Geography of Vientiane
Vientiane, or Viangchan, Laos, the nation's capital and largest city. Situated on the Mekong River near the Thai border, it is a trade center, a river port, and the entry point for goods imported through Thailand. It has some small-scale manufacturing. Vientiane was the capital of a Lao kingdom from the early 1700's until captured by the Siamese in 1827. The French expelled the Siamese in 1893 and made the city capital of Laos six years later.
Population: 377,409.