Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, the only one in the region without a coastline, a mountainous and forested land threaded by the Mekong River. Once the heart of a kingdom known as the land of a million elephants, it is among the least densely populated and least developed countries in the region. Quiet and largely rural, it is known for its serene Buddhist temples, its mountains, and its mighty river.
The first great Lao state was the kingdom of Lan Xang, founded in the fourteenth century, whose name means the land of a million elephants and a white parasol. After it fragmented, the Lao lands fell under the influence of neighbouring Siam before becoming a French protectorate as part of French Indochina. Laos gained full independence in 1953, but was swept up in the wars of the region, and in 1975 a communist movement, the Pathet Lao, took power and established the one-party state that governs today.
Laos is dominated by rugged, forested mountains, with lowlands mostly confined to the valley of the Mekong River, which runs along much of the western border and is the lifeline of the country. The Mekong and its tributaries provide water, fish, transport, and increasingly hydroelectric power, as Laos dams its rivers in the hope of becoming a supplier of electricity to its neighbours. Much of the land remains heavily forested and sparsely settled.
The flag of Laos has three horizontal bands, a broad blue band between two red ones, with a white disc in the centre. The red bands are said to stand for the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, the blue for prosperity and the Mekong River, and the white disc for the full moon over the Mekong and for the unity of the people. The design dates from the communist movement that took power in 1975.
The majority of Lao people are Theravada Buddhists, and Buddhism is deeply woven into the country's culture and daily rhythm, from the alms-giving to monks at dawn to the temples that grace every town. The former royal capital of Luang Prabang is especially renowned for its monasteries. Among the many ethnic minorities in the highlands, traditional animist beliefs in spirits remain strong, often blended with Buddhist practice, giving the country a rich spiritual life.
Lao cuisine is fresh, herbal, and often fiery. Its defining staple is sticky rice, which is rolled into balls by hand and dipped into dishes, eaten in greater quantities here than almost anywhere. The national dish is laap, a zesty salad of minced meat or fish seasoned with lime, chili, and herbs. Grilled meats, fresh vegetables, and pungent fermented fish sauces complete a cuisine closely related to that of northeastern Thailand.
Agriculture is the livelihood of most Lao people, and much of it is subsistence farming carried out on the limited flat land and on terraced and shifting plots in the hills. Rice, especially sticky rice, is by far the most important crop. The mountainous terrain limits large-scale farming, and alongside agriculture the country increasingly relies on its rivers for hydroelectric power and on its forests and minerals, seeking to develop one of the region's poorest economies.
The kingdom of Lan Xang is remembered as the golden age of Lao history and identity. During the wars in neighbouring Vietnam, Laos suffered a hidden tragedy: it became, per person, the most heavily bombed country in the history of the world, and unexploded ordnance still maims people decades later. The communist Pathet Lao took power in 1975, ending the monarchy and establishing the socialist state that continues to rule the country.
Laos has a population of around 7.5 million people, small and spread across a rugged land, making it one of the least densely populated countries in Asia. The lowland Lao are the largest group, living mostly along the Mekong, while a great many ethnic minorities inhabit the highlands, giving the country considerable cultural diversity. The capital and largest city is Vientiane, on the Mekong along the border with Thailand. Most people still live by farming in the countryside.
