Vientiane, the Capitol City of Laos with a population of about 800,000. The city is steeped in history and is the site of the countries most important monument first constructed in the third century Buddhist Stuppa That Luang. During the late 1700s Laos lost it's independence from an invasion from the Siamese army led by King Rama III. The city of Vientiane was all but burned to the ground. In 1893 Laos was conquered by the French. Vientiane was a prize to be had by imperial France due to it's strategic location along the mighty Mekong River.
France held onto their power until the Japanese took the city during World War II, but it was quickly retaken by allied forces including French Paratroopers. Soon more chaos ensued by the long fought civil war coinciding with the Vietnamese war also know in these parts as the American War.
As time went on, American troops occupied Vientiane for a short time. Cluster bombs are scattered throughout the countryside still to this day maiming innocent farmers who accidentally step on them and lose a limb or worse. In 1975 the communist party of the Pathet Lao took over Vientiane, renaming the country the Laos People Democratic Republic, ending a hard fought civil war.
Laos has a long challenging history, and today is one the poorest nations on the planet. With a deeply Buddhist culture it's poverty does not mean it's a dangerous place. The people are kind and gentle. They have a high morality and are hardworking. You can still see French influence on the streets today. Often in the form of Bang Mai, which is grilled pork in a baguette with different toppings. The country has now been open to visitation by foreigners for about 30 years, yet modernization has been a slow and cumbersome process.
Here are some real life photos I recently took from the streets of Vientiane.
Not To be Missed!
Special Monuments and Structures of the Capital City. Vientiane Laos! (11photos and descriptions)
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