We lived in Vientiane for 5 years from 3008 - 2013 and loved it. I can share learning experiences in 3 areas.
1. Home. Neighbourhoods matter as do neighbours. Once you've short listed several potential houses take the time to go by at different hours. A quiet house on a quiet street during the day might reveal itself to be an impromptu Karaoke in the evening. Also, rent prices vary wildly, so don't be shy to counter offer at a price you seem is fair.
2. He lath. You do not want to end up in a Laos hospital. We took All the sensible precautions and luckily stayed healthy. We also purchased health insurance from AGL at a reasonable price. We used it for minor things and everything went smooth.
3. Schools. Of course you want the best for your kids, but you don't always get what you pay for. If you have the means then there is little reason not to send your kids to VHS. We also found very good education can be had at either Kittitas International. Our kids did not fall back from their Canadian education, and actually came out ahead in maths.
Hope this helps. Have fun!
