Country profile

Full country name : Lao People's Democratic Republic

Area : 236,800 sq km (92,040 sq mi)

Population : 5.7 million

Capital city : Vientiane (pop. approx. 598,000)

People : Lao Loum, Lao Theung, Lao Soung, Vietnamese, Chinese

Language : Lao (also French, English, and other ethnic languages)

Religion : 60% Buddhist, 38.5% animist and other religions, 1.5% Christian

Government : Communist State

Laos offers the traveler the experience of traditional Southeast Asia . In other words, things aren't up to 21st century code over here. The jungles are untamed, the economy is in shambles, and it is the third largest opium producer in the world. Plus, the scenery is amazing.