Vientiane is a good place to chill out for travelers weary of the hectic pace of other Asian cities. The Laotian capital offers amazing Buddhist art, graceful temples and lovely gardens. Situated on the Mekong River in southern Laos, the city still has remnants of its French heritage, a time when it was part of French Indochina. In many ways, Vientiane is the least Southeast Asian of all the Southeast Asian capitals. Laos’ first city stretches along the eastern bank of the Mekong where it forms the border with Thailand, a peaceful treasure trove of French bakeries and Buddhist stupas, wine cellars and night markets. 

Vientiane’s diversity is a byproduct of its chequered past: razed by the Thai army in the 1820s, it was gradually rebuilt by French colonists in the early 20th century. Their mansions were left to crumble during the civil war of the 1970s, and nowadays its wide boulevards and quiet parks offer a haven to frazzled backpackers looking to catch a breath after the hustle and bustle of modern life.