(KPL) Patuxay is one of landmarks in Vientiane. It is considered to be a symbol of the capital city of the Lao PDR.

Patuxay is located in the center of Vientiane. It is one of favorite destinations for domestic and foreign visitors.

According to the Department of Information, Culture and Tourism of Vientiane, 400-500 visitors visit Patuxay every day.

Patuxay, meaning Victory Gate in English (and variously written as Patuxay, Patousay and Patusay), was built between 1957 and 1968 in memory of the Lao soldiers who died during World War II and the war of independence from France in 1949.

It’s also known as the Arc de Triomphe of Vientiane due to its resemblance to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Patuxay, however, is slightly taller than its Parisian counterpart, has four gates rather than two, and is covered in distinctly Lao designs.

The exterior of the monument is decorated with traditional Lao motifs, including Buddhist symbols, Hindu deities and female spirits of the clouds and waters known as apsaras. The ceilings beneath the four arches are decorated with further depictions of Hindu gods, such as Brahma and Vishnu, and mythological creatures like the mythical bird-woman Kinnaree and the three-headed elephant Erawan.

On top of Patuxay, meanwhile, sit five towers, again built in the traditional Lao style. Four of these are located on each corner of the monument, while a fifth rises up from the centre, higher than the rest. These five towers are decorated with flower motifs and each is topped with a golden finial.

Patuxay is surrounded by parks, government offices, ministries, United Nations Offices, Temple, etc, which is the main road that has a circular shape and is a major highway. In front of Patuxay, there is a beautiful fountain, there is a park to relax, it is a place where Vientiane residents and tourists both domestic and foreign like to relax, get fresh air and exercise.

Recently, Vientiane announced that it will develop and renovate the old Ministry of Justice area next to Patuxay to a beautiful new look to attract domestic and foreign tourists. The renovation will be completed by September 2024.

Mr Bounyavat Niraxay, Director of the Public Works and Transport Department of Vientiane, made a statement to the media on May 16, the construction of Patuxay Park Phase 1 (the area behind the old Ministry of Justice), with an area of 1.5 ha, aims to make the centre of Vientiane a green public place for relaxation, a shade garden, a food store and a souvenir shop, with public toilets, a parking lot, and an electricity system, water and other projects started in May and will be completed by September 2024.

After completion, this park will add color and create a new atmosphere to Vientiane, especially in 2024, when Lao PDR is honored as the ASEAN Chairmanship, and Vientiane is the Visit Laos Year.

Mr Bounyavat Niraxay added that the 1st Phase Gate Park was designed by an advisory committee of architects, professors and students from the National University, with financial support of 300,000 USD from the Department of Trade of Yunnan Province, China and another amount of capital from Vientiane, with the consulting and construction company of Yunnan province of China as the operator of construction.

For the improvement of the building, it is carried out according to the procurement-hiring regulations to select domestic companies that have the conditions to implement.

On this occasion, we would like to inform the society that during the construction, it may make the traffic near Patuxay or in that area difficult. Patuxay is one of the 10 popular tourist attractions in Vientiane including Sisaket Temple, Pha that Luang Temple, Si Meuaong Temple, Pha Keo Temple, Xieng Khuan Temple, Oung Tu temple, Thong Thad Temple, Nong Kham San Temple, Pa Le Lai Temple and others.

KPL