A walking tour of the city yields countless opportunities for gastric indulgence and visitors can either be brave, heading for the street vendors and local restaurants or check out any of the many establishments commonly frequented by backpackers and expatriates. Budget, mid-price and upper-range establishments are all available to the Vientiane visitor although price is not necessarily a solid indication of good food; indeed the cheap joints that the locals frequent are likely to give you a Tam Mak Houng or a bowl of Pho as authentically Lao as they get and the more expensive restaurants will simply serve you the same or westernised versions of the same, at higher prices. Local cuisine
Food in Vientiane does not differ that much from the rest of the country although it may be subject to more Vietnamese influences and perhaps retains a strong connection with the influences left by the colonial French. On the whole however, the local cuisine is similar to that of neighbouring Thailand, relying greatly on locally grown produce and tending towards dishes with pungent spices and plenty of heat. Dishes such as Tam Mak Houng (equivalent to Thailand’s Som Tum) top the list of favourite mouth-scorchers with the locals enjoying this tasty papaya salad with copious amounts of fresh chilli. The Vietnamese influence can be seen in the popular noodle soup known as Pho which is available pretty much everywhere and comes generally with beef, some simple vegetables and a garnish of coriander. The French influence meanwhile can be seen in the baguettes which are available all over the city, come filled with pate and salad and are generally eaten for breakfast frequently followed by hot, strong coffee served with condensed milk and heavily sweetened. | 
