Vientiane
Vientiane (Lao: ວຽງຈັນ) is the capital city of Laos and the city with the largest number of people. It is in the Mekong Valley and over two hundred thousand people live in its central area.
It is on the Laos-Thailand border, being kept apart by the Mekong River. In other words, if one crossed the river from Vientiane, he/she would enter Thailand. The city is close to the First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, an bridge that is also a border crossing and port between Thailand and Laos.
Even though it is the country's most populated city, many travelers to the city have said that Vientiane feels like a small town.
Popular tourist sites of the city include the Patuxai Monument, the Lao Textile Museum, the Pha That Luang stupa, the Buddha Park, and Haw Phra Kaew.
The city has one of three universities in the entire country, the National University of Laos.
Despite being the country's most populated city, many international companies do not exist in Laos. There is no McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, 7-Eleven, or Grab throughout the entire country. However, international companies like Big C, Chester's Chicken, and Texas Chicken do exist in Vientiane. Starbucks opened its first store in the country at the Parkson Mall in 2022.
Vientiane Media
Ban Tha Lat, Mon inscription (9th CE), was found in 1968, in an area where other pieces of *archaeological evidence testified to an ancient Mon presence. It is now at Ho Phra Kaeo Museum, Vientiane, Laos
Buddha sculptures at Pha That Luang
Haw Phra Kaew or Temple of the Emerald Buddha
Wat Si Muang monastery in Vientiane (Laos).
- Buddhapark,laopdr
Vientiane from Patuxai
- Wattay Intl Airport Vientiane Laos.jpg
Older taxis in Vientiane are being replaced by newer Chinese-made cars, like this Soueast Lioncel.
