Laos: geographical characteristics of the country. Complete description of Laos Introducing laos

The content of the article

LAOS, Lao People's Democratic Republic, a state in Southeast Asia. Laos borders China to the north, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, Thailand to the west, and Myanmar to the northwest. The state border runs mainly along the ridges of the mountains, and a significant section of the border with Thailand - along the Mekong River. The country has no access to the sea. Area - 236.8 thousand square meters. km. The capital of the state is Vientiane.

NATURE

Terrain relief.

Laos is a predominantly mountainous country. The mountains rarely exceed 2000 m, but have a strongly dissected relief. The mountainous terrain and dense tropical forests make it difficult to communicate with neighboring countries. The northern most part of the country is occupied by the highest, most difficult and sparsely populated mountains. They are composed of granites, gneisses and are cut by deep gorges through which numerous rivers flow. Mountain ranges alternate with folded plateaus, sandstones and limestones. The northeastern border of the country runs along the Dending, Shamshao, Shusungtyaotyai ridges, the southeastern - along the Chyongshon mountains (up to 2700 m high), the western - along the Luang Prabang ridge. In the central part of Laos, the Xiangkhuang plateau stands out with a height of approx. 1200 m, framed by higher mountains. To the south of it rises the highest mountain of the country, Bia (2819 m). The Truong Son mountains are replaced by low plateaus, which break off in ledges to the wide Mekong valley. The most extensive basalt plateau Boloven with average heights up to 1200 m is located in the extreme south of the country.

Laos has significant reserves of a number of minerals. Currently, deposits of tin ore (metal content up to 60%) have been explored. It is estimated that iron ore reserves (magnetite and hematite with a metal content of up to 60–65%) in Laos account for two-thirds of all resources in Southeast Asia. Deposits of copper ore, coal, lead, zinc, antimony, gypsum, manganese, limestone, potash, table salt, platinum, precious stones (sapphires, rubies, etc.) have also been explored. Alluvial placers of gold and silver are numerous. The development of deposits of tin ore, gold, precious stones is underway.

Climate

subequatorial, monsoon. There are three seasons: distinctly humid hot - from May to October, dry cool - from November to February and hot dry in March-April. The monsoon invades almost simultaneously the entire territory of Laos. Precipitation varies greatly, from approx. 3000 mm per year in the mountains (maximum in the southeast of the country on the Boloven plateau - 3700 mm) to 1300-1700 mm on the plains (in Savannakhet 1440 mm, in Vientiane 1700 mm, in Luang Prabang - 1360 mm). Atmospheric moisture is not always enough to grow rice. Average temperatures in December-January range from 14° to 23° C, in July - within 28-30° C. The highest air temperature is approx. 40 ° C - happens in the Mekong valley in March-April, and the lowest - less than + 5 ° C - on the Xianghuang plateau and in Phongsali (in the far north of the country).

Water resources.

One of the largest Asian rivers Mekong flows through the territory of Laos. Its length in Laos is 1850 km. Most of the rivers belong to the Mekong basin. The largest of them are Tha, U, Lik, Ngum, Bangfai, Banghiang, Don, Kong, Then. In the monsoonal climate, floods occur in summer, and in winter the rivers become shallow and the country lacks water for both irrigation and domestic needs. Rivers are the main means of communication, but navigation on many of them is limited due to numerous rapids and waterfalls. The Mekong is navigable for 500 km from Vientiane to Savannakhet, where the river is 1.5 km wide. The most common means of transportation are flat-bottomed sampans, long pirogues and motorboats.

The rivers of Laos are convenient for the construction of hydroelectric power stations and are an important energy resource. They have a lot of fish that are caught for domestic consumption. In the Mekong Valley, alluvial deposits accumulate and fertile soils are formed. The main agricultural lands are confined to them.

Soils and flora.

In Laos, red soils, red-yellow and red soils predominate. Arable land covers approx. 5 million hectares, of which only 17% were cultivated in the early 1990s - 850-900 thousand hectares (less than 4% of the country's area). Approximately 80% of the cultivated areas are reserved for rice.

In the 1950s, forests covered 70% of the country's area, but by the early 1990s, about a third of them had been cut down, and now they cover less than 50% of Laos.

In the north, evergreen humid subtropical forests are widespread with a large participation of magnolias, laurels, lianas, and ferns. Above 1500 m, they are replaced by mixed coniferous-deciduous forests with oak, pine, and chestnut. The plateaus of central and southern Laos are dominated by light monsoon deciduous forests with teak, shoreea, dipterocarpus, lagerstromia, and bamboo thickets. The valleys of southern Laos and the slopes of the Truong Son mountains are overgrown with evergreen tropical rain forests dominated by dipterocarps (yans, takyan, etc.), palm trees, fruit trees, bamboo, and tree ferns. Lianas grow wildly.

The most valuable tree species of Laos are pink, black, sandalwood and iron trees, teak. There are also wild bananas, breadfruit, durian and other plants in the forests that the Laotians include in their diet.

Tall-grass savannahs are widespread in places in areas of insufficient moisture.

Animal world.

Quite significant herds of wild Indian elephants have been preserved. Monkeys (gibbons, macaques, etc.) and semi-monkeys are found in the forests; tigers, leopards, marble panthers, Malay and white-breasted bears are predators. In some places there are palm marten and marsh lynx. Of the ungulates, bulls (banteng and gayal), buffaloes, deer, wild boars are widespread, of reptiles - lizards, cobras, pythons and other snakes. There are many birds, of which the most prominent representatives are parrots, peacocks, pheasants, as well as pigeons, ducks, etc.

POPULATION

The population as of July 2004 was estimated at 6 million 068 thousand 117 people. Of these, 42% were under the age of 15, 55% were aged 15–64, and 3% were over 65. The average age of residents is 18.6 years. The birth rate is 36.47 per 1000, the death rate is 12.1 per 1000. The annual population growth is 2.44%. Infant mortality is estimated at 87.06 per 1,000 newborns. The average life expectancy is 54.69 years.

It is distinguished by great national, linguistic and cultural diversity. There are more than 130 ethnic groups and subgroups in the country, which are divided into three categories based on the type of settlement, culture and language. The predominant (68%) groups speaking Thai languages ​​are the "lowland" Lao (Laolum), who live in the river valleys and on the lower parts of the mountain slopes and are divided into ethnic Lao (Tai-Lao), Futai (in Central Laos), black tai (tai-dam) and red tai (tai-deng) in the mountain valleys of the Northeast, ly and yuan (in the Northwest), fuan (in Xiangkhuan), etc. The "upper" Lao speakers of the languages ​​of the Australo-Asiatic family (Laotheng) make up 22% of the population and live in small villages on mountain forest slopes (at altitudes from 700 to 1000 m.). The largest group is Khmu. The “summit” Lao (Laosung, 9%) speak the Miao-Yao and Tibeto-Burman languages ​​and live mainly in the north, in the mountains at an altitude of more than 1000 m. 1% of the population are Vietnamese, Chinese, and others.

The official language is Lao. The population speaks various ethnic languages ​​and dialects. In the educated sections of society, French and English are common. 53% of the population of the country can read and write.

60% of the population practice Buddhism; 1.5% of the inhabitants are Christians. The rest (primarily small peoples not related to the Laolum, as well as some Laolum) adhere to predominantly animistic religious ideas.

The population is concentrated mainly in the river valleys. About 80% live in villages. The largest cities are the capital Vientiane (0.6 million inhabitants; the first mention dates back to the 10th century), Savannakhet (0.1 million inhabitants), Luang Prabang (0.07 million inhabitants; the former royal capital), Pakse. Most cities are small (with a population of less than 10,000).

GOVERNMENT

Since 1975 Laos has been a republic. The constitution, adopted in August 1991, fixes the existence of a one-party state in the country, in which the ruling party is the "leading core of the system." According to the charter of the party, it "formulates and corrects the main directions of the strategy and tactics of national development in all spheres of life and controls the activities of its leading cadres and ordinary members, state institutions and public organizations."

The official head of state is the president, who is elected by the deputies of the National Assembly for a five-year term. To be elected, a candidate must receive at least two-thirds of the votes. The president appoints and can dismiss the prime minister and members of the government (with the consent of the National Assembly), has the right to preside over meetings of the government, appoints and removes (on the recommendation of the prime minister) governors of provinces, mayors of cities, military and diplomatic officials, is endowed with powers to declare a state of emergency and declare war. Since February 26, 1998, the post of President of Laos has been held by General Khamtai Siphandon. Born in 1924, he joined the Communist (now the People's Revolutionary) Party in 1954. In 1964 he became a general of the armed forces of the Patriotic Front, and in 1966 - commander in chief of the Liberation Army. After the proclamation of the republic in 1975, he was appointed Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister, in 1991 - the head of government, and in 1992 - also the chairman of the ruling party. Since 2001, the post of Vice President of Laos has been held by Lieutenant General Chhummali Saignasone.

The supreme legislative body is the National Assembly of 109 members, elected for 5 years by universal suffrage of citizens over 18 years of age. The Assembly controls the activities of the administrative and judicial systems, elects and removes the President, the Chairman of the Supreme Court and the Attorney General (according to the recommendation of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly). This committee, which also includes the president and vice president, organizes the work of the National Assembly during sessions, prepares them, monitors the functioning of the executive and judicial powers.

The government is officially responsible to the National Assembly. Its members are appointed by the president and approved by the assembly. The head of government is the Prime Minister (since March 27, 2001 Bunnan Vorachit)

Administratively, Laos is divided into 16 provinces, the capital prefecture and the Saisombun Special District. Governors are at the head of the provinces. The provinces include 130 counties and 11,767 ban villages.

The ruling and only permitted in the country - People's Revolutionary Party of Laos(NRPL). The Lao section of the Communist Party of Indochina was created in 1936, and in 1951 a decision was made to create separate parties in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. In March 1955, the communists of Laos took shape in the People's Party, which in February 1972 was renamed the PRPL. The party proclaimed its goal to organize a "national-democratic" revolution with a subsequent transition to socialism. Since 1956, the Patriotic Front of Laos was created under its auspices. After a long civil war, the NRPL seized political power in 1975. The party professes the Marxist-Leninist ideology. Currently claims that Laos is at the stage of "improving the people's democratic system." In the National Assembly, elected in 2002, NRPL candidates took 108 out of 109 seats. Chairman of the Central Committee - Khamtai Siphandon (President).

The highest legal body is the Supreme People's Court, whose chairman is elected by the National Assembly. There are people's courts in the provinces and localities.

Armed forces

consist of the People's Army (which also includes river forces) and the air force. There is compulsory military service for men over the age of 18. The total number of citizens eligible for military service is estimated at 1.5 million. Military spending in 2003 was $10.9 million (0.5% of GDP).

Foreign policy

From the time the NRPL came to power in 1975, Laos focused primarily on Vietnam, as well as the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the USSR and the reorientation of Vietnam towards internal reforms in the economy, Laos largely focused on its own problems. Although Vietnam, Cuba, China and North Korea are considered "strategic friends" of the country, foreign policy has become more independent. At present, Laos is not only a member of the UN and a number of its specialized organizations and institutions, but has also been a member of ASEAN since 1997. Diplomatic relations established in 1960 with the USSR are now maintained with the Russian Federation.

Assistance to Laos is provided by international organizations and European countries, as well as Japan and Australia.

The demarcation of Laos' borders with Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam is almost complete, but some border areas, including a number of islands on the Mekong, remain disputed between Laos and Thailand.

ECONOMY

Laos is a predominantly agricultural country; OK. 80% of the population is employed in self-sustaining agriculture. Since 1986, the government has moved to encourage private enterprise. 1988-2001 saw strong economic growth (about 7% per annum), with the exception of a short break caused by the Asian financial crisis in 1997. Such high rates were largely due to low initial indicators. The country's industry and infrastructure are still underdeveloped, there are no railways, the road system is in its infancy, and only a few urban areas have access to electricity. The country is receiving significant economic assistance ($243 million in 2001). There is a chronic lack of investment, and the authorities have recently attracted foreign investment in the food and mining industries. Approximately 40% of the population lived in 2002 below the poverty line. Unemployment in the late 1990s (more recent data not available) was estimated at 20%. Inflation in 2001 was at 7.8%.

The volume of GDP in 2003 reached 10.34 billion US dollars, which corresponds to 1,700 US dollars per capita. Real GDP growth in 2003 reached 5.7%. In the structure of GDP, 53% is accounted for by agriculture, 23% by industry and 24% by the service sector.

The main agricultural crop is rice (grown on 90% of arable land). Corn, soybeans, sweet potatoes, cassava and vegetables also grow, cotton, tobacco and sugarcane from industrial crops, and coffee from export crops. Cattle and buffalo are bred (as a draft force).

Laos is the world's third largest producer of raw opium. In 2002, it was grown on 23.2 thousand hectares, the production volume was 180 tons. The sown area and yields are constantly growing. Hemp is also grown.

In 2001, 1317 billion kWh were produced. electricity (including 99% - at gyroelectric power plants). The country has tin, gypsum, valuable wood species. Manufacturing enterprises are limited to the processing of agricultural raw materials (rice cleaning), sawmilling, and the manufacture of clothing and building materials. Handicrafts are a significant source of income. Efforts are being made to develop tourism.

Exports, which include electricity, timber (tulle, teak, rosewood, ebony), coffee, tin and garments, totaled US$332 million in 2003 and went primarily to Thailand, Vietnam, France and Germany. Imports, consisting of food, diesel fuel, various consumer goods, machinery and equipment, were estimated at $492 million in the same year; the main partners are Thailand, Vietnam, China, Singapore.

State budget revenues in the late 1990s amounted to $211 million, while expenditures, taking into account capital investments, were $462 million. External debt was estimated in 2001 at $2.5 billion.

The monetary unit of Laos is the kip (in 2003 the exchange rate: 1 US dollar corresponded to 10,443 kip).

The length of motor roads is 21716 km., of which only 9664 km. have a hard coating. An important means of communication are rivers and waterways (navigable length 4587 km.). There is an oil pipeline with a length of 503 km. There are 46 airfields in the country, but only 9 of them have paved tracks.

In 2002, Laos had 61,900 telephone lines, 55,200 mobile phones and 15,000 Internet users.

SOCIETY

Laos is a country of ancient culture, which is evidenced by ancient temples, skillful statues and images of the Buddha, and folk crafts. Lao literature developed under the influence of neighboring countries: sacred Buddhist texts were translated from the languages ​​of India, Thai, Burmese and Khmer, the Indian tradition was continued by shastras (scientific treatises) on astronomy, medicine, and politics. After gaining independence in the second half of the 20th century. more modern types of literature and art began to develop.

A public education system has been created; training is free. There are several institutes - pedagogical, polytechnical, medical, agricultural, electromechanical, architectural, etc. Health care is still suffering from a lack of doctors, high infant mortality, widespread infectious diseases, and so on.

The main print publications published in Vientiane are the national daily Pasason, the daily metropolitan organ Vientiane Mai, the trade union newspaper Hengngan (published 2 times a month), the youth organ Num Lao (2 times a month), etc. .d. All newspapers and magazines have a small circulation and are under government control.

There are 16 radio stations and 4 television stations. The country is ok. 730,000 radios and 42,000 televisions.

HISTORY.

Ancient period.

According to archaeological data, the first people appeared on the territory of modern Laos more than 10 thousand years ago. Probably, as in the rest of Indochina, representatives of the Negro-Australoid race originally lived here, and from 3-2 millennia BC. to the south along the Mekong descended the Austroasiatics who replaced them, who spoke the Mon-Khmer languages. In the 7th century the territory along the Mekong up to the current Chinese border was conquered by the Khmer state of Chenla, which was replaced in the 9th century. Angkor State. The lands of middle and upper Laos turned into a kind of buffer zone between Angkor and the 7th century AD. Thai state of Nanzhao. The Mon kingdom of Dvaravati also had a cultural influence on the population of the region. Probably, during this period, Thai tribes began to move there, including the future Laolum. The first Lao state, according to legend, arose in 877. During the 11th-13th centuries. under the pressure of the ancestors of the Laolum, the Mon-Khmerk peoples of the Laoteng retreated into the mountains, and were partially turned into slaves (kha). In the 13th century The south of China and Indochina became the object of the expansion of the Mongol Yuan dynasty, which conquered China. The troops of Khan Kublai destroyed the state of Nanzhao, causing a new exodus of the ancestors of the Thais to the south, and in 1284 put an end to the state of the Lao on the Mekong. The latter broke up into various small principalities.

Kingdom of Lan Sang.

In 1353, Fa-Ngun, the ruler of one of the small principalities of Myon Shwa, united the Laotian and Thai possessions on the Mekong into a single kingdom, which took the name Lan Sang Hom Khao ("Kingdom of a million elephants and a white umbrella"). Fa-Ngun grew up in the Angkor court and was married to a Khmer princess. Hinayana Buddhism was declared the official religion of the new state, and monks arrived from Angkor, delivering sacred texts in the Pali language and the famous golden statue of Buddha - Phabang (after her name, the royal capital was later called Luang Prabang). Fa-Ngun (1353-1373) conquered vast territories and turned his kingdom into one of the largest states in Indochina, at enmity with Vietnam and Ayutthaya. He was deposed by his ministers. His son Sam Sene Thai (1373–1416) conducted the first census, built monastic schools and Buddhist temples, improved the administration of the country, and developed trade. He was married to a princess from Ayutthaya, and adopted some of the administrative methods of that state.

Lan Sang sought to maintain ties with Ayutthaya and Vietnam, but conflicts periodically arose between neighbors. In 1478, Vietnamese troops captured the capital of the kingdom, forcing King Chao Thiakaphat (1438–1479) to flee. But the son of a fugitive monarch, Suwan Banlang (1479–1486), gathered Laotian forces, expelled the Vietnamese, and restored the country's prosperity while trying to improve relations with its eastern neighbor.

The struggle with Vietnam gave way to a long period of peace, and Lan Sang prospered. Thanks to close trade ties with the Thai cities of the Menama Valley. King Phothisarath (1520-1547) built Buddhist temples and tried to overcome the animistic beliefs common among the population. He first placed his residence in Vientiane, which occupied a more advantageous position for trading with neighbors.

The period of relative calm ended in 1545 when King Lan Sang intervened in the struggle for succession in the northern Thai kingdom of Chiang Mai. The accession of the Lao prince Setthathirath to the throne of Chiang Mai caused conflict with Ayutthaya. Lan Sang's troops drove Ayutthaya's forces out of the disputed state. However, in 1547, Setthathirat returned to Lan Sang and took the Lao throne (1547–1571). In 1707, Lan Sang split into two separate states: Prince Sai-Ong-Hue established himself in Vientiane in 1700 with the support of Vietnam, and Suling Wongsa-Kitsarat, the grandson of Suling Wongsa, began to rule in Luang Prabang.

Kingdoms of Vientiane and Luang Prabang.

Both kingdoms, which arose on the ruins of Lan Sang, left no hope of reuniting the country again. At the same time, they were in conflict with each other and increasingly became dependent on larger neighboring states.

In Vientiane, King Sai-Ong-Hue (1700–1735) faced great difficulties from the very beginning. The Principality of Changnin (in the region of the Valley of Jars) submitted to him only formally (it had long been under the dual suzerainty of Lan Sang and Vietnam). In the south, in 1713, Champassak actually became independent. The son of the first king of the Vientiane state, Ong-Long (1735-1760), saved his kingdom from the Burmese invasion by helping Burma in the war with Luang Prabang. Ong-Boun (1760-1778) tried to continue the same policy, but his position was shaken after the weakening of Burma. In 1771, with the help of Burma, he still managed to repel the attack of Luang Prabang. But in 1778 Vientiane was captured by Siamese troops. In 1782, Ong-Bown submitted to Siam, and his son Chao-Nan was crowned as a vassal of Siam (1782–1792). An attack on Luang Prabang in 1791 cost him the throne. Siam replaced the king with his brother Chao-Ying (1792–1805). The latter was a loyal vassal of Bangkok, helping the Siamese in the fight against Burma. Chao Anu (1805–1828) secretly sought to free himself from Siamese domination. He pledged allegiance to Vietnam and offered a secret alliance to Luang Prabang. In 1825 the king raised an uprising against Siam, but after stubborn battles he was defeated. Its capital was burned down and its state annexed by Siam (1828). Changnin remained under Vietnamese suzerainty. In 1832, it was captured by Vietnam and annexed to its territory, but after an uprising of the local population, it was restored in 1855 and had to pay tribute to Vietnam and Luang Prabang.

The kingdom of Luang Prabang was destined for a longer, though no less difficult, life. The reign of Kitsarath (1707–1726) was accompanied by dynastic strife between him and his brother Inta-Som. Having seized power in 1727, Inta-Som ruled until 1776. To repel numerous threats from neighboring states, he tried to develop relations with China. In 1750, Luang Prabang managed to repel the invasion of the Vietnamese troops. In 1753, Inta-Som was forced to submit to Burma, and an attempt to rebel after 1760 ended in failure. In 1771, the kingdom again tried to regain its independence and even attacked the Burmese ally - Vientiane, but was defeated and again subjugated by Burma. In 1774, Inta-Som concluded an anti-Burmese alliance with Siam, and already his son Sotika-Kumane (1776-1781) was forced to recognize dependence on Bangkok. In 1791, Luang Prabang came under a devastating attack from Vientiane. The subsequent king Anurut (1791–1817) remained a loyal vassal of Siam. True, his son Manta-Turat (1817-1836) secretly tried to change Siamese suzerainty to Vietnamese, but Vietnam did not accept this proposal, not wanting to quarrel with a neighbor. King Suka-Seum (1836–1851), who lived for a long time in Bangkok, and Tiantha-Kuman (1851–1869) were firmly Siamese.

The penetration of Europeans and the establishment of the French protectorate.

France, having seized South Vietnam in 1859, began to show increasing interest in the territories located in the Mekong River valley. In 1861, the French explorer Henri Muo arrived in Luang Prabang and was officially received. After the establishment of a French protectorate over Cambodia in 1863, the expedition of Dudar de Lagrae also climbed up the Mekong. Researchers from other European countries took up the study of Laos, and France was afraid of rivalry, especially from Britain, which was trying to capture Burma.

At the beginning of the reign of the Luang Prabang king Un Ukham (1870-1887), armed rebel groups invaded Laos from China, which neither the forces of Luang Prabang nor the Siamese armies could cope with. Under these conditions, France stepped up its pressure on Siam, forcing it in 1886 to agree to the opening of a French vice-consulate in Luang Prabang. After the rebels occupied the capital in 1887, French troops intervened, and in 1889 Un Kham returned to the throne. On behalf of Vietnam, which was dependent on it, France put forward claims to the territory of Laos. Finally, in 1893, its warships approached Bangkok, and the Siamese government was forced to accept the ultimatum dictated to it. Lao territories east of the Mekong came under French control. Under the 1904 agreement, Siam officially renounced suzerainty over Laos and ceded some lands west of the Mekong.

Laos under French protectorate.

The French protectorate over all of Laos was proclaimed on October 3, 1893. However, the country did not represent a single whole. The Kingdom of Luang Prabang was retained; the relationship of the French authorities with its kings was regulated by the conventions of 1895 and 1914, which gave the monarchs the right to appoint Laotian officials, have their own Royal Council and issue their own acts. The Kingdom of Champassak and the Principality of Changnin (Xiangkhuang) were abolished, but a descendant of the Champassak kings was appointed governor of the southern province of Bassak. The administration of the protectorate was headed from 1899 by a supreme resident, who reported directly to the governor-general of French Indochina. He was represented locally by the heads of the provinces. Laotians were appointed as heads of districts and lower-ranking officials (the traditional system of local government has not changed). In 1928, the Laotian civil, criminal, and procedural codes were enacted.

France used Laos primarily as a source of cheap raw materials and labor, as well as a market for selling goods. The population of the country paid various taxes and fulfilled "public duties". Military-police expeditions were often sent against the evaders. French entrepreneurs began the economic development of Laos only after the First World War and managed to do less in this respect than in Vietnam and Cambodia. In 1928 the Chamber of Agriculture and Trade was organized. French firms were interested in the mining industry, in particular tin mining. Highways were built, several thermal power plants were built. Attempts to set up large-scale plantations in Laos failed. The education system developed slowly: until 1913, primary education could only be completed in monastic schools. By 1940 there were only 92 public primary and 1 secondary schools. Not a single newspaper was published in the protectorate.

Revolts constantly broke out in the country. Detachments led by representatives of the local nobility—Pokadout (1901–1907), Ong Keo and Ong Kommadam (1910–1937), Pra Ong Kham (1914–1916), Patchai (1918–1922), and others—revolted against the colonial authorities. the Laotian section of the Communist Party of Indochina was created.

World War II and the Declaration of Independence of Laos.

During the Second World War, Japan in 1941 began the occupation of Laos with the permission of the French Vichy regime. Her troops occupied the south of the country; in the north, Japanese garrisons appeared only in 1945.

The Japanese authorities supported the claims of Thailand to part of the Lao territory. On March 11, 1941, under their pressure, a Franco-Thai agreement was concluded on the transfer of Laotian territories on the right bank of the Mekong to Thailand (at the end of the war, they were returned to Laos). And on August 29, 1941, France concluded a new protectorate treaty with King Sisawang Wong of Luang Prabang (1904–1959). As compensation for the lands that passed to Thailand, three additional Lao provinces were transferred to the king - Vientiane, Huisai and Xiangkhuang. To resist Thai nationalism, with the assistance of the French authorities, various Lao national organizations began to be created. The colonial authorities tried to more actively exploit natural and human resources and encouraged the cultivation of opium poppy.

In 1944, the Gaullist underground revived in Laos, opposing the power of the Vichy regime. Groups with the participation of Laotians began to be created. In 1945, the nationalist organization "Laos for the Laotians" arose.

In March 1945, Japanese troops in Indochina carried out a coup and liquidated the French colonial administration. On April 8, Japan prompted King Sisawang Wong to declare the independence of the kingdom of Luang Prabang and then extended this to the entire country. In fact, Laos was under the rule of Japan.

Japan's defeat in World War II changed the situation again. In August-September 1945, the withdrawal of Japanese troops began, French military detachments entered the territory of Laos, and Chinese troops entered the north of the country. France began to negotiate with the king to restore its power over the country. Under these conditions, at the initiative of the organization "Laos for the Laotians", an independence movement was created - "Free Laos" ("Lao Issara") and the Liberation and Defense Army. The royal prime minister, Prince Petsarat, refused to obey the monarch and led the movement for independence. On October 12, 1945, the interim government, chaired by Prince Khammao, proclaimed Laos an independent state - Pathet Lao (Lao Country). But already at the beginning of 1946, the Pathet Lao forces were defeated by the French army, members of the interim government and many leaders of the "Free Laos" emigrated to Siam (Thailand). An armed partisan struggle for independence began in the country.

In an effort to maintain their power over Laos, the French authorities tried to rely on King Sisavan Wong. In August 1946, they signed a provisional agreement with him, recognizing Laos as a single self-governing kingdom within the framework of the Indochinese Federation and the French Union. In March 1947 a government was formed, and on May 11 the king promulgated a constitution that turned the country into a constitutional monarchy. In the parliamentary elections of the same year, the Independent Party, whose leaders were closely associated with French interests, won. On July 19, 1949, the French government signed an agreement with the king of Laos, according to which Laos was recognized as an "attached state" that is part of the French Union. France retained the exclusive right to decide questions of defense, foreign policy, foreign trade and finance.

These concessions led to a split in the camp of supporters of the country's independence. They split into three factions: the supporters of Prince Petsarat rejected any agreements with France, demanded immediate independence and oriented themselves towards the support of Thailand; the moderates, led by Prince Souvanna Fuma, allowed for the possibility of compromises; radicals under the leadership of Prince Souphanouvong insisted on an active, including armed, struggle and entered into an alliance with Vietnam and the communists. In 1949 the Free Laos movement was dissolved; the moderates returned to Laos and formed their own National Party, which was successful in the parliamentary elections of 1951. Souvanna Fuma led the royal government (1951-1954). In turn, Souphanouvong held a congress of national representatives in August 1950, which established the United National Front of Laos (Neo Lao Itsala). A national liberation government (Pathet Lao) was formed, whose influence extended to the liberated areas.

On October 22, 1953, France signed an agreement "on friendship and cooperation" with the royal government of Laos, recognizing Laos as an independent and sovereign state, but retaining its troops on its territory. At the Geneva Conference on Indochina in 1954, an agreement was reached to end the war in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos and to withdraw foreign troops. The royal government of Laos has agreed to bring in ministers from the Pathet Lao, while the parties are engaged in "search for political solutions." In December 1955, Laos was admitted to the United Nations. Since 1955, the United States began to provide economic assistance to the country in the amount of 40 million dollars a year.

Civil wars and attempts at settlement.

The government of Katai Don Sasorita (1954–1956), a representative of the National Party that won the 1955 elections, tried to continue hostilities against Neo Lao Itsala, which was transformed in 1956 into the Lao Patriotic Front (PFL). Unsuccessful, it began negotiations. They became even more intense when another leader of the National Party, Souvanna Fuma (1956–1958), took over the government. In December 1956, he signed a communiqué with Souphanouvong on a political settlement, and in November 1957 the Vientiane Accords were concluded. The age for participation in elections was lowered to 18 years, the PFL received the status of a legal party and was allowed to participate in elections, and its units were merged into the national army. In the same month, two representatives of the PFL were included in the Lao government. In May 1958, the PFL won by-elections to the country's parliament, winning 9 of the 21 new and vacant seats. In turn, the National and Independent parties, which had a parliamentary majority, merged into a new political organization - the United People of Laos (UNL).

In the summer of 1958, after an unsuccessful attempt to pass the monetary reform he had developed through parliament, Souvanna Fuma resigned. He was replaced by the leader of the right wing of the ONL, Fui Sananikon (1958-1959), who made an alliance with the right-wing group of politicians and generals - the Committee for the Defense of National Interests (KNI). The new government was completely focused on the Western powers and the receipt of American economic assistance. The army came under the influence of American and French military specialists, and military materials were imported from Thailand. In 1959 hostilities resumed between the armed forces and the forces of the Pathet Lao (PFL), Souphanouvong (managed to escape in May 1960) and other deputies of the front were arrested.

In December 1959, the leadership of the armed forces, close to the KZNI, carried out a military coup and seized power. In the spring of 1960, elections were held, which were won by the "Social Democratic Party" created by the KZNI. But the government of Tyao Somsanit, formed by her, was overthrown in August 1960 by young military men led by paratrooper captain Kong Le. Power was again transferred to Souvanna Fuma. However, a right-wing group led by General Fumi Nosavan and Prince Bun Um rebelled in Savannakhet and in November 1960 captured Vientiane. The United States provided material assistance and weapons to the new regime. Souvanna Fuma, who fled from the capital, entered into an alliance with the PFL, they were assisted by the USSR and North Vietnamese military units. At the international meeting of 14 countries in Geneva (1961-1962), the Ceasefire Agreement and the Declaration of Neutrality of Laos were signed, but these agreements were never implemented.

According to the Geneva Accords, Souvanna Fuma in June 1962 formed a coalition government with the participation of his supporters ("neutralists"), the right and the PFL. But already in April 1963, clashes broke out between government troops and the Pathet Lao forces; members of the PFL left the government and fled the capital. In April 1964, after an attempted right-wing coup, Souvanna Fuma reorganized the government and officially broke the agreement with the PFL. In subsequent years, it was increasingly difficult for him and the Neutralist Party he created to retain power and he was forced to make constant concessions to the right, which strengthened its position in the parliamentary elections of 1965 and 1967.

A large-scale civil war resumed in Laos. Since 1964, American aircraft have been raiding areas under the control of the PFL, in 1967 Thai and New Vietnamese units were introduced into Laos, and in early 1971, 22,000 South Vietnamese soldiers entered Lao territory, who, with US air and artillery support, tried to cut supply lines from North Vietnam to South Vietnam. In turn, the PFL received support from the USSR, and the North Vietnamese troops fought on the side of the front.

The curtailment of American military intervention in Indochina contributed to the search for a settlement in Laos as well. In February 1973, in Vientiane, agreements were reached between the royal government of Laos and the Pathet Lao to cease hostilities. In April 1974, a decision was made to create a Provisional Government of National Unity) and to withdraw foreign troops. Vientiane and Luang Prabang were placed under joint military control. The coalition cabinet was again headed by Souvanna Fuma.

Creation and development of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

However, the political confrontation in the country continued. After the fall of the pro-American regimes in Phnom Penh and Saigon in April 1975, the supporters of the Pathet Lao also went on the political offensive. They organized mass demonstrations demanding the deportation of the Americans and the removal of right-wing ministers from the government. As a result, US military personnel left the country and the government was purged. From May to October, local administrations were replaced by "revolutionary committees" all over the country. In October-November, elections were held for permanent local authorities - people's councils and administrative committees. On December 2, 1975, the monarchy was abolished at the National People's Congress, and King Sawang Vatthana (1959–1975) abdicated. The country was named the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR). PFL leader Souphanouvong (1975-1986) was appointed President of the Lao PDR and Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly. However, the real power was in the hands of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (PRPL), whose general secretary, Kayson Phomvihan, took over as prime minister (1975–1991).

The establishment of the NRPL dictatorship was accompanied by repressions against political opponents. Many officials of the former government and representatives of the Vientiane intelligentsia were sent to "re-education" camps. OK. 300,000 people are estimated to have fled the country.

Having proclaimed a course towards "building socialism", the leadership of the Lao PDR focused on the industrialization of agriculture and the development of industry. Large enterprises, resources and agricultural experimental centers passed into the hands of the state. With the help of the USSR, bridges, roads, industrial and social facilities were built in Laos. In 1981, Laos embarked on the implementation of the first five-year plan for the development of the national economy. It was supposed to carry out the collectivization of agriculture.

But already in 1986, the leadership of Laos switched to a new economic policy, proclaiming the equality of different forms of ownership (state, cooperative, private, mixed public-private), the rejection of command-and-control methods of managing the economy and the collectivization of the village, the use of market levers and the attraction of foreign investment. The NRPL congress in 1991 abolished the provision on the stage of "building socialism" and announced that the country was at the stage of "improving the people's democratic system." In August 1991, the first constitution of the Lao PDR was adopted, in accordance with which direct elections to the National Assembly were held in December 1992. The post of President of Laos was taken by Kayson Phomvihan (1991–1992). After his death, Nuhak Phumsawan became the head of state, and since 1998, Khamtai Siphandon. The government was led by Khamtai Siphandon (1991–1998), Sisawat Keobunphan (1998–2002) and Bunnan Vorachit (since 2002). In the last National Assembly elections in February 2002, one non-partisan independent candidate (out of 109) was allowed to be elected.

The NRPL manages to hold power in the country undividedly in its hands. In the autumn of 1982, opponents of the regime tried to raise an uprising in the north, announcing the creation of a "Democratic Government of the Kingdom of Laos", but the attempt failed. In 1990, the authorities arrested 3 former civil servants who called for the establishment of a multi-party system, 1 of them died in prison, the others were sentenced in 1992 to 14 years in prison. On October 26, 1999, a group of students organized a march in Vientiane demanding an end to social injustice, respect for human rights, the release of political prisoners, and democratic reforms, including the establishment of a multi-party system and new parliamentary elections. 5 marchers were detained and in 2002 sentenced to 20 years in prison (in 2003 the sentences were reduced to 5-10 years); one of them died in prison.

Laos in the 21st century

The Lao authorities maintain close ties with the leadership of the Buddhist religious community and restrict the religious freedom of minorities. In the early 2000s, dozens of Christians were arrested every year, many churches were closed, and believers were forced to change their faith. The publication of non-Buddhist religious texts was banned. After 2001, the campaign against Christians eased somewhat, and in 2002 a government decree on the regulation of religious practice was issued, which somewhat expands the scope for the activities of religious minorities.

Part of the opposition in the fight against the regime resorts to terrorist methods. During 2000–2003, many cities in Laos experienced bombings in public places; there were casualties. The Lao People's Free Democratic Government Committee group claimed responsibility for these acts. Two people were sentenced to life imprisonment for their involvement in the 2003 bombings.

An armed struggle against the government is being waged by rebels from the mountainous Hmong people living in the north of Laos. Their organization "Chao Fa" carries out attacks on military and civilian objects, on transport, etc. In 2003 fighting between security forces and Hmong rebels intensified; in August, an uprising broke out in the province of Hua Phan. In the course of the struggle, government units, according to human rights organizations, resort to reprisals against residents, arbitrary arrests and relocations. In June 2003, the Lao Civil Movement for Democracy group announced the start of armed activity; its supporters carried out a number of attacks in the province of Saynyabuli.

The problem of relations with mountain peoples is complicated by the intention of the Lao authorities to end opium production by 2005 and slash-and-burn agriculture by 2010. The lives of many national minorities in the mountains are connected with these agrarian activities. During the implementation of the government plan, the resettlement of the inhabitants of many villages is carried out (often forced). In an effort to weaken separatism, the Lao authorities have launched a number of economic projects in Hmong areas and intend to start broadcasting radio programs in the Hmong and Khmu languages.

Literature:

Ioanesyan S.I. Laos. Socio-economic development (late 19th – 60s of the 20th century.). M., 1972
Mikheev Yu.Ya. Lao People's Democratic Republic. Directory. M., 1985
Laos: Directory. M., 1994



Laos is a state in Southeast Asia. In the north it borders with China and Vietnam, in the east - with Vietnam, in the south - with Cambodia, in the west - with Thailand, in the northwest - with Myanmar. Laos is the only country in Southeast Asia that has no access to the sea.

The name of the country comes from the ethnonym of the people - Lao.

Capital

Vientiane.

Area

Population

5636 thousand people

Administrative division

16 provinces (khueng).

Form of government

Republic.

head of state

The president.

supreme legislative body

Unicameral National Assembly.

Supreme executive body

Government.

Big cities

Savannakhet, Luang Prabang, Pakse.

Official language

Laotian.

Religion

60% are Buddhists, 40% are pagans.

Ethnic composition

Currency

Kip = 100 attams.

Climate

Subequatorial, monsoon. Average temperatures in January range from + 15 °С to + 23 °С, in July - from + 28 °С to + 30 °С. Three seasons are distinguished: wet (May - October), dry cool (November-January, average temperature from + 23 ° С to + 25 ° С) and dry hot (February - April, average temperature from + 32 ° С to + 34 ° С). FROM). In the lowlands of Northern Laos, the average temperature in January is + 15 °С, in July - + 28 °С. In the mountains, temperatures sometimes drop below 0°C in winter. There are no sharp fluctuations in temperature in Central and Southern Laos. The average temperature in January here is + 25°C, in July - + 30°C. Precipitation falls up to 3000 mm per year.

Flora

60% of the territory of Laos is covered by tropical, deciduous, evergreen forests and savannahs. A valuable pumpkin tree grows in the country.

Fauna

Among the representatives of the animal world - elephants, panthers, leopards, tigers Rivers and lakes. The main river is the Mekong.

Attractions

On the banks of the Mekong, there is a royal monastery - Wat Xyeng Thong, otherwise called the "City of Golden Temples", nearby is the "Red Chapel" - a beautiful mansion of the Quaker service ("The Society of Friends" (Quakers) was founded in England by George Fox in the 17th century.). On the other side of the Mekong is Wat Long Khun.
Vientiane (“the city of the moon”) looks especially picturesque in mid-April, when Imai, the New Year, is celebrated in Laos. The forest reserves of Dongxiengthong, Dongkhasau and others are extremely interesting, where safaris, elephant rides, etc. are regularly held.

Useful information for tourists

In the ancient capital of Laos, Luang Prabang, there is Pu Xi Hill, which is crowned with a masterpiece of Lao Buddhist architecture - the Tat Chomsi Pagoda. From the Mekong side, a narrow stone road leads up the hill.
ladder. Here tourists and townspeople bring donations and state their requests in front of a Buddha statue sitting in the shade of the sacred Champa tree.

Decided to organize a holiday in Laos? Looking for the best Laos hotels, hot tours, resorts and last minute deals? Interested in the weather in Laos, prices, the cost of a tour, do I need a visa to Laos and would a detailed map come in handy? Would you like to see what Laos looks like in photos and videos? What are the excursions and attractions in Laos? What are the stars and reviews of hotels in Laos?

Lao People's Democratic Republic is a landlocked state in Southeast Asia with Vientiane as its capital. It borders Thailand to the west, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, China's Yunnan province to the north, and Myanmar to the northwest.

Laos is a predominantly mountainous country. The mountains rarely exceed 2000 m, but have a strongly dissected relief. The highest peak is Phu Bia with a height of 2817 m. The Mekong River flows along the border of Laos with Thailand and Myanmar, the border with Vietnam is shared by the Annamite Range.

Laos airport

Vientiane Wattay International Airport

Buy a plane ticket to Laos cheap online

Hotels Laos 1 - 5 stars

Reviews of Hotels Laos

Find out prices and availability, as well as book a hotel in Laos

Laos weather

The climate is subequatorial, monsoonal. There are three seasons: distinctly humid hot - from May to October, dry cool - from November to February and hot dry in March-April. The monsoon invades almost simultaneously the entire territory of Laos. Precipitation varies considerably, from 3000 mm per year in the mountains to 1300–1700 mm in the plains.

The average temperatures in December-January range from +14° to +23°C, in July - within 28-30°C. The highest air temperature - about +40°C - occurs in the Mekong Valley in March-April, and less than + 5 ° С - on the Xianghuang plateau and in Phongsali (in the far north of the country).

Language of Laos

Official language: Lao

The population speaks various ethnic languages ​​and dialects. In the educated sections of society, French and English are common.

Currency of Laos

International name: LAK

A kip is equal to 100 cents. There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 5000, 2000, 1000, 500 and 100 kip. There are no coins in circulation.

Thai baht and US dollars are accepted everywhere, especially in cities. Currency can be exchanged at exchange offices, at the airport and at banks, but many banks only accept US dollars or Thai baht.

Credit cards of the leading international systems are accepted for payment in large banks, in the capital's restaurants, hotels and shops. In the provinces, it is almost impossible to use them. Traveler's checks can only be cashed at the offices of international banks.

Customs restrictions

Import and export of foreign currency is not limited (amount over $2,000 in cash or travel checks must be presented to customs officials when crossing the border and declared). Import and export of the national currency is prohibited.

Duty-free import from countries that do not have common borders with Laos is allowed: cigarettes - up to 500 pieces, or 100 cigars or 500 grams of tobacco, strong alcoholic beverages - 1 bottle of wine - up to 2 bottles, personal jewelry - up to 500 grams.

The import of weapons, explosives, poisonous and flammable substances, as well as narcotic drugs and means for their manufacture is prohibited. It is forbidden to export art and antiquities that are a national treasure, Buddha images (only souvenir options are allowed for export), weapons, explosives, as well as poisonous and flammable substances, drugs and means for their production.

Mains voltage

Tips

State hotels and upscale restaurants usually add 5-10% to the bill for services, so there is no need to leave a tip. In private establishments, tips should be determined on the spot.

When traveling in a taxi or any other tuk-tuk vehicle, the cost of the service should be discussed in advance, before boarding the cab.

Purchases

Markets and small ethnic shops selling handicrafts, fabrics, jewelery and furniture have replaced shops with a dubious reputation. Large shops usually work from Monday to Friday from 08.00 to 16.00, private shops - from Monday to Saturday from 09.00 to 21.00.

Bargaining is possible in markets and private shops.

Office Hours

Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 08.00 to 12.00 and from 13.30 to 17.30.

Code of the country: +856

First level geographic domain name:.la

Emergency Phones

Fire department - 190.
Police - 191.
Ambulance - 195.

Lao People's Democratic Republic.

The name of the state comes from the ethno people - Lao.

Capital of Laos. Vientiane.

Laos Square. 236,800 km2.

Inhabitants of Laos. 5636 thousand people.

Location of Laos. Laos is a country in Southeast Asia. It borders China and Vietnam to the north. in the east - with Vietnam, in the south - with Cambodia. in the west - with Thailand. in the northwest - with Myanmar. Laos is the only country in Southeast Asia.

which does not have access to the sea.

Lao administrative division. 16 provinces (Hugeng).

Form of government in Laos. Republic.

Head of State of Laos. The president.

The supreme legislative body of Laos. National Assembly of one state.

The supreme executive body of Laos. Government.

Great cities of Laos. Savannakhet, Luang Prabang, Pakse.

Official language of Laos. Laos.

Religion Laos.

Where is Laos? - country on the world map

60% are Buddhists, 40% are pagans.

The ethnic composition of Laos. 70% lao.

Currency of Laos. Kip = 100 at.

The climate of Laos. Subequatorial. monsoon. The average temperature in January is from + 15 ° C to + 23 ° C, in July - from + 28 ° C to + 30 ° C. There are three seasons: wet (May - October), dry cool (from November to January, the average temperature is + 23 ° to + 25 ° C) and dry hot (average temperature in February - April from + 32 ° to + 34 ° C).

In low northern Laos, the average temperature in January is + 15 ° C, in July - + 28 ° C. In the mountains, winter temperatures sometimes drop below 0 ° C. There are no sudden temperature fluctuations in central and southern Laos. The average January temperature is + 25 ° C, July - + 30 ° C

Precipitation is reduced to 3000 mm per year.

Flora Laos. 60% of the territory of Laos is covered by tropical, leafy, evergreen forests and savannahs. A valuable tree of trees grows in the country.

Fauna from Laos. Among the representatives of the animal world are elephants, panthers, leopards, tigers.

Landmarks of the city of Laos. On the banks of the Mekong is the royal monastery of Wat Xieng Thong, otherwise known as the "City of the Golden Temple", located near the "Red Chapel" - ("Friendship Society" (Quakers) was founded in England by George Fox in the 17th century) a beautiful Quaker villa service.

On the other side of the Mekong is Wat Long Khun.

It is especially picturesque in mid-April, mid-April, when Imai, the new year of Vientiane ("the city of the moon"), is celebrated in Laos. The forest reserves of Dongsythenong, Donghyasa and others are extremely interesting.

where regular safaris, elephant rides, etc. are held.

Useful information for tourists

In the old capital of Laos, Luang Prabang is Pu Xi Hill, which boasts a masterpiece of Lao Buddhist architecture, the Tat Chomsi Pagoda. A narrow stone staircase leads from the Mekong to the hill. Here, tourists and citizens made donations and made their demands in front of a Buddha statue sitting in the shade of the sacred Champa tree.

All articles: Geography articles:

Geography of Laos. Nature, relief, climate, population of Laos

It is located in Southeast Asia between 100° and 107°40` east longitude and 13°55` and 22°32` north latitude. Two-thirds of the territory of Laos is covered with dense forests, the landscape consists of low hills and mountains, the highest peak is Phu Bya with a height of 2817 m.

The Mekong River flows along the border of Laos with Thailand and Myanmar, the border with Vietnam is divided by the Annamite Range and extends over half of the country.

The tropical climate is characterized by the division of the year into two seasons - the summer rainy monsoon period from May to November, and the winter dry period from December to April.

The territory of the country stretches over several climatic zones - impenetrable jungle and fertile valleys, rocky mountains and mysterious caves, picturesque rivers and waterfalls.

Such a variety of landscapes allows you to come up with a lot of interesting options for spending time in Laos. There are no very large cities in Laos, the capital Vientiane has no more than 200 thousand inhabitants, other relatively large cities are Luang Prabang (50 thousand), Savannakhet (70 thousand) and Pakse (90 thousand).

Since 1993, the government has designated 21% of the country's conservation areas (NBCAs) that are intended to be converted into national parks.

When completed, these parks promise to be the most interesting and representative parks in Southeast Asia.

Laos is divided into 16 provinces (khweng), a metropolitan prefecture (kampheng nakhon) and a special zone (khetphiset). The provinces are divided into 140 districts, consisting of 11,000 communes.

Laos is a predominantly mountainous country.

The mountains rarely exceed 2000 m, but have a strongly dissected relief. The mountainous terrain and dense tropical forests make it difficult to communicate with neighboring countries. The northern most part of the country is occupied by the highest, most difficult and sparsely populated mountains. They are composed of granites, gneisses and are cut by deep gorges through which numerous rivers flow.

Mountain ranges alternate with folded plateaus, sandstones and limestones. The northeastern border of the country runs along the Dending, Shamshao, Shusungtyaotyai ridges, the southeastern - along the Chyongshon mountains (up to 2700 m high), the western - along the Luang Prabang ridge. In the central part of Laos, the Xiangkhuang plateau stands out with a height of approx. 1200 m, framed by higher mountains.

To the south of it rises the highest mountain of the country, Bia (2819 m).

The capital of Laos Vientiane: the aesthetics of contradictions

The Truong Son mountains are replaced by low plateaus, which break off in ledges to the wide Mekong valley. The most extensive basalt plateau Boloven with average heights up to 1200 m is located in the extreme south of the country.

Nature and relief of Laos

Laos is the land of rugged mountains and fertile river valleys. The lands along the banks of the rivers, suitable for irrigated agriculture, have long been inhabited and mastered by man, and the inhabitants of the mountain slopes and peaks have to win back land, burning the forest for crops.

The mountainous nature of the relief predetermines the isolation of individual regions of Laos and makes it difficult for them to communicate with the outside world.

The most inaccessible and underdeveloped part of the country is Northern Laos. The rocky mountains, cut by deep gorges, reach a height of 2000 m here. The mountains, which have undergone severe erosion, are composed mainly of limestone, clay and crystalline schists.

The Pu Kum Ridge (2000 m) in the northwest of Laos forms the natural Khammuan, interesting as an area of ​​​​classical karst relief. In the east, the plateau passes into the Truong Son Mountains, ancient, heavily destroyed, dissected into separate blocky massifs.

Some passes, such as Ailau and Mu Gia, lie at an altitude of only about 400 m. The maximum height of the mountains in Central Laos is 2286 m. The western slopes of the Central Laos plateau descend in gentle steps to the Mekong valley.

Here, to the south of the Khammuan Plateau, the vast Savannakhet Valley stands out with zaivny rice fields.

In Southern Laos - the main granary of the country - the Truong Son Mountains pass in ledges into low, but rather steep plateaus, surrounded by alluvial fertile lowlands in river valleys.

The greatest height (1200 m) reaches the Boloven plateau, composed of sandstones and basalts.

To the south of it is the rocky Xiangkhuang plateau, some peaks of which reach 2500-3000 m. In the southeast, the plateau passes into the Truong Son chain, which extends to the very south of Laos. They pass the border with Vietnam.

The Truong Son Mountains are composed of crystalline rocks: limestone, sandstone, shale. Block massifs of 500-2500 m here alternate with depressions: for example, the Keonya Pass lies at an altitude of only 728 m.

The only fertile valley of Northern Laos - Vientiane - is of alluvial origin. The relief of Central Laos is dominated by medium-altitude plateaus; the most extensive of them is a limestone plateau.

Minerals of Laos

Laos has significant reserves of a number of minerals. Currently, deposits of tin ore (metal content up to 60%) have been explored. It is estimated that iron ore reserves (magnetite and hematite with a metal content of up to 60–65%) in Laos account for two-thirds of all resources in Southeast Asia.

Deposits of copper ore, coal, lead, zinc, antimony, gypsum, manganese, limestone, potash, table salt, platinum, precious stones (sapphires, rubies, etc.) have also been explored. Alluvial placers of gold and silver are numerous. The development of deposits of tin ore, gold, precious stones is underway.

Most mining is carried out in the mountainous Northern and Central Laos.

Significant deposits of tin ore (about 70 thousand tons) are located on the Khammuan plateau. New deposits of tin have recently been discovered near the city of Savannakhet. In the area of ​​the Xiangkhuang Plateau, iron ore reserves with a high metal content (60-70%), estimated at 1 billion tons, have been discovered.

There are copper ores, coal, antimony, lead, zinc, gypsum, manganese, and limestone in Northern and Central Laos. Throughout the country there are deposits of gold and various precious stones, especially sapphires and rubies.

Salt is found and mined in Laos in two places - north of Vientiane and south of Phongsali. Oil-bearing layers are assumed near Vientiane and Savannakhet.

Climate of Laos

The climate of Laos is tropical, monsoonal. The mode and direction of the winds determine a clear change of two seasons: dry, cool - from November to April, when cold northern and northeastern monsoons invade from the continent with almost no precipitation, and humid, hot - from May to October, when warm air masses from the Indian The oceans bring tropical downpours and high temperatures.

The great length of the country from the northwest to the southeast and the mountainous relief create quite significant climatic differences between the northern and southern regions.

In the lowlands of Northern Laos, the average temperature of the coldest month is January + 15 °, and the hottest month is July 24-28 °. In the mountainous regions of northern Laos, the air temperature sometimes drops below 0 ° in winter. In Central and Southern Laos, such sharp fluctuations in temperature do not occur. The average January temperature here is +23, +25°, July +30°.

Laos receives a significant amount of precipitation, but it is unevenly distributed: in the mountainous regions and on the high plateaus of Xiangkhuang, Khammuan, Boloven, up to 3500 mm of precipitation falls annually, and on the plains and low plateaus of Northern Laos, as well as in the Savannakhet Valley - 1000-2000 mm .

The unequal distribution of precipitation over the seasons, combined with the relief features in different parts of Laos, contributed to the uneven development of the territory of this country. Southern Laos is more developed.

Water resources of Laos

There are few lakes and swamps in Laos, but there are a lot of rivers.

They flow through plains and mountain gorges. Most of them belong to the Mekong basin, the main artery of the country and one of the largest rivers in Asia. A third of the total length of the Mekong, or almost all of its middle course, coincides with the border between Laos and Thailand. The largest tributaries of the Mekong in Northern Laos are Ta, U, Dong, Lik, Ngum.

In Central and Southern Laos, these are Bangfai, Banghiang, Don, Kong, Than. The monsoon climate regime is associated with summer floods and winter shallowing of rivers. During the dry season, many rivers become so shallow that there is not enough water not only for irrigation, but also for the domestic needs of the population, and navigation in some areas is completely stopped. Rice crops largely depend on the timely arrival of floods. Rivers provide the population with fish, but fishing plays a smaller role in the country's economy than in Kampuchea.

The weak development of land roads makes the rivers of Laos almost the only type of communication, both internal and external.

But navigation along them is hampered not only by seasonal shallowing, but also by many rapids, waterfalls and rough currents. Even in the most gentle sections of the Mekong, the current speed reaches 4-5 m / s. On the main channel of the Mekong, movement is possible in three sections, free from rapids and waterfalls. The upper section of the river - from Luang Prabang to Vientiane - is accessible only to pirogues and small motor boats. The middle one - from Vientiane to Savannakhet - has a calmer current, barges, capacious sampan boats and fast long pirogues ply here all year round.

Near Savannakhet are the Khemmarat rapids, which prevent navigation, and the river becomes navigable again only south of these rapids.

Here it is available all year round for large sampans and ships with a displacement of 200-300 tons. Khong waterfalls block the waterway at the very border with Kampuchea. The Mekong, with its numerous rapids tributaries, is fraught with huge reserves of hydropower.

Flora of Laos

More than half of the entire territory of the country is occupied by forests.

The slopes of the mountains of Northern Laos are covered with evergreen subtropical forests, changing at an altitude of 1500 m mixed - from oak, pine, chestnut. The plateaus of Central and Southern Laos are dominated by light monsoon deciduous forests.

Tropical rainforests are characteristic of the valleys of Southern Laos and the Truong Son Mountains.

Valuable and rare species of trees have been preserved in virgin forests: pink, black, sandalwood, iron. Teak forests occupy a significant area in northwestern Laos, along the Mekong; on the Xiangkhuang, Khammuan and Boloven plateaus, a beautiful drill pine grows. In addition to valuable wood, forests also provide varnishes and resins.

Areas with low rainfall - the Savannakhet Valley and partly the Xiangkhuang and Boloven plateaus - are covered with tall grass savannahs, the appearance of which is partly facilitated by forest burning during shifting agriculture.

Fauna of Laos

The fauna of Laos is extremely diverse and unique; “many species of animals that have already been exterminated in other countries are still preserved here. Laos has a mix of tropical and temperate animal species. Numerous monkeys (gibbons, macaques) and semi-monkeys live in the jungle, as well as predators: tiger, marble panther, Tibetan bear, palm marten in palm thickets, marsh lynx in valleys and mountain gorges.

Of the large ungulates, there are wild banteng and gayal bulls, wild boars.

Snakes live in the forests - cobras, pythons, etc. There are many parrots, peacocks, ducks. In South and partly in North Laos there are significant herds of elephants. Many of these animals are of commercial importance.

Hunting is prohibited only for elephants, they are tamed and used to carry goods.

Population of Laos

The seven million inhabitants of Laos are unevenly distributed. A significant part of the population is concentrated along the Mekong River, and, in particular, near the capital. The mountainous regions in the east are sparsely populated. Less than a third of the population lives in cities. In general, about 600,000 people live in Vientiane and the surrounding area. Despite the small population, a large number of different tribes and nationalities live in Laos.

In Laos, it is customary to distinguish the population by their areas of residence, and not according to ethno-linguistic criteria.

At the same time, the following three groups of peoples are distinguished: Lao Lum live on the plains, along large rivers and in cities. These include the main people of the Lao and related mountain tai (thai nya, thai black, thai white, phuthai, yuan), this group includes 67% of the population.

Lao Thang live on the spurs of hills and in low mountains, many tribes belong to this category, in general they make up 22% of the population.

They are considered the ancient population of Laos, on holidays the Laotians bring them a symbolic tribute for the right to inhabit their territory. The Lao Theng includes mountain Mons (Khamu, Lamet, Puteng, etc.) and mountain Khmers (Sui, Alak, Katang, Taoi, etc.), whose languages ​​belong to the Monkhmer family.

Lao Sung inhabit higher areas, above 1000 meters above sea level. These areas are usually distant from cities and rivers and are less accessible. Their share is 10% of the population. These include, in particular, the peoples of Miao (Hmong), Yao (Mien), Lahu, Lisu, Akha.

The Chinese, Vietnamese, Indians, Burmese, and others also live in Laos. In Laos, the languages ​​of the Thai-Kadai (Thai-Lao), Mon-Khmer and Tibeto-Burmese groups and the Miao-Yao groups are widespread.

According to ethno-linguistic criteria, the population of Laos is divided into 47 ethnic groups and 149 subgroups. The majority of the population professes Theravada Buddhism.

Many tribes of the Lao Thang and Lao Sung groups are animists with their own systems of honoring nature spirits and performing rituals. There is a small number of Christians, Muslims and Hindus.

Source - http://ru.wikipedia.org/
http://www.tury.ru/country/info.php?id=134

I first came to Laos being an experienced traveler and, to be honest, not particularly counting on some stunning discoveries. In a way, I was right. Laos is an indicative and traditional Southeast Asia, reminiscent of Cambodia and at the same time. And at the same time, this is a completely independent world with its own special charm.

I thought a lot about what is the very highlight of Laos, what is the reason for its extraordinary attractiveness. My personal conclusion, which does not pretend to be objective, is that the secret of Laos is in its extraordinary sincerity, simple charm and phenomenal goodwill. This is what you feel everywhere, in every corner of the country.

And one more thing: knocking down the natural beauty of the country. Everything is here: waterfalls, rivers, caves. Laos, in my opinion, is more than worth a visit. It is a place of great beauty and kindness.

Visa and border crossing

Visa-free entry

If you are planning a trip up to 15 days, you do not need a visa to Laos. When crossing the border, you just need to present a passport, the validity of which must be at least 6 months after arrival in the country. Sometimes an officer may ask for a return ticket or hotel reservation, but neither I nor anyone in line at the airport was ever asked for anything extra.

Visa at the consulate

If you are going to Laos for a period of 16 days to a month, you need to apply for a visa at the consulate in advance.

Required documents for applying for a visa at the consulate:

• passport valid for at least 6 months,
• 2 completed questionnaires in English,
• 2 photos, black and white or color, 4x6 cm.

A regular visa is issued in 3 days, an urgent visa in 1 day. Consular fee for a regular visa - 20 USD, for an urgent visa - 40 USD.
A visa is issued for a period of 16 days to 1 month and is valid for entry into the country for 90 days from the date of issue.

Customs regulations in Laos

Everything is pretty standard. Allowed duty-free import:

• 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco,
• 1 liter of strong alcohol and 2 liters of wine,
• 250 ml. toilet water and 50 ml. spirits,
• camera or video camera
• movie camera,
• record player,
• radio,
• sports equipment and tent,
• baby carriage.

Prohibited for import:

• weapon,
• explosive, poisonous and flammable substances,
• drugs.

There are no restrictions on the import of foreign currency, however, cash in the amount of more than $ 2,000 must be declared. The import of Lao currency into the country is prohibited, so do not change money in advance.

How to get there

Airplane is the only way to get from Russia to Laos.

By plane

There are no direct flights from Russia to Laos. However, getting to it is not very difficult and expensive. There are several international airports in Laos, but the most popular for travelers are Wattay International Airport in Vientiane and Luang Prabang International Airport in Luang Prabang.

I flew to Laos from Russia twice and both times I compared ticket prices. Luang Prabang always comes out almost twice as expensive and you need to make not one, but several transfers. Even if your goal is not to visit the capital of Laos, I advise you to fly to it, then go to your destination on very budget Lao buses.

Almost always the cheapest option to get to Laos from Moscow is offered by the Thai company Thai Airways. I flew Thai Airlines from Domodedovo in the evening, after 9 hours I flew to Bangkok. It was about eight in the morning. Then a convenient three-hour transfer and another hour to Laos. The plane arrives at half past noon. I don't think you can do better. Ticket price from 400 USD one way.

You can also use local airlines Lao Airlines in conjunction with our Aeroflot. The transfer in this case is also in Bangkok, but longer, about 10 hours. Ticket price from 450 USD one way.

Thai Airways operates 2 flights a day from Bangkok. Lao Airlines - 3 times a week.

From Wattay to city center

Wattay Airport in the capital of Laos made a very good impression on me: small, but very clean and modern. It has everything you need: ATMs, exchange office, shops, cafes. But what I liked the most is that Wattay is located just three kilometers from the city, it takes less than 10 minutes to drive to the center. You can take a taxi, my trip cost 7 USD. Or walk 300 meters, go to the main road and catch a tuk-tuk (2 USD).

Tourist regions

Laos is usually divided into northern, central and southern parts. Each of them, in turn, is divided into regions, which are called "khwengi" in the local language. There are 16 khwengs in total in Laos.

Northern Laos

The north of Laos, despite its sad history (wars, bombings), is the most touristic part of the country. Firstly, the landscape here is of amazing beauty: mountains and hills. Secondly, it seems to me that it is in the north that one feels the "self" of Laos, its amazing soul. For many years, the northern regions were isolated from the rest of the country and, probably, therefore, they retained their original spirit and ancient architecture. It is in the north that you can find mysterious caves, tribes speaking unknown languages, and untouched, purest nature. I recommend to visit the following northern kwaengs:

• Luang Prabang- in my opinion, the region number one for travelers. You can go here with a large company and everyone will find an attraction for themselves. I recommend that nature lovers immediately go to the stunning Kuang Si waterfalls with turquoise water in the lagoon. History buffs can make a river pilgrimage to the most interesting Buddhist caves of Pak Ou at the confluence of the Mekong and Ou rivers. Lovers of cities and walks should spend a few days in the capital of the region with the same name, with beautiful colonial architecture and quiet streets.

• Xiangkhuang- Khweng, famous for only one place of power, but what a place! Not far from the administrative center of the region, the city of Phonsavan, there is the mysterious Valley of Jars - an incredible place in terms of energy, where hundreds of ancient stone jugs of unknown origin are spread over a vast territory. If you are at least somewhat interested in archeology, history and simply unusual phenomena in the world, you should by no means miss the Valley of Pitchers!

• Phongsali is located in the far north of the country. Travelers don't get there very often. I was only once, just a couple of days, and was delighted with the ancient villages, tea gardens, real original tribes that carefully preserve their culture. If you want to see a truly unexplored part of the country, with primordial traditions, Phongsali is hard to find better.

• Sayyabuli- the subject of eternal disputes between Laos and Thailand. It is here, in the Paklay region, that the Elephant Festival takes place every February. Unfortunately, I never got to see it, but many of my travel acquaintances told me that it was something fantastic: carnivals, music concerts, fireworks, performances, the choice of the elephant of the year, elephant coronations.

• Bocau- the smallest province in the north, known primarily for its minerals: precious and semi-precious stones. For travelers, information is useful that the capital of Khwenga, the city of Huaisai, is a popular border checkpoint leading to the neighboring one.

Central Laos

The center of the country is also quite famous among travelers, if only because it is here that the capital and the backpacker village of Vang Vieng are located. I will single out the following central khwengi for visiting:

• - the capital region, which is difficult to bypass. This is the main transport hub of the country. All roads lead here. A little higher than the capital is the center of all active entertainment Vang Vieng, which I recommend visiting for all lovers of rafting, hiking, hiking and other sports and provocative recreation.

• Savannakhet is a nice and rather touristy region. Its capital of the same name is the second most populated city in the country, which is known for its colonial architecture, but I personally love the interesting mixture of Lao and Vietnamese culture. There are many local agencies in Savannakhet that offer eco-treks in the forests lasting one, two or three days. I went on a hike under the funny name "Dinosaur Tracks" and I really liked it: clean air, authentic Lao outdoor dining, a fun local guide.

Southern Laos

If northern Laos seems to me to be exceptionally original, then the south, on the contrary, attracts with a curious mixture of cultures and traditions. It is literally surrounded on all sides by colorful neighboring countries: Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. In addition, the nature here is very diverse: plains prevail in the western part, mountains in the eastern part. In general, it is for nature, in my opinion, that one should go to Southern Laos. This is the real focus of waterfalls, rivers and forests.

• Champasak- definitely the main tourist region of the south. After all, it is here that the most significant part of the Bolaven Plateau is located - a gigantic territory consisting of waterfalls, jungles, inland rivers and tea villages. I rode the Plateau for several days on a motorbike, and this is one of the unforgettable Lao experiences. Of interest, in my opinion, is the capital of the province of Pakse. In fact, the main city of the South is a peaceful and quiet village. But I, for one, really like to walk along its measured, once Franco-colonial streets.

• Saravan- these are magnificent mountains, waterfalls, interesting ethnic villages. Not the most explored part of Laos, but at the same time, not devoid of tourist infrastructure. Fans of cities, elegant walks along the embankment and beautiful cafes have nothing to do here. But for real connoisseurs of wildlife and tribes, I highly recommend Saravan!

Top cities

Here I want to immediately note that Laos is a country famous, first of all, for its natural resources. There are few cities in Laos. Yes, and those that are - although very pretty, but small and comprehensible in a day or two each.

Vientiane

It is customary to scold the capital of Laos on what the light stands: the architecture is inexpressive, the colonial buildings are in a dilapidated state, the city's Mekong River looks like a dirty canal. To tell the truth, it is.

And yet I want to protect Vientiane. Yes, it looks more like a village than a city, much less a capital. Roosters walk along the dirty streets, in the evenings the population sits on plastic chairs and watches TV taken out of the cafe. Even before midnight, life stops and everyone goes to bed. There are lines on every corner for lottery tickets, which is almost always a sure sign of a poor country. But this is all at the same time the charm of the capital of Laos, its simple charm. There are no signs of globalization here. Even McDonald's.

In Vientiane, in my opinion, you can have a great time for 2-3 days, if you do not place capital hopes on it. This is a nice and simple, provincial town in its energy with its joys.

I highly recommend renting a bike. They are rented on the embankment and the neighborhoods closest to it. The price is ridiculous - about 2 USD per day. The traffic in the city is calm, you can move around it at your own pace. I recommend taking a map with Buddhist monasteries marked on it and going to them. They are very pretty on their own and are located on the greenest, quietest, most comfortable streets of Vientiane.

Luang Prabang

A charming town in northern Laos that I highly recommend visiting. There are many reasons for that. The first is temples. There are 32 monasteries for fifty thousand people. They are really very beautiful, even luxurious: with golden roofs, colored glass mosaics, amazing ornaments. What I liked very much is that you don’t have to look for monasteries on purpose, you don’t have to travel from one part of the city to another. You can just walk, and they themselves come across on the way.

In general, in Luang Prabang, in my opinion, you should not draw up any routes. You just need to leave the hotel at dawn and all the most interesting things will find you. On my first visit, I spontaneously went to the city at six in the morning to breathe in the cool air and immediately saw the ceremony of feeding the monks with rice. Later it turned out that this is a fairly well-known local tradition in which you can participate.

Luang Prabang, in my opinion, is an incredibly charming city in Laos. It is clean, calm, there are many wonderful narrow streets with colonial houses, a good evening market, a well-equipped embankment of the great Mekong River.

I must warn you: Luang Prabang has a phenomenal tourist crowd. Much more than in the rest of the country. This is not a lost, almost unknown paradise place. On the contrary, the real center of tourism in Laos. And yet, it's really nice to be here even a day, even a month.

Vang Vieng

According to my observations, in almost every poor country with a good climate there is a village chosen by backpackers (travelers with backpacks). Whether it is, or Southeast Asia, the recent history of such villages is about the same. They are always in very picturesque places. At some point, hippies discover them, live there peacefully for a while. Then, little by little, European youth wandering on holidays begins to arrive. Bars, guest houses, travel agencies, scooter and bicycle rentals are opening. Hippies find a new place, the village is included in the list of fun hangouts in all alternative guidebooks and almost completely switched to tourist service. Vang Vieng is the Laotian version of the backpacker mecca.

I’ll start my short story about him with the fact that Vang Vieng has really beautiful nature. From the window of each guest house you can see the stunning mountains of Laos, along which different trekking options are laid. In general, Vang Vieng offers a whole range of active entertainment: rafting, tubing, kayaking, cave exploration, bungee jumping, hot air ballooning.

I first tried tubing and it's really worth it! No special skills are required there. I was placed in a car cell and sent for two hours down the Nam Song River to observe the wonderful surrounding landscapes.

In the evenings in Vang Vieng, everyone watches the Friends series, such a tradition here, and drinks in numerous bars. My opinion about Vang Vieng is twofold. On the one hand, this is a place where you are a tourist among tourists and do not feel the true breath of the country. On the other hand, there are really many options for exciting leisure activities in the bosom of stunningly beautiful nature. At least for her sake, Vang Vieng definitely deserves a couple of days.

Pakse

This is the city of Laos, which has many proud statuses: the Center of the South, the Transport Heart of the country. Perhaps this is true, but, according to my impressions, Pakse is a quiet, calm town with a measured life. I walked around it in its entirety in three hours. The streets are quite clean, there are several French-style colonial houses.

Attractions, to be honest, can be counted in one, two, three. I advise you to see beautiful Buddhist temples: Wat Luang (in the historical center of the city), Wat Phabat (closer to the outskirts). If you have time, you can visit the Champasak Province History Museum (its capital is Pakse).

By the evening of the first day, I seem to have seen everything in Pakse that is quite natural for this town. Pakse is famous throughout Asia not for its historical center, but for its surroundings, with national parks, coffee and tea plantations, and the ruins of ancient temples. You can take inexpensive local excursions to them or go around everything on your own on a motorbike.

Tyampatsak

Very, very peaceful and quiet town on the banks of the Mekong River. He is so calm that the barking of a dog or the signal of a car seemed to me an event in him.

Nevertheless, the language does not dare to call Tyampatsak a completely lost, unknown province. There are tourists in it, there are hotels, the main street with charming colonial architecture, shops and pleasant cafes on the waterfront.

And yet the secret why Champatsak attracts travelers lies not in the city itself, but in its suburbs.

Just 8 kilometers from Champatsak is Wat Phu - the only temple of the Khmer era in Laos that has survived. I got to Wat Phu by tuk-tuk, but along the way I saw Europeans on mopeds and bicycles.

Wat Phu itself is not at all a big and rather modest temple, but I remember the road to it very much: mountains, lakes, large stone steps. So, I can safely recommend Champatsak to visit. Especially for connoisseurs of history, nature and silence.

Savannakhet

In brochures with tours of Laos, Savannakhet is called the “Pearl of Southern Laos” or “Southern Luang Prabang”. I wouldn't speak so loudly.

Savannakhet is a charming city, but more with a sweet village flavor than some pretentious pretensions. However, the French colonial style prevails in the center, with parks and wide boulevards. But on the outskirts you can find real Asia, with narrow streets and chaotic trade.

The main thing that caught my eye in Savannakhet was a huge number of Vietnamese. It seems that there are more of them than Laotians. All synthetic crops are interesting. Therefore, I quite liked Savannakhet as an example of a mixture of two traditions and peoples.

Islands

There is no sea in Laos, and this is one of the main reasons why tourism in Laos is much less developed than in neighboring countries of Southeast Asia. But in the very south of Laos there are river islands, which have long been chosen by tourists from all over the world. In the local language, they are called Si Pha Don, which means “4000 islands”.

Of course, I didn’t visit all 4000, but I’ll tell you about those that I managed to visit. In fact, there are not even a dozen inhabited islands in Laos. Those that exist are located on the Mekong River and have all the necessary tourist infrastructure.

To be honest, you should not expect something extraordinary and special from the islands of Laos. They are more likely to relax and rest during the trip, rather than to get a rich and varied experience.

I spent all my days there in a similar way: I lived in a bungalow, watched the reddish water of the great Mekong from a hammock, looked at palm trees and passing boats, in the evenings I sat in a cafe and admired the sunset. Actually, everyone lives there: quietly, peacefully and happily.

• Don Det- my favorite of the islands of Laos. Perhaps the reason lies in the fact that I visited it very first. Anyway, the place is very pretty. I came to Don Det from Pakse, three hours by bus and then by ferry. Besides me, there were 10 other passengers on the boat. You don’t need to book accommodation on Don Dete in advance, I found everything on the spot. The choice is huge: every house on the island is a guesthouse, a shop or a cafe. There are many European tourists, but there is also a chance to observe the local way of life. Laotians in this region work from morning to night in the rice fields, but cheerfully, to the music and with a smile. On Don Det you can rent a bicycle, it costs a dollar a day, and the pleasure is great. On the first day, I traveled all over the island far and wide. The next one, I drove to the neighboring island of Don Khon.

• Don Khon- connected to Don Det by an old stone French bridge. Tourism in Laos is already sufficiently developed, so they charge about 3 USD to cross the bridge. Don Khon is very similar to Don Det, but it seemed to me that it offers more active entertainment: a trip to waterfalls, kayaking, boat trips to dolphins.

• Don Khong- This is the largest island of Laos (18 km long and 8 km wide). As many as 55 thousand people live on it. While in the capital of Laos - 210 thousand. Don Khong has the reputation of a respectable island. They say that penniless travelers come to Don Det and neighboring Don Khon, and connoisseurs of comfort with money come to Don Khong. I was on Don Khong for only a couple of days and did not notice any special pathos there: the same slowly flowing days, where the main event is sunset. Maybe just a little cleaner and more expensive. The main villages on the island, where you can come at least for a day, at least for a year, are the trading Muang Saen on the west coast and the sluggish Muang Khong on the east.

Top attractions

• Triumphal arch of Patusai- this is the first attraction of Laos, which I once saw in the country. And I don't think I'm alone. For it is the crown of the central avenue of the capital Langsang. The area around the arch is an extremely pretty, pleasant and well-groomed place, with palm trees and a fountain. There are always a lot of tourists there, but what can you do: all excursions in the capital of Laos begin from the Patusai arch. This is a building of a completely European type, dedicated to the soldiers who died in the struggle for the independence of Laos from France. What is noteworthy: the Patusai arch was built with the money of the French government. I advise you to climb to the observation deck at the top of the arch, from there you can enjoy a beautiful view of Vientiane. You can also make a touristic, but pleasant gesture: buy a bird in a cage in the shop below, make a wish at the top and release it. It seems to be nothing special, but after that I had a very pleasant and bright feeling. In the evenings, the arch and surrounding trees are lit up like Christmas trees. Asia has always been partial to garlands.

• Buddha Park This is a kind of sculpture park. It contains the most diverse and sometimes very atypical Buddha statues. The park fascinated me. This is the real center of Laos culture. On the same territory, you can see dozens of interpretations of a single image and once again realize how diverse and great the human imagination and ways to implement it are. In addition, in the park you can see the heroes of Indian mythology, which is actually a huge rarity for Laos. As the park staff explained to me, the author of the idea was a supporter of a special religious direction that combines Hinduism and Buddhism. The park is quite small in size, I walked around it in an hour. Most importantly, do not miss among the sculptures a three-story ball with windows resembling a pumpkin. You can go inside and go up to the observation deck. Inside the pumpkin is also very interesting, but I will not reveal all the secrets. Another important point: you need to plan a visit to the park during the daytime, at 4 days it closes.

• Temple Pha That Luang- a place that, in my opinion, must be visited, if only because it is depicted on the coat of arms of the country. But this, of course, is not the main reason. Pha That Luang seemed to me one of the most beautiful Buddhist stupas in all of Laos. The structure consists of three levels and resembles a golden pyramid. I arrived on a sunny day and the stupa shimmered beautifully against the blue sky. The entrance turned out to be paid, but symbolic - about 0.3 USD. I advise you to carefully check the opening hours, the main symbol of Laos is closed in the evenings.

• Kuang Si Waterfall This is a place of amazing beauty, a real paradise. The most important thing that I remember: the extraordinary turquoise color of the water in the lagoon, where all the streams flow. Something like Pamukkale in Turkey. Around the waterfall - forest and silence. Trees grow right out of the water. Kuang Si is the perfect day out.

• Valley of pitchers(near Phonsavan) - in my opinion, one of the most mystical places in the country. Just imagine: a huge field dotted with thousands of stone blocks in the form of pitchers. Moreover, this is not some kind of tourist speculation. Indeed, each stone has clear proportions of a jug. Historians have not established the exact origin and purpose of the jugs. It is said that these could have been burial urns, containers for making rice wine or storing water. If you are interested in ancient history and its mysteries, the Valley of Jars is the number one place to visit. And for ordinary fans of walking in strange and ambiguous places, this is a great option for the day.

• Bolaven Plateau(Pakse neighborhood) - in my opinion, these are the largest and most impressive landscapes in the whole country. I traveled around the plateau on a motorbike for about three days and could not be surprised. In addition to the dense jungle, beautiful waterfalls and rivers, along the way there are coffee and tea plantations, endless fields and pastures, villages with friendly locals and delicious coffee.

• Pak Ou Caves- a very interesting and unusual place, in my opinion. 2 stone caves on the river, filled with a variety of Buddha figurines brought here by pilgrims and residents of the nearby city of Luang Prabang. There are about 4,000 of them here - from 10 cm to three meters high! Candles and incense are lit everywhere. The local guide said that monks used to live in the caves, and the king himself came to pray a couple of times. The highlight of Pak Ou is that it can only be reached by boat.

Weather

In Laos, the division of the year into two seasons is quite typical for Southeast Asia: dry (November-April) and rainy (May-October). I always try to travel around the country in December-January. Although this is the peak of the tourist season, it is the most pleasant months in terms of weather. During the day the temperature is 25-27 degrees, at night 15-17.

Once I came to Laos in April and it was a real nightmare. The heat reached 40 degrees. The same in May. In the rainy summer months, you can also travel, but not in mountainous areas. The already disgusting roads are very washed out. All transport costs.

Once again, the golden climatic Lao months: December and January. If possible, plan your trip during this time.

Moving around the country

I want to warn you right away that transport links are rather poorly developed in Laos. Worse than in most Southeast Asian countries. There are many options for moving between cities, but you should not expect a fixed schedule, comfort and clear ticket prices. The main thing is to treat everything with humor.

Airplane

In Laos, everything is in order with domestic airlines: the country has 52 airports and a solid national airline, Lao Airlines. But, to be honest, I, like all my acquaintances acquired during the trip, did not fly by local planes. Firstly, they are much more expensive than buses and ferries. Yes, and somehow there is no desire to fly planes around Laos. Too picturesque country, do not want to miss the wonderful views from the window.

Train

You can forget about trains in Laos. There are no internal railways in the country.

Bus

According to my observations, this is the most common way to move around the country. Buses run between all important villages and cities of Laos. These can be options familiar to us (with a roof and chairs) or completely exotic options: open trucks with benches in the back.

I traveled in two types of covered buses: with seats and with sleeping berths. I can say for sure that the usual seated version, although it seems less comfortable at first, but in the end I liked it much more.

The so-called sleeper bus has only double shelves, and they are very narrow (about a meter wide). If you are traveling alone, you will have to sleep in close quarters with a complete stranger. In populous Asia, there are special concepts of personal space, and this kind of neighborhood seems absolutely normal.

• The roads in Laos are mountainous, sometimes not paved. Get ready for what can be very rocking. I always took a bottle of water with me, into which I squeezed lime juice without sparing. Helps a lot.
• Buses are often incredibly cold. The "sleepers" have a thin cover, but it does not help much. Take everything warm that you have into the cabin. I carried wide tape everywhere and glued the air conditioner over me. This is the only salvation.
• When buying a ticket, be sure to specify whether meals are included in the trip. Often this is a delicious local noodle soup, which can be very pleasing on the road.
• You can safely buy tickets at a travel agency, not at the station. The difference is minimal, you will spend much less time and effort.
• Keep in mind that in Laos you can carry absolutely everything on the bus. Locals travel with roosters, chickens, tons of vegetables and fruits. It didn't annoy me at all, but rather amused me.

Ferry

There are a lot of large rivers in Laos, not only the great Mekong. Therefore, ferries are one of the top types of public transport. Usually, speedboats also run along the ferry routes. They are faster, more compact, more comfortable and, accordingly, more expensive.

I took a speedboat from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. Besides me, there were 6 other passengers on the boat. We started early in the morning and sailed around 11 o'clock. The ticket cost 20 USD one way. I got very sick. Since then, I swore off moving on water and traveled all over the country on buses and a moped.

Moped and bike

In Laos, renting mopeds and bicycles is extremely popular. You can take them in almost every city and go around all the neighborhoods on your own. This is very convenient, because most of the country's attractions are of a natural nature. You can’t reach them on foot from the city, it’s difficult to drive by car (the roads are narrow), a moped is a great option. When renting, you will be asked to leave a passport or money as a deposit and they will definitely ask for your rights.

Automobile

You can rent a car in the main cities of Laos: Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse. But this service is very poorly developed and no one uses it. Let me remind you that more than half of the roads in Laos do not have an asphalt surface. In addition, car rental is quite expensive - from 50 USD. It is more economical to take a daily taxi.

Taxi

Taxis in Laos can be hired both for a separate trip and for the whole day (about 20 USD). There are no fixed prices, so be sure to negotiate before getting into the car. In my experience, the charge per kilometer is usually half a dollar. There is also a local variety of motorcycle taxi - "jambos". These are three-wheeled motorcycles with a roof and benches. You won't get far on them, but for short trips - an authentic and fun option.

Connection

There are many pay phones on the streets of Laos. Most often I saw them near banks, shops and on the main city avenues. However, I can't recommend them for calls. It turns out very expensive. The machines operate on a card system. Phone cards cost 3-6 USD and are enough for just a little bit. Once I ran out of a card already during the beeps, even before the connection. You can call from post offices, but this is not very profitable either: from 2 USD per minute.

There is only one way out: buy a local SIM card in any communication store. It's very easy, the choice of SIM cards is large. You only need to have your passport with you. The main local cellular operators are Lao Telecommunications and Millicom Lao. If desired, you can connect 3G. The quality of the connection depends on the location. In cities (especially in the capital) it is excellent, in mountainous regions there may be poor hearing.

Oddly enough, everything is fine with wi-fi in Laos. It is provided free of charge in almost all hotels in Laos, even very inexpensive ones. You can also access the network from virtually every cafe, especially in tourist regions. I want to warn you that the speed of the Internet ranges from unbearably low to quite decent. Everything depends on luck.

Language and communication

Laos has a very interesting situation with languages. The official language in the country is Lao, or Lao. It is similar to Thai and has many internal variations (about 5 dialects and 70 dialects). If you don't speak Thai or Vietnamese, it's impossible to understand even the slightest bit of Lao. I didn’t remember anything except the greeting “Sabaidi”.

The French language helps a lot in traveling around the country. After all, Laos is a former French colony. I don't speak French, but I was good at English. The population of Laos understands it well throughout the tourist area.

10 phrases you need to know:

• Yes - wow.
• No - Bo.
• Hello Sabide.
• How are you? – Thiau sabaidi bo?
• What is your name? “Thiao sy nyang?”
• My name is Khoy sy.
• Good morning Sabaidi tonsau.
• Good afternoon - Sabaidi tonbai.
• Please (please) - Kaluna.
• Thank you - Khop thai.

Features of the mentality

It is difficult for me to give a clear definition of the Lao mentality of the people of Laos. I will say this: it is obvious that originally they are incredibly kind, hospitable, open, gentle and calm people.

But wars, colonization and poverty left their mark. Corruption is rampant in the country. For every piece of paper and service, the inhabitants of Laos extort money. This, of course, spoils the impression.

Still, it's nice to be in the country. There is a feeling of some great wisdom naturally emanating from people. And no social cataclysms can stop her.

Food and drink

Lao cuisine is very similar to Thai and Vietnamese. If you have already been to the neighboring countries of Laos, then many dishes will surely seem very familiar to you. The basis of the diet of local residents is rice. It is consumed on its own, as well as a side dish and dessert. I especially liked the Laotian rice stewed in coconut milk with fruit.

The population of Laos loves spices, all local cuisine is spicy and fragrant, with pepper, garlic, mint, lemongrass, basil. Despite the fact that the country has a warm climate, the locals eat a lot of meat and soups. Laotians cook delicious noodles, fried and boiled.

Of the drinks, the main one is the famous Lao coffee (delicious!). I would put green tea in second place. Among alcoholic drinks, the best thing to order in the heat is the local BeerLao beer. Tastier than beer, to be honest, I have not tried it in Asia. Rice vodka is also popular. I bought excellent French wine in stores!

5 dishes worth trying

• Khao niao (Khao nyau)- glutinous rice It is served on the table in small wicker baskets. And then you need to independently roll the rice with your hands into balls and dip in fish or soy sauce. Eating just rice, even taking into account exotic rituals, is still a bit boring, so I recommend ordering meat or fish for it.

• Laab Moo (Laap)- most often found in the salad section. Describing simply, this is fried minced meat with the addition of rice, garlic, lime juice and all kinds of spices: mint, chili pepper, coriander. It can be tasted both in cities and in the smallest villages. He's really extremely popular. In different parts of the country, I met laap made of pork, chicken, beef and even duck. There is also a fish version of this wonderful dish.

• Or Lam (Lam)- spicy meat in broth with vegetables. Some call it soup, but I think it's more of a hearty rich stew. I must say right away that this is serious food and you need to order it if you are really hungry.

• Nem Nuong (Nem Nuong)- spring rolls made from thin rice dough with meat, vegetables and herbs. They can be served ready-made, but most often they bring you a plate divided into sections. In the center are spices, in sections separately rice dough, meat and vegetables. You roll your own rolls. I really sympathize with this method of serving: firstly, you can only include your favorite ingredients, and secondly, the process itself is simple and entertaining.

• Tom kha kai (Tom Kha Kai)- spicy and sour soup with lemongrass, chicken and mushrooms based on coconut milk. For the honor of being called the homeland of Tom Kha, Laos is still fighting against Thailand. At first, I was afraid of Tom Kha solely because of the appearance: it resembled the hated milk soups from childhood. But one day, overpowering myself, I realized that there was nothing in common. Coconut milk has a completely different flavor and pairs beautifully with spicy local spices. Now I can only advise Tom Kha.

shopping

I always bring incredibly beautiful fabrics from Laos, local spices, interesting stone figurines for gifts and lots and lots of coffee. I don't remember ever shopping in stores. Laos is not. There are no huge shopping malls here. All the best can be found in the numerous markets or by chance on the street.

What you need to know about shopping in this country

As in all of Asia, the main thing when shopping in Laos is to bargain. I assure you that the initial price can be brought down three or even four times.

It is profitable and pleasant to bring from Laos: textiles, silver, coffee, tea. Priceless in terms of originality and quality, products can be found both in the most remote villages and in large cities.

The best cities for shopping

The main place for shopping in Laos is the markets. They are much more diverse, interesting and cheaper than free-standing souvenir shops. In Lao markets, you are sure to find what you are looking for and get an invaluable opportunity to plunge into local life. There are many markets in Laos, but I would single out four of my favorites:

• Talat Sao Morning Market- the largest indoor market in the capital of Laos. It is very easy to find it, it is located in the very center of Vientiane, next to the bus station, at the intersection of Khou Vieng and Lane Xang avenue. Open daily from 07.00 to 16.00. I really like Talat Sao, this is a real colorful Asian market. Moreover, here you can buy not only spices, fabrics and coffee, but also more serious things: jewelry, electronics, clothes. Obviously, the market is fully designed for tourists, but the prices are still not very high. I usually come to the market in the morning, when all the products are fresh and you can have a tasty and cheap breakfast.

• Night market on the Mekong waterfront- opens in Vientiane daily after sunset. Here you can buy silk scarves, bags, wallets, T-shirts, lampshades, handmade fabrics, wood and bone carvings, wicker baskets, jewelry. Remember that you definitely need to bargain and it is better not to come to the market on Sunday, it is half closed.

• Morning market in Luang Prabang- located in a wonderful place, on the banks of the Mekong River. Open from 5 am to 10 am. In Laos, however, as in all of Southeast Asia, morning and night markets have a different function. Morning markets are designed for locals, where you can buy the freshest vegetables, fruits, rice, and have breakfast. Night markets entertain tourists and offer more souvenirs, paintings and silks. The morning market in Luang Prabang is the most beautiful place. Firstly, this is the best observation platform for the local culture of Laos. Secondly, everything that I have tried there is amazingly delicious.

• Night market in Luang Prabang- an evening market on the central historical street of Luang Prabang. Open every day from 18.00. There are night markets in almost all countries of Southeast Asia. I love them very much, if only because in our culture the markets close in the evening. And here it is the other way around. There is something fabulous, mystical, mysterious in the night markets of Asia. I go to the morning market for shopping and try to keep a clear mind. And I perceive the night market differently: as a cultural event, an orchestra or a concert. Buy something - touch the culture, feel the energy of the place. Luang Prabang has an excellent example of a night market: colorful, colorful, noisy, chaotic and varied.

What to bring from this country

• Painting dedicated to the life of the Buddha. Laos is known for its incredibly beautiful temples and monasteries. Almost next to every religious building, artists sit and paint pictures on Buddhist motifs in front of you. You can ask to draw a specific plot or buy a finished image. Price from 10 USD.

• Buddha figurine. With Buddha figurines, the situation is more complicated than with paintings. They can only be exported if they are souvenirs and not antiques. If customs officers suspect that the statue is more than 100 years old, there could be problems. Price from 2 USD.

• Coffee. Laos has excellent coffee, the best in Southeast Asia. In addition to the excellent taste, the price pleases: less than $ 1 for a 250 g pack. I always bring Lao coffee beans, but you can also find it in a ground version. Price from 3 USD.

• Green tea. Laos is famous all over the world for its large-leaf green tea. No matter how the locals prepare it: with milk, spices, fruits. In its purest form, it is also wonderful. In Laos, only women are allowed to pick green tea leaves. Price from 4 USD.

• Silver jewelry. Lao women, as I noticed, are very active in wearing silver: bracelets, earrings, rings, brooches. In the tourist area, jewelry stores are at every turn. There is almost no empty space in the windows, the choice is huge and the price is not very high: from 10 USD.

• Alcoholic tinctures with marine reptiles. Every souvenir shop and pharmacy in Laos sells small glass bottles with interesting fillings: snakes and scorpions swim in alcohol tinctures. No matter how much I brought them for gifts, everyone rejoices, puts Lao exotics on the shelf and never drinks the contents. In my opinion, this is a big mistake. After all, tinctures are healing and treat many diseases. Price from 1 USD.

• Fabrics. Laos has great fabrics. Each region of the country has its own traditional motifs and patterns. I advise you to look for a real high-quality handmade fabric in the villages. There are lower prices and fakes are less common. Price from 5 USD per meter.

• Wall panel. In hotels and private homes of the Laotians, one can often see the most beautiful wall paintings with large geometric patterns. Most often, the panel is framed by a homemade frame, assembled from vines and sticks. If one of your friends loves exotic details in the interior, you won't find a better gift. Price from 20 USD.
• Old money. In all the souvenir markets of Laos, you can find money from the times of French colonization. They were called Indochinese piastres. After Laos gained independence, piastres quickly depreciated and today are of interest only to numezmatists.

• Wicker basket for rice. Laos is the land of rice. Rice is everywhere. Laotians often carry around cute wicker baskets with lids, inside of which is boiled rice. There are many sizes and variations of baskets. I think this is a very nice gift. In our culture, Laotian rice baskets are great for a picnic. Price from 3 USD.

• Carved products. Laos is known for its traditional crafts. What I just did not find in local markets! Lao craftsmen work equally well with wood and stone. They also like to carve something from the bones and horns of animals. The most frequent image on the horn, according to my observations, is an eagle. What is interesting: it is not customary to paint the images, the depth of the image is given due to the natural roughness of the material. Price from 5 USD.

• Dried pumpkins. Cute dried "pumpkins" are sold in all Lao markets. If they are small, they are most likely used as a musical instrument during prayer. Those that are bigger, I met in the role of flasks for water. In general, the use of the Lao "pumpkin" depends on the imagination of its owners. Price from 5 USD.

Prohibited for export from the country:

• antiquities and works of art that are considered a national treasure,
• image of the Buddha (excluding souvenirs),
• weapons And Ammunition,
• explosive, poisonous and flammable substances,
• drugs,
• local currency.

The Tax free system in Laos, unfortunately, does not work.

Vacation with children

What to hide, Laos is an extremely unpopular country for families with children. There is no sea here, the roads are bad, the infrastructure is poor, there are few good hotels, sanitation suffers.

If you still decide to go to Laos with a child, you should consider some features of the country:

• The locals love children. Not just love, but adore. Strangers on the streets will come up to you to pat your baby on the head, give him candy, a toy, or just play.
• The main thing when traveling with a child is safety issues. Here you need to keep in mind the specific traffic situation in the country: there are practically no rules of the road and asphalt pavement, in cars most often there are no belts. To be honest, I would not risk moving around a lot within the country with a small child. It is better to spend your entire vacation in one city. I would recommend Luang Prabang. It is the most tidy, clean and comfortable.
• As for health, before the trip, it is necessary to make the baby the necessary vaccinations. During the trip, avoid mosquito bites by all possible means (using ointments, nets, sprays). It was in Laos that a mosquito infected a friend of mine with dengue fever. This happened during the rainy season, when the danger is especially high. However, caution does not hurt at any time of the year.
• There are no problems with food for children, in my opinion. Of course, the national food is too spicy. But in the tourist zone, Western cuisine familiar to us is massively represented.

What can be interesting for children in Laos? Certainly not colonial architecture, temples or museums. Number one of the possible children's Lao entertainment, I would put the Elephant Festival in Sainyabuli. True, it is held only three days a year, usually in mid-February. But suddenly lucky!

I have not seen water parks in Laos, only public pools. There are quite a lot of playgrounds in cities, most often they are located along rivers, on embankments.

Summing up, of all the countries in the world, I would definitely not recommend choosing Laos for a vacation with a child. But if that's the case, there's no need to worry. Laos is a poor, but kind and peaceful country in which everything will definitely be fine.

Security

Laos gives the impression of a poor, but very safe country. Nothing bad has ever happened to me in several long trips around Laos. However, there are certain rules to follow:

• Take good care of your personal belongings. Laos has become a very popular country for tourism in recent years. This, as usual, caused an increase in petty theft. Be especially vigilant in crowded places: near historical monuments, markets and embankments.
• Drink only bottled water.
• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
• Check the map for possible minefields (marked with red flags) and categorically avoid visiting them. Basically, they are located in the eastern part of the country. Like Cambodia, the minefields in Laos are from the Vietnam War.
• Do not use drugs, despite their popularity in the country. I will not hide the fact that Laos is a cult drug tourism destination in Southeast Asia. The locals smoke weed on every corner. In almost any cafe from under the floor you can buy whatever your heart desires. The police seem to turn a blind eye to everything. But you don't have to look up to the locals. Tourists have their own rules. For the purchase and use of drugs, you can not only pay serious fines, but also go to jail.

5 things you definitely shouldn't do

1. Touch the monks.
2. Criticize the political system and the government.
3. Enter temples with bare shoulders and knees.
4. Turn your feet towards people and Buddha statues.
5. Touching the head of the locals, they perceive it as an insult.

5 things to do in this country

1. Try the famous glutinous rice.
2. Rent a bike in Vientiane.
3. Buy gifts under the starry sky at the night market.
4. Drink local beer in the heat, coffee in the shade of the evening coolness.
5. Feed the monks at sunrise in Luang Prabang.

Nearby countries

Laos borders five countries: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, China. There are no railways in Laos, so the most common way to travel from Laos to neighboring countries is by bus.

I will share my experience. I traveled from the capital of Laos to the Vietnamese city of Vinh by sleeping bus. The ticket costs 12 USD, travel time is 16 hours. Moreover, for a significant part of this time, the bus simply stands at the border, at night it is closed.

We left at 18.00, reached the border around midnight, where we slept in a standing bus until the morning. At seven, the guide woke everyone up and sent them to the border guards to put stamps. In total, it took about two hours to cross the border, and we drove the same amount to the final destination. In general, nothing complicated. It seemed to me the most uncomfortable to sleep on the narrow shelves of the bus, they are still designed for the Asian body type.

Laos is really incredibly conveniently located for traveling in Southeast Asia. Therefore, I strongly advise you not to be limited only to them, but to visit neighboring countries. Moreover, you do not need a visa if you are not going to stay there for a long time.

Money

The monetary unit of Laos is called kip and is designated as LAK.
The kip is not a very strong and popular currency. It is impossible to change it somewhere other than Laos. Yes, and in Laos it is difficult to carry out, for example, a reverse exchange: from bales to dollars. Therefore, I advise you to change money little by little.

Dollars are very popular in Laos. It makes sense to go to the country only with them, the euro is poorly known here. Today, for one dollar you will get 8166 Lao kip. Keep in mind that when exchanging large bills (50 and 100), the exchange rate is slightly better.

You can change currency at all banks, exchange offices, hotels in Laos. Banks are usually open from Monday to Friday (from 8:00 to 17:00). Exchange offices are open every day, but the rate there is worse.

If you came to Laos from neighboring Thailand, do not rush to change money. Thai baht is also in use here, especially in the tourist areas and resorts of Laos.

Visa, American Express and MasterCard plastic cards are not very common in the country and are accepted only in large hotels in Laos, restaurants and shops. ATMs are available exclusively in large cities, resorts of Laos and the tourist area. From the point of view of conversion, in all of Asia it is more profitable to pay with a Visa card. MasterCard is more suitable for traveling within Europe.

LAOS, Lao People's Democratic Republic (Satalanalat Pasatipatai Pasason Lao).

General information

Annually renewable water resources are 334 km 3 , water availability is about 54 thousand m 3 per person per year - the highest in Asia. The annual water intake is small - about 3 km 3 (of which 90% goes to the needs of agriculture, 4% is consumed by industrial enterprises, 6% is spent on domestic water supply). 79% of urban and 43% of rural residents have access to high-quality drinking water. 17% of arable land is irrigated.

Soils, flora and fauna. Mountain red-yellow ferralitic soils predominate, on the plains of the Mekong River - lateritic gley and alluvial meadow soils, altered by long-term cultivation of rice. The flora includes 8286 species of higher plants (18 species are endangered). Forests occupy about 70% of the territory. Up to a height of 1000-1500 m, evergreen tropical forests grow with the participation of dipterocarps; monsoon deciduous forests are common on some slopes; many valuable tree species are found, including teak, sandalwood, mahogany, ebony and rosewood. Above - evergreen broad-leaved forests with magnolias, laurels; in the ridge part of the mountains - mixed forests (oak, pine). On the Bolaven and Xiangkhuang plateaus, in the spurs of the Truongshon mountains, there are significant areas of coniferous forests of Merkuza and Khasia pines. Forests in Laos have suffered from slash-and-burn agriculture and fires. Secondary savannahs, thickets of bamboo and alang-alang are widespread on the site of reduced forests. The rate of deforestation is 0.5% per year. Primary forests have been preserved on an area of ​​1490 thousand hectares (9% of forest land). Forest plantations have been established on an area of ​​224,000 ha, accounting for only 1.4% of forest land (2005). Deforestation has led to increased soil erosion and increased flooding.

The animal world is rich and varied. 172 species of mammals are known, 31 species are endangered (couprey bull, white-breasted bear, leopard, white-armed and black gibbons, etc.). Of the large mammals, there are elephant, tiger, leopard, panther, wild boar, various types of deer, wild buffalo, monkeys (gibbons, macaques, thin-bodied). Bats are common. There are numerous reptiles (142 species in total) - cobra, pythons, lizards, crocodiles, etc., 12 species are endangered, including the Siamese crocodile, several species of turtles. The fauna of nesting birds is diverse - there are 212 species, of which 20 are endangered, including black and giant ibises, 3 species of vultures. There are peacock, parrots, jungle chicken. 49 species of fish live in the rivers (6 species are endangered).

Protected natural areas occupy 4.4 million hectares. In Laos, there are 22 national territories for the protection of biodiversity (mainly forest reserves), including 2 transboundary corridors for the migration of large mammals (elephant, tiger, ungulates) in the Than and Khampo river basins, 1 wetland of international importance.

Lit.: Wildlife in Lao PDR: 1999 Status report. Vientiane, 1999; Alekseeva N.N. Modern landscapes of foreign Asia. M., 2000; Global Forest Resources Assessment: progress towards sustainable forest management. Rome, 2005.

N. N. Alekseeva (physical and geographical essay).

Population

The main population of Laos is the Laotians. The majority (62.3%) are Thai peoples: Lao - 46.5%, Tai mountain - 12.8% (futai - 2.9%, fuan - 2%, thai dam - 1%, thai khang - 1%, tai kao - 0.8%, tai deng - 0.6%, nya - 0.2%, etc.), Thais - 2.2%, Shans - 0.8%. There are 26.4% Mon-Khmer peoples, including mountain Khmers make up 23.2% (Khmu - 11.0%, So - 2.5%, Katang - 2%, etc.), Viet - 3.1% , Khmer - 0.1%. In the north of Laos live the Miao-Yao peoples (Miao - 6.8% and Yao - 0.4%) and Tibeto-Burmese peoples (2.4%; Akha, Lahu, Hani, etc.), Chinese (1.7% ).

The population of Laos is rapidly increasing (3584 thousand people in 1985; 4612 thousand people in 1995; 5609 thousand people in 2005). Rates of natural population growth over 2.3% (2009); birth rate 34.0 per 1000 inhabitants, death rate 10.8 per 1000 inhabitants. The fertility rate is 4.4 children per woman. Infant mortality is very high - 77.8 per 1000 live births (2009). The proportion of children under 15 years old is 40.8%, people of working age (15-64 years old) 56.1%, people 65 years old and over 3.1% (2009). On average, there are 98 men for every 100 women. Average life expectancy is 56.6 years (men - 54.5, women - 58.8 years, 2009).

The average population density is 25.8 people/km2 (2010). The most densely populated are the fertile river valleys, where the population density in some places reaches 100 people/km2, the lowest population density in the mountainous regions of the country. The share of the urban population is over 30%. Largest cities (thousand people, 2010): Vientiane (237.3), Pakse (119.8), Savannakhet (77.4), Luang Prabang (62.3).

In total, the economy of Laos employs about 2.1 million people (2006), including in agriculture - about 80%, industry, construction and services - a little over 20%. The unemployment rate is about 2.4% of the economically active population; 26% of the country's inhabitants live below the poverty line (2005).

Religion

According to various estimates (2006-08), from 50 to 60% of the population of Laos profess Theravada Buddhism, about 1% - Mahayana Buddhism; from 30 to 40% - adherents of traditional beliefs; from 1.5 to 2% - Christians (mainly Catholics and representatives of Protestant denominations). Adherents of other confessions (Bahais, Muslims, Taoists, etc.) are few in number.

Buddhism is practiced mainly by the "plain" Lao (laolum), traditional beliefs are the population of the mountainous regions of Laos, Mahayana Buddhism is common among immigrants from China and Vietnam. There are 4 apostolic vicariates of the Roman Catholic Church. The largest Protestant organization is the Evangelical Church of Laos (founded in 1956).

Historical outline

Laos from ancient times to the end of the 19th century. The oldest man appeared on the territory of Laos in the Paleolithic. More reliable data have been obtained for the Meso-Neolithic (the Mesolithic is not distinguished as a special stage) - the Middle Neolithic; these antiquities belong to the Hoa Binh culture. In the province of Luang Prabang, the cave sites of Tamhang (southern, with a layer of this time up to 3 m, and northern), Tampong and others related to it were studied; among the finds are roughly hewn tools made of river pebbles, a crouched corpse. Later materials are close to the Bakshon culture. Late Neolithic sites in northern Laos belong to the Bankao culture, which is also known in other parts of Indochina.

The Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age in northeastern Laos (Sankongfan, Keohintan, and others; Huaphan Province) include megaliths and tombs with stone steps leading to chambers covered with mica schist disks (there are very few bone remains); among the inventory - stucco undecorated vessels (flat-bottomed, round-bottomed, with a stem); bronze rings; discs made of mica schist, 30-40 mm in diameter, decorated with a dotted star-shaped pattern, with a hole in the center. In central Laos, on the Xiangkhouang Plateau (“Valley of Pitchers”, Xiangkhouang Province), several hundred jugs made of local soft stone are known (on average, a height of about 1.5 m, a diameter of about 1.5 m; there are up to 3 m in diameter and weighing up to 14 tons); stone disks, including those with relief images of four-legged animals or spread-eagled human figures. In large stone jugs, glass beads, fragments of bones, vessels, pieces of iron are found; near the jugs in the ground, molded ceramic vessels are found (usually they were covered with other vessels), round-bottomed and on a stem, often with incised ornamentation, some are decorated with wavy lines and zigzags applied with a comb stamp. In the central part of the "Valley of Pitchers" a cave was explored in a limestone hill, with 2 chimneys; a lot of ashes and charred human bones were found on the floor; among other finds: stone rings, adzes with shoulders; bronze bracelets, spirals, bells; iron axes, knives, spearhead; ceramic head of an animal (probably a zebu), spindle whorl. To the north-west of the "Valley of pitchers" a combination of pitchers and not carefully processed stones or a group of only stones was noted; sometimes up to 6 ceramic vessels were covered with stones. In one of the vessels, a bronze anthropomorphic figurine was found (possibly from the handle of a dagger) with body proportions similar to those of the Dong Son culture figurines. There are also finds in Laos of typical Dong Son drums. On the territory of Laos, tin mines were developed, the raw materials from which reached the metallurgical center of Nonnoktha in Thailand. On some monuments from the end of the 1st millennium BC, small stone jugs with lids, pendants in the form of axes with holes, miniature bronze bells decorated with a spiral relief ornament, iron sickles and axes with a beveled blade are found.

In the 3rd-12th centuries, the territory of South and Central Laos was under the influence of the Khmer states of Funan, Chenla and Cambujadesh. In the middle of the 1st millennium, the migration to Laos of the Tai-speaking peoples from South China, mainly from the state of Nanzhao, intensified, which partially assimilated, partially forced out the Austro-Asian natives to the mountainous regions. During this period, the Tai-speaking population of Laos began to unite in the Muangs, which were first related associations, then feudal principalities. At the end of the 13th century, many of them fell into vassal dependence on the Thai state of Sukhothai.

In 1353, in the context of the weakening of Cambujadesh and the replacement of Sukhothai by the state of Ayutthaya, the principalities of Laos were united into the feudal state of Lan Xang. Its creator, the northern Mueang prince Sua Fangum (1353-1371 or 1393), carried out military and administrative reforms, introduced the positions of viceroy (upahat), commander and council, and divided the territory of Laos into provinces. At the end of the 14th century, the population of Laos was divided into 3 classes: nobility, commoners, peasants, slaves. Slavery did not have a great influence on the economic life of Lan Xang. The nobility consisted of princes of the blood and local feudal officials. Personally free peasants cultivated the land owned by the state. Buddhism played a significant role, temple construction was carried out. In 1563 the capital was moved from the city of Luang Prabang to the city of Vientiane, located at the crossroads of trade routes with Siam and Dai Viet. In the second half of the 16th and 17th centuries, mainly during the reign of Sulinyawongsa (1637-94), Lan Xang flourished. There was a lively trade with neighboring countries, benzoin resin, gold, honey, fabrics were supplied to the foreign market. Architecture, fine arts, crafts, literature and music developed. In 1707, as a result of the struggle for the throne, Lan Xang broke up into the kingdoms of Luang Prabang and Vientiane [the southern kingdom of Champasak (Champassak) separated from the latter in 1713].

In 1778, Vientiane and Champasak became dependent on the strengthening of Siam. The attempts of the Vientiane ruler Anulutthalat (Anuruttharata; 1805-28) to free himself from the power of Siam ended in the defeat of the kingdom and its capital. The right-bank (along the Mekong River) Muangs of Vientiane and Champasak became provinces of Siam, the left-bank - its vassal territories. The Kingdom of Luang Prabang retained formal independence and the former dynasty, but recognized the suzerainty of China, Dai Viet and Siam.

In 1883-84, Siam sent troops to Luang Prabang to counter a possible attack on it by armed detachments (formed from representatives of the Thai people, Chinese, etc.) operating in Vietnam. France took advantage of this, making efforts since 1885 to establish its dominance in Indochina. In 1885, Siam agreed to the opening of a French vice-consulate in Luang Prabang. In 1887, a French mission was established here, headed by Vice-Consul O. Pavy, which began demarcating the kingdom's border with Vietnam. In May 1893, under the pretext of protecting its citizens from Chinese rebels, France sent troops to Laos.

By agreement with Siam, Luang Prabang on October 3, 1893 passed under the protectorate of France, the Lao territories east of the Mekong River were recognized as a zone of French influence, and French troops occupied Southern Laos. Under the name French Laos, these lands became a French protectorate (the center is the city of Vientiane), which was ruled by a commissar general (since 1894), a resident (since 1895), a commissar (since 1945), subordinate to the governor general of the French Indochinese Union. In 1896, this agreement was recognized by Great Britain.

Laos in the 20th - early 21st century. In 1904, after the transfer by Siam to French Laos of a number of territories along the right bank of the Mekong River, it was divided into 11 provinces headed by French residents (in Central and Southern Laos) and government commissioners (in the three provinces of Luang Prabang). The French retained the structure of the patronage-client system on the territory of Laos at the middle and lower administrative levels: muangs (according to the French definition, “native districts”), tasengi (“native cantons”), bani (villages), but put them under the control of residents and commissioners . The natural conditions of Laos, the low level of its socio-economic development held back the penetration of French capital into the country. Only tin mining (Phontiu district, Khammuan province) and logging were of importance; plantation economy and industry were practically non-existent. The French administration levied a poll tax on the population of Laos, introduced a monopoly on opium, salt and alcohol. The small number of French settlers led to the poor development of health care and education (in Laos there was only one secondary specialized educational institution - the School of Lao Administration and Law; opened in the city of Vientiane in 1928).

Until the early 20th century, the anti-colonial movement in Laos was weak. It was attended mainly by representatives of national minorities. In 1918-22, a Miao uprising broke out in northern Laos, led by Batchai, who was called the heavenly ruler (chau fa). From the beginning of the 20th century until 1939, the "movement of virtuous people" (phu mi bun) played a prominent role in Central and Southern Laos. Powerful peasant uprisings also took place in southern Laos in 1910-1936 under the leadership of Ong Keu and Ong Kommadam.

At the end of 1940, taking advantage of the defeat of France in the war with Germany, Thailand tried to seize the lands inhabited by Thais from the Indochinese Union with the help of military force. Under pressure from Japan, in May 1941, France signed an agreement with Thailand, according to which it ceded to it part of the territories on the left bank of the Mekong River. With the establishment of the so-called Franco-Japanese regime in the Indochina Union in 1940-41 (Japanese military occupation and the preservation of the Vichy French administration), the French authorities of Laos made concessions to the Laotian leaders: Laotians were appointed governors of the provinces, annexed to Luang Prabang as the provinces of Vientiane, Huaisai and Xiangkhuang, the government of the Luang Prabang Protectorate was created, headed by Prince Phetsalat, popular among the Laotians.

On March 9, 1945, Japanese troops stationed in Indochina staged a coup and dissolved the French colonial administration. On April 8, 1945, under pressure from Japan, King Sisawang Wong of Luang Prabang (1904-46) proclaimed its independence, and then the independence of all of Laos. At the same time, the national movement Lao pen lao (“Laos to the Laotians”) arose in Laos, whose members were associated with the anti-Japanese Thai organization Seri Thai (“Free Thailand”). The Communist Party of Indochina, whose Laotian section was created as early as 1930, also stepped up its activities.

After the capitulation of Japan in August 1945, nationalists, communists, and also émigrés united in the Lao Itsala (“Free Laos”) movement, whose active figures were princes Souphanouvong and Souvanna Fuma. 10/12/1945 Lao Itsala proclaimed the independence of Laos, which received the name Pathet Lao ("Land of Lao"). The People's Assembly and government were formed, an interim constitution was adopted, and King Sisawang Wong of Luang Prabang was deposed.

In 1946, France, seeking to restore its positions in Laos, sent troops to its territory. The population of the country began a guerrilla war against the colonialists. In order to strengthen its position in Laos, the French administration contributed to the ascension to the Lao throne of Sisawang Wong (crowned on 23/04/1946). On July 19, 1949, the French government signed an agreement with him, according to which Laos was declared an "adjoined state" that is part of the French Union. France retained the exclusive right to decide questions of defense, foreign policy, foreign trade and finance. After that, the Lao Itsala movement collapsed: moderate nationalists, led by Prince Souvanna Phuma, began to cooperate with the royal government, and the communists and left-wing nationalists, led by Prince Souphanouvong and Kayson Phomvihan, withdrew their armed formations to the Vietnamese border and continued the guerrilla war. In August 1950, Neo Lao Itsala (Lao Liberation Front, FOL) was formed under their leadership. In the subsequent period, the FOL, with the help of Vietnamese volunteers, took control of a significant part of the territory of Northern and Central Laos. The French government, unable to counteract the national liberation movement, recognized Laos as an independent state on 10/22/1953. At the Geneva Conference of Foreign Ministers in 1954 (see the Geneva Accords on the Restoration of Peace in Indochina), the independence of Laos received international recognition, French troops and Vietnamese volunteers were withdrawn from the country.

In September 1954, Souphanouvong met with the Prime Minister of the royal government, Souvanna Phouma, at which an agreement was reached on a political settlement in Laos. The intervention of the United States, which took control of the economy and the army of Laos, led to the removal from power of Souvanna Phouma [the leader of the National Party of Laos (founded in 1947) Kathai Don Sasorit was appointed head of government] and the termination of the initiated dialogue. On March 22, 1955, the Communist People's Party of Laos (since 1972 the People's Revolutionary Party of Laos, PRPL) was created, headed by Kayson Phomvikhan, which operated underground.

In 1954-73, a civil war was going on in Laos between a group led by Souphanouvong (in 1956 it was called the Patriotic Front of Laos, PFL), right-wingers (Un Sananikon, Fumi Nosavan, Prince Boon Um, Kupasit Athai), oriented first to France, and then on the United States, as well as "neutralists" led by Souvanna Fuma. All attempts to reconcile the parties and create a coalition government (see the Vientiane Accords, the Geneva Accords on Laos) failed due to the resistance, as a rule, of right-wing groups supported by the United States. Since 1960, Laos has been involved in the "Vietnamese War", since communications of the warring parties passed through its territory. Since 1964, the United States has increased its intervention in the affairs of Laos, considering it as a springboard for military operations in Indochina, in May of the same year, American aircraft began bombing areas of Laos that were under the control of communist forces and the PFL. The main force of the PFL was the Laos People's Liberation Army and North Vietnamese troops, and the governments were detachments of mountain tribes (Miao) led by General Vang Pao. The fighting in the south and east of the country was carried out with varying success (especially intense fighting took place in the "Valley of Pitchers"). With the conclusion of the Paris Agreements of 1973 on the restoration of peace in Vietnam and the beginning of the withdrawal of American troops, the situation in Laos also began to change, and the influence of the Communists in the country increased. On February 21, 1973, the Agreements on Restoring Peace and Achieving National Accord in Laos were signed in Vientiane, after which a coalition Provisional Government of National Unity headed by Souvanna Phuma and a National Political Advisory Council headed by Souphanouvong were created. Their troops in April 1975, after the unification of Vietnam, took control of the "Valley of Pitchers", in May they occupied the main cities of Southern Laos, in June - Luang Prabang, and in August of the same year they entered the capital. Armed formations subordinate to Wang Pao retreated to the territory of Thailand. By the fall of 1975, the old administration was replaced by people's committees, and in October 1975 the NRPL was legalized. On December 1-2, 1975, the National Congress of People's Representatives was held, which abolished the monarchy and removed King Sisawang Vatthana (ruled from 1959) from power, proclaimed the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPR), created a legislative unicameral Supreme People's Assembly (since December 1992 the National Assembly) and the government of the Lao PDR. Souphanouvong became president, and Keyson Phomvihan, general secretary of the Central Committee of the NRPL, became prime minister.

In 1978-79, relations between the Lao PDR and the PRC and Thailand escalated due to its support for Vietnamese actions to overthrow the Pol Pot regime in Cambodia.

In the early 1980s, a course was set in Laos to build socialism. In 1981, the government began to implement the first 5-year plan for the development of the national economy, began to carry out the nationalization of industry and the collectivization of agriculture. In the autumn of 1982, opponents of the NRPL raised an uprising in the north of the country, announcing the creation of the Democratic Government of the Kingdom of Laos, but the speech was suppressed.

In connection with significant economic difficulties, the leadership of the Lao PDR in 1985 announced the creation of a "new economic mechanism", proclaiming the equality of various forms of ownership (state, cooperative, private, mixed). Collectivization was suspended, state intervention in the economy was limited, prices were released. Since the beginning of the 1990s, the leadership of Laos has withdrawn the slogan of building socialism, has embarked on developing relations with Western countries and international financial organizations (the resulting high degree of dependence of Laos on external gratuitous and credit assistance, which has become a source of covering the country's budget deficit, has remained and at the beginning of the 21st century; the main "donors" of Laos are Japan, Australia, Germany, France, Sweden, as well as organizations of the UN system). In August 1991, the Constitution of the Lao PDR was adopted, in accordance with which direct elections to the National Assembly were held in December 1992. Kayson Phomvihan became the President of Laos (1991-92). After him, this post was occupied by Nuhak Phumsawan (1992-1998), Khamtai Siphandon (1998-2006), Chummali Sayyason (since 2006).

Diplomatic relations between Laos and the USSR were established on 10/7/1960. In 1994, an agreement on the foundations of friendly relations was signed between Laos and the Russian Federation. Contacts are maintained between the foreign ministries of the two countries on an ongoing basis. At the level of the leadership of the two states, the practice of exchanging messages and visits has been developed, contacts have been established through the parliamentary line. The Intergovernmental Russian-Lao Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation is functioning. The volume of trade between the Russian Federation and the Lao PDR is 3.2 million dollars (2007), of which 90% is accounted for by Russian exports.

Lit.: Annales du Laos, Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Tranninh et. Bassac. Hanoi, 1926; Colani M. Megalithes du Haut-Laos. R., 1935; Iché F. Le statut politique et international du Laos français. Toulouse; R., 1935; Dementiev Yu. P. French policy in Cambodia and Laos. M., 1960; Laos: its people, its society, its culture. New Haven, 1960; Manich J. M. L. History of Laos. Bangkok, 1961; Burchett W. Vietnam and Laos in the days of war and peace. M., 1963; Le Boulanger R. Histoire de Laos francais. Farnborough, 1969; Ioanesyan S. I. Laos: Socio-economic development (late XIX - 60s of the XX century). M., 1972; Kozhevnikov V. A. Essays on the recent history of Laos. M., 1979; Bellwood P. Human conquest of the Pacific Ocean. M., 1986; Conboy K. War in Laos, 1954-1975. Carrollton, 1994; Laos: Handbook. M., 1994; Stuart-Fox M. History of Laos. Camb., 1999; Higham Ch. Early cultures of mainland Southeast Asia. Tatien, 2000.

V. A. Tyurin; D. V. Deopik, M. Yu. Ulyanov (archeology).

economy

Laos is one of the underdeveloped countries in the world. The volume of GDP is 14.6 billion dollars (according to purchasing power parity, 2009), per capita - about 2.1 thousand dollars. Human Development Index 0.619 (2007; 133rd among 182 countries and regions of the world).

At the beginning of the 21st century, the average annual GDP growth rate is about 6% (3% in 2009). The state economic policy is aimed at creating favorable conditions for the development of the private sector of the economy and the inflow of foreign investment into the country. The volume of foreign direct investment is 971.4 million dollars (2007), of which 56.1% is directed to industry (including hydropower, mining and logging), 25.5% - to the service sector (tourism, hotel and restaurant business, systems communications, etc.), 18.4% - in agriculture. Investments come from China, Thailand, Vietnam, as well as Australia, Canada, the Republic of Korea, Russia and other countries. Significant problems of economic development remain the poverty of a significant part of the population, the poor development of economic (including transport) infrastructure, as well as the lack of qualified personnel, aggravated by the significant scale of the “brain drain” (some of the specialists trained in the country go abroad in search of higher earnings). In the structure of GDP, agriculture accounts for 39.2%, industry and construction - 33.9%, services - 26.9% (2009).

Industry. The fastest growing sector of the economy (growth in production volumes about 12% in 2007, 2% in 2009). Electricity generation 3075 billion kWh (2007). Hydroelectric power stations form the basis of the electric power industry (they account for about 97% of the total electricity production). Most of the local electricity consumption is provided by the Nam Ngeum (Nam Ngum) HPP on the Ngeum River (960 MW) in Vientiane Province (part of the electricity is exported to Thailand). The Nam-Theng hydroelectric power station operates on the Theng River in Central Laos (150 MW). HPPs Nam-Then 2 (design capacity 1070 MW), Nam-Ngym 2 (615 MW) and others are under construction (early 2009). base of the Khongsa lignite deposit).

Lignite mining (about 620 thousand tons in 2007; 233 thousand tons in 2006) is carried out in the provinces of Luang Namtha and Sainyabuli with the participation of Thai companies (fuel is mainly exported to Thailand). Anthracite mining (about 35 thousand tons in 2005) is carried out in the province of Vientiane, mainly for the needs of the cement industry.

Mining and processing of non-ferrous metal ores is the leading export sector of the country's economy, developing mainly due to the influx of foreign investment. The production and full cycle of processing of gold and silver-bearing ores of copper from the Khanong and Thengkham deposits (located 40 km north of the city of Sepon, in the province of Savannakhet) is carried out by Lane Xang Minerais Ltd. (LXML; 90% of the assets are owned by the Australian company Oz Minerais, Ltd.). Production of refined (cathode) copper at the LXML copper smelter is 62.5 thousand tons, gold - 3185 kg, silver - about 4.5 tons (2007). The extraction and processing of gold and silver-bearing copper ores from the Phukham deposit, Vientiane province (about 120 km north of the country's capital), is carried out by the Australian company Pan Australian Resources Ltd. ("PanAust"). The company's enrichment plant has been operating (since 2008) with an annual capacity of 260 thousand tons of copper concentrates (about 65 thousand tons in terms of copper), about 2.1 tons of gold and 14 tons of silver. Copper ores are also mined in the province of Luang Namtha (a state-owned Lao-Chinese company), alluvial gold is mined in the GPC Vientiane (a joint Lao-Chinese enterprise). With the participation of foreign companies in the province of Vientiane, zinc ores are being mined (about 1.1 thousand tons in terms of metal, 2007).

Gypsum (775 thousand tons in 2007; Savannakhet and Khammuan provinces), precious stones, mainly sapphires (about 1200 thousand carats; Bokeu province, etc.), limestone (the main raw material of the cement industry; about 750 thousand tons; provinces) are mined from non-metallic raw materials. Vientiane and Khammouan), barites (29 thousand tons; Vientiane province), as well as rock salt (35 thousand tons), granite, etc.

Manufacturing industries are developing in cities. A steel plant in Vientiane with a capacity of 50 thousand tons per year (with the participation of Japanese capital) partially satisfies the country's domestic needs for steel fittings, wire, roofing iron (steel is smelted from scrap in electric furnaces). There are enterprises for the assembly of electronic devices, vehicles, etc. from imported components and parts. The production of agricultural implements, leather, ceramic products, perfumes, medicines, building materials, etc. has been launched. Cement production is about 400 thousand tons (2007), the largest enterprise is a plant in Vang Vieng in Vientiane province (with the participation of Chinese capital). An export-oriented clothing industry is developing (mainly to the US and EU countries). There are enterprises in the food industry (including rice cleaning, the production of soft drinks), tobacco (mainly the production of cigarettes), and brewing industries. Crafts play an important role in the production of everyday items and souvenirs.

Agriculture. Growth in agricultural production 2.4% (2007). More than 4.3% of the country's territory is cultivated (2005; including arable land - 4.0%, planting of perennial crops - 0.3%). The area of ​​irrigated lands is about 1.8 thousand km2 (2003). According to the Constitution of Laos, land belongs to the state. Small farms predominate. At the end of the 20th century, the country achieved self-sufficiency in rice (the most important food product of the population) and its export to Thailand was established. More than 1/2 of arable land is used for growing rice. Rice is cultivated everywhere, the main rice-growing areas are the fertile lowlands and river valleys of Southern Laos and the Savannakhet Valley in Central Laos. Natural conditions allow 2 crops per year to be harvested on irrigated lands. The harvest of brown rice is about 2.7 million tons (2007). Corn is grown everywhere, including in the mountainous regions in the north of the country; corn harvest 690.8 thousand tons (2007). Other food crops (collection in 2007, thousand tons): sweet potato (126), cassava (edible cassava; 233), as well as vegetables (660), watermelons (72), bananas (48), other fruits (38), pineapples ( 37), etc. Industrial crops include tobacco (41.5 thousand tons of leaves in 2007), coffee (33.2 thousand tons of green beans), sugar cane (323.9 thousand tons). In a number of remote mountainous regions in the north of Laos, the illegal cultivation of opium poppy remains the main source of income for peasants (since the end of the 20th century, poppy seed production has been declining due to measures taken to destroy plantings and stimulate the cultivation of cash crops).

Animal husbandry is an auxiliary branch of agricultural production. Livestock is kept in all peasant farms. Bulls and buffaloes are mainly used for field work, horses for transporting goods. Pigs, small cattle, poultry are bred. Production of the main types of livestock products (2007, thousand tons): pork 46, beef 23, buffalo meat 18.5, chicken meat 16. Forestry is developed (timber harvesting, collection of resins, medicinal and aromatic herbs), river fishing.

Most of the wood harvested (6137 thousand m 3 of roundwood in 2006) is used as fuel. Export of timber 625 thousand m 3 , including valuable species (teak, pink, black, sandalwood). Collection and primary processing of cardamom seeds, benzoin resin (dewy incense). Fishing in rivers, ponds and paddy fields.

Services sector. A rapidly developing sector of the economy, mainly due to the growth in the volume of services related to serving foreign tourists. In 2007, the country was visited by about 1.6 million people, of which 82% - from ASEAN countries (mainly Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam), 12% - from EU countries, 6% - from the USA. Most of the visits were made to the provinces of Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, Champasak, Bokeu. Tourism revenue $235 million (2007). The hotel and restaurant business, domestic (wholesale and retail) trade, communications and telecommunications systems are developing.

Transport. The total length of motor roads is 29.8 thousand km, including roads with a hard surface - about 4 thousand km (2006). There are no railroads. The length of inland waterways is about 4.6 thousand km (2008; including 2.9 thousand km with fairway depths of less than 0.5 m and are suitable only for temporary navigation of small vessels). The main water transport artery is the Mekong River with a number of tributaries. The main river port is Vientiane. Oil product pipeline port Vinh (Vietnam) - Vientiane (in Laos - 540 km). There are 9 airports with paved runways (2009); international airports in Vientiane (Wattay), Luang Prabang, Pakse.

International trade. The volume of foreign trade turnover is 2311 million dollars (2008; including export 1033 million, import 1278 million). The structure of commodity exports is dominated by refined copper (41% of the value in 2007), non-ferrous metal concentrates (copper, zinc, tin), precious metals (gold, silver) and stones, electricity; industrial timber, agricultural products (including rice, coffee), garments, etc. are also exported. The main importers of goods from Laos in 2007 are Thailand (32.7%), Vietnam (14.3%), China (5.9 %), Republic of Korea (4.8%). The main articles of merchandise imports are machinery and equipment, including automobiles, petroleum products, and consumer goods. The main suppliers of goods to Laos in 2007 are Thailand (68.5%), China (9.3%), Vietnam (5.5%).

Lit .: Ioanesyan S. I. Laos in the XX century. (economic development). M., 2003; Rigg J. Living with transition in Laos: market integration in Southeast Asia. L., 2005.

Armed forces

The armed forces (AF) include the Lao People's Army (NAL; 29.1 thousand people; 2008) and paramilitary forces - the people's militia (self-defense forces; 100 thousand people) and reserve troops. The NAL consists of field (supported by the budget of the Ministry of Defense and self-sufficiency) and local troops. The field forces include infantry, artillery and tank units, as well as the Air Force (directly subordinate to the Minister of Defense) and air defense troops. Local troops (consisting of infantry, artillery and special forces units) are formed according to the administrative-territorial principle, are subordinate to the General Staff of the NAL and provincial governors, are maintained at the expense of the budgets of the Ministry of Defense, administrative units and self-sufficiency. The people's militia, created on a voluntary and contract basis, includes self-defense units organized according to the territorial production principle. Military annual budget about $13.3 million (2006).

The Armed Forces are consolidated into 4 military districts. The combat structure includes 5 infantry divisions, 7 separate infantry, 1 engineering, 2 engineering and construction regiments, 5 artillery and 9 anti-aircraft artillery divisions, 65 separate infantry companies, as well as 5 aviation squadrons (2 fighter, transport, training, helicopter). The armament consists of about 35 tanks (including 10 light ones), 50 armored personnel carriers, 82 field artillery guns, as well as mortars, anti-aircraft artillery guns and MANPADS. The river component of the Armed Forces (about 600 people) has over 50 river patrol boats, 4 landing craft. The Air Force (3.5 thousand people) has 22 combat, 15 military transport and about 10 training aircraft, about 30 helicopters.

Aircraft staffing is mixed. Duration of military service not less than 18 months. The military command pays great attention to the organized reserve of regular troops, formed from former military personnel, as well as from civilians who have undergone military training. Mobilization resources are about 1.5 million people.

V. D. NESTERKIN.

Healthcare. Sport

In Laos, there are 40 doctors per 100,000 inhabitants, 100 nurses and midwives (2004), and 0.15 dentists (2003); 12 hospital beds per 10 thousand inhabitants (2005). Total health spending is 3.6% of GDP (budget funding 21.6%, private sector 79.4%) (2005). The legal regulation of the healthcare system is carried out by the Constitution. The healthcare system includes 726 clinics per 10,000 settlements (2007). Low level of medical care (especially for the rural population), provision of medical equipment and medicines. Folk healing has become widespread in urban and rural areas. The most common infections are bacterial and amoebic dysentery, hepatitis A, dengue fever, malaria (2008).

The National Olympic Committee of Laos was founded in 1975, recognized by the IOC in 1979. Athletes from Laos made their debut at the Olympic Games in Moscow (1980), participated in 7 Olympics (1980, 1988-2008); no awards won. At the Olympic Games in Beijing (2008), 4 athletes participated (athletics and swimming). The most popular sports are: football (Football Federation was founded in 1951, since 1952 in FIFA), rugby, athletics, water sports, etc. Among the most famous athletes is runner S. Ketavong, a participant in marathon races at the Olympic Games in Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000).

Education. cultural institutions

The education system includes: pre-school education of children from 3 to 5 years old, compulsory 5-year primary education, 3-year incomplete secondary and 3-year complete secondary education, vocational education based on primary school; specialized secondary education (pedagogical, medical, technical, agricultural) on the basis of an incomplete secondary school; higher education. In 2006, there were about 1,000 preschool institutions (more than 45,000 pupils), more than 12,000 primary schools (including 10 religious ones; about 891,000 students), 952 secondary schools (including 34 religious ones; more than 388,000 students). Pre-school education covered (2006) 11% of children, primary education - 84%, secondary education - 43%. The literacy rate of the population over the age of 15 is 72.5%. The higher education system includes the National University (1958) in Vientiane, 10 state pedagogical colleges (institutes), several Buddhist institutes; a number of non-state universities - trade, business management, computer technology, etc. The main libraries and museums of Laos are located in Vientiane.

Media

Among the largest national newspapers (all in the city of Vientiane): "Pasason" ["People"; founded in 1965 (in 1975-83 it was called "Sieng Pasason" - "Voice of the People"); daily; press organ of the Central Committee of the People's Revolutionary Party of Laos; about 30 thousand copies], "Vientiane May" ("New Vientiane"; published since 1975, daily; printed organ of the Vientiane City Committee of the People's Revolutionary Party of Laos; about 2.5 thousand copies), "Num Lao" ("Youth of Laos"; since 1979, 1 time in 2 weeks; printed organ of the Central Committee of the Union of People's Revolutionary Youth; about 6 thousand copies). Magazines (all in Vientiane): Alun Mai (New Dawn; since 1985; theoretical organ of the Central Committee of the People's Revolutionary Party of Laos), Khosana (Agitator; since 1987; theoretical organ of the Central Committee of the People's Revolutionary Party Laos), “Syksa May” (“New Education”; since 1981, monthly; print organ of the Ministry of Education of the Lao PDR; about 6 thousand copies), “Sathalanasuk” (“Health Care”; since 1982, 1 time in 4 months; print organ of the Ministry health care of the Lao PDR; about 5,000 copies).

Broadcasting since 1951. The state-owned National Radio of Laos broadcasts programs in Lao, Vietnamese, Khmer and Thai, as well as some in French and English. There are 14 VHF and 7 SV radio stations. Television broadcasting since 1983, carried out by the state company National Television of Laos. There are 7 television channels, including a channel broadcast from the city of Hanoi (Vietnam). Khaosan Pathet Lao State News Agency (established in 1968).

Literature

The earliest written monuments found on the territory of Laos are steles with inscriptions in the Khmer language. After the formation of the state of Lan Xang in 1353, the Lao alphabet Tham appeared. The rootedness of the literature of Laos in folklore predetermined the leading role of poetic forms in it. Compositional techniques and plots were borrowed from Indian literature, which were subject to changes, even if their source was the Buddhist canon; borrowings from the literature of Chiang Mai (Northern Thailand), close in language and type of development, were more complete.

The initial period of formation of Lao literature (14-15 centuries), testifying to highly developed mythological and folklore epic traditions (ancient epic stories are known from literary adaptations), is represented mainly by epigraphy, annals, as well as religious and didactic prose created by Buddhist monks. In 1485-95, Maha Theplung wrote the poem "Mahasat" ("Great Birth"; another name is "Pha Vet"), the plot of which is close to the traditions of the Lao folk epic (a story about the past births of the hero's mother, the intervention of the god Indra in his fate). The monk Visunmahavihan, the author of the didactic story "Nang Tantrai" (early 16th century), borrowed a number of plots from the "Panchatantra", used the technique of a framed story, reminiscent of the composition of the book "A Thousand and One Nights": King Virasena postpones the execution to hear a new tale from the lips of skillful Tantrai storyteller. In the same period, on the basis of the epic about Hung (Rung or Ruang), the poem “Thao Hung-Thao Thiang” is created, the hero of which fights with a Vietnamese prince who was avenging his refusal to marry Hung’s cousin to him. In Laos, 2 prose versions of the story about Hung were also found: the story "Nitthan Thyang Lun" (in the Pali language) and "The Tale of Thyang".

Heyday of Lao literature - 17th century; the most significant work of this era is the poem "Shinsai" by Pankham. Some of the images of the poem are taken from the Pannasajataka collection (15th century), created by the Buddhist monks of Chiang Mai on the basis of folklore stories. The author of the poem had imitators who composed "continuations" of the poem "Shinsai", in which either the hero himself acts after the resurrection, or his sons and descendants of treacherous brothers. In the 17th century, the genres of the didactic poem (“Inthinyan’s Instructions to the Daughter”, “Phanya Patasen Finds Out the Reason” by Lasamata, “Instructions of the Grandfather to the Grandchildren” by Keu Dangt, etc.), as well as didactic stories, were formed. The story "Sieu Savat" (1642-43) is based on scenes from the Panchatantra, commentaries on the Dhammapada, as well as from Lao tales about orphans and animals; descriptions of national customs, the inclusion of Lao sayings and riddles gave it a local flavor. The story became a model for the creation of other religious and didactic works, but their composition was simplified, and the influence of folklore intensified. Among other genres of Lao literature of this period are the jataks (saat) created by the monks, stories about a good deed and retribution for it (song genre), stories about the founding of temples, the origin of relics, etc. (tamnan genre).

Since the 18th century, due to the collapse of the Lan Xang state, the literature of Laos has been in a state of decline for a long time. The Siamese authorities, on pain of death, banned the use of the Lao alphabet, and the French colonial administration (since the end of the 19th century) did not develop the education system, sending Vietnamese officials and specialists to the country. A few significant works of this period include the lyric poem "Message of the Eclipse" ("San leuphasun"), dedicated to the tragic defeat of the uprising of King Anulutthalata (Anuruttharata; 1826-1828), which has the form of a message to the beloved and is written in song meter kon phan, as well as patriotic poem "The Tale of Vientiane" ("Phyn Vieng", 1st half of the 19th century).

The revival of literature in the Lao language began in the late 1940s in an atmosphere of rising anti-colonial struggle and the growth of national identity. Due to the lack of printing presses, the first newspapers in Lao were printed in Thailand. Publicism appeared in the 1950s and 60s; poetry was revived, represented by traditional poems by authors from Vientiane and political songs (kon lam). The Literary Committee of the Kingdom of Laos was created (1951), which published textbooks, classical and folklore monuments, and held literary competitions. Sila Wilawong prepared dozens of literary works for publication and wrote the first textbook on Lao literature (1960). S. P. Nginn, Vilawong, U. Vilasa, K. Pradit, N. Sithimolat revived the traditions of the didactic poem. Traditional enlightenment also had an impact on the work of the revolutionary poets of the older generation - Phumi Vongvitit, Suwanthon Bupkhanuvong and Somsi Desakamphu (the poetic pseudonym of So Des), who created poems stylized as improvisation songs. In the late 1960s, the short story was born in the literature of Laos, journalism and documentary genres developed rapidly, and there was a more noticeable demarcation between the literature of Vientiane and revolutionary literature, which was dominated by essays and propaganda poems. Belief in the possibility of improving society by means of literature led to the development of the genres of essay and satirical story, represented by the work of members of the Club of Fine Literature (Samoson aksonsin), which published the almanac Bamboo Thorn (Nam Phai, 1972-73). The core of this association was the Vilawong family, which was joined by a group of young writers “Young man with a sharpened pen” (“Num pakka hien”): Seliphan, Singdong, and others. Young writers denounced social vices from the standpoint of Buddhist morality. The most striking figure among them was Pakien Wilawong (pseudonym Panay), author of satirical stories, essays and song verses [collection "Kavi saoban" ("Village Poetry", 1972)].

In 1975 (after the proclamation of the Lao PDR), the literature of Vientiane ceased to exist; only the work of revolutionary writers received further development. In revolutionary poetry, the contradiction between the desire to expand the range of topics and traditional artistic means became more acute. In the late 1970s, the poet So Desa managed to overcome it, creating new poetic forms and rethinking traditional images and plots, correlating them with the events of our time (collections: "Historical Songs", 1976; "Moon of Laos", 1980, etc.) . Prose writers Khamlieng Phonsena and Humphan Rattanawong made a great contribution to the formation of a new literary language. The genre of the documentary story is developing: “The flame of the revolution flares up” (1978), “The surviving diary” (1979) by Champadeng, dedicated to the revolutionary events of early 1975; "Escape" Thonsie Khotvongsi (1982) - about the escape of PFL leaders from prison in May 1960. In the stories of P. Thunlamuntli, K. Phetsadawong, U. Bunnyavong, heroes of a new type appear - emigrants or people who stood aside from the political struggle, who entered into the ranks of the builders of a new life. Bunnyawong in his stories seeks to reveal the inner world of the characters, but his psychological analysis borders on sentimentality, he is often traditionally didactic (the collections Greedy Kho Fish, Her Smile, both 1979). Khamphei Luangphasi's story "One Blood" (1978) is based on the plot scheme of classical poems (separation and recognition of relatives). P. Phuangsaba's story "A Month in Selabam" (1982) tells about the organization of self-defense units in the late 1960s, his heroes are people of a new generation who are able to repulse the oppressors. The prose of revolutionary writers, including the most famous ones, for example, S. Bupkhanuvong, is characterized by stylistic heterogeneity, the proximity of political vocabulary to sayings and dialectisms, and publicism combined with the methods of didactic storytelling and folklore. In the 1980s, landscape lyrics were born, and a lyrical hero appeared in political poetry. Dala Kanlanya-Wilawong and Duangdyan Bunnyavong-Wilawong play an active role in the movement of women writers, led by the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Menying Lao (Lao Woman), Vilayvieng Phimmason.

Poetry of the late 20th - early 21st century is represented by the works of Dauvieng Butnakho, Pakkadeng, S. Dongdeng, S. Phengphong, B. Siwongsa, Kulapsavan, B. Sithongdam, O. Pasavong and others, who, while maintaining the continuity of themes in general, are searching for new poetic forms. Prose writers B. Somsaiphon, Phengphong, and V. Savengsyksa successfully master new genres, use elements of psychological analysis, generalization and typification techniques. As a result of the accelerated development of the new literature of Laos, in just half a century, the tasks of reviving the written literary tradition and creating a modern system of genres and literary language were solved.

Lit.: Wilawong Strength. Phongsawadaan Laao. Vientiane, 1973; Osipov Yu. M. Literature of Indochina: Genres, plots, monuments. Laos, 1980; Afanasyeva E. N. Traditional Lao versification // Literature and culture of the peoples of the East. M., 1989; she is. Influence of Indian Didactic Prose Traditions on the Development of the Literature of Thailand and Laos // Relationships and Regularities in the Development of the Literature of Central and East Asia. M., 1991; she is. Theravada Buddhism and the Laotian didactic story "Sieu Savat" // Buddhism and Literature. M., 2003; she is. Buddhism in the revolutionary poetry of Laos (on the example of Somsi Desakamphu's work) // Religions in the development of Asian and African literatures of the 20th century. M., 2006.

E. N. Afanas'eva.

Architecture and fine arts

Evidence of cultural activities of people from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic and the Bronze Age is found mainly in the territory of Northern Laos. Stone and bone tools of the 4th-2nd millennium BC were found in the caves of Phu Lei (Huaphan province). The oldest monuments include menhirs and crypts in the provinces of Hua Phan, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang (1st millennium BC). The most famous megalithic structures are located in the northeast of the country in the “Valley of Pitchers” (Xiangkhuang Province) - more than 1 thousand stone vessels, height from 40 cm to 3 m, weighing from 10 kg to 14 tons, scattered in groups among low hills (according to the local legend, they were used as wine jugs by an ancient tribe of giant people). According to a number of theories, the vessels served as funerary urns and were created 2-2.5 thousand years ago by representatives of the Austronesian peoples who lived here, who were also familiar with pottery, bronze and iron metallurgy.

In the 1st millennium of our era, the religious and philosophical teachings of Buddhism and Hinduism began to spread in Laos; Wat Phu (Mountain Monastery; founded in the 5th century, rebuilt in the 10th-12th centuries) became an important religious center in the south of the country, which was part of the Mon-Khmer state of Chenla in the 6th-8th centuries. The architectural and spatial solution of the complex is based on the idea of ​​ascending to a sacred place: from the palace buildings at the foot - to the temple on the ledge of the mountain, rising 1200 meters above the surrounding valley. The sanctuary, originally dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and called Lingaparvata, was converted into a Buddhist temple at the end of the 13th-14th century. It is decorated with stone reliefs depicting scenes from Hindu mythology; so, on one of the beams, Indra is depicted on a mythical three-headed elephant. When clearing the temple, a head of Vishnu cast in silver (weight 21 kg) was found in a characteristic cylindrical headdress (5th-6th centuries). A number of other places of worship were built in the Khmer style in the provinces of Champasak and Savannakhet. One of the largest - that Ingkhang (10 km from the city of Savannakhet), founded in the 6th century, rebuilt several times and in the middle of the 16th century turned into a 25-meter Buddhist stupa of decreasing square tiers with a characteristic end in the form of a "banana bud". The stone Buddha from the village of Tkhalat (8th-9th centuries, Phakeu Museum, Vientiane) belongs to the early Buddhist monuments of sculpture. The remains of brick religious buildings of the city of Saiphong (12 km from Vientiane), as well as a basalt stele with an inscription in Sanskrit, containing the decree of Jayavarman VII on the founding of the hospital, the head of Avalokiteshvara and other deities, date back to the 11th-13th centuries. The cloisters of the so-called forest monks were the rock sanctuaries of Vangsang and Dansung with huge statues of buddhas carved into niches (Vientiane province, 11-12 centuries).

The creation of the first Lao state of Lan Xang in 1353 contributed to the formation and flourishing of the national artistic culture. With the approval of Theravada Buddhism as the state religion by King Sua Fangum (reigned 1353-1371 or 1393), intensive construction of Buddhist stupas and monasteries - wats began in the country. First of all, the capital is being rebuilt - Luang Prabang (the city of the "Golden Buddha", named after the sacred statue of Buddha Prabang). The architectural ensemble of the city, elongated in the form of a triangle along the Mekong River, is formed around Phousi Hill (“Wonderful Mountain”) standing in the center. In the 14th-16th centuries, the principles of planning the temple and monastery complex and the types of buildings were formed. The central place in the wat is occupied by a temple (sim), which is a basilica structure with a 2-slope roof, porticos and an altar in the eastern part of the interior, usually divided by rows of columns into 3 or 5 naves. A classic example of a medieval temple is the Xiengthong Wat Sanctuary in Luang Prabang (1561). The cruciform wooden building has a picturesque system of multi-tiered ceilings with a decorative composition of spires-umbrellas on the ridge, figuratively called "a bouquet of heavenly flowers". Other religious buildings include wata (library), hokong (an arbor for a monastery drum or bell), hopha (temples for sacred Buddha statues), kuti (living quarters for monks). The earlier Buddhist complexes of Luang Prabang, which have come down to us in the later reconstructions of the late 19th-20th century, had a similar structure: Manol (1372-73), Visun (1503-12), Aphay (1529), Mynna (1533), That ( 1548). Stupas located on the territory of monasteries, called in Laos thats (from the Pali dhatu - a relic), have elegant, elongated shapes, but rather modest sizes. The only exceptions are stupas containing especially revered relics: in Luang Prabang - that Makmo (1504) with a bell-shaped body and a stepped base, the prototype of which is an ancient Indian stupa.

The largest Laotian stupa, that Luang, is located in Vientiane, where the capital of Lan Xang was transferred in 1563. The stupa was built in 1566 on the site of an ancient thata, founded, according to legend, in the 3rd century BC, when Indian missionaries visited Laos and presented the ruler of the city with a piece of Buddha's relics. The relic was walled up in a new thaat, which received the official title of Lokatulamani (“Crown of the Universe”) as a symbol of the Buddhist Universe with the mythical Mount Meru in the center. The upper, gilded, part of the stupa (height 45 m) has a specifically Laotian shape, resembling a 4-sided bottle topped with a pyramidal umbrella. The Laotians call this architectural form tau (“gourd bottle”). It is repeated in the outlines of 30 small thats (symbols of Buddhist virtues) surrounding the central spherical part, standing on a massive square base.

In the 1560s, such large wats as Kang, Phya, Ongty, Phasaisettha, Inpeng, Phonsai were also built in Vientiane. The largest temple of the capital - Phakeu, or Ho Phakeu (1565, reconstructed in the 1920s and 30s according to the project of the architect Suwan Phuma), was built for the sacred statue of the Emerald Buddha brought from Chiang Mai (in 1778 it was taken away by the Thais who captured the city to Bangkok) . The temple stands on a high platform and is surrounded on all sides by a columned gallery, like an ancient Greek peripter. The lower 4-pitched roof supports a 2-pitched multi-tiered ceiling with triangular gables. Phakew, like all Laotian sims, is richly decorated. The corner slopes of the roofs, the consoles, the railings of the stairs are made in the form of curved fantastic serpents with dragon heads. Wooden pediments, panels of door and window openings are covered with intricate carvings, varnish, gilding and inlaid with colored mirror glass. On the reliefs, images of gods, heroes of jatakas (stories about the previous births of the Buddha), etc. are placed as temple guards.

After the collapse of Lan Xang into 3 independent kingdoms at the beginning of the 18th century, religious construction continued on the basis of established traditions, but new features appear in a number of buildings. The Wat Mai (“New”) temple, founded in 1796 by King Anulut in Luang Prabang, should be attributed to the unique in a constructive sense. It has a 5-tiered roof and porticos set perpendicularly along the axis of the building. Built in 1818-24 near the royal palace in Vientiane, Wat Sisaket, built in 1818-24, has original features: it is oriented to Bangkok (that is, to the southwest, and not to the east, as tradition dictates), which was perceived by the Laotians as opposition to Siamese expansion. It is also unusual that the temple is surrounded by a covered gallery, where over 2 thousand sculptures of Buddhas are installed (there are 6840 of them in the monastery). Traditional Thai houses, probably preserved from antiquity, are wooden and bamboo buildings on stilts, which also serve as roof supports; they can be covered with paintings and carvings.

In the cult sculpture of Laos, the image of the Buddha is predominantly developed. In the stepped composition of the temple altar, the central position is usually occupied by a monumental statue, surrounded by many smaller sculptures of Buddhas, made mainly of wood and metal. Some of them, enjoying special reverence, have acquired the status of national shrines. Such is the statue of Buddha Phabang, created, according to legend, by the divine master Phitsanukam (Vishvakarman) from pure gold. In fact, this is a gilded bronze figure of a standing Buddha (height 83 cm) of the Khmer type (12th - 1st half of the 13th century). Lao masters, adhering to the canonical rules, introduced their own nuances into the iconography of the Buddha: they gave his face "ethnic" features - a nose with a slight hump ("like an eagle's beak"), slightly protruding lips with a smile, elongated earlobes, but not touching the shoulders. Especially peculiar is the interpretation of ushnisha (a protrusion on the crown of the head, a sign of wisdom), usually completed by a high flame-shaped finial. Most clearly, these features of the national style are shown by the grandiose statue of Buddha Manol (“Pleasing the soul”) cast in 1372 in Luang Prabang and the bronze sculpture of Pha Ongta (“Buddha weighing billions of buddhas”, 16th century), located in the Ongta wat in Vientiane. Both sculptures represent the Buddha in the pose of the "defeater of the demon Mara", with the gesture of bhumisparsha ("touching the earth"). In addition to this, the most common type of Buddha, there are more than 50 different images in Lao iconography, each of which corresponds to a certain combination of mudra and asana (that is, gesture and posture). The most popular are the figures of the seated Buddha in the pose of vira (“winner”) with a gesture of samatha (meditation), the standing Buddha with his hands down (“causing rain”) or raised in the gesture of abhaya (which means “calming down, stopping quarrels”) . Often there is a walking Buddha (“descending from heaven”), less often a lying one - “passing into nirvana”. Fine collections of medieval Lao sculpture are kept at the Vientiane Phakew Temple, which has been converted into a museum, and at the National Museum of the former Royal Palace in Luang Prabang.

Formation of types and genres of traditional painting refers to the heyday of Lan Xang art (15-17 centuries). This is, first of all, monumental painting, including wall paintings and lacquer compositions. The latter are associated with the use of natural lacquer and gold leaf, with the help of which black-gold and red-gold drawings were created using various techniques: stencil, engraving, and laikhotnam (“water-washed ornaments”). If ceilings, columns, door and window panels, and sometimes the walls of many religious buildings were covered with lacquer decorations, then only the walls of temples were decorated with paintings. They wrote on special plaster with glue paints, the pigments for which were obtained from various plants and minerals. Due to constant renovations, almost no old, original, murals have been preserved. The best examples of traditional painting include the murals of the 18th and 19th centuries in the Luang Prabang temples of Longkhun, Pakhe and Pahuak, as well as in the Sisaket temple in Vientiane, which are characterized by such techniques as combining episodes of different times, parallel perspective and bird's-eye view, inclusion inscriptions commenting on the plots, mainly based on Buddhist legends and epic tales. On the same topics, picturesque panels on fabric were made, which were hung on the inner walls of the temple or the entrance portico on the days of religious holidays. Panels in the form of scrolls depicting the Buddha with his disciples, sometimes with scenes from his life, were called phabot ("Buddha for the temple"). Phabots were also created using the technique of sewing with gold and silver metal threads.

With the beginning of French colonization (late 19th century), European-style residential buildings appeared in Laos, mainly concentrated in large cities, where new streets were laid according to a regular plan. Public buildings of this period include the Royal Palace in Luang Prabang in the forms of traditional Lao architecture (1904-24; since 1976 the National Museum), the building of the Public Works Administration (1907; now the French Embassy) and the Sacré Coeur Church (1930) in Vientiane with elements of European architecture. With the independence of Laos in Vientiane, the building of the National Assembly (1950s, architect Souvanna Phuma; now the office of the Prime Minister), the triumphal arch of Patusai (Victory Monument; 1957-60), the Presidential Palace (1973-78, architect K. Phonkau) were erected in Vientiane ) that combine the traditions of European classicism or modernism with Lao decor. In architectural ornamentation, along with wood, cement was often used in the 20th century. Oil and watercolor painting appeared in Laos during the colonial period. The first art school was opened by the French artist M. Lege (1940), who also participated in the creation of the National School of Fine Arts in Vientiane (1959). Among the Lao artists of the 2nd half of the 20th - early 21st century: K. Keumingmyang and K. Luanglat, who work in line with expressionism, M. Tyandavong, who continues the tradition of post-impressionism, painters of the realistic direction A. Suvaduan and S. Bannawong. In the 20th century, Western-style realistic sculpture was created by T. Prityayyan (Monument to King Setthathilat in Vientiane, 1960). In the style typical of the monumental cult sculptures of Indochina of the 2nd half of the 20th century, the so-called Buddha Park was made in Thadya (on the banks of the Mekong River, 24 km from Vientiane) with many large sculptures on the themes of Hindu-Buddhist mythology and local legends (1950 -60s, sculptor Luang Phu). Traditional Lao crafts continue to develop - woodcarving, weaving, ceramics, metalworking. The city of Luang Prabang and Wat Phu are included in the World Heritage List.

Lit.: Boun Souk (Thao). Louang Phrabang: 600-ans d'art bouddhique lao. R., 1974; Ozhegov S. S., Proskuryakova T. S., Hoang Dao Kin. Architecture of Indochina. M., 1988; Parmentier H. L'art du Laos. R., 1988. Vol. 1-2; Bounthieng S. Luang Prabang et son art. R., 1994. Vol. 1-2; Laos: Handbook. M., 1994; Lopetcharat Somkiart. Lao Buddha: the image and its history. Bangkok, 2000; Giteau M. Art et archéologie du Laos. R., 2001; Heywood D. Ancient Luang Prabang. Bangkok, 2006; Siripaphanh V., Gay V. Lao contemporary art. Singapore, 2007; Petrich M.N. Vietnam, Kambodscha und Laos: Tempel, Klôster und Pagoden in den Ländern am Mekong. Ostfildern, 2008.

N. A. Gozheva; N. I. Frolova (architecture and art of the 19th - early 21st centuries).

Music

The musical culture of the early states on the territory of Laos (from the 7th century) developed in conjunction with the culture of the early states on the territory of modern Thailand and Cambodia. A single cultural area is formed by the musical traditions of Laos and Northeast Thailand. The oldest monuments of musical art on the territory of Laos - bronze drums (Dong Son culture) - are still preserved in the musical and ritual practice of some peoples of Laos. The main musical instrument is the khen bamboo mouth organ, the emblem of Lao music. The classical (formerly courtly) musical tradition of lam dem, actively developed from the 14th century mainly in Luang Prabang, also existed in Vientiane and Champasak (Champassak) by the beginning of the 18th century. It is represented by instrumental ensembles of sepnoi or maholi (Luang Prabang) and piphat (Vientiane). They included (end of the 19th century): 2 so-called circular gongs (khong wong nyai - low register, khong wong noi - high; each of them is a set of 16-17 gongs of different sizes, fixed in a circle horizontally on a wooden frame; performer sits in the center) 2 bamboo xylophones (lanat ek - high register, lanat thum - low); large 2-sided barrel-shaped taphon drum; double drum kong thap and other idiophones and aerophones (including a reed drum with a quadruple reed pi keo). The play of such ensembles accompanied palace ceremonies, court dance performances (until the 18th century they were dominated by Cambodian influences, later - by Thai, more precisely Siamese) - the so-called Lao royal ballet. To perform entertaining music, ensembles included 2-string bowed instruments: so u (low register), so i (high register; appeared as a result of Mongolian influence). Nowadays, similar ensembles are used in a reduced composition (one "circular gong", one xylophone, etc.). Ensemble music is an indispensable component of all varieties of traditional theater: the Lakhon Ngao shadow theater, the Lakhon Khon masked dance theater, the Lakhon Nai court ballet (developed from the 14th century; the text was sung by soloists and a women's choir), and the musical drama Lakhon Lamlyang. The latter arose in the 19th century as a result of the union of Thai lyke theater with the Lao vocal-instrumental tradition (solo and duet singing is used, accompanied by one or more khans, sometimes also xylophone and drum). Traditional ensembles of small compositions (khen, bowed so, lute plucked phin and syng, cymbals, drum, etc. ) usually accompany singing. Performances of folk comedy lakhon kom are accompanied by khen playing and percussion. Singing is often accompanied by playing lute instruments or percussion idiophones kup kep (2 wooden records). Among other instruments: citrus tyake, khim cymbals, longitudinal bamboo flute khui (Thai - khlui), bie sanai horn, sang conch-pipe.

Ensemble instrumental music of Laos is polyphonic (in particular, heterophony is used), the part of each instrument is independent. The rhythm is clear, 2-beat. A peculiar temperament (the octave is divided into 7 approximately equal intervals; the pitch is relative) is almost lost in instrumental music (at the beginning of the 20th century, the system of gongs, xylophones was close to even temperament), but it is preserved in traditional vocal music. 5-step scales predominate, sometimes with 2 additional tones; the terts tone sounds neutral.

Buddhist ritual music included the recitation and chanting (katha) of sacred texts, usually in a responsorial manner, accompanied by sing bowl-shaped cymbals. Hymns (set) are sung by a male choir (in the Pali language) in one voice in a low register. Temple instruments include khong gongs and kong drums; in some temples, the custom, dating back to the ancient Indian tradition, to hit them at certain hours of the day (in order to drive away evil spirits) is preserved. After 1975, the Buddhist tradition was almost lost.

Among the Lao, songs of various rites of basi (good wishes on various occasions), rites of joint libation, etc., performed by singers mo lam or mo khap (“master of singing”) are widespread. There are different types of singing: hong (various texts are sung to a fixed melody), lam (khap in Northern Laos) (this melody is associated with a specific text). Panya are widespread - antiphonal songs-dialogues of young men and women (sometimes in a question-answer form) to improvised texts of moralizing, love (often frivolous), topical and even political content (accompanied by wind and percussion instruments). A similar type of singing was also known in the monastic environment (thet - an impromptu sermon in Lao). At the iconic Boon Bang Fai rain and fertility festival (rockets made from knees of bamboo), sponsorship songs of sang bun fai are performed. Jatakas are performed in a recitative manner, epic poems (Shinsai, etc.) are sung solo. Shaman songs are known - communication with spirits (lam phu fa; sung by elderly women). 8 regional vocal styles identified in Southern Laos and 5 in Northern Laos; the southern Lao style of fast songs and dances salavan (after the name of the province of Salavan) stands out with its originality; in the north of Laos, fast dances are performed to the tunes of tang wai ("quick rhythm").

European musical influences entered Laos in the late 19th century with the establishment of French colonial rule. By the middle of the 20th century, European musical instruments had spread, and the harmonica, close in timbre to the khen, became especially popular. Mass songs spread widely. Traditional music is the basis of the repertoire of the national ensemble of music and dance "Natasin". Since 1959, the School of Fine Arts in Vientiane (since 1992 the National School of Folk Music and Dance) has been functioning with 2 forms of education: traditional and European. Since the 1990s, there has been a revival of classical and Buddhist musical traditions. Vientiane hosts an annual Arts Festival. Since the beginning of the 1990s, the study of the musical folklore of the peoples of Laos has intensified.

Lit.: Compton C. Courting poetry in Laos: a textual and linguistic analysis. , 1979; Esipova M. V. Music // Laos: A Handbook. M., 1994.

M. V. Esipova.

Theater and dance

The traditional theater of Laos is based on dance pantomime and owes its origin (circa 2nd century BC) to an ancient regional tradition of ceremonial dancing. Indirectly, through the culture of the Hinduized states (primarily the Khmer Empire), he was influenced by the Indian theater (theatricalization of plots from the Ramayana, Jataka). Stylistically, it is closely related to the theaters of Cambodia and Thailand. The two largest forms of traditional theater are the Lakhon Nai, a female court classical song dance dance (known in the world as the Court Ballet of Laos, the Royal Ballet of Laos, founded in the middle of the 14th century) and the Lakhon Khon, a male masked song dance, Lakhon Khon (from the Khmer khaol - "mask" ). Their repertoire consists of texts created on the basis of classical poems of the 17th and 18th centuries. The texts are sung by storytellers to the accompaniment of an orchestra of traditional instruments. In the women's court ballet, the male roles are performed by dancers, while in the male lakhon khon, the female roles are performed by men. The costumes of lakhon nai actresses stylize the silk clothes of court ladies (a skirt with a wide pleat, tied with a forged gold belt, a blouse with short sleeves, a wide scarf or cloak) with an abundance of gold embroidery and decorations, a high decorative headdress, similar to the spire of a Buddhist temple. The choreographer of dances and stage movement (phu kamkap) also wrote scripts for performances. The leader of the orchestra could also become the director and author of theatrical texts (bot pkhak). The dance is based on the finest mastery of rhythms, the aestheticized plasticity of folk dance, symbolic movements and pas (“lotus opens its petals”, “giving a flower”, “my heart opens towards you”, bird movements, etc.), fencing and acrobatics ( for male roles). Dance training begins at the age of 4-5 (lasts 11 years), is carried out at the Royal Ballet School of Luang Prabang (Luang Prabang, founded in the 19th century) and at the Lao School of Fine Arts in Vientiane (1959, since 1992 National School of Folk Music and Dance) . The successors of the lakhon nai tradition are the Natasin State Dance Ensemble (Vientiane, 1976) and the Educational Theater of the Ministry of Information and Culture (Vientiane, 2004). The lakhon khon male mask dance also uses colorful costumes with many bracelets, necklaces and a mask (for female roles - mask-like makeup). The plastique of the male dance imitates the plastique of shadow theater puppets: the actor works “flat”, fixes the turn of the head and body in profile, moves with a lateral step, etc.

The third form of traditional theater in Laos is the Lakhon Ngao shadow puppet theater, borrowed from the Mon-Khmer peoples. The oldest traditions of the theater of shadow figures have been preserved among the Ta Oi people living in the south of Laos (Liphi region). Performances are held in the evenings and last 5-6 hours (until the 18th century, actors performed at the funeral of aristocrats for several nights in a row). Theatrical texts, the singing of which accompanies the action, are called "Tyambang" or "Kambang" (after the name of the nyaka demon, the antagonist of Rama). The plots are significantly different from the Indian versions of the Ramayana - they include elements of local myths and epics. The text is read by the narrator to the accompaniment of percussion (castanets, small drum and gong). The puppeteers have over 100 2m x 1.5m flat leather character puppets on bamboo poles. The movements of the puppeteers depend on what kind of figure they are carrying, as well as on the nature of the action - jumps depicting the flight of Hanuman, the wide steps of the nyaks or the mincing gait of Sita. Lakhon ngao is shown in front of a white screen, a huge fire is lit behind it.

In the 19th century in Laos, under the influence of the Peking Opera, the theater of musical drama Lakhon Lamlyang (actors and actresses in the troupe) arose. The folk farce lakhon kom is also preserved (comic scenes for 2-3 characters, often rude and obscene, with fights, Thai boxing techniques, etc.). In the 1960s, the Lakhon Wau Amateur Drama Theater appeared - a theater of spoken drama (modeled on the European one), which staged plays by Lao authors on topical issues. In 1979, the Lakhon Tukata Puppet Theater was established. In the 2000s, performances of the traditional theater of Laos are held in Vientiane on Republic Day (December 2), during the celebration of the New Year (April 13-14), etc. Traditional performances are also held in Luang Prabang during the New Year, including a procession of mythological characters - the lion-ka Singkham ("golden lion") and shaggy first ancestors - Grandfather and Grandmother Nyo (Pu Nyo, Nya Nyo). In 2000, the House of National Culture opened in Vientiane - a theater with 1.5 thousand seats; the Central Theater Company (1955), the Conversational Drama Theater (1980) also work here. The largest theater festival in Laos has been held annually since 1995 in Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Champasak.

Lit.: Laos: its people, its society, its culture. New Haven, 1960; Blazhenkov S. Laos. M., 1985; Parmentier H. L'art du Laos. R., 1988. Vol. 1-2.