[3] The name of the village has existed since 1535 (Wendenäs, "The place where a person walking down the western shoreline of the Vindel river must change her path").

[citation needed] There are two supermarkets, ICA and Coop a Systembolaget as well as several cafes, pizzerias, two Thai restaurants and at least three hairdressers.

[citation needed] Liljaskolan, the locality's only upper secondary school caters for 1,100 students, studying at eleven programmes.

[citation needed] Vännäs is home to a motor museum where there are vintage cars, motorbikes, tractors, airplanes, and helicopters.

Vännäs Badcamping has an outdoor waterpark that is open through the summer and has a water slide, as well as a cafe and a sauna.