Vientiane

Vientiane is the relaxed capital and largest city of Laos, set along the Mekong River opposite Thailand. It combines Buddhist temples, French colonial architecture, wide boulevards and a compact riverside centre, giving it a much calmer pace than many other Southeast Asian capitals.

Its history stretches from the Lan Xang kingdom and its role as capital in the 16th century through French colonial rule and the conflicts of the 20th century. Key landmarks include the golden Pha That Luang stupa, the Patuxai victory monument, Wat Si Saket, Haw Phra Kaew and the COPE Visitor Centre, which explains the country's ongoing recovery from unexploded ordnance.

The central riverside area around Fa Ngum Road and Setthathirath Road holds many temples, cafés, guesthouses and restaurants. Other draws include the Chao Anouvong night market, the Lao National Museum, and Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan) with its surreal concrete sculptures about 25 km southeast of the centre.

Vientiane is also Laos's political and business centre, with government offices, development agencies, conferences and a growing hospitality scene. Evenings centre on the Mekong riverside, where food stalls, beer gardens and restaurants serve Lao dishes such as laap, tam mak hoong and khao niaw alongside the national Beerlao.

For travellers, Vientiane is both a relaxed destination and a practical gateway. Wattay International Airport and the Laos-China Railway station connect the capital with regional flights and with Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang, making it a natural starting point for exploring Laos.