Promenade

Having lived a big part of my life next to a beautiful promenade along the Mediterranean Sea, I am automatically attracted to them; in Vientiane, the promenade is one of the main city's attractions. Few places exerting such a pull on people remain laid-back for long, but this one unexpectedly managed to do that, increasing thus its considerable magnetic pull.

Enlightened Environment

The promenade is lined with large trees which provide the much needed shade and give the place a countrified look unfit of such a central location in a capital town. The most cherished ones by the locals are the banyans or bhodis, the tree under which Buddha gained enlightenment.

Sunrise

The geometrical setup of the area prevents seeing sunrises here. However, on the Laos-Cambodia border, the Mekong provides awesome sunrises with shy sunrays filtering through the lush rainforest.

Sunrise Fishing

Xiengieun is the name of the promenade's southern area; despite being the closest one to the city center, it is the most relaxed one. A large park with huge eucalyptus trees leads there to a series of meadows along the riverside. During the early mornings it is possible to watch fishermen using circular nets - older than the Lao culture - for catching tiny fish from the lazy flowing river.

Sunset

Around sunset time, people gather at a sports court in Xiengieun and exercise to the sound of modern music in an organized fashion fit of Chinese mass-parades at Tiananmen Square. However, at this hour the best place to be on is the central part of the promenade, just in front of Wat Chan, where most of Vientiane's denizens apparently are at the time. The main street fills up with stalls providing quick Laotian snacks while the riverside offers improvised al-fresco restaurants. Sitting by the riverside and watching the incredible Mekong sunsets renders the food irrelevant; few places in the world offer better sunsets. The air humidity scatters the light into a myriad of reds and oranges while twisted roots growing on the fences separating the tables from the river provide an awesome ornament to the event.

Across the River

On the Thai side of the Mekong River, a village can be seen. Its name is Srichiangmai and it is famous in Thailand for preparing circular rice wrappers. While visiting it, the wrappers can be seen sun-drying on slanted bamboo surfaces.

From journal Vientiane: Bits and Bites