DON CHAN PALACE

Unit 6 Piawat Village,
Sisattanak District,
Vientiane,
Laos PDR
www.donchanpalacelaopdr.com

• Most luxurious hotel in Vientiane.
• Perfect location just outside the bustle of town.
• Best breakfast ever!

With Laos now the hottest destination for Irish travellers, we decided to check it out. Thailand is full of backpackers, and Vietnam is already well established on the tourist trail. But Laos, boarded by China, Cambodia, Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand, is only just beginning to open up for tourists, and it one country well worth visiting.

GETTING TO LAOS

We travelled over the boarder from Thailand, crossing the Friendship Bridge from Nong Khai and getting a visa for US $35 at immigration. From there it was a twenty minute taxi ride to the Don Chan Palace Hotel on the outskirts of Vientiane. We had booked to stay for three nights, but liked it so much we stayed for four!

ACCOMMODATION AT DON CHAN PALACE, LAOS

While it is the tallest building in Vientiane, it commands the best views over the Mekong River, and our room had a balcony where we could watch the spectacular sunset. The room was extremely comfortable, the bathroom toiletries were of the highest standard and the room was spacious enough that we could have moved in!

SHOPPING IN VIENTIANE

The Morning Market is a ten minute walk away, and we visited it every day and purchased silk, silver, handicrafts and carvings. The bustle of the market is wonderful, haggling is expected, and you can purchase using either LAO Kip (12,950 equals one Euro!) or Thai Bhat, (49 equals a Euro).

DINING IN VIENTIANE

As it was once occupied by the French, there are an abundance of excellent restaurants in Vientiane where you can enjoy European dishes and wonderful bread and coffee – something you miss in most parts of Thailand! There is a courtesy shuttle bus from the Don Chan Palace Hotel to the centre of town, and we opted to use that each evening, and were collected and returned safely to our room after we had had our fill of cocktails and great food! We ate each morning in the hotel where they have the best buffet breakfast ever. From yoghurt and granola, to freshly made omelettes and noodle soup, breads and pastries, sushi, fruits, fried rice and bacon and fish and so many dishes that you could fill up for the day. We certainly felt it deserved a Hotel Reviews Ireland breakfast award!