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จ ~ จ ~ Table of Contents …………….……………………………………….. 1 Map 1 2 Discover the Mekong River route from 101 Nong Khai Province -Vientiane City - Vientiane District – Loei Province 3 Tourist Attraction and Route 105 3.1 Muang Nong Khai District 105 3.2 Vientiane City 111 3.3 Vientiane District -Seekotabong- 129 Sangthong-Xanakam 3.4 Pak Lai – Kan Tao 135 3.5 Tha Lee District – Chiang Khan District 141 3.6 Muang Loei District 153 4 Restaurants 159 5 Accommodation 169 101 ~ 101 ~ 2. Discover the Mekong River route from Nong Khai Province -Vientiane City - Vientiane District – Loei Province Traveling around Thailand and neighborhoods is the crucial issue for Thai tourism organizations which they have to prepare for ASEAN Economic Community or AEC by strengthening potential tourist attractions, solving weaknesses cooperatively and promoting travelling routes among Thailand and neighbors continuously. Being together as ASEAN will help members on social, economic and political development without border issues as ASEAN slogan “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”. Rotating of investment, labor, body of knowledge, languages and culture among ASEAN countries is the most obvious phenomenon. Laos or Laos PDR is the closet neighbor of Thailand where there are shared traditions and cultures, for example, language, food, dressing, or even some traits and beliefs. Laos is still mysterious and magical country in terms of nature and culture which are well-preserved. 102 ~ 102 ~ Laos is known as “a small country” since there is a smaller number of population comparing to Thailand and Vietnam, yet Laos is full of crystal clear rivers and scenic mountains waiting for people to discover. Along Mekong river route, there are many kinds of attractions where there are green forests, beautiful waterfalls, scenic viewpoints, precious cultures, and sacred places. Mekong riverside route is at the North East of Thaland, it passes many provinces as Loei, Non Kahi, Bung Kan, Nakon Panom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, and Ubon Ratchathani and passes more than 20 districts as from Chiang Kan to Kong Chiam for 810 kilometers. This route has become one of Thai civilizations as it is beautiful trail along Mekong River and Laos. The route offers magical natural trails, interesting culture and resourceful wisdom which could attract more travelers to Thailand and Laos. Highway no. 211 from Chiang Kan district, Loei Province will take you to Nong Khai Province and Vientiane Prefecture where is one of the most beautiful places in Laos and there are many attractions to visit. Vientiane Prefecture is a capital city of Laos PDR, situated on Mekong riverside and it is a must in Laos since 103 ~ 103 ~ there are historical architectures and simple lifestyles to appreciate. The attraction route in Laos begins at the highway no.11 from Vientiane Prefecture to Vientiane district and follow the highway no. 4 to Saiyabuli district then the route will lead you to the final destination at Ban Na Kra Seng Border Check Point, Ta lee district, Loei Province. This route is in a development process of Lan Xang route as a collaboration of Laos and Thailand to create the route as another travel route strategy in Mekong region. Consequently, Mekong River is a network which connects Thailand and Laos in terms of traveling, economic and culture in a long run. 104 ~ 104 ~ 105 ~ 105 ~ 3. Tourist Attraction and Route Muang Nong Khai District Luangpho Phra Sai, Wat Pho Chai/ Phra That Nong Khai - the sunken pagoda/ Tha Sadet Market/ Prap Ho Monument/ Nong Khai Museum/ Luang Por Ong Seang /Sala Kaew Ku/ Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge 106 ~ 106 ~ Luangpho Phra Sai, Wat Pho Chai Location: Wat Pho Chai, Muang Nong Khai District, Nong Khai Province Wat Pho Chai is where Luangpho Phra Sai, a sacred Buddha image of the town which is respected by the people of Nong Khai, is situated. This Buddha image sits cross- legged, which was cast from bright yellow gold in the posture of subduing Mara, has graceful features. Every year on the full moon day in the seventh lunar month, the people of Nong Khai always will hold a rocket merit-making fair or Bun Bang Fai to worship Phra Sai at Wat Pho Chai. Phra That Nong Khai - the sunken pagoda Location: Muang Nong Khai District, Nong Khai Province Phra That Nong Khai (or Phra That Klang Nam) is subsequent erosion left the stupa now in the middle of the river 180 meters from the shore of Thailand. It is only visible during the dry season and low water levels of the Mekong River. The reconstruction of Phra That Klang Nam, Phra That Nong Khai, sits in the riverbank close to its original location and fill some parts of the original element inside. 107 ~ 107 ~ Tha Sadet Market Location: nearby the Mekong River, Muang Nong Khai District, Nong Khai Province The Taa Sadej (or Tha Sadet) Market is where an extraordinary range of items from (Indochina and East Europe) Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, China and even Russia can be found, located in the town of Nong Khai, nearby the Mekong River. There are many local products shops selling electronics, watches, jewelry, silver ornaments, ceramics, hand- woven cotton and herbs which make wonderful souvenirs. Furthermore, this is a checkpoint for local people to cross the border into Laos, while visitors in general have to go through the Thai - Lao Friendship Bridge checkpoint. Prap Ho Monument Location: Muang Nong Khai District, Nong Khai Province Prap Ho Monument located in front of the old city hall. It was built to contain the cremated bones of those who lost their lives in the suppression of the Ho in 1886 by an order of Luang Prachaksinlapakhom, the suppression commander, to honor the good deeds of those who sacrificed their own lives for the nation. There are inscriptions in Chinese, English, Laotian and Thai on all four directions of the monument. 108 ~ 108 ~ Nong Khai Museum Location: Maung Nong Khai District, Nong Khai Province. The building had been Nong Khai city hall since 1897 and had been remodeled. In 2006, the building had become the museum. The building itself is rich in French Colonial style and there are Nong Khai history exhibitions from the past to the present. It opens in weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm. Luang Por Ong Seang Location: Maung Nong Khai District, Nong Khai Province. Luang Por Ong Seang or Luang Por Pra Seang is at Sri Saket temple, Nong Khai province. This Buddha image was created in mediation position, the attitude of subduing Mara and was made of silver and gold. It is 120 centimeters tall. It was believed that a Nong Khai gobernor or Praya Patoomdhevapibaan had planned to make the buddha image in 1871 then named the image as Pra Jao Ong Sean later the word was glided to be Pra Ong Seang. 109 ~ 109 ~ Sala Kaew Ku Location: Wat That Sub-district, Muang Nong Khai District, Nong Khai Province Sala Kaew Ku was serves as an open museum of religious statues was created with an inspiration of Luangpu Bunluea Surirat who built it around 1978, out of his own belief that the teachings of all regions could be mixed together. Therefore, there are various forms of Buddha images include Hindu gods, Christian religious icons, as well as character figures from the Ramayana epic and folk tales. Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge Location: Muang Nong Khai District, Nong Khai Province Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge is the first international bridge spanning the Mekong and it link between Mueang District, Nong Khai and Tha Duea of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The bridge was built jointly by the three governments of Australia, Thailand and Laos. It is the bridge that strengthens the Thai – Lao relationship on cultural, economic and social aspects. There is also one of the most fabulous Mekong River viewpoint. 110 ~ 110 ~ Luangpho Phra Sai, Tha Sadet Market Wat Pho Chai Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge Prap Ho Monument Luang Por Ong Seang 111 ~ 111 ~ Vientiane City Duty free shops/ Buddha park, Xiang Khuan temple/That Luang Stupa/ Patuxay/ That Phoon Temple/Wat Si Saket Temple/ Ho Pra Keaw/ Ho Com or Presidential Palace/ Morning Market or Ta Lat Sao/ Wat Si Muang Temple/ Ho Lak Maung or Pillar Hall/ Chao Fa Ngum monument/ Wat Ongtue/ Wat Inpeng Temple/ Kaison Pomwihan Museum/ Laos People Army Museum/ That Dum or Black Stupa/ Sri Savangvong monument/ National Museum/ Anuvong monument/ Ta Lat Meod Rim Kong or Vientiane Walking Street/ Nong Chan market/ National Tribal Cultural Park 112 ~ 112 ~ Laos has been a long history before Henry Mohout, the French naturalist and explorer, discovered beautiful mysterious mountains, caves, rivers, towns, and landmarks and spread the news to the world. Those become famous attractions where all tourists would like to visit once in a life time. Luang Pra Bang, a capital city of Lan Xang kingdom, was listed as World Heritage by UNESCO in 1995 for unique and remarkably well preserved architectural, religious and cultural heritage in South East Asia. Vientiane is recently Laos’ capital city where is lively surrounded by French colonial architectures. (Wit Panditkun, 2012) Vientiane City Tourists might get confused with “Vientiane City” and “ Vientiane Province”. The prefecture is an autonomous territory. The prefecture area was once the old capital city. Nowadays, it belongs to government buildings, embassies, private sectors and international companies also it is a logistic hub for various kind of transportation as same as Bangkok but smaller (Mattreeya Tarasub, 2003:49). The prefecture was split off Vientiane Province in 1989 and the former name was “Vientiane’s wall”. It is 113 ~ 113 ~ located in the central part of Laos where is the capital city and is the special administrative area.