2. Lao People’s are Democratic Republic.
138th place on the Human Development Index
(HDI)
25th place on the hunger situations in the world
Poor human rights
From the Kingdom of Lan Xang
Luang Phrabang
Vientiane
Champarak
5. Became independent in 1953
With a constitutional monarchy under Sisavang
Vong
A single party socialist republic which is Marxism
Governed by military generals
Its capital is Vientiane
Official Language is Lao
60% percent of its population are living in the
lowland
40% are living in the foothills and mountains
10. Lao’s strategy for development is based on
generating electricity from its river and
selling the power to its neighbors, namely
Thailand, China and Vietnam.
Lao script is called abugida script.
Lao money is called kip.
Chief of State: President Lt. Gen. Choumnaly
Sayasone
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Thongsing Thammarong
There are 11 members of Politburo and 50
member of Central Committee.
Important government decisions are vetted
by the Politburo.
14. The religion of Laos is Theravada Buddhism (40 –
50%)
Satsana Phi (almost 30 % of the ethnic groups)
Catholics and Protestants (2%)
Lao music is called Lam
Lao musical instrument is called kheme – a
bamboo mouth organ.
28. • An important festival in Laos is Boun Pha
Vet celebrated once a year. This is a two
day Buddhist festival that involves the
entire community. Traditionally the Boun
Pha Vet is held in January or February
depending on the moon cycle. During the
ceremony the monks give a sermon of all
chapters of the Maha Wetsandon
Chadok, otherwise called the Great Birth
Sermon
30. Lao’s Food
The staple food of the Lao is steamed sticky
rice, which is eaten by hand. In fact, the
Lao eat more sticky rice than any other
people in the world. Sticky rice is
considered the essence of what it means
to be Lao. Often the Lao will refer to
themselves as "Luk Khao Niaow", which
can be translated as "children or
descendants of sticky
rice". Galangal, lemongrass and padaek
(Lao fish sauce) are important
ingredients.