Patuxai, Vientiane

The Patuxai monument is one of Vientiane's most recognisable landmarks.

Patuxai (GPS: 17.97061, 102.61852) is the Victory Monument in Vientiane. The monument stands as one of the most recognisable landmarks in the Lao capital. I was there three times during my visit to Vientiane, to get the photos that on these pages.

Fashioned after the Arc de Triomphe of Paris, the Patuxai is also known by several other names. As it commemorates those who died in the pre-Communist wars, Lao maps lable it as Old Monument, or Ancien Monument in French, Anusawali Kao in Lao, to differentiate it from the Unknown Solders Memorial which was erected after the revolution.

The Patuxai was built in 1969 with cement purchased from the US that was supposed to be used for the construction of a new airport, but ended up on this monument. Beneath the arch is a doorway with staircase that leads to the top of the monument. On the way up, you come across a bizarre bazaar - cheap clothes sold at the most unlikely venue. The Patuxai is open daily from 8am to 5pm.

View of the Patuxai from one of its corners.

The richly adorned underbelly of the Patuxai.

Another view of the underbelly of the Patuxai.

My girlfriend Chooi Yoke going up the spiral staircase to the top of PatuxaI
Visitors arriving at the top of the spiral staircase.

View of the square from the top of the Patuxai.

View of the Patuxai at night.

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