[155], The adult literacy rate for women in 2017 was 62.9%; for adult men, 78.1%. Updated on November 19, 2021. 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. Population 6.7 million. Laos will . [71] In 2005 it attended the inaugural East Asia Summit. Vientiane: Laos' Capital City . Lao Soung account for about 10% of the population. Vientiane, also spelled Viangchan, largest city and capital of Laos, situated on a plain just northeast of the Mekong River. Thailand (invested US$4.489billion) and Vietnam (invested US$3.108billion) are the second and third largest investors respectively. [46], During the First Indochina War, the Indochinese Communist Party formed the Pathet Lao independence organisation. Fa Ngum, with 10,000 Khmer troops, conquered many Lao principalities in the Mekong river basin, culminating in the capture of Vientiane. 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. 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. However, villages far from major roads can be reached only through unpaved roads that may not be accessible year-round. There are many traditions and rituals associated with rice production in different environments and among many ethnic groups. [95], Human rights violations remain a significant concern in Laos. The rebellion failed, and Vientiane was ransacked. Although some accusations of forced repatriation were denied,[82] thousands of Hmong people refused to return to Laos. Life expectancy 65 years (men), 68 years (women) Currency kip . Capital: Vientiane. Laos financed the remaining 30% with loans from . [141] Laos's progress is notable in comparison to similar developing countries. Luang Prabang and Vat Phou are both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Vientiane became one of the most important settlements in the kingdom, and in 1563 it became the kingdom's capital. 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. 3,920 square kilometres and is located on the banks of the Mekong, close to the Thai border.Vientiane was the administrative capital . Other Hmong fighters hid out in mountains in Xiangkhouang Province for many years, with a remnant emerging from the jungle in 2003. 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. You'll find yourself slowly won over by the easy charms of this evolving . 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 . [101] On 25 September 2009, Laos ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, nine years after signing the treaty. [76] As many as 200,000 Hmong went into exile in Thailand, with many ending up in the US. Only 4% of the country is arable land and a mere 0.3% used as permanent crop land,[120] the lowest percentage in the Greater Mekong Subregion. [47] As of 22March2021[update] the head of state is President Thongloun Sisoulith. ", "Evaluation Synthesis of Rice in Lao PDR", "Starting an Asian Cinema: Laos Past and Present", "Good Good Morning, Luang Prabang and hello to Laos's film industry", "Q&A with director Kim Mordaunt (The Rocket)", "A tale of revenge in Laos challenges censors", "Fantastic Fest 2013 Review: Chanthaly is A Haunting Portrait of Modern Day Laos", "Laos Selects 'Dearest Sister' as First Foreign-Language Oscar Submission", "Cannes: Southeast Asia Is Ready for Its Big-Screen Close-up", "Laos: Crony scheme in control of press and civil society", "Social Discrimination in the Lao People's Democratic Republic", "Muay Lao, the forgotten art of kickboxing", "Laos Stumbles on Path to Sporting Glory", Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), ASEANRepublic of Korea Commemorative Summit, Comprehensive Economic Partnership for East Asia, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, ASEANAustralia Development Cooperation Program, Outstanding Scientist and Technologist Award, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, Assemble parlementaire de la Francophonie, Agence de Coopration Culturelle et Technique, Prix des cinq continents de la francophonie, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Laos&oldid=1142166912, French-speaking countries and territories, Member states of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, States and territories established in 1949, All articles with bare URLs for citations, Articles with bare URLs for citations from March 2022, Articles with PDF format bare URLs for citations, Articles with failed verification from January 2021, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, Pages using infobox country or infobox former country with the symbol caption or type parameters, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2022, Articles containing potentially dated statements from March 2021, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2020, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2011, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2021, Pages using Sister project links with wikidata mismatch, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 21:55. The Pathet Lao were backed militarily by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and the Viet Cong. 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. [59], In 1993 the Laos government set aside 21% of the nation's land area for habitat conservation preservation. French is used in government and commerce, and Laos is a member of the French-speaking organisation of La Francophonie. It was founded in 1563 and was prompted by fears of attacks from Burma. [48], Some 80million bombs failed to explode and remain scattered throughout the country, rendering vast swaths of land impossible to cultivate. The capital city has more of a small town feel than that of a capital. The main international airports are Vientiane's Wattay International Airport and Luang Prabang International Airport with Pakse International Airport also having a few international flights. The Lao Securities Exchange (LSX) began operations in 2011 with two stocks listed, both state-owned - the Banque Pour l'CommerceExterieur (BCEL), and the power generation arm of . Under Vietnamese pressure, he rebelled against the Siamese in 1826. All these changes were partly due to the inflow of foreign capital into the Lao economy in the form of direct investment. 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 describes his experience in the Lao capital in fine detail, making the minutiae come alive. This slim paperback by Sam Brier and Phouphanomlack (Tee) Sangkhampone boasts an intuitive, sound-based way to learn the written Lao alphabet and sounds of the Lao language. According to the USCommittee for Refugees, he was arrested by Lao security forces and was never seen again. [13] After a period of internal conflict, Lan Xang broke into three separate kingdoms: Luang Phrabang, Vientiane and Champasak. [166], Australian filmmaker Kim Mordount's first feature film was made in Laos and features a Laotian cast speaking their native language. The capital of Laos is Vientiane. [175] Lao citizens who have criticised the government have been subjected to enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and torture. [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. [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. The nation's most important government buildings, ministries, departments and foreign embassies are located in Vientiane. This tourist attraction still holds more than 10 thousand Buddha statues, large and small. In 1960, amidst a series of rebellions in the Kingdom of Laos, fighting broke out between the Royal Lao Army (RLA) and the communist North Vietnamese and Soviet Union-backed Pathet Lao guerillas. More than 540 mineral deposits of gold, copper, zinc, lead and other minerals have been identified, explored and mined. Laosul i are originile n Imperiul Lan Xang ce a existat ntre secolele XIV i XVIII.. Dup o perioad de apartenen la Imperiul Colonial . Vientiane prefecture, the capital and largest city, had about 683,000 residents in 2020. Its first railway line, a short 3-km long metre-gauge railway that connects southern Vientiane to Thailand, only opened in 2009. 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. The area was originally settled because of the fertility of the surrounding alluvial plains, and Vientiane became the capital city of Laos around the mid-16th century. Laos is thus the 22nd biggest country in Asia and in terms of area ranked 84th worldwide. [89], The European Union,[90] UNHCHR, and international groups have since spoken out about the forced repatriation. Population 6.7 million. All things considered, it . [156] Laos was ranked 117th in the Global Innovation Index in 2021 down from 113rd in 2020.[157][158][159][160][161]. It is evident throughout the country, expressed in language, temples and the arts and literature. [46], Male life expectancy at birth was at 62.6 years and female life expectancy was at 66.7 years in 2017. 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. Entitled The Rocket, the film appeared at the 2013 Melbourne International Film Festival and won three awards at the Berlin International Film Festival. Major religion Buddhism. Laos is simply one of those places that will capture your heart for years to come. Theravada Buddhism has coexisted peacefully since its introduction to the country with the local polytheism. Local tradition holds that there are three seasons (rainy, cool and hot) as the latter two months of the climatologically defined dry season are noticeably hotter than the earlier four months. [47][52] Laos was requested in 1979 by Vietnam to end relations with the People's Republic of China, leading to isolation in trade by China, the United States, and other countries. In 1893, the three territories came under a French protectorate and were united to form what is now known as Laos. Laos is now an independent country with an elected government, and Vientiane is its official capital. Vientiane authorities have pledged to carry out 30 large-scale development projects from now until 2025 in a bid to accelerate the Lao capital's economic growth. It is a hand-woven silk skirt that can identify the woman who wears it in a variety of ways. [13] Because of its central geographical location in Southeast Asia, the kingdom became a hub for overland trade and became wealthy economically and culturally. Today, it remains the unofficial tourist capital. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Capital: Vientiane. Five of them were arrested and subsequently sentenced to up to 10 years imprisonment on charges of treason. Patuxay, Vientiane Laos, Sunrise in the morning at at Patuxai. Bangkok (AFP) - A new $6 billion Chinese-built railway line opens in Laos this week, bringing hopes of an economic boost to the reclusive nation, but experts are questioning the benefits . Most people live in valleys of the Mekong River and its tributaries. Laos's first French-written and monarchical constitution was promulgated on 11 May 1947, and declared Laos an independent state within the French Union. Zaisan Memorial,Ulan Bator,Mongolia. Additionally, many elite and French-educated Lao immigrated to nations such as the United States and France to escape government persecution. [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. Between 1763 and 1769, Burmese armies overran northern Laos and annexed Luang Prabang, while Champasak eventually came under Siamese suzerainty. [34], Chao Anouvong was installed as a vassal king of Vientiane by the Siamese. 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. Mapcarta, the open map. [100], Ostensibly, the Constitution of Laos that was promulgated in 1991 and amended in 2003 contains most key safeguards for human rights. Laos is landlocked (it does not have a coast on a sea or ocean). Mon-Khmer groups, the Hmong, and other indigenous hill tribes live in the foothills and mountains. 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. The Tai-Kadai Languages, ":: Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission, R.o.c. Between 20,000 and 62,000 Laotians died during the civil war. [167] One production company's film that has succeeded to produce Lao feature films and gain international recognition is Lao New Wave Cinema's At the Horizon, directed by Anysay Keola, that was screened at the OzAsia Film Festival[168] and Lao Art Media's Chanthaly (Lao: ) directed by Mattie Do, which was screened at the 2013 Fantastic Fest. [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. The city is the home of the massive gilded stupa, Pha That Luang, a national symbol of Laos. [139]:8 Songthaews are used in the country for long-distance and local public transport. "[132], The country's most widely recognised product may well be Beerlao, which in 2017 was exported to more than 20 countries worldwide. SE Asia. [50], In 1975 the Pathet Lao overthrew the royalist government, forcing King Savang Vatthana to abdicate on 2 December 1975. The Patuxai, Vientiane Laos. 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. It is bordered by Myanmar (used to be known in English as "Burma") and by China to the northwest, by Vietnam to the east, by Cambodia to the south and by . Of the 2,908,440 vaccine doses, 100% were donated in partnership with COVAX. [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'. [123] Approximately 77% of Lao farm households are self-sufficient in rice. Vientiane is located at 17.9757, 102.6331, at an elevation of 570 ft. After talks with the UNHCR and the Thai government, Laos agreed to repatriate the 60,000 Lao refugees living in Thailand, including several thousand Hmong people. The International Monetary Fund ranked Laos 36th out of 42 Asian countries in 2018. After the Vietnam War ended in 1975, the communist Pathet Lao came to power, ending the civil war. However, historians claim the city was an ancient Khmer settlement that formed around a Hindu temple. Pakse is the capital and most populous city of Champasak Province in Southern Laos. [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. 15. This article is about the country in Southeast Asia. [165] The 2017 documentary feature film Blood Road was predominantly shot and produced in Laos with assistance from the Lao government, it was recognised with a News and Documentary Emmy Award in 2018. [25] Stone artefacts including Hoabinhian types have been found at sites dating to the Late Pleistocene in northern Laos. Jaew. [181], Association football is the most popular sport in Laos. 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. [169][170] In September 2017, Laos submitted Dearest Sister (Lao: ), Mattie Do's second feature film, to the 90th Academy Awards (or the Oscars) for consideration for Best Foreign Language Film, marking the country's first submission for the Oscars. In their opposition of the repatriation plans, Democratic and Republican Members of Congress challenged the Clinton administration's position that the government of Laos was not systematically violating Hmong human rights. [122] Rice dominates agriculture, with about 80% of the arable land area used for growing rice. [143], The term "Laotian" does not necessarily refer to the Lao language, ethnic Lao people, language or customs. The city is Laos' capital and is located along the banks of the Mekong River. Very few of the Lao refugees, however, were willing to return voluntarily. Authorities in Laos have reported a significant Covid-19 outbreak near the notorious Kings Romans casino, whose Chinese owner is accused by the United States of trafficking people, wildlife and drugs. [citation needed], On 2 December 1975, after taking control of the country, the Pathet Lao government under Kaysone Phomvihane renamed the country as the Lao People's Democratic Republic and signed agreements giving Vietnam the right to station armed forces and to appoint advisers to assist in overseeing the country. The airport in Paske was completed in 2009 with one terminal for both international and domestic flights. Laos is a landlocked country on the Indo-Chinese peninsula between Thailand and Vietnam. [69] Trade relations with the United States were normalised in November 2004 through Congress approved legislation. [47] Between 1964 and 1973, the US dropped two million tons of bombs on Laos, nearly equal to the 2.1million tons of bombs the US dropped on Europe and Asia during all of World War II, making Laos the most heavily bombed country in history relative to the size of its population; The New York Times notes this was "nearly a ton for every person in Laos". Present-day Laos traces its historic and cultural identity to Lan Xang, which existed from the 13th century to the 18th century as one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. Sticky rice is generally preferred over jasmine rice, and sticky rice cultivation and production is thought to have originated in Laos. [153][154] Buddhism has long been one of the most important social forces in Laos. English, the language of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has become increasingly studied in recent years. The city's central river port location in a country relying heavily on its rivers for transportation and its surrounding hinterland of intensive rice cultivation have made Vientiane the major economic centre of Laos. [87], Lending further support to earlier claims that the government of Laos was persecuting the Hmong, filmmaker Rebecca Sommer documented first-hand accounts in her documentary, Hunted Like Animals,[88] and in a comprehensive report that includes summaries of refugee claims and was submitted to the UN in May 2006. It consists of an irregularly round portion in the north that narrows into a peninsula-like region stretching to the southeast. A Chinese firm's plans to build a 100-meter-high Buddha statue in low-lying Vientiane encapsulate China's outsized . AFP. 500 BC - The Plain of Jars, one of the most important prehistoric sites in Southeast Asia, dates from between 500 BC and 500 AD. 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