General Information about Laos

Laos

Laos (the Lao People's Democratic Republic) is a landlocked country of 230 000 km2 (89 112 square miles) sharing borders with Thailand, Vietnam, China, Cambodia and Myanmar. Vientiane has been the capital since the mid 16th century (1520). find a small map of Laos here!

Population

The present population is about 5 600 000.

Language in Laos

Lao is the official language, while French is still spoken by many elders, and English by the new generation. Many dialects are spoken throughout the country. Have a look to the background of our web site, this is the Lao hand writing!

Religion in Laos

Theravada Buddhism is the prominent religion, while Animism is widely practised, and has given a particular colour to Buddhist rituals. The Baci, a ceremony performed at home on many occasions is an example of this syncretism.

Seasons

There are two main seasons: the dry season, from November to May, and the rainy season from June to October.