Portal:Laos

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Portal:Laos/Intro

Laos (/ˈlɑːoʊs/ ^ⓘ, /ˈlaʊs/, /ˈlɑːɒs/, or /ˈleɪɒs/; Lao: ລາວ, Lao pronunciation: [láːw], Lāo), or commonly referred to its colloquial name of Muang Lao (Lao: ເມືອງລາວ, Muang Lao), is a landlocked country in the heart of the Indochinese peninsula of Mainland Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar (Burma) and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southwest, and Thailand to the west and southwest.

It traces its historic and cultural identity to the kingdom of Lan Xang Hom Khao (Kingdom of a Million Elephants Under the White Parasol), which existed for four centuries as one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. Due to Lan Xang's central geographical location in Southeast Asia, the kingdom was able to become a popular hub for overland trade, becoming wealthy economically as well as culturally. After a period of internal conflict, Lan Xang broke off into three separate kingdoms — Luang Phrabang, Vientiane, and Champasak. In 1893, it became a French protectorate, with the three territories uniting to form what is now known as the country of Laos. It briefly gained freedom in 1945 after Japanese occupation, but was recolonised by France until it won autonomy in 1949. Laos became independent in 1953 under King Sisavang Vong.

The capital city is Vientiane. Other large cities include Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, and Pakse. The official language is Lao. Laos is a multi-ethnic country with the politically and culturally dominant Lao people making up approximately 60 percent of the population, mostly in the lowlands. Mon-Khmer groups, the Hmong, and other indigenous hill tribes, accounting for 40 percent of the population, live in the foothills and mountains.

Laos' ambitious strategies for development are based on generating electricity from its rivers and selling the power to its neighbors, namely Thailand, China, and Vietnam, as well as its initiative to become a 'land-linked' nation, shown by the planning of four new railways connecting Laos to those same countries. This, along with growth of the mining sector, Laos has been referred to as one of East Asia and Pacific's fastest growing economies by the World Bank, with annual GDP growth averaging 7% for the past decade. It is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), East Asia Summit and La Francophonie. Laos became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2013.

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Kingdom of Lan Xang (green) in 1400

Lan Xang ([lâːn sâːŋ]) or Lancang was a Lao kingdom that held the area of present-day Laos from 1353 to 1707. For three and a half centuries, Lan Xang was one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. The kingdom is the basis for Laos's national historic and cultural identity. (Full article...)

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The following are images from various Laos-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1That Luang, Vientiane (from Culture of Laos)
Image 2Lao princess wearing gold embroidery (from Culture of Laos)
Image 3Kra-Dai (Tai-Kadai) migration route according to James R. Chamberlain (2016). (from History of Laos)
Image 4Lao sculpted wood Buddhas posed "calling for rain" (from Culture of Laos)
Image 5Auguste Pavie, First Governor-General of the French Protectorate of Laos
Image 6Emerald Buddha (from History of Laos)
Image 7Morning on the Mekong River (from Culture of Laos)
Image 8Ornate lintel Wat Phu, Champasak (from Culture of Laos)
Image 9Baci Soukhuan (from Culture of Laos)
Image 10Ruins in Vientiane, depicted by Louis Delaporte during the Mekong Expedition led by Francis Garnier (c. 1867) (from History of Laos)
Image 11Southeast Asia in the 18th century showing the kingdoms of Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Champasak and the principality of Phuan (Xieng Khuang) (from History of Laos)
Image 12The mainland of Southeast Asia at the end of the 13th century (from History of Laos)
Image 13Map showing linguistic family tree overlaid on a geographic distribution map of Tai-Kadai family. This map only shows general pattern of the migration of Tai-speaking tribes, not specific routes, which would have snaked along the rivers and over the lower passes. (from History of Laos)
Image 14Traditional mor lam (from Culture of Laos)
Image 15Lao women in traditional Luang Prabang sinh (from Culture of Laos)
Image 16Monks gathering morning alms (from Culture of Laos)
Image 17Luang Prabang, Wat Mai, gilded wood bas relief scenes from the Prince Vessantara Jataka. (from Culture of Laos)
Image 18French warships bombarding the Siamese fort at Paknam (from History of Laos)
Image 19Akha girl in traditional dress (from Culture of Laos)
Image 20Lao sticky rice and papaya salad (from Culture of Laos)
Image 21Territories abandoned by Siam in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, depicted as a map of Thailand's territorial losses. The Franco-Siamese crisis resulted in the cession of Laos to France in 1893. (from History of Laos)
Image 22A soldier of the Black Flag Army, 1885 (from History of Laos)
Image 23Lower terrace of the Wat Phu mountain complex, Champasak
Image 24Historic Indosphere cultural influence zone of Greater India for transmission of elements of Indian elements such as the honorific titles, naming of people, naming of places, mottos of organisations and educational institutes as well as adoption of Hinduism, Buddhism, Indian architecture, martial arts, Indian music and dance, traditional Indian clothing, and Indian cuisine, a process which has been also aided by the ongoing historic expansion of Indian diaspora. (from History of Laos)
Image 25Lao monk woodworking temple details (from Culture of Laos)
Image 26Brao couple farming (from Culture of Laos)
Image 27Mor lam performance-the men are playing the khene and wearing pha sarong (from Culture of Laos)
Image 28Traditional spirit house (from Culture of Laos)
Image 29Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang (from Culture of Laos)
Image 30Lao actors wearing Khon Masks (from Culture of Laos)
Image 31Market in Luang Prabang, c. 1900 CE
Image 32Ancient human fossil remains from Tam Pa Ling cave (from History of Laos)
Image 33Plain of Jars, Xiangkhouang (from History of Laos)
Image 34Lao Loum girls dancing in traditional sinh (from Culture of Laos)
Image 35Lan Xang's zone of influence and neighbours, c. 1540 (from History of Laos)
Image 36Monks gathered at evening prayer (from Culture of Laos)
Image 37Bronze Buddha sculptures, Wat Mai, Luang Prabang (from Culture of Laos)

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Major General Kouprasith Abhay (Lao: ກຸປຣະສິທທິ໌ ອະພັຍ; nicknamed 'Fat K'; 1926–1999?) was a prominent military leader of the Kingdom of Laos during the Laotian Civil War. Scion of a socially prominent family, his military career was considerably aided by their influence. In early 1960, he was appointed to command of Military Region 5, which included Laos' capital city, Vientiane. Removed from that command on 14 December for duplicitous participation in the Battle of Vientiane, he was reappointed in October 1962. He would hold the post until 1 July 1971, thus controlling the troops in and around the capital. Over the years, he would be involved in one way or another in the coups of 1960, 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1973. His service was marked by a deadly feud with another Laotian general, Thao Ma; the feud was largely responsible for the latter two coup attempts against the government.

After the Royal Lao Government fell to the communists in 1975, Kouprasith retired to exile in France. (Full article...)

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Photisarath Anouvong Setthathirath Sourigna Vongsa Phetsarath Ratanavongsa Souvanna Phouma Fa Ngum Nang Keo Phimpha Sisavang Vong Sombath Somphone Sourith Don Sasorith Sourith Don Sasorith Phoumi Nosavan Deuane Sunnalath Kham Ouane Boupha Alexandra Bounxouei Channapha Khamvongsa Douangdeuane Bounyavong Daoviang Butnakho Nakhon Noi Souvanna Phouma Sisavang Vatthana Souphanouvong