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Enjoying Lao Beer on the Mekong River
From 2006/07 Travel Blog
The capital city of Laos, Vientiane, sprawls along the Mekong River and unlike most cities, has a very much undeveloped riverfront area. No upmarket boardwalks or restaurants and very basic facilities.
However one of the joys of this laid back city is sitting by a makeshift stall in the evening and indulging in a few bottles of Lao Beer.
Known simply as "Beer Lao", this very drinkable beer is available cheaply by the bottle at numerous spots along the river. You can also try all manner of Lao and Western meals, as well as soft drinks, fruit juices and so on.
Vendor, Mekong riverfront, Vientiane
The quality of what is on offer varies from stall to stall so try to pick somewhere with lots of customers - hopefully this means the food is good. The restaurants are mostly haphazard affairs - small operators working from makeshift tables selling sit down or take away meals.
Most stalls have tables and chairs, some quite basic, others more comfortable. There are even sit down areas where you eat from low tables Lao-style.
Prices are generally quite reasonable, though it helps if you know what a bottle costs before you order as overcharging is not unknown. You will need to exercise some caution if you plan to get rolling drunk as you could quite easily fall down the steep bank down to the river. Fencing is at best rustic, in some places non-existent.
Vientiane's sole floating restaurant - drinking spot
Vientiane also has a solitary "floating restaurant" (if there are more of these I stand corrected but I spotted only one) which is pictured above. This place is quite good in the evenings with excellent views of two countries, cool breezes and reasonable prices.
This place costs a little more than the places along the river bank but it has excellent Bia Sot (fresh beer) which runs out early in the evening on busy nights. There is also music and a fair selection of dishes to choose from.
The riverfront is the best spot in town to enjoy the evening, particularly if you are looking to mingle with the local folks and don't fancy Vientiane's noisy discos.
Table by the Mekong River, Vientiane
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