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Lao PDR
    
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___ LaoDestination Lao, a virtual travel to Lan Xang, the "Land of a Million Elephants". This page aims to give you a broad overview of Lao's art, culture, people, environment, geography, history, economy and government.Beside a country profile with facts and figures, the page contains links to sources which provide you with all the information you need to know about this Southeast Asian nation, e.g.: official web sites of Laos, addresses of Lao and foreign embassies, domestic airlines, city- and country guides with extensive travel and tourism information on accommodation, tourist attractions, events and more like weather information, maps, statistics and local newspapers from Laos. |
 Presidential Palace, Vientiane Photo © nationsonline.org |
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Lao | Laos |
Country Profile |
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 Flag of Lao People's Democratic Republic |
 Royal Laos National Flag until 1975 |
 Official Name: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao short form: Lao int'l long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic abreviation: Lao PDR int'l short form: Lao(s) ISO Country Code: ls Time: Local Time = UTC +7h Actual Time: Sun-Nov-8 04:49 Capital City: Vientiane - Viangchan (pop. 640 000) Other Cities: Savannakhet, Luang Prabang, Pakse, Thakhek. Government: Type: Communist state. Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France). Geography: Location: in center of Southeast Asian peninsula, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam. Area: 236 800 sq. km. (91 430 sq. mi.) Terrain: The country has three distinct regions: rugged mountains in north, plateaus, alluvial plains. Highest peak: Phou Bia in Xieng Khouang province 2 800 m. Climate: Tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (November to April). People: Nationality: Lao. Term for Citizens: Laotian(s). Population: 6 million. Ethnic groups: Lao Loum (lowland): 68%; Lao Theung (upland): 22%; Lao Soung (highland) 9%, including the Hmong and the Yao; and ethnic Vietnamese and Chinese: 1%. Religions: Theravada Buddhism, animism among highland groups. Languages: Lao (official), French, various highland ethnic, English. Literacy: 53%. Natural resources: unspoilt tropical forest, timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones. Agriculture products: Rice, sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry. Industries: Tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism. Exports partners: Thailand 19%, Vietnam 16.4%, France 7.9%, Germany 5.6%, UK 4.9% (2004) Imports partners: Thailand 60.5%, China 9.2%, Vietnam 8.7% (2004) Currency: New Kip (LAK) |
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Background: Laos is the least developed asian landlocked country, surrounded by China in the north, Burma (Myanmar) to the north-west, Thailand in the south-west, Cambodia (Kampuchia) in the south-east, and Vietnam to the east. Most Laotians are subsistence farmers, and rice is the principal crop. Forestry is economically important, but mining and manufacturing are limited. Barter is the prevalent method of exchange in rural commerce. The unit of currency in Laos is the new kip (921.13 new kips equal U.S.$1; 1996). After 600 years of being a monachy, at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, Laos has been ruled by a one-party Communist Government. Although Laos is opening its door to the West, under the 1991 constitution, Laos continues to be a one-party centralised system as specified in the constitution in Article 3: "The rights of the multi-ethnic people to be the masters of the country are exercised and ensured through the functioning of the political system with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party as its leading nucleus". For the day to day running of the country, the executive governmental power is held by a president, who is chosen by an elected National Assembly, in accordance with article 3 above, to serve a five-year term. (Source: Laos WWW Virtual Library) border countries: Cambodia, China, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Vietnam related countries: France, United States |
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| Note: External links will open in a new browser window. Official Sites of LaoThe National Assembly of Lao People's Democratic RepublicOfficial website, with information about Laos and the National Assembly.  National Assembly building, Vientiane Photo © nationsonline.org Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao P.D.R. Official website of the ministry. Diplomatic Missions Permanent Mission of the Lao PDR to the United Nations Lao's representation to the UN. Embassy of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in the U.S. With information on Lao. Lao Embassy Bangkok The Embassy of the Lao P.D.R in Thailand. Lao Diplomatic Missions Abroad Address list of Lao Missions Abroad. Diplomatic Missions in the Lao PDR Address list of Diplomatic Missions in the Lao PDR and Neighbouring Countries. Tourist Survival Page Foreign Embassies, Emergencies Contacts, Entry Procedures. Statistics Lao National Statistic Center Lao PDR in figures. Maps Map
of LaosPolitical map of Laos. Map
of Southeast AsiaMap of the Southeast Asia region. Map of AsiaReference Map of Asia.  Google
Earth LaosZoomable satellite view of Laos. Google
Earth Map Vientiane Zoomable satellite view of Lao's capital city. Google
Earth Vat Phou Zoomable satellite view of world heritage site of Vat Phou temple. |
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Lao NewsKhaosan Pathet LaoLao News Agency. Vientiane Mai Online news (in Lao) Vientiane Times Official news from Laos, English-language weekly. Pasaxon News headlines (pdf format in Lao) Le Rénovateur French language news paper, Vientiane. VientianeTimes.com US based site with Lao news and information. Radio Lao National Radio With News in Lao, Hmong and English. Radio Free Asia US based news about East Asia and Laos. International News Sources BBC News Country Profile: Laos With links to Laos related news and background information. Google News Laos Press agencies news on Laos Human Rights Amnesty International: Laos Amnesty International Reports. Human Rights Watch: Laos Background Briefings. Press freedom Reporters sans frontières - Laos Annual report 2007 about Press freedom in the country. |
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Arts & CultureLibrary of LaosProvides information on Lao culture. Laos Photo Gallery Pictures from central and northern Laos. LaoUpdate.com A young generation Lao portal and online magazine. Lao Textiles Carol Cassidy's Lao Textiles workshop, studio and gallery for handwoven silk. Maicome The art of authentic lao silk. Asian Historical Architecture With domestic architecture photos from Luang Prabang and Vientiane, Laos. |
 Silk yarn at Lao Textiles, Vientiane © 2007 nationsonline.org |
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Business & EconomyLao Trade Promotion CenterLao trade information by Trade Information Division. Lao PDR Yellow Pages Find Lao companies and institutions. __Transport Lao Airlines Laos' national carrier. |
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Destination Laos - Travel and Tour GuidesDiscover Laos: accommodation, hotels, attractions, festivals, events, tourist boards, and much more.Lao National Tourism Administration Official website with comprehensive information for people who want to visit Laos. Ecotourism in Laos Discover the world of ecotourism in Laos. Includes info on activities, attractions, transportation, tour operators, maps, accommodation and world heritage sites. Discovering Laos A tour guide to Laos by Lao Embassy. Mekong Travel and Tourism - Laos The Official website for tourism in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Lao Association of Travel Agents (LATA) Official website of the asscoiation. Lao Images Travel images of South Laos, Mekong, Champasak, Vat Phou, Savannakhet, and Vientiane. Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape Information about the world heritage site of Vat Phou temple. Laoconnection Laos People Culture, a Lao owned and operated portal site. Muonglao.com Laos portal with news and country information. Phou Khao Khouay Discover Community-based Tourism in Central Laos. Visit-Laos Laos hotels and tours, travel in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. City Guide The City of Vientiane Small guide to Laos capital by Lao Embassy. Hotel Settha Palace Hotel Vientiane More Hotels NEW Hotels in Laos Find a Hotel in Laos. Travel Bokeo Travel Discover Laos. Lao Pictures by Akihito Koriyama. Hmong People WWW Hmong Homepage A collection of Internet-based resources related to Hmong news and current-events, issues, history, publications, and culture. |
 A sacred and auspicious White Elephant, Vientiane © Lao Embassy |
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EducationLao American CollegeLao American College, Vientiane. Lao-Singapore Business College LSBC offers English courses as well as a full time High Diploma and Computer classes, Vientiane. National University of Laos Laos Higher Education Institution, established in 1995. |
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Environment - Environmental organizations LaosLao National Mekong Committee MRCAgency for sustainable development, utilisation, management and conservation of the water and related resources of the Mekong Basin. The Mekong River Commission An Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin between the governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute NAFRI consolidates agriculture and forestry research activities within the country. Nam Theun 2 Hydroelectric Project Hydro power for Laos. Internet Directory of NGOs in the Lao PDR An on-line portal for information about NGOs working in Laos with contact information, detailed activities and projects, publications, photo galleries and more. |
 Lao Theung Lady © Lao Embassy |
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HistoryAbout Laos : HistoryLaos history provided by LNTA. History Review Brief history of Laos by Lao Embassy, Washington. Refugees from Laos - Historical Background and Causes From early history to Resistance. The Secret War The role of Laos in the Vietnam war. |
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SearchLao PDR.comLaos' Portal site for Lao websites. Additional Information on LaoLaos - A Country StudyThe Laos WWW Virtual Library Open Directory: Laos Wikipedia: Laos The World Factbook -- Laos |
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| The Lao page was last modified on: Friday, 24-Jul-2009 18:55:41 CEST |
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