Patuxay

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Patuxay

Patuxai (literally Victory Gate or Gate of Triumph), formerly the Anousavary or Anosavari Monument, is a monument in the center of Vientiane, Laos built in 1962 or 1968.

It is dedicated to those who fought in the struggle for independence from France. Although bearing a general resemblance to the Arc de Triomphe, in Paris, it is typically Laotian, decorated with many kinnari figures.

The Patuxay was built using American funds. The US had given Laos money to build a new airport, however the Laotian government of the day used the money to build the monument instead. As a consequence it is sometimes referred to as the "vertical runway".

The monument is situated on Lan Xang Boulevard (sometimes known in Lao as "Thanon Luang", meaning Grand Avenue or Street), which has been called the "Champs Elysées of the East".