According to a Laotian epic, Vientiane was founded on the Mekong Rivers eastern banks by a prince named Thattaradtha. Government policies are determined by the party through the eleven-member Politburo of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the 61-member Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. An "urban" village is essentially a town.[58]. Luang Prabang and Vat Phou are both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Fa Ngum's eldest son, Oun Heuan, ascended to the throne under the name Samsenethai and reigned for 43years. . Vientiane has a total area of 3,920 square km and an average elevation of 174 m. The city experiences a tropical savanna climate. 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. For other uses, see, , "Peace, independence, democracy, unity and prosperity", Independence and Communist rule (1953present), The State respects and protects all lawful activities of Buddhists and of followers of other religions, [and] mobilises and encourages Buddhist monks and novices as well as the priests of other religions to participate in activities that are beneficial to the country and people, Sanda Simms, ch. 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. [41] Under French rule, the Vietnamese were encouraged to migrate to Laos, which was seen by the French colonists as a rational solution to a labour shortage within the confines of an Indochina-wide colonial space. The airport in Paske was completed in 2009 with one terminal for both international and domestic flights. The capital is Vientiane (Lao: Viangchan), located on the Mekong River in the northern portion of the country. Fa Ngum, with 10,000 Khmer troops, conquered many Lao principalities in the Mekong river basin, culminating in the capture of Vientiane. When Fa Ngum was a baby, his grandfather, the reigning king, expelled Fa Ngum's father . For example, Khammu farmers in Luang Prabang plant the rice variety khao kam in small quantities near the farm house in memory of dead parents, or at the edge of the rice field to indicate that parents are still alive.[162]. [13] After a period of internal conflict, Lan Xang broke into three separate kingdoms: Luang Phrabang, Vientiane and Champasak. When he died without an heir, the kingdom split into three principalities. Situated on a curve of the Mekong River, Laos's Capital has a recorded history that stretches back to around 1,000 AD. Vientiane is the capital and largest city in Laos. Foreign enterprises must report on their performance annually and submit annual financial statements to MPI. Visiting Vientiane, Laos, elicits such a diversity of opinions from travelers, it's often hard . [47], The foreign relations of Laos after the takeover by the Pathet Lao in December 1975 were characterised by a hostile posture toward the West, with the government of the Lao PDR aligning itself with the Soviet Bloc, maintaining close ties with the Soviet Union and depending heavily on the Soviets for most of its foreign assistance. 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. [46], During the First Indochina War, the Indochinese Communist Party formed the Pathet Lao independence organisation. [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. The Lao PDR is one of the world's few socialist states openly endorsing communism. [141] Access rose rapidly from 10 percent in 1995 to 38 percent in 2008. The small nation is bordered by China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. The French language's decline was slower and occurred later than in Vietnam and Cambodia in Laos as the monarchy of Laos had close political relations with France. In 1899, Vientiane became the capital of the French protectorate of Laos, which ensured further development in the city. Vientiane is the largest city with an area of 3,920km and the most populous in Laos with a population of 562,244. The major roads connecting to urban centres, in particular Route 13, have been significantly upgraded in recent years. [citation needed], The Lao government controls all media channels to prevent critique of its actions. Vientiane, pronounced as "Viang-chan" in Lao, has been the Laotian capital city for 453 years. Laos financed the remaining 30% with loans from . Hanoi shares experience with Lao NA delegation. 783.322 c phiu cn li tip tc c FPT Capital . Pakse. 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. France remained in de facto control until 22 October 1953, when Laos gained full independence as a constitutional monarchy. In 1893, the three territories came under a French protectorate and were united to form what is now known as Laos. The national basketball team competed at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games where it beat Myanmar in the eighth place game.[185]. Jaew can refer to any type of dipping sauce, of which Laos has a never ending abundance. 500 BC - The Plain of Jars, one of the most important prehistoric sites in Southeast Asia, dates from between 500 BC and 500 AD. According to linguistic and other historical evidence, Tai-speaking tribes migrated southwestward to the modern territories of Laos and Thailand from Guangxi sometime between the 8th and 10th centuries. Address: 133 Chanthakhoummarn Road, Chanthabouly district. settlement scattered around a Hindu temple. The mountainous geography of Laos had impeded Laos's ground transportation development throughout the 20th century. [101] On 25 September 2009, Laos ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, nine years after signing the treaty. The rebellion failed, and Vientiane was ransacked. The city's central river port location in a country relying heavily on its rivers for transportation and its surrounding hinterland of intensive rice cultivation have made Vientiane the major economic centre of Laos. Vientiane Capital is the home to the most significant . [129], In 2018, the country ranked 139th on the Human Development Index (HDI), indicating medium development. There are some public holidays, festivities and ceremonies in Laos. 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. [citation needed], Massive aerial bombardments against the PAVN/Pathet Lao forces were carried out by the United States to prevent the collapse of the Kingdom of Laos central government, and to deny the use of the Ho Chi Minh Trail to attack US forces in South Vietnam. Lao People's Democratic Republic or Laos (), is a country in southeast Asia. The city was destroyed, valuables and historical artifacts were looted, and the population fled. Laos is a part of the Southeast Asian region. The proto-historic period is characterised by contact with Chinese and Indian civilisations. The Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand, where the mountains of the Annamite Range form most of the eastern border with Vietnam and the Luang Prabang Range the northwestern border with the Thai highlands. Capital: Vientiane. [155], The adult literacy rate for women in 2017 was 62.9%; for adult men, 78.1%. Other terms are Khmu, Khamu (Kammu) or Kha as the Lao Loum refer to them to indicate their Austroasiatic language affiliation. The 1957 document was abrogated in December 1975, when a communist people's republic was proclaimed. Laos is a landlocked country located in the Indochinese Peninsula. [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. [149], Hill people and minority cultures of Laos such as the Hmong, Yao (Mien) (Hmong-Mien), Dao, Shan, and several Tibeto-Burman speaking peoples have lived in isolated regions of Laos for many years. Browse 13,220 laos capital stock photos and images available, or search for laos culture or thailand to find more great stock photos and pictures. Of the almost $6 billion cost for the China-Laos railway, the Chinese government will pay 70 percent. The Lao government has been working with the International Rice Research Institute of the Philippines to collect seed samples of each of the thousands of rice varieties found in Laos. The only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). All things considered, it . The remainder, particularly in rural areas, speak ethnic minority languages. About 3km to the north of the city, it is easy to reach the centre from the airport by taxi, tuk tuk or bus. [68] Laos also maintained a "special relationship" with Vietnam and formalised a 1977 treaty of friendship and cooperation that created tensions with China. [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). In 1990 only 8% of the rural population had access to improved sanitation. 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. The Pathet Lao were backed militarily by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and the Viet Cong. Between 20,000 and 62,000 Laotians died during the civil war. It is evident throughout the country, expressed in language, temples and the arts and literature. Laos's first expressway, the VientianeBoten Expressway, parallels both Route 13 and the BotenVientiane railway; the first section from Vientiane to Vang Vieng was opened in 2020, with other sections under construction. [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. Lao Basics: An Introduction to the Lao Language. Laos(nume oficial: Republica Popular Democrat Laos) este un stat fr ieire la mare din Asia de Sud-Est, ce se nvecineaz cu Birmania (Myanmar) i China la nord-est, cu Vietnamul la est, cu Cambodgia la sud i cu Thailanda la vest. Laos is the only landlocked nation in Southeast Asia. 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. [133], The tourism sector has grown rapidly, from 80,000 international visitors in 1990, to 1.876million in 2010,[134] when tourism had been expected to rise to US$1.5857billion by 2020. This article is about the country in Southeast Asia. The National University of Laos, one of the country's three universities, is located in Vientiane. According to independent non-profit/non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Amnesty International,[104] Human Rights Watch,[105] and Civil Rights Defenders,[106] along with the US State Department,[107] serious human rights violations such as arbitrary detentions, disappearances, free speech restrictions, prison abuses and other violations are an ongoing problem. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. [9] Durante o quarto milnio a.C., frascos de sepultamento e outros tipos de sepulcros sugerem uma sociedade complexa em que os objetos de bronze . Between 1995 and 2008 approximately 1,232,900 more people had access to improved sanitation in rural areas. If you drive into town, you might not even realize when you're actually in the city proper, as Vientiane blends seamlessly with the countryside. 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. [76] As many as 200,000 Hmong went into exile in Thailand, with many ending up in the US. [74] Their Russian-built Antonov AN 74-300 with 20 people on board crashed in Xiangkhouang Province. [141] Laos's progress is notable in comparison to similar developing countries. The Pha That Luang Temple in Vientiane, Laos. [141] The authorities in Laos have recently developed an innovative regulatory framework for publicprivate partnership contracts signed with small enterprises, in parallel with more conventional regulation of state-owned water enterprises. [53] In 1979, there were 50,000 PAVN troops stationed in Laos and as many as 6,000 civilian Vietnamese officials including 1,000 directly attached to the ministries in Vientiane. The capital city has more of a small town feel than that of a capital. [127] Of the potential capacity of approximately 18,000 megawatts, around 8,000 megawatts have been committed for export to Thailand and Vietnam. [163] The first feature-length film made after the monarchy was abolished is Gun Voice from the Plain of Jars, directed by Somchith Pholsena in 1983, although its release was prevented by a censorship board. [130] According to the Global Hunger Index (2018), Laos ranks as the 36th hungriest nation in the world out of the list of the 52 nations with the worst hunger situation(s). Most of the population (63%) resides within . [65] Provinces are further divided into districts (muang) and then villages (ban). President Biden committed the United States to be the world's arsenal . 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. Laos is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement, the ASEAN, East Asia Summit, and La Francophonie. [47][46], In 1968, the PAVN launched a multi-division attack to help the Pathet Lao fight the RLA. 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]. [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. "Last month, they the authorities told us they're going to . Laos is a landlocked country on the Indo-Chinese peninsula between Thailand and Vietnam. [43] Otherwise, according to Martin Stuart-Fox, the Lao might well have lost control over their own country. [113] A number of citizens, primarily women and girls from all ethnic groups and foreigners, have been victims of sex trafficking in Laos. Political power is centralized in the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. [147] Ten percent belong to other "lowland" groups, which together with the Lao people make up the Lao Loum (lowland people). Laosul i are originile n Imperiul Lan Xang ce a existat ntre secolele XIV i XVIII.. Dup o perioad de apartenen la Imperiul Colonial . In 2017, Laos suffered fiscal and monetary difficulties which resulted in low levels of foreign reserves. Laos is divided into 17 provinces (khoueng) and one prefecture (kampheng nakhon), which includes the capital city Vientiane (Nakhon Louang Viangchan). Laos became independent in 1953, with a constitutional monarchy under Sisavang Vong. Its thickly forested landscape consists mostly of rugged mountains, the highest of which is Phou Bia at 2,818 metres (9,245ft), with some plains and plateaus. Laos Local Tour Company offers Laos tours, tailor made vacation packages travel services. Tuy nhin, cng ty ch giao dch c 216.678 c phiu theo phng thc tha thun do cha t k vng v gi. However, only slightly more than half of the population speaks Lao natively. [97] The organisation also raised concerns in relation to freedom of expression, poor prison conditions, restrictions on freedom of religions, protection of refugees and asylum-seekers, and the death penalty. [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. 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. Jaew. At the heart of the Indochinese Peninsula, Laos is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and southwest. The attack resulted in the RLA largely demobilising, leaving the conflict to irregular ethnic Hmong forces of the "Secret Army" backed by the United States and Thailand, and led by General Vang Pao. Vientiane, Laos - Jul 29, 1998: Tuk-tuk and Patuxai Triumphal arch in Lane Xang Avenue. [38] France rescued King Oun Kham and added Luang Phrabang to the protectorate of French Indochina. Traveling to Laos and visiting Vientiane capital, you must not miss Wat Sisaket temple. The International Monetary Fund ranked Laos 36th out of 42 Asian countries in 2018. Moreover, 130,000 deaths can be attributed to the civil war. Many elements of Lao culture predate Buddhism. 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. [citation needed], Laos's emergence from international isolation has been marked through improved and expanded relations with other countries including Russia, China, Thailand, Australia, Germany, Italy, Japan and Switzerland. Bounchao Pichit, "Laos Cinema," in David Hanan, ed., General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, Politburo of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, "Results of Population and Housing Census 2015", "Lao People's Democratic Republic's Constitution of 1991 with Amendments through 2003", https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2012/12/globalReligion-tables.pdf, "World Economic Outlook Database, April 2022", "Lao People's Democratic Republic and the WTO", "China train project runs roughshod over Laos", "Laos approves Xayaburi 'mega' dam on Mekong", "Laos Securities Exchange to start trading", "10 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Laos", "Anatomically modern human in Southeast Asia (Laos) by 46 ka", "Archaeological Investigations in northern Laos: New contributions to Southeast Asian prehistory", "History and Practice of Archaeology in Laos", Pittayaporn, Pittayawat (2014). 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. Gunderson, Steve (18 May 1996) "State Department Outlines Resettlement Guidelines for Hmong Refugees". 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. [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. [46], The official and majority language is Lao, a language of the Tai-Kadai language family. [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. There are many traditions and rituals associated with rice production in different environments and among many ethnic groups. [156] Laos was ranked 117th in the Global Innovation Index in 2021 down from 113rd in 2020.[157][158][159][160][161]. [143], The term "Laotian" does not necessarily refer to the Lao language, ethnic Lao people, language or customs. ", "Laos Deputy PM Douangchay Phichit dies in plane crash", "Laos plane crash kills defence minister and senior officials", "Lao Defense Chief Among Plane Crash Victims", "Hmong Leader's Vanishing In Laos Reverberates in U.S.", Reports on results of investigations of allegations concerning the welfare of Hmong refugees and asylum seekers in Thailand and Laos, "Refugee Admissions Program for East Asia", "History of the Hmong Resettlement Task Force", Report on the situation in the Xaysomboun Special Zone and 1100 Hmong-Lao refugees who escaped to Petchabun, Thailand during 20042005, Thailand: EU Presidency Declaration on the situation of Hmong refugees, "Hmong refugees facing removal from Thailand", Deportation of Hmong Lao refugees stopped in last minute, Hmong: UNHCR Protests Refugee Deportation, "Somsanga's Secrets | Arbitrary Detention, Physical Abuse, and Suicide inside a Lao Drug Detention Center", "In charts: How the Philippines fares in Southeast Asia", "Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review: Eighth session of the UPR Working Group of the Human Rights Council", "Human Rights Watch Concerns on Laos Submitted in advance of the EU-Laos Human Rights Dialogue October 2015", "Human Rights Abuses in Laos Must be Tackled Now", "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016", "Free former student leaders arbitrarily detained for 17 years", "Amnesty International Report 2016/17: Laos", "Laos, Vietnam troops kill Hmong Christians", "Laos, Vietnam troops kill four Hmong Christians: NGO", "Two teenagers rescued from forced prostitution in Laos", "Chinese marriage proposals become prostitution nightmares for some Lao girls", "Communism and Capitalism Are Mixing in Laos", https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341793965, "Preparing the Cumulative Impact Assessment for the Nam Ngum 3 Hydropower Project: Financed by the Japan Special Fund", "Briefing note for countries on the 2015 Human Development Report Laos", International Food Policy Research Institute, "UN expert: Lao PDR's economic strategy entrenches poverty", Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, European Council On Tourism And Trade Delegation Visit To Laos-World Best Tourist Destination European Council On Tourism And Trade, "The Lao People's Democratic Republic's Vision for Ecotourism", "China's BRI and its High-Speed Railways to Nowhere", "Focales n 8. [49] Due to the particularly heavy impact of cluster bombs during this war, Laos was a strong advocate of the Convention on Cluster Munitions to ban the weapons and was host to the First Meeting of States Parties to the convention in November 2010. Shortly after, the Kingdom of Champasak and the territory of Vientiane were added to the protectorate. [12] Its capital and largest city is Vientiane. 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. (Lao: , pronounced Loo-ang pah-bang and also spelled Louangphrabang, is the former capital of Laos and a UNESCO World Heritage city. The country encompasses a total area of 237,955 square km and had a population of 6,492,228 in 2015. What is the Difference Between Democrats and Republicans. AFP. [179] Only 3.5% of women and 2.1% of men between the ages of 1549 were in a polygamous union as of 2017. While some Hmong people returned to Laos voluntarily, with development assistance from UNHCR, allegations of forced repatriation surfaced. [citation needed], According to estimates, around 300,000 people fled to Thailand as a consequence of governmental repressions. Laos was then dependent on military and economic aid from the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991. Ninety-three percent of households have a telephone, either fixed line or mobile. 1353 - Lan Xang (Million Elephants) Kingdom, founded in the 14th century by Fa Ngum. In 1977, a communist newspaper promised the party would hunt down the "American collaborators" and their families "to the last root". Muay Lao is an ancient martial art practiced throughout Laos, but mainly in the capital of Vientiane. History of Laos. 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. Zaisan Memorial,Ulan Bator,Mongolia. Cities []. [139]:8 Electricity is available to 93% of the population. [27] Burial jars and other kinds of sepulchers suggest a complex society in which bronze objects appeared around 1500 BC, and iron tools were known from 700 BC. The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos) is a developing country ruled by a one-party, Communist government. [90][91][92][93] The Thai foreign ministry has said that it will halt deportation of Hmong refugees held in Detention Centres in Nong Khai, while talks are underway to resettle them in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and the United States. [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. 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. [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. He encouraged a renaissance of Lao fine arts and literature and improved relations with Luang Phrabang. [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. Since the founding of the Lao PDR in 1975, very few films have been made in Laos. [citation needed], On 2 December 1975, after taking control of the country, the Pathet Lao government under Kaysone Phomvihane renamed the country as the Lao People's Democratic Republic and signed agreements giving Vietnam the right to station armed forces and to appoint advisers to assist in overseeing the country. Sticky rice is a staple food and has cultural and religious significance to the Lao people. [65] [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. Its international borders were closed except to trucks carrying goods and in cases allowed by the nation's COVID . [181], Association football is the most popular sport in Laos. However, historians claim the city was an ancient Khmer settlement that formed around a Hindu temple. Asia. The streets are lined with trees, French colonial buildings, street markets, Buddhist temples, and noodle shops. In 1996 as the deadline for the closure of Thai refugee camps approached, and under mounting political pressure, the United States agreed to resettle Hmong refugees who passed a new screening process. It is stretched out on the north-eastern bank of a bend in the Mekong River. "[132], The country's most widely recognised product may well be Beerlao, which in 2017 was exported to more than 20 countries worldwide. Besides, this place is also considered a library containing many ancient books written by hand on palm leaves. [144], The people of Laos are often categorised by their distribution by elevation: (lowlands, midlands and upper high lands) as this somewhat correlates with ethnic groupings.