Chao Anouvong

Vientiane is creating a riverside park and the first portions of the park opened to the public recently. We finally had time to stroll the park this weekend and the park's popularity is undeniable--even on a cool Vientiane evening, the paths of the park were packed.

The centerpiece of the park is a statue of Chao Anouvong, who was the king of the Vientiane kingdom in the early 19th century. Chao Anou, as he is known, hoped to restore the Lao kingdom of a Million Elephants to its former glory. Although ostensibly an ally of Siam, Chao Anou decided to march across Thailand to Bangkok, but his rebellion and invasion was defeated by the powerful Siamese army. Chao Anou fled back to Vientiane but was soon attacked and captured by the Siamese. Many Lao were resettled in northeastern Thailand and Chao Anou was imprisoned in Bangkok where he died. Allegedly before his death, Chao Anou cursed the Thai monarchy, promising that no Thai king would visit Laos and return to Thailand alive. Meanwhile, Vientiane was completely destroyed, except for Wat Sisaket which can still be visited.

The King

Chao Anou, facing the Mekong and northeastern Thailand