16 Things You Should Know About Laos and Its Culture
Sucheta Pradhan
Enchanting, beautiful, mesmerizing yet simple, Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a small packet with big surprises. Here’s what you should know about Laos & its culture, if you’re planning a trip to this tiny heaven on earth!
1. The Lao People's Democratic Republic is actually a one-party socialist state ruled by a Marxist–Leninist communist party.
2. Laos is the only landlocked nation in southeast Asia surrounded by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and southwest.
3. The population of Laos is only about seven million. It is also one of the least densely populated nations in all of southeast Asia.
4. The capital and the largest city of Laos is Vientiane. Sitting on the banks of the Mekong River, the city is home to one of the most iconic edifices of Laos, the That Luang, the country’s most important national monument and a national symbol.
5. During the Vietnam War, the US dropped more than two million tons of bombs across Laos, making it the world’s most heavily bombed places. It is claimed that about 30% of those bombs didn’t explode at that time.
6. Even today, the people of Laos live under constant threat of discovering an unexploded bomb in a field, which might just blow up in their face! Every year, many serious injuries and fatalities occur in the country due to these unexploded bombs.
7. Buddhism is the main religion of Laos with about 66% of its people following the faith. This is followed by the Tai folk religion, an animistic faith adhered to by around 30.7% of Laotians.
8. All Lao boys between the age of 8 and 20 are expected to spend some time as a monk and adhere to strict rules while living in a monastery. While, this is an expectation, it is not a mandate and not all Lao boys opt for this option.
9. The longstanding Buddhist tradition of alms giving is practiced to a tee by Lao people. Each morning, Lao people line the city streets to offer rice, fruit, and snacks to monks staying in their local temples and monasteries.
10. While in Laos, be very careful with your public displays of affection! Kissing, hugging, or holding hands in public is considered a taboo and might invite some really annoyed glares your way.
11. The national symbol of Laos is the Elephant. Historically, the Lao Kingdom was called ‘Lan Xang’ - the Land of a Million Elephants. But now, because of war and the destruction of their natural habitat, not many elephants are left in the country.
12. Pi Mai or Lao New Year is the festival celebrated each year in mid-April. It is a three-day celebration when the streets literally come alive with fun and frolic.
Be it signs and street names or buildings, gardens, and eateries, one can never quite miss the country’s French connection.
13. From the late 19th to mid 20th century, Laos was a French colony, influences of which are still visible on the country’s culture.
14. The award-winning national beer of Laos, Beerlao, is made from Jasmine rice and yeast. Don’t forget to taste it while in the country!
15. Laos’ volcanic soil is perfect for coffee cultivation. It is, in fact, the largest agricultural export of Laos.
16. If you like to party all night, Laos might disappoint you! The country has an official nationwide midnight curfew, imposed more on businesses than on people, which means you’ll rarely find any pubs or party venues open after midnight.