Free and low-cost leisure activities in Laos

Hopefully someone will see this thread and add some suggestions.

I'm taking a quick trip to Vientiane in the near future, and I'd like some suggestions for things to see and do in the greater Vientiane area.

Thanks for starting this thread, Priscilla!

There are lots to do and see here in Vientiane and Laos on general.

Check out www.tourismlaos.org for information.

There are 2 good museums in Vientiane. The Lao Peoples Army Museum in Kaysone Phomvihane Road is worth a visit.

The Textile museum, Ban Nongtha Tai, shows cultural weaving and dyeing methods and is very interesting.

Buddha Park, Thanon Tha Drive is a peaceful place to wander around with kids.

At night the Mekong Riverside park is the place to go to for a stroll. It is a night market with plenty of goods and food stalls.

For kids a climb to the top of the Patuxai monument at night gives a lovely view.
Also for kids the Ocean Park outside  the Lao ITECC  mall is great on a hot day. The mall has a great movie theater  which shows English language movies from time to time.

On weekends kids, young and old, head to the shopping malls to meet up,sit around chatting, sipping on cold drinks, go to movies or just wander around in air conditioned comfort window shopping. Parents often take their kids too.