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Buddha Park
Without question Laos's quirkiest attraction, Xiang Khouan boasts a brontosaurian Buddha that reclines in a riverside meadow turned bizarre Hindu-Buddhist sculpture garden - the work of a self-styled holy man long since drummed out of post-revolutionary Laos.
Herbal Healing
Wood-fired herbal saunas are started early in the morning and tended all day at Wat Sok Pa Louang, enveloping enthusiasts in clouds of healing steam. Treat yourself to a traditional massage, a perfect complement to the sauna.
The Riverbanks
Though development efforts have diminished the riverbank's charm, Vientiane's soul still lies with the Mekong. Find a perch at a waterfront beer garden to catch the sun easing into the river at day's end.
Morning Market
A trip to Vientiane wouldn't be complete without a wander through the capital's morning market, which is simply bursting with cheap food vendors, Chinese electronics, cotton, silk and handicrafts.
Tam Māk Hung
Pounded into shape with a mortar and pestle,
tam māk hung,
or papaya salad, is a celebrated staple so spicy it's best washed down with another national specialty, Beer Lao.
Haw Pha Kaew
Once the king's personal Buddhist temple, Haw Pha Kaew houses the finest collection of Lao art in the country, including an exquisite, bejewelled Buddha and a highly detailed "naga throne" from the defunct kingdom of Xiang Khouang.
Bounmala
Whole chickens go fast at this classic beer-and -roast-chicken joint - especially on Saturday night when it's packed with locals enjoying dirt-cheap pitchers of Beer Lao.
Lao Pako
A short hop from the capital is the environmentally friendly resort of Lao Pako. Situated along a languorous river, this woodsy getaway is a good spot for leisurely nature walks, bird-watching and swimming, or just lounging about in the traditional sauna.
T'Shop Lai Gallery
Specializing in unique mosaics and other handicrafts made from coconut shells, T'Shop Lai is good gift-hunting territory; it also hosts exhibits by local artists.
That Louang
Departing from the Presidential Palace, ride down Lane Xang Avenue to see Vientiane's hectic main thoroughfare, then wind past Patouxai, the city's victory arch, and out to the golden spire of That Louang, Laos's most important religious site and national symbol.
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