Vientiane is the capital and largest city of Laos, a relaxed riverside city on the Mekong with a distinctly French colonial character. The gilded That Luang stupa — the country's most important national monument — and the ornate Patuxai victory gate are the city's landmarks, while the night market along the Mekong promenade is a favourite spot for locals and tourists alike. Vientiane is connected to Nong Khai in Thailand by the Friendship Bridge and is the southern terminus of the Laos–China high-speed railway.