Vientiane

Thanks to all for many good suggestions!

apart from Scandinavian there is Croissant d'Or (they have a website) opposite the Nokeo Khoummane Rd entrance of Wat Mixay. Scandinavian seems to have the greatest no. of customers flipping through LP at their tables...

across the road from the Morning Market is Talat Khua Din (less 'fresh off the tour coach' Thai tourists in identical yellow shirts & with laminated cards hanging around their necks :P)

architecture: somehow the roof structure of Wat Hay Sok just amazes esp when viewed from near the drum tower, seems to 'float'...some of the old colonial style houses are around That Dam, & near junction of Setthathilat Rd & Lane Xang Ave. other such buildings are the nearby National Library (across Setthathilat Rd from Nam Phou), Carol Cassidy's textile place (in a beautiful old residence), even one or two of the structures that house parts of the medical school (i think) near Mahosot hospital. Lycee Vientiane near Patuxai has quite a bit of history, if you can find someone who studied there in the pre-1975 & just after 1975 days to tell you more.

hunted down the Kung's cafe that phakphon recommended (thank you lots!) & had a nice chat with the owners. Heng Boun Rd has plenty of food places too.