galleries containing thousands (the number of them is not certain) of tiny Buddha images seated in different postures. This is a kind of open-air museum; these images come in all sizes and are made from wood, ceramic, stone and bronze, dating between the 16th and 19th centuries.

THE ORDINATION HALL (SIM)

_MG_1636

Wat Si Saket SIM ordination hall

This inner building, located in the center of the cloister, is reserved for use by the monks. Its ceiling is decorated with relief mouldings, a popular Lao religious architecture in the early 19th century. It can be visited but not photographed as the flash lights may further damage the murals; long rows of niches in the cloister walls  contains small silver Buddha statues, usually in pairs – similar to those of the outside cloister walls, and ancient dry-stucco fragile murals depicting scenes of the Buddha lifetimes adorn the interior wall. Moisture and capillary salt deposits badly damaged the paintings over the times, and a restoration project funded by the Embassy of Germany is under way. A main Buddha image seated on a high pedestal is sided by large images of Buddha seated in the Bhumisparsha mudra. The multi-tiered Sim is decorated with Naga decorative elements.

OTHER STRUCTURES

_MG_1596

Wat Si Saket gardens

Wat Si Saket compound houses many interesting features including a museum and a Ho Trai – a library with important texts – set on a stone platform and featuring Burmese-style roof. The temple grounds host lovely surrounding verandas, several stupas, a drum tower, a wooden cabinet where the Tripitaka ancient Buddhist manuscripts were kept, and an open pavilion sheltering a large seated Buddha image. Highly skilled craftsmen fashioned lovely sculptures such as a Khmer-style Buddha seated on a five-metre long beautifully detailed wooden naga snake, which will make art enthusiasts happy. A glassed storage room contains lots of broken Buddha images discovered during excavation works. Next to the cloister is a more recent kuti, or monks and novices sleeping quarters.

________________

IMG_7198

An artist in the Wat Si Saket compound

Overall, Wat Si Saket gave us an excellent overview of Buddhist architecture in Laos. The place is shady enough thanks to the many tropical trees there, and is still a charming place of study and worship to this day, which makes it special as you can still come across many locals that go to pray and make merit as well as to offer food to the monks. Dress modest and ensure women wear long skirts. Sarongs are available at the entrance.

Wat Si Saket is located on Lan Xang Road, at the intersection with Setthathirat Road, right across the Presidential Palace. This location used to mark the centre of the old city. You can walk there from most of Vientiane main central hotels, or hop on a tuk-tuk for about 20,000 Kip per person. Wat Si Saket opens daily from 8am to noon and from 1pm tp 4 pm, entrance fee is 5,000 Kip per person, a minimum of 1 hour visit is advised.

_MG_1621

Restored section of cloister

Asian Itinerary was kindly accommodated by Ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel during their whole stay in Vientiane.

Read about Ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel HERE

BOOK A ROOM AT Ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel AT DISCOUNTED RATES HERE !

COME ON TOUR WITH US

Discover the magic of our latest trip! An experience that will take you to enchanting places, blending culture and adventures with our travel branch FANTASIA ASIA – click on the following programs to know more:

https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/the-north-adventure-8-days-7-nights/

https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/the-new-the-ancient-capital-7-days-6-nights/

https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/enchanting-laos-9-days-8-nights/

https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/luang-prabang-tour-4-days-3-nights/

https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/laos-fantasy-12-days-11-nights/

Watch here for our VIDEO on Laos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shuI9Aa_-pQ&t=35s

The post Wat Si Saket appeared first on Asian Itinerary.

]]> Pha That Luang https://asianitinerary.com/pha-that-luang/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pha-that-luang Tue, 26 Apr 2016 15:34:04 +0000 http://asianitinerary.com/?p=25772

There is no doubt the golden Pha That Luang – also known as Great Stupa – is the single most important national monument in Laos, with its symbolic stupa recognisable throughout the world. Pha That Luang was built to cover the original small stupa that was believed to enshrine a breast bone of the Buddha. Officially named Pha Chedi Lokajulamani, which translates to World Precious Sacred Stupa, Pha That Luang has the biggest stupa in Laos and it serves as the main gathering place for national Buddhism ceremonies. HISTORY Pha That Luang initial establishment has been suggested to be in the 3rd century. The local legend has it that Ashokan missionaries from the Indian Mauryan Empire sent out by the Indian Emperor Ashoka to spread Buddhism, erected the Hindu stupa to enshrine a sacred relic – a piece of Buddha’s breastbone, a rib to be exact – at the spot where the That Luang currently stands. Pha That Luang ruins were then rebuilt in the 13th century as a Khmer temple. The pride of the city of Vientiane, the temple has since undergone several reconstructions as it was looted and destroyed whenever the city of Vientiane was invaded and plundered by the Burmese, Siamese and Chinese. In the mid-16th century, after winning a war over the Burmese, King Setthathirath armies were ordered to relocate the Laos capital of Lan Xang Kingdom from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, mainly for strategic reasons. But Vientiane lacked votive places, so King Setthathirath ordered the construction of palaces, temples and monuments, amongst which was Pha That Luang, at the time covered in gold leaves. It was named Pha That Luang after the road where it was located, That Luang, 4 km from the centre of Vientiane. Dutch East India Company envoy Gerrit van Wuysoff visited Vientiane in 1641 and was received in a magnificent ceremony by King Sourigna Vongsa at Pha That Luang, where he was “impressed by the enormous pyramid, and the top was covered with gold leaves weighing about a thousand pounds”. The Kingdom of Siam invaded Laos in 1828, destroying Pha That Luang and looting it of the gold covering the stupa. Left heavily damaged and without gold, Pha That Luang was eventually left abandoned until in 1900 the French decided to restore the great stupa to its original design based on the detailed drawings from 1867 by French architect and explorer Louis Delaporte. However, the first attempt was not successful, so the French redesigned and reconstructed it in the 1930s. Pha That Luan was heavily damaged during the war of independence of Thailand against France in 1940, and was again reconstructed after the end of World War II. Pha That Luang has been submitted to the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. ARCHITECTURE Pha That Luang architecture is a symbol of Lao nationalism as it includes many references to Lao culture and identity. The 45m-high stupa is surrounded by a high-walled cloister measuring 85m on each side. The cloister tiny windows contains various Buddha images and ancient Laos and Khmer artefacts like statues – many of them badly damaged and in need of restoration -, inscribed steles and other sculpting, including a statue of King Jayavarman VII of the Khmer empire. This cloister reminds us to some extent of the cloister and Hall of Wat Srisaket. Today’s Pha That Luang stupa consists of three levels, each conveying a reflection of part of the Buddhist doctrine. Visitors can stroll through the cloister, contemplate the remains of sculptures and paintings and make offerings at different altars. Access to the different levels is denied. The first level stairs are guarded by Naga snakes. The second level hosts hundreds of Sema boundary stones that mark the sacred area, where there is a double-roof open structure containing a Buddha image and 30 small stupas. Arched gates lead to the third level which contains the 45 meter high stupa (from ground to pinnacle), the upper part of which resembles an elongated lotus bud topped with a multi tiered parasol. OTHER FEATURES The large gardens and grounds surrounding Pha That Luang comprise gardens, temples, monuments and Wat Neua That Luang palace, with an impressive facade but an uninteresting interior. At the time of visiting, a young monks ordination ceremony was taking place. The statue of King Setthathirat, founder of the monument, is located  on the way to the main entrance, at the small park in the middle of the complex called Saysettha Gardens. Of the four temples constructed around Pha That Luang in the 16th century, only two remain: Wat That Luang Tai, an open-sala-like building with a three tiered roof, to the South, and Wat That Luang Neua, the temple where the supreme patriarch of Laos Buddhism resides, to the North. All structures in the outdoor complex have free access to public. Monks live and study in the temples in the Pha That Luang vicinity. EVENTS Pha That Luang is the scene of the most important Buddhist festival. During Boun That Luang, held during the full moon of the 12th lunar month, thousands of Buddhist devotees flock to Pha That Luang for three days to pay respect to the golden stupa and to give alms to hundreds of monks. Traditionally, they walk around the That Luang three times, holding incense sticks to pay their respect. Pha That Luan grounds are filled with hundreds of stalls selling food, clothing and various crafts during several days prior Boun That Luang festival, where activities include carnival rides, games and rides for children, musical performances, parades of people wearing traditional costumes playing traditional music, candlelight procession and fireworks. INFO Pha That Luang is located in Ban Nongbone, on the outskirts of Vientiane, 4 km North-East of the city centre at the end of Thanon That Luang, and 500 meters East of Patuxai Monument. The area around Pha That Luang is gated and there is a large parking area in front of the main entrance. The easiest way to get...

The post Pha That Luang appeared first on Asian Itinerary.

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Asian Itinerary team visited Pha That Luang by bicycle.

Asian Itinerary team visited Pha That Luang by bicycle.

There is no doubt the golden Pha That Luang – also known as Great Stupa – is the single most important national monument in Laos, with its symbolic stupa recognisable throughout the world. Pha That Luang was built to cover the original small stupa that was believed to enshrine a breast bone of the Buddha. Officially named Pha Chedi Lokajulamani, which translates to World Precious Sacred Stupa, Pha That Luang has the biggest stupa in Laos and it serves as the main gathering place for national Buddhism ceremonies.

HISTORY

Pha That Luang initial establishment has been suggested to be in the 3rd century. The local legend has it that Ashokan missionaries from the Indian Mauryan Empire sent out by the Indian Emperor Ashoka to spread Buddhism, erected the Hindu stupa to enshrine a sacred relic – a piece of Buddha’s breastbone, a rib to be exact – at the spot where the That Luang currently stands.

One of the temples at Pha That Luang grounds

One of the temples at Pha That Luang grounds

Pha That Luang ruins were then rebuilt in the 13th century as a Khmer temple. The pride of the city of Vientiane, the temple has since undergone several reconstructions as it was looted and destroyed whenever the city of Vientiane was invaded and plundered by the Burmese, Siamese and Chinese.

In the mid-16th century, after winning a war over the Burmese, King Setthathirath armies were ordered to relocate the Laos capital of Lan Xang Kingdom from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, mainly for strategic reasons. But Vientiane lacked votive places, so King Setthathirath ordered the construction of palaces, temples and monuments, amongst which was Pha That Luang, at the time covered in gold leaves. It was named Pha That Luang after the road where it was located, That Luang, 4 km from the centre of Vientiane.

Buddha statue at Pha That Luang

Buddha statue at Pha That Luang

Dutch East India Company envoy Gerrit van Wuysoff visited Vientiane in 1641 and was received in a magnificent ceremony by King Sourigna Vongsa at Pha That Luang, where he was “impressed by the enormous pyramid, and the top was covered with gold leaves weighing about a thousand pounds”. The Kingdom of Siam invaded Laos in 1828, destroying Pha That Luang and looting it of the gold covering the stupa. Left heavily damaged and without gold, Pha That Luang was eventually left abandoned until in 1900 the French decided to restore the great stupa to its original design based on the detailed drawings from 1867 by French architect and explorer Louis Delaporte. However, the first attempt was not successful, so the French redesigned and reconstructed it in the 1930s. Pha That Luan was heavily damaged during the war of independence of Thailand against France in 1940, and was again reconstructed after the end of World War II.

Pha That Luang has been submitted to the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

ARCHITECTURE

Pha That Luang pagoda form the inside grounds

Pha That Luang pagoda from the inside grounds

Pha That Luang architecture is a symbol of Lao nationalism as it includes many references to Lao culture and identity. The 45m-high stupa is surrounded by a high-walled cloister measuring 85m on each side. The cloister tiny windows contains various Buddha images and ancient Laos and Khmer artefacts like statues – many of them badly damaged and in need of restoration -, inscribed steles and other sculpting, including a statue of King Jayavarman VII of the Khmer empire. This cloister reminds us to some extent of the cloister and Hall of Wat Srisaket.

Impressive reclining Buddha at Pha That Luang

Impressive reclining Buddha at Pha That Luang

Today’s Pha That Luang stupa consists of three levels, each conveying a reflection of part of the Buddhist doctrine. Visitors can stroll through the cloister, contemplate the remains of sculptures and paintings and make offerings at different altars. Access to the different levels is denied. The first level stairs are guarded by Naga snakes. The second level hosts hundreds of Sema boundary stones that mark the sacred area, where there is a double-roof open structure containing a Buddha image and 30 small stupas. Arched gates lead to the third level which contains the 45 meter high stupa (from ground to pinnacle), the upper part of which resembles an elongated lotus bud topped with a multi tiered parasol.

OTHER FEATURES

The statue of King Setthathirat, founder of Pha That Luang

The statue of King Setthathirat, founder of Pha That Luang

The large gardens and grounds surrounding Pha That Luang comprise gardens, temples, monuments and Wat Neua That Luang palace, with an impressive facade but an uninteresting interior. At the time of visiting, a young monks ordination ceremony was taking place. The statue of King Setthathirat, founder of the monument, is located  on the way to the main entrance, at the small park in the middle of the complex called Saysettha Gardens. Of the four temples constructed around Pha That Luang in the 16th century, only two remain: Wat That Luang Tai, an open-sala-like building with a three tiered roof, to the South, and Wat That Luang Neua, the temple where the supreme patriarch of Laos Buddhism resides, to the North. All structures in the outdoor complex have free access to public. Monks live and study in the temples in the Pha That Luang vicinity.

EVENTS

A fine mural

A fine mural

Pha That Luang is the scene of the most important Buddhist festival. During Boun That Luang, held during the full moon of the 12th lunar month, thousands of Buddhist devotees flock to Pha That Luang for three days to pay respect to the golden stupa and to give alms to hundreds of monks. Traditionally, they walk around the That Luang three times, holding incense sticks to pay their respect. Pha That Luan grounds are filled with hundreds of stalls selling food, clothing and various crafts during several days prior Boun That Luang festival, where activities include carnival rides, games and rides for children, musical performances, parades of people wearing traditional costumes playing traditional music, candlelight procession and fireworks.

INFO

Pha That Luang is located in Ban Nongbone, on the outskirts of Vientiane, 4 km North-East of the city centre at the end of Thanon That Luang, and 500 meters East of Patuxai Monument.

Offering incenses at the pagoda

Offering incenses at the pagoda

The area around Pha That Luang is gated and there is a large parking area in front of the main entrance. The easiest way to get there is by tuk-tuk; a one-way trip should cost you around 50-60,000 Kip.

Admission to the golden stupa is 5,000 Kip per person. Entrance to the surrounding buildings and temples is free. Best visiting times are in the early morning, when only a few people is around.

Asian Itinerary was kindly accommodated by Ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel during their whole stay in Vientiane.

Read about Ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel HERE

BOOK A ROOM AT Ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel AT DISCOUNTED RATES HERE !

COME ON TOUR WITH US

Discover the magic of our latest trip! An experience that will take you to enchanting places, blending culture and adventures with our travel branch FANTASIA ASIA – click on the following programs to know more:

https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/the-north-adventure-8-days-7-nights/

https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/the-new-the-ancient-capital-7-days-6-nights/

https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/enchanting-laos-9-days-8-nights/

https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/luang-prabang-tour-4-days-3-nights/

https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/laos-fantasy-12-days-11-nights/

Watch here for our VIDEO on Laos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shuI9Aa_-pQ&t=35s

The post Pha That Luang appeared first on Asian Itinerary.

]]> Bicycle and kayak tour Vientiane https://asianitinerary.com/bicycle-and-kayak-tour-vientiane/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bicycle-and-kayak-tour-vientiane Sun, 10 Apr 2016 07:14:46 +0000 http://asianitinerary.com/?p=25347

Our day bicycle and kayak tour with Green Discovery Laos started at their sales office in downtown Vientiane at 9am, where we met our guide for the day, Boontha, and our companions: 2 girls and 3 young guys from Denmark. The pick up truck took us to a store where we were assigned bicycles and helmets, before beginning our cycling out of the city. After a few minutes, we left behind the bustling town and the group cycled along the Mekong riverfront on a long dirt road, direction west. We pass rural areas of traditional wooden houses on stilts; behind, we could make out silhouettea of new constructions, incongruous with the rural surrounding. The views across the river into neighbouring Thailand were fantastic. The day was hot and humid. Soon after, a small problem at the saddle of one of the girls’ bikes forced us to a pit stop near an old temple with a great character, which we rushed to explore while the guide waited for the mechanic to fix the problem. This happened within 15 minutes, and we were soon on the way again, cutting off through a neighbourhood and reaching the main road at Ban Tong Pong. The cycling along the trafficked lane was better then I had thought, and after a couple of kilometers along the trafficked lane we turned right in direction countryside. The road was being widened and heavy machineries shared the space with cars, motorbikes and… with us, intrepid cyclists. As you can imagine, it was dusty and muddy and we are discouraged a bit, also due to the merciless heat that hit our heads and made us sweat copiously. But soon we entered a different world: a farming area crossed by a maze of dirt tracks running along the canal that takes water from the Mekong river, irrigating lush paddy fields. We cycled up and down pleasant hills, and enjoyed the views over the farms: cows herding, farmers working and the occasional bulldozer clearing the next plot for development. The dirt trails crossed forests and villages. This area is so close to town, yet it feels like a thousand miles away. The tour pamphlet mentioned a stop over at a waterfall, Tad Moun, which we skipped due to dry season. The guide tried to keep all of us together, a hard task since we all cycled at different pace. We soon realised we wet being followed, at a decent distance, by the support pick up. The group reunited at a road-side minimart where we bought drinks and chatted, before pedalling again for a few kilometers until, reaching another main road, we stopped for lunch. The place of choice looked like out of an old Asian movie: it was messy to say the least, and located beside a rudimental gas station. Hens roamed under the tables nibbling on anything edible, and a few locals chattered noisily, while we took seat – literally invading the place – and the guide Boontha ordered a meal of delicious pork balls noodles and sugar cane drink, which gave us the energy needed for the afternoon. The weather was hot hot hot and the thermometer touched 40 degrees. It was going to be a hard second leg of the journey. A few more kilometers of cycling under an evil heat on a newly paved road yet relatively quiet in terms of traffic, most of the section a steady downhill after the short initial slight ascent, took us to the kayak boarding point: the village of Ban Mai, where we said goodbye to our bicycles and made the transition land to water, taking a refreshing dip in the mighty Mekong. Boontha and the driver unloaded the kayaks from the truck and loaded back the bikes, then managed to get the truck stuck in the sand. This added to the sense of adventure, with the whole group participating in the freeing of the truck. After donning our lifejackets and loading paddles on each kayak, we left for the second leg of the tour downstream back to Vientiane. The inclement sun was hitting without a break, but the journey was nevertheless quite pleasant: we paddled at ease – the water is shallow this time of the year, and the wind and a gentle current were in our favour. Thailand was clearly visible on the other coast; we got warned by Boontha not to get too close to the other side or we risk passing the invisible border which is right in the middle of the river. We would not be the first tourists who get into trouble because of this. It was a great feeling being on the Mekong River, which flows from its headwaters in the Tibetan Plateau for approximately 4900 kilometers, touching China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. I endeavoured to take in all the scenery: huge river islands, docked fishing vessels, fishermen balancing and propelling long and lean wooden boats with elongated bamboo sticks, people wearing conical hats with half their body submerged – searching with their hands for who-knows-what in the river bottom, probably shells -, and even a few women sifting the river sand panning for gold! Boontha informed us that the trip had to be cut short, stopping in an area to the north of Vientiane, just outside of town; this is normal in dry season, when the Mekong waters are so low. The starting and ending point of the kayaking part of the tour vary depending on the time of the year: in the high season, we were told, the kayaking can continue past the centre of Vientiane, ending at Ban Watnak. Cycling also gets affected: in the wet season the countryside and forested area needs to be avoided as it gets too muddy, and cycling is purely on a paved road. What a great experience we had, which ended at a concrete jetty where we parked the kayaks and waited for the truck… which did not arrive! Apparently, commented Boontha after an agitated...

The post Bicycle and kayak tour Vientiane appeared first on Asian Itinerary.

]]>
At the morning meeting point

At the morning meeting point

Our day bicycle and kayak tour with Green Discovery Laos started at their sales office in downtown Vientiane at 9am, where we met our guide for the day, Boontha, and our companions: 2 girls and 3 young guys from Denmark. The pick up truck took us to a store where we were assigned bicycles and helmets, before beginning our cycling out of the city.

After a few minutes, we left behind the bustling town and the group cycled along the Mekong riverfront on a long dirt road, direction west. We pass rural areas of traditional wooden houses on stilts; behind, we could make out silhouettea of new constructions, incongruous with the rural surrounding. The views across the river into neighbouring Thailand were fantastic. The day was hot and humid.

Cycling on paved roads

Cycling on paved roads

Soon after, a small problem at the saddle of one of the girls’ bikes forced us to a pit stop near an old temple with a great character, which we rushed to explore while the guide waited for the mechanic to fix the problem. This happened within 15 minutes, and we were soon on the way again, cutting off through a neighbourhood and reaching the main road at Ban Tong Pong. The cycling along the trafficked lane was better then I had thought, and after a couple of kilometers along the trafficked lane we turned right in direction countryside. The road was being widened and heavy machineries shared the space with cars, motorbikes and… with us, intrepid cyclists.

Old temple along the river with a great character

Old temple along the river with a great character

As you can imagine, it was dusty and muddy and we are discouraged a bit, also due to the merciless heat that hit our heads and made us sweat copiously. But soon we entered a different world: a farming area crossed by a maze of dirt tracks running along the canal that takes water from the Mekong river, irrigating lush paddy fields. We cycled up and down pleasant hills, and enjoyed the views over the farms: cows herding, farmers working and the occasional bulldozer clearing the next plot for development. The dirt trails crossed forests and villages. This area is so close to town, yet it feels like a thousand miles away.

Our eating place...

Our eating place…

The tour pamphlet mentioned a stop over at a waterfall, Tad Moun, which we skipped due to dry season. The guide tried to keep all of us together, a hard task since we all cycled at different pace. We soon realised we wet being followed, at a decent distance, by the support pick up. The group reunited at a road-side minimart where we bought drinks and chatted, before pedalling again for a few kilometers until, reaching another main road, we stopped for lunch. The place of choice looked like out of an old Asian movie: it was messy to say the least, and located beside a rudimental gas station. Hens roamed under the tables nibbling on anything edible, and a few locals chattered noisily, while we took seat – literally invading the place – and the guide Boontha ordered a meal of delicious pork balls noodles and sugar cane drink, which gave us the energy needed for the afternoon. The weather was hot hot hot and the thermometer touched 40 degrees. It was going to be a hard second leg of the journey.

The kayak boarding point

The kayak boarding point

A few more kilometers of cycling under an evil heat on a newly paved road yet relatively quiet in terms of traffic, most of the section a steady downhill after the short initial slight ascent, took us to the kayak boarding point: the village of Ban Mai, where we said goodbye to our bicycles and made the transition land to water, taking a refreshing dip in the mighty Mekong. Boontha and the driver unloaded the kayaks from the truck and loaded back the bikes, then managed to get the truck stuck in the sand. This added to the sense of adventure, with the whole group participating in the freeing of the truck.

Boontha and Nicole looking cool along the Mekong

Boontha and Nicole looking cool along the Mekong

After donning our lifejackets and loading paddles on each kayak, we left for the second leg of the tour downstream back to Vientiane. The inclement sun was hitting without a break, but the journey was nevertheless quite pleasant: we paddled at ease – the water is shallow this time of the year, and the wind and a gentle current were in our favour. Thailand was clearly visible on the other coast; we got warned by Boontha not to get too close to the other side or we risk passing the invisible border which is right in the middle of the river. We would not be the first tourists who get into trouble because of this.

Panning for gold!

Panning for gold!

It was a great feeling being on the Mekong River, which flows from its headwaters in the Tibetan Plateau for approximately 4900 kilometers, touching China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. I endeavoured to take in all the scenery: huge river islands, docked fishing vessels, fishermen balancing and propelling long and lean wooden boats with elongated bamboo sticks, people wearing conical hats with half their body submerged – searching with their hands for who-knows-what in the river bottom, probably shells -, and even a few women sifting the river sand panning for gold!

A local cycling along the river

A local cycling along the river

Boontha informed us that the trip had to be cut short, stopping in an area to the north of Vientiane, just outside of town; this is normal in dry season, when the Mekong waters are so low. The starting and ending point of the kayaking part of the tour vary depending on the time of the year: in the high season, we were told, the kayaking can continue past the centre of Vientiane, ending at Ban Watnak. Cycling also gets affected: in the wet season the countryside and forested area needs to be avoided as it gets too muddy, and cycling is purely on a paved road.

Green Discovery paddles

Green Discovery paddles

What a great experience we had, which ended at a concrete jetty where we parked the kayaks and waited for the truck… which did not arrive! Apparently, commented Boontha after an agitated phone call, the truck driver had managed to get it stuck again in the sand after we had left on the kayaks. No worries, a nearby shack-turned-eatery perched on the high shore came to rescues with cold beer and BBQ duck! We ended the great day out with lovely chats, and once the truck finally made its appearance, we were sad to leave for the drive back to the heavy traffic in town.

Green Discovery helmets

Green Discovery helmets

It was a great day and it was good to get away from the traffic and the chaos and the people, and immerse in nature. We finally came to learn that we had cycled for about 25 km and paddled for about 15 km during Green Discovery Laos bicycle and kayak tour of Vientiane, which was an achievement in the Laos heat. This tour can be booked through Green Discovery Laos on their website; check details on their company profile HERE.

Check the tour description on http://www.greendiscoverylaos.com/eco-excursions/vientiane/vientiane-kayaking/item/232-mekong-cycling-kayaking

Asian Itinerary was kindly accommodated by Ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel during their whole stay in Vientiane.

Read about Ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel HERE

BOOK A ROOM AT Ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel AT DISCOUNTED RATES HERE !

COME ON TOUR WITH US

Discover the magic of our latest trip! An experience that will take you to enchanting places, blending culture and adventures with our travel branch FANTASIA ASIA – click on the following programs to know more:

https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/the-north-adventure-8-days-7-nights/

https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/the-new-the-ancient-capital-7-days-6-nights/

https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/enchanting-laos-9-days-8-nights/

https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/luang-prabang-tour-4-days-3-nights/

https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/laos-fantasy-12-days-11-nights/

Watch here for our VIDEO on Laos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shuI9Aa_-pQ&t=35s

The post Bicycle and kayak tour Vientiane appeared first on Asian Itinerary.

]]> ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel https://asianitinerary.com/ibis-vientiane-nam-phu-hotel/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ibis-vientiane-nam-phu-hotel Wed, 24 Feb 2016 15:08:09 +0000 http://asianitinerary.com/?p=24686

15 minutes from Wattay International Airport and located in the heart of the city next to the Nam Phu Fountain, ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel provides an excellent base from which to explore the nearby historical monuments, embassies, restaurants and Mekong Promenade. Enjoy a good night’s sleep with ibis Sweet Bed, free WiFi and variety of TV channels with multi languages (English, French, Japanese, Korean & Thai). A 24-hour simple snack menu is available as well as buffet breakfast from 6.30AM. LIST OF ROOMS Standard 1 Double Bed: The contemporary Standard room features a Double bed, accommodation with timber flooring, large bay windows and a 3 meter high ceiling. Each room also has a 32″ LCD TV, tea/coffee making facilities, an in-room safe and other amenities. Standard 2 Single Beds: The contemporary Standard room features 2 Single beds, accommodation with timber flooring, large bay windows and a 3 meter high ceiling. Each room also has a 32″ LCD TV, tea/coffee making facilities, an in-room safe and other amenities. Triple Room: There are 3 single beds in a Triple Room, suitable for 3 adults traveling together. The hotel provides amenities and bath linen for 3 persons. All 3 single beds comply with the “ibis Sweet Bed” concept and ensure comfortable sleep for ibis guests. All-you-can-eat breakfast buffet The ibis breakfast is an ‘all-you-can-eat buffet’ served between 6.30 and 10AM, combining all the elements of a traditional continental breakfast. Wherever you are in the world, you’ll find ibis breakfasts also include local specialties for you to enjoy. LOCATION Head East from Wattay Airport on Luang Prabang Road, after 1 km make a right turn to enter City Center via Setthathirat Road. Continue straight for 1.5 km until Nam Phu Square. The ibis Vientiane is located just after the square, opposite the National Library. ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel P O BOX 2359 NAM PHU SQUARE – SETTHATHIRATH ROAD BAN XIENG – NGEUN CHANTHABURY DISTRICT – VIENTIANE – DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC LAO TEL : (+856)21262050 – FAX : (+856)21263230 H8074@ACCOR.COM GPS: N 17° 57′ 51.02” E 102° 36′ 29.11′ BOOK A DISCOUNTED ROOM AT IBIS VIENTIANE VIA THIS LINK !

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Front of ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel

Front of ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel

15 minutes from Wattay International Airport and located in the heart of the city next to the Nam Phu Fountain, ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel provides an excellent base from which to explore the nearby historical monuments, embassies, restaurants and Mekong Promenade. Enjoy a good night’s sleep with ibis Sweet Bed, free WiFi and variety of TV channels with multi languages (English, French, Japanese, Korean & Thai). A 24-hour simple snack menu is available as well as buffet breakfast from 6.30AM.

Room at ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel

Room at ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel

LIST OF ROOMS

  • Standard 1 Double Bed: The contemporary Standard room features a Double bed, accommodation with timber flooring, large bay windows and a 3 meter high ceiling. Each room also has a 32″ LCD TV, tea/coffee making facilities, an in-room safe and other amenities.
  • Standard 2 Single Beds: The contemporary Standard room features 2 Single beds, accommodation with timber flooring, large bay windows and a 3 meter high ceiling. Each room also has a 32″ LCD TV, tea/coffee making facilities, an in-room safe and other amenities.
  • Triple Room: There are 3 single beds in a Triple Room, suitable for 3 adults traveling together. The hotel provides amenities and bath linen for 3 persons. All 3 single beds comply with the “ibis Sweet Bed” concept and ensure comfortable sleep for ibis guests.
ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel buffet breakfast

ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel buffet breakfast

All-you-can-eat breakfast buffet

The ibis breakfast is an ‘all-you-can-eat buffet’ served between 6.30 and 10AM, combining all the elements of a traditional continental breakfast. Wherever you are in the world, you’ll find ibis breakfasts also include local specialties for you to enjoy.

ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel restaurant

ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel restaurant

LOCATION

Head East from Wattay Airport on Luang Prabang Road, after 1 km make a right turn to enter City Center via Setthathirat Road. Continue straight for 1.5 km until Nam Phu Square. The ibis Vientiane is located just after the square, opposite the National Library.

ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel

ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel logo

ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel logo

P O BOX 2359 NAM PHU SQUARE – SETTHATHIRATH ROAD BAN XIENG – NGEUN CHANTHABURY DISTRICT – VIENTIANE – DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC LAO

TEL : (+856)21262050 – FAX : (+856)21263230

H8074@ACCOR.COM

GPS: N 17° 57′ 51.02” E 102° 36′ 29.11′

BOOK A DISCOUNTED ROOM AT IBIS VIENTIANE VIA THIS LINK !

The post ibis Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel appeared first on Asian Itinerary.

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