Laos — (lä´ōs) |
About The People
Did You Know...... Laos was once known as Lan Xang, meaning “the Kingdom of a Million Elephants.” It was gi »» More
Fashion... Lao women wear western- style blouses with colorful calf-length, sarong-style skirts made of locally »» More
Socializing... The Lao are a frank, open and friendly people. They also have a strongly developed sense of courtesy »» More
Family... The Lao have large, close-knit families, often with three generations living together. The eldest ma »» More
Sports & Recreation... One popular traditional game is called kataw. It is played with a small ball woven out of rattan (mo »» More
| World Region: Southeast Asia

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Laos History
Detail from a door of Wat Ba Khe in Louangphrabang shows courtier
blowing conch shell.
HISTORICAL RESEARCH SHOWS that the rudimentary
structures of a
multiethnic state existed before the founding of the
Kingdom of Lan
Xang in the thirteenth century. These
prethirteenth-century
structures consisted of small confederative communities in
river
valleys and among the mountain peoples, who found security
away
from the well-traveled rivers and overland tracks where
the
institutions and customs of the Laotian people were
gradually
forged in contact with other peoples of the region. During
these
centuries, »» More | Statistics, Graphs, Charts, & Data Tables
Capital Cities... Vientiane »» History of Vientiane Population: 6,834,942 GDP: $13,990,000,000 (USD) Total Area: 236,800 (sq km) 91,428 (sq mi) Currency: kip
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