The lead-up to the SEA Games: a visitor's impressions of Vientiane

It was a Saturday night, about 9:30, when I took my first steps in Vientiane .

The view from the highest point at Buddha Park, 25km southeast of Vientiane

I had just flown from Sydney , Australia , ready to start a month long journalism internship at the Vientiane Times the following Monday.

I was greeted by a mob of tuk-tuk drivers all offering to take me to my hotel.

During that first ride through the capital I was won over by the sight of the unique architecture, traces of Buddhism and noodle shops. The city had definitely turned on its charm; lights lined the streets and illuminated the mixture of locals and tourists enjoying a late dinner or a drink as they soaked up the atmosphere.

In the four weeks that followed I have really enjoyed living and working in the city.

I have had no shortage of things to see or do, and have visited sites such as Patuxay, That Dam, Buddha Park , That Luang and a host of others.

Buddha Park was an interesting smattering of religious sculptures, in a unique blend of Buddhism and Hinduism I had never seen before.

The sacred Buddhist monument of That Luang was impressive, while the top of Patouxay provided me with a great view of the sprawling and laid-back capital.

Vientiane 's monuments are definitely worth a look, but my favourite spot is by the Mekong River , the lifeline of the city.

Sunset is the best time to go, and, with only a single skyscraper in sight and a rich selection of local and international food on offer, I have been spoilt for choice on many nights spent admiring the view.

During my time here residents have been preparing to host the 25th SEA Games in December.

The upcoming games will be the first hosted by the city, and so the pressure is on Vientiane for a truly memorable event.

The city certainly has an air of anticipation about it, which I noticed on my first trip to the morning market, when I saw workers along the streets busily sweeping and repainting the road lines for the expected visitors.

The shrubs they planted and the lights they installed have added to the relaxed appeal of the streets.

Route 13 has improved after construction work and was an easy ride for me as a passenger on the back of a motorbike.

In the lead up to the games I also had the chance to watch the practice opening ceremony at the National Stadium, which included a range of singing and dancing performances, and was a spectacular display of Lao hospitality and culture.

The inclusion of children was a nice touch and shows the growing number of educational and performance opportunities available for young Lao people.

My overall impressions of the city have been that it is wonderfully laid back and its people are consistently friendly, especially the staff at the Vientiane Times, who I would like to thank for welcoming me.

With all that the city has to offer for tourists I think other people visiting for the SEA Games next month will love their time here.

Marion Rannard is an Australian graduate working at Vientiane Times on a 4 week intern programme.

By Marion Rannard
(Latest Update Novembe 27, 2009)