Description

Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west. The land consists of a thickly forested landscape with mostly rugged mountains. The highest mountain is Phou Bia at 9,242 feet. The western border of Laos is formed by the Mekong River, while the eastern border is formed by the Annamite Chain. The climate is tropical and monsoonal and it is said that there are three seasons: rainy, cold and hot. Twenty-one percent of the nation's land area was set aside by the government in 993 as National Biodiversity Conservation Areas. If developed into a national park system, it is expected to be the most comprehensive and one the finest national park systems in Southeast Asia.

The government of Laos is one of the few remaining official communist states.

The official language is Lao, with French still common in government and commerce. The knowledge of the English language, the language of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation has increased in recent years. A dominant influence in Lao culture is Theravada Buddhism which is reflected throughout the culture from language, to temples, art, literature, and performing arts. Laotian music is dominated by its national instrument of prehistoric origins, the khaen, a bamboo pipe. Tourism is the fastest growing industry in the country. Many tourists, including several Chinese tourists come to this country to see the two World Heritage Sites: Luang Prabang and Wat Phou.

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