Port Vila

Why it's the capital

From 1906 Britain and France ruled the islands, then called the New Hebrides, together as a condominium with two parallel administrations, and Port Vila was the capital. It stayed the capital when the islands became independent as the Republic of Vanuatu in 1980.

Fun facts

1. The name Vila comes from the local names for the area: Efil in the South Efate language and Ifira in the Mele-Fila language.
2. On 13 March 2015 the category 5 Cyclone Pam caused massive damage in the city, as Cyclone Uma had done in 1987.
3. In daily life most people in Port Vila speak Bislama, but English and French are also widely spoken.