Vientiane

Pha That Luang, Laos's most important national monument and a symbol of Buddhism in the country, stands in Vientiane, the capital city on the Mekong River. The city also holds Haw Phra Kaew, which once housed the Emerald Buddha, alongside numerous other Buddhist temples and French-Indochinese architecture from the colonial era. A lively street food and café scene adds to the draw, and UNESCO World Heritage sites lie within the wider region.

• Population840,940
• Nearest water from center 2.3 km1.4 mi
• Nearest mountain from center 22 km14 mi