{"id":84071,"date":"2016-07-25T13:33:42","date_gmt":"2016-07-25T11:33:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/patuxai-monument-vientiane\/"},"modified":"2026-09-21T12:57:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T10:57:11","slug":"patuxai-monument-vientiane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/patuxai-monument-vientiane\/","title":{"rendered":"Vientiane: The Patuxai Monument"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>Patuxai Monument<\/strong> in <strong>Vientiane<\/strong> is one of the central landmarks in the capital of Laos. Built in the 1950s and 1960s, it is meant to resemble the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. But if you look closely, you\u2019ll notice Laotian influences\u2014a unique building that you definitely shouldn\u2019t miss while in Vientiane.  <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/patuxai-monument-vientiane\/patuxai-monument-fullview-2\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"3042\" src=\"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/patuxai-monument-in-vientiane-lao.jpg\" alt=\"patuxai monument in vientiane lao\" class=\"wp-image-3042\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a few kip (really not much), you can walk up the Patuxai Monument\u2014all the way to the top.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/patuxai-monument-vientiane\/patuxai-monument-ceiling-2\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/ceiling-of-patuxai-monument-in-vientiane-lao.jpg\" alt=\"ceiling of patuxai monument in vientiane lao\" class=\"wp-image-3041\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sightseeing in Vientiane: The Patuxai Monument<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As you walk up, you can stop on two floors. Souvenir vendors have set up their stalls there, and you can find all kinds of knickknacks. <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/buying-souvenirs-at-patuxai-monument-in-vientiane-lao.jpg\" alt=\"Buying souvenirs at Patuxai monument in Vientiane, Lao\" class=\"wp-image-1609\" srcset=\"https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/buying-souvenirs-at-patuxai-monument-in-vientiane-lao.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/buying-souvenirs-at-patuxai-monument-in-vientiane-lao-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/buying-souvenirs-at-patuxai-monument-in-vientiane-lao-770x514.jpg 770w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One floor reminded me very much of old Russian department stores with high ceilings and their saleswomen behind glass counters. One of the few times in Laos where I felt reminded that I was actually in a communist country. <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/shopping-at-patuxai-monument-in-vientiane-lao.jpg\" alt=\"Shopping at Patuxai monument in Vientiane, Lao\" class=\"wp-image-1604\" srcset=\"https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/shopping-at-patuxai-monument-in-vientiane-lao.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/shopping-at-patuxai-monument-in-vientiane-lao-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/shopping-at-patuxai-monument-in-vientiane-lao-770x514.jpg 770w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you reach the very top, you&#8217;ll come to this romantic spiral staircase\u2014isn&#8217;t it pretty? And just look at those ornate window grilles! <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#fbf7f3\">Laos is for me one of the most beautiful travel countries in Southeast Asia!<br\/><a href=\"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/destinations\/laos\/\">Find even more travel inspiration here<\/a><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/patuxai-monument-vientiane\/patuxai-stairs-2\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"3045\" src=\"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/staircase-inside-patuxai-monument-in-vientiane-lao.jpg\" alt=\"staircase inside patuxai monument in vientiane lao\" class=\"wp-image-3045\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">View of Vientiane<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of the busiest main roads in Vientiane lead to the traffic circle around Patuxai Monument. One of the most central transport hubs, in other words. And here is already noticeable: Vientiane is so very different from most Southeast Asian capitals: No traffic collapse, no constant honking &#8211; everything very quiet.  <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/patuxai-monument-vientiane\/patuxai-view-top-2\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/top-view-from-patuxai-monument-in-vientiane-lao.jpg\" alt=\"top view from patuxai monument in vientiane lao\" class=\"wp-image-3049\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Patuxai Monument: Best at sunset<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is most beautiful up here at sunset. No more crowds, and the setting sun bathes everything in a very special light. The architecture is really very unusual, everything is decorated in great detail.  <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/patuxai-monument-vientiane\/patuxai-top-floor-2\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"3046\" src=\"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/top-floor-of-patuxai-monument-in-vientiane-lao.jpg\" alt=\"top floor of patuxai monument in vientiane lao\" class=\"wp-image-3046\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/patuxai-monument-vientiane\/patuxai-shopping-2\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/sellers-inside-patuxai-monument-in-vientiane-lao.jpg\" alt=\"sellers inside patuxai monument in vientiane lao\" class=\"wp-image-3044\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do you get there?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong> Patuxai Monument<\/strong> is located just outside the city center. From the old town (where most of the accommodations are located), it takes about 20 minutes by bike. Bikes can be rented everywhere in the old town. Or you can just take a <strong>tuktuk<\/strong>.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here you can see even more great spots in Vientiane: <a href=\"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/vientiane-capital-south-east-asia\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"84065\">The Most Beautiful Attractions in Vientiane<\/a><br\/>And if you&#8217;re in Laos, you definitely shouldn&#8217;t miss this city in particular: <a href=\"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/label\/luang-prabang\/\">All articles about Luang Prabang<\/a><\/p>\n<p>[thj_promo slug=&#8221;vientiane-touren&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paris or Laos after all? The tip for the most romantic sunset in Vientiane! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3040,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2424,673],"tags":[3631,3633],"class_list":["post-84071","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-city-guides","category-laos","tag-south-east-asia","tag-vientiane"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84071","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84071"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84071\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3040"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84071"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}