Today, Vientiane, the Laotian capital, is abuzz with change. Cars choke the paved city streets, and the downtown area is brimming with cafes, restaurants and bars catering to the small but growing ...

As Vientiane marks 50 years as the capital of the Lao People’s Republic, here’s what it’s like to live in the laid-back Southeast Asian city now rising as a travel destination.

In recent years, Chinese investment in resource-rich Laos has strengthened the country’s economy, which is projected to grow by 7 percent this year. Vientiane’s hot property market reflects this trend ...