Geography

Laos is located in south-east Asia between Vietnam and Thailand. The country occupies a total area of 236,800 sq km of which 230,800 sq km is on land. It is landlocked by a 5,083 km long boundary. Laos has a tropical monsoon climate - rainy season from May to November and dry season from December to April. The terrain is mostly rugged mountains with some plains and plateaus. Natural resources include timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold and gemstones.

Laos is the least developed and most enigmatic of the three former French Indochinese states. A ruinous sequence of colonial domination, internecine conflict and dogmatic socialism finally brought the country to its knees in the 1970s, and almost ten per cent of the population left. Now, after two decades of isolation from the outside world, this landlocked, sparsely populated country is enjoying peace, stabilising its political and economic structures and admitting foreign visitors - albeit in limited numbers due to a general lack of infrastructure. The lack of foreign influence offers travellers an unparalleled glimpse of traditional South-East Asian life. From the fertile lowlands of the Mekong River valley to the rugged Annamite highlands, travellers who have made it to Laos tend to agree that this country is the highlight of South-East Asia.

Climate and Seasons

Laos has a tropical monsoon climate, with a pronounced rainy season from May through October, a cool dry season from November through February, and a hot dry season in March and April. Generally, monsoons occur at the same time across the country, although that time may vary significantly from one year to the next. Rainfall also varies regionally, with the highest amounts-- 3,700 millimeters annually--recorded on the Bolovens Plateau in Champasak Province. City rainfall stations have recorded that Savannakhét averages 1,440 millimeters of rain annually; Vientiane receives about 1,700 millimeters, and Louangphrabang (Luang Prabang) receives about 1,360 millimeters. Rainfall is not always adequate for rice cultivation, however, and the relatively high average precipitation conceals years where rainfall may be only half or less of the norm, causing significant declines in rice yields. Such droughts often are regional, leaving production in other parts of the country unaffected. Temperatures range from highs around 40°C along the Mekong in March and April to lows of 5°C or less in the uplands of Xiangkhoang and Phôngsali in January.

Currency

The Lao Kip (LAK) is the legal currency, divided into 100 cents. There are no international ATM facilities in Laos. Major credit cards are accepted at some international hotels and tourist orientated establishments. Travellers cheques can be cashed at most banks in Vientiane and major towns, though have limited acceptance. Most transactions are conducted in cash: American Dollars, Thai Baht or Lao Kip.

Lao Kip (LAK; symbol ₭) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of ₭ 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1. more information

Language

The official language is Lao, the language of the largest ethnic group in Laos, which sounds similar to Thai. Instead of Sawadee-kap as in thailand they say Sabaidee. Lao language is the national language. Other languages used are French, English, Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese.

Lao is one of the many Tai languages of the Southwestern Branch of the three branches of the Thai language family. The origins of the Tai language can be traced back to somewhere in the Guangxi-Guizhou-Hunan region in southern China and bordering areas of northern Vietnam about 2000 years ago. Around the twelfth century, there was a sudden expansion of Tai groups into previously Mon-Khmer areas of Southeast Asia.

Religion



Laos Foods

90% of Loa people consume sticky rice. The ware kept the rice after steaming is called Tikao or kongkao and can be taken to every where. The arrangement of food is on the food big plate. The main food are Lap, Koy, Ping.

Government

The country is known officially as Lao People's Democratic Republic and in short, Laos. Laos is a communist state with the capital in Vientiane. Independence was gained on 19 July 1949 from France. The national holiday is on 2 December (1975). The Laos flag consists of three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band.

Economy

One of the world's poorest nations, Laos has had a Communist centrally planned economy with government ownership and control of productive enterprises of any size. In recent years, however, the government has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise. Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure; that is, it has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, limited external and internal telecommunications, and electricity available in only a limited area. Subsistence agriculture is the main occupation, accounting for over 60% of GDP and providing about 85-90% of total employment. The predominant crop is rice. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend for its survival on foreign aid from the IMF and other international sources; aid from the former USSR and Eastern Europe has been cut sharply.

Communications

Laos has 27,527 km of highways and 4,587 km of inland waterways. There are 41 usable (small) airports and no sea ports (no access to the sea). Telecommunications service to general public is practically non-existant. Radio communications network provides generally erratic service to government users.