Patuxai Monument, Vientiane, Laos
Copyright © Timothy Tye. Stock Photo for Sale
Patuxai Monument
Vientiane, Laos
Patuxai also written Patuxay is a monument in the centre of Laos. Its name means Victory Monument, and it is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Vientiane. The Patuxai was fashioned after the Arc de Triomphe of Paris, although the ornamentation is unmistakably Lao. It was also known by several other names. As it commemorates those who died in the pre-Communist wars, Lao maps label it as Old Monument, or Ancien Monument in French, Anusawali Kao in Lao, to differentiate it from the Unknown Solders Memorial which was erected after the revolution.
The Patuxai was built in 1969 with cement purchased from the US that was supposed to be used for the construction of a new airport, but ended up on this monument. Beneath the arch is a doorway with staircase that leads to the top of the monument. On the way up, you come across a bazaar selling cheap clothes, a rather undignified activity on this supposedly important structure. The Patuxai is open daily from 8am to 5pm.
