Laos:
A small, landlocked southeast Asian country, Laos is mainly covered in tropical rainforest, with some areas of agricultural cultivation. There are 60 ethnic groups, including hilltribe people who have isolated themselves from the ethnic Laotians of the lowlands. Their main crop is opium, and they have resisted efforts by the government to get them to switch to other crops.
Laos is a one-party socialist country, ostensibly a democracy since the elections of 1997, but it is gradually becoming more market-oriented. Tourism has only been allowed in Laos for the last 10 years, and since 1989, the government has been promoting package tours of the wats, the Mekong river area and some of the towns.
Solo travellers and backpackers visit Laos as well, of course. Ventiane, the capital, is an interesting place to hang out. It has a mix of old French colonial architecture and hastily thrown up modern buildings. Vang Vieng, a town about 160 kilometres north of the capital, is becoming a budget traveller destination. It has spectacular mountain scenery and cheap guesthouses. To see vestiges of the old Laotian culture, you can go to Luang Prabang, where there are many beautiful Budhist temples and the ruins of a 600-year-old monastery.
Laos has a low literacy rate, but the government is attempting to change that by building new schools and shipping in foreign teachers. Teaching ESL is a popular way for foreigners to stay in the country. Because of the low standard of living, health is not a major consideration, and malaria and hemorrhagic fever are a problem.
This page last updated March 9, 2000.