The population of the capital city is over 200,000 (that's 8,000 Utopians).

Men in Vientiane message forum

• Don't miss the mysterious, fantastical folk-sculpture garden, a short drive south from the Friendship Bridge, which is the older sibling to Wat Kaeg on the Thai side of the Mekong.
• Several temples offer traditional Lao herbal saunas which are open to the public and good places to relax with the locals. Braver sorts might enjoy a relaxing work-over at Ajarn Amphone's Herbal Sauna on Anjou Street (1 block northwest of the Tai-pan hotel) which includes an hour-long Shaolin massage by a Kung Fu master, including welt-inducing vacuum cups.

• Blue Cool (mixed)
  Located on the right side of the road as you drive on Luangprabang Rd from the airport to Mercure Hotel. New club opened by the former owner of Pack Luck.
• CCC Bar
  The previous owner of Pack Luck Bar opened this bar next to La Silapa restaurant near the center of town. They have good music, pleasant company and weekly barbeques. Cabaret shows most evenings at 10:30pm, featuring the likes of Lady Gaga and Edith Piaf!
• Dong Tan Palace Hotel nightclub
  On the river front, east of the city center. Many gays after everywhere else in the city closes at midnight, as it's open until at least 2am every night.
• GQ
  Email. On the same street as the InterCity and Orchid hotel (walk down the street next to it), which is a side street from the road along the Mekong River, Fa Ngum Rd. The best time to visit is 10pm-midnight. Friendly guys.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "I stayed three times in Vientiane during Feb-Apr this year. Every time this bar was the best spot for gay life in town. Mixed crowd of farang and Laotians. They play good, modern dance music. Prices are normal for a bar in Vientiane and much cheaper than in Europe. Best time is 10pm-1am." -- pororoca, Apr 29, 2011

• Lak Song (mixed)
  Sene Souk Hotel nightclub, 100 Louangprabang Rd, 213-375. Popular disco attracts a young crowd. Standing room only on Sat nights. Some prefer to go other nights when it is less crowded and conversations are possible. Closes at midnight.

• D-Tech (mixed)
  Mercure Hotel. Best decorated club in town with an international crowd. Far and away Vientiane's most popular disco. Jam packed on Wed Fri Sat and Sun after 9pm. Closes at 11pm - same as everywhere. Extremely loud music, of course.
• Don Tan Palace
  Has a good percentage of gays. Good music. Closes at 3am.
• Soradith
  Hotel Soradith, Dongpalan Village. After the Mpoint Mart, turn left on the first street. Popular gay party spot. A disco and hotel combo. How convenient. Starts after 11pm and full of young Lao guys. Good fun and easy to meet lots of people. Ten minute taxi ride from the city center by tuk tuk).

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Gay disco next to the guesthouse of the same name. Very crowded at the weekend. Mostly Laotians, only a few farangs. Best time 11pm-2am." -- pororoca, Apr 29, 2011

• Hatpraseuth Massage & Sauna
  Rue Asean 10, 218-654. Open 10am to 10pm. Mixed massage establishment with two or three masseurs who are professionally trained.
• Heng Heng II
  Opposite Hotel Mercure, 030-990-7711, 020-5550-4933.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Have been there the last two days and well worth getting the VIP room." -- DOO, Aug 20, 2011

  "Heng Heng II massage is a great find. Tuk-tuk drivers are not aware of it by name, so just ask for the Mercure Hotel and you'll find it right across the busy street. Price each is K$45,000, but we upgraded to the VIP rooms for K$60,000. I had a great oil massage with an excellent masseur, a real hottie who enjoyed his work. My partner wasn't overly impressed with the experience. Tip was about K$100,000." -- OscarO, Mar 25, 2011

• Heng Heng Massage
  Near the Chinese Market. Ask for a masseur. Private massage rooms. About 10-15 masseurs. Open from 9am-midnight.
• GQ
  See listing under Bars. Many beds to a room with curtains between.
• Sengtawan Riverside Massage
  B/F Sengtawan Riverside Hotel. Massuers. Not gay, so be discreet.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Wellness Massage Center - Settharirath (at Inpeng Temple) - very good Lao massage in a relaxed setting, at low prices, strictly professional. They have both men and women." -- WhiteHCMC, Feb 19, 2011

• Outdoor boxing school beside the river.
• Place Nam Phou fountain in the evenings.
• The riverside park.

• Europe Restaurant (Swiss, Italian, French, and Asian cuisine)
  086 Ban Saphanthong Neua, Phonsavanh Rd, 414-086, mobile 020-207-539. Partners Peter and Pasa have opened at a bigger and better location for their famous restaurant. Excellent service and fine cuisine. Staff are handsome and friendly.
• Europe Swiss Restaurant (Swiss)
  086 Ban Saphanthong Neua, Phonsavanh Rd, 414-086, mobile: 20-220-7539. Handsome and friendly staff.
• Healthy and Fresh Bakery
  44/4 Ban Xieng Yeun, Sethathirath Rd, 215-265. Excellent and inexpensive light lunches.
• Jai Dee Restaurant
  Manthathuriat St (near the Namphou Fountain). Art, the owner, is very friendly and he knows everything a Utopian should know about the capital. Have a drink at Art's bar. It is always open during the day. To eat, go at night for a wonderful dinner. His staff are very friendly and good-looking.
• Kua Lao (Lao)
  111 Samsenthai Rd, 215-777, 214-813.
• L'Estaminet (ice cream, French, Lao and Thai food)
  Ban Hatsady, Lane-Xang Ave (across the street from the Morning Market), 250-975, email. Gay-owned and staffed. Located in downtown Vientiane on the famous Lane Xang Ave. Sit in theirr tropical garden or indoors. Reasonably priced food. Friendly staff are well-trained, attentive, and can serve you in four languages: Lao, Thai, English, or French.
• L'Opera (Italian)
  Namphu Circle, 215-099. Excellent food and classical music playing softly in the background. Try their special "Lao Pizza".
• Le Bayou Restaurant Brasserie (French and American)
  Sethathirath Rd, 222-227.
• Le Provencal (French)
  Namphu circle (diagonally opp. from L'Opera), 513-412. Authentic French country cuisine.
• Le Safran (French)
  Rue Nokeokoumane, 222-997, 215-626.
• Le Silapa (French)
  17/1 Sihom Rd, Ban Haysok, 219-689. Fine dining. Superb cuisine.
• Le Vendome (French)
  159/1-2 Inpeng Ban Watchane, 216-402, 020-612-467, email. Excellent French cuisine in an old Lao colonial house, with tables both outside under fans or inside with aircon. Average price US$15 per person for three courses without wine. Very friendly atmosphere.
• Moon the Night (Lao)
  Thanon Kamkon (on the banks of the Mekong), 217-073. About 10 minutes drive from the Mercure Hotel. The easiest way to get there is by tuk-tuk (it’s well-known among the locals). This restaurant can get packed full of good looking Lao young people. They play some very gay songs, i.e. I Will Survive, Can’t Take my Eyes Off of You, etc. Lots of fun.
• Phone Pha Chan Bistro (cafe)
  Noreko Kummane Rd, Ban Mixay, 216-045. Inexpensive cafe with photo exhibitions.
• Riverside open-air restaurants (plentiful, ask your friend to take you there for lunch).

• Sauna Wat Chan (mixed)
  Next door to GQ bar. Frequented by gays.

• Talaat Sao. The charming, large, central city market is full of craft items, especially traditional fabrics.