Laos Tourism and Travel Guide

Laos ((/ˈlaʊs/, /ˈlɑː.ɒs/, /ˈlɑː.oʊs/, or /ˈleɪ.ɒs/) Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, pronounced [sǎːtʰáːlanalat pásáːtʰipátàj pásáːsón láːw] Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR) (French: République démocratique populaire lao), is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar (Burma) and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west. Since 1975, it has been ruled by a Marxist and communist government. Its population was estimated to be around 6.8 million in July 2014.Laos traces its history to the kingdom of Lan Xang, which existed from the 14th to the 18th century when it split into three kingdoms. In 1893, it became a French protectorate, with the three kingdoms — Luang Phrabang, Vientiane and Champasak — uniting to form what is now known as Laos. It briefly gained independence in 1945 after Japanese occupation, but returned to French rule until it was granted autonomy in 1949. Laos became independent in 1953, with a constitutional monarchy under Sisavang Vong. Shortly after independence, a long civil war ended the monarchy, when the Communist Pathet Lao movement came to power in 1975.Laos is a single-party socialist republic. It espouses Marxism and is governed by a single party communist politburo dominated by military generals. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Vietnam People's Army continue to have significant influence in Laos. 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% of the population, mostly in the lowlands. Mon-Khmer groups, the Hmong, and other indigenous hill tribes, accounting for 40% of the population, live in the foothills and mountains.Laos' strategy for development is based on generating electricity from its rivers and selling the power to its neighbours, namely Thailand, China, and Vietnam. Its economy is accelerating rapidly with the demands for its metals.It is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), East Asia Summit and La Francophonie. Laos applied for membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1997; on 2 February 2013, it was granted full membership.According to the anti-corruption non-governmental organisation Transparency International, Laos remains one of the most corrupt countries in the world. This has deterred foreign investment and created major problems with the rule of law, including the nation's ability to enforce contract and business regulation. This has contributed to a third of the population of Laos currently living below the international poverty line (living on less than US$1.25 per day). Laos has a low-income economy, with one of the lowest annual incomes in the world. In 2013, Laos ranked in 138th place (tied with Cambodia) on the Human Development Index (HDI), indicating that Laos has lower medium to low development. According to the Global Hunger Index (2013), Laos ranks as the 25th hungriest nation in the world out of the list of the 56 nations with the worst hunger situation(s). Laos has also had a poor human rights record. a b 'Laos, Population'. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency (US). Retrieved 5 January 2015. http://www.nsc.gov.la/en/PDF/update%20Population%20%202005.pdf a b c d 'Report for Selected Countries and Subjects'. World Economic Outlook Database. International Monetary Fund. 'Gini Index'. World Bank. Retrieved 2 March 2011. '2014 Human Development Report Summary' (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 2014. pp. 21–25. Retrieved 27 July 2014. These same pronunciations using Wikipedia's pronunciation respelling key: LOWSS, LAH-oss, LAH-ohss, LAY-oss. 'Definition of Laos from Oxford Dictionaries Online'. Oxford Dictionaries. Retrieved 24 July 2011. 'Laos – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary'. Merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 24 July 2011. 'Laos approves Xayaburi 'mega' dam on Mekong'. BBC News. 5 November 2012. 'Laos Securities Exchange to start trading'. Ft.com. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011. 'Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the WTO'. World Trade Organization. Retrieved 9 August 2014. Transparency International 'Laos Corruption Perceptions Index' (2005–2014) http://www.theglobaleconomy.com/Laos/transparency_corruption/ 'Laos: Human Development Indicators'. undp.org. Retrieved 19 July 2013. 'The 2013 Human Development Report – 'The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World''. HDRO (Human Development Report Office) United Nations Development Programme. pp. 144–147. Retrieved 2 March 2013. Welthungerhilfe, IFPRI, and Concern Worldwide: 2013 Global Hunger Index – The challenge of hunger: Building Resilience to Achieve Food and Nutrition Security. Bonn, Washington D. C., Dublin. October 2013.