Day 39 Tuesday 10 October Vientiane – Viang Veng

Sunny start and back into town for breakfast at our favourite cafe. Explored another temple, then to the post office and pharmacy to stock up on Gingko Bigola which we’d read was good for preventing altitude sickness (AMS). Interesting that this is a very hand to mouth economy where everyone only buys things like medicines (or petrol) in very small amounts. Tablets are sold individually and even the tour operators just buy enough petrol for the day. Mind you you might think twice about spending quarter of a million kip to fill the tank.

Drove out to see the Patuxai Monument, a grey archway edifice with a passing resemblance to the Arc de Triomphe, but also referred to as the vertical runway as rumour has it that it was built in the 1960s with cement donated by the US for the construction of a runway. Interesting official sign on it written by someone with a sense of humour which reads that whilst resembling the Arc de Triomphe from close up “it appears less impressive and more like a monster of concrete.” Not sure if its the same in the Lao version, which probably wouldn’t have got through the politburo. Then off to see another temple resembling a missile base before leaving in early afternoon for the 150km drive north to Vang Vieng, now an important stop on the backpacker highway.

Pleasant drive thru the countryside, with several small villages, numerous large rivers and lots of rural activities en route. Found a great hotel/guest house with new bungalows overlooking the river, very pleasantly furnished. Watched the sun set over the spectacular crags across the river, whilst the waterbuffalo were led home and we researched further the margarita market.

Weather 29.5 sunny
Distance today 180km
Total Distance 8381km