Asia · capital city
What Is the Capital of Laos?
Vientiane
The capital of Laos is Vientiane. About 721,000 people live in the Vientiane urban area — 9.2% of the country's population.
721,000
Urban area population
UTC+7
Time zone
17.97°N
Latitude · 102.60°E
Yes
Largest city
Vientiane at a glance
Name origin
The name Viangchan means "city of sandalwood" in Laotian; the standard spelling reflects French influence.
Time zone
UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). No daylight saving time.
Coordinates
17 58 N, 102 36 E · IANA time zone Asia/Vientiane
Location of Laos
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Beijing, China — 2,777 kmCapitals closest to Vientiane
Hanoi, Vietnam — 482 km
Bangkok, Thailand — 519 km
Rangoon, Myanmar — 695 km
Phnom Penh, Cambodia — 756 km
Dhaka, Bangladesh — 1,419 km
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — 1,649 km
Thimphu, Bhutan — 1,696 km
Singapore, Singapore — 1,860 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Vientiane
What is the capital of Laos?
The capital of Laos is Vientiane. About 721,000 people live in the Vientiane urban area — 9.2% of the country's population.
Is Vientiane the largest city in Laos?
Yes — Vientiane is also the largest urban area of Laos (721,000).
What time zone is Vientiane in?
Vientiane is on UTC+7 — UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). There is no daylight saving time.
Where does the name Vientiane come from?
The name Viangchan means "city of sandalwood" in Laotian; the standard spelling reflects French influence.
Which capital is closest to Vientiane?
Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, Hanoi (Vietnam) is the closest, 482 km away in a straight line.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).