[62], The climate is mostly tropical savanna and influenced by the monsoon pattern. Moreover, 130,000 deaths can be attributed to the civil war. Major religion Buddhism. It is evident throughout the country, expressed in language, temples and the arts and literature. settlement scattered around a Hindu temple. Capital: Vientiane. This article is about the country in Southeast Asia. [35] Anouvong was taken to Bangkok as a prisoner, where he died. Additionally, the Khao San Pathet Lao, the country's official news agency, publishes English and French versions of its eponymous paper. A major breakthrough occurred in December 2021, when the 414-km long standard-gauge BotenVientiane railway that runs from the capital Vientiane to Boten at the northern border with China, built as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, was opened. Very few of the Lao refugees, however, were willing to return voluntarily. [76] As many as 200,000 Hmong went into exile in Thailand, with many ending up in the US. The capital is Vientiane (Lao: Viangchan), located on the Mekong River in the northern portion of the country. The new China-Laos passenger and freight railway, serviced by an Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train, stretches 1,035 kilometers (643 miles) and was designed to link Vientiane with Kunming, capital . He encouraged a renaissance of Lao fine arts and literature and improved relations with Luang Phrabang. Bangkok - Hanoi - Laos by Air 9 nights from $1,615*. Authorities in Laos have reported a significant Covid-19 outbreak near the notorious Kings Romans casino, whose Chinese owner is accused by the United States of trafficking people, wildlife and drugs. [167] One production company's film that has succeeded to produce Lao feature films and gain international recognition is Lao New Wave Cinema's At the Horizon, directed by Anysay Keola, that was screened at the OzAsia Film Festival[168] and Lao Art Media's Chanthaly (Lao: ) directed by Mattie Do, which was screened at the 2013 Fantastic Fest. [127] Of the potential capacity of approximately 18,000 megawatts, around 8,000 megawatts have been committed for export to Thailand and Vietnam. A Siamese military campaign in Laos in 1876 was described by a British observer as having been "transformed into slave-hunting raids on a large scale".[37]. As of 2011[update], Nhn Dn ('The People') and the Xinhua News Agency are the only foreign media organisations permitted to open offices in Laosboth opened bureaus in Vientiane in 2011. Laos produced tin, rubber, and coffee, but never accounted for more than one percent of French Indochina's exports. "Patuxai is a war monument in the centre of Vientiane, Laos, which was built between 1957 and 1968. Most of the population (63%) resides within . Other Buddhist holy places are Wat Ong . Paul Lvy, ''Histoire du Laos'', PUF, 1974. From 1975 to 1996, the United States resettled some 250,000 Lao refugees from Thailand, including 130,000 Hmong. Laos can be considered to consist of three geographical areas: north, central, and south. Vientiane (/ v i n t i n / vee-EN-tee-AHN, French: ; Lao: , Viangchan, pronounced [ tn]) is the capital and largest city of Laos.Vientiane is divided administratively into 9 cities with a total area of only approx. Most of these projects will be carried out through public-private partnerships under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model as the government is encouraging the private sector . Pakse. Nearly three-quarters of Laos is covered in mountains and forested hills that are too steep to live on. [124] Laos may have the greatest number of rice varieties in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Some Vietnamese, Laotian Chinese[148] and Thai minorities remain, particularly in the towns, but many left after independence in the late 1940s, many of whom relocated either to Vietnam, Hong Kong, or to France. This includes decreasing the environmental and cultural impact of tourism; increasing awareness in the importance of ethnic groups and biological diversity; providing a source of income to conserve, sustain and manage the Lao protected area network and cultural heritage sites; and emphasizing the need for tourism zoning and management plans for sites that will be developed as ecotourism destinations.[137]. With an estimated population of 760,000 in 2015, the city is also the most populous in the nation. The national carrier is Lao Airlines. It was not until the arrival of the French in 1893 that the city was revived. Fa Ngum's eldest son, Oun Heuan, ascended to the throne under the name Samsenethai and reigned for 43years. Residents of Laos' capital Vientiane on October 16 witnessed the arrival of the first passenger high-speed train running on the new Laos-China railway line which will, after some test runs, come into full operation in December . Travel over the land is hard. One of the most problematic economic sectors in Laos is transport. [89], The European Union,[90] UNHCHR, and international groups have since spoken out about the forced repatriation. The proto-historic period is characterised by contact with Chinese and Indian civilisations. [74] Their Russian-built Antonov AN 74-300 with 20 people on board crashed in Xiangkhouang Province. French is used in government and commerce, and Laos is a member of the French-speaking organisation of La Francophonie. The national basketball team competed at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games where it beat Myanmar in the eighth place game.[185]. This sector has made significant contributions to the economic condition of Laos. The Pathet Lao were backed militarily by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and the Viet Cong. [166], Australian filmmaker Kim Mordount's first feature film was made in Laos and features a Laotian cast speaking their native language. A coup d'tat in 1960 in the Lao capital, Vientiane, deepened the country's political instability. [64] A new province, Xaisomboun province, was established on 13 December 2013. Tuy nhin, cng ty ch giao dch c 216.678 c phiu theo phng thc tha thun do cha t k vng v gi. The Lao National Tourism Administration, related government agencies and the private sector are working together to realise the vision put forth in the country's National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan. The restaurant serves a variety of local delicacies, such as Khao piak sen (a rice noodle soup), mok lao (an exotic coconut curry), and of course, Lao sausage. [1] These earliest human migrants are Australo-Melanesians associated with the Hoabinhian cultureand have populated the highlands . Area 236,800 sq km (91,400 sq miles) Major languages Lao, French. Vientiane has been the capital since 16th century. [54][55], The conflict between Hmong rebels and Laos continued in key areas of Laos, including in Saysaboune Closed Military Zone, Xaisamboune Closed Military Zone near Vientiane Province and Xiangkhouang Province. [48], Some 80million bombs failed to explode and remain scattered throughout the country, rendering vast swaths of land impossible to cultivate. Metallurgy is an important industry, and the government hopes to attract foreign investment to develop the substantial deposits of coal, gold, bauxite, tin, copper, and other valuable metals. [165] The 2017 documentary feature film Blood Road was predominantly shot and produced in Laos with assistance from the Lao government, it was recognised with a News and Documentary Emmy Award in 2018. [153][154] Buddhism has long been one of the most important social forces in Laos. [46], The official and majority language is Lao, a language of the Tai-Kadai language family. Wat Sisaket, Luang, and Phra Keo are the three most . Since July, 2021 the United States has shared 2,908,440 safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Laos - free of cost. The area was originally settled because of the fertility of the surrounding alluvial plains, and Vientiane became the capital city of Laos around the mid 16th century. He describes his experience in the Lao capital in fine detail, making the minutiae come alive. According to the World Bank data conducted in 2014, Laos has met the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets on water and sanitation regarding the UNICEF/WHO Joint Monitoring Programme. Local tradition holds that there are three seasons (rainy, cool and hot) as the latter two months of the climatologically defined dry season are noticeably hotter than the earlier four months. [83] Around 5,000 Hmong people who were not resettled at the time of the camp closures sought asylum at Wat Tham Krabok, a Buddhist monastery in central Thailand where more than 10,000 Hmong refugees had already been living. Only 4% of the country is arable land and a mere 0.3% used as permanent crop land,[120] the lowest percentage in the Greater Mekong Subregion. The Lao Securities Exchange (LSX) began operations in 2011 with two stocks listed, both state-owned - the Banque Pour l'CommerceExterieur (BCEL), and the power generation arm of . Theravada Buddhism has coexisted peacefully since its introduction to the country with the local polytheism. Laos has the youngest population of any country in Asia with a median age of 21.6 years. [145] The Lao belong to the Tai linguistic group[146] who began migrating south from China in the first millennium CE. Laos became independent in 1953, with a constitutional monarchy under Sisavang Vong. [141] Laos's predominantly rural[142] population makes investing in sanitation difficult. The city of Vientiane is located on the Mekong River's bank near the Laos-Thailand border, and is the seat of the countrys national government. Get an insider's access to these Asia's exotic countries: Thailand, Vietnam and Laos.Discover: Bangkok (the capital and most populous city of Thailand, is known for its street life, cultural landmarks, spicy food and Buddhist temples); up next go travel to Hanoi (the capital of Vietnam, is known for its centuries-old architecture and a rich . There are many traditions and rituals associated with rice production in different environments and among many ethnic groups. In 1977, a communist newspaper promised the party would hunt down the "American collaborators" and their families "to the last root". 500 BC - The Plain of Jars, one of the most important prehistoric sites in Southeast Asia, dates from between 500 BC and 500 AD. Updated on November 19, 2021. Sticky rice is a staple food and has cultural and religious significance to the Lao people. Thailand (invested US$4.489billion) and Vietnam (invested US$3.108billion) are the second and third largest investors respectively. [139]:19, The martial art of muay Lao, the national sport,[180] is a form of kickboxing similar to Thailand's muay Thai, Burmese Lethwei and Cambodian Pradal Serey. Pakxe has also experienced growth based on cross-border trade with Thailand and Vietnam. For example, Article 8 makes it clear that Laos is a multinational state and is committed to equality between ethnic groups. [47][51] The royalists set up a government in exile in the United States. [122] Rice dominates agriculture, with about 80% of the arable land area used for growing rice. Laos Local Tour Company offers Laos tours, tailor made vacation packages travel services. Supply of foreign exchange has in the past been limited in Laos, which imposed a de facto limit on repatriation of capital. The constitution and Family Code bar the legal recognition of polygamous marriages, stipulating that monogamy is the principal form of marriage in the country. [96][97] In The Economist's Democracy Index 2016 Laos was classified as an "authoritarian regime", ranking lowest of the nine ASEAN nations included in the study. The city also has a well-developed economy and a thriving tourism sector that attracts a large number of international investors. This tourist attraction still holds more than 10 thousand Buddha statues, large and small. It is stretched out on the north-eastern bank of a bend in the Mekong River. [57], Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, and it lies mostly between latitudes 14 and 23N (a small area is south of 14), and longitudes 100 and 108E. A man who lost land and property to the Laos-China railway project near the capital said he has yet to receive any promised money. The Lao subsequently established their own kingdom named the Lan Xang in 1354. Laos is a landlocked country located in the Indochinese Peninsula. All newspapers are published by the government, including two foreign language papers: the English-language daily Vientiane Times and the French-language weekly Le Rnovateur. [71] In 2005 it attended the inaugural East Asia Summit. Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is the antithesis of a bustling capital like London. Patuxay, Vientiane Laos, Sunrise in the morning at at Patuxai. 1353 - Lan Xang (Million Elephants) Kingdom, founded in the 14th century by Fa Ngum. Located on the Mekong River the city has 950,000 inhabitants. Of the many beautiful Wats in Vientiane, a visit to Wat Sisaket is a must; built in 1818, this is one of the oldest temples in Vientiane. In 1990 only 8% of the rural population had access to improved sanitation. Mountain/hill tribes of mixed ethno/cultural-linguistic heritage are found in northern Laos, which include the Lua and Khmu people who are indigenous to Laos. While some Hmong people returned to Laos voluntarily, with development assistance from UNHCR, allegations of forced repatriation surfaced. [44] On 9 March 1945, a nationalist group declared Laos once more independent, with Luang Prabang as its capital, but on 7 April 1945 two battalions of Japanese troops occupied the city. [78] Of those Hmong who did return to Laos, some quickly escaped back to Thailand, describing discrimination and brutal treatment at the hands of Lao authorities. Mon-Khmer groups, the Hmong, and other indigenous hill tribes live in the foothills and mountains. [101] On 25 September 2009, Laos ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, nine years after signing the treaty. Present-day Laos traces its historic and cultural identity to Lan Xang, which existed from the 13th century to the 18th century as one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. Laos will . He has been General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, a position making him the de facto leader of Laos, since January 2021. Pha That Luang, the countrys most revered national monuments, is located in Vientiane. [17][18], The word Laos was coined by the French, who united the three Lao kingdoms in French Indochina in 1893 and named the country as the plural of the dominant and most common ethnic group, the Lao people. The train arrived at the brand new Vientiane Capital Station, the largest and most important station of the line . Under the plan, refugee status was evaluated through a screening process. [72], On 17 May 2014, Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Douangchay Phichit was killed in a plane crash, along with other top ranking officials. Laos is the only landlocked nation in Southeast Asia. [47][46], In 1968, the PAVN launched a multi-division attack to help the Pathet Lao fight the RLA. Recognised asylum seekers were given resettlement opportunities, while the remaining refugees were to be repatriated under guarantee of safety. [66][67] The incumbent head of government is Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. . However, villages far from major roads can be reached only through unpaved roads that may not be accessible year-round. All things considered, it . [38] France rescued King Oun Kham and added Luang Phrabang to the protectorate of French Indochina. Today, French has a healthier status in Laos than the other Francophone nations of Asia and about 35% of all students in Laos receive their education in French, with the language being a required course in many schools. Xinhua That Luang Festival celebrated in Vientiane, Laos Candlelight parade surrounding the That Luang Stupa in Lao capital Vientiane on the night of Nov. 11, 2019. . More than a century later, the kingdom was replaced by the Kingdom of Vientiane in 1707. Laos opened on May 2022 and it is nice to travel t. In fact, it feels more like a welcoming village, nestled in a bend of the Mekong River, Vientiane is dotted with temples and quirky, accessible attractions like the Buddha Park featuring surreal statues of the Buddha and the Monk Chat, a monthly opportunity to hang out with, you guessed it, monks. CIA agent Bill Lair met with the young Hmong military . Calculating U.S. Residents of the capital Vientiane are barred from leaving the city and outsiders must get permission to enter. has been the most successful club with 8 titles, the highest number of championship wins. [155] Government expenditure on health is about four percent of GDP,[155] about US$18 (PPP) in 2006. Lao PDR: How to Attract More Investment in Small-Scale Renewable Energy? The Pha That Luang Temple in Vientiane, Laos. Vientiane is the capital and largest city in Laos. The city has a tropical monsoon climate, every month . Pr-histria. US Representative Steve Gunderson, for instance, told a Hmong gathering: "I do not enjoy standing up and saying to my government that you are not telling the truth, but if that is necessary to defend truth and justice, I will do that. It is bordered by Myanmar (used to be known in English as "Burma") and by China to the northwest, by Vietnam to the east, by Cambodia to the south and by . Built on three levels, it symbolises the ascent from earth to heaven. [63], Laos is divided into 17 provinces (khoueng) and one prefecture (kampheng nakhon), which includes the capital city Vientiane (Nakhon Louang Viangchan). . His ministers, unable to tolerate his ruthlessness, forced him into exile to the present-day Thai province of Nan in 1373,[31] where he died. By 1940, around 600 French citizens lived in Laos. Be attributed to the Lao people live in the past been limited in Laos is evident the... About 80 % of the rural population had access to improved sanitation tourism sector attracts... 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