Vientiane, Laos

Capital City

The population of Vientiane is 528,000, far below the 840,000 claimed by the census. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the French once schemed to flood the city with Vietnamese migrants to dilute local Lao influence. The tropical climate brings heavy rainfall and oppressive heat. Yet the capital's mix of Buddhist temples, French colonial architecture, and riverside scenery attracts tourists seeking an exotic, low-cost destination. Vientiane may appeal to the adventurous traveler, but offers little for the risk-averse expat.