The Best of Cambodia & Laos

220
VIENTIANE
11
WHERE TO STAY
rooms are nice, but the corner twins are worth the upgrade—they’re bigger and have
better views. Each room is named for a flower, and quotations offering pearls of wisdom
are pasted to the walls or fridges. Staff is eager to please; some have excellent English,
others get an A for effort.
70 Phnom Penh Rd., Ban Anou, Vientiane. & 021/263-597. Fax 021/263-596. www.avalonbooking.com.
30 units. $30–$35 double/twin; $65 suite. Internet rates available. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant. In room:
A/C, satellite TV, fridge (not available in single rooms), Wi-Fi.
Day Inn Hotel This charming little inn in the shadow of the Lao Plaza was
once the Indian embassy, and it retains some of that urban, colonial dignity in its large,
airy rooms, with their high ceilings and tall French doors. Though it’s all a bit simple,
and the bright sea-green color scheme is a little overpowering, you’re in an ideal downtown
location. Rooms (with orange, blue, or pink walls) are furnished in basic but tidy
wicker, with hard beds and clean bathrooms (some with a tub). The Day Inn is like an
upscale guesthouse, really, but it has the standard in-room amenities of a proper hotel.
Ask for a room in the front, where doors and windows open to small private balconies.
The staff is extremely cheerful and helpful, making this an all-around pleasant stay.
059/3 Pangkham Rd., P.O. Box 4083, Vientiane. & 021/223-848. Fax 021/222-984. dayinn@laopdr.com.
30 units. $40–$45 double/twin; $55 suite. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; Internet access in lobby. In room:
A/C, TV, minibar.
Mixay Guest House For those who are used to backpacker accommodations
being filthy, run down, slightly shady, and often unfriendly, the Mixay will come as a
pleasant surprise. These are some of the cheapest rooms in town, but it is clean and very
well run. The neatly uniformed and courteous staff gives the place the air of a youth
hostel rather than a guesthouse. It is all slightly institutional. Rarely on the banana pancake
circuit will you be treated so well for so little. The rooms are spartan but clean.
Above all (as the staff politely pointed out), in the afternoon you are served free cake! The
Mixay is a civilizing influence.
54 Nokeo Khoummane Rd. & 021/243-400. 30 rooms. 50,000 kip single shared bathroom; 40,000 kip
dormitory; 80,000 kip double shared bathroom; 90,000 kip double; 110,000 kip double A/C. No credit
cards. In room: A/C.
Phonepaseuth Guest House This guesthouse is in a very good location just
behind the central fountain, for a very reasonable price. The rooms are largely pale green
but don’t let that put you off, it isn’t entirely institutional. The rooms are all standard,
but they will charge less if you don’t want to use the air-conditioning—which for 8
months of the year makes it a very good deal indeed.
97 Pangkham Rd. & 021/212-263. Fax 021/261-395. 30 units. $13 with fan; $18 A/C. No credit cards.
In room: A/C, TV.
RD Guest House This is a spick-and-span little place with a quirky atmosphere and
very friendly staff. The rooms (dorm rooms only) are very light and clean if a bit peculiar.
To get to the stairs one passes what I was solemnly told is the “library.” It’s a nice touch,
being a small common room with lots of floor cushions, books, and no TV, which makes
it very unusual for accommodations at the budget end of the spectrum. Another quirky
peculiarity is that the entrance to the bathrooms has saloon-style swing doors. That
means that you should know your roommate well, since there is no privacy at all. If you
should get into a disagreement you can fling each other in and out of the bathrooms in
true spaghetti western style.