We arrived in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, for a few days before we settle into the small town of Luan Prabang for a longer stay. While Vientiane is not known for an abundance of attractions, there are a few worth noting. The most prominent of these would be the Patuxai monument or the Arc de Triomphe of Vientiane. This victory gate, as it is also known, is situated at one end of a long wide boulevard which leads to the Presidential Palace.
The Arch is a war memorial dedicated to the Laotian soldiers who died during the second world war and the fight for independence from France. Completed in 1968, the structure was largely built with funds provided by the United States. The donated U.S. monies were intended to be used for an airport runway expansion project, with an eye towards possible U.S. military use during the Vietnam war. But the Lao government decided instead to use the funds to build this massive monument, which has now become an iconic stop for visitors to the city.
Comments
Post a Comment