The vicariate dates back to the
Apostolic Prefecture of Vientiane and Luang-Prabang, which was created on June 14, 1938, by splitting off the northern part of the
Apostolic Vicariate of Laos. On March 13, 1952, it was elevated to an
Apostolic vicariate and renamed
Vientiane after its largest city, the Laotian national capital. The northern part around Luang Prabang was split off on March 3, 1963, to establish the
Apostolic Vicariate of Luang Prabang, which since then has often been held in personal union with Vientiane or by an
Apostolic administrator. == Ordinaries ==