in Laos

Laos

Laos, formally the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), is one of the poorest nations in South-East Asia. A mountainous and landlocked country, Laos shares borders with Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, Thailand to the west, and Myanmar and China to the north.

Cities
Vientiane - the capital on the banks of the Mekong River (rapidly losing much of its "sleepiness")
Huay Xai - in the north, on the Mekong and the border with Thailand
Luang Prabang - a UNESCO World Heritage City known for its numerous temples
Luang Namtha - capital of the north, known for its trekking.
Muang Xay - also known as Oudomxay, the capital of the multiethnic province of Oudomxay.
Pakbeng - halfway point on the overnight slow boat between Huay Xai & Luang Prabang
Pakse - gateway to the Wat Phu ruins and the "four thousand islands" (Si Phan Don)
Savannakhet - in the south, on the Mekong, connected by bridge to Mukdahan, Thailand

Other destinations
Ban Nalan trail - a 2 days ecotourism trekking in the north of Laos.
Plain of Jars - just what the name says, but nobody knows what they are or why they are there
Si Phan Don - the "four thousand islands" are nestled within the Mekong near the Cambodian border
Vang Vieng - backpacker hangout for spelunking in limestone caves and tubing on the Nam Song river
Tham Nong Pafa Cave - a cave discovered in Khammouan Province in 2004; as many as 200 Buddha statues of all sizes have been found inside
Vieng Xai

Understand
Thailand promotes itself as amazing, Vietnam can well be described as bustling, Cambodia's Khmer temples are awe-inspiring, Myanmar's junta is barbaric... but the adjective most often applied to Laos is forgotten. The Lao National Tourism Administration uses the epithet "Jewel of the Mekong". Although there are a few grand (but relatively unheard of) attractions, those visitors who are drawn by the laid-back lifestyle and the opportunity to knock back a few cold Beerlao while watching the sunsets on the Mekong will simply explain the attraction by revealing that the true meaning of "Lao PDR" is Lao - Please Don't Rush.

History
Laos is squeezed between vastly larger neighbours. First created as an entity in 1353, when warlord Fa Ngum declared himself the king of Lane Xang ("Million Elephants"), the kingdom was initially a Khmer vassal state. After a succession dispute, the kingdom split in three in 1694 and was eventually devoured piece by piece by the Siamese, the last fragments agreeing to Siamese protection in 1885.

The area east of the Mekong, however, was soon wrenched back from Siam by the French, who wanted a buffer state to protect Vietnam, and set up Laos as a unified territory in 1907. Briefly occupied by Japan in 1945, a three-decade-long conflict was triggered when France wanted to retake its colony. Granted full independence in 1953, the war continued between a bewildering variety of factions, with the Communist and North Vietnam-allied Pathet Lao struggling to overthrow the French-leaning monarchy. During the Vietnam War (1964-1973), this alliance led the United States to dump 1.9 million metric tons of bombs on Laos, mostly in the northeast stronghold of the Pathet Lao (for purposes of comparison, 2.2 million tons of bombs were dropped on Europe by all sides in World War II and unexploded ordinance still kills at least 1 person and 4 cows a day up there).

In 1975, after the fall of Saigon, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of Vientiane and ended a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closer ties to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with a gradual return to private enterprise, an easing of foreign investment laws, and admission into ASEAN in 1997.

Despite being just one hour by air from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, life in Laos has continued in much the same way it has for hundreds of years, although things are now slowly beginning to change. In the mid-90s the government reversed its stance on tourism, and then declared 1998 "Visit Laos Year" - but despite their efforts and all Laos has to offer, monks still outnumbered tourists throughout the country. This is now rapidly changing, with tourist numbers rising every year. Indeed, Ventiane is a laid-back, yet charmingly cosmopolitan village.