🇱🇦 Laos

Capital: Vientiane
Area: 236,800 km²
Population (2025): approximately 7.8 million inhabitants
Political system: One-party socialist republic
Official language: Lao
Currency: Lao Kip (LAK)
Time zone: UTC+7
Tourists in 2024: around 2 million (target of 4.6 million by 2025)

Laos, nestled in the heart of Southeast Asia, embodies a quiet harmony between age-old traditions and emerging modernity. A landlocked country crossed by the mighty Mekong River, it captivates with its misty mountains, lush valleys, highlands, and glittering Buddhist temples. Vientiane, the capital set along the riverbank, blends French colonial influences, serene pagodas, and a relaxed atmosphere in its bustling markets.

The Lao people, known for their hospitality and kindness, have been shaped by a turbulent history, including the Indochina War and the socialist regime period. Yet they maintain a strong attachment to their traditions, particularly through local festivals (like Boun Pimai, the Lao New Year), Buddhist rituals, and artisanal crafts such as silk weaving and pottery.

Lao cuisine, based on sticky rice, freshwater fish, and fresh herbs, reflects the generosity of its surrounding nature. The country is also renowned for its preserved natural landscapes: the mysterious Plain of Jars in Xieng Khouang, the caves of Khammouane, and the waterfalls of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Looking ahead to 2030, Laos aims to strike a balance between cultural preservation, sustainable development, and openness to tourism, focusing on ecotourism, improving education, and showcasing its natural wealth — from the forests of the Bolaven Plateau to the banks of the Mekong River.

All our Laos blog links are here