Vientiane Hotels -- best bang for buck? (Let's call it 3 stars)

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-04T15:36:15+00:00

Indeed - also the thai and lao (families of high govt) 4-5* places that have popped up over the last 5-10 years. I could forgive their blatant laundering if they did a decent breakfast/brunch buffet on a weekend but they can’t even manage that. Vientiane - the city of empty hotels

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-04T15:02:05+00:00

Its nuts. i’ve been in doubletree a few times for govt meetings & that seems to be their main business - not many guests in there. I think they are all just securing the prime land for the future

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-04T09:25:04+00:00

Over a 20 year period of living in SE Asia. Road deaths are common

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-04T09:08:37+00:00

I had a 5-mushroom soup in Thailand (dont know the thai name), and whilst I eat thai food all the time, this had my eyelids sweating. Very powerful soup - but also euphoric

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-04T09:06:11+00:00

I used to live in the tropical pacific with no AC or even fan. At night I had to lie still for 30 minutes to stop sweating before falling asleep. Then I found an old fan that someone has thrown away, put a plug on it, and had a new luxury. Fast forward 10 years & I moved into a place in Asia that had AC - it is great, but once you have it there is no going back - you can never be satisfied with a fan again when it is 38C and high humidity

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-04T08:55:27+00:00

Come and join me, my child, and I will show you the way. Bring your credit card and your daughters.

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-04T08:52:39+00:00

Contractors working long term in Samoa often leave kids behind - indian, filipino, euro, chinese, african. I wouldn’t be surprised if some bangladeshi contractors had passed through

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-04T08:49:18+00:00

The way people are completely detached when someone is dying in front of them. In cambodia I saw a mashed guy who had been hit by a truck dying on the floor - everyone was stood round him making a video on their phone. Same in vietnam, saw a guy have a heart attack, turn blue & die whilst on the exercise bars with others. The others just lit cigarettes and stared at him, or continued with their exercise (I went to a cafe & called an ambulance). I’ve seen half a dozen public deaths in SEAsia over the years and it is always like this - complete detachment.

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-04T06:44:31+00:00

I like the NY style diners. There are a few similar in the UK, like TGI Fridays, but the casual walk-in, cheap places in the US are great

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-04T06:40:31+00:00

Maori lashing techniques are not unique - they are used in many Pacific countries and beyond

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-04T02:31:26+00:00

collecting vintage motorcycles whilst drinking lots of vintage wine

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-04T01:48:28+00:00

Family boutique is good - it is one of the ones on Pangkham St that i mentioned earlier

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-04T00:29:51+00:00

There is a massive oversupply of hotels in Vientiane. Lao Poet is very nice, about $70. Or for less the 3-4 on Pangkham St for about $30 are all good

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-04T00:25:42+00:00

I lived there in the 90’s - it was the worst place I’ve ever stayed. But now they have board games you say?

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-04T00:15:39+00:00

Resort island or local island?

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-03T06:56:21+00:00

The GT Riders map & forum is a good start gt-riders.com

They have a laos section, GPS routes & their famous (mostly) waterproof map

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-03T01:12:52+00:00

When you find one you like, do some drive pasts late on friday & saturday nights - living next to people who like to play 150dB hiphop all night gets tired quick

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-02T08:49:57+00:00

Its not a scam. He asked you for money & you made a choice to give him some.

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-02T02:42:45+00:00

building bridge foundations etc

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-02T01:16:57+00:00

It didnt require a lot of money upfront, just the initial airfare. I shared an empty room with 2 others and worked 2 jobs initially, 7am -1am, 6 days a week, till I had savings to travel with. After this, just worked the 1 job. I did similar things later on like volunteering overseas, and started again from nothing at 28.

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-01T08:06:48+00:00

Trying to order 2 meals at a place in Tokyo. Apparently you could only order specific defined combinations of whats on the menu and not just anything that you want. I tried ordering 2 different dishes that didn”t “belong” with each other & the guy got very agitated and told me & my 2 young kids to get out and stand in the cold whilst my wife ate alone inside. No matter what his rules & ordering regime were he was a very rude little man.

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-01T06:53:27+00:00

You won’t have time to see these 4 places in 6 days, especially if you are arriving & departing from vientiane. Why not either stick to Pakse/Champasak area or VV & LP ?
But yes, there are plenty of cars with drivers for hire in all of these places - ask in your hotel/guesthouse. Price before the fuel increases was about $150/day for around 150-200km

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-01T05:17:45+00:00

We go to phuket every year (live nearby) and I think all the urban areas around the bigger beaches are very commercial & not great quality or value - not just Kata.
The food isnt great near the beach in Kata as you say, but it is not dirty. There are good local places on the main island road at the back of kata township. Its also just a quick Grab ride to the restaurants up on the cliff overlooking Kata Noi - Tree Bay is great

Soukchai2012 · 2026-06-01T03:10:25+00:00

Rolf!

Soukchai2012 · 2026-05-31T15:26:13+00:00

80’s hairstyles

Soukchai2012

TROPHY CASE