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General Information Laos

01/10/16 22:45 3296

LAOS, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic

Laos is a very popular stop in South East Asia, although it remains one of the poorest country in the region, relatively isolated and undeveloped. But just has long been popular with the backpacker market, but the country is now attracting a wider range of travellers. It is also busy developing its standing as an eco-tourism centre due to the many hill tribe villages, river communities and unspoilt national parks. These settings all lend themselves to outdoor activities such as trekking, kayaking and caving. The capital, Vientiane, and the other major towns have been spared major modern developments with traditional and colonial architecture still dominant. 

Luang Prabang and Wat Phu are both UNESCO World Heritage sites, with the Plain of Jars, great sites for the combination of architecture and history.

Tourism of Lao plays very important role in eccomic development, just had around 4,2 million tourists in 2015, and the number is still increasing..

Geography: aproximately 236,000 km2

Population: aproximately 7 million people

Religion: 67 % of Laotians are Buddhist, 1.5 % are Christian, and 31.5 %t are other or unspecified

Capital: Vientiane is the offical Capital with more than 1 million people

Ethnic groups: 55% Lao, 11% Khmu, 8% Hmong, 26% others

Climate: Tropical climate

Infrastructure: Much of Laos lacks adequate infrastructure. Laos has no railways, except a short link to connect Vientiane with Thailand

History

  • Early history: 50,000 years old
  • Lan Xang: (1354 -1707), Laos traces its history to the kingdom of Lan Xang (Million Elephants), founded in the 14th century
  • French Laos (1893 -1953)
  • Independence and Communist Rule (1953–present)

Economy: The Lao economy depends heavily on investment and trade with its neighbours, Thailand, Vietnam, and, especially in the north, China.

BEST HIGHLIGHTS OF LAOS

- Luang Prabang

- Vientiane

- Xieng Khouang- The Plain of Jars

- Champasak

- Vang Vieng

Related

The unique and fascinating handicrafts available in Lao PDR allow visitors to take some special reminders of their travels in this beautiful country. A rich selection of silk and cotton textiles, exquisite silver and gold jewelry, handmade baskets, intricate carvings and traditional musical instruments and utensils are just some of the delights awaiting visitors on the markets.
Public holidays in Laos are days when workers get the day off work. There are 11 public holidays in Laos in 2017.
The official national currency in Laos is the Lao kip (K). Although only kip is legally negotiable in everyday transactions, in reality three currencies are used for commerce: kip, Thai baht (B) and US dollars (US$).
Laos enjoys a warm, tropical climate with two distinct seasons -the rainy season from the beginning of May to the end of September and the dry season from October through to April.Temperatures and rainfall very considerably throughout the year and also according to latitude and altitude.from November February the temperatures are lower and cool breezes bring a pleasant and refreshing change from the humidity of the rainy season. Temperatures drop to as low as 15 C (or well below that in the mountains) in December and January. During this Cool season, rainfall is at its lowest. From mid February the temperatures gradually increase to their highest levels, close to 38 C, in March to May. The rains start towards the end of this hot period too bring a welcome relief to the land.
Laos has no facilities for major medical emergencies. The state-run hospitals and clinics are among the most basic in Southeast Asia in terms of the standards of hygiene, staff training, supplies and equipment.
Many parts of Laos, particularly populated areas, have minimal to no risk of malaria, and the risk of side effects from the antimalaria medication may outweigh the risk of getting the disease. For some rural areas, however, the risk of contracting the disease far outweighs the risk of any tablet side effects. Remember that malaria can be fatal.
You are advised to avoid any protests or demonstrations and follow the instructions of local authorities. Curfews may be enforced and can include roadblocks, spot roadside checks and occasional raids on premises.
Tourist visas are readily available at airports and most land borders for between US$30 and US$42 for one month.