The Best of Cambodia & Laos

216
VIENTIANE
11
WHERE TO STAY
and satellite TV will keep you connected in the present. The hotel’s elegant restaurant,
La Belle Epoque (p. 221), serves excellent Continental cuisine. The pool area is leafy and
calm, and an ideal place to relax. While the Settha Place is very expensive (with the most
basic single coming in at five times the cost of most rooms in town), its service is
unmatched and it offers quality far exceeding its price tag.
6 Pangkham (P.O. Box 161), Vientiane. & 021/217-581. Fax 021/217-583. www.setthapalace.com.
29 units. $180 deluxe; $280 junior suite; $380 suite. AE, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; Jacuzzi; outdoor
pool (nonguests welcome for $7.50); room service. In room: A/C, TV, minibar, Wi-Fi.
EXPENSIVE
Green Park Boutique Hotel Combining the traditional and contemporary into
a seamless whole can be difficult, but the Green Park has succeeded in doing just that.
Raised tile pathways set among jar fountains lead from the elegant reception area to the
central courtyard, where contemporary Lao-style pavilions surround a lovely swimming
pool and adjacent reflecting pool. Stylish guest rooms boast rich wood floors, beautiful
Lao silks draped over chic teakwood furniture, and all the modern conveniences, including
free wireless Internet access. Cozy balconies have views of the pools and the newly
planted frangipani trees that dot the surrounding garden areas. Set next to the undeveloped
Nong Chanh Park, Vientiane’s largest, and a 15-minute walk to the Morning
Market, the Green Park is far enough away to feel secluded but not too far to feel isolated
from the city. Add to this tranquil setting an eager-to-please staff that caters to guests’
every whim, and you get a hotel that has set the bar extremely high for future boutique
properties in Vientiane.
248 Khouvieng Rd. & 021/264-097. Fax 021/263064. www.greenparkvientiane.com. 34 units. $165 classic
double; $175 deluxe double; $350 deluxe suite; $450 executive suite. Internet rates available. AE, MC,
V. Amenities: Restaurant; lounge; free airport transfers; Jacuzzi; outdoor pool; spa. In room: A/C, satellite
TV, hair dryer, minibar, Wi-Fi.
Lao Orchid Hotel The Lao Orchid is an upscale and comfortable choice. The decoration
is muted but easygoing with plenty of beige, ocher, and pastel green. The facilities
are top of the range and the rooms are large and well equipped. A few have a good view
of the river. It is a bit overpriced when you look at the midrange competition, but not
extortionately so.
Chao Anou Rd. & 021/264-134. Fax 021/264-133. www.lao-orchid.com. 30 units. $45 standard; $65
suite. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; Internet; room service. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, minibar.
Tai Pan Hotel This hotel combines businesslike practicality with a certain amount
of style. It is brand-new, tastefully and efficiently designed, and well equipped, with
friendly staff. If you are on business and want to be near the center of town, the Tai Pan
will give you everything you need. Neither fancy nor glamorous, it is about getting things
done. That does not mean that it is soulless—the designers obviously put a lot of thought
into combining functionality and style, and that combination is very successful. The
rooms are large and come with all the conveniences you would need. The pool and the
business center are state of the art and the foyer has just enough painted-on retro charm
to do justice to its old town location.
2–12 Francis Nginn St. & 021/216-906. Fax 021/216-223. www.taipanhotel-vientiane.com. $64 standard
single; $82 standard double; $70 deluxe single; $88 deluxe double; $82 junior suite single; $99
junior suite double; $148 suite. AE, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; health club; Internet; outdoor pool;
room service. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, minibar.