Vientiane capital of Laos
Etymology
'Vientiane' is the French spelling derived from the Lao Viangchan /ʋíːəŋ tɕan/. The name was previously written 'ວຽງຈັນທນ໌' (in Thai, เวียงจันทน์) but now usually written 'ວຽງຈັນ'.  In Lao, viang (ວຽງ) refers to a 'walled city' whereas chan (ຈັນ, previously ຈັນທນ໌) derives from Sanskrit candana (चन्दन, /t͡ɕand̪ana/), 'sandalwood' and can be translated as the 'walled city of sandalwood'.  Some Laotians mistakenly believe it refers to the 'walled city of the moon' as chan can also represent 'moon', although this was previously distinguished in writing as 'ຈັນທຣ໌'.  Other romanisations include 'Viangchan' and 'Wiangchan'.
seat of government administrative center primary city headquarters political hub