About this Stay
In April 2019, I stayed for two nights at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
Although it is the capital city, Vientiane has a calm and laid-back atmosphere. With its abundance of tree-lined streets, it is sometimes referred to as a “city of forests,” and it has a very pleasant ambiance.
Often described as “the world’s most uneventful capital,” the city has no major World Heritage tourist attractions, luxury department stores, McDonald’s, Starbucks, or even a subway system. Laos is a Buddhist country, and Vientiane is home to many temples and stupas.
The five-star Crowne Plaza in such a city offers spacious guest rooms equipped with modern amenities, making for a very comfortable stay. The meals were also excellent, mainly featuring Western-style cuisine.
Since I had a plan that included access to the club lounge, I mostly dined there. However, at the restaurant I visited on the morning of the third day, I was amazed by the wide variety and generous selection of dishes offered in the buffet.
Exterior & Guest Room
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Hotel Entrance
This is the entrance of the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
In a city like Vientiane, it is reassuring to have such a modern, up-to-date hotel available.
Guest Room
This is the interior of the guest room.
It is quite spacious and very comfortable. There are two sofas, and the desk chair is a modern ergonomic design.
In-Room Screen
A welcome message was displayed on this screen, including my name.
There is also complimentary bottled water provided on the table.
Dinner (Day 1)
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Evening Cocktail Menu
Since I had access to the club lounge, I came here for dinner.
This is the menu for the evening cocktails, including both drinks and food.
Ham and Cheese Buffet
During the evening cocktail hours, a buffet like this is available.
You can freely help yourself to appetizers, snacks such as ham and cheese, and small dishes.
Appetizer Buffet
These are light snacks that pair well with drinks.
Here you can see tomato and mozzarella arancini (fried rice balls), beautifully presented with decorative flowers.
There is also a drinks counter further back.
Food and Drinks
These are the drinks and appetizers I enjoyed.
- • Sparkling wine
- • Lao beer
- • Tomato and mozzarella arancini (fried rice balls)
- • Assorted ham and cheese
Bookshelf
There is also a bookshelf like this in the lounge.
Reading Time
I picked up a book and brought it to my table to read for a while.
It was a quiet and blissful moment.
Salad
Before the main course, I had a Mediterranean-style salad.
It included chickpeas, cucumber, grilled eggplant, tomatoes, and red onion.
Beef Stew
This is the main course: beef stew served with mashed potatoes.
Snacks
These are snacks such as pickles and cheese taken from the buffet counter.
Morning (Day 2)
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View from the Room
This is the view from the room window in the morning.
The sun was just visible from the window, and it looked absolutely beautiful.
Lobby (1st Floor) (1)
This appears to be a relaxing area on the first floor of the hotel.
Lobby (1st Floor) (2)
This is another relaxing area in the first-floor lobby.
Second Floor
This is the second floor of the hotel.
The area in the back is the restaurant.
Breakfast (Day 2)
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Breakfast Setting
I came to the lounge again for breakfast on the second day.
The table was set for breakfast service.
In the center of the table were five small jars of jam, and a breakfast menu was placed on the right.
Menu
This is the menu.
- Left side (Drinks): various juices, coffee selections, and teas
- Right side (Food): eggs Benedict, scrambled eggs, French toast
- and more
Buffet (Cheese, Fruit, etc.)
Ham, cheese, yogurt, and fruit are available from the breakfast buffet.
Breakfast
This is what I selected from the buffet.
- • Two types of juice and three kinds of yogurt
- • Ham and salami
- • Five types of cut fruit
- • Coffee
Bread
I also had three types of bread.
Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict, one of my favorites.
Walk
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Small Shrine
Just outside the hotel, there was a small shrine.
It may be somewhat similar in role to roadside Jizo statues in Japan, as there were many offerings placed there.
Like the larger temples and stupas in Vientiane, it was painted in yellow.
White Elephant Fountain
This is a fountain featuring a statue of a white elephant.
White elephants are considered sacred animals in Southeast Asia, including Thailand.
Japan–Laos Friendship Monument
There was a Japan–Laos friendship monument along National Route 1 in Vientiane.
This highway was constructed with the support of the Japanese government.
(Editor’s note)
This road is a major route built with Japan’s grant aid, connecting the international airport, central Vientiane, and the bridge over the Mekong River leading to the border with Thailand.
Statue of King Anouvong
This is a bronze statue of King Anouvong (1767–1826) located in Chao Anouvong Park near the hotel.
He was a king of the Kingdom of Vientiane who made significant contributions during his time.
Check-in Counter
This is the check-in counter in the first-floor lobby, seen after returning from a walk.
Dinner (Day 2)
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Cola and Sparkling Water
I came to the lounge again for dinner on the second day.
Before the meal, I had a cola and sparkling water.
Evening Cocktails
This is also the club lounge during the evening cocktail hours.
Dinner Menu
In the evening, alcoholic beverages are also served.
The menu on the right includes both drinks and dinner items.
Menu
This is the menu.
I had Lao beer and sparkling wine.
Appetizers
I brought some appetizers from the buffet counter.
- • Assorted ham
- • Assorted cheese
- • Pickles
- • Small side dishes
Soup
This is a cauliflower soup made with coconut oil.
It also contains walnuts.
Green Curry
This is green curry, presented in a slightly Western style.
Dessert
This includes desserts and cheese.
Breakfast (Day 3)
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View from the Window
This is the view from the hotel window the following morning.
Even from here, you can see how many trees line the streets, giving the city a peaceful atmosphere.
Breakfast Restaurant
On the third morning, I went to the restaurant “Mosaic” on the second floor instead of the lounge.
The buffet offered an incredible variety of dishes, making it very enjoyable to explore.
Fruit Section
This is the fruit section.
As expected in Southeast Asia, there is a wide selection of tropical fruits.
- • Papaya, watermelon, passion fruit, star fruit, dragon fruit, etc.
Glasses
This is the area where glasses are placed.
Bread Section
This is the bread section.
There are sweet pastries, dessert breads, and savory breads—an impressive variety that really surprised me.
Salad Section
This is the salad section, which also offers an impressive variety.
You can tell a great deal of effort has gone into it.
- • Crab stick salad, crispy bacon and potato salad, garden salad (with red and yellow peppers, celery, etc.), and more
Pho Station
This appears to be a pho station.
Noodles are placed in the basket on the left and boiled, then topped with bean sprouts, sliced tomatoes, and greens from the right, finished with a squeeze of citrus juice.
Very impressive as well.
Cheese, Ham, etc.
This is the section for cheese, ham, and salami.
The presentation is remarkably elaborate. There are also smoked salmon, olives, peanuts, and walnuts, as well as whole blocks of ham and cheese.
Dressings and Sauces
This is the dressing and sauce section, and the wide selection is truly impressive.
- • Honey balsamic dressing
- • Marie Rose dressing (tomato, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, black pepper)
- • French dressing
- • Tzatziki (Middle Eastern yogurt, cucumber, and garlic sauce)
- • Parsley mustard
- • Salsa verde
- • Herb-infused olive oil
Cheese
A closer look at the cheese section.
Both the variety and quantity are remarkable.
It is also striking how the cheese is presented directly on a marble slab without plates.
Breakfast
I enjoyed a wide selection of dishes.
- • Braised vegetables
- • Vegetable salad
- • Ham, cheese, smoked salmon
- • Assorted fruits
- • Various breads
- • Cake
View from the Restaurant
This is the view from a seat in the second-floor restaurant.
Lush green foliage surrounds the windows, creating a relaxing atmosphere.
It is remarkable to be able to enjoy such a wide variety of delicious food in a place like Laos.
Tea
This is the tea I ordered.
