Interesting Facts about Laos

Did You Know?

15 curious facts about Laos.

• Laos was once known as Lan Xang, meaning “the Kingdom of a Million Elephants.” It was given the name by King Fa Ngum in 1353. The country was renamed Laos during the French colonial period, because the dominant ethnic group is called Lao.
• The Mekong River is known as “the Sea of Laos.” More than 1,000 indigenous species of fish live in the Mekong and its tributaries.
• The Plain of Jars is a remarkable historic site in central Laos. It is a large plateau dotted with hundreds of ancient stone jars. Some are as high as three metres and weigh as much as one tonne. No one knows who made the jars or why.
• In the past, Laotians used only their first names. They started using family names in 1943, when a law was passed making the use of surnames mandatory. However, Laotians may change their names to signify a new occupation or the move to a new place, to mark a stage in growing up, or to ward off evil spirits.