Laos applied for membership of the World Trade Organization in 1997; on 2 February 2013, it was granted full membership. Get an insider's access to these Asia's exotic countries: Thailand, Vietnam and Laos.Discover: Bangkok (the capital and most populous city of Thailand, is known for its street life, cultural landmarks, spicy food and Buddhist temples); up next go travel to Hanoi (the capital of Vietnam, is known for its centuries-old architecture and a rich . The first Lao kingdom, called Lan Xang or "land of the million elephants," was founded by Fa Ngum in 1353. [153][154] Buddhism has long been one of the most important social forces in Laos. This land area is approximately 59% of the area of California. Laos became independent in 1953, with a constitutional monarchy under Sisavang Vong. [76] As many as 200,000 Hmong went into exile in Thailand, with many ending up in the US. [113] A number of citizens, primarily women and girls from all ethnic groups and foreigners, have been victims of sex trafficking in Laos. Vientiane became one of the most important settlements in the kingdom, and in 1563 it became the kingdom's capital. 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. [43] Otherwise, according to Martin Stuart-Fox, the Lao might well have lost control over their own country. Laos is a Lao speaking country that does not border with any sea. "Lao Refugees Return Home Under European Union Repatriation Program", Associated Press Worldstream, 22 11, 1994. ", Barclay, Adam and Shrestha, Samjhana (AprilJune 2006). Gunderson, Steve (18 May 1996) "State Department Outlines Resettlement Guidelines for Hmong Refugees". From 1975 to 1996, the United States resettled some 250,000 Lao refugees from Thailand, including 130,000 Hmong. Shortly after, the Kingdom of Champasak and the territory of Vientiane were added to the protectorate. Laos is a part of the Southeast Asian region. According to the International Monetary Fund, as of 01.01.2020, they amounted to USD 1.128 million. They were to have been released by October 2009, but their whereabouts remain unknown. The Lao PDR is one of the world's few socialist states openly endorsing communism. [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. (Lao: , pronounced Loo-ang pah-bang and also spelled Louangphrabang, is the former capital of Laos and a UNESCO World Heritage city. 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. French is used in government and commerce, and Laos is a member of the French-speaking organisation of La Francophonie. [45] When Japan surrendered, some Lao nationalists (including Prince Phetsarath) declared Laotian independence, but by early-1946, French troops had reoccupied the country and conferred limited autonomy on 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. [126] In addition, the country's plentiful water resources and mountainous terrain enable it to produce and export large quantities of hydroelectric energy. [81] Debate on the issue escalated quickly. [154] Healthy life expectancy was 54 years in 2007. [98][99] Prominent civil society advocates, human rights defenders, political and religious dissidents, and Hmong refugees have disappeared at the hands of Lao military and security forces. [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. 783.322 c phiu cn li tip tc c FPT Capital . [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. Vientiane, pronounced as "Viang-chan" in Lao, has been the Laotian capital city for 453 years. Photo: Tango7174, CC BY-SA 4.0. Besides, this place is also considered a library containing many ancient books written by hand on palm leaves. Under Vietnamese pressure, he rebelled against the Siamese in 1826. In a 23 October 1995 National Review article, Michael Johns, the former Heritage Foundation foreign policy expert and Republican White House aide, labelled the Hmong's repatriation a Clinton administration "betrayal", describing the Hmong as a people "who have spilled their blood in defense of American geopolitical interests". 15. The proto-historic period is characterised by contact with Chinese and Indian civilisations. The politically and culturally dominant Lao people make up 53.2% of the population, mostly in the lowlands. [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. [41] Under French rule, the Vietnamese were encouraged to migrate to Laos, which was seen by the French colonists as a rational solution to a labour shortage within the confines of an Indochina-wide colonial space. [58] Laos had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 5.59/10, ranking it 98th globally out of 172 countries. Supply of foreign exchange has in the past been limited in Laos, which imposed a de facto limit on repatriation of capital. 3,920 square kilometres and is located on the banks of the Mekong, close to the Thai border.Vientiane was the administrative capital . Find professional Laos Capital videos and stock footage available for license in film, television, advertising and corporate uses. Fa Ngum, with 10,000 Khmer troops, conquered many Lao principalities in the Mekong river basin, culminating in the capture of Vientiane. The attack resulted in the RLA largely demobilising, leaving the conflict to irregular ethnic Hmong forces of the "Secret Army" backed by the United States and Thailand, and led by General Vang Pao. Area 236,800 sq km (91,400 sq miles) Major languages Lao, French. The city was destroyed, valuables and historical artifacts were looted, and the population fled. Cities []. 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. "[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. 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. [19] In English, the 's' is pronounced, and not silent. The organisation estimates that there are 173,800 French speakers in Laos (2010 est.). According to linguistic and other historical evidence, Tai-speaking tribes migrated southwestward to the modern territories of Laos and Thailand from Guangxi sometime between the 8th and 10th centuries. ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) Policy Brief Series, No 7. A new province, Xaisomboun province , was established on 13 December 2013. However, the latter is considered pejorative, meaning 'slave'. Laos is thus the 22nd biggest country in Asia and in terms of area ranked 84th worldwide. 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 . Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th century under King FA NGUM. [32], In 1520, Photisarath came to the throne and moved the capital from Luang Prabang to Vientiane to avoid a Burmese invasion. [46], The official and majority language is Lao, a language of the Tai-Kadai language family. ", "Laos Deputy PM Douangchay Phichit dies in plane crash", "Laos plane crash kills defence minister and senior officials", "Lao Defense Chief Among Plane Crash Victims", "Hmong Leader's Vanishing In Laos Reverberates in U.S.", Reports on results of investigations of allegations concerning the welfare of Hmong refugees and asylum seekers in Thailand and Laos, "Refugee Admissions Program for East Asia", "History of the Hmong Resettlement Task Force", Report on the situation in the Xaysomboun Special Zone and 1100 Hmong-Lao refugees who escaped to Petchabun, Thailand during 20042005, Thailand: EU Presidency Declaration on the situation of Hmong refugees, "Hmong refugees facing removal from Thailand", Deportation of Hmong Lao refugees stopped in last minute, Hmong: UNHCR Protests Refugee Deportation, "Somsanga's Secrets | Arbitrary Detention, Physical Abuse, and Suicide inside a Lao Drug Detention Center", "In charts: How the Philippines fares in Southeast Asia", "Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review: Eighth session of the UPR Working Group of the Human Rights Council", "Human Rights Watch Concerns on Laos Submitted in advance of the EU-Laos Human Rights Dialogue October 2015", "Human Rights Abuses in Laos Must be Tackled Now", "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016", "Free former student leaders arbitrarily detained for 17 years", "Amnesty International Report 2016/17: Laos", "Laos, Vietnam troops kill Hmong Christians", "Laos, Vietnam troops kill four Hmong Christians: NGO", "Two teenagers rescued from forced prostitution in Laos", "Chinese marriage proposals become prostitution nightmares for some Lao girls", "Communism and Capitalism Are Mixing in Laos", https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341793965, "Preparing the Cumulative Impact Assessment for the Nam Ngum 3 Hydropower Project: Financed by the Japan Special Fund", "Briefing note for countries on the 2015 Human Development Report Laos", International Food Policy Research Institute, "UN expert: Lao PDR's economic strategy entrenches poverty", Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, European Council On Tourism And Trade Delegation Visit To Laos-World Best Tourist Destination European Council On Tourism And Trade, "The Lao People's Democratic Republic's Vision for Ecotourism", "China's BRI and its High-Speed Railways to Nowhere", "Focales n 8. Laos is now an independent country with an elected government, and Vientiane is its official 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. [178] Polygamy, however, is still customary among some Hmong people. 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. 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. Five of them were arrested and subsequently sentenced to up to 10 years imprisonment on charges of treason. [164] One of the first commercial feature-length films was Sabaidee Luang Prabang, made in 2008. Laos is divided into 17 provinces (khoueng) and one prefecture (kampheng nakhon), which includes the capital city Vientiane (Nakhon Louang Viangchan). Paul Lvy, ''Histoire du Laos'', PUF, 1974. Luang Prabang and Vat Phou are both UNESCO World Heritage sites. 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. Located on the Mekong River the city has 950,000 inhabitants. The capital city has more of a small town feel than that of a capital. [59], In 1993 the Laos government set aside 21% of the nation's land area for habitat conservation preservation. It is evident throughout the country, expressed in language, temples and the arts and literature. Sticky rice is a staple food and has cultural and religious significance to the Lao people. It is produced by the Lao Brewery Company. Located on a curve of the Mekong River, Vientiane Capital has a recorded history that stretches back to around 1,000 AD. The Tai-Kadai Languages, ":: Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission, R.o.c. [95], Human rights violations remain a significant concern in Laos. The revised constitution of 11 May 1957 omitted reference to the French Union, though close educational, health and technical ties with the former colonial power persisted. 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. [179] Only 3.5% of women and 2.1% of men between the ages of 1549 were in a polygamous union as of 2017. 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. He has been General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, a position making him the de facto leader of Laos, since January 2021. The capital of Laos is Vientiane. Choose our custom designed, flexible and unique Laos Tour Packages. Lao PDR: How to Attract More Investment in Small-Scale Renewable Energy? 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. 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. 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. 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. [26] Archaeological evidence suggests an agriculturist society developed during the 4th millennium BC. [44] On 9 March 1945, a nationalist group declared Laos once more independent, with Luang Prabang as its capital, but on 7 April 1945 two battalions of Japanese troops occupied the city. For example, Laotian music is dominated by its national musical instrument, the khaen, a type of bamboo mouth organ that has prehistoric origins. Between 1995 and 2008 approximately 1,232,900 more people had access to improved sanitation in rural areas. This includes 1,900,440 Pfizer and 1,000,800 J&J doses. 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. [124] Laos may have the greatest number of rice varieties in the Greater Mekong Subregion. [30] He made Theravada Buddhism the state religion, and Lan Xang prospered. [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. 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. 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. [155], The adult literacy rate for women in 2017 was 62.9%; for adult men, 78.1%. The mining industry of Laos has received prominent attention with foreign direct investments. The Lao subsequently established their own kingdom named the Lan Xang in 1354. Fa Ngum was born into the royal family in Muang Sua, the capital of a small state ruled by King Souvanna Khampong. [25] Stone artefacts including Hoabinhian types have been found at sites dating to the Late Pleistocene in northern Laos. 3, "Through Chaos to a New Order", in, Sanda Simms, ch. [70] Laos was admitted into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in July 1997 and acceded to the World Trade Organization in 2016. Other Hmong fighters hid out in mountains in Xiangkhouang Province for many years, with a remnant emerging from the jungle in 2003. If you drive into town, you might not even realize when you're actually in the city proper, as Vientiane blends seamlessly with the countryside. All these changes were partly due to the inflow of foreign capital into the Lao economy in the form of direct investment. [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". During World War II, the city was briefly captured by Japan, but quickly recaptured by the French. All things considered, it . Life expectancy 65 years (men), 68 years (women) Currency kip . In 1893, the three territories came under a French protectorate and were united to form what is now known as Laos. Vientiane Capital is the home to the most significant national monument in Laos: That Luang (Great Stupa), which is the symbol of Lao and an icon of Buddhism in Laos. Laos Local Tour Company offers Laos tours, tailor made vacation packages travel services. 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. According to a Laotian epic, Vientiane was founded on the Mekong Rivers eastern banks by a prince named Thattaradtha. Population 6.7 million. The national basketball team competed at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games where it beat Myanmar in the eighth place game.[185]. 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 . Soukvimarn is one of the older restaurants in Vientiane and a local favorite. Southeast Asia is a region in the southern part of Asia that is composed of 11 countries: Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand . Hanoi shares experience with Lao NA delegation. [69] Trade relations with the United States were normalised in November 2004 through Congress approved legislation. [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. Vientiane suffered greatly during the conflict between the kingdom's army and Siamese forces in 1827. [65] The king then secretly sent Prince Kindavong to represent Laos to the Allied forces and Prince Sisavang as representative to the Japanese. His reign is often regarded as Laos's golden age. [108] In late February 2017, two of those imprisoned were finally released after 17 years. [64] A new province, Xaisomboun province, was established on 13 December 2013. Origins of the Lao Kingdom. Government policies are determined by the party through the eleven-member Politburo of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the 61-member Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. 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. . [131] In 2019, the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights conducted an official visit to Laos and found that the country's top-down approach to economic growth and poverty alleviation "is all too often counterproductive, leading to impoverishment and jeopardising the rights of the poor and marginalised. 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. [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. Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is the antithesis of a bustling capital like London. 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