Location
South-East Asia.
Time
GMT + 7.
Area
236,800 sq km
(91,400 sq
miles).
Population
6 million
(2008).
Population Density
25.3 per sq km.
Capital
Vientiane.
Population:
702,000 (2007
estimate).
Geography
Laos is a
landlocked
country bordered
to the north by
China, to the
east by Vietnam,
to the south by
Cambodia, and to
the west by
Thailand and
Myanmar. Apart
from the Mekong
River plains,
along the border
of Thailand, the
country is
mountainous,
particularly in
the north, and
in places is
densely
forested.
Government
People’s
Republic since
1975. Gained
independence
from France in
1953.
Head of State
Choummaly
Sayasone since
June 2006.
Head of Government
Prime Minister
Bouasone
Bouphavanh since
June 2006.
Recent History
Laos became a
republic in
December 1975
when the king
abdicated and
the monarchy was
abolished. Laos
depended on
Soviet aid right
up to the
collapse of the
Soviet Union in
1991. Now,
although the
government no
longer runs the
economy
centrally, there
is no move
toward a
multi-party
system.
Language
The official
language is Lao;
however, many
tribal languages
are also spoken.
French,
Vietnamese and
some English are
spoken.
Religion
The majority of
the Lao people
are Buddhists.
The Laos-Lum
(Valley Laos)
people follow
the
Hinayana
(Theravada) form
of Buddhism. The
religions of the
Laos-Theung
(Laos of the
mountain tops)
range from
traditional
Confucianism to
animism and
Christianity.
Electricity
220 volts AC,
50Hz. Two-pin
flat or round
plugs are in
use.
Social Conventions
Religious
beliefs should
be respected.
Lao people
should not be
touched on the
head and women
should not touch
monks.
Handshaking is
not that usual;
Lao people greet
each other with
their palms
together and a
slight bowing of
the head. Take
care when
discussing
politics and
related subjects
in conversation
so as not to
cause offence.
Shorts or
revealing
clothes are not
always
acceptable.
Shoes must be
removed when
entering a
religious
building or
somebody's home.
It is a legal
requirement to
carry an ID
document or a
passport, and
fines for not
having one for
presentation on
demand can be
high. The Lao
government
prohibits sexual
relationships,
including sexual
contact between
foreign citizens
and Lao
nationals,
except when the
two parties have
been married in
accordance with
Lao family law.
Penalties for
failing to
register a
relationship
range from fines
to imprisonment.
