About Laos

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About Laos

Monday, 12 April 2010 01:28 Sounay Phothisane

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Background

Lao Map Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For 300 years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination 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 and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.

Geography

Laos is a landlocked country in the center of Indochina. It shares borders with China and Burma to the north, Cambodia to the south, Thailand to the west and Vietname to the east.

Approximately 70% of its total area (236,800 square kilometers) comprises of mountain and plateaux areas.

Mekong river (one of the longest rivers in the world) forms a natural border with Thailand. It flows through almost 1,900 kilometers of the territory of Laos.

Age structure:	0-14 years: 41% (male 1,374,966/female 1,362,945) 15-64 years: 55.9% (male 1,846,375/female 1,885,029) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 91,028/female 117,191) (2008 est.)
Median age:	total: 19.2 years male: 18.9 years female: 19.5 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:	2.344% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:	34.46 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:	11.02 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:	NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:	total: 79.61 deaths/1,000 live births male: 88.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 69.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:	total population: 56.29 years male: 54.19 years female: 58.47 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:	4.5 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:	0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:	1,700 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:	fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:	degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)
Nationality:	noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s) adjective: Lao or Laotian
Ethnic groups:	Lao 55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26% (2005 census)
Religions:	Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)
Literacy:	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 68.7% male: 77% female: 60.9% (2001 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):	total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 8 years (2006)
Education expenditures:	3% of GDP (2006)

Climate
Laos has a warm and tropical climate with two seasons: the rainy season from the beginning of May to the end of September and the dry season from October to April. The average temperature 29 degree centigrade. Maximum temperature can reach up to 40 degree centigrade. Temperatures can drop to as low as 15 degrees or even lower in mountains. Generally, tourists are recommended to visit Laos during the months of November to March because these are cool months and rainfall is lower than other periods.
Language
The official language used in Laos is Lao language. However, the usage of the language can differ from north and south. English, French and Russian are spoken in business or by some senior government officials. Many shopkeepers can understand basic English and French.
Electricity & Water
Laos uses 220 volt (50 Hz) electricity for use with either two-pronged round or flat plugs. It is not recommended to drink directly from taps since it is not very clean. However, purified water is available throughout the country.
Currency
Lao national currency is Kip. There has been some devaluation of Lao Kip in the past few years. There are exchange booths available throughout town. Major credit cards are also accepted in large shops. You can also withdraw cash by using your credit cards, but it has to be done at a bank, since there is no automatic teller machine in Laos just yet.
Communication Facilities
Public phones are available in Vientiane and other major cities. You can also go to Lao Telecom office to call and fax overseas. Phone cards are widely available in most convenient stores. There are a number of Internet cafes in Vientiane and major cities. So you can be sure that you can always keep in touch with your family and friends.