Lonely Planet Review

The tallest building in Vientiane, not to mention Laos, the Don Chan Palace is an eyesore, but you won't notice this if you are inside enjoying some of the smartest rooms in town. It's big, it's brash, but the views are spectacular and the facilities first class.

Built with enough Malaysian money to flout local planning restrictions, which state that buildings cannot be higher than seven-storeys, the Don Chan Palace really is as big as it looks, with a massive 240 rooms. Rooms are standard five-star and include all the features of any big business hotel anywhere in the world. Setting them apart is the great view over the Mekong, so unless you suffer from vertigo make sure you ask stay on the highest floor available. There is also a strange swimming pool that looks like it has been built in an underground car park on the 3rd floor, but at least one end gets the sun.