Travel to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR) - Laos
Laos Information
Population: 5.8 million (UN, 2006)
Capital: Vientiane
Major Languages: Lao, French (for diplomatic purposes)
Currency: Kip
Major Religion: Buddhism
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Introduction to Laos
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR), one of the world's few remaining communist states, is one South East Asia's poorest countries. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Lao has struggled to find its position within a fast-changing political and economic landscape. To make matters worse, during the Asian currency crisis the Laos kip lost nine-tenths of its value in a matter of months.
Laos is a landlocked, mountainous country, widely covered by largely unspoilt tropical forest. Less than 5% of the land is suitable for subsistence agriculture, which nevertheless provides around 80% of employment.
Why travel to Laos
Quite simply, Laos is Asia’s ‘sleeping beauty’ – vastly untapped outdoor potential, eco-awareness, deep cultural heritage and some of the friendliest people on the planet all combine to make any visit to Laos an outstanding experience.
Click on the map above to research some of the Laos most popular destinations.