Vientiene, Laos

[zaronxas]

Thought I would throw a up some info on Vientiane - this is not so much a trip report as I was there with my gf but more useful info for would be travelers. I'll try to throw up some pics at when I have time.

First off, there are a lot of ladyboys in Vientiane -- caveat emptor, my take on the number of ladyboys may be higher than for most as all my gfs friends are ladyboys. Most I met are not the hardened types you see Pattaya or Bangkok.

Moreover, Vientiane is a pretty sedate city that's more town than city. I liked it because it was a nice respite from the go go pace of Bangkok and to a lesser extent Pattaya. You want to stay in the city center which is the area around Wat Mixay. A lot of budget to mid range accomodations. Should not be too hard to find a decent deal.

Like much of Thailand, you can find ladyboys everywhere but for more sordid activity you can hit the following night spots:

Bor Pen Nyang, a nice roof-top bar right on the river at the city center. This is the early night spot, decent food also. Talent starts to pick up around 10 PM.

Sam Lo Pub is the after hours bar most of the girls migrate to at midnight or so. This place is in walking distance to Bar Pen Nyang, so no need for a moto. It's on the second major street after the street on the Mekong. All you have to do is follow the ladyboys streaming from the Bor Pen Nyang. Or better yet, just ask one, most will be more than happy to escort you there. I like the Sam Lo pub because it is dark and cosy, and get pretty packed. This can lead to a good time on a good night. Also, the ladyboy per capita skyrockets at this place.

An alternate late night spot is night club at the top of the Don Chan Palace (hotel). This is a biggish club with a DJ, a lot of the girls like to go here to dance and have fun. Though, I'll say if you don't like loud blaring club music and are not ready to be a little more forward, this place might not be for you. Though a good place to go with a date as most of the girls I met there like it.

Prices are generally more negotiable here than in Thailand. Everything is cheaper, so this is a pretty good place for a budget trip / visa run Also, a lot of good western food here because of the French colonial history.

[bighairy]

A very nice rundown of the scene in Vientiene. Were you there recently? I ask because I am thinking of heading up that way early next year and you know how fast things can sometimes change in that part of the world.

[SiamSam]

Great info Zaronxas. I always wanted to visit Vientiene but never got around to it. Now you've re-iginited my interest. What to do you mean exactly when you say the LBs are not as hardened as we find in Bangkok and Pattaya? Are they pushy, shy, attractive, P4P, looking for a boyfriend, et cetera?

[bumblebee]

Zaronxas you are certainly producing the goods at the moment regarding out of the way LB options. Another wonderful report to make life easier for those who may follow. Great work.

[zaronxas]

A very nice rundown of the scene in Vientiene. Were you there recently? I ask because I am thinking of heading up that way early next year and you know how fast things can sometimes change in that part of the world.

I was there last month. Laos is in the slow lane when it comes to change. So I don't think it's changed that much.

[zaronxas]

Great info Zaronxas. I always wanted to visit Vientiene but never got around to it. Now you've re-iginited my interest. What to do you mean exactly when you say the LBs are not as hardened as we find in Bangkok and Pattaya? Are they pushy, shy, attractive, P4P, looking for a boyfriend, et cetera?

My personal, limited experience has been that they're less professional / businesslike than their Thai cousins in Bangkok and Pattaya. I'd go so far as to say even the Lao lbs working in Pattaya are a bit more laid back and fun than their Thai counterparts. So many of lbs I've met in Bangkok and to a lesser degree Pattaya are a bit jaded and looking for all the angles to squeeze as much baht as possible from a punter.

In Laos, they seem to be more happy go lucky. It's sort of like Thailand 10-20 years ago.

[zaronxas]

Well here a couple of pics of the entrances to Bor Pen Yang and Sam Lo pub for those who might be headed that way.

[JaiDee]

I was just in Laos myself for 2 months, enjoyed it VERY much

Nice people, laid-back lifestyle, cheaper than Thailand.....cooler at night also, not as humid as Thailand, especially in the mountains up north.

Lots of streetwalking ladyboys walk around the river area and the city center of the capital at night, but beware as some of them do look awfully young.....it's also difficult to get girls or LB's back into your room from what I have heard; not really sure because I have only spent 4 nights total in Vientiane and never brought anyone home but I did see many around and my friend below told me the rules.

Keep in mind also that Vientiane is the only place in the country to really find hookers; I have been to every large city and there are literally none in Luang Prabang or Phongsali or Luang Namtha......or if there are, they were very, very discreet because I didn't see even one outside Vientiane.

Last year I stopped into Bor Pen Nyang......it is indeed a super-cool place, with a great view of the river road and an outdoor terrace, cold beer on tap.....but they close at 11:30 firm, so get there early, like 8-10pm. I was surprised to see a friend of mine working in there last year; she remembered me somehow, despite the fact I hadn't seen her since 2004 in Pattaya, where I took these pics below. Cute girl named Dao, now postie. I have her e-mail if anyone is going and wants to meet her, she is even more pretty now.

[TTChang]

OMG .. the face (& her chuk wow video ... on the sofa) that got TTChang interested in the LB scene. Thanks for that photoshoot JD!!

[JaiDee]

Mai pen rai, TT .......I am sure it was just as much fun {more??} for me as it was for you :)

Believe it or not, she looks much better now.....she is a post-op and looks outstanding, does the freelance thing in Vientiane these days and I'd guarantee most of her customers have no idea she was once a boy.

[Hefe]

Wow, I remember Dao from ATS too, gorgeous....

[terry]

Hey mate cheers for the heads up on Vientiene,funnily enough I am researching the place now,and the bars you mention look great,this will help me out dude.

[zaronxas]

Hey mate cheers for the heads up on Vientiene,funnily enough I am researching the place now,and the bars you mention look great,this will help me out dude.

My pleasure. Let me know what your plans are, maybe we can meet up sometime when you're out here.

[farangbah]

Anyone gonna be around Vientiane the weekend of the 10th (this month) -- the following Monday is a holiday in Thailand, and I'm thinking about a possible long weekender there.

Thank you, zaronxas, for this thread -- it's been most helpful.

FB

PS -- what's the cheapest carrier at the moment? Looks like Air Asia doesn't fly there...

[katana57]

You'll be stuck with either Thai Airlines or Lao Aviation.The latter being cheaper,but more difficult to book.

[farangbah]

Everything is cheaper, so this is a pretty good place for a budget trip / visa run

I have no frame of reference here. What's an average short time gonna run a man?

And anyone with a recommendation on a fairly low-budg centrally-located guest-friendly guesthouse, with air and wifi?

Cheers, gents. I'm looking forward to this...

[DownLoLarry]

You'll be stuck with either Thai Airlines or Lao Aviation.The latter being cheaper,but more difficult to book.

Perhaps another option is Air Asia to UdonThani which is 44 km from Vientiane.

Though on the return you'd have to fly over the border to get your 30 day stamp.

[zaronxas]

Anyone gonna be around Vientiane the weekend of the 10th (this month) -- the following Monday is a holiday in Thailand, and I'm thinking about a possible long weekender there.

Thank you, zaronxas, for this thread -- it's been most helpful.

FB

PS -- what's the cheapest carrier at the moment? Looks like Air Asia doesn't fly there...

I usually fly to Udonthani and take a 300 baht minivan from the airport to the Friendship Bridge border crossing. As you maybe doing a visa run it may be better for you to fly back with Laos Air (also I don't know if it matters to you but their planes are propeller aircraft). If you fly up with Air Asia, it's easy enough to book a flight back on Laos Air through one of the dozens of booking agents scattered in the touristy part of town.

The place I tend to stay is the Be Na Cam. If you google it, you'll find it. It's an honest, decent place with wifi (that's somewhat spotty though just about everywhere in Laos is the same in my experice) and aircon. The cost depending on the room size could range from $20 to $30.

I go there with my girlfriend so I don't have too much first hand experience with short time but I wouldn't be suprised with getting away with 500 baht assuming you meet one that's not a hardened Bangkok/pattaya veteran on home leave. That said you can also swing them for free if you meet one outside of a bar setting.

[dixon cox]

Excellent information zaronxas, you've certainly got me thinking about re-visiting Laos, it's been well over a decade since I was there.

[katana57]

I stayed here

http://www.travelfish.org/accommodation_profile/laos/vientiane_and_surrounds/vientiane/vientiane/all/2940

Nice!!

[farangbah]

Cheers, Gents. Much obliged for the info.

Some colleagues are trying to talk me into elsewhere (it's for a visa run), but I kinda got my heart set on Vientiane now. If I do go I'll be sure to report my findings.

Thanks again...

[Rukki]

Last year I stopped into Bor Pen Nyang......it is indeed a super-cool place, with a great view of the river road and an outdoor terrace, cold beer on tap.....but they close at 11:30 firm, so get there early, like 8-10pm. I was surprised to see a friend of mine working in there last year; she remembered me somehow, despite the fact I hadn't seen her since 2004 in Pattaya, where I took these pics below. Cute girl named Dao, now postie. I have her e-mail if anyone is going and wants to meet her, she is even more pretty now.

1235.jpg

1236.jpg

 

maybe short notice, but I am doing research for my visa run which departs in 4 hours. If you can send me Dao's email that would be great! 

[pdogg]

maybe short notice, but I am doing research for my visa run which departs in 4 hours. 

Not Daos's number but here's some more info about Laos and an interesting read:

 

http://www.ladyboyreview.com/forum/index.php?/topic/1457-losing-it-in-laos-my-weekend-in-vientiane/

[Rukki]

Not Daos's number but here's some more info about Laos and an interesting read:

 

http://www.ladyboyreview.com/forum/index.php?/topic/1457-losing-it-in-laos-my-weekend-in-vientiane/

Yes I just finish read it. Great read!

[Rukki]

Just got back from Vientiane visa run. I went with 1st class visa run on soi 6 at the Queen Victoria Pub. I read this thread as well as Farangbah's TR so I had an idea of where to look for fun. I downloaded 3 photos of the 2 bars and the lovely Dao to have on my iPhone for reference.

 

Wouldn't you know it! Same thing I did for my last visa run to Laos 2.5 years ago. I forgot to grab some extra cash or an ATM card! Good thing I had 3000 baht. Should be enough to find some trouble.

 

I met up in the hotel lobby with 2 guys, an English and a Nordic guy. I said I was goin out no matter what. They were game to join and we got a taxi from our hotel. The guy at the desk said 200 baht to go to the place I showed him in the picture. Bor Pennyang. Rip off for sure, but whatever. The Taxi took us maybe 2 km to the bar. I laughed. The other guys did to. We split the fare.

 

The English guy was taking about how he didn't mind ladyboys and thought they where fun to hang with and but he wouldn't fuck with them. He brought it up 3 or 4 times. I knew he wanted some LB action and was trying to make excuses. The Nordic guy didn't say much. Just smiled and laughed usually. Wasn't sure what his game was. Maybe he just wanted to go have a drink and see some life.

 

I have this on again, off again love affair with my Ladyboy affections. And it had been 5 months or so since I was on, so I was due for sure. There would be no lady in my night. Other than conversation and flirting.

 

We sat at Bor Pennyang for 3 draght Beerlao and by this time I was good and drunk. Not sure why this happened so fast. I had 2 big bottles of Beerlao at the hotel also. There was some action around and the night was young and promising as long as I didn't drink myself out of the game. This happens alot. But I figured I could find a nice LB to stay the night if that happened and have her for breakfast.

We decided to change the venue. We ended up at a Lao bar with live music a short walk north. It was fun but we all wanted the easy p4p game. And I wanted LB, not that I ever mentioned this. The English guy did too, I am sure. So we went back to Bor Pennyang after I finished what I am sure is the best vodka soda I have ever tasted in all my life. Quite a simple drink, I am not sure why it was perfect, but I was full of Beerlao and needed a change.

 

Back to Bor Pennyang to see if there was any action, and then we planned to go to our hotel. There is a Disco in it. And when we left the hotel in a taxi we saw 2 nice miniskirts and 4 great legs walking up the street. Figured it was for the disco. There was hope.

 

At Bor Pennyang there was much more action now and we noticed a table of 3 LBs. I was certain. English said maybe 1. Nordic wasn't sure. I had my eye on 1 that I liked, but would fuck anything that night. Maybe a hole in a tree if it looked good. Lucky for me the cute one I liked, return the looks of lust. I suggested we order a round and go to the disco. We got a round, paid promptly and I made my way to the table of 3 LBs. Like I said, I forgot my wallet so going there with an empty drink would mean I would be buying 4 drinks instead of 1.

 

The 2 guys I was with immediately followed me to the table and we chatted briefly and English said we were goin to the disco at our hotel. I dont remember any other conversation. I just made sure the hot one was goin with me.

Moments later I was on the back of her motorbike. Not sure where my new friends where and didn't care.

The 2 of us stopped for some Koei Tieow noodle soup and then continued to the disco. We spotted our friends and had a drink with them. I could hardly stand at this point and wanted to get this girl naked ASAP so we left.

 

Unfortunately, for the life of me I can't remember anything until I paid her. So I assume I came, or gave up, or had whiskey dick. I only remember giving her 500 baht and she was quite sexily telling me 1000 baht. But I refused. Wasted and broke I was.

 

Then she gets a call. We left my room to meet her LB friend and escort her to English's room. We knocked. I had no idea what was going on or why I was there. Maybe an after party?

 

But some girl opened the door and the LB we met in the lobby goes in. She was cute, but seemed uninterested. Maybe cause there was already a girl there. Although it may have been a LB and English wanted more. Good for him. We go back to my room.

 

So much for the after party. Thank god.

 

Back in my room moments later another LB walks in. They talk for a while. I get nervous. Why is she here? Is she mad about the 500baht? She seemed so nice... So what could I do?

 

I tried to get a 3-some of course! What would you do? In my room was 2 twin beds. I jumped on the bed with the new addition and tried to coax her out of her clothes or anything! At the same time asking my girl to join us. She said she wanted to watch. Cool! But the new girl wasn't having it. Surely if I had money to throw into the situation things would be different, but alas, I didn't.

 

They both wanted to sleep. I was panicked. She IS mad about the 500baht and they are going to rob me for sure. I have 1000 baht left and an iPhone. There was no safe in the room. I decided to stay awake, let them sleep for an hour then ask them to leave.

No problem.

I am wasted drunk, but I can do it.

I watched them as they both seemed to sleep.

Next thing I remember is being awoken by my girl. She said they would leave now. I said where are my shorts! I wanted to check my pockets for my phone and money. I wasn't even sure I had paid her yet. But everything was in place. 1 iPhone. 1000baht and the 500 baht note was gone.

I paid her.

She didn't rob me.

I wanted her to stay. But we said good bye and I went back to sleep.

 

I still don't remember us having sex, but when I awoke this morning my ass was in alot of pain. Something must have happened.

Probably something good.

 

I will post pics as soon as I figure out how...