This section covers many valuable resources on Laos such as the travel guides or tips to travelers. Some of the topics contain links to the other related sites of similar subjects. In certain topic, we include lists of useful contacting address for your information.
INTRODUCTIONS:
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Laos is a small landlocked country in the Indochinese Peninsula and sparsely populated. The country covers 236,800 square kilometers. It shares the borders with China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar.
Laos is within tropics between latitudes 14 and 23 degrees and longitudes 100 and 108 degrees. Two main physical features, rivers and mountains, cover 70 percent of the country.
The official language is Lao. The Lao language is monosyllabic and tonal. The polysyllabic words are occasionally found particularly in literary writing of Sanskrit in Pali origins. English and French are widely spoken, but it is very helpful, if one develops some knowledge to the Lao language.
Buddhism plays an important role in the life of the Lao people and has given them a deserved reputation for friendliness, gentleness, kindness, gaiety and wisdom.
LA0S COUNRTY FACT FILE
Government: People’s Supreme Assembly, President of the Republic, Council of Ministers
Flag: A red band at top and bottom, with a large blue band between, on which is centered a large white circle.
People: Lao or Laotian
Population: 4.8 million (1998)
Density: 16 inhabitants / sq. km
Ethnic Groups: Lao 48%, tribal Thai 14%, Sino-Tibetan (including the H’mong and Yao) 13%, Mon-Khmer 25%, Vietnamese and Chinese 1%
Language: Original “Lao”
Foreign Languages: English, French, German, Russian and others
Geography: Area: 236,800 sq km (91430 square miles). Location: Indochina Peninsula
Capital: Vientiane
Terrain: Rugged Mountains, dense jungle and plateau, except along the Mekong Plain
Climate: Tropical Monsoon with 2 main seasons – dry season (Oct-Apr), and Rainy Season (May-Sept)
Natural Resources: Tin, Timber, hydroelectric power, iron, coal, gold, copper, precious stones, potassium, phosphorite, gypsum, salt, petroleum
Agriculture: Rice, corn, tobacco, coffee, cotton, beans, cardamon, benzoine, stick lac, fruits
Industry: Tin, gypsum, mining, lumber, textiles, beverages, bricks, tiles, pottery, cigarettes, and cement.
Handicrafts: Carvings, silk, cotton, silver, pottery, jewelry, traditional musical instruments, wicherware, and etc.
TRADE
Exports: Chiefly hydroelectricity, timber, coffee, tin, gypsum, cardamon, benzoin, trattan, plywood, garments
Market: Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Europe, China, Canada and others
Imports: Foodstuff, machinery, fuel, manufactured goods
