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Laos

AsiaSouth-Eastern Asia

237 Thousand km²

Quick Facts

Capital

Vientiane

Area

236,800 km²

Language

Lao

Currency

Lao Kip (LAK)

Calling Code

+856

Drives On

Right

Internet

.la

Timezone

ICT (UTC+7)

Script

Lao

Government

One-Party Socialist Republic

Independence

1953

Map tiles by CARTO. Data by OpenStreetMap.

Laos is Southeast Asia's best-kept secret. Landlocked between Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, and Myanmar, this gentle Buddhist country moves at a pace that feels almost rebellious in its slowness. While its neighbors race toward development, Laos remains a place where saffron-robed monks collect alms at dawn, the Mekong River sets the rhythm of daily life, and the jungle canopy hides waterfalls, cave temples, and hill tribe villages that feel untouched by the modern world.

The old royal capital of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage town at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, is one of the most beautiful small cities in Asia. The food is stellar - sticky rice eaten by hand, laap salads spiked with herbs, and Mekong River fish grilled over charcoal. The people are among the most genuinely friendly you will meet anywhere. But Laos also carries a painful recent history: it is the most heavily bombed country per capita in history, a legacy of the Vietnam War era that still affects daily life. That resilience and gentleness coexist is perhaps the most remarkable thing about the Lao spirit.

Largest Cities in Laos

Vientiane

The world's most relaxed capital city, a sleepy Mekong-side town of French colonial buildings, Buddhist temples, and sunset riverside cafes

950,000

Luang Prabang

UNESCO World Heritage town where French colonial architecture meets gilded temples, the spiritual heart of Laos

65,000

Pakse

Gateway to the Bolaven Plateau's waterfalls and coffee plantations, and the 4,000 Islands region of the southern Mekong

90,000

Savannakhet

Charming Mekong town with crumbling French colonial architecture and a dinosaur museum built around local fossil finds

125,000

Famous People from Laos

Sisavang Vong

Politics

Long-reigning King of Laos who navigated French colonial rule and Japanese occupation to preserve Lao sovereignty

Outhine Bounyavong

Literature

Celebrated Lao short story writer whose works capture rural life and Buddhist philosophy in everyday Laos

Somphone Midilapa

Music

Master of the khene, the traditional Lao bamboo mouth organ that is central to Lao musical identity

Traditional Cuisine of Laos

Sticky Rice

The staple food of Laos eaten at every meal, steamed in bamboo baskets and rolled into balls by hand to scoop up dishes

Laap

The national dish - a spicy minced meat salad with herbs, lime, fish sauce, and toasted rice powder, served with mountains of fresh greens

Tam Mak Hoong

Lao-style green papaya salad pounded in a mortar with fermented fish paste, chili, and lime - funkier and bolder than the Thai version

Khao Piak Sen

Comforting rice noodle soup with chicken or pork, thickened by the starch from the noodles into a silky, warming broth

Or Lam

Hearty Luang Prabang stew of meat, vegetables, and lemongrass thickened with sticky rice, flavored with the numbing sakhan wood

Nature & Landmarks in Laos

Kuang Si Falls

Waterfall

Stunning turquoise cascading waterfalls near Luang Prabang with natural swimming pools surrounded by jungle

Mekong River

River

Southeast Asia's great river forms much of Laos's border and is the lifeblood of the country, home to rare Irrawaddy dolphins in the south

Pak Ou Caves

Cave

Sacred riverside caves stuffed with thousands of Buddha statues left by pilgrims over centuries, reached by boat up the Mekong

Si Phan Don (4,000 Islands)

Island

Archipelago of islands in the southern Mekong where the river widens dramatically, a hammock-and-bicycle paradise near the Cambodian border

Bolaven Plateau

Plateau

Highland region of waterfalls, coffee plantations, and cool climate, producing some of the best Arabica coffee in Southeast Asia

Sports in Laos

Muay Lao

Traditional Lao kickboxing closely related to Muay Thai, a cultural and sporting tradition with a passionate following

Football

The most popular spectator sport, with the national team competing in Southeast Asian regional tournaments

Petanque

A surprising legacy of French colonialism - Laos is passionate about petanque and competes internationally

Did You Know?

Laos is the most heavily bombed country per capita in history - over 270 million cluster bombs were dropped during the Vietnam War era, and about 30% remain unexploded

The Lao people eat more sticky rice per capita than any other nation on Earth

Vientiane is considered the most laid-back capital city in Southeast Asia, where rush hour barely exists

The khene, a bamboo mouth organ, has been played in Laos for thousands of years and was recognized by UNESCO

Laos has one of the youngest populations in Asia, with a median age of about 24 years

The French introduced baguettes to Laos, and they remain a daily staple - Lao baguette sandwiches are legendary street food