Vientiane: 20 Must See Attractions
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About this ebook
What to do with your time in Vientiane
Vientiane: 20 Attractions is your passport to discovering the best of Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. With the most relevant, up-to-date advice on which attractions to see or skip, visiting times for each attraction, entry fees, an amazing visit with hidden discoveries awaits you.
Walk through the famous Buddha park with its Hindu and Buddha images, relax in local parks, view a skeleton that dates to more than 6000 years old in the museum, marvel at the largest gold colored statue in Vientiane, shop in local markets, see the only building to be spared when King Rama III order Vientiane destroyed in 1828, tour the victory monument that resembles the Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile in France, discover the great stupa and the residence of the last king of Laos, and more; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Vientiane and begin your journey now!
Inside Vientiane: 20 Attractions Travel Guide:
Highlights and images help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests
Insider tips on the best times to visit an attraction and what makes it worth your time
GPS coordinates allows you to make up your own itinerary and visit attractions without a guide, saving you time and money while helping to avoid crowds
Essential info at your fingertips - Operating times, entry fees, best times to visit when applicable, what makes an attraction worth your time
20 Images, one for each attraction
20 Attractions in Vientiane, plus 5 bonus attractions to visit close by
Covers Vientiane
If you are visiting Vientiane for a day to a week and want information on what not to miss, this book is for you.
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Anton Swanepoel
Adventurer and world traveler, Anton Swanepoel, hales originally from Pretoria, South Africa, but has called a number of exotic locations home. Educated as a software engineer, he worked for a large multinational company before deciding to travel the globe. Along life's journey, Anton became a skilled scuba diver and technical diving instructor, teaching for seven years while living in the Cayman Islands. His resume touts Tri-Mix instructor levels from multiple licensing agencies, and dive records over 400 feet.Mr. Swanepoel has always loved travel and writing. In the past several years he's combined these passions, authoring and publishing a host of books, sharing secrets he's learned along the way. When he's not exploring an underwater landscape or racing a motorcycle down a stretch of highway, you'll find Anton visiting world destinations and chronicling his experiences.Today, he is a fulltime globetrotter and writer, having penned instructional guides for diving and travel, as well as a pair of fictional novels. His excurtion titles are geared toward do-it-yourself travelers, who enjoy saving money and seeing the out-of-way places. His favorite destinations include, Machu Picchu, the mountains of Vietnam, and the Temples at Angkor Wat.
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Vientiane - Anton Swanepoel
Vientiane
20 Must See Attractions
By Anton Swanepoel
Copyright © 2015 Anton Swanepoel
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, transmitted in any form or by any means, stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.
Published at Smashwords by Anton Swanepoel
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Introduction
Vientiane is a charming and relaxing jewel in Laos. With its French styled architecture and friendly people, it is like a larger version of Kampot in Cambodia.
This book gives you 20 must see attractions plus 5-bonus attraction. Together they form a blend of from important sites, such as the Presidential Palace, to local markets and parks. Also included are historic significant attractions such as the Great Stupa and Haw Phra Kaew. Together they will satisfy the needs of most visitors, and give you a feel and experience for Vientiane. The attractions should keep you busy for three days of hectic sightseeing, and more if you take a more relaxed approach.
History
The area was occupied since at least 1000 CE, with Vientiane city being established just over 450 years ago. A Laotian epic have it that Prince Thattaradtha left the legendary Lao kingdom of Muong Inthapatha Maha Nakhone when his younger brother became king. Prince Thattaradtha first founded Maha Thani Si Phan Phao (today said to be Udon Thani, in Thailand) on the western banks of the Mekong River. According to the tale, a seven-headed Naga told Prince Thattaradtha to start a new city on the east bank of the river. Chanthabuly Si Sattanakhanahud was born, that later became Vientiane. However, some historians claim that early Vientiane was a Khmer settlement that was taken over in the 11th or 12th when Lao and Thai people entered Southeast Asia from Southern China.
The old Vientiane city became important as an administrative city in 1354, when Fa Ngum (Somdetch Brhat-Anya Fa Ladhuraniya Sri Sadhana Kanayudha Maharaja Brhat Rajadharana Sri Chudhana Negara) founded the kingdom of Lan Xang (million elephants) in 1353 when he became the first King of Laos. Vientiane became the capital of Laos in 1563 under King Setthathirath rule.
Sadly, in 1779, it was conquered by the Siamese general Phraya Chakri and fell under Siam (Thailand) rule. The priced Emerald Buddha statue now in the Grand Palace of Thailand, was stored here and looted in the attack. King Anouvong, the last king of Laos, raised a rebellion against Siam rule, but was betrayed. After three days of fighting, his army was overrun and Vientiane lost. King Anouvong sought help from the Vietnamese and with their help, with their help expelled the Siam troops, and regained Vientiane. Siam responded harshly and sent a large force that recaptured Vientiane in 1828.
Siam King, Rama III, ordered the town to be obliterated and burned to the ground. Only the sacred Buddhist temple Wat Si Saket was spared. Almost all survivors abandoned the ruined city, and fled into the forest. Vientiane only saw new life when it came under French rule in