Vientiane's victory monument sits at the north end of Lane Xang Avenue and is often compared to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris — the Lao themselves cheerfully call it "the vertical runway" because it was built with cement the US had donated for a new airport runway. The concrete went to national pride instead.
Climb the interior staircase to the top for an excellent panoramic view of the city, easily the best vantage point in Vientiane. The surrounding park has fountains and makes for a pleasant stroll, and there are a few souvenir stalls inside the monument itself.