Vientiane, Laos + Add a trip

There are plenty of places for good food iin Vientiane. There's Joma coffeeshop which servers western food, there are some Italian places, just walk around close to the guesthouse area near Nam Phu.

Have a look at http://www.passplanet.com/Laos/ too

On your first night you should maybe avoid the pizza, curry, and "world cuisine"...

The Rimkhong is the riverside road, which you'll most likely be staying near. Cross the road onto the river side and sit at one of the many open-air eateries there - ideally the ones set back from the road. The turnover there is quicker than the ones right on the road further upriver, so the food is fresher.

Eat a grilled Mekong riverfish ("bpaa yaai") with sticky rice ("khao niao") and, if you're brave enough, papaya salad ("tam mak huung"), but possibly ask for the latter to be not too spicy "boh pet").

Watch the sunset over the Mekong with a Beerlao.

Bring mosquito spray.

You can eat the same food out of town for a quarter the price, but it's your first night, so you'll forgive yourself.

After the first night, if you want to treat yourself, the best Western retaurants tend to be French. There's also a couple of good Japanese restaurants within five minutes walk of the Mekong.

For excellent French Food, try Le Central which is not far form Nam Phou in Vientiane