Patuxai has many names. It is also known as Patuxai Victory Gate, Patuxai Victory Arch, Patuxai Victory Monument and Gate of Triumph. You should definitely visit this attraction when you are in Vientiane. Especially if you have a thing for architecture, culture and great views. From a distance, the monument is similar to the Paris Arc de Triomphe. However, once you get a little closer you will notice some differences. Patuxai has five towers that represent the five principles of coexistence and the five Buddhist principles. It has gateways on four sides and you can climb a spiral stairway to the observation deck of the tower. From there you’ll have an amazing view over the city. Especially at sunset, this is truly a great experience.
The different levels of the war monument
On the way up you will pass several levels. There you’ll find some merchants who sell all sorts of souvenirs. Including some really interesting things. If you’re looking for a nice souvenir for Vientiane, you’ll surely find it here. Don’t forget to look around. On the wall are a lot of impressive ornaments. Many of them show mythological creatures from Buddhism or Hinduism. The Victory Gate is also part of the Patuxai Park. So, you can combine a visit to the monument with a small walk in the park. In the park there is a beautiful garden donated by the Chinese. In general, the Chinese have had a large share of the surroundings of the Patuxai. They were also involved in the construction of the boulevard. The boulevard itself is already worth a visit. Not without reason, Patuxai is one of the best known landmarks in Vientiane. You will see a lot of tuk tuks in front of the entrance.
One of the things we liked the most is the beautiful roof design, that like a lot of other elements of the Patuxai was inspired by foreign architecture. In this case, the inspiration came from the famous Taj Mahal in India. As you can see in the picture there are several gods from Hinduism, including the creator Brahma. We recommend that you pay close attention to those details, since paintings like this one and statues like the one of the kinnari and naga are what defines the Patuxai.
History of Patuxai
The Patuxai Victory Gate is a war monument that was constructed between 1957 and 1968 to commemorate those who fought during World War II and for the independence of Laos. Since the fight for independence was fought against the French, it is somewhat surprising that the triumphal arch bears such resemblance to the Paris Arc de Triomphe. It is also interesting that the monument was built of american cement. It was a gift and intended to construct an airport. Well, the government obviously had other plans. Better for us. After all, the monument is one of the most beautiful in Laos. The Patuxai Victory Arch was designed by the laotian architect Tham Sayasthsena. He was able to prevail against all other architects with his designs. And rightly so, as we can see.
Another interesting fact about the history of the war monument is its cost. Back then, the total cost was around 63 million kip. What once was a lot, due to inflation and the weak currency, is very little nowadays. Hard to imagine, but the huge sounding sum doesn’t even amount to 3.000 dollars today.
Patuxai Park
Even the Patuxai Park and its garden isn‘t too big, there are two nice sights and if you‘re already at the monument, you should definitely stroll around a bit. If it’s very hot (not a rare occasion in Laos) we recommend you to get a drink. There are always one or more vendors around with water, soft drinks or even beer. The two sights we are talking about are the musical fountain and a elephant statue made of porcelaine.
In this picture you can see the musical fountain and the shrine placed in front of it. Later we realized that we could have taken the picture from the other side, and you would’ve been able to see the Patuxai. Also, the fountain is significantly more beautiful if you come in the late afternoon or evening. The reason for that are the lighting effects. Unfortunately, we didn‘t see it by ourselves, but from what we heard, it seems pretty nice . You can expect a peaceful, romantic activity with a stunning display of color and lights. The musical fountain was a gift from the Chinese government.
Many visitors are more impressed by this elephant statue in the garden than by the Patuxai itself. We kind of understand it, since it’s really beautiful and creative. What make it stand out, is the fact, that it is made of porcelain cups, plates, saucers and other ceramic objects. In front of the statue is a sign with something written in Chinese. We were lazy to translate it, but from what we know, like the statue the musical fountain was also donated by the Chinese Government and the sign mentions this. One of many indicators of the strong influence that China has in the country.
How to get to Patuxai
Since Patuxai is located in the heart of Vientiane, you shouldn’t have trouble finding the place. Or to put it more concretely: Many roads lead to Patuxai. From the airport you can either take a bus, a taxi or a tuk tuk. If you have trouble finding your way around, just ask a local. Everyone knows Patuxai. Even if you can’t find anyone who speaks English, you’ll get to your goal. But that’s unlikely anyway. The taxi drivers and tuk tuks can always speak a few words.
You can also follow the Lane Xang Avenue until its end. The Lane Xang Avenue is located in the city center and the widest boulevard in Vientiane. It was built before the Patuxai in 1953 and inspired by the Champs-Élysées in Paris. If nothing helps, just take a look at the map down there and you‘ll find a way.
Patuxai entrance fee
If you want to visit the Patuxai Victory Arch, you won’t need much money for entry. The entrance fee is only 3.000 Kip. That’s about 34 US cents. There are no hidden costs. However, if you want, you can buy some souvenirs. The variety is enormous. Except some markets, there isn’t any place in Laos with so many different kinds of souvenirs. You can buy clothes, jewelry, woodworks and a lot of other products.
What else to do around Patuxai
Since the Patuxai Monument is located in the center of Vientiane, you can do a lot here. You can walk around the park, buy something in the area, talk to other tourists, or relax in the Patuxai Cafe. The latter is about a 10-minute walk away. If you just need a quick bite before heading to your next destination, we recommend getting some street food like a Lao baguette.