Udon Thani International Airport 1 hr 2
Wat Si Muang (40 min) Buddhist temple built in the 16th century, drawing bustling crowds with the promise of good luck. COPE Visitor Centre (40 min) Solemn visitor center & museum with displays & films on history of bombings & related disabilities. Pha That Luang Vientiane (40 min) Historic 44-m. gold Buddhist stupa with multiple levels, a walled enclosure & a grassy courtyard. Buddha Park (27 min) Attraction known for dozens of Buddha statues in various poses, also a popular cycling destination. Sisaket Temple (41 min) 19th-century Siamese-style temple with a museum & cloister wall housing thousands of small Buddhas. Lao National Museum (43 min) Exhibits on Laotian history & the struggle for independence in a former French governor’s residence. Hophakaew Museum (41 min) Former temple, built in 1565 for the Emerald Buddha (now in Bangkok) & today a museum & shop. Wat Pho Chai (15 min) Important Buddhist temple featuring detailed wall art & an elaborate gold sitting Buddha statue. That Dam Stupa-สวนธาตุดำ (43 min) Ancient, bell-shaped stupa believed to have once been protected by a 7-headed water serpent. Morning Market (43 min) Daily market for traditional handicrafts from textiles to jewelry, plus produce & street food. Sala Keoku (19 min) Unique park featuring gardens & paths leading around a series of massive religious sculptures. Presidential Palace - Palais présidentiel (41 min) Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge (10 min) 3,839-ft. long bridge providing 2 pedestrian pathways, a central railway line & views of the river. Patuxay Monument (44 min) Imposing 1960s war memorial featuring a European-style arch & traditional Laotian carvings. Tha Sadet Market (14 min) Busy covered market on a riverside promenade with street food carts, clothing & local handicrafts. |