Vientiane, Laos

Previously:

Vang Vieng, Laos

We back to Vientiane again.  To fit all the things that I done in Vientiane and all the yummy food that I tried in one post is very hard.  So, I will only name a few.  

Tha Ngon

Heua Phae Tha Ngon Lao Derm Restaurant

We had lunch at one of the famous restaurant located in the middle between Vang Vieng to Vientiane.  You have the choice to just sit in dining area of the restaurant overlooking the calm flowing water or get onto the big bamboo-rafting like house and floating around the river while having you delicious meals and completed with karaoke to perfection the entire journey with friends and family.  However, there is a little extra cost for the boat.  As we came with a little boy, we thought it would be a little hard to handle him on the boat.  The food was pretty good but quite pricey compared to any other restaurant in Vientiane. 

Wat Pha That Luang Vientiane

Patuxai

Wat Phra Kaew Vientiane

Wat Si Muang

This is what the local belief that any unmarried couple should avoid this temple.  Because they believe, people will break up if you visit this temple together with your partner.  The story begin with long time ago when they built this temple, (old time belief) that they need one people to sacrifice his/her life to be thrown inside the the pole to guard the temple.  In the mean time, there was this women while pregnant and broken heart, she decided to end her life and sacrifice herself to be buried underneath the pole.  That's why she died with heart broken and disbelieve of any couple life. 

Stir fry squid with salted egg

Deep fried morning glory with salad

Larb ped (duck larb)

Mushroom soup (Gaeng hed)

Vientiane night market on the riverside promanade

A must try French-style baguette, very crunchy on the outside and soft inside.  The filling of lao-style baguette is far different from the one we get in Western world.  It is closer to Vietnamese pork roll with home made pate', some fresh vegetables and pork (ham and shredded pork).  Very very delicious.

Khao Jee Pate (Lao-style baguette)

My own style Lao baguette

Heua Phae Tha Ngon Lao Derm Restaurant
Hay Village (Tha Ngon), Saythany District, Vientiane
Ph: +856 (020) 5550 3108, (020) 5525 7018

Inter City Hotel
24-25 Fa Ngum Road
Ph: +856 21 242 842

Vang Vieng, Laos

Previously:

Nong Khai, Thailand

From Nong Khai, we headed toward the border area and crossed the Friendship Bridge that connected Thai and Laos.  Very easy process through the immigration, however visa is needed for Australian and you can do Visa On Arrival that cost roughly around AUD40.

The capital city of Laos is Vientiane where the Friendship Bridge is.  However, on that day we drove further north to the small town called Vang Vieng.  The city where serene and nature view is their charms and adventurous activities is their selling point.  It was another 3-4 journey from Vientiane.

Tham Chang Cave bridge

The water in Tham Chang Cave is very turquoise and clear.  But the best place to play water is in Blue Lagoon, which we didn't have a chance to go there.  This place is highly recommended by alot of reviews from Tripadvisor.

From kayaking, tubing to riding the long tail boat are some of the popular water activities that reachable from most resorts.  The water is pretty shallow, so you will be able to cross to the other side, but it is quite cold though.

Picturesque view from our resort

At night, we wandered around the town and found lots of street food everywhere.  These some local delicacies that we can manage to take back to the resort and relaxly enjoyed it.  Such as grilled pork, Lao-style baguette and roti (sweet).

Stay tuned for the next blog of new year end trip:
Vientiane, Laos

Nong Khai, Thailand

Previously:

Wat Phar Pu Korn and Wat Pa Tak Suer

If you were here in Nong Khai, please do not miss this Namnueng shop, called Daeng Restaurant.  This place serve the best Namnueng in town as you can see how pack the restaurant is.  They open for lunch and dinner.  Namnueng is a Vietnamese fried sausage, it also comes in boiled version.  The way to eat is by rolling the slices of sausage in the wetted rice roll, added some fresh leave vegetables and condiments.  Then dipped into some kind of peanut sauce.  The beginning of mastering the rolling art may be a little hard, but once you get used to it, you will know how much amount of filling you need to put in most without breaking the thin rice roll.

Daeng namnueng restaurant

Very pack at lunch time

Nong Khai walking street

If you were there in Saturday night, again don't miss this night walking street along the Mekong River.  Full of delicious and cheap street food, range of souvenirs and some fun activities for kid.

View from the restaurant inside Sam Oar Guesthouse

Salad with imitate crab meat

Thin slice of pork for shabu shabu

dipping sauces

Fortunately here in Nong Khai, we have a friend who own a hotel in the best location and they let us stay for free.  Although it is more like a guesthouse but the people are very friendly and helpful, the room is also clean.  Inside the resort, they also have a Shabu shabu restaurant.  They serve the super fresh meat, very tender and juicy while cooked in the tasty broth and nice compliment from the dipping sauces.  The sitting was facing the mighty Mekong river and at night with all the lighting was so romantic.

For breakfast in the morning, they specially brought us some local delicacies to nibble from market near by.  And in the house itself they provide a few choices of breakfast such as: Pork or chicken or prawn rice porridge, Vietnamese style bread roll served with sweet or savory filling.  They are all delicious.  I am very grateful and thankful for their kind hospitality and free food as well.

Khanom Paak Mor - Vietnamese style rice roll with meat and mushroom filling

Rice porridge with minced pork

Vietnamese style bread roll

Daeng Namnueng Restaurant
526-527 Moo 4, Rim Khong Road, Nong Khai
Ph: +66 42 460 647

Nong Khai walking street
Every Saturday night 4pm-10pm

Sam Oar Guesthouse and Resort
43 Sam Oar Friendship Songfungkhong Hotel
Kaeo Worawoot road, Nong Khai
Ph: +66 42 646 718

Stay tuned for the next end of the year trip:
Vang Vieng, Laos