It was built using American funds given to Laos for a new airport. But instead, Laos used the money to build the monument. Sometimes the Patuxai is called the "Vertical runway" because of this.
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/81989974@N00">joaquin uy</a>
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originally posted to <b><a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Flickr" class="mw-redirect" title="Flickr">Flickr</a></b> as <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/81989974@N00/2399726529">Patuxai or Arch of Triumph</a>