| Laidback Capital City |
Compared to teeming, polluted capitals elsewhere in Asia, Vientiane is a fresh breeze. Prettily situated on a broad bend in the Mekong River, it has fewer than 450 thousand residents, and most attractions in the city center are easily reached by bicycle or on foot. As elsewhere in Laos, most of what’s green here comes by default: many of the so-called 1st World’s worst environmental sins are too expensive for this developing economy and have never taken root. Some green practices, however, are definitely by design: for instance, it’s official government policy that only organic fertilizers be encouraged in Lao agriculture.
The best resource we’ve found devoted to sustainable tourism activities in Vientiane is Stay Another Day Laos. For information on green practices in general, we recommend Laos Organic.
Eco-friendly Rivertime bungalow
Close to both Vientiane and the mountainous Phou Khao Kwai National Protected Forest Area is Rivertime Resort and Ecolodge. This ecotourism destination on the tranquil Nam Ngum River was built with local labor and local materials in a secondary forest— where not a single tree was felled. Nor was the natural undergrowth cleared around the guest lodges, salas and other structures. It’s rather like they all sprang up organically. This is not a destination for those favoring pristine landscaping or 5-star guest amenities; it’s rustic, natural, unpretentious. And seriously green. No herbicides or pesticides are used; cleaning products are biodegradable; electricity is produced from hydropower; river water is used in toilets, and waste water treated in septic systems; other organic waste is composted or fed to animals.
Tranquil Nam Ngum River
Rivertime’s floating restaurant (there’s also another quite decent restaurant on the property run by a Thai) specializes in fresh catch from the Nam Ngum in excellent Lao preparations paired with produce from the resort’s organic gardens. Guests are encouraged to donate time (teaching English) and school materials to kids in 3 local villages.
When in Vientiane …
Phimphone Vilivong Market. This upscale, Western-style gourmet shop offers quite a few organic fresh and prepared foods, as well as natural health and beauty products. Setthathirath Rd near Nam Phou Fountain
Phimphone II. A smaller version of this gourmet shop, with an even more extensive wine selection. Samsenthai Rd at Chanta Khoumane
Joma Bakery Cafe. Next door to Phimphone (with other locations in Phongsavanh Bank and at the Vientiane Waterpark), this Canadian-owned cafe is favored by visitors in search of excellent organic fair trade Lao coffee and “clean and safe” veggies.
Simuang Supermarket. You’ll find a decent selection of organic and natural items mixed in with the conventional stuff. Samsenthai Rd, across from Wat Si Muang
Mulberries. Lao silk is extraordinary, and we highly recommend this not-for-profit shop that creates income for 200 Lao village families in a socially and environmentally responsible way. Mulberries specializes in exquisite, naturally dyed, handmade silk products. You can also sample and buy the organic mulberry leaves on which the silkworms feed. Tea made from mulberry leaves is delicious and loaded with vitamins and antioxidants. Nokeo Koumman Rd
