About Vietiane of Laos

Vientiane means "the City of Sandalwood", which maybe describes the situation when city was first founded, this name is derived from Pali, the language used by Theravada Buddhists, it’s the capital of Laos, and an elegant city perched on the eastern bank of the Mekong across from Nong Khai of Thailand. The local population is 450,000, which accounts for 10% of the national total, in comparison to the rest of the country, Vientiane is busy and hectic, but quiet and relaxing compared with other cities in Asia.

According to the great Laotian epic, the Phra Lak Phra Lam, Vientiane was founded by Prince Thattaradtha when he left the legendary Lao kingdom of Muong Inthapatha Maha Nakhone because he was denied the throne in favor of his younger brother. Thattaradtha originally founded a city called Maha Thani Si Phan Phao on the western bank of the Mekong River, in what is today's Udon Thani in Thailand. According to the legend, one day a seven-headed Naga told Thattaradtha to start a new city on the eastern bank of the Mekong opposite Maha Thani Si Phan Phao. The prince called this city Chanthabuly Si Sattanakhanahud, the predecessor of modern Vientiane. Contrary to the legend, however, most historians believe that Vientiane was an early Khmer settlement centered around a Hindu temple, the site of which stands That Luang today. In 1354, a Lao warlord named Chao Fa Ngum founded the Lane Xiang Kingdom, he captured Vientiane, which was an important administrative city, even though the capital at that time was Luang Prabang. King Setthathirath moved the Lane Xiang capital from Luang Prabang to Vientiane in 1560. When the Lane Xiang Kingdom collapsed in 1707, Vientiane became an independent kingdom. In 1779, it was conquered by the Siamese general Phraya Chakri and made a vassal of Siam. When King Anouvong raised an unsuccessful rebellion, it was obliterated by Siamese armies again in 1827. Vientiane then passed into French rule in 1893. The French rebuilt it, and made it the capital of the French protectorate of Laos in 1899.

Surprises can be encountered often in town, here visitors can find rice and vegetables fields hidden behind tree lined avenues, French Colonial architecture sitting next to gilded temples, freshly baked French bread being served next to shops selling noodle soup. Old French colonial houses are being restored well and now serving as offices, restaurants and hotels, there are only a handful of modern buildings which sometimes look remarkably out of place in this quiet capital. The old part of Vientiane is an attractive and interesting settlement along the Mekong River, where ancient temples, museums, monuments and parks are all located just a short distance from one another.

As the biggest town of Laos, Vientiane has more completed facilities and can offer more convenience than other regions of Laos, galleries, boutiques, theatres, nightclubs, superb hotels, markets, various restaurants, etc., in addition, because Vientiane shares Mekong as border with Thailand, is seated in the center of Southeast Asia Peninsula and has international airlines connecting other major cities of Indochina region, it offers easy accesses to other popular destinations in Asia.