Review: Vientiane Healthy Massage
There are plenty of massage places available in Vientiane. What I am talking about is massage and spa, not the one with the special service. If you like to go to spas, then I recommend Champa Spa right in the middle of downtown Vientiane (they have two branches, the one at the river is the one I most like).
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Review: Ansara Hotel and Restaurant
When I travel, I am always looking for something special in my accommodation. I am not a backpacker, so guesthouses are not my game. My preferred hotel must have some basic features like internet, breakfast, restaurant, television and friendly staff. But even more important is that they MUST be special. In Phnom Penh, it is the Pavillion, in Bangkok it is Le Fenix and in Vientiane, it is Ansara Hotel.
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Review: Sabaidee Cafe and Bakery
Sabaidee Cafe and Bakery is something of a well known cafe. Although not shiny and modern like the recently opened Joma and True Coffee, the food is awesome. It is an avocado lover's heaven. Try the large selection of bread rolls and bagels. My favorite is the bread roll with avocado spread or the omelet with avocado and cinnamon. They make the bread themselves!
Staff are extremely friendly and nice, just give them a smile and everything will be okay 
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Vientiane's Buddha Park surreal and fanciful
Buddha Park, (the park is not a temple) also known as Xieng Khuan (meaning Spirit City), is a surreal and fanciful sculpture garden full of Hindu and Buddhist statues located about 24km (15 miles) out of town heading south along the river. The park contains over 200 Hindu and Buddhist statues.
The park was built in 1958 by Luang Pu (Venerable Grandfather) Bunleua Sulilat. Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat was a priest-shaman who integrated Hinduism and Buddhism and later fled from Laos to Thailand after the revolution in 1975.
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Across the bamboo bridge, a hidden gem - Dyen Sabai
Across the bamboo bridge just down from Phosai Mountain tucked away in the forests is a hidden gem, the Dyen Sabia Restaurant.
Surrounded by bamboo, palms and mango trees, tranquility awaits you. Spacious chillout pavilions with low tables and comfortable cushions and mats over looking the Namkhan River.
Sitting by the river with good, cheap drinks, board games and books makes an evening here like no other. We could have spent hours playing and drinking. It's a great place to relax and read a book or hang out with friends in the private nooks and crannies.
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End of the year events in Vientiane
I am quite impressed with what is going on in Vientiane between Christmas and New Year. There is the Tiger Beer Event at Nam Phou Square, which is one of the most professionally organized events I have seen in SE Asia so far. What I like is that the music fits the audience, both foreigners and locals, the bands are really good and know their business (means no feedback), and the sound is awesome (applause to the guy on the mixer, great job). Food is available. Not that much, but enough for a small dinner, and of course beer is there for a fair price (11.000 KIP for a big bottle).
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New Tourism Institute in Laos Seeks Hotel Partner
The Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (LANITH) has launched a global search to identify a private sector investor to partner with it in the development and operation of a unique hotel in Vientiane, Laoss.
The institute has a 3,700 sqm riverfront plot in downtown Vientiane that is suitable for a 75-100 room, four-star hotel.
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Laos speeds up construction of power plants
Following the 3rd MRC Regional Stakeholder Forum on Basin Development Plan at MRC headquarters in Vientiane where the overall consensus appeared to be a slowdown in decision making processes allowing better representation and participation of community stakeholders this tit-bit caught my eye… from Vietnam Plus.
General Director of the Electricity of Laos (EDL) Khammani Inthirath has said at a press briefing that the country will build at least two hydro power plants every year until 2020.
Tubing in Vang Vieng doesn't make everyone happy
It could be so beautiful. We arrive at the Organic Farm. Goats standing in their wooden stables, chewing mulberry leaves. A black-white kitten is walking with us, asking for attention with a loud "miau". Birds are singing from the trees. Morning clouds are hanging deep around the hills surrounding the Nam song river valley. Nature at it's best. If there wouldn't be another sound: blasting music. Welcome to Vang Vieng, the “paradise” for backpackers.
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Don't miss bear Lao
The average stay of tourists in Luangprabang is 2-3 nights. The common activities are temples (Wats), the old Kings Palace and walking along the Mekong river. But there is another attraction, a bit outside and off the track: The Laos Bears - Luang Prabang Rescue Centre.
It is located at the stunning Tat Kuang Si Park with its beautiful scenery and waterfall, approximately 30 km south of the centre of Luang Prabang. There is a waterfall here, with views across the surrounding countryside and many cool pools that you can swim in.