SE Asia. [71] In 2005 it attended the inaugural East Asia Summit. Most people live in valleys of the Mekong River and its tributaries. [74] Their Russian-built Antonov AN 74-300 with 20 people on board crashed in Xiangkhouang Province. [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. The 1957 document was abrogated in December 1975, when a communist people's republic was proclaimed. [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. The stated policy objectives of both the Lao government and international donors remain focused upon achieving sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. [126] In addition, the country's plentiful water resources and mountainous terrain enable it to produce and export large quantities of hydroelectric energy. Thailand (invested US$4.489billion) and Vietnam (invested US$3.108billion) are the second and third largest investors respectively. The organisation estimates that there are 173,800 French speakers in Laos (2010 est.). Vakulchuk, R., Chan, H.Y., Kresnawan, M.R., Merdekawati, M., Overland, I., Sagbakken, H.F., Suryadi, B., Utama, N.A. The Lao alphabet, which evolved sometime between the 13th and 14th centuries, was derived from the ancient Khmer script and is very similar to Thai script. Situated on a curve of the Mekong River, Laos's Capital has a recorded history that stretches back to around 1,000 AD. [76] As many as 200,000 Hmong went into exile in Thailand, with many ending up in the US. Of the almost $6 billion cost for the China-Laos railway, the Chinese government will pay 70 percent. Additionally, the Khao San Pathet Lao, the country's official news agency, publishes English and French versions of its eponymous paper. Buddha park in Vientiane, Laos. [155], The adult literacy rate for women in 2017 was 62.9%; for adult men, 78.1%. 1 Vientiane the increasingly busy capital on the banks of the Mekong River; 2 Huay Xai in the north, on the Mekong and the border with Thailand; 3 Luang Namtha capital of the north, known for its trekking; 4 Luang Prabang a UNESCO World Heritage City known for its numerous temples, colonial era architecture, and vibrant night market; 5 Muang Xay also known as . Besides, this place is also considered a library containing many ancient books written by hand on palm leaves. [45] The Japanese attempted to force Sisavang Vong (the King of Luang Phrabang) to declare Laotian independence, but on 8 April he instead simply declared an end to Laos's status as a French protectorate. [24], An ancient human skull was recovered in 2009 from the Tam Pa Ling Cave in the Annamite Mountains in northern Laos; the skull is at least 46,000 years old, making it the oldest modern human fossil found to date in Southeast Asia. [151] Vientiane became one of the most important settlements in the kingdom, and in 1563 it became the kingdom's capital. Metallurgy is an important industry, and the government hopes to attract foreign investment to develop the substantial deposits of coal, gold, bauxite, tin, copper, and other valuable metals. Em 2009, um antigo crnio foi encontrado em uma caverna nas montanhas Annamite, no norte do Laos. The rebellion failed, and Vientiane was ransacked. The city has a tropical monsoon climate, every month . [164] One of the first commercial feature-length films was Sabaidee Luang Prabang, made in 2008. A new constitution was adopted in 1991 and enshrined a "leading role" for the LPRP. According to the USCommittee for Refugees, he was arrested by Lao security forces and was never seen again. Today, French has a healthier status in Laos than the other Francophone nations of Asia and about 35% of all students in Laos receive their education in French, with the language being a required course in many schools. The Pha That Luang Temple in Vientiane, Laos. Laos does not have a well-developed capital market, although government policies increasingly support the formation of capital and free flow of financial resources. In 2017, Laos suffered fiscal and monetary difficulties which resulted in low levels of foreign reserves. Its first railway line, a short 3-km long metre-gauge railway that connects southern Vientiane to Thailand, only opened in 2009. [155] Government expenditure on health is about four percent of GDP,[155] about US$18 (PPP) in 2006. Laos is a Lao speaking country that does not border with any sea. The city is the home of the massive gilded stupa, Pha That Luang, a national symbol of Laos. Gently cut cilantro resting atop a raging furnace of flavor. It has failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup or the AFC Asian Cup, but has participated in minor competitions like the AFC Solidarity Cup and the AFF Championship. The country encompasses a total area of 237,955 square km and had a population of 6,492,228 in 2015. Getty Images offers exclusive rights-ready and premium royalty-free analog, HD, and 4K video of the highest quality. 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[96][97] In The Economist's Democracy Index 2016 Laos was classified as an "authoritarian regime", ranking lowest of the nine ASEAN nations included in the study. French is also used in public works in central and southern Laos and Luang Prabang and is a language of diplomacy and of the elite classes, higher professions and elders. 3. 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]. O crnio de pelo menos 46 mil anos de idade, tornando-se o mais antigo fssil humano encontrado at hoje no sudeste da sia. Most of these projects will be carried out through public-private partnerships under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model as the government is encouraging the private sector . More than 540 mineral deposits of gold, copper, zinc, lead and other minerals have been identified, explored and mined. . [19][20][21][22][23] In the Lao language, the country's name is Muang Lao () or Pathet Lao (), both of which literally mean 'Lao Country'. When he died without an heir, the kingdom split into three principalities. The Lao PDR is one of the world's few socialist states openly endorsing communism. Laos produced tin, rubber, and coffee, but never accounted for more than one percent of French Indochina's exports. Xinhua That Luang Festival celebrated in Vientiane, Laos Candlelight parade surrounding the That Luang Stupa in Lao capital Vientiane on the night of Nov. 11, 2019. . 900-1300 AD - Most of Laos is subordinate to the Khmer Empire at Angkor. [139]:3940, In 2004 the net primary enrollment rate was 84%. However, as of 2018, there are approximately 1.9million of Lao's population who could not access an improved water supply and 2.4million people without access to improved sanitation. A second Provisional Government of National Unity formed by Prince Souvanna Phouma in 1962 was unsuccessful, and the situation steadily deteriorated into large scale civil war between the Royal Laotian government and the Pathet Lao. According to the International Monetary Fund, as of 01.01.2020, they amounted to USD 1.128 million. "Patuxai is a war monument in the centre of Vientiane, Laos, which was built between 1957 and 1968. [175] Lao citizens who have criticised the government have been subjected to enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and torture. Mon-Khmer groups, the Hmong, and other indigenous hill tribes live in the foothills and mountains. 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. Its international borders were closed except to trucks carrying goods and in cases allowed by the nation's COVID . 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. Foreign enterprises must report on their performance annually and submit annual financial statements to MPI. Between 20,000 and 62,000 Laotians died during the civil war. These dishes always contain chili peppers, and usually some type of grilled vegetable, giving them a distinct smoky flavor, and sometimes fermented fish. But around the 11th and 12th centuries, the Lao and Thai came from Southern China and overtook the area. [152], Sixty-six percent of Laotians were Theravada Buddhist, 1.5 percent Christian, 0.1 percent Muslim, 0.1 percent Jewish, and 32.3 percent were other or traditional (mostly practitioners of Satsana Phi) in 2010. The streets are lined with trees, French colonial buildings, street markets, Buddhist temples, and noodle shops. Area 236,800 sq km (91,400 sq miles) Major languages Lao, French. Pakse. . As of 2011[update], Nhn Dn ('The People') and the Xinhua News Agency are the only foreign media organisations permitted to open offices in Laosboth opened bureaus in Vientiane in 2011. Zaisan Memorial,Ulan Bator,Mongolia. The nation's most important government buildings, ministries, departments and foreign embassies are located in Vientiane. Origins of the Lao Kingdom. [150] Languages like Khmu (Austroasiatic) and Hmong (Hmong-Mien) are spoken by minorities, particularly in the midland and highland areas. [13] After a period of internal conflict, Lan Xang broke into three separate kingdoms: Luang Phrabang, Vientiane and Champasak. The politically and culturally dominant Lao people make up 53.2% of the population, mostly in the lowlands. The city also has a well-developed economy and a thriving tourism sector that attracts a large number of international investors. Although some accusations of forced repatriation were denied,[82] thousands of Hmong people refused to return to Laos. [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. In 2017, the country sent a team for the first time to the team events at the Southeast Asian Games. [46], During the First Indochina War, the Indochinese Communist Party formed the Pathet Lao independence organisation. 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It was not until the arrival of the French in 1893 that the city was revived. In 2016, China was the biggest foreign investor in Laos's economy, having invested in US$5.395billion since 1989, according to Laos Ministry of Planning and Investment's 19892014 report. Laos is the only landlocked nation in Southeast Asia. CIA agent Bill Lair met with the young Hmong military . Built on three levels, it symbolises the ascent from earth to heaven. [12] Its capital and largest city is Vientiane. [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. [33], In 1637, when Sourigna Vongsa ascended the throne, Lan Xang further expanded its frontiers. [144], Laos's population was estimated at 7.45million in 2020, dispersed unevenly across the country. The capital of Laos is Vientiane, which was founded 13th century. In 1950, the French were forced to give Laos semi-autonomy as an "associated state" within the French Union. An "urban" village is essentially a town.[58]. ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) Policy Brief Series, No 7. Karen J, "House Panel Hears Concerns About Hmong", States News Service, 26 April 1994. Services and facilities for tourists are adequate in the capital, Vientiane, and in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, but are extremely limited in . A major breakthrough occurred in December 2021, when the 414-km long standard-gauge BotenVientiane railway that runs from the capital Vientiane to Boten at the northern border with China, built as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, was opened. [135] The European Council on Trade and Tourism awarded the country the "World Best Tourist Destination" designation for 2013 for architecture and history.[136]. Political power is centralized in the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. Lan Xang became an important trade centre during Samsenthai's reign, but after his death in 1421 it collapsed into warring factions for nearly a century. [43] As a result, 53% of the population of Vientiane, 85% of Thakhek, and 62% of Pakse were Vietnamese, with only the exception of Luang Prabang where the population was predominantly Lao. Giant Buddha Statue Plan Rankles Residents of Laos' Capital: Report By Sebastian Strangio A Chinese firm's plans to build a 100-meter-high Buddha statue in low-lying Vientiane encapsulate China . Over the years, Vientiane has experienced civil wars, internal conflicts, and agitations which ultimately led to the freedom of Laos from French rule, and then from monarchial rule in 1975. Luang Prabang and Vat Phou are both UNESCO World Heritage sites. As a low-income country, Laos faces a brain-drain problem as many educated people migrate to developed countries. President Biden committed the United States to be the world's arsenal . Located on the Mekong River the city has 950,000 inhabitants. [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. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. [77] Pressure to resettle the refugees grew as the Thai government worked to close its remaining refugee camps. Lao PDR: How to Attract More Investment in Small-Scale Renewable Energy? 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. [39] Laos never held any importance for France[40] other than as a buffer state between Thailand and the more economically important Annam and Tonkin. Take more wonderful experiences in this Mystery . [184], Laos has no tradition in other team sports. [95], Human rights violations remain a significant concern in Laos. Vientiane suffered greatly during the conflict between the kingdom's army and Siamese forces in 1827. The capital city of Hanoi is ready to further expand friendship and cooperation activities in various fields, including those of people-elected . Laos is a landlocked country on the Indo-Chinese peninsula between Thailand and Vietnam. "Laos refuses to take back Thai-based Hmong refugees", Smith, Philip, Washington, D.C. (12 December 2014), Kyophilavong, Phouphet, et al. Setthathirath became king in 1548, after his father was killed, and ordered the construction of what became the symbol of Laos, That Luang. The Thai government attempted to repatriate these refugees, but the Wat Tham Krabok Hmong refused to leave and the Lao government refused to accept them, claiming they were involved in the illegal drug trade and were of non-Lao origin. There are two plateaux, the Xiangkhoang in the north and the Bolaven Plateau at the southern end. [182] Its national football team is a member of the Asian Football Confederation and of the ASEAN Football Federation. Vientiane, also spelled Viangchan, largest city and capital of Laos, situated on a plain just northeast of the Mekong River. A number of Laotian sign languages are used in areas with high rates of congenital deafness.[46]. [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. [114][115][116], The Lao economy depends on investment and trade with its neighbours, Thailand, Vietnam, and, especially in the north, China. [46], The official and majority language is Lao, a language of the Tai-Kadai language family. His reign is often regarded as Laos's golden age. The Pathet Lao began a war against the French colonial forces with the aid of the Vietnamese independence organisation, the Viet Minh. Between 1763 and 1769, Burmese armies overran northern Laos and annexed Luang Prabang, while Champasak eventually came under Siamese suzerainty. [138] Two new lines connecting with Vietnam, namely the VientianeVng ng and SavannakhetLao Bao railways, are also under planning, in line to meet the Laotian government's vision of becoming a land-linked nation. 4 min. However, historians claim the city was an ancient Khmer settlement that formed around a Hindu temple. [156] Laos was ranked 117th in the Global Innovation Index in 2021 down from 113rd in 2020.[157][158][159][160][161]. Laos has the youngest population of any country in Asia with a median age of 21.6 years. Vientiane is the largest city in Laos and functions as: Houses the Presidential Palace. Export earnings from international visitors and tourism goods are expected to generate 16% of total exports or US$270.3million in 2010, growing in nominal terms to US$484.2million (12.5% of the total) in 2020.