Districts of Laos
Laos is divided into 17 provinces (Lao: ແຂວງ, "khoueng") and 1 prefecture ("kampheng nakhon"), or capital city municipality (ນະຄອນຫລວງ, "nakhon luang"). Furthermore, 1 so-called special administrative zone (ເຂດພິເສດ, "khet phiset") existed between 1994 and 2006, when it was re-merged into its surrounding provinces (i.e. Vientiane and Xiangkhoang). The Xaisomboun special administrative zone was later recreated as the 17th province. Each province is subdivided into districts (Lao: ເມືອງ, "mueang") and then subdivided into villages (Lao: ບ້ານ, "baan").