Laos is one of the world's few openly communist states. It is a one-party state and the general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party holds ultimate power and authority over state and.

Vientiane ( / viˌɛntiˈɑːn / vee-EN-tee-AHN, [3] French: [vjɛ̃tjan]; Lao: ວຽງຈັນ, Viangchan, pronounced [ʋíːəŋ tɕàn]) is the capital and largest city of Laos. Vientiane is divided administratively into 9 cities [4] with a total area of only approx. 3,920 square kilometres and is located on the banks of the Mekong, close to the Thai border.