My friend and I were disappointed by Vientiane as it did not really live up to expectations from what we had read. However, some of the monuments and temples it offered were quite impressive. Here, the statue represents King Chao Anouvong, in his military exterior, raising a welcoming hand to the Thai people, across the Mekong River. This park covers 14 hectares of land and is home to a vibrant (manic) night market which is well worth a visit. After a very long (4 hours) and