In 2017, Laos suffered fiscal and monetary difficulties which resulted in low levels of foreign reserves. Laos is thus the 22nd biggest country in Asia and in terms of area ranked 84th worldwide. Laos is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement, the ASEAN, East Asia Summit, and La Francophonie. and Yurnaidi, Z., 2020. [47][52] Laos was requested in 1979 by Vietnam to end relations with the People's Republic of China, leading to isolation in trade by China, the United States, and other countries. [45] The Japanese attempted to force Sisavang Vong (the King of Luang Phrabang) to declare Laotian independence, but on 8 April he instead simply declared an end to Laos's status as a French protectorate. [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. Political power is centralized in the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. [152], Sixty-six percent of Laotians were Theravada Buddhist, 1.5 percent Christian, 0.1 percent Muslim, 0.1 percent Jewish, and 32.3 percent were other or traditional (mostly practitioners of Satsana Phi) in 2010. The small nation is bordered by China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. [45] When Japan surrendered, some Lao nationalists (including Prince Phetsarath) declared Laotian independence, but by early-1946, French troops had reoccupied the country and conferred limited autonomy on Laos. French is used in government and commerce, and Laos is a member of the French-speaking organisation of La Francophonie. [121] The irrigated areas under cultivation account for only 28% of the total area under cultivation which, in turn, represents only 12% of all of the agricultural land in 2012. Vientiane, Laos might seem sleepy and languid by Southeast Asia standards, but the Lao PDR capital might surprise you with its diversity of cuisine, quirky sights, friendly locals, and infectious sabai-sabai attitude. The indigenous Khmers are believed to have been largely displaced or killed during the 11th and 12th centuries, when the Lao people entered the region. When he died without an heir, the kingdom split into three principalities. Take more wonderful experiences in this Mystery . [114][115][116], The Lao economy depends on investment and trade with its neighbours, Thailand, Vietnam, and, especially in the north, China. [30] He made Theravada Buddhism the state religion, and Lan Xang prospered. Updated on November 19, 2021. All things considered, it . ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) Policy Brief Series, No 7. There are some public holidays, festivities and ceremonies in Laos. Laos's first French-written and monarchical constitution was promulgated on 11 May 1947, and declared Laos an independent state within the French Union. Zaisan Memorial,Ulan Bator,Mongolia. [150] Languages like Khmu (Austroasiatic) and Hmong (Hmong-Mien) are spoken by minorities, particularly in the midland and highland areas. 500 BC - The Plain of Jars, one of the most important prehistoric sites in Southeast Asia, dates from between 500 BC and 500 AD. Setthathirath became king in 1548, after his father was killed, and ordered the construction of what became the symbol of Laos, That Luang. The Thai government attempted to repatriate these refugees, but the Wat Tham Krabok Hmong refused to leave and the Lao government refused to accept them, claiming they were involved in the illegal drug trade and were of non-Lao origin. Sticky rice is generally preferred over jasmine rice, and sticky rice cultivation and production is thought to have originated in Laos. Located on a curve of the Mekong River, Vientiane Capital has a recorded history that stretches back to around 1,000 AD. Laos is landlocked (it does not have a coast on a sea or ocean). The Pathet Lao began a war against the French colonial forces with the aid of the Vietnamese independence organisation, the Viet Minh. Vientiane is the largest city with an area of 3,920km and the most populous in Laos with a population of 562,244. [33], In 1637, when Sourigna Vongsa ascended the throne, Lan Xang further expanded its frontiers. In 2017, the country sent a team for the first time to the team events at the Southeast Asian Games. The proto-historic period is characterised by contact with Chinese and Indian civilisations. 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. Gunderson, Steve (18 May 1996) "State Department Outlines Resettlement Guidelines for Hmong Refugees". 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. Of the almost $6 billion cost for the China-Laos railway, the Chinese government will pay 70 percent. [171], As of 2018, Laos has three theatres dedicated to showing films.[172]. Visiting Vientiane, Laos, elicits such a diversity of opinions from travelers, it's often hard . The Laos government, through attorney Colin M. Thompson, filed the petition on Monday and also named Lao . [164] One of the first commercial feature-length films was Sabaidee Luang Prabang, made in 2008. The International Monetary Fund ranked Laos 36th out of 42 Asian countries in 2018. [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. At the eve of the Vietnam War, the Secret War was beginning in Laos as political factions between communist Pathet Lao and the government occurred. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}18N 105E / 18N 105E / 18; 105. The most popular place to visit in Laos, Luang Prabang is an historic city that once served as the capital of the Kingdom of Laos. Vientiane is the capital and largest city in Laos. However, villages far from major roads can be reached only through unpaved roads that may not be accessible year-round. [135] The European Council on Trade and Tourism awarded the country the "World Best Tourist Destination" designation for 2013 for architecture and history.[136]. These dishes always contain chili peppers, and usually some type of grilled vegetable, giving them a distinct smoky flavor, and sometimes fermented fish. As a low-income country, Laos faces a brain-drain problem as many educated people migrate to developed countries. The constitution and Family Code bar the legal recognition of polygamous marriages, stipulating that monogamy is the principal form of marriage in the country. [112] Laos is an origin country for sexually trafficked persons. Laos is divided into 17 provinces (khoueng) and one prefecture (kampheng nakhon), which includes the capital city Vientiane (Nakhon Louang Viangchan). Address: 133 Chanthakhoummarn Road, Chanthabouly district. [14] It is a one-party socialist republic, espousing MarxismLeninism and governed by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, under which non-governmental organisations have routinely characterised the country's human rights record as poor, citing repeated abuses such as torture, restrictions on civil liberties and persecution of minorities. Laos Capital City, Vientiane. [84] Following threats of forcible removal by the Thai government, the United States, in a significant victory for the Hmong, agreed to accept 15,000 of the refugees in 2003. Other Hmong fighters hid out in mountains in Xiangkhouang Province for many years, with a remnant emerging from the jungle in 2003. Most of the population (63%) resides within . Wat Sisaket, Luang, and Phra Keo are the three most . [110][111], Human rights advocates including Vang Pobzeb, Kerry and Kay Danes, and others have also raised concerns about human rights violations, torture, the arrest and detention of political prisoners as well as the detention of foreign prisoners in Laos including at the infamous Phonthong Prison in Vientiane. In response, the United States initiated a bombing campaign against the PAVN positions, supported regular and irregular anti-communist forces in Laos, and supported Army of the Republic of Vietnam incursions into Laos. Situated on a curve of the Mekong River, Laos's Capital has a recorded history that stretches back to around 1,000 AD. [79], In 1993, Vue Mai, a former Hmong soldier and leader of the largest Hmong refugee camp in Thailand, who had been recruited by the USEmbassy in Bangkok to return to Laos as proof of the repatriation programme's success, disappeared in Vientiane. Gently cut cilantro resting atop a raging furnace of flavor. The capital city of Hanoi is ready to further expand friendship and cooperation activities in various fields, including those of people-elected . France remained in de facto control until 22 October 1953, when Laos gained full independence as a constitutional monarchy. [128] As of 2021, despite cheap hydro power available in the country, Laos continues to also rely on fossil fuels, coal in particular, in the domestic electricity production. The king then secretly sent Prince Kindavong to represent Laos to the Allied forces and Prince Sisavang as representative to the Japanese. [59], In 1993 the Laos government set aside 21% of the nation's land area for habitat conservation preservation. Fa Ngum, with 10,000 Khmer troops, conquered many Lao principalities in the Mekong river basin, culminating in the capture of Vientiane. [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. [100], Ostensibly, the Constitution of Laos that was promulgated in 1991 and amended in 2003 contains most key safeguards for human rights. [139]:3940, In 2004 the net primary enrollment rate was 84%. The nation's most important government buildings, ministries, departments and foreign embassies are located in Vientiane. [87], Lending further support to earlier claims that the government of Laos was persecuting the Hmong, filmmaker Rebecca Sommer documented first-hand accounts in her documentary, Hunted Like Animals,[88] and in a comprehensive report that includes summaries of refugee claims and was submitted to the UN in May 2006. After the Pathet Lao took over the country in 1975, the conflict continued in isolated pockets. 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. When Fa Ngum was a baby, his grandfather, the reigning king, expelled Fa Ngum's father . Vientiane Capital is the home to the most significant national monument in Laos: That Luang (Great Stupa), which is the symbol of Lao and an icon of Buddhism in Laos. [119] The economy receives development aid from the International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank, and other international sources; and also foreign direct investment for development of the society, industry, hydropower and mining (most notably of copper and gold). Overall, the country extends about 650 miles (1,050 km) from northwest to southeast. Vientiane is located at 17.9757, 102.6331, at an elevation of 570 ft. [145], In the central and southern mountains, Mon-Khmer-speaking groups, known as Lao Theung or mid-slope Laotians, predominate. The city has a tropical monsoon climate, every month . From the river bank inland, the three main roads run parallel to the river, while the . Laos is a landlocked country located in the Indochinese Peninsula. Laos Local Tour Company offers Laos tours, tailor made vacation packages travel services. Pakse. The city is Laos' capital and is located along the banks of the Mekong River. 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. Cities []. [124] Laos may have the greatest number of rice varieties in the Greater Mekong Subregion. [113] A number of citizens, primarily women and girls from all ethnic groups and foreigners, have been victims of sex trafficking in Laos. The streets are lined with trees, French colonial buildings, street markets, Buddhist temples, and noodle shops. Ngum was descended from a long line of Lao kings that traced back to Khoun Boulom. [104] Later reports have contradicted this, claiming they were sentenced to 20 years in prison. It is stretched out on the north-eastern bank of a bend in the Mekong River. Pr-histria. [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. [46], The official and majority language is Lao, a language of the Tai-Kadai language family. Services and facilities for tourists are adequate in the capital, Vientiane, and in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, but are extremely limited in . Settathirath disappeared in the mountains on his way back from a military expedition into Cambodia, and Lan Xang fell into more than seventy years of instability, involving both Burmese invasion and civil war. [145] The Lao belong to the Tai linguistic group[146] who began migrating south from China in the first millennium CE. In 1950, the French were forced to give Laos semi-autonomy as an "associated state" within the French Union. 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