| Area |
236,800 sq km (91,400 sq miles). |
| Population |
5,529,000 (2002) |
| Capital |
Vientiane- population 663,000 (2001). |
| Climate |
Throughout most of the country, the climate is hot and tropical, with the rainy season between May and October when temperatures are at their highest. The dry season runs from November to April. |
| Language |
The official language is Lao, however, many tribal languages are also spoken. French, Vietnamese and some English are in circulation. |
| Religion |
The Laos-Lum (Valley laos) people follow the Hinayana (Theravada) form of Buddhism. The religions of the Laos Theung (Laos of the mountain tops) range from traditional Confucianism to animism and Christianity. |
| Time |
GMT + 7
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| Highlights |
Laos's capital city Vientiane, is a quiet town with less than half a million people, situated on the banks of the Mekong River - a great place to experience the 'true' Southeast Asian day-to-day life. Luang Prabang, set high in the mountain valleys of the Mekong, is the old sovereign capital of Laos and is one of the gems of Indochina where you can stroll or bicycle around the town, where visitors are greeted by smiles and 'sabadee!' (hello). Xiang Khoang Province is one of Laos's most mountainous regions. In addition to its rugged beauty, the Province is particularly worth visiting because of the mysterious Plain of Jars, which consists of over 500 huge stone jars dating back to the 6th century, scattered randomly over an area of several hundred square metres. Lao has excellent places to buy silk, silver jewellery and handmade shirts and although the majority of shops have fixed prices, bartering is still advisable for antiques and other art objects.
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| Country Facts |
Laos is a landlocked country bordered to the north by China, to the east by Vietnam, to the south by Cambodia and to the west by Thailand and Myanmar (Burma). Apart from the Mekong River plains along the border of Thailand, the country is mountainous, particularly in the north, and in places is densely forested. Throughout most of the country the climate is hot and tropical, with the rainy season between May and October when temperatures are at there highest. The dry season runs from November to April. |