Vientiane

Etymology

"Vientiane" is the French spelling derived from the Lao Viangchan . The name was previously written "ວຽງຈັນທນ໌" (in Thai, เวียงจันทน์)(in khmer,វៀងច័ន្ទន៍) and later sometimes written "ວຽງຈັນ". In Lao, viang (ວຽງ) refers to a 'walled city' whereas chan (ຈັນ, previously ຈັນທນ໌) derives from Sanskrit candana (चन्दन, ), 'sandalwood' and can be translated as the 'walled city of sandalwood'. Some believe it refers to the 'walled city of the moon' as chan can represent 'moon', and this was previously distinguished in writing as "ຈັນທຣ໌". Other romanisations include "Viangchan" and "Wiangchan".

History

Dvaravati city state kingdoms

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 pushed north to create city states, in Fa Daet (what later is Kalasin, northeastern Thailand), Sri Gotapura (Sikhottabong) near Tha Khek, Laos, Muang Sua (Luang Prabang), and Chantaburi (Vientiane). In the 8th century CE, Sri Gotapura (Sikhottabong) was the “strongest of these early city states”, and controlled trade throughout the middle Mekong region. The city states were “loosely bound politically, but were culturally similar” and introduced Therevada Buddhism from Sri Lankan missionaries throughout the region.

Khmer domination

A reference to the name Vientiane can be seen on a Vietnamese inscription of Duke Đỗ Anh Vũ, dated 1159 during the Khmer-Viet conflict. The inscription says that in 1135, Văn Đan (Vientiane), a vassal of Zhenla (Khmer Empire), invaded Nghe An, and was repelled by the Duke; the Duke led an army chased the invaders as far as Vũ Ôn? (unattested), and then returned with captives.

Lan Xang and French colonial rule

In 1354, when Fa Ngum founded the kingdom of Lan Xang, Vientiane became an administrative city. King Setthathirath officially established it as the capital of Lan Xang in 1563, to avoid Burmese invasion.

During French rule, the Vietnamese were encouraged to migrate to Laos, which resulted in 53% of the population of Vientiane being Vietnamese in the year 1943. As late as 1945, the French drew up a plan to move Vietnamese population to 3 key areas (i.e. the Vientiane Plain, the Savannakhet region, and the Bolaven Plateau), which was interrupted by the Japanese invasion of Indochina. If this plan had been implemented, according to Martin Stuart-Fox, the Lao might well have lost control over their own country.

During World War II, Vientiane fell and was occupied by Japanese forces, under the command of Sako Masanori. On 9 March 1946, French paratroopers arrived and reoccupied the city on 24 April 1946.

Independence

As the Laotian Civil War broke out between the Royal Lao Government and the Pathet Lao, Vientiane became “unstable”. In August 1960, Kong Le seized the capital and insisted that Souvanna Phouma become prime minister. In December, Phoumi Nosavan then seized the capital, overthrew the Phouma Government, and installed Boun Oum as prime minister. In 1975, Pathet Lao troops moved towards the city and Americans began evacuating the capital. On 23 August 1975, a contingent of 50 Pathet Lao women symbolically liberated the city. On December 2, 1975, the Laotian Civil War was officially declared over, when the monarchy was forced into exile, which was arguably the technical end of the Second Indochina War.

Geography

Climate

| Jan record high C = 36.0 | Feb record high C = 38.0 | Mar record high C = 40.2 | Apr record high C = 42.6 | May record high C = 42.5 | Jun record high C = 39.5 | Jul record high C = 38.2 | Aug record high C = 37.8 | Sep record high C = 37.5 | Oct record high C = 36.8 | Nov record high C = 36.0 | Dec record high C = 36.0 | year record high C = 42.6 | Jan record low C = 2.4 | Feb record low C = 7.6 | Mar record low C = 11.7 | Apr record low C = 13.8 | May record low C = 19.1 | Jun record low C = 20.0 | Jul record low C = 19.5 | Aug record low C = 20.0 | Sep record low C = 18.8 | Oct record low C = 12.9 | Nov record low C = 8.9 | Dec record low C = 5.0 | year record low C = 2.4 | access-date = 3 July 2023}}

Tourism

The capital attracts tourists to its temples and Buddhist monuments. An attraction is Pha That Luang, a national cultural monument of Laos and 1 of its stupas. It was originally built in 1566 by King Setthathirath and was restored in 1953. The golden stupa is 45 m tall and is believed to contain a relic of the Buddha.

The Wat Si Muang temple was built on the ruins of a Khmer Hindu shrine, the remains of which can be seen behind the ordination hall. It was built in 1563 and is believed to be guarded by the spirit of a local girl, Nang Si. Legend tells that Nang Si, who was pregnant at the time, leapt to her death as a sacrifice, just as the pillar was being lowered into the hole. In front of the temple stands a statue of King Sisavang Vong.

The memorial monument, Patuxai, built between 1957 and 1968, is a landmark in the city.

Buddha Park was built in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat and contains a collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures, scattered amongst gardens and trees. The park is 28 km south of Vientiane at the edge of the Mekong River.

Other sites include:

• Haw Phra Kaew, former temple, later a museum and shops
• Lao National Museum
• Kaysone Phomvihane Museum
• Talat Sao, a morning market
• That Dam, a large stupa
• Wat Ong Teu Mahawihan, a Buddhist monastery
• Wat Sri Chomphu Ong Tue, a Buddhist temple
• Wat Si Saket, Buddhist wat
• Wat Sok Pa Luang, a Buddhist temple
• Settha Palace Hotel, established 1932
• The Sanjiang Market
• Kualao, Lao restaurant

Education

The National University of Laos, one of three universities in the country, is in Vientiane.

International schools include:

• Vientiane International School
• Lycée français international de Vientiane Josué-Hoffet (French)
• Russian Embassy School in Vientiane

Broadcasting

• Lao National Radio has a mediumwave transmitter with a 277-metre guyed mast at .
• China Radio International (CRI) FM 93.0.

Economy

Vientiane has experienced economic growth from foreign investment. In 2011, the stock exchange opened with 2 listed company stocks, with the cooperation of South Korea.

Transportation

By bus

There are regular bus services connecting Vientiane Bus Station with the rest of the country. In Vientiane, regular bus services around the city are provided by Vientiane Capital State Bus Enterprise.

Recently, Vientiane constructed its first bus rapid transit (BRT) service in late 2024 under the Vientiane Urban Transport Project (VSUTP) by Laos's Ministry of Public Works and Transport. Their BRT service will provided routes for 13.9 KM long in total of 3 BRT lines covered important destinations within their capital area. The construction of the BRT was 90% completed in the end of July 2025 and it was scheduled for free trial operation in late of August 2025 with total of 55 buses manufactured from China by Chery Wanda, but since it was delayed to early September 2025. When fully operational, the service will be operated between 6:00 AM to 10:30 PM everyday with bus frequency of 5 minutes in rush hours and 15 minutes in normal hours.

By rail

A metre gauge railway link over the first bridge was formally inaugurated on 5 March 2009, previously ending at Thanaleng Railway Station, in Dongphosy village (Vientiane Prefecture), 20 km east of Vientiane. As of November 2010, Lao officials plan to convert the station into a cargo rail terminal for freight trains, allowing cargo to be transported from Bangkok into Laos more cheaply than via road.

The Boten–Vientiane railway (sometimes referred to as the China–Laos railway or Laos–China railway) is a 414 km electrified railway in Laos, running between the capital Vientiane and the town of Boten on the border with China. The line was officially opened on 3 December 2021.

By air

Vientiane is served by Wattay International Airport with international connections to other Asian destinations such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Japan and China. Lao Airlines has regular flights to domestic destinations in the country (including flights daily to Luang Prabang, plus flights weekly to other local destinations).

Healthcare

The "Centre Medical de l'Ambassade de France" is available to the foreign community in Laos. The Mahosot Hospital is a local hospital in treating and researching diseases and is connected with the University of Oxford. In 2011 the Alliance Clinic opened near the airport, with a connection to Thai hospitals. The Setthathirat International Clinic has foreign doctors. A free, 24/7 ambulance service is provided by Vientiane Rescue, a volunteer-run rescue service established in 2010.

References

References

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