query: What is the capital of Laos?

title: Culture of Laos

text: a number of crafts for the tourist industry around Luang Prabang. Laos has a 21% urban concentration, with the largest city being capital of Vientiane (est. 500,000 population). The rate of urbanization is growing in Laos but is considerably lower than any of the bordering countries of Vietnam, Thailand or Cambodia. Most of the Lao population is agrarian. The ancient capital of Lan Xang, which is today’s capital of Vientiane, was thoroughly destroyed as a consequence of the Annouvong Rebellion of the 1820s. As part of French Indochina, the ancient capital was rebuilt as a conscious political statement to both

title: National University of Laos

text: National University of Laos The National University of Laos (NUOL) is a university in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Founded in 1996, with departments brought in from other existing colleges, it is the only national university in the country. The NUOL accepts students from all over Laos, along with international students. The university is a partner of the Greater Mekong Sub-region Academic and Research Network (GMSARN) and ASEAN University Network (AUN). National University of Laos "NUOL" was established by merging the higher education institutes which were under the supervision of several ministries into one university under the Ministry of Education

title: National University of Laos

text: e-Learning has been being done in NUOL. National University of Laos The National University of Laos (NUOL) is a university in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Founded in 1996, with departments brought in from other existing colleges, it is the only national university in the country. The NUOL accepts students from all over Laos, along with international students. The university is a partner of the Greater Mekong Sub-region Academic and Research Network (GMSARN) and ASEAN University Network (AUN). National University of Laos "NUOL" was established by merging the higher education institutes which were under the supervision of several ministries into

title: Provinces of Laos

text: Provinces of Laos Laos is divided into provinces (Lao ແຂວງ, , "khoeng", "qwang" or "khoueng") and 1 prefecture (kampheng nakhon) plus the Vientiane Capital city municipality (ນະຄອນຫຼວງ, nakhon louang, or "Na Kone Luang Vientiane"). The special administrative zone (ເຂດພິເສດ, "khet phiset"), Xaisomboun, created in 1994, was dissolved on January 13, 2006. In 2013, parts of the former special administrative zone was reestablished as Xaisomboun Province. The population of each province in 2005 is given in the census data, ranging from the largest (Savannakhet) to smallest (Sekong). In 1989 Vientiane prefecture was split from Vientiane province and the capital of Vientiane

title: Demographics of Laos

text: Demographics of Laos This article is about the demographic features of the population of Laos, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Laos' population was estimated at about /1e6 round 2 million in , dispersed unevenly across the country. Most people live in valleys of the Mekong River and its tributaries. Vientiane Prefecture, which includes Vientiane, the capital and largest city of the country, had about 569,000 residents in 1999. The country's population density is 23.4/km. In March 2005, the total population was 5.62 million (2.82 million

title: Demographics of Laos

text:
Lao (official), French, English, Vietnamese, and various ethnic languages Literacy:
"definition:" age 15 and over can read and write
"total population:" 73%
"male:" 83%
"female:" 63% (2005 est.) Demographics of Laos This article is about the demographic features of the population of Laos, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Laos' population was estimated at about /1e6 round 2 million in , dispersed unevenly across the country. Most people live in valleys of the Mekong River and its tributaries. Vientiane Prefecture, which includes Vientiane, the capital and

title: Economy of Laos

text: Kunming, China to Vientiane, Laos. The country opened a stock exchange, the Lao Securities Exchange in 2011, and has become a rising regional player in its role as a hydroelectric power supplier to neighbors such as China, Vietnam and Thailand. In the current period, the economy of Laos relies largely on foreign direct investment to attract the capital from overseas to support its continual economic rigorousness. Despite rapid growth, Laos remains one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia. A landlocked country, it has inadequate infrastructure and a largely unskilled work force. Nonetheless, Laos continues to attract foreign investment as

title: French Protectorate of Laos

text: Laotian territory and gave the territory its modern-day name of Laos. Following Siam's acceptance of the ultimatum, to cede the lands east of the Mekong including its islands, the Protectorate of Laos was officially established and the administrative capital moved from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. However, Luang Prabang remained the seat of the royal family, whose power was reduced to figureheads while the actual power was transferred over to French officials including the vice consulate and Resident-General. In January 1896, France and the United Kingdom signed an accord recognising the border between French Laos and British Burma. In 1898, Laos

title: Laos

text: King Sisavang Vong of Luang Phrabang became ruler of a unified Laos and Vientiane once again became the capital. Laos never had any importance for France other than as a buffer state between Thailand and the more economically important Annam and Tonkin. During their rule, the French introduced the corvée, a system that forced every male Lao to contribute 10 days of manual labour per year to the colonial government. Laos produced tin, rubber, and coffee, but never accounted for more than one percent of French Indochina's exports. By 1940, around 600 French citizens lived in Laos. Under the French

title: Geography of Laos

text: in Lao, or the swidden cultivation system practiced in the hills. Laos has a smaller population than most countries in South East Asia. The first comprehensive national population census of Laos was taken in 1985; it recorded a population of about 3.57 million. In 1987, the population was officially stated as 3,830,000 and the capital city, Vientiane, had a population of 120,000. The annual growth was estimated at between 2.6 and 3.0 percent. The national birth rate is estimated at about forty-five per 1,000, while the dead rate estimates at around sixteen per 1,000. The fertility rates are higher between

title: Military Regions of Laos

text: at Vientiane and later at Long Tieng northwest of the Plain of Jars in the Xiangkhoang Province, the MR 2 covered the North-eastern Laos. Its original military commander in 1955 was Major (later, General) Sang Kittarath, replaced in mid-1962 by Colonel Khamkong Bouddavong. It was later placed under the command of Major-General Vang Pao, the Hmong (Meo) guerrilla war hero of Laos. The provinces of Military Region 3 (French: "Région Militaire 3") are mapped and listed below. Headquartered at Savannakhet, capital of Savannakhet Province, the MR 3 covered the Upper Laotian Panhandle in central Laos. Its original commanding officer in

title: Laos

text: 1373, where he died. Fa Ngum's eldest son, Oun Heuan, ascended to the throne under the name Samsenthai and reigned for 43 years. Lan Xang became an important trade centre during Samsenthai's reign, but after his death in 1421 it collapsed into warring factions for 100 years. In 1520, Photisarath came to the throne and moved the capital from Luang Prabang to Vientiane to avoid a Burmese invasion. Setthathirat became king in 1548, after his father was killed, and ordered the construction of what became the symbol of Laos, That Luang. Setthathirat disappeared in the mountains on his way back

title: Laos

text: ambitious plan to move massive Vietnamese population to three key areas, i.e. the Vientiane Plain, Savannakhet region, Bolaven Plateau, which was only discarded by Japanese invasion of Indochina. Otherwise, according to Martin Stuart-Fox, the Lao might well have lost control over their own country. During World War II in Laos, Vichy France, fascist Thailand, Imperial Japan, Free France, and Chinese nationalist armies occupied Laos. On 9 March 1945, a nationalist group declared Laos once more independent, with Luang Prabang as its capital but on 7 April 1945 two battalions of Japanese troops occupied the city. The Japanese attempted to force

title: History of Laos

text: of the alliance against Germany and Austria-Hungary that fought the First World War. The agreement established respective spheres of influence in Southeast Asia, although French territorial claims would continue until 1907 in Cambodia. The French Protectorate of Laos established two and at times three administrative regions governed from Vietnam in 1893. It was not until 1899 that Laos became centrally administered by a single Resident Superieur based in Savannakhet, and later in Vientiane. The French chose to establish Vientiane as the colonial capital for two reasons, firstly it was more centrally located between the central provinces and Luang Prabang, and

title: Laos

text: the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), East Asia Summit and La Francophonie. Laos applied for membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1997; on 2 February 2013, it was granted full membership. It is a one-party socialist republic espousing Marxism–Leninism governed by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, in which the party leadership is dominated by military figures. The capital and largest city is Vientiane. Other major cities include Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Pakse. The official language is Lao. Laos is a multi-ethnic country, with the politically and culturally dominant Lao people making up about

title: Laos

text: a median age of 21.6 years. Laos's population was estimated at /1e6 round 1 million in , dispersed unevenly across the country. Most people live in valleys of the Mekong River and its tributaries. Vientiane prefecture, the capital and largest city, had about 740,010 residents in 2008. The country's population density was 27/km. The people of Laos are often considered by their altitudinal distribution (lowlands, midlands and upper high lands) as this approximates ethnic groups. More than half of the nation's population is ethnic Lao—the principal lowland inhabitants, and the politically and culturally dominant people of Laos. The Lao belong

title: Vietnamese people in Laos

text: of Vietnam" stated 30,000. "Ethnologue"' states that there are 79,000 Vietnamese speakers in Laos. In the Laotian capital of Vientiane, the Nguyen Du Kindergarten and Elementary School enrolls 2,000 students of both Vietnamese and Lao origin, providing them with an education using Vietnamese as the medium of instruction. Another organisation is the Association of Vietnamese People in Laos "(Tổng hội người Việt Nam tại Lào)", which has organised various activities such as football games between Vietnamese and Lao people, as well as collecting donations for charitable activities. Vietnamese people in Laos There is a large community of Vietnamese people in

title: Freedom of the press in Laos

text: service providers must submit quarterly reports and provide article links to the government to facilitate monitoring. People and internet service providers who violate controls will be punished, and online criticism of the government and the Communist Party is prohibited. The government does not block major foreign news sources and it is unable to control blogging or the establishment of new websites. Though international news from foreign news sources have limited exposure in Laos, foreign publications are difficult to find outside its capital, Vientiane. "Newsweek", "The Economist", "Time" and "the Bangkok Post" are available in Vientiane minimarkets. In 2011, the Vietnamese

title: Laos

text: four centuries as one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. Due to Lan Xang's central geographical location in Southeast Asia, the kingdom became a popular hub for overland trade, becoming wealthy economically as well as culturally. After a period of internal conflict, Lan Xang broke off into three separate kingdoms—Luang Phrabang, Vientiane and Champasak. In 1893, it became a French protectorate, with the three territories uniting to form what is now known as the country of Laos. It briefly gained freedom in 1945 after Japanese occupation, but was recolonised by France until it won autonomy in 1949. Laos became

title: History of Laos since 1945

text: Champassak family. He commanded this area for almost a decade and a half until finally replaced by the author, Brigadier General Soutchay Vongsavanh, in July 1971. Military Region V contained Borikhane and Vientiane Provinces, the capital province of Laos, was headquartered at Chinaimo Army Camp and was led by Major General Kouprasith Abhay until he was replaced by Brigadier General Thongligh Chokbeng Boun in July 197l Between 1964 and 1968 the conflict in Laos was essentially between the US-supported government forces and the Pathēt Lao, backed by North Vietnam. The Pathēt Lao in these years was not a real threat

title: Presidential Palace (Laos)

text: the Vientiane suburb of Ban Phonthan. The palace is lit up in the evening and offers a great opportunity for night photography. Presidential Palace (Laos) The Presidential Palace is the official residence of the President of Laos, who, informally, also holds the position of General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. It is located on the banks of the Mekong River in the capital city, Vientiane. Located near Sisaket Temple in the junction of Lane Xang Avenue and Settathirath Road, the building was first started in 1973 by the then Royal Lao Government on the grounds that used to

title: Presidential Palace (Laos)

text: Presidential Palace (Laos) The Presidential Palace is the official residence of the President of Laos, who, informally, also holds the position of General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. It is located on the banks of the Mekong River in the capital city, Vientiane. Located near Sisaket Temple in the junction of Lane Xang Avenue and Settathirath Road, the building was first started in 1973 by the then Royal Lao Government on the grounds that used to house the royal residence. It was designed by local architect Khamphoung Phonekeo but due to political change brought about by the takeover

title: Culture of Laos

text: of That Luang an important stupa for Buddhist pilgrimage, the Haw Phra Kaew which formerly housed the Emerald Buddha, Wat Sisaket which was built by King Annouvong in the Bangkok style and was spared destruction in the 1820s, and Wat Xieng Thong which was built in 1560 when the capital of Lan Xang was moved to Vientiane. There are three distinct types of temple construction in Laos depending on the region and the age of the temple. The Luang Prabang style of temple is best exemplified by Wat Xieng Thong, which shows a low sweeping tiered roof. The Vientiane style

title: Transport in Laos

text: part of the new railway line started operations. It spans from Yuxi, south of Kunming, capital of China's southern Yunnan province, to Mengzi on the route to the Vietnamese border, and is mainly intended for freight transport with a maximum speed of . The new line replaces the 100-year-old, Kunming-Haiphone line, which had a speed of just . On 2 December 2015, Laos with China officially began about the construction of a railway from Vientiane to the Chinese border. The railway will stretch , from the Laos-China borderline in Phongsaly Province to Vientiane. The rail will be connected with the

title: Freedom of the press in Laos

text: "Nhân Dân" (The People) and the Chinese "Xinhua News Agency" were allowed to open bureaus in Vientiane. The indicative relationship between media and government protects journalists to some extent, since media needs approval before publication and their news sources are mostly government. Now there are three known journalists imprisoned in Laos due to violations of the media law. Freedom of the press in Laos Laos has one of the most restrictive media environments in the world. In 2016, Reporters Without Borders ranked Laos 173 out of 179 on its annual Press Freedom Index, behind countries such as Cuba and Iran.

title: Politics of Laos

text: plural): Attapu, Bokeo, Borikhamxay, Champassack, Houaphan, Khammouane, Louang Namtha, Luangphabang, Oudomxay, Phongsaly, Saravane, Savannakhet, Saysomboune, Sekong, Vientiane*, Vientiane, Sayaboury, Xieng Khouang. Politics of Laos The politics of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (commonly known as Laos) takes place in the framework of a one-party socialist republic. The only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). The "de jure" head of state is President Bounnhang Vorachith, who also is LPRP general secretary making him the "de facto" leader of Laos. The head of government is Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. Government policies are determined by the party through the

title: Laos

text: the northwestern border with the Thai highlands. There are two plateaux, the Xiangkhoang in the north and the Bolaven Plateau at the southern end. The climate is tropical and influenced by the monsoon pattern. There is a distinct rainy season from May to November, followed by a dry season from December to April. Local tradition holds that there are three seasons (rainy, cold and hot) as the latter two months of the climatologically defined dry season are noticeably hotter than the earlier four months. The capital and largest city of Laos is Vientiane and other major cities include Luang Prabang,

title: Miss Universe Laos

text: National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos. 10 contestants competed for the title of Miss Universe Laos 2017: Miss Universe Laos Miss Universe Laos (in Lao: ມີສຢູນີເວີສ ລາວ) is a national Beauty pageant in Laos. Miss Universe Laos was founded in 2015 by TV Lao Network, which is the current franchise holder of Miss Universe in Laos. <nowiki> </nowiki>The Miss Laos company holds a separate national pageant, the Miss Universe Laos competition. The winner will be the official representative of Laos at the Miss Universe beauty pageant. The pageant is broadcast live on TV Lao HD. Color key Miss Universe Laos

title: Transport in Laos

text: in Hà Tĩnh Province, which would provide landlocked Laos with access to the South China Sea. According to plans established by ASEAN, the line may also be extended via Thakhek all the way to the Laotian capital Vientiane. Both Laos and Thailand have expressed interest in the project as a shorter export gateway to the Pacific Ocean. By 2012, the Thakhek project was not in the news anymore; but a project for another, somewhat more southern, line to Vietnam, now from Savannakhet, was announced instead. An agreement for the construction of this , $5 billion line, was signed on Nov

title: Geology of Laos

text: surface. The Yunnan-Malay fold belt originated from closure of two sedimentary basins and is a prominent feature. Only a few major intrusions are known such as Early Triassic granodiorite near Pak Lay and gabbro near Sayaboury. Laos has small amounts of tin, gypsum, limestone and coal and previously has alluvial sapphire, copper and salt mining. The country has extensive salt and gypsum deposits as well as potash near Vientiane, possible bauxite on the Bolovens Plateau and some iron deposits. Laterite deposits contain some cassiterite. Geology of Laos The geology of Laos includes poorly defined oldest rocks. Marine conditions persisted for

title: Martyrs of Laos

text: their approval to the cause on 27 November 2014 while the C.C.S. also voted in favor on 2 June 2015. Pope Francis confirmed the group were martyrs on 5 June 2015 and approved their beatification. The beatification was celebrated in Vientiane Cathedral on 11 December 2016 in which Cardinal Orlando Quevedo presided on the pope's behalf. The current postulator for both these causes is the Rev. Thomas Kosterkamp. Martyrs of Laos The Blessed Martyrs of Laos are seventeen Catholic priests and professed religious as well as one lay young man venerated as martyrs killed in Laos between 1954 and 1970

title: Kingdom of Laos

text: they advanced on to Vientiane. On 2 December 1975 in Vientiane, Prince Vong Savang submitted the letter of abdication of King Savang Vatthana to the Pathet Lao. The Lao People's Democratic Republic was established with Prince Souphanouvong as President. Kaysone Phomvihane acted as Prime Minister and Secretary-General of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. About 30,000 to 40,000 citizens and members of the old government, including the royal family, were taken to re-education camps in remote areas of Laos after the coup. Kingdom of Laos The Kingdom of Laos was a constitutional monarchy that ruled Laos beginning with its independence on

title: History of Laos

text: occurred after the eighth century of the common era. The modern nation-state Laos emerged from the French Colonial Empire as an independent country in 1953. Laos exists in truncated form from the thirteenth century Lao kingdom of Lan Xang. Lan Xang existed as a unified kingdom from 1357–1707, divided into the three rival kingdoms of Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and Champasak from 1707–1779, fell to Siamese suzerainty from 1779–1893, and was reunified under the French Protectorate of Laos in 1893. The borders of the modern state of Laos were established by the French colonial government in the late 19th and early

title: Capital punishment in Laos

text: execution in Laos took place in 1989. Capital punishment in Laos Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Laos. Crimes that are punishable by execution include murder; terrorism; drug trafficking; drug possession; robbery; kidnapping; obstructing an officer in the performance of his public duties and causing his death or causing him physically disabled; disrupting industry, trade, agriculture or other economic activities with the intent of undermining the national economy; treason and espionage. Executions are carried out by a firing squad. In March 2009, the government of Laos reported to Amnesty International that at the end of 2008, there were 85

title: Capital punishment in Laos

text: Capital punishment in Laos Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Laos. Crimes that are punishable by execution include murder; terrorism; drug trafficking; drug possession; robbery; kidnapping; obstructing an officer in the performance of his public duties and causing his death or causing him physically disabled; disrupting industry, trade, agriculture or other economic activities with the intent of undermining the national economy; treason and espionage. Executions are carried out by a firing squad. In March 2009, the government of Laos reported to Amnesty International that at the end of 2008, there were 85 people on death row. The last known

title: History of Laos

text: polity Chenla. Chenla occupied large areas of modern-day Laos as it accounts for the earliest kingdom on Laotian soil. The capital of early Chenla was Shrestapura which was located in the vicinity of Champasak and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wat Phu. Wat Phu is a vast temple complex in southern Laos which combined natural surroundings with ornate sandstone structures, which were maintained and embellished by the Chenla peoples until 900 CE, and were subsequently rediscovered and embellished by the Khmer in the 10th century. By the 8th century CE Chenla had divided into “Land Chenla” located in Laos,

title: Route 3 (Laos)

text: Route 3 (Laos) Route 3 is an important link in the north of Laos between China and Thailand. The 197 km route begins in the provincial capital Luang Namtha, Louang Namtha Province, Laos. It runs southwestwards reaching the provincial capital of Ban Houayxay, Bokeo Province, on river Mekong. On completion of the Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge it will end there. China is interested in improving traffic routes to Southeast Asia, to be financed with together with Thailand. China has the main share in the expansion of highways in Laos. The Laotian section is part of the Kunming–Bangkok Expressway, which is

title: Route 3 (Laos)

text: part of the Asian Highway AH3. Route 3 (Laos) Route 3 is an important link in the north of Laos between China and Thailand. The 197 km route begins in the provincial capital Luang Namtha, Louang Namtha Province, Laos. It runs southwestwards reaching the provincial capital of Ban Houayxay, Bokeo Province, on river Mekong. On completion of the Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge it will end there. China is interested in improving traffic routes to Southeast Asia, to be financed with together with Thailand. China has the main share in the expansion of highways in Laos. The Laotian section is part

title: History of Laos

text: secondly the French were aware of the symbolic importance of rebuilding the former capital of the Lan Xang Kingdom which the Siamese had destroyed. As part of French Indochina both Laos and Cambodia were seen as a source of raw materials and labor for the more important holdings in Vietnam. French colonial presence in Laos was light; the Resident Superieur was responsible for all colonial administration from taxation to justice and public works. The French maintained a military presence in the colonial capital under the "Garde Indigene" made up of Vietnamese soldiers under a French commander. In important provincial cities

title: Literature of Laos

text: Xang period to the modern day. The oldest monastic school in Laos was founded by King Vixun in 1503. Throughout the areas of what are today southeast Myanmar, the Xipsongpanna in China, north and northeast Thailand, northwest Vietnam, and Laos it was common for monks, texts and even complete libraries to move between monasteries. Kingship in Laos, and Southeast Asia generally, was reinforced and legitimized by sponsorship of the sangha and acts of religious merit. In return, the most prolific teachers with royal sponsorship attracted wealthy patrons, artists, and pilgrims. As a result of itinerant monks, Buddhist texts in Laos

title: Électricité du Laos

text: included frontier markets private equity firm Leopard Capital, Thai energy company Ratchaburi Holding, Thai state-owned bank Krung Thai Bank, and Vietnamese investment firm Dragon Capital. Despite the LSX's limited liquidity, at the end of its first week of trading, EDL-Gen was up 30% from the IPO price at 5,600 Lao kip (LAK) ($0.69). 'Providing electricity to poor rural provinces of Lao PDR', article at World Bank retrieved 14 Jan 2008 Électricité du Laos Électricité du Laos "(EDL)" is the state corporation of Laos that owns and operates the country's electricity generation, electricity transmission and electricity distribution assets. The company also

title: CIA activities in Laos

text: Thong. In 1971 three journalists made it to Laos, uncovered the secret air base and attempted to expose Long Cheng to the public. Their discovery, however, did not make the front page news. US citizens were told that the US military was conducting a humanitarian mission in Laos. The media fabricated stories about the US building hospitals and providing development aid to Laos. While secret Air strikes were taken place in the provinces of Laos, Americans in the capital of Laos were unaware of the situation. The US Spent four hundred fifty four million dollar in aid to the capital

title: The Megaliths of Upper Laos

text: The Megaliths of Upper Laos The Megaliths of Upper Laos (orig. French: "Les Megaliths du Haut Laos") is a 1930 work of archaeology by Madeleine Colani, examining and cataloging approximately ten thousand megaliths in Upper Laos. Prior to Colani's work, the megaliths were considered among the more mysterious megaliths. Colani, after reviewing the Plain of Jars for decades, cataloged the megaliths and argued "convincingly" in "The Megaliths of Upper Laos" that they were urns, used in Bronze Age funerary rites. "The Megaliths of Upper Laos", a two-volume, 600-page work that both cataloged and described the artifacts, and presented Colani's theories

title: History of Laos

text: formed in 1957. The coalition government collapsed in 1958. In 1960 Captain Kong Le staged a coup when the cabinet was away at the royal capital of Luang Prabang and demanded reformation of a neutralist government. The second coalition government, once again led by Souvanna Phouma, was not successful in holding power. Rightist forces under General Phoumi Nosavan drove out the neutralist government from power later that same year. The North Vietnamese invaded Laos between 1958–1959 to create the Ho Chi Minh Trail. A second Geneva conference, held in 1961–62, provided for the independence and neutrality of Laos, but the

title: History of Laos

text: in the Isan region and were considered that "cha loei" or “war slaves” who were to serve as serfs in underpopulated areas for the Thai elite. The result changed the demographics and cultural traditions of Thailand and Laos and continues today with a five-fold disparity between the ethnic Lao living on the West Bank of the Mekong and those left in the East in what is today Laos. Although slavery existed in Lao areas before the rebellion in 1828, the defeat and subsequent removal of most ethnic Lao left a depopulated and vulnerable position for the remaining people of the

title: Catholic Church in Laos

text: of the common episcopal conference of Laos and (Indochinese neighbour) Cambodia. The Holy See has an Apostolic Delegation (papal diplomatic legation of lower rank than an embassy) to Laos. The delegation, however, is based in Bangkok, the capital of neighbouring Thailand. The papal legation to Laos is vested in the Apostolic nuncio to Thailand (as are also the papal legations to Cambodia and Myanmar). On 1899.05.04 the Apostolic Vicariate of Laos was established on territory split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Siam; it would on 1950.12.21 be renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Thare, after its new see in

title: French Protectorate of Laos

text: feared would have eventually led to a French annexation of Siam, upsetting the region's balance of power. Within French Administration in 1904, despite Cambodia's historical claim, Laos ceded Stung Treng Province in exchange of the royal capital of Champassak which was temporally under Cambodia's Administration. In addition, prior to the Holy Man's Rebellion, the province of Kontum and Pleiku was placed under the French Protectorate of Annam. Having been unsuccessful in their grand plan to annex Siam and with Laos being the least populated of its Indochinese possessions (the population was estimated to be 470,000 in 1900) and lacking seaports

title: The Megaliths of Upper Laos

text: as to their origin and use, has been described as Colani's "great contribution to archaeological literature". The book brought the megaliths to the broader attention of the Western public and scholarly community. The Megaliths of Upper Laos The Megaliths of Upper Laos (orig. French: "Les Megaliths du Haut Laos") is a 1930 work of archaeology by Madeleine Colani, examining and cataloging approximately ten thousand megaliths in Upper Laos. Prior to Colani's work, the megaliths were considered among the more mysterious megaliths. Colani, after reviewing the Plain of Jars for decades, cataloged the megaliths and argued "convincingly" in "The Megaliths of

title: What Is the What

text: What Is the What What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng is a 2006 novel written by Dave Eggers. It is based on the life of Valentino Achak Deng, a Sudanese child refugee who immigrated to the United States under the Lost Boys of Sudan program. It was a finalist for the National Book Award. As a boy, Achak is separated from his family during the Second Sudanese Civil War when the Arab militia, referred to as "murahaleen" (which is Arabic for the deported), wipes out his Dinka village, Marial Bai. During the assault, he loses sight

title: What Is the What

text: That Happens Will Happen Today". Tom Tykwer plans to adapt the novel into a film. In 2009, the novel received the Prix Médicis étranger in France. What Is the What What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng is a 2006 novel written by Dave Eggers. It is based on the life of Valentino Achak Deng, a Sudanese child refugee who immigrated to the United States under the Lost Boys of Sudan program. It was a finalist for the National Book Award. As a boy, Achak is separated from his family during the Second Sudanese Civil War when

title: History of Laos

text: of conquests by Fa Ngum. From 1353–1560 the capital of Lan Xang was Luang Prabang (known alternately as "Muang Sua" and "Xieng Dong Xieng Thong"). Under successive kings the kingdom expanded its sphere of influence over an area that now incorporates all of modern Laos, the Sipsong Chu Tai of Vietnam, Sipsong Panna of Southern China, Khorat Plateau region of Thailand, and the Stung Treng region of Northern Cambodia. Lan Xang existed as a sovereign kingdom for over 350 years. The first serious foreign invasion came from the Dai Viet in 1479, which was defeated, though leaving the capital of

title: Wildlife of Laos

text: siamensis") is found in the rivers and swamps and is critically endangered. The elongated tortoise ("Indotestudo elongata") is found in Laos, as well as two species of turtle, the Amboina box turtle ("Cuora amboinensis") and Cantor's giant softshell turtle ("Pelochelys cantorii"). Amphibians are plentiful in Laos, with some only recently being discovered, including many frogs and the Upper Laos caecilian ("Ichthyophis laosensis"), Laos warty newt ("Paramesotriton laoensis") and Laos knobby newt ("Tylototriton notialis"). The Mekong giant catfish ("Pangasianodon gigas") is a critically endangered species of fish found in the Mekong River. A number of loaches and guppies are endemic to

title: Music of Laos

text: Music of Laos Music of Laos mainly refers to the music of the Lao people, a Tai ethnic group, although it can include other ethnic groups living in Laos. The traditional music of Laos has similarities with the traditional music of Thailand and Cambodia, including the names of the instruments and influences and developments. To categorize Lao music, it seems helpful to distinguish between the nonclassical folk traditions (which are presented through the ensembles and instruments used within), the classical music traditions and its basic ensembles, and vocal traditions. The most popular form of music in Laos is the indigenous

title: President of Laos

text: the Laotian Civil War. President of Laos The President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic is the head of state of Laos. The president represents Laos internally and externally, supervises the work as well as preserving the stability of the national governmental system and safeguards the independence and territorial integrity of the country. The President appoints the prime minister, vice president, ministers and other officials with the consent of the National Assembly. The head of state is the commander-in-chief of the Lao People's Army. Since Laos is a one-party state, with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party being the sole party

title: President of Laos

text: President of Laos The President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic is the head of state of Laos. The president represents Laos internally and externally, supervises the work as well as preserving the stability of the national governmental system and safeguards the independence and territorial integrity of the country. The President appoints the prime minister, vice president, ministers and other officials with the consent of the National Assembly. The head of state is the commander-in-chief of the Lao People's Army. Since Laos is a one-party state, with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party being the sole party allowed by the constitution,

title: Culture of Laos

text: to connect Lao peoples on both the right and left banks. However, the political history of Laos has been complicated by frequent warfare and colonial conquests by European and regional rivals. As a result, Laos today has cultural influence from France, Thailand, China, Vietnam, Burma and Cambodia. The history of Laos is unique with a national character defined by its diversity in both culture and customs. , Laos has an estimated population of 6.5 million. The Lao government recognizes 47 distinct ethnicities, which are further sub-divided into 149 subgroups. Lao society is traditionally categorized into three broad groups based on

title: Culture of Laos

text: known for bell and drum dances. There are numerous regional and ethnic variations on all traditional dances in Laos. Laos has little film or media industry. Television, film, radio and internet media from neighboring Thailand is wide spread and is a source of political and cultural tension. Prior to the 1950s in Laos only documentary French photographs and rarer film footage existed. In the 1960s the Royal Lao Government produced the first feature films in Laos, "Khukhak Peunkhaen" “The True and Untrue Friend,” and "Phaenedin Khong Hao" “Our Land.” During the 1970s and 1980s propaganda films were common and the

title: Freedom of the press in Laos

text: Freedom of the press in Laos Laos has one of the most restrictive media environments in the world. In 2016, Reporters Without Borders ranked Laos 173 out of 179 on its annual Press Freedom Index, behind countries such as Cuba and Iran. The Laotian government exerts almost total control over the press. Nearly all media organizations in Laos are government-owned and some Laotian journalists are party members attached to the government. According to Article 44 of the Laos’ 2003 constitution, Lao citizens are guaranteed "the right and freedom of speech". However Article 23 of the constitution makes it clear that

title: Culture of Laos

text: largest public festival is the four-day celebration of Lao New Year or "Pi Mai". Culture of Laos Laos developed its culture and customs as the inland crossroads of trade and migration in Southeast Asia over millennia. As of 2012 Laos has a population of roughly 6.4 million spread over 236,800 km (91,400 sq miles), yielding one of the lowest population densities in Asia. Yet the country of Laos has an official count of over forty-seven ethnicities divided into 149 sub-groups and 80 different languages. The Lao Loum have throughout the country’s history comprised the ethnic and linguistic majority. In Southeast

title: Culture of Laos

text: Culture of Laos Laos developed its culture and customs as the inland crossroads of trade and migration in Southeast Asia over millennia. As of 2012 Laos has a population of roughly 6.4 million spread over 236,800 km (91,400 sq miles), yielding one of the lowest population densities in Asia. Yet the country of Laos has an official count of over forty-seven ethnicities divided into 149 sub-groups and 80 different languages. The Lao Loum have throughout the country’s history comprised the ethnic and linguistic majority. In Southeast Asia, traditional Lao culture is considered one of the Indic cultures (along with Burma,

title: Literature of Laos

text: Literature of Laos The people of Laos have a rich literary tradition dating back at least six hundred years, with the oral and storytelling traditions of its peoples dating back much earlier. Lao literature refers to the written productions of Laotian peoples, its émigrés, and to Lao-language works. In Laos today there are over forty-seven recognized ethnic groups, with the Lao Loum comprising the majority group. Lao (part of the Lao-Tai family) is officially recognized as the national language, but owing to the ethnic diversity of the country the literature of Laos can generally be grouped according to four ethnolinguistic

title: History of Laos

text: 20th centuries. Archaeological exploration in Laos has been limited due to rugged and remote topography, a history of twentieth century conflicts which have left over two million tons of unexploded ordnance throughout the country, and local sensitivities to history which involve the Communist government of Laos, village authorities and rural poverty. The first archaeological explorations of Laos began with French explorers acting under the auspices of the École française d'Extrême-Orient. However, due to the Lao Civil War it is only since the 1990s that serious archaeological efforts have begun in Laos. Since 2005, one such effort, The Middle Mekong Archaeological

title: Laos

text: to forcibly return 4,000 Hmong asylum seekers to Laos by the end of the year. The BBC later reported that repatriations had started. Both United States and United Nations officials have protested this action. Outside government representatives have not been allowed to interview this group over the last three years. Médecins Sans Frontières has refused to assist the Hmong refugees because of what they have called "increasingly restrictive measures" taken by the Thai military. The Thai military jammed all cellular phone reception and disallowed any foreign journalists from the Hmong camps. Human rights violations remain a significant concern in Laos.

title: Kingdom of Laos

text: Kingdom of Laos The Kingdom of Laos was a constitutional monarchy that ruled Laos beginning with its independence on 9 November 1953. The monarchy survived until December 1975, when its last king, Savang Vatthana, surrendered the throne to the Pathet Lao, who abolished the monarchy in favor of a Marxist state called the Lao People's Democratic Republic, which has controlled Laos since. Given self-rule with the new Constitution in 1947 as part of a federation with the rest of French Indochina, the 1953 Franco-Lao Treaty finally established a sovereign, independent Laos, but did not stipulate who would rule the country.

title: History of Laos

text: agreement meant little in reality and the war soon resumed. Growing North Vietnamese military presence in the country increasingly drew Laos into the Second Indochina War (1954–1975). As a result, for nearly a decade, eastern Laos was subjected to some of the heaviest bombing in the history of warfare , as the U.S. sought to destroy the Ho Chi Minh Trail that passed through Laos and defeat the Communist forces. The North Vietnamese also heavily backed the Pathet Lao and repeatedly invaded Laos. The government and army of Laos were backed by the USA during the conflict. The United States

title: Geography of Laos

text:
none (landlocked) Elevation extremes:
"lowest point:" Mekong River 70 m
"highest point:" Phou Bia 2,817 m "Laos". "Encyclopædia Britannica Online". Encyclopædia Britannica, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2016. Kittikhoun, Anoulak. "Small State, Big Revolution: Geography and the Revolution in Laos". "Theory & Society" 38.1 (2009): 25-55. Print. Savada, Andrea Matles, et al. "Laos : A Country Study". 3rd ed. ed. Washington, DC: Washington, DC : Federal Research Division, Library of Congress : For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O, 1995. Print. "The World Factbook: LAOS". "Central Intelligence Agency". Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2016. Geography of Laos

title: Kingdom of Laos

text: Vietnamese invasion of Laos, the Pathet Lao were backed militarily by the NVA and Vietcong. Laos was also dragged into the Vietnam War since parts of Laos were invaded and occupied by North Vietnam for use as a supply route for its war against the South. In response, the United States initiated a bombing campaign against the North Vietnamese positions, supported regular and irregular anticommunist forces in Laos, including those led by Hmong General Vang Pao, and supported South Vietnamese incursions into Laos. It also provided supplies, training and funding to the central government. In 1968, the North Vietnamese Army

title: Flag of Laos

text: Flag of Laos The flag of Laos consists of three horizontal stripes, with the middle stripe in blue being twice the height of the top and bottom red stripes. In the middle is a white disc, the diameter of the disc is the height of the blue stripe. The flag ratio is 2:3. The national flag of Laos was first adopted in 1945 under the short-lived Lao Issara government of 1945–46, then by the Pathet Lao. It is one of the two flags of a currently communist country (the other being Cuba) that does not use any communist symbolism and

title: What Is the What

text: writes: "Over the course of many years, Dave and I have collaborated to tell my story... I told [him] what I knew and what I could remember, and from that material he created this work of art." The book is typical of Eggers' style: blending non-fictional and fictional elements into a non-fiction novel or memoir. By classifying the book a novel, Eggers says, he freed himself to re-create conversations, streamline complex relationships, add relevant detail and manipulate time and space in helpful ways—all while maintaining the essential truthfulness of the storytelling. However, not all critics were impressed. Lee Siegel sees

title: Wildlife of Laos

text: Wildlife of Laos The wildlife of Laos encompasses the animals and plants found in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, a landlocked country in southeastern Asia. Part of the country is mountainous and much of it is still clad in tropical broadleaf forest. It has a great variety of animal and plant species. Laos is a land-locked country located in southeastern Asia. The northern part is mountainous, with the Luang Prabang Range separating the northwestern part of the country from Thailand. The Xiangkhoang Plateau separates these mountains from the Annamite Range, a chain of mountains which run parallel with the Vietnamese

title: Wildlife of Laos

title: Geography of Laos

text: and basaltic soils in the Bolovens Plateau. Plant Life and Animals The north of Laos has tropical rain forests with broader leaved evergreens and monsoon forests of mixed evergreen and in the south is filled with deciduous trees. In the monsoon forest the ground is covered with tall, coarse grass. The trees mostly only reach their secondary growth. Typically there is an abundance of bamboo, scrub, and wild banana. Laos is also home to hundreds of species of orchids and palms. Forests and fields serve as support for wildlife. Wildlife in Laos includes nearly 200 species of mammals, about the

title: History of Laos since 1945

text: necessity: there was no chance of Laos having a "stage of capitalist development" while 90 percent of its population were subsistence farmers, and no chance of an orthodox Marxist path to socialism via a working class revolution in a country which had no industrial working class. The party leaders, having fought for 30 years to achieve power, now had to confront the question of what "socialism" meant in a country such as Laos, and how it was to be achieved in circumstances of poverty and isolation, when most administrative and professional personnel had fled the country. Out of public sight,

title: North Vietnamese invasion of Laos

text: assumed as a participant in the 1954 Geneva Conference to refrain from any interference in the internal affairs of Laos. The Vietnamese party's strategy was by now decided with regard to South Vietnam. At the same time, the party outlined a role for the LPP that was supportive of North Vietnam, in addition to the LPP's role as leader of the revolution in Laos. Hanoi's southern strategy opened the first tracks through the extremely rugged terrain of Xépôn district in mid-1959 of what was to become the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Phetsarath and Sisavang Vong, viceroy and king, died within

title: History of Laos since 1945

text: was providing intelligence and political direction. The US therefore strongly opposed Suvannaphūmā's efforts to bring the Pathēt Lao into the government and to make Laos a "neutral" country. What neutrality meant in practice was allowing permanent Vietnamese occupation of the east of the country and allowing the Pathēt Lao to keep their army in the field. Suvannaphūmā's efforts to settle the conflict in Laos always failed due to the refusal of the Vietnamese to leave and the refusal of the Pathēt Lao to disarm. In August 1956 Suvannaphūmā reached an agreement with Suphānuvong. He was helped by his elder brother

title: Economy of Laos

text: Economy of Laos The economy of the Lao People's Democratic Republic is rapidly growing, as a result of decentralized government control and encouragement of private enterprise since 1986. Currently, Laos ranks amongst the fastest growing economies in the world, averaging 8% a year in GDP growth. It is also forecasted that Laos will sustain at least 7% growth through 2019 as well. Key goals for the government includes pursuing poverty reduction and education for all children, also with its initiative to become a "land-linked" country. This is showcased through the ongoing construction of the nearly $6 billion high-speed rail from

title: Law of Laos

text: proper medical care. Law of Laos The Law of Laos is not determined by a democratic parliament or by legal precedent, but by the arbitrary rule of Laos's single party. The Laos criminal justice system is controlled by the party and the government. There are few legal restraints on government actions, including arrests, which are often arbitrary in nature. Dissent is frequently handled by suppressing basic civil rights. Although the constitution provisions of the mid-1990s cover freedom of worship, expression and press, citizens by December 2010 were not free to exercise these rights fully. There were no legal safeguards and

title: Law of Laos

text: Law of Laos The Law of Laos is not determined by a democratic parliament or by legal precedent, but by the arbitrary rule of Laos's single party. The Laos criminal justice system is controlled by the party and the government. There are few legal restraints on government actions, including arrests, which are often arbitrary in nature. Dissent is frequently handled by suppressing basic civil rights. Although the constitution provisions of the mid-1990s cover freedom of worship, expression and press, citizens by December 2010 were not free to exercise these rights fully. There were no legal safeguards and arrests were commonly

title: Politics of Laos

text: Politics of Laos The politics of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (commonly known as Laos) takes place in the framework of a one-party socialist republic. The only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). The "de jure" head of state is President Bounnhang Vorachith, who also is LPRP general secretary making him the "de facto" leader of Laos. The head of government is Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. Government policies are determined by the party through the all-powerful nine-member Politburo of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the 49-member Central Committee. Important government decisions are vetted by the

title: Culture of Laos

text: also have a number of origin legends including the "Nithan Khun Borom" (Story of Khun Borom) which recounts the creation of the world, and the "Nithan Khun Lo" which tells how the descendants of Khun Borom settled the lands of mainland Southeast Asia. Reflecting Laos’ Theravada Buddhist heritage a number of religious and morality stories are among the most popular in Laos. The national epic of Laos is the "Phra Lak Phra Lam" and retells the Lao version of the Ramayana as a previous life of the Buddha. Also, the "Vessantara" Jataka is generally considered one of the greatest masterpieces

title: Literature of Laos

text: Lao in Isan and in Laos, keeping the cultural memory of the rebellion in the popular memory. In 2010 a statue of King Anouvong was erected in Laos, a tangible symbol that the cultural memories of the rebellion still carried symbolic importance in the modern era. Religion and religious teaching is a recurring theme for much of Lao literature throughout its history. Laos is predominantly Theravada Buddhist, which was the state religion in the Kingdom of Lan Xang since the time of King Photisarath in the 1520s. King Fa Ngum the founder of Lan Xang brought Theravada monks and the

title: Economy of Laos

text: is the fastest growing industry in the economy and plays a vital role in the Lao economy. The government opened Laos to the world in the 1990s, and continues to be a popular destination amongst tourists. GDP: purchasing power parity - $14.2 billion (2009 est.)<br> Exchange rate - kips (LAK) per US dollar - 8,556.56 (2009), 8,760.69 (2008), 9,658 (2007), 10,235 (2006), 10,820 (2005) Of the total foreign investment in Laos in 2012, the mining industry got 27% followed by electricity generation which has 25% share. Economy of Laos The economy of the Lao People's Democratic Republic is rapidly growing,

title: Wildlife of Laos

text: There are many rodents, including the ricefield rat ("Rattus argentiventer") and the recently discovered Pauline's limestone rat ("Saxatilomys paulinae"), Laotian giant flying squirrel ("Biswamoyopterus laoensis") and Laotian rock rat ("Laonastes aenigmamus"), the latter being a Lazarus taxon. The lesser false vampire bat ("Megaderma spasma") is found in Laos, and endemic species of bat include the Phou Khao Khouay leaf-nosed bat ("Hipposideros khaokhouayensis"). The long-eared gymnure ("Hylomys megalotis") is another mammal endemic to Laos. Primates present in Laos include the hatinh langur ("Trachypithecus hatinhensis"), silvery lutung ("Trachypithecus cristatus") and red-shanked douc ("Pygathrix nemaeus"), as well as seven species of gibbon; the

title: Politics of Laos

text: Council of Ministers. The FY 2000 central government budget plan called for revenue of $180 million and expenditures of $289 million, including capital expenditures of $202 million. Laos' first, French-written and monarchical constitution was promulgated on May 11, 1947 and declared it to be an independent state within the French Union. The revised constitution of May 11, 1957, omitted reference to the French Union, though close educational, health and technical ties with the former colonial power persisted. The 1957 document was abrogated on December 3, 1975, when a communist People's Republic was proclaimed. A new constitution was adopted in 1991

title: Literature of Laos

text: creating a Lao literary tradition from outside the country. The younger post-war generation of Lao is influenced by Thai culture and Western pop influence, creating a modern mix of genres and topics. All of these groups and transitions are creating a broad spectrum of uniquely Lao literary voices, which are reemerging with a frequency that had long been dormant since the classical era of Lan Xang. The history of conflicts in Laos over the centuries shaped much of Lao literature, and determines what primary sources have continued to survive. Yet, renewed scholarship has led to important discoveries of classical literature

title: Laos at the 2018 Asian Games

text: Laos at the 2018 Asian Games Laos participated in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia from 18 August to 2 September 2018. Laos first competed at the Asian Games in 1974 Tehran, and the best achievement was in the last edition of 2014 Incheon, when the country gained a silver, and 2 bronze medals. The following Laos competitors won medals at the Games. The following is a list of the number of competitors representing Laos that participated at the Games: Laos will make its Asian Games debut in the sport of baseball. Laos were drawn in the

title: Flag of Laos

text: especially in Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. This flag was adopted by the royal monarchy of Luang Prabang since the beginning of the 20th century under French rule, inspired by its similar flag (red flag with the single white elephant) in Thailand during that time. The nine-folded umbrella is also a royal symbol, originating from Mount Meru in the Buddhist cosmology. The pedestal represented the law on which the country rested. Flag of Laos The flag of Laos consists of three horizontal stripes, with the middle stripe in blue being twice the height of the top and bottom red stripes. In

title: Culture of Laos

text: the Lao population and 50% of the Lao Sung population fled the communist takeover of Laos in 1975, and continued during the following decade. The remaining Lao Sung population has been the target of government suspicion for a low intensity armed conflict since that time. There are sizeable communities of Hmong in the United States and France. The Lao Sung are commonly identified by language, dry rice production, slash-and-burn agriculture, traditional opium production and animist beliefs. There are over 90 distinct native languages spoken by the different ethnic populations of Laos. Lao, the official language of Laos, is a monosyllabic

title: Literature of Laos

text: Manuscripts. The government granted permission for the manuscript collection to be made accessible via the Internet. The project digitally copied and stored Lao palm leaf manuscripts, with over 86,000 texts being preserved and 12,000 texts microfilmed in a central database. The results of these efforts are over 7,500 old and unique titles, representing a massive amount of literary wealth despite the destruction and wars of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The effort to translate, preserve and promote these primary sources is ongoing and will protect the literary heritage of Laos for future generations. Literature of Laos The people of Laos

title: Literature of Laos

text: The "Thao Hung Thao Cheuang" epic is regarded by literary critics and historians as one of the most important indigenous epic poems in Southeast Asia and a Lao language literary masterpiece for artistic, historical, and cultural reasons. Both the single extant copy of the text and the oral history originated in Xieng Khouang in Laos, among the Khmu peoples, which were indigenous to Laos prior to the Tai migrations. The oral tradition of the folktale recalls the struggle between the Khmu and indigenous peoples of Laos and the Tai-Lao. During the fifteenth century, under the Lan Xang era, the story

title: Culture of Laos

text: Ministry of Culture took over all production. A number of American movies were set in Laos during this period, but not filmed there, and concentrated on the Vietnam War era perspective. Among American documentaries about Laos the "Nerakhoon" or “The Betrayal,” is widely known and follows a family that fled Laos in the 1970s and follows their post-Vietnam War story in the United States. In 2007 the full-length feature movie "Sabaidee Luang Prabang" “Good Morning Luang Prabang” was released by Thai director Sakchai Deenan about a Thai photographer who falls in love with a Lao tour guide. Also in 2007,

title: Culture of Laos

text: of Lao literature. The story recalls the past life of a compassionate prince, Vessantara, who gives away everything he owns, including his children, thereby displaying the virtue of perfect charity. Laos has a strong tradition of folklore. Ghost stories, place legends, stories of naga and trickster tales of "Xieng Mieng" are quite popular and are the dominate forms of oral tradition. Laos has experienced several major wars and occupations since the eighteenth century. Laos holds distinction as the most heavily bombed country in world, as a result of the wars against the communist revolutions in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia during

title: History of Laos

text: History of Laos Evidence for modern human presence in the northern and central highlands of Indochina, that constitute the territories of the modern Laotian nation-state dates back to the Lower Paleolithic. These earliest human migrants are Australo-Melanesians — associated with the Hoabinhian culture and have populated the highlands and the interior, less accessible regions of Laos and all of South-east Asia to this day. The subsequent Austroasiatic and Austronesian marine migration waves affected landlocked Laos only marginally and direct Chinese and Indian cultural contact had a greater impact on the country. Tai and Lao people southward migration into Laos only

title: History of Laos

text: loyal to Charles DeGaulle and initiated Operation Meigo ("bright moon"). The Japanese succeeded in the internment of the French living in Vietnam and Cambodia, but in the remote areas of Laos the French were able with the help of the Lao and "Garde Indigene" to establish jungle bases which were supplied by British airdrops from Burma. However, French control in Laos had been sidelined. 1945 was a watershed year in the history of Laos, under Japanese pressure King Sisavangvong declared independence in April. The move allowed the various independence movements in Laos including the Lao Seri and Lao Pen Lao

title: Mining industry of Laos

text: Mining industry of Laos The Mining industry of Laos which has received prominent attention with foreign direct investments (FDI) has, since 2003–04, made significant contributions to the economic condition of Laos. More than 540 mineral deposits of gold, copper, zinc, lead and other minerals have been identified, explored and mined. During 2012, the mining and quarrying sector's contribution to GDP was around 7.0%; during this reporting year the FDI in the mineral sector was of the order of US$662.5 million out of a total trade of $4.7 billion in the country. Laos is now a member of the WTO. It

title: Visa policy of Laos

text: Visa policy of Laos Visitors to Laos must obtain a visa from one of the Laotian diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or qualify for visa on arrival. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months. Citizens of the following 15 countries can visit Laos without a visa (allowed length of stay in days is shown in parentheses): Holders of diplomatic and/or service category passports passports do not require a visa to visit Laos up to 30 days (unless otherwise noted).</small> Visitors of other nationalities may obtain a visa on arrival valid

title: History of Laos

text: direct French control of Muang Sing. In northeast Laos, Chinese and Lao Theung rebelled against French attempts to tax the opium trade which resulted in another rebellion from 1914–1917. By 1915 most of northeast Laos was controlled by Chinese and Lao Theung rebels. The French dispatched the largest military presence yet to Laos which included 160 French officers and 2500 Vietnamese troops divided in two columns. The French drove the Chinese led rebels across the Chinese border and placed Phongsali under direct colonial control. Yet northeastern Laos was still not entirely pacified and a Hmong shaman named Pa Chay Vue

title: Literature of Laos

text: history and culture slowly reemerged. Revolutionaries in Laos and Vietnam during the early 1950s began to spread communist ideology, which culminated in the Vietnam War era and the ousting of the Lao monarchy in 1975. During this period Laos became the most heavily bombed country in world history. Politics continued to dominate literature in the 1980s, with the communist Pathet Lao struggling to assert their control over Laos. Today Laos has a reawakening interest in literature, as people struggle with national identity, rapid technological and social changes, development and a lagging economy, while maintaining a strong popular interest in the

title: Miss Universe Laos

text: Miss Universe Laos Miss Universe Laos (in Lao: ມີສຢູນີເວີສ ລາວ) is a national Beauty pageant in Laos. Miss Universe Laos was founded in 2015 by TV Lao Network, which is the current franchise holder of Miss Universe in Laos. <nowiki> </nowiki>The Miss Laos company holds a separate national pageant, the Miss Universe Laos competition. The winner will be the official representative of Laos at the Miss Universe beauty pageant. The pageant is broadcast live on TV Lao HD. Color key Miss Universe Laos 2017, the first edition Miss Universe Laos pageant, was held on August 26, 2017 at the Lao

title: Culture of Laos

text: linguistic, and cultural heritage. The Tai family includes the Lao and Thai, as well as smaller groups which have generally been distinguished by their traditional dress and include the Tai Dam (Black Tai), Tai Daeng (Red Tai), and Tai Khao (White Tai). The Laos to define both the ethnicity and nationality. Further complication is added by the geopolitical history between Laos and Thailand, there are an estimated 19 million “Lao” speakers living in northeastern Thailand (Thai Isan or Lao Tai) and only 3 million in Laos. As a consequence identity politics has played a major role in the defining the