Wiang is a Tai word for "fortified settlement" or "walled town, city" of Austroasiatic origin, from Proto-Austroasiatic *wa(a)ŋ.
[1] This toponymic element forms part of the names of certain ancient inhabited places located in an area stretching across Northern Thailand and Laos: The term "เวียง" (Wiang) in Thai has historical and cultural significance.
Temples, markets, and public spaces were integral parts of a "เวียง," making it a focal point for the community's cultural life.
It had extensive fortifications, served as a significant cultural and religious site, and was a vital economic center in its time.
Thus, "เวียง" encompasses the essence of historical urban development in northern Thailand, reflecting its importance in administrative, cultural, economic, and defensive aspects.