Vientiane is the capital city of Laos. Compared to other capital cities I've been to, it's very quiet and downright sleepy at times. It's a great escape from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok.
1: The shrine within Wat Ong Teu, one of the many monasteries within Vientiane. I love the composition and color of this photo.
2: Wat Si Saket houses thousands of Buddha statues of all shapes and sizes.
3: The Patuxai monument was built completed in 1968 and took over 10 years to build. It commemorates Laotian independence from France, and is still not 100% complete.
4: You can go to the top of the monument for great views of the surrounding city.
5: The Pha That Luang stupa is the national symbol of Laos. Since the 3rd century it has been reconstructed several times, most recently following World War II.
6: Some monks pose in front of Pha That Luang and the statue of King Setthathrirath, who successfully defended Laos from the Burmese army in the 16th century.
7: Upon closer inspection of one of the city's monuments, I noticed this relief of Laotians defending against an American helicopter. The Ho Chi Minh trail, a supply line which ran through Laos and Cambodia, was subject to frequent bombardment by American forces during the Vietnam War.
8-9: Buddha Park, about 25km outside of Vientiane, is home to an eclectic array of statues, including a 40m long reclining Buddha.
10: A great example of Siamese style architecture.
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