Photo Gallery

Vientiane Streets

Vientiane, with a population of around 150,000 is one of southeast Asia's more laid-back cities. (Pronounced Vieng Chan, or the Walled City of Sandalwood, the city is best known by its romanized French version as Vientiane). Absent is much of the phrenetic activity that characterizes other south and southeast Asian cities. Devoid of tall buildings and with many dirt streets, Vientiane exudes a special aura that combines Lao, Chinese, Thai, French, Soviet and American elements. The tree-lined boulevards, faded buildings from the French colonial period and sections along the Mekong River are especially charming. It is possible lesiurely to walk to most of the important sites. The numerous temples, of course, have uniquely Lao elements, but one can see Siamese and Khmer influence as well.

The city is located in a fertile plain on a broad curve on the northeastern bank of the Mekong River (which separates it from Thailand). It replaced Luang Prabang as the leading regional city in the mid-16th century, and it became the capital under the French protectorate in the late 19th century. It has continued as the capital until today.

Text by Robert D. Fiala.