Patuxai Victory Monument in Vientiane City
Monday, September 17, 2012 Laos 0 Comments

Patuxai Victory Monument in Vientiane City

Go get your flights to Laos now! Grab those Laos maps! There are so many laidback yet surprisingly good things to learn in Laos. Vientiane, Laos’ capital, is traveler-friendly. It’s not the modern-you can access everything in one go kind of travel place. But, it certainly is friendly – lots of Lao, Europeans, Australians, Japanese, Chinese and all sorts of travelers too – all ready give you their helping two cents. They are really approachable. They’re even willing to talk to you if you seem lost! And one of the best places to experience Laos, its people, and its culture, is to see the Patuxai Monument. It’s infested with Lao people so get ready to mingle mingle with the LAO CULTURE!

The Patuxai Monument is one of the easiest places to find in Vientiane. It’s one of the hugest places to visit in the city too. Haha. To reach their, best way to go is by foot! Of course, that’s the option if you’re staying nearby. Next best way would be via tuktuk rides. Around 10,000 kips for a one way ride. No need to worry about fumes or city dirt as the city air is quite decent as it is. Lots of trees. And new cars from Korea! Hyundai Dynasty! Haha. Least preferred would be taxi rides since it’s really difficult to find one in the area. Maybe because almost all Lao folks own either tuktuks or Hyundais. So take your pick. Pick Budget and go for Tuks.

Once you reach the place, first thing you’ll notice: people. Lots of Laos. Plural for Lao people? Laos of Laos? Haha. These Lao folks are the friendliest. They would gladly smile at travelers and just like in amazement at how things are happening. They are friendly alright. There are photographers who would offer their instant picture-to-print services. Again, friendly too. That’s just the tip of the iceberg (in this case, tip of the monument?)

This park is one of the biggest that can be found in Vientiane. You’ll notice several fountains with crystal clean waters dancing. That’s where almost all folks wander around. The walkways are really wide-reaching, which is a good balance when you notice how magnificent and commanding the Patuxai Monument is.

Looking all robust and mature, the Patuxai Monument is where the art and culture’s at. You’ll see the detailed carvings, embellishment and 360 view of the place. Monumental Moment indeed. For 3,000 kips, you’ll see the best view of the city up in the Patuxai apex. You’ll be entering more than a few floors worth of souvenir shops and some Lao arts. Haha. Almost a trap for tourists yes, but still you’ll get to appreciate the Lao art and mementos found here. A LOT. And the highlight is of course once you reach the top of the monument. You’ll be thunderstruck by the amount of wonder the city has to offer. Another cityscape view in Asia worth having. It’s unique in itself. No super flashy building lights, no ultra big pompous mountain ranges, no grand city design. What you’ll see is how a city as humble and developing as Vientiane opens up to the rest of the world. You’ll see the seemingly simplest design but you’ll still be blown away by the level of modesty and maturity these Lao people put forth to their city. Developing country ftw.