Nong Khai, Thailand and Vientiane, Laos

Overview of Nong Khai

Located in North-East Thailand, the city of Nong Khai has great cultural and historical value to Thailand, which is the leading tourist destination in Southeast Asia. As the capital of Nong Khai Province, Nong Khai city is also a prime geographical location and serves as the gateway to neighboring Laos.

Nong Khai sits on the western bank of the Mekong River, one of the major rivers in the world, which inter-connects with six countries: Thailand, Laos, China, Burma and Vietnam. However, given the fact that the Mekong River is extremely difficult to navigate, the river has actually divided those who live along its perimeter instead of uniting them. After the Vietnam War, the Mekong River was a frequent source of conflict between the US-backed Thai government and the communist governments of China, Vietnam and Laos.

Nong Khai is the site of the First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, which crosses the Mekong River and connects to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. The bridge was built in 1994. Before that, trade and commerce between Thailand and Laos was conducted by boat. The Friendship Bridge brought a new era of economic and political harmony between the two nations, especially after Laos had moved beyond its Communist past.

The main tourist attraction in Nong Khai is the Sala Keoku, which is also spelt as Sala Kaew Ku and known to locals as Wat Khaek. It is a massive park said to have been built by the mystic Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, who purchased the land in 1978. The park is filled with huge sculptures standing over 20 feet that reflect both Buddhist and Hinduist ideologies. Many of the statues depict Buddha, a seven-headed Naga snake, goddesses with several arms and various hybrids of humans and animals.

Nong Khai is often described as a sleepy town where the influence of Laos and other neighboring countries is strong. Nong Khai hosts a number of Chinese, Lao and Vietnamese communities.

The locals are fluent in the Thai language but have a local dialect of their own, known as Isaan, which is a mix between the Thai and Lao languages. Many people in Nong Khai are familiar with the English language and can speak it a little bit, especially with regard to tourism-related words. If you're a foreign tourist, one of the best ways to communicate with the locals is by smiling and being polite. They are generally a very friendly people.

Overview of Vientiane

One of Asia's smallest and most unusual capital cities is Vientiane, the potholed administrative and political centre of communist Laos. Sleepy and slightly dishevelled, Vientiane lies along the northern banks of the mighty Mekong River, directly across from Thailand. This is the first stop for most visitors to Laos, and although the capital may come across as somewhat bewildering, there are more than a few surprises in this dusty city worth exploring.

Also known as the City of Sandalwood, Vientiane was sacked by the Thais in 1828, resulting in an unfortunate lack of ancient temples and other reminders of its long history. It wasn't until the French arrived a century later that Vientiane was rebuilt and reborn, a process which continues even today thanks to development aide from foreign countries.

Like most French colonial towns of Indochina, Vientiane has broad, leafy boulevards lined with magnificent colonial mansions in various stages of decay, a handful of Buddhist temples and a relaxed tropical feel.

Seemingly forever under construction, Laos' capital is a dusty, fractured yet fascinating city to explore. In many ways, its rustic character is precisely what gives Vientiane much of its charm. Underlying the haze is a sense of recovery, struggle and optimism, as evidenced by the ever growing number of hotels, restaurants, bars and tourists.

The wide Mekong riverfront is perhaps the most popular area of the city for visitors to base themselves. Most of the city's amenities lie between the river road and the neighbouring Nam Phu Fountain, including bakeries, a handful of modern bars and mid-range restaurants.

Vientiane is a place that demands you slow down and match its languid pace. Walking or riding a bicycle is a great way to explore the central part of town. For those who want to experience the countryside, you can be out of the concrete and into the rice fields within minutes. With less than 300,000 residents in the capital, museums, cultural attractions and entertainment venues are in the minority, with the emphasis here on daily survival and cold beers at sunset overlooking the Mekong.

Nowhere else in Laos is the modern world encroaching on tradition more than in Vientiane. Monks chat on mobile phones, young kids play in Internet shops and new Land Rovers cruise past crumbling mansions. It's this sharp contrast of imagery that makes Vientiane worth a few days of exploration. The city may not blow your mind, but there's no disputing that Laos' capital is one of the most unique and laid-back cities on the planet.