CAPITAL CITY OF Laos: Vientiane
LANGUAGE OF Laos: Lao
CURRENCY OF Laos: Kip (LAK)
COMMENTS ABOUT Laos:
Laos, formally the Lao People's Democratic Republic , is one of the poorest nations in South-East Asia.
Cities : Vientiane (capital), Huay Xai, Luang Prabang, Luang Namtha, Muang Xay, Pakbeng, Pakse, Savannakhet
Best Places : Plain of Jars, Si Phan Don, Vang Vieng, Tham Nong Pafa Cave
Electricity : 220V/50Hz (European & US plugs)
Calling Code : +856
Time Zone : UTC +7
Laos was under the control of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government, ending a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closer ties to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with a gradual return to private enterprise, a liberalization of foreign investment laws, and the admission into ASEAN in 1997.
CLIMATE OF Laos: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
RELIGION OF Laos: Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%)
POPULATION OF Laos: 6,068,117 (July 2004 est.)>>
ECONOMY OVERVIEW OF Laos: The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official Communist states - began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, were striking - growth averaged 7% in 1988-2001 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis beginning in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a country with a primitive infrastructure; it has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The economy will continue to benefit from aid from the IMF and other international sources and from new foreign investment in food processing and mining.