South East Asian Trips

People

The people of Laos belong to about 68 different ethnic groups, with very diverse customs and lifestyles. A little more than half the population is made up of the Lao Loum, the lowland dwellers, which inhabit most of the Mekong River Valley and the plains. The mountains are the home of the Lao Theung, about 34% of the total population; and the High Mountain Lao and foreigners who make up about 10% of the population.

Only about a fifth of Laos' population lives in urban areas- the rest are village dwellers and most subsist on agriculture. The country is one of the most sparsely populated in the world- the average density of population is 19/sq km- and the population is, on the whole, very young, The population of Lao PDR has reached 5,218,000, and is growing at an annual 2.4%. The average population density is 21 per square kilometre, giving Lao the lowest population density in Asia. The highest population in Lao is in Vientiane municipality, with 149 per square kilometre, while the lowest population density is in Saysomboun Special Zone, at 8 per square kilometre.

The estimate populations of the major provinces are :
598,000 in Vientiane prefecture :
766,000 in Savannakhet;
572,000 in Champassak;
416,000 in Luang Prabang; 333,000 in Sayaboury.

About 85% of the population are rural dwellers, and the 1999 census revealed that there were 60,000 more women then men. Over 70% (2,220,547) are engaged in productive work, and 936,870 are unemployed, a classification which includes students (69.4%), domestic workers (12.6%), the aged (14.6%). There are 576,758 people at work in towns, and 2,580,659 work in the countryside.

An age-group breakdown gives: 0-14 years - 2,251,600; 15,59 years -2,548,800; 60 years and above - 290,700 people.

The population consists of 94 ethnic groups, in four main linguistic families, according to preliminary figures given to a symposium on the name of ethnic groups on August 13-14,2000.

The Mone-Khmer family has 32 ethnic groups which include Khmu, Pray, Singmou, Khom, Thene, Idou, Bid, Lamad, Samtao, Katang, Makong, Try, Trieng, Ta-oi, Yeh, Brao, Harak, Katou, Oi, Krieng, Yrou, Souai, Gnaheune, Lavy, Kabkae, Khmer, Toum, Ngouane, Meuang, and Kri.

The Tibeto-Burnese family includes seven ethnic groups: Ahka, Singsali, Lahou, Sila, hayi, Lolo and Hor. The Hmong-Ioumien category has two main tribes: Hmong and Ioumien. These multi-ethnic people of Lao are generally scattered across the country, while each has its own unique tradition, culture and language.

Lao people are frank, open and friendly, and they possess a strongly developed sense of courtesy and respect. Everyone who adheres to the latter will receive warm welcome.

The generally accepted from the greeting among Lao people is the Nop. It is perform by placing one palm together in a position of praying at chest level, but not touching the body. The higher the hands, the greater the sign of respect to persons of higher status and age. It is also used as and expression of thanks, regret or saying good-bye. But with western people it is acceptable to shake hands. When entering a Wat or a private home it is customary to remove one's shoes. In Lao homes raised off the ground, the shoes are left at the stairs. In traditional homes one sits on low seats or cushions on the floor. Men usually sit with their legs crossed or folded to one side, women prefer solely the latter. Upon entering guests may be served fruit or tea. These gestures of hospitality should not be refused.

Lao people boast a plethora of distinctive monuments and architectural styles. One of the most notable structures is That luang, the Great Sacred Stupa, in Vientiane. Its dome like Stupa and four-cornered superstructure is the model for similar monuments throughout Laos. Stupas serve to commemorate the life of the Buddha and many Stupas are said to house sacred relics (parts of Buddha's body). Generally, Hinayana Buddhists cremate the dead body then collected the bone and put in stupa which up in a round the temple.

Deferent styles of architecture are evident in the numerous Buddhist Wats. Three architecture styles can be distinguished, corresponding to the geographical location of the temples and monasteries. Wats built in Vientiane are large rectangular structures constructed of brick and coved with stucco and high-peaked roofs.

In Luang Prabang the roofs sweep very low and, unlike in Vientiane, almost reach the ground.

These two styles are different from the Wat Xieng Khouang where the temple roofs are not tiered.

Lao religious images and art are also distinctive and set Lao apart from its neighbors. The " Calling for Rain" posture of the Buddha images in Laos, for example, which depicts the Buddha standing with his hands held rigidly at his side, fingers pointing to the ground, cannot be found in other south East Asian Buddhist art traditions.

Religions influences are also pervasive in classical the Lao literature, especially in the Pha Lak Pha Lam, the Lao version of India's epic Ramayana.

Projects are underway to preserve classic Lao religious scripts, which were transcribed into palm leaf manuscripts hundreds of years ago and stored in Wats.

Another excellent example of the richness of Lao culture is its folk music, which is extremely popular with the people throughout the whole country. The principal instrument is the khaen, a wind instrument which comprises a double row of Bamboo-like reeds fitted into hardwood sound box. The khaen is often accompanied folk dance is the Lamvong, a circle dance in with people dance circles around each other so that ultimately there are three circles: a circled by the individual, another by the one couple, and a third one dance by the whole party,

Religion

The religion followed by the majority of Laos' population is Theravada Buddhism. Laos is one of the few instances of a communist country that allows religious activity. Buddhism is supplemented by Confucianism, animism, ancestor and spirit worship- the first an arrival from China, the other three indigenous forms of faith. Most hill tribes practice spirit worship or animism, but some have also adopted certain tenets of Buddhism and Confucianism. There is a very minor sprinkling of Christians in the country, mainly in urban areas.

Religion played a major role in the culture of Laos- art, architecture, and literature were influenced by religion, and evidence of to support this claim can be seen in the country's historical monuments,

Language

Lao is the official language of the country- the language predominant in the capital, Vientiane. However, it isn't the only language used- Laos has a number of ethnic groups (including Hmong, Mon-Khmer and others), and nearly all of them have their own dialects and sub-dialects. Many of these are actually so different from each other that they would be unintelligible to anyone not a speaker of that particular dialect. Most of the dialects are related to dialects and languages common in neighbouring countries such as China, Myanmar and Thailand.

The only foreign language that is used to some degree is French - a result of the French occupation of the country, but even this is restricted to Vientiane's elite,

Food

The staple Lao food is sticky rice- eaten steamed or boiled, with a wide range of meats, vegetables, poultry and fish, all well spiced and flavoured. Laotian chefs use an astounding array of flavourings, including garlic, chillies, tamarind, sugar, lime juice, and fermented fish sauce. Fresh salads, native sausages and noodles are other common ingredients of meals in Laos. Most food is dry and spicy, and often watered down with fruit juices, beer or plain water.

Because of the French colonisation of Laos, some influences of continental cuisine can still be seen- in larger towns, you'll find excellent baguettes, patés, coffee and salads- all wonderfully French in flavour,

Culture and Crafts

Laos is hemmed in on all sides by countries with very strong cultural identities of their own, such as Thailand, Myanmar and China. Furthermore, a large segment of the population has roots in Thailand or Vietnam; it isn't really surprising, therefore, that Laos' culture has been heavily influenced by the cultures of neighbouring countries- particularly Thailand and Vietnam. Most Laotian dances, like those of Thailand, are based on Indian Hindu epics; traditional handicrafts too are similar to those of Thailand and Vietnam. Religion, language and literature, lifestyles, traditions, even food- all are very similar to those of the surrounding lands, and much of this culture takes its essence from Buddhism and Hinduism. Festivals, architecture, arts, handicrafts, even performing arts all have some connection or the other to these religions.

Most Laotians are friendly and accommodating people, but they do have some unwritten rules of conduct you would do well to observe, if only to avoid offending people. First of all, dress and act discreetly- wearing scanty clothing, showing affection in public, and shouting is considered extremely rude. Secondly, remember that a Laotian's head is considered very `private', so to say- never touch anyone on the head. Similarly, feet are considered `low'- never `point' with your feet, or raise them above ground level.

It's considered a sign of good breeding to show respect to everybody, especially to old people. And, of course, you must show respect to the religious shrines, idols and scriptures of the Buddhists. Shoes must be removed before entering a place of worship, and you must be well covered (no shorts or tank tops!). Never turn your back on an image of the Buddha (no matter how small) or do anything that might be equated with showing disrespect.

Laos is known for its excellent folk arts- the country's hill tribes, especially, are renowned for the beauty of their handicrafts - the quilts and embroideries of the Hmong are famous worldwide. Textiles are among the specialties of the Laotians- exquisite weaves in silk and cotton, as well as embroideries, are produced all over the country, and are available both as bolts of cloth and as readymade garments, bags, quilts and wall hangings. The other specialty is metalwork and jewellery- Laos' goldsmiths and silversmiths craft some of the most beautiful jewellery in South Asia. Other beautiful arts and crafts of the country include woodcarving, basketry and carved ivory,

Education

When talking about education in Laos, you must keep in mind that many parts of the country are fairly inaccessible, and the majority of the people live in rural areas; many villages are very remote indeed. The country has been through tumultuous times and nearly all sectors of the economy and social life have been neglected. Education is no exception- there are few schools, and no colleges, outside larger cities and towns, and in a number of village schools, basic reading and writing skills are all that can be expected. The literacy rate of the country is fairly low- 57% overall, with male literacy at 70% and female literacy at 44%.