Bor Pen Nyang

Bor Pen Nyang takes its name from the most useful phrase in the Lao language — "bor pen nyang" translates loosely as "never mind" or "no problem," a phrase that encapsulates the cultural tolerance and easy-going character that defines the Lao national temperament. The bar earns its name: it is the most relaxed and consistently welcoming venue on Vientiane's Mekong Riverside strip, and has established a reliable reputation in the LGBTQ+ travel community as the go-to first stop in the capital. The Riverside setting provides the natural backdrop of Vientiane at its best: Mekong sunsets, a cooling breeze off the river, and a crowd that mixes expats from the international organisations clustered in the capital, backpackers on the Southeast Asia circuit, and local Lao young professionals comfortable in an international environment. The bar is not exclusively gay — the Vientiane market simply does not support exclusively gay venues — but it is consistently gay-welcoming and has been recommended on backpacker and LGBTQ+ travel forums for years. Drinks are cheap by any standard; the atmosphere is friendly without effort. A reliable anchor for a Vientiane evening.