Victory Gate Kip Cole http://www.noexpectations.com.au/ Laos Vientiane Patuxay Patuxay, Laos, victory, gate, arch Victory Gate <p> <a href=http://www.noexpectations.com.au/images/victory-gate > <img src="http://www.noexpectations.com.au/images/victory-gate-display.jpg" height=266px width=400px > </a> </p> <p> <i>Patuxay</i> - or "Victory Gate" stands at the head of Lane Xang Avenue in Vientiane. This road leads from the Presidential Palace near the Mekong River to the national symbol of <i>Pha That Luang</i>. Patuxay - or "Victory Gate" stands alone on a roundabout in the centre of the only major road of such scale in Vientiane and Laos. It resembles the "Arc de Triomphe" in Paris after which it was superficially modeled. However a plaque set into the wall of the arch gives a more realistic description of the design and construction. The english translation reads:.."At the northeastern end of the Lane Xang ave., arises a huge structure resembling the Arche de Triomphe. It is the Patuxay or Victory Gate of Vientiane, built in 1962, but never complete due to the country's turbulent history. From a closer distance, it appears even less impressive, like a monster of concrete."..It is reputed that the construction materials were hijacked from materials donated by the USA for the contruction of the airport in Vientiane.. <p> <i> Geocoded manually; accuracy within 10m. </i> </p> #style_image_pushpin 102.618644714355,17.9709358215332,0