South East Asian Trips

Facts about Laos

Country Name: Lao People's Democratic Republic
Area: 236,000 Sq. Km
Poulation: 4.75 million
Capital City: Vientiane
People: Lao Loum (lowland Lao- 50%), Lao Theung (lower mountain dwellers- 30%), 10-20% Lao Sung (Hmong Orien hill tribes), 10-20% tribal Thais
Religion: 85% Buddhist, 15% animist; some spirit cults
Language: Lao and Lao dialects, French
Prime Minister: Khamtai Siphandon
Government: Socialist Republic
President: Nouhak Phoumsavan

About Laos

People and Society History in Laos Laos Events and Festivals Climate Culture Laos Shopping Laos Archeology Laos Health and Safety Laos Money Economy Governance Habitat How to Reach Laos Accommodation Laos Cuisine Laos Eating

Once part of the former French colony of Indo-China, the Republic of Laos lies tucked away between Thailand, Cambodia, China, Vietnam and Myanmar. It's a landlocked country, sparsely populated, underdeveloped - but with a rich cultural heritage very much its own. For a long time, the country's doors remained closed to foreign visitors, mainly because of the hard-line socialist stance of the government.

The capital, Vientiane, is the most westernised city in the country- the rest of Laos is still a traditional economy, with the bulk of the population living in rural areas and subsisting on agriculture. If you are keen on going off the beaten path, and like to go where few men have been before, it promises a rewarding trip.