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44-490: Vientiane Prefecture ( Lao : ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ , Nakhônlouang ViangChan , pronounced [nā(ʔ).kʰɔ́ːn lǔaŋ wíaŋ tɕàn] , RTGS :  Nakhon Luang Wiang Chan ) is a prefecture of Laos , in northwest Laos. The national capital, Vientiane , is in the prefecture. The prefecture was created in 1989, when it was split off from Vientiane province . On a curve of the Mekong River , and bordering Thailand ,

88-617: A tonal language , where the pitch or tone of a word can alter its meaning, and is analytic , forming sentences through the combination of individual words without inflection. These features, common in Kra-Dai languages , also bear similarities to Sino-Tibetan languages like Chinese or Austroasiatic languages like Vietnamese . Lao's mutual intelligibility with Thai and Isan , fellow Southwestern Tai languages, allows for effective intercommunication among their speakers, despite differences in script and regional variations. In Laos, Lao

132-469: A city called Maha Thani Si Phan Phao on the west bank of the Mekong; this city was said to have later become today's Udon Thani , Thailand . One day, a seven-headed Naga told Thattaradtha to start a new city on the east bank of the river opposite Maha Thani Si Phan Phao . The prince called this city Chanthabuly Si Sattanakhanahud , which was said to be the predecessor of modern Vientiane. Contrary to

176-623: A house for the first administrator of Vientiane , Pierre Morin. During World War II , Vientiane fell with little resistance to Japanese forces, under the command of Sako Masanori. On 9 March 1945 French paratroopers arrived, and liberated Vientiane on 24 April 1945. As the Laotian Civil War broke out between the Royal Lao Government and the Pathet Lao , Vientiane became unstable. In August 1960, Kong Le seized

220-630: A spiritual leader in the 1950s, created two theme parks including this park and another at Nang Khoi . In 1958, he started building concrete religious sculptures in the park on the outskirts of Vientiane. Suan Wattanatham Bandapao (National Ethnic Cultural Park) is 20 km (12 mi) south of Vientiane city close to the Khau Midthaphab ( First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge across the Mekong). Along tree-shaded avenues are traditional Lao homes, sculptures of famous literary icons of Laos, and there

264-416: Is a popular location for visitors and local people who visit the monuments in the afternoons. That Luang Stupa ('Great Sacred Stupa'), with official name of Pha Chedi Lokojumani (meaning: 'World Precious Sacred Stupa'), was initially built in 1566 during the reign of King Saysethathirath. It was rebuilt as Luang Stupa in 1953 and now a national monument. Its golden stupa is 45 metres (148 ft) high and

308-556: Is a type of administrative division of a country. In general, cantons are relatively small in terms of area and population when compared with other administrative divisions such as counties , departments , or provinces . Internationally, the most politically important cantons are the Swiss cantons . As the constituents of the Swiss Confederation , theoretically and historically, they are semi-sovereign states. The term

352-636: Is also a small zoo. Wat Si Saket Temple built in Siamese style between 1818 and 1824, by King Anou Vong (who was educated in Siam's court and was their chieftain in Laos) is in the old city and survived during the war with Siam. There are 6,840 Buddha images in many small niches in the main hall and the walls of the courtyard. Features of this temple are the silver and ceramics images of Buddha, 300 seated and standing Buddhas made in wood, stone, silver, and bronze. In

396-493: Is not only the official language but also a lingua franca , bridging the linguistic diversity of a population that speaks many other languages. Its cultural significance is reflected in Laotian literature, media, and traditional arts. The Vientiane dialect has emerged as the de facto standard, though no official standard has been established. Internationally, Lao is spoken among diaspora communities , especially in countries like

440-543: Is now southeastern China, specifically what is now Guangxi and northern Vietnam where the diversity of various Tai languages suggests an Urheimat . The Southwestern Tai languages began to diverge from the Northern and Central branches of the Tai languages, covered mainly by various Zhuang languages , sometime around 112 CE, but likely completed by the sixth century . Due to the influx of Han Chinese soldiers and settlers,

484-538: Is statue of King Sisavang Vong. Wat Ongtue , also called "the temple of the heavy Buddha", has a 16th century Buddha image, which weighs ten tons (10,160 kg). It was built by King Saysethathirath and is on the Wat Ongtue-Sethathirath Road. It is a said that the temple site was used in the 3rd century for religious purposes. The temple was destroyed in the Siamese–Laos war and rebuilt in

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528-656: Is the site of the First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge spanning the Mekong to connect with Nong Khai Province , Thailand and the New Laos National Stadium open 2009 at Route 13 . The Laotian epic, the Phra Lak Phra Lam , claims that Prince Thattaradtha founded the city 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 founded

572-624: The Arc de Triomphe . The monument's five towers represent the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence among nations of the world. They are also representative of the five Buddhist principles of "thoughtful amiability, flexibility, honesty, honour, and prosperity". It has gateways on four sides oriented to the four cardinal directions. The East-West gateway open to the Long Xang Avenue, which is used during ceremonial national parades. It

616-560: The Hinkhanna Waterfall . Ta Lat Sao , the morning market is on Lanexang Avenue. It has three main buildings, each with two floors. It is the commercial center of Vientiane. The market has shops where Lao antiques, textiles, souvenirs, handicrafts, jewelry, and other imported goods are available. Patuxay is a memorial monument, which is a landmark in Vientiane built in 1958 on Lanexang Avenue. Its architecture inspired by

660-657: The Phou Phanang National Biodiversity Conservation Area (which covers much of the forest in the west), although Phou Khao Khuay NBCA borders the northeast. The Houay Ngang Forest Reserve, within Vientiane, has many species of birds and butterflies. A nature trail in the reserve is used for a day tour where the Ban Pako ecolodge is available overlooking the Nam Ngum River . Its approach is from Ban Pako by boat across

704-608: The Phra Lak Phra Ram , most historians believe that the city of Vientiane was an early Khmer settlement centered around a Hindu temple, which the Pha That Luang would later replace. Khmer princes ruling Say Fong were known to have made pilgrimages to the shrine near Vientiane. In the 11th and 12th centuries, the time when the Lao and Thai people are believed to have entered Southeast Asia from southern China ,

748-566: The Southwestern branch of Tai languages. Lao (including Isan) and Thai, although they occupy separate groups, are mutually intelligible and were pushed closer through contact and Khmer influence, but all Southwestern Tai languages are mutually intelligible to some degree. The Tai languages also include the languages of the Zhuang , which are split into the Northern and Central branches of

792-472: The That Luang Festival held at the temple. The city pillar is a phallic symbol, considered as guardian of the city. It was destroyed in 1818 and rebuilt in 1915. A Buddha image in relief and carved wooden stele are seen opposite to this pillar. Behind the city pillar there is place where devotees place broken images and pots to get rid of bad luck. In the public park opposite to the pillar, there

836-738: The communist party of the Pathet Lao took over Vientiane and defeated the Kingdom of Laos , thus ending the Laotian Civil War , but an insurgency in Laos began in the jungle, with the Pathet Lao fighting the Hmongs and royalists-in-exile. In the mid-1980s, there was growing concern regarding unplanned and uncontrolled urban growth, leading to the founding of the Urban Development Program of Vientiane Prefecture (UCP). Prior to

880-755: The 1970 Expo Osaka held in Japan, the temple was depicted as the Lao national emblem. Wat Si Muang Temple in the Ban Simuang village on the Sethathirath Road has the foundation pillar of Vientiane. Built in 1956, said to be protected by the spirit of a local girl "Si", who according to local myth, while pregnant jumped to death as a sacrificial offering when the pillar was in the process of being lowered into its foundation. In November, Phasat Pheung annual festival ( wax tableaux parade) precedes, by two days,

924-497: The 1970s. It houses notable Buddhist sculptures. The President's Palace (former Royal Palace) and gardens can be seen from the terrace of the museum. The Xieng Khouan Buddha Park , built in 1958, has Buddhist and Hindu sculptures placed in the gardens and trees. It is about 28 km (17 mi) south of Vientiane and overlooks the Mekong to Nong Khai in Thailand. The creator of this religious park, Bunleua Sulilat (1932–1996),

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968-540: The 20th century. The deputy patriarch of the monastic order resides there and heads the Buddhist institute for monks who come from all over the country for training in the Buddhist Dhamma . The heavy Buddha statue is 5.8 metres (19 ft 0 in) in height and is on the back side of the sim and is flanked by two more standing Buddha statues. Wat Inpeng Temple ('to transform') at Inpeng Pagoda, belongs to

1012-448: The Mon and Khmer cultures. It is known as the "historical landmark of arts and culture" of Laos. According to legends, God assisted in the construction of this pagoda by assuming the forms of an old wise man and an old white monk. It is to the north of Wat Ongtue Temple and has many artistic and cultural edifices of rock sculptures, Buddha images and rock columns. Lao language Lao is

1056-580: The Tai languages. The Tai languages form a major division within the Kra-Dai language family , distantly related to other languages of southern China, such as the Hlai and Be languages of Hainan and the Kra and Kam-Sui languages on the Chinese Mainland and in neighbouring regions of northern Vietnam. The ancestors of the Lao people were speakers of Southwestern Tai dialects that migrated from what

1100-834: The Tai migrants that followed the Mekong River . As the Southwestern Tai-speaking peoples diverged, following paths down waterways, their dialects began to diverge into the various languages today, such as the Lao-Phuthai languages that developed along the Mekong River and includes Lao and its Isan sub-variety and the Chiang Saen languages which includes the Central Thai dialect that is the basis of Standard Thai. Despite their close relationship, there were several phonological divergences that drifted

1144-513: The United States, France, and Australia, reflecting its global diasporic presence. The Lao language falls within the Lao-Phuthai group of languages, including its closest relatives, Phuthai (BGN/PCGN Phouthai , RTGS Phu Thai ) and Tai Yo . Together with Northwestern Tai—which includes Shan , Ahom and most Dai languages of China, the Chiang Saen languages—which include Standard Thai, Khorat Thai, and Tai Lanna —and Southern Tai form

1188-454: The capital and insisted that Souvanna Phouma , become prime minister. In mid-December, General Phoumi then seized the capital, overthrew the Phouma government, and installed Boun Oum as prime minister. In mid-1975, Pathet Lao troops moved towards the city and US personnel began evacuating the capital. On 23 August 1975, a contingent of 50 Pathet Lao women liberated the city. On 2 December 1975,

1232-470: The capital of the French protectorate of Laos in 1899. The French rebuilt the city and repaired Buddhist temples such as Pha That Luang , Haw Phra Kaew , and built colonial buildings. By a decree signed in 1900 by Governor-General Paul Doumer , the province was divided into four muang : Borikan, Patchoum, Tourakom, and Vientiane. Two years earlier, men from these four muang were responsible for building

1276-455: The country from foreign occupiers and imperialist forces. The museum has a range of artifacts, including items unearthed at Lao Pako , Plain of Jars , including Hindu statues from the Khmer period. The Ho Pra Keo Museum was originally a temple, built in 1565 by King Saysethathirath. It had an Emerald Buddha which was taken away to Siam in 1828, The building was converted into a museum during

1320-561: The edifice is described as a "gilded missile cluster". The gold colored central image inside the stupa is in the shape of a curve of an extended Lotus bud. The annual That Luang Festival is held here in the twelfth waxing Lunar month in accordance with the Buddhist Lunar Calendar , lasting for seven days. Near this stupa, there is the Revolutionary Monument, a simple monument with starred pinnacles

1364-518: The end of the Chinese occupation of Vietnam, the fall of Jiaozhi and turbulence associated with the decline and fall of the Tang dynasty led some of the Tai peoples speaking Southwestern Tai to flee into Southeast Asia, with the small-scale migration mainly taking place between the eighth and twelfth centuries. The Tais split and followed the major river courses, with the ancestral Lao originating in

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1408-399: The few remaining Khmer in the area were either killed, removed, or assimilated into the Lao civilization, which would soon overtake the area. In 1354, when Fa Ngum founded the kingdom of Lan Xang , Vientiane became an important administrative city, even though it was not made the capital. King Setthathirath established it as the capital of Lan Xang in 1563, to avoid a Burmese invasion. In

1452-467: The following several centuries Vientiane's position was not stable; at times it was strong and regional centre but often it came under the control of Vietnam, Burma, or Siam. When Lan Xang fell apart in 1707, it became an independent Kingdom of Vientiane . In 1779, it was conquered by the Siamese general Phraya Chakri and made a vassal of Siam . When King Anouvong tried to assert himself as an independent kingdom, and raised an unsuccessful rebellion, it

1496-493: The hall known as Ho Trai, there are Buddhist manuscripts of the 18th century. During the French colonial regime, it was restored twice, once in 1924 and again in 1930. Buddha statues damaged during the Siamese-Lao War of 1828 are housed on the west side of the temple. A Khymer Naga Buddha sculpture seated on a coiled hooded cobra (naga) is in front of the main seated Buddha image dating to the 13th century Khmer period. In

1540-625: The land to the west and northwest of the main urban centre is forested and hilly in parts with the peaks of Phu Sang (1,666 metres (5,466 ft)) and Phu Khao Khuay (1,039 metres (3,409 ft)), and a small area in the northeastern part at the rim of the forest protected by the Phou Khao Khuay National Biodiversity Conservation Area . The protected reserves in the prefecture are the Houay Ngang Forest Reserve and

1584-963: The languages apart with time such as the following examples:     *mlɯn 'slippery'     → {\displaystyle \rightarrow }   ມື່ນ muen /mɯ̄ːn/       → {\displaystyle \rightarrow }   ลื่น luen /lɯ̂ːn/   {} {} ມື່ນ {} ลื่น {} {} muen {} luen *mlɯn → {\displaystyle \rightarrow } /mɯ̄ːn/ → {\displaystyle \rightarrow } /lɯ̂ːn/ 'slippery' {} {} {} {}     *raːk 'to vomit'     → {\displaystyle \rightarrow }   ຮາກ hak /hâːk/       → {\displaystyle \rightarrow }   ราก rak /râːk/ Canton (country subdivision) A canton

1628-491: The mid-1990s, the prefecture was led by a government which included fourteen departments. These were branches of national ministry offices. The prefecture was unable to collect taxes. Whatever revenues were collected were subsequently transferred to the national government. In 1993, the Vientiane Urban Planning Committee (VUPC) became the highest decision-making organization in the prefecture; it

1672-492: The northern part of the city, and Nong Seuam Lake is to the northeast off Route 10 . About 5 km (3 miles) north of Ban Hat Kai is the Tat Xai Waterfall , and about 5 km (3 miles) to the west, the smaller Tat Leuk Waterfall . Ban Na, along Route 13 to the northeast of Vientiane, is surrounded by paddy fields. About 6 km (4 miles) from here is Pung Xai , a notable elephant observation point. Much of

1716-494: The period of 1995–2005 was 2.79%. The main ethnic group in the province is Lao. Some of the important landmarks in the Vientiane city are That Luang Stupa (Great Sacred Stupa), Lao National Museum , Haw Phra Kaew Museum, Wat Sisaket , Patuxay Monument, Revolutionary Monument , Wat Simuang , Wat Ongtue , Wat Inpeng , Ta Lat Sao (Morning Market), Suan Wattanatham Bandapao (National Ethnic Cultural Park), Khau Midthaphab (Friendship Bridge), Xieng Khouan Buddha Park and

1760-450: The prefecture covers an area of 3,920 km (1,510 sq mi). Vientiane city was built in the 16th century in the reign of King Saysethathirath. The older part of the city has ancient temples, museums, monuments and parks. Protected areas in the prefecture include Phou Khao Khouay National Protected Area, Phou Phanang National Protected Area, and Houay Ngang Forest Reserve, a good area for bird and butterfly watching. The prefecture

1804-414: The river. Dong Dok University in association with GTZ has developed the forest walk. The Nam Leuk and Nam Gnong Rivers also flow through the prefecture. The province is composed of the following districts: Districts in bold letters are part of the urban area of Vientiane . The prefecture had a population of 820,942 as of the 2015 census. The prefecture's average annual population growth during

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1848-489: Was built in memory of those killed in the conflicts between 1945 and 1975. The Lao National Museum , on Samsenthai Road opposite the Cultural Hall. was founded as the national museum highlighting the revolution of the 1970s. It is in a French colonial building. This museum, which was originally built in 1925 as the French governor's residence, presents the history of Laos, highlighting the Lao peoples' struggle to free

1892-939: Was governed by a chairman, deputy chair, and eight members. In 1999, the Vientiane Urban Development and Administration Authority (VUDAA) was established at the prefecture level to manage the city's development. The St. Paul Foundation built in 2001 and a Vocational School for the Disabled in Ban Sikeud in Vientiane Prefecture. The province and the capital city are on a bend of the Mekong bordering Thailand. Notable settlements include Vientiane , Ban Ang, Ban Simano, Ban Hat Kai, Ban Pako, Ban Donnou], Ban Na, Ban Don, Ban Tha Bok, Ban Non and Tha Ngon. Nam Houm Reservoir and Nam Souang Reservoir lie off Route 13 , north of Vientiane. Nongtha Lake lies in

1936-400: Was obliterated by Siamese armies in 1827. The city was burned to the ground and was looted of nearly all Laotian artifacts, including Buddha statues. The Siamese routed Anouvong and razed the city leaving only Wat Si Saket in good shape. Vientiane was in ruins, depopulated, and disappearing into the forest when the French arrived in 1867. It eventually passed to French rule in 1893. It became

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