"Vientiane" is the French spelling derived from the Lao Viangchan /wíaŋ tɕàn/. The name was previously written "ວຽງຈັນທນ໌" (in Thai, เวียงจันทน์) but now usually written "ວຽງຈັນ". In Lao, viang (ວຽງ) refers to a 'walled city' … 展开

By the 6th century in the Chao Phraya River Valley, Mon peoples had coalesced to create the Dvaravati kingdoms. In the north, Haripunjaya (Lamphun) emerged as a rival power to the Dvaravati. By the 8th century the Mon had pus… 展开

Vientiane is on a bend of the Mekong River, at which point it forms the border with Thailand. The city government administers the five urban districts of the Vientiane Prefecture.
Vientiane feature… 展开

The capital attracts many tourists to its many temples and Buddhist monuments. A popular attraction for foreign visitors is Pha That Luang, an important national cultural monument of Laos and one of its best known … 展开