Location:             

Located along the Mekong River, Laos is bordered by Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand in the west, China in the north,
Vietnam in the east and Cambodia in the south. It measures 236 800 square kilometers with 5 100 000 inhabitants.

The capital is Vientiane.

The time in Laos is 7 hours ahead GMT time.
The electric current is 220 volts/50 Hertz. You should bring an adapter. Power outages are common during the rainy season.

In Laos you drive on the right hand side of the street.
Visas are mandatory and valid for one month. Your passport needs to be still valid for 3 month after your return date.

Presentation:

It is the only country in Southeast Asia without access to the ocean. 80% country is split between plateaus and mountains
(north and center) and 2/3 are covered with forests. The Mekong River nourishes the country at a length of 1800 kilometers
and makes the grounds very fertile for rice fields. The river is also an important axis of communication. The largest part of
the population lives in the river’s valleys. The country is divided into 16 provinces and the most practiced religion is
Buddhism (60% of the population). The country still is very rural and it is shared by 47 ethnicities. Rice production,
hydro-electricity and opium are the country’s main resources. Unfortunately, even with these resources Laos is one of
the poorest countries in Southeast Asia.

History:

Prehistory: the Mekong River valley and the plateau of Korat were already inhabited 10 000 years ago.
1st-6th century: the south of Laos turns into the center of the Funan kingdom.

6th-8th century: the south of Laos turns into the center of the Mon-Khmer kingdom of the Chenla.

8th-10th century: numerous Austro-Thai start to immigrate from southern China and northern Vietnam to Laos.
These groups have found principalities that are controlled by sovereigns.

1353: Fa Ngum, a warlord from Laos founds the kingdom of Lan Xang and proclaims himself as king.

1421: death of the son and successor of Fa Ngum. The Lan Xang kingdom is divided into war factions.

1520: King Phothisarat takes over the throne and moves the capital to Vientiane.

1637: King Sulinya Vongsa gains control over the country. His reign lasts 57 years. These years are considered
the Golden Age of Laos.

1694: the death of Sulinya Vongso causes the collapse of the kingdom.

1885: after several centuries of invasions by foreigners, the Lan Xang is divided into several states and remains under
the control of the kingdom of Siam.

1893-1907: the French-Siamese treaties determine that the French are in total control of the territory, east of the
Mekong River. The country is bordered by China, Great Britain and Siam. France unifies the country
and includes it into Indochina.

1941: during the Second World War the Japanese occupy Laos.

1945: Japan forces King Sisavang Vong to declare the kingdom’s independence. The protectorate is reestablished by
the French at the end of the war.

1950: the government of resistance and communistic obedience (Pathet Lao PL) is found with Vietnamese support.

1953: the French-Laotian treaty gives Laos full sovereignty.

1957: creation of a first coalition regime, the government of national union.

1958: the union collapses and the political right wing (the committee for the defense of national interests CDIN)
takes over control with support of the United States.

1960: the right wins the elections that were manipulated by the CIA. After several military coup attempts
the government resigns

1961: the president of the United States, John F. Kennedy announces that he intends to intervene in order
to prevent the communists from taking control of the government.
 
1962: the Geneva Convention declares the independence and the neutrality of Laos. The Vietnamese army ignores
the Geneva Convention and invades the country. A government led by the National Union gets reestablished.

1964: numerous military coups lead to a political scission of the country. The PL and the Neutralists stand on one side
and the Right on the other.

1964-1973: the country is split in two; the North and the high plateaus are under the control of the Pathet Lao while
the Americans protect Vientiane. The war of Indochina intensifies and the Americans attack the eastern part of the country.

1973: negotiations lead to a cease-fire in Laos. A temporary government (GPUN) is established.

1975: the leaders of the Right and the members of the government go into exile and the GPUN gets dismantled.
The revolutionary popular party of Laos (PRPL) is proclaimed as the only party of the new democratic popular republic
of Laos (RDPL) and is headed by Kaysone Phomvithane.

1975-1977: the PRPL launches a policy of "accelerated socialization" and prohibits the practice of Buddhism.
It marks the beginning of a massive exodus of Laotians.

1987-1988: a three month conflict starts at the border between Laos and Thailand.

1989: after first copying the Vietnamese economic model the country slowly opens to foreign investments.

1997: Laos becomes a full member of the Association of Southeastern Nations (ASEAN)

1999-2000: year of tourism in Laos.

Climate:

Laos has three seasons: the monsoon from June to November, the dry and cool season from November to February
and the warm season from February to June. During the monsoon season it rains much more in the South than in the rest
of the country. The best time is the cool season. The temperatures reach from 15 degrees Celsius in Luang Prabang during
the cool season to 35 degrees Celsius in Vientiane during the warm season.

What to bring with you on your trip:

You should bring light and comfortable clothing. Scarves and sweaters are recommended against the air-conditioning
in the hotels.
Please note that your clothes will get dirty easily because of the dusty tracks. Therefore bring clothing that washes easily.
Do not forget to cover your head. Sunglasses are indispensable.

Languages:

Lao is the official language. However you can speak French in many places.

Currency:

The national currency is the Kip. US dollars are accepted throughout the entire country. One US dollar equals
approximately 7 900 Kips. The Thai Bahts are also accepted in most places (even though the Thai currency
has lost value since the economic crisis in Thailand). Some credit cards are accepted in Vientiane.

Health:

There are no mandatory vaccinations to enter Laos. A preventative treatment against Malaria is highly recommended.
Please note that malaria prevention starts with a protection against mosquito bites with help of insect repellant creams
or sprays. A vaccination against hepatitis A is also recommended. Never drink tap water! Bring Imodium, Intetrix...