General Information

Once known as the Ancient Kingdom of Lane Xang – Land of a Million Elephants – Laos was renamed the Lao people’s Democratic Republic in 1975. Its old world, laid back charm is irresistible; with craggy mountains in the north, and the mighty Mekong River flowing its length, this sparsely populated country exudes an allure and culture so welcoming every visitor leaves with a feeling they have experienced something unique. Indeed, they have. Tourism is rising year after year, as the world realizes that there still remains at least one hidden gem in its travel itinerary.

Geography:

Laos is a landlocked country in SE Asia that covers an area of approximately 236,800 km2, with a length of 1000 km. The south flowing Mekong River forms much of the border between Laos and Thailand, while the Annamite Mountain Range separates Laos and Vietnam to the east. The other countries sharing borders with Laos are China to the north, Myanmar to the northwest, and Cambodia to the south.

Roads:

Laos has nearly 40,000 km of roadways, of which just over 4000 km are paved. The infrastructure is growing as more roads are being paved, extending drivability further into the reaches of this country. Road 13, a main artery from Luang Prabang in the North, southwards through Vientiane, Pakse, and Champassak is entirely surfaced, as is the eastbound road leading to the Plain of Jars. Many roads throughout Laos act as connection routes to the neighbouring countries such as: Route 3 in the North, Routes 8, 9 and 12 on an east/west axis, and route 16 heading south. All these roads are paved and make for convenient transport. Roadmaps of Laos are not plentiful as yet, but they will become more common as roads are built. For help, the “Carterie du Laos” is open daily between 8am and 8pm.

Population:

Estimated at 6.7 million people in July 2008, Laos is the least populated country in SE Asia. It is also one of the most sparsely populated countries on earth with 26 people per sq km. Of these 6.7 million people, approximately 80% live in the northern part of the country.

Government:

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic was proclaimed in 1975. The executive power is controlled by the president, Lt General Mr. Choummaly Sayasone who is assisted by the Prime Minister, Mr. Bouasone Bouphavanh, who in turn is in charge of the ministry council. Legislative power belongs to the national assembly, composed of 115 members who are elected by the people for a five year mandate.
Special mention should be noted to the area in the north, Sam Neua – Viengxay, which was the birthplace of Laos, PDR.

Economy:

The natural resources in Laos, while substantial, are still largely underexploited. Agriculture remains a major source of income for roughly 80% of the population. The main crop is rice which is also the main diet staple. Other important crops are corn, tobacco, cotton, and coffee. Livestock consists of cattle, pigs, and water buffalos, with 1,000,000 plus heads of each. The industrial sector is small but expanding, especially the garment business, due mostly to Laos’ favorable manufacturing costs.

Climate:

Laos has predominantly two seasons, one wet and one dry. The wet season usually starts in June and lasts through September, when the dry season takes over. The changeover tends to be abrupt rather than gradual. November, December, and January are often a little cooler, which offers tourists an extremely comfortable traveling climate, although a good sweater and warm socks may be needed, especially if you are traveling up north. During the wet season it usually rains twice a day, mid-afternoon and very early morning. These periods are interspersed with partly cloudy skies punctuated with sunny periods.