Fodor's Expert Review Nam Phou Square

The main square in Vientiane's tourist area used to reflect more emphatically the city's French influence, reinforced further by a cadre of very Gallic restaurants around the perimeter. Unfortunately, a recent renovation saw Nam Phou's namesake central fountain incorporated into a fancy new restaurant complex, including a skate park, visually disrupting the plazalike feel. The fountain is lit up multicolor at night, and bands perform for a crowd dominated on most days by tourists and Lao youth hanging out. The square and surrounding streets still contain many restaurants.