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Laos in Brief
Geography
The People’s Democratic Republic
of Lao (Laos) is landlocked country, located in the center of Indochina,
sharing borders with China to the north, Myanmar to the northwest, Thailand
to the west, Cambodia to the south and Vietnam to the east.
The Lao PDR (Laos) is heavily forested and mountainous. The Mekong River,
one of the largest rivers on the world, forms a natural border with Thailand.
It flows almost 1,900 Kilometers through Laos With an area of 236,800
square kilometers, around 70% of its terrain is mountainous, reaching
a maximum elevation of 2,820 m
Population
Laos has a approximately population
of 5.6 million. Laos has three main ethnic groups: Lao Loum (Lowlanders),
Lao Theugn (Lower Mountain Dwellers), and Lao Soong (Highlanders). Most
of the population if Buddhist.
Climate
Laos has a tropical climate
with two seasons: the rainy season from the beginning of may to the end
of September and the dry season from October through to April. The yearly
average temperature is about 28 C, rising to a maximum of 38 C in April
and May. In Vientiane minimum temperatures of 19 C are to be expected
in January. In mountainous areas however, temperatures drop to 14 C during
the winter months
Language
The official language used in Laos is Lao Language,
which differs from North to the South. English, French and Russian are
spoken in business or by some senior government officials. Many shopkeepers
can understand basic English and French.
Time
Time in Laos is 7 hours ahead
of Greenwich mean Time (GMT *7).
Festivals
| January |
New
Year |
| April |
Lao
New Year (Boun Pi Mai) |
| May |
Rocket
Festival |
| July |
Buddhist
Retreat (Boun Khao Pansaa) |
| November |
That
Luang Festival |
| December |
Lao National Day (2 December) |
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