The Beau Rivage Mekong calls itself an ‘Art Hotel’ – it certainly has the feel of walking in to a sparse but very contemporary modern art gallery. It is only a small hotel, simple in execution, located overlooking the banks of the Mekong River out towards Don Chan Island, just a short tuk tuk ride to all the key tourist sites. It is well away from the main thoroughfare there is relatively little in the way of traffic noise.

All the good sized 16 rooms are named after provinces of the country and are fitted with contemporary furnishings, including tile floors and wrought iron bed frames. Just making your way to your room via a (difficult to navigate!) artistic spiral staircase is part of the experience as each floor is uniquely colour coded in pastel shades of red, green or blue. Some rooms afford panoramic views over the river, as does as does the riverside terrace and bar on the ground floor. Both the public areas and the rooms are decorated with Lao textiles and traditional art but displayed in a chic and stylish way. There is air-conditioning, a fan, cable TV and a minibar available in each room as well as free wireless internet.

Fortuitously, the hotel is directly next door (and linked) to the Spirit House, one of our favourite restaurants in Vientiane, but the downside is that, beyond this, there are not many more restaurants and bars directly on the doorstep. Don’t let that put you off – we think the Beau Rivage is a real quirky gem of a place and ideal for a short stay in the capital.

The hotel is also adjoined to the popular ‘Papaya Spa’.