What is Vientiane?
[[Image:Vientiane-pha that luang.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|[[Pha That Luang]] temple, one of the most important places in Vientiane and Laos.]] '''Vientiane''' ({{lang-lo|ວຽງຈັນ}}) is the [[Capital (city)|capital city]] of [[Laos]] and the city with the largest number of people. It is in the [[Mekong Valley]] and over two hundred thousand people live in its central area. It is on the [[Laos-Thailand border]], being kept apart by the [[Mekong River]]. In other words, if one crossed the river from Vientiane, he/she would enter Thailand. The city is close to the [[First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge]], an bridge that is also a border crossing and port between Thailand and Laos. Even though it is the country's most populated city, many travelers to the city have said that Vientiane feels like a small town. Popular tourist sites of the city include the [[Patuxai|Patuxai Monument]], the [[Lao Textile Museum]], the [[Pha That Luang]] stupa, the [[Buddha Park]], and [[Haw Phra Kaew]]. The city has one of three universities in the entire country, the [[National University of Laos]]. Despite being the country's most populated city, many international companies do not exist in Laos. There is no [[McDonald's]], [[Burger King]], [[KFC]], [[7-Eleven]], or [[Grab (company)|Grab]] throughout the entire country. However, international companies like Big C, Chester's Chicken, and Texas Chicken do exist in Vientiane. [[Starbucks]] opened its first store in the country at the [[Parkson Mall]] in 2022. There is now a 7-Eleven in the backpacker town of Vang Vieng selling local and imported items. {{commons}} {{Asia-stub}} [[Category:Vientiane| ]]