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The proincial capital, a border crossing to Laos and host to an annual boat race.
It has a wonderful underground market replacing the old (cramped but atmospheric) Indo-China Market. It seems to be about 2 kilometres long when walking through it, but I doubt that figure in reality.
The boat crews seem to vary in numbers, but all are very enthusiastic and seem to have half the population of Thailand or Laos supporting them. Gender seems unimportant and one picture (top right) shows an all (beautiful) female crew.
The team 'uniforms' and boats are far more colourful than the English Oxford and Cambridge crews, but the festival spirit is the same as the Henley Regatta week in UK.