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For some reason Laos seems
to be one of the forgotten countries when it comes to visiting Asia.
The nation of about 6.5 million people is surrounded by China,
Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. The country’s roots go back
to the Kingdom of Lan Xang, which dates from the 14th to the 18th
centuries. Laos was associated politically with France until gaining
its independence in 1949.
Laos offers travelers some exceptional scenery as it’s
covered with rugged mountains and thick forests with many plateaus and
plains. The famous Mekong River is a natural boundary between Laos and
Thailand, and the Annamite Mountains create a lot of the country’s
border with Vietnam. If you’re going to head over to Laos for a visit,
make sure you do some homework when it comes to the weather as it has
a tropical climate with a monsoon season with quite a bit of rain
between May and November.
The nation’s capital city Vientiane is also its
largest, with other major centers being Pakxe, Luang Prabang, and
Savannakhet. The land is divided into 18 separate provinces and
they’re becoming quite popular these days with visitors from around
the world. This is mainly because the citizens display a relaxed way
of life that seems to rub off positively on most tourists.
Visitors are usually interested in the Buddhist culture
that’s on display in Luang Prabang, as well as the diversity, history,
and cuisine of Vientiane. The countryside of Laos is also popular with
adventurists as it’s ideal for backpacking and hiking. The Plain of
Jars area offers a mixture of modern and ancient history and culture,
while Sainyabuli is popular for its elephants and Oudomxay is famous
for its ancient cave.
Getting around Laos can be half the fun as most of it
is done by bus, car, or river. In fact, going by river allows you to
see some of the most gorgeous and peaceful scenery found anywhere on
the planet. This mode of transportation will take you past dozens of
small villages. Most of the nation’s citizens work the land for a
living with rice being the major food harvested.
The main religion is Theravada Buddhism and the
country’s official language is Lao. French is also used in some areas
due to the former ties with the nation and a lot of people are now
starting to study English. While traveling through Laos, it will
probably come as a surprise to learn the nation has a median age of
19.3, which makes it the youngest population in Asia.
The influence of Theravada Buddhism can be seen
throughout Lao culture as it’s evident in the country’s art,
performing arts, language, and literature. Laos is also popular for
its ancient style of folk music as well as its festivals, dance and
theater. When it comes to food, there’s no escaping rice as it
represents a religious and cultural significance to the people, with
sticky rice being a favorite.
There’s a lot of history running through the veins of
Laos, and if you want to see some excellent examples of it as well as
some stunning scenery, there’s never a bad time to visit. | 
Laos
