Is a VLAN a form of a Layer 2 VPN?

[wrainwater]

I was reading up on some CCIE notes that I have. One states a L2 VPN connects resources and allows them to behave like they are on the same physical network. To me that's pretty much what a vlan does. Whats the difference? 

[balaji.bandi]

VLAN is when the device physically located or connected to enterprise network.

L2 VPN when you extend the LAN to remote site using Public infrastructure.

[Seb Rupik]

A VLAN boundary and the significance of the VLAN IDs is typically limited by the physical footprint of your network.

A L2 VPN encapsulates these frames for routing across a layer3 networks (your own or third party) therefore potentially extending the VLAN beyond your physical network boundaries.

Cheers,

Seb.