Footloose in Vientiane: A capital in no great hurry

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Two days of golden stupas, revolutionary history and riverside meals in Laos

Vientiane's riverside area retains a quiet, small-town charm. Two days in the Lao capital leave ample time for gilded temples, night markets and lingering over Mekong sunsets. (Photo by Tom Vater)

Two days of golden stupas, revolutionary history and riverside meals in Laos

VIENTIANE, Laos -- The Lao capital is boring, in the best possible way. This city of less than 1 million people moves at a pace that feels almost glacial compared with any other metropolis in Southeast Asia.

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