Vientiane: Map & History
Vientiane is the capital and largest city of Laos.
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Vientiane is the capital and largest city of Laos. Comprising the 5 urban districts of Vientiane Prefecture, the city is located on the banks of the Mekong, close to the border with Thailand. Vientiane was the administrative capital during French rule. The city had a population of 840,000 as of the 2023 census. Pha That Luang, an icon of Buddhism, is located in Vientiane. Other Buddhist temples can be found there, such as Haw Phra Kaew, which formerly housed the Emerald Buddha.
Modern Countries Once Part of Vientiane
At its mapped extent, Vientiane covered territory in 2 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Vientiane's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Vientiane in Depth
History
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.
Economy
Vientiane has experienced economic growth from foreign investment. In 2011, the stock exchange opened with two listed company stocks, with the cooperation of South Korea. At the end of 2025, the Laos government announced that the economy of the city had grown by an average of 5.34% per year over the last five years, and that industrial and agricultural shares of the economy declined while the service economy gained in its share of the market. As of 2026, the economy continues to grow from aforementioned foreign investment, including the private health sector and the electric vehicle sector. At the beginning of 2026, the Lao government announced an initiative to accrue roughly US$30,000,000 in sought investments to drive the city's economic growth.
Culture
Vientiane is the centre of Laos' national media. It hosts the headquarters of Lao National Television and Lao National Radio. The city is also served by the municipal broadcaster VTE9, as well as CRI Vientiane, a station affiliated with China Radio International.
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 metres (148 ft) 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.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Vientiane (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Vientiane: Key Facts
| Official language | Lao |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1560 |
Facts from Wikidata Q9326 (CC0).
Vientiane Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Vientiane appears, with the other states of the time.
Vientiane Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 172,608 km² in 1792 CE.
Vientiane: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Vientiane exist?
Vientiane is dated to 1709 CE – 1827 CE, in the Early Modern & Age of Discovery era.
How large was Vientiane at its peak?
At its peak in 1792 Vientiane covered about 172,608 km².
Other Sovereign Realms
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Söğüt, Bursa, Edirne, Constantinople
Industrial Era • Capital: London
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, Delhi
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Raigad