From the river bank inland, the three main roads run parallel to the river, while the . [43] Otherwise, according to Martin Stuart-Fox, the Lao might well have lost control over their own country. When he died without an heir, the kingdom split into three principalities. The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos) is a developing country ruled by a one-party, Communist government. [46], The official and majority language is Lao, a language of the Tai-Kadai language family. This land area is approximately 59% of the area of California. US Representative Steve Gunderson, for instance, told a Hmong gathering: "I do not enjoy standing up and saying to my government that you are not telling the truth, but if that is necessary to defend truth and justice, I will do that. The Tai-Kadai Languages, ":: Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission, R.o.c. [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. [151] [28], Laos traces its history to the kingdom of Lan Xang ('million elephants'), which was founded in the 13th century by a Lao prince, Fa Ngum,[29]:223 whose father had his family exiled from the Khmer Empire. 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]. Gunderson, Steve (18 May 1996) "State Department Outlines Resettlement Guidelines for Hmong Refugees". [47], The foreign relations of Laos after the takeover by the Pathet Lao in December 1975 were characterised by a hostile posture toward the West, with the government of the Lao PDR aligning itself with the Soviet Bloc, maintaining close ties with the Soviet Union and depending heavily on the Soviets for most of its foreign assistance. Laos has the youngest population of any country in Asia with a median age of 21.6 years. 900-1300 AD - Most of Laos is subordinate to the Khmer Empire at Angkor. 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. [123] Approximately 77% of Lao farm households are self-sufficient in rice. The Capital City of Laos (officially named Lao People's Democratic Republic) is the city of Vientiane.The population of Vientiane in the year 2007 was 6,521,998. Vientiane, the capital city of Laos in the 1990s. In 1950, the French were forced to give Laos semi-autonomy as an "associated state" within the French Union. In 1893, the three territories came under a French protectorate and were united to form what is now known as Laos. The National University of Laos, one of the country's three universities, is located in Vientiane. 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. According to a Laotian epic, Vientiane was founded on the Mekong Rivers eastern banks by a prince named Thattaradtha. [74] Their Russian-built Antonov AN 74-300 with 20 people on board crashed in Xiangkhouang Province. The 1957 document was abrogated in December 1975, when a communist people's republic was proclaimed. The organisation estimates that there are 173,800 French speakers in Laos (2010 est.). Major festivals include Lao New Year celebrated around 1315 April and involves a water festival similar but more subdued than that of Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. Mountain/hill tribes of mixed ethno/cultural-linguistic heritage are found in northern Laos, which include the Lua and Khmu people who are indigenous to Laos. But around the 11th and 12th centuries, the Lao and Thai came from Southern China and overtook the area. Zaisan Memorial,Ulan Bator,Mongolia. [97] The organisation also raised concerns in relation to freedom of expression, poor prison conditions, restrictions on freedom of religions, protection of refugees and asylum-seekers, and the death penalty. [144], Laos's population was estimated at 7.45million in 2020, dispersed unevenly across the country. [15][16] Laos has been referred to as one of Southeast Asia and Pacific's fastest growing economies by the World Bank with annual GDP growth averaging 7.4% since 2009. [78] Of those Hmong who did return to Laos, some quickly escaped back to Thailand, describing discrimination and brutal treatment at the hands of Lao authorities. It is produced by the Lao Brewery Company. Other Buddhist holy places are Wat Ong . [113] A number of citizens, primarily women and girls from all ethnic groups and foreigners, have been victims of sex trafficking in Laos. Five of them were arrested and subsequently sentenced to up to 10 years imprisonment on charges of treason. Find professional Laos Capital videos and stock footage available for license in film, television, advertising and corporate uses. Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is the antithesis of a bustling capital like London. [155], The adult literacy rate for women in 2017 was 62.9%; for adult men, 78.1%. He encouraged a renaissance of Lao fine arts and literature and improved relations with Luang Phrabang. [63], Laos is divided into 17 provinces (khoueng) and one prefecture (kampheng nakhon), which includes the capital city Vientiane (Nakhon Louang Viangchan). The indigenous Khmers are believed to have been largely displaced or killed during the 11th and 12th centuries, when the Lao people entered the region. Area 236,800 sq km (91,400 sq miles) Major languages Lao, French. After the Pathet Lao took over the country in 1975, the conflict continued in isolated pockets. [145] The Lao belong to the Tai linguistic group[146] who began migrating south from China in the first millennium CE. Capital: Vientiane. 1353 - Lan Xang (Million Elephants) Kingdom, founded in the 14th century by Fa Ngum. Overall, the country extends about 650 miles (1,050 km) from northwest to southeast. Residents of Laos' capital Vientiane on October 16 witnessed the arrival of the first passenger high-speed train running on the new Laos-China railway line which will, after some test runs, come into full operation in December . [13] Because of its central geographical location in Southeast Asia, the kingdom became a hub for overland trade and became wealthy economically and culturally. In 2017, Laos suffered fiscal and monetary difficulties which resulted in low levels of foreign reserves. The airport in Paske was completed in 2009 with one terminal for both international and domestic flights. Political power is centralized in the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. Sticky rice is a staple food and has cultural and religious significance to the Lao people. [47] As of 22March2021[update] the head of state is President Thongloun Sisoulith. [94] Plans to resettle additional Hmong refugees in the United States were stalled by provisions of President George W. Bush's Patriot Act and Real ID Act, under which Hmong veterans of the Secret War, who fought on the side of the United States, are classified as terrorists because of their historical involvement in armed conflict. Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. Buddha park in Vientiane, Laos. [181], Association football is the most popular sport in Laos. English, the language of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has become increasingly studied in recent years. The streets are lined with trees, French colonial buildings, street markets, Buddhist temples, and noodle shops. While some Hmong people returned to Laos voluntarily, with development assistance from UNHCR, allegations of forced repatriation surfaced. 6, "Seventy Years of Anarchy", in. This sector has made significant contributions to the economic condition of Laos. ::", "Global Religious Landscape; Table: Religious Composition by Country", "Human Development Report 2009. CIA agent Bill Lair met with the young Hmong military . [100], Ostensibly, the Constitution of Laos that was promulgated in 1991 and amended in 2003 contains most key safeguards for human rights. When Fa Ngum was a baby, his grandfather, the reigning king, expelled Fa Ngum's father . [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. [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. [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'. Major religion Buddhism. "Muay" comes from the Sanskrit term meaning "to box" but is generally used to describe the unarmed martial art found throughout Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. A new province, Xaisomboun province , was established on 13 December 2013. Buddha Park, also known as Xieng Khuan, is a . Lao PDR: How to Attract More Investment in Small-Scale Renewable Energy? [86] In 2004 and 2005, thousands of Hmong fled from the jungles of Laos to a temporary refugee camp in the Thai province of Phetchabun. [48], Some 80million bombs failed to explode and remain scattered throughout the country, rendering vast swaths of land impossible to cultivate. In 2010, one in every 11 jobs was in the tourism sector. [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. [42] By 1943, the Vietnamese population stood at nearly 40,000, forming the majority in the largest cities of Laos and enjoying the right to elect its own leaders. However, historians claim the city was an ancient Khmer settlement that formed around a Hindu temple. 15. [27] Burial jars and other kinds of sepulchers suggest a complex society in which bronze objects appeared around 1500 BC, and iron tools were known from 700 BC. As a result, newly elected US president John F. Kennedy authorized the recruitment of ethnic minorities in Laos to participate in covert military operations against the spread of communism. [139]:8 Songthaews are used in the country for long-distance and local public transport. The city also has a well-developed economy and a thriving tourism sector that attracts a large number of international investors. [154] Healthy life expectancy was 54 years in 2007. [81] Debate on the issue escalated quickly. 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. . [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. It briefly gained independence in 1945 after Japanese occupation but was re-colonised by France until it won autonomy in 1949. Set at the point where the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers meet, Luang Prabang stands in front of a backdrop of a magnificent hilltop temple. [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. provided 70% of the funding for a $5.9 billion, 400-km railway line between the Chinese border and the capital Vientiane, which opened for operations in December 2021. [53] In 1979, there were 50,000 PAVN troops stationed in Laos and as many as 6,000 civilian Vietnamese officials including 1,000 directly attached to the ministries in Vientiane. Lao Soung account for about 10% of the population. At the eve of the Vietnam War, the Secret War was beginning in Laos as political factions between communist Pathet Lao and the government occurred. Trc , FPT Capital ng k bn 1 triu c phiu TPB tng ng 0,063% vn iu l ngn hng. Origins of the Lao Kingdom. It was founded in 1563 and was prompted by fears of attacks from Burma. [13] After a period of internal conflict, Lan Xang broke into three separate kingdoms: Luang Phrabang, Vientiane and Champasak. [141] Laos's predominantly rural[142] population makes investing in sanitation difficult. Vientiane, also spelled Viangchan, largest city and capital of Laos, situated on a plain just northeast of the Mekong River. Its first railway line, a short 3-km long metre-gauge railway that connects southern Vientiane to Thailand, only opened in 2009. For example, Laotian music is dominated by its national musical instrument, the khaen, a type of bamboo mouth organ that has prehistoric origins. [140], Laos has made particularly noteworthy progress increasing access to sanitation. [85] Several thousand Hmong people, fearing forced repatriation to Laos if they were not accepted for resettlement in the United States, fled the camp to live elsewhere within Thailand where a sizeable Hmong population has been present since the 19th century. Fa Ngum's eldest son, Oun Heuan, ascended to the throne under the name Samsenethai and reigned for 43years. The national basketball team competed at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games where it beat Myanmar in the eighth place game.[185]. The first bullet train to serve the high-speed Laos-China railway sits in a rail station in the Lao capital Vientiane, Oct. 16, 2021. They were the indigenous inhabitants of northern Laos. The city was destroyed, valuables and historical artifacts were looted, and the population fled. The Pathet Lao were backed militarily by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and the Viet Cong. [32], In 1520, Photisarath came to the throne and moved the capital from Luang Prabang to Vientiane to avoid a Burmese invasion. Settathirath disappeared in the mountains on his way back from a military expedition into Cambodia, and Lan Xang fell into more than seventy years of instability, involving both Burmese invasion and civil war. The only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). 3, "Through Chaos to a New Order", in, Sanda Simms, ch. Vientiane became one of the most important settlements in the kingdom, and in 1563 it became the kingdom's capital. [80] Following the Vue Mai incident, debate over the Hmong's planned repatriation to Laos intensified greatly, especially in the United States, where it drew strong opposition from many American conservatives and some human rights advocates. [176][177], Polygamy is officially a crime in Laos, though the penalty is minor. The Lao National Tourism Administration, related government agencies and the private sector are working together to realise the vision put forth in the country's National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Vientiane is a city steeped in legend and history. Fa Ngum was born into the royal family in Muang Sua, the capital of a small state ruled by King Souvanna Khampong. Additionally, many elite and French-educated Lao immigrated to nations such as the United States and France to escape government persecution. Laos was then dependent on military and economic aid from the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991. Laos (/los/ (listen)[9][d]), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao: ), is a socialist state and the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. An "urban" village is essentially a town.[58]. Laos is a landlocked country located in the Indochinese Peninsula. Laos Laos is the only . Mon-Khmer groups, the Hmong, and other indigenous hill tribes live in the foothills and mountains. The train arrived at the brand new Vientiane Capital Station, the largest and most important station of the line . You'll find yourself slowly won over by the easy charms of this evolving . The city is Laos' capital and is located along the banks of the Mekong River. [75], Some Hmong groups fought as CIA-backed units on the royalist side in the Laotian Civil War. With an estimated population of 760,000 in 2015, the city is also the most populous in the nation. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}18N 105E / 18N 105E / 18; 105. Since July, 2021 the United States has shared 2,908,440 safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Laos - free of cost. Shortly after, the Kingdom of Champasak and the territory of Vientiane were added to the protectorate. [46], During the First Indochina War, the Indochinese Communist Party formed the Pathet Lao independence organisation. Laosul i are originile n Imperiul Lan Xang ce a existat ntre secolele XIV i XVIII.. Dup o perioad de apartenen la Imperiul Colonial . Photo: Tango7174, CC BY-SA 4.0. "Lao Refugees Return Home Under European Union Repatriation Program", Associated Press Worldstream, 22 11, 1994. 4 min. Vientiane Capital, the capital city of Lao PDR, is a small, relaxed city, located in the central of Laos. Compared to the hectic, bustling capitals in other South . Laos's strategies for development are based on generating electricity from rivers and selling the power to its neighbours, namely Thailand, China and Vietnam, as well as its initiative to become a "land-linked" nation, as evidenced by the construction of four new railways connecting Laos and neighbours. From 1975 to 1996, the United States resettled some 250,000 Lao refugees from Thailand, including 130,000 Hmong. "[81] Republicans called several Congressional hearings on alleged persecution of the Hmong in Laos in an apparent attempt to generate further support for their opposition to the Hmong's repatriation to Laos. [109], Laos and Vietnamese (SRV) troops were reported to have raped and killed four Christian Hmong women in Xiangkhouang Province in 2011, according to the US-based non-governmental public policy research organisation The Centre for Public Policy Analysis, which also said other Christian and independent Buddhist and animist believers were being persecuted. The capital of Laos is Vientiane, which was founded 13th century. Nearly three-quarters of Laos is covered in mountains and forested hills that are too steep to live on. (Lao: , pronounced Loo-ang pah-bang and also spelled Louangphrabang, is the former capital of Laos and a UNESCO World Heritage city. The rebellion failed, and Vientiane was ransacked. The Lao PDR is one of the world's few socialist states openly endorsing communism. The Lao subsequently established their own kingdom named the Lan Xang in 1354. According to the USCommittee for Refugees, he was arrested by Lao security forces and was never seen again. [128] As of 2021, despite cheap hydro power available in the country, Laos continues to also rely on fossil fuels, coal in particular, in the domestic electricity production. In 1977, a communist newspaper promised the party would hunt down the "American collaborators" and their families "to the last root". This includes decreasing the environmental and cultural impact of tourism; increasing awareness in the importance of ethnic groups and biological diversity; providing a source of income to conserve, sustain and manage the Lao protected area network and cultural heritage sites; and emphasizing the need for tourism zoning and management plans for sites that will be developed as ecotourism destinations.[137]. 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 . Vientiane has been the capital since 16th century. Lao People's Democratic Republic or Laos (), is a country in southeast Asia. Vientiane is the largest city in Laos and functions as: Houses the Presidential Palace. Since the founding of the Lao PDR in 1975, very few films have been made in Laos. [139]:3940, In 2004 the net primary enrollment rate was 84%. [178] Polygamy, however, is still customary among some Hmong people. The International Monetary Fund ranked Laos 36th out of 42 Asian countries in 2018. Laos locked down its capital and closed its international borders to most traffic Thursday after identifying a COVID-19 cluster connected to its bigger neighbor Thailand. He later died under suspicious circumstances in a re-education camp. A man who lost land and property to the Laos-China railway project near the capital said he has yet to receive any promised money. Ngum was descended from a long line of Lao kings that traced back to Khoun Boulom. Laos is a part of the Southeast Asian region. France remained in de facto control until 22 October 1953, when Laos gained full independence as a constitutional monarchy. 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. [183] Since the start of the league, Lao Army F.C. and Yurnaidi, Z., 2020. [76] As many as 200,000 Hmong went into exile in Thailand, with many ending up in the US. 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. One of the most problematic economic sectors in Laos is transport. Trekking in Luang Namtha Built on three levels, it symbolises the ascent from earth to heaven. Vakulchuk, R., Chan, H.Y., Kresnawan, M.R., Merdekawati, M., Overland, I., Sagbakken, H.F., Suryadi, B., Utama, N.A. It is evident throughout the country, expressed in language, temples and the arts and literature. [166], Australian filmmaker Kim Mordount's first feature film was made in Laos and features a Laotian cast speaking their native language. The capital is Vientiane (Lao: Viangchan), located on the Mekong River in the northern portion of the country. More than half of the nation's population is ethnic Laothe principal lowland inhabitants, and the politically and culturally dominant people of Laos. Additionally, the Khao San Pathet Lao, the country's official news agency, publishes English and French versions of its eponymous paper. The stupa is open from 8am-4pm daily (with a one hour break from 12-1) and costs 5,000 kip to enter the inside. The constitution also contains provisions for gender equality, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of press and assembly. Vientiane Capital is the home to the most significant . Laos is simply one of those places that will capture your heart for years to come. Laos can be considered to consist of three geographical areas: north, central, and south. Pathet Lao held areas used Lao as their sole language and following the end of the Vietnam War, French began its sharp decline in Laos. [143], The term "Laotian" does not necessarily refer to the Lao language, ethnic Lao people, language or customs. His ministers, unable to tolerate his ruthlessness, forced him into exile to the present-day Thai province of Nan in 1373,[31] where he died. [50], In 1975 the Pathet Lao overthrew the royalist government, forcing King Savang Vatthana to abdicate on 2 December 1975. [61] According to the October 2007 UNODC fact book Opium Poppy Cultivation in South East Asia, the poppy cultivation area was 15 square kilometres (5.8sqmi), down from 18 square kilometres (6.9sqmi) in 2006. In 1996 as the deadline for the closure of Thai refugee camps approached, and under mounting political pressure, the United States agreed to resettle Hmong refugees who passed a new screening process. Setthathirath became king in 1548, after his father was killed, and ordered the construction of what became the symbol of Laos, That Luang. Pr-histria. [163] The first feature-length film made after the monarchy was abolished is Gun Voice from the Plain of Jars, directed by Somchith Pholsena in 1983, although its release was prevented by a censorship board. According to independent non-profit/non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Amnesty International,[104] Human Rights Watch,[105] and Civil Rights Defenders,[106] along with the US State Department,[107] serious human rights violations such as arbitrary detentions, disappearances, free speech restrictions, prison abuses and other violations are an ongoing problem. 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