Laos's Profile
At a Glance:
Laos' isolation from foreign influence offers travellers an unparalleled glimpse of traditional Southeast Asian life. From the fertile lowlands of the Mekong River valley to the rugged Annamite highlands, Laos is the highlight of Southeast Asia.
This is the least developed and most enigmatic of the three former French Indochinese states. A ruinous sequence of colonial domination, internecine conflict and dogmatic socialism finally brought the country to its knees in the 1970s, and almost 10% of the population left the country.
When To Go
The best time to visit is between November and February - during these months it rains least and isn't too hot. This is also the main season for both national and regional bun (festivals). If you're heading up into the mountains, May and July can also be pleasant. Roads can be washed out during rainy season (July to October), but there's plenty of river travel opportunities. Peak tourist months are December to February and during August, although there are relatively few visitors at any time.
Fast Facts:
Full Name
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Capital City
Vientiane
Area
236,000 sq km
91,120 sq miles
Population
6,350,000
Time Zone
GMT/UTC +7
Languages
Lao (official)
Lao dialects (closely related to Thai) are also spoken
French (other)
English (other)
Religion
60% Buddhist, 40% animist and spirit cults
Currency
Kip (KN)
Electric Plug Details
Japanese-style plug with two parallel flat blades
American-style plug with two parallel flat blades above a circular grounding pin
European plug with two circular metal pins
Country Dialing Code
856
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