Vang Vieng, Vientiane

Spas and massage shops are in plentiful supply in Vientiane, offering something for every budget. But for something more memorable, take the three kilometre trip out of the centre to Wat Sok Pa Luang, and down a path to the side of the temple you will find a rickety old jungle house offering Lao massage and traditional herbal spa; a hand-painted sign points the way. The traditional massage and herbal sauna experience at Wat Sok Pa Luang isn’t for everyone as the facilities are basic, on the other end of the spectrum to a fancy hotel spa treatment, without the sycophantic staff or exclusiveness. But what you do get is the most authentic experience, with true Laotian hospitality and massage beds so close to the forest you can reach out and touch it. Highlights – Healthy herbal sauna Lao-style, in the leafy grounds of Wat Sok Pa Luang. Location – Vientiane , Laos Opening Hours: 1pm to 7pm

Wat Si Saket situated in Vientiane is renowned for its group divider lodging a great many little Buddha pictures and lines with several situated Buddhas. These pictures for the most part date from the sixteenth and nineteenth hundreds of years and come in all sizes and are produced using wood, stone and bronze – more than 6,800 Buddhas altogether. In the event that meeting the sanctuary at a young hour in the morning, guests will go over the numerous local people that go to beg and make merit and in addition to offer nourishment to the friars. It is an enchanting day by day function to witness. The sanctuary is very shady as it is encompassed by tropical organic product trees. Highlights – Wat Si Saket, Vientiane, City on the Mekong, The Rugged Charm of the, Top of the Land of a Million Elephants Opening Hours: Daily from 08:00 – 16:00 Location: On Lan Xang Road (across the street from the Presidential Palace), Vientiane Prices: 5,000 Kip per person.

Wat Si Muang is one of Vientiane’s most popular sites of worship, and offers a fascinating insight into how old animist beliefs have blended seamlessly with Theravada Buddhism. According to local legend, when the temple was being built in 1563 a young pregnant woman named Si Muang volunteered to sacrifice herself to appease the angry spirits. During the That Luang Festival every October or November, this temple is one of the focal points of the celebrations, and Si Muang is fêted as a guardian of the city. On a daily basis, Wat Si Muang attracts crowds of local Buddhists who want to benefit from its ‘good luck’ powers. Highlights – This temple is more interesting for its story than for its architecture. Location: Wat Si Muang is located at the eastern end of Thanon Setthathirath, in the triangular area formed just before the street merges with Thanon Samsenthai and turns into Thanon Thadeua. Opening Hours: The temple is open from 06:00 to 19:00 every day

It was then rebuilt in the 19th and 20th centuries and now holds an important position as the national centre of Buddhist studies. The temple is quite colourful, with bright yellow and red accents. Enter the sim and the Phra Ongteu, its namesake large bronze Buddha, dominates in a serenely seated bhumisparsa mudra “earth witness” posture, signifying the moment just before he attained enlightenment. Though the temple is not the most spectacular, its central downtown location makes it a convenient place to go for a meditative stroll. The wat is home to Sangha College, which was first established in 1929 by Prince Phetsarath and Somdet Phra Loukeo Outhen Sakda, head of the Lao sangha and Governor of Vientiane. Highlights – This temple is one of the most important in Laos, Rebuilt in the early 20th century. Location – Vientiane , Laos

The rooms at the modern-looking guesthouse are all air-con, come with a small cable TV, tile floor, hard spring mattress, some furniture and clean but teeny-tiny hot water bathrooms that could be the dictionary definition of “water closet”. This is a solid budget hotel with a more modern feel and English-speaking reception, which you don’t often get in this price range. We like the upper floors since they feel removed from the city busyness and some rooms, like #384, have two sets of windows. The owners are a friendly mob and there’s free WiFi in each room. It’s located right on a bustling corner, across from Wat Mixay, and the lobby has an attached cafe that’s a decent spot for emails and fruit shakes. With breakfast included in the tariff, this place is recommended. Highlights : One of the many Buddhist temples along Setthathilath Road in Vientiane, Laos. Location : Vientiane , Laos Opening Hours: 9am to 5pm

Vientiane boasts several beautiful temples or wats, but one of the most impressive and interesting of them is Wat Ho Phra Keo. It was originally constructed in 1565 as the Lao royal family’s personal chapel, and as a home for the Emerald Buddha after it was snatched from northern Siam (Thailand). This sacred jade statue was reclaimed by the Siamese in 1778 and now sits in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok. Highlights – The interior of the temple is now a museum that houses many Lao treasures such as a gilded throne, Khmer Buddhist stone tablets, wooden carvings, bronze frog drums and palm-leaf manuscripts. Opening Hours: The temple is open from 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:00 every day. Location: Wat Ho Phra Keo is situated on the corner of Thanon Setthathilath and Thanon Mahosot. It is next to the Presidential Palace and across the road from Wat Si Saket. Mahosot Hospital is on the opposite side of Thanon Mahosot.