Vientiane Prefecture
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the prefecture. For other administrative entities see Vientiane City and Vientiane Province.
| Vientiane (Viengchan) ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ |
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| Prefecture | |
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 Map of Vientiane Prefecture |
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 Location of Vientiane Prefecture in Laos |
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| Coordinates: 18°06′N 102°36′ECoordinates: 18°06′N 102°36′E | |
| Country |  Laos |
| Established | 1989 |
| Capital | Vientiane |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3,920 km2 (1,510 sq mi) |
| Population (March 2005 census) | |
| • Total | 698,254 |
| • Density | 180/km2 (460/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+07 |
| ISO 3166 code | LA-VT |
Located on a curve of the Mekong River, and bordering Thailand, the prefecture covers an area of 3,920 km2 (1,510 sq mi). Vientiane city was built in the 16th century under the reign of King Saysethathirath. The older part of the city has ancient temples, museums, monuments and parks.[1]
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.[2]
Contents
History
The great 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.[3] Thattaradtha founded a city called Maha Thani Si Phan Phao on the western banks of the Mekong River; this city was said to have later become today's Udon Thani, Thailand.[4] One day, a seven-headed Naga told Thattaradtha to start a new city on the eastern bank of the river opposite Maha Thani Si Phan Phao.[3] The prince called this city Chanthabuly Si Sattanakhanahud; which was said to be the predecessor of modern Vientiane.[4]Contrary to 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.[5] In the 11th and 12th centuries, the time when the Lao and Thai people are believed to have entered Southeast Asia from Southern China, the few remaining Khmers in the area were either killed, removed, or assimilated into the Lao civilization, which would soon overtake the area.[6]
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.[7] King Setthathirath officially established it as the capital of Lan Xang in 1563, to avoid a Burmese invasion.[6] In the following several centuries Vientiane's position was not stable; at times it was strong and regional centre but many times it came under the control Vietnam, Burma and Siam.[8]
During World War II, Vientiane fell with little resistance and was occupied by Japanese forces, under the command of Sako Masanori. On 9 March 1945 French paratroopers arrived, and "liberated" the Vientiane on April 24, 1945.[14] 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 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 American personnel began evacuating the capital. On August 23, 1975, a contingent of 50 Pathet Lao women, symbolically "liberated" the city.[14] In December 2, 1975, the communist party of the Pathet Lao took over Vientiane and defeated the Kingdom of Laos, thus ending the Laotian Civil War, but the ongoing insurgency in Laos began in the jungle, with the Pathet Lao fighting the Hmongs, Royalist-in-exile and the Right-wings.
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).[15] Prior to the mid-1990s, the prefecture was led by a government which included fourteen departments. These were branches of national ministry offices. The prefecture was not able to collect taxes. Whatever revenues was collected was subsequently transferred to the coffers of the national government.[16] In 1993, the Vientiane Urban Planning Committee (VUPC) became the highest decision-making organization with the prefecture; it was governed by a chairman, deputy chair, and eight additional members.[17] In 1999, the Vientiane Urban Development and Administration Authority (VUDAA) was established at the prefecture level to manage the city's development.[16] The St. Paul Foundation built in 2001 and a Vocational School for the Disabled in Ban Sikeud within Vientiane Prefecture.[18]
Geography
The province and the capital city are located on a bend of the Mekong brodering Thailand.[1] 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.[19] Nongtha Lake lies in the northern part of the city, and Nong Seuam Lake is located to the northeast off Route 10.[19] 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.[20] Ban Na, along Route 13 to the northeast of Vientiane, is surrounded by paddy fields.[20] About 6 km (4 miles) from here is Pung Xai, a notable elephant observation point.[20]Protected areas
Much of 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.[20][19] The protected reserves in the prefecture are the Houay Ngang Forest Reserve and 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 the river. Dong Dok University in association with GTZ has developed the forest walk.[2] The Nam Leuk and Nam Gnong rivers also flow through the prefecture.[20]Administrative divisions
The province is made up of the following districts:
Map
| Code | District | Lao |
|---|---|---|
| 01-01 | Chanthabuly | ຈັນທະບູລີ |
| 01-02 | Sikhottabong | ສີໂຄດຕະບອງ |
| 01-03 | Xaysetha | ໄຊເສດຖາ |
| 01-04 | Sisattanak | ສີສັດຕະນາກ |
| 01-05 | Naxaithong | ນາຊາຍທອງ |
| 01-06 | Xaythany | ໄຊທານີ |
| 01-07 | Hadxayfong | ຫາດຊາຍຟອງ |
| 01-08 | Sangthong | ສັງທອງ |
| 01-09 | Mayparkngum | ໃໝ່ປາກງື່ມ |
Demographics
The prefecture had a population of 690,000 as of the 2005 census.[21] The prefecture's average annual population growth during the period of 1995–2005 was 2.79%.[22] The main ethnic group in the province is Lao.[1]Landmarks
Ta Lat Sao
Left: Patuxay. Right: That Luang Festival at the That Luang Stupa.
Bronze Buddha statues in front of Ho Pra Keo Museum
Xieng Khouan Buddha Park
Wat Si Muang
Wat Ongtue
Wat Inpeng
Ta Lat Sao, the Morning Market is located on Lanexang Avenue. It has three main buildings, each with 2 floors and shopping market and is the commercial center of Vientiane. The market has shops where Lao antiques, textiles, souvenirs, handicrafts, jewelry, and other imported goods are available.[1]
Monuments
- Patuxay
- That Luang Stupa
Museums
- Lao National Museum
- Ho Pra Keo Museum
Parks
- Xieng Khouan Buddha Park
- Suan Wattanatham Bandapao
Temples
- Wat Si Saket
- Wat Si Muang
- Wat Ongtue
- Wat Inpeng
Bibliography
- Askew, Marc; Logan, William Stewart; Long, Colin (2007). Vientiane: Lao Urbanism, Memory and Identity. Psychology Press. pp. 197–. ISBN 978-0-415-33141-8.
- Brockman, Royston A. C.; Williams, Allen (1 May 1996). Urban infrastructure finance. Asian Development Bank. p. 423. ISBN 978-971-561-108-4.
- Burke, Andrew; Vaisutis, Justine (2007). Laos. Lonely Planet. pp. 91–98. ISBN 1-74104-568-1. [8]
- Doeden, Matt (1 January 2007). Laos in Pictures. Twenty-First Century Books. ISBN 978-0-8225-6590-1.
- Chandler, David; Holmshaw, Peter; Stewart, Iain; Waters, Richard (1 June 2011). DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Cambodia & Laos: Cambodia & Laos. DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, Dorling Kindersley Limited. ISBN 978-1-4053-4985-7.
- Eur (2002). Far East and Australasia 2003. Psychology Press. ISBN 978-1-85743-133-9.
- Fanthorpe, Lionel & Patricia (23 March 2009). Secrets of the World's Undiscovered Treasures. Dundurn. ISBN 978-1-77070-384-1.
- Grabowsky, Volker (1995). Regions and National Integration in Thailand, 1892–1992. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. ISBN 978-3-447-03608-5.
- Human Rights Watch (1 September 2002). Landmine Monitor Report 2001: Toward a Mine-free World. Human Rights Watch. pp. 557–. ISBN 978-1-56432-262-3.
- Kislenko, Arne (2009). Culture And Customs Of Laos. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-33977-6.
- Lee, Jonathan H. X. (17 September 2012). Laotians in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Center for Lao Studies, Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-9586-3.
- Roberts, Brian; Kanaley, Trevor (2006). Urbanization and Sustainability in Asia: Good Practice Approaches in Urban Region Development Good Practice Approaches in Urban Region Development. Asian Development Bank. pp. 200–. ISBN 978-971-561-607-2.
- Võ, Thu Tịnh (1972). The Phra Lak-Phra Lam (The Lao version of the Ramayana).: Abridged translation of the manuscript of Vat Kang Tha. Cultural Survey of Laos.
Further reading
- Khonthapane, Sirivanh. Women's Migration into Vientiane Municipality. [Vientiane]: National Economic Research Institute, 2002.
References
- Burke 2007, p. 96.
External links
Media related to Vientiane Prefecture at Wikimedia Commons
Vientiane travel guide from Wikivoyage
