[2] In the 16th century, Vientiane, under King Setthathirat's rule, became a centre of Buddhist teachings and temples were built.

Its topography, with elevation varying from 200 m to 1761 m, emerged from "uplifting and exposure of the underlying sedimentary (Indosinias schist-clay-sandstone) complex".

Animals found here include elephants, tigers, bears, white-cheeked gibbons, and langurs and species of reptiles, amphibians, and birds.

[8][9] The Mekong channel upstream of Vientiane Important Bird Area (IBA) is 18,230 hectares in size.

Avifauna include great thick-knees (Esacus recurvirostris), Jerdon's bushchat (Saxicola jerdoni), river lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii), small pratincole (Glareola lactea), and wire-tailed swallow (Hirundo smithii).

[10] Around the village of Ban Sivilay, a bird sanctuary has flocks of whistling ducks and egrets roosting.

Inevitably the profile of the town has changed and the reason travelers first came here- to experience small-town Laos in a stunning setting – has been replaced by multistorey guesthouses.

[17] In the Ban Bo village of Thoulakhom District salt extraction is part time economic activity.

[9] Operating companies in the mineral sector, as of 2008, include: Padeang Industry Public Co. Ltd, Phu Bin Ming Ltd, Laos Cement Co. Ltd, Wanrong Cement I, and Barite Mining Co.[20] As of 2009, each of the 126 ministry offices in Vientiane had IT facilities, including "one server, 10 PCs, a teleconference room, and a local area network connected to the national e-government infrastructure.

Vangxang Cave, also known as Elephant Court, contains the remains of a sanctuary which preexisted the Lane Xang Kingdom, and contains 5 pink sandstone sculptures and 2 Buddha images.

[23] Also of note is Ban Ilai market in Muang Naxaithong, which sells basketry, pottery and other traditional crafts.

The houses in this village are made of bamboo thatch at an isolated location stated to have been a settlement 2000 years ago which has been attested by archaeological finds of artifacts.

[9] In the Ban Thalad village of Keo-Oudom District, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) from Vientiane, there are floating restaurants and sporting activities.

It is approachable along Route 13 (north) located at km 48, the cave has 5 sculptures made of pink sandstone and 2 images of Buddha.