Lao Voices

Many monuments represent abstract ideas of freedom and liberty, and stand proud to represent the city, and most became the place of tourist attraction. As for Laos, we have Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe. Patuxay Monument was formerly known as the Anousavary built in 1968, and it is dedicated to those who fought in the struggle for independence from France. The monument looks very much like the French Arc de Triomphe, but has a touch of Laotian Buddhist architectural style in term of the pointy tops that resemblance many designs that you would find in Buddhist Temples (Wat). It is also decorated with many kinnari figures, some half woman half bird.

According wikipedia, The Patuxay was built using American funds. America had given Laos money to build a new airport. But in turn, Laos used the money to build the monument. Sometimes the Patuxay is called the “Vertical runway”.

The place is a tourist attraction area; you can climb up to the top for a good view of Vientiane. I’m surprised to learn from a Thai magazine that it is also a place where local teenagers hang out, the ground is busy and crowded on weekends. I’ve not been there myself, but I’m sure they don’t dress in Lao classic style, but more modern. It is a place where young people meet, might be a place where future Laotian movie stars and models are waiting to be discovered.

More photos from Laos uploaded by IceCream Ivy at Flickr.

The photo below is the Arc de Triomphe. It is a historical treasure in Paris, France. The arch honors those who fought for France, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars, and today includes the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Patuxay Monument represents Laos’s independence from France, but ironically, it looks very much like the Arc de Triomphe, I’m wondering if it was intentionally designed that way.