Vientiane wasn't our favorite place we visited in Laos, but it was certainly better than its Thai counterpart. We regretted we had such a short time to spend in Laos. We even contemplated changing our tickets to India and staying on a couple more weeks. It really is a special country. The fact that it's remained so undeveloped is astounding.
Big change is afoot though.
Word is out about Laos, and it's seeing more tourists all the time. In Vientiane painted billboards depict city landmarks interspersed with sky scrapers and Lao in traditional dress. Politically they refer to Vietnam as their big brother, but economically it'd be tough for Laos to disregard the enormous dollars Thailand's tourist industry rakes in. We can only hope Laos takes a slower, more sustainable approach to its tourist development than Thailand has. On one hand vehicles belonging to the WHO, UN, and international development groups are a common sight in Vientiane.