Vientiane (/viˌɛntiˈɑːn/ vee-EN-tee-AHN, French: [vjɛ̃tjan]; Lao: ວຽງຈັນ, Viangchan, pronounced [ʋíːəŋ tɕàn]) is the capital and largest city of Laos. Vientiane is divided administratively into 9 cities 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. Vientiane was the administrative capital during French rule and, due to economic growth in recent times, is now the economic center of Laos. The city had a population of 948,477 as of the 2020 Census.