Hotel Lao

Located in the heart of Vientiane's Chinatown, close to many of the city's restaurants, museums and temples, Hotel Lao is an oasis of calm. The open air restaurant serves Lao and international dishes in the lovely tree shaded courtyard beside the fishpond and fountain. The huge fish almost leap out of the pond when the staff feed them!

In the lobby, a gift shop sells a selection of Lao woven cotton and silks, along with smaller items such as postcards and traditional smoked tea. At the front of the hotel, the travel agency can arrange domestic and international reservations and ticketing as well as tours to regions of Laos.

For a change of dining flavours, an Indian restaurant is located beside the hotel. The Hotel Lao has a non-smoking policy in all its rooms and public areas. This particular feature will appeal to many of today's modern travelers.

The original building was constructed in the 1960s by a prominent Vientiane politician as a private residence. The family was large, and its many rooms were needed for all the children, grandchildren and extended family.

Interestingly, the room configuration and room size remain the same as when it was used as a private residence. The owner operated a printing press on the ground floor, where he published a newspaper.