- Official name
- Lao People's Democratic Republic ສາທາລະນະ ຊາທິປະໄຕ ຄົນລາວ ຂອງ · Lao
- Capital
- Vientiane
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia
- Population (2018 est.)
- ≈ 7.1 million
- Area
- 236,800 km²
- Currency
- Lao kip (LAK)
- Neighbours
- Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Thailand, Vietnam
- Internet / phone
- .la · +856
Where it is
Notable facts
- Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia.
- It is the most heavily bombed country per person in history, from the Vietnam War era; unexploded ordnance remains a hazard.
- The Plain of Jars holds thousands of large stone vessels of uncertain purpose, over 2,000 years old.
- Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage town, is known for its morning alms-giving procession of monks.
World Heritage 4 sites
- Town of Luang Prabang
- Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape
- Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park
National dish
Larbລາບ Minced meat or fish tossed with toasted ground rice, lime, fish sauce, mint and chilli.
Eaten with sticky rice, which Laos consumes more of per person than anywhere else.