The proto-historic period is characterised by contact with Chinese and Indian civilisations. "[132], The country's most widely recognised product may well be Beerlao, which in 2017 was exported to more than 20 countries worldwide. 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. Other terms are Khmu, Khamu (Kammu) or Kha as the Lao Loum refer to them to indicate their Austroasiatic language affiliation. [76], In 1989, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), with the support of the US government, instituted the Comprehensive Plan of Action, a programme to stem the tide of Indochinese refugees from Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. [139]:8 Songthaews are used in the country for long-distance and local public transport. What is the Difference Between Democrats and Republicans. [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. [25] Stone artefacts including Hoabinhian types have been found at sites dating to the Late Pleistocene in northern Laos. According to the USCommittee for Refugees, he was arrested by Lao security forces and was never seen again. Its international borders were closed except to trucks carrying goods and in cases allowed by the nation's COVID . Gently cut cilantro resting atop a raging furnace of flavor. Karen J, "House Panel Hears Concerns About Hmong", States News Service, 26 April 1994. [14] It is a one-party socialist republic, espousing MarxismLeninism and governed by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, under which non-governmental organisations have routinely characterised the country's human rights record as poor, citing repeated abuses such as torture, restrictions on civil liberties and persecution of minorities. In 2017, the country sent a team for the first time to the team events at the Southeast Asian Games. [141] The authorities in Laos have recently developed an innovative regulatory framework for publicprivate partnership contracts signed with small enterprises, in parallel with more conventional regulation of state-owned water enterprises. However, only slightly more than half of the population speaks Lao natively. In response, the United States initiated a bombing campaign against the PAVN positions, supported regular and irregular anti-communist forces in Laos, and supported Army of the Republic of Vietnam incursions into Laos. 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. However, villages far from major roads can be reached only through unpaved roads that may not be accessible year-round. Location: Champasak Province, Laos. [143], The term "Laotian" does not necessarily refer to the Lao language, ethnic Lao people, language or customs. 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. 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. Mapcarta, the open map. [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. 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. Collectively, they are known as Lao Soung or highland Laotians. 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 the late 19th century, Luang Prabang was ransacked by the Chinese Black Flag Army. 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. Thailand (invested US$4.489billion) and Vietnam (invested US$3.108billion) are the second and third largest investors respectively. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. Jaew can refer to any type of dipping sauce, of which Laos has a never ending abundance. 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. 900-1300 AD - Most of Laos is subordinate to the Khmer Empire at Angkor. The Patuxai, Vientiane Laos. It is a hand-woven silk skirt that can identify the woman who wears it in a variety of ways. Gunderson, Steve (18 May 1996) "State Department Outlines Resettlement Guidelines for Hmong Refugees". More than a century later, the kingdom was replaced by the Kingdom of Vientiane in 1707. Fa Ngum was born into the royal family in Muang Sua, the capital of a small state ruled by King Souvanna Khampong. Laos applied for membership of the World Trade Organization in 1997; on 2 February 2013, it was granted full membership. [71] In 2005 it attended the inaugural East Asia Summit. [46], The official and majority language is Lao, a language of the Tai-Kadai language family. [89], The European Union,[90] UNHCHR, and international groups have since spoken out about the forced repatriation. From the river bank inland, the three main roads run parallel to the river, while the . Wat Sisaket, Luang, and Phra Keo are the three most . Department of Statistics, Ministry of Planning and Investment, 2009. [12] Its capital and largest city is Vientiane. [181], Association football is the most popular sport in Laos. 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. 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]. [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. [129], In 2018, the country ranked 139th on the Human Development Index (HDI), indicating medium development. In 1899, Vientiane became the capital of the French protectorate of Laos, which ensured further development in the city. Patuxay, Vientiane Laos, Sunrise in the morning at at Patuxai. Savada, Andrea Matles (editor) (1994) "Events in 1945". [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. The restaurant serves a variety of local delicacies, such as Khao piak sen (a rice noodle soup), mok lao (an exotic coconut curry), and of course, Lao sausage. "[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. [33], In 1637, when Sourigna Vongsa ascended the throne, Lan Xang further expanded its frontiers. Very few of the Lao refugees, however, were willing to return voluntarily. Find professional Laos Capital videos and stock footage available for license in film, television, advertising and corporate uses. [164] One of the first commercial feature-length films was Sabaidee Luang Prabang, made in 2008. The first Lao kingdom, called Lan Xang or "land of the million elephants," was founded by Fa Ngum in 1353. The Pha That Luang Temple in Vientiane, Laos. 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. [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. Between 1763 and 1769, Burmese armies overran northern Laos and annexed Luang Prabang, while Champasak eventually came under Siamese suzerainty. It briefly gained independence in 1945 after Japanese occupation but was re-colonised by France until it won autonomy in 1949. Subsistence agriculture still accounts for half of the GDP and provides 80% of employment. 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. The streets are lined with trees, French colonial buildings, street markets, Buddhist temples, and noodle shops. 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. The sinh is a traditional garment worn by Lao women in daily life. Recognised asylum seekers were given resettlement opportunities, while the remaining refugees were to be repatriated under guarantee of safety. Most of the population (63%) resides within . Overall, the country extends about 650 miles (1,050 km) from northwest to southeast. [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. Zaisan Memorial,Ulan Bator,Mongolia. [124] Laos may have the greatest number of rice varieties in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Laos will . [184], Laos has no tradition in other team sports. [183] Since the start of the league, Lao Army F.C. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Vientiane is a city steeped in legend and history. Laos can be considered to consist of three geographical areas: north, central, and south. "Laos agrees to voluntary repatriation of refugees in Thailand", U.P.I., 5 June 1991. Vientiane became one of the most important settlements in the kingdom, and in 1563 it became the kingdom's capital. In 1990 only 8% of the rural population had access to improved sanitation. 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. [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. [citation needed], According to estimates, around 300,000 people fled to Thailand as a consequence of governmental repressions. Fa Ngum's eldest son, Oun Heuan, ascended to the throne under the name Samsenethai and reigned for 43years. More than 540 mineral deposits of gold, copper, zinc, lead and other minerals have been identified, explored and mined. 500 BC - The Plain of Jars, one of the most important prehistoric sites in Southeast Asia, dates from between 500 BC and 500 AD. Laos is the only landlocked nation in Southeast Asia. [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. [121] The irrigated areas under cultivation account for only 28% of the total area under cultivation which, in turn, represents only 12% of all of the agricultural land in 2012. Trc , FPT Capital ng k bn 1 triu c phiu TPB tng ng 0,063% vn iu l ngn hng. Since the founding of the Lao PDR in 1975, very few films have been made in Laos. A Siamese military campaign in Laos in 1876 was described by a British observer as having been "transformed into slave-hunting raids on a large scale".[37]. 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. 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 . Supply of foreign exchange has in the past been limited in Laos, which imposed a de facto limit on repatriation of capital. Vientiane has been the capital since 16th century. [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. Even the capital Vientiane feels like a relaxed riverfront town. Hanoi shares experience with Lao NA delegation. For example, Laotian music is dominated by its national musical instrument, the khaen, a type of bamboo mouth organ that has prehistoric origins. Sticky rice is a staple food and has cultural and religious significance to the Lao people. 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. 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. Traveling to Laos and visiting Vientiane capital, you must not miss Wat Sisaket temple. As the country opens up, with an increasing number of roads and bridges being built the tourist attractions are becoming more and more accessible. Life expectancy 65 years (men), 68 years (women) Currency kip . Tuy nhin, cng ty ch giao dch c 216.678 c phiu theo phng thc tha thun do cha t k vng v gi. [145], In the central and southern mountains, Mon-Khmer-speaking groups, known as Lao Theung or mid-slope Laotians, predominate. He encouraged a renaissance of Lao fine arts and literature and improved relations with Luang Phrabang. [75], Some Hmong groups fought as CIA-backed units on the royalist side in the Laotian Civil War. [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. 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. [76] As many as 200,000 Hmong went into exile in Thailand, with many ending up in the US. Laos became independent in 1953, with a constitutional monarchy under Sisavang Vong. Energy Efficiency Retrofitting of Buildings Challenges and Methods", Diller, Anthony; Edmondson, Jerry; Luo, Yongxian (2004). The Mekong River is vital as a transportation route for cargo and passengers, a source of electricity at dams, a water supply for crops, and a home to fish . Entitled The Rocket, the film appeared at the 2013 Melbourne International Film Festival and won three awards at the Berlin International Film Festival. [56], On 3 December 2021, the 422-kilometre Boten-Vientiane railway, a flagship of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was opened. (Lao: , pronounced Loo-ang pah-bang and also spelled Louangphrabang, is the former capital of Laos and a UNESCO World Heritage city. [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. This tourist attraction still holds more than 10 thousand Buddha statues, large and small. 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. [66][67] The incumbent head of government is Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. For example, Article 8 makes it clear that Laos is a multinational state and is committed to equality between ethnic groups. [17][18], The word Laos was coined by the French, who united the three Lao kingdoms in French Indochina in 1893 and named the country as the plural of the dominant and most common ethnic group, the Lao people. The mining industry of Laos has received prominent attention with foreign direct investments. Life expectancy 65 years (men), 68 years (women) Currency kip . One of the most problematic economic sectors in Laos is transport. 3,920 square kilometres and is located on the banks of the Mekong, close to the Thai border.Vientiane was the administrative capital . ", "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. 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. [35] Anouvong was taken to Bangkok as a prisoner, where he died. Fa Ngum, with 10,000 Khmer troops, conquered many Lao principalities in the Mekong river basin, culminating in the capture of Vientiane. [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. [73] The officials were to participate in a ceremony to mark the liberation of the Plain of Jars from the former Royal Lao government forces. Under the plan, refugee status was evaluated through a screening process. has been the most successful club with 8 titles, the highest number of championship wins.
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