Full Country Name: Lao People's Democratic Republic
Capital City: Vientiane (Population: 531,800 (1995))
Area: 236,000 sq km (91,120 sq miles)
Population: 6,000,000
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +7
Daylight Saving Start: not in use
Daylight Saving End: not in use
Languages: Lao (official), Lao dialects (closely related to Thai) are also spoken, French (other), English (other)
Religion: 60% Buddhist, 40% animist and spirit cults
Currency: Kip (KN)
Electricity: 230V 50Hz

Geography: Laos is landlocked and borders china to the north, to the east Vietnam, to the south Cambodia and to the west Thailand and Myanmar. Aside from the Mekong River plains on the border with Thailand, the country is mountainous, especially in the north, and in some places is densely forested.

Office hours: Monday-Friday 08:00-12:00 and 13:30-17:30.

GDP: US$9.7 billion
GDP per head: US$1700
Annual growth: 4%
Inflation: 6%
Major products/industries: Rice, tobacco, coffee, tin mining, timber, and opium
Major trading partners: Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan

An introduction to Laos:
'Land of a Million Elephants'

Until 1988 tourists were not permitted access to Laos, but the country has since opened up and it is quite feasible to travel throughout the country, preferably with a recognized tour company. The number of tourists is anticipated to continue increasing over the next few years.

Laos is a somewhat an undiscovered country-a mysterious land of forests and mountains. It has been spared the dramatic industrial growth that has absorbed most of its neighbours.

This landlocked country is serene with its French colonial character still very much intact alongside an abundance of Buddhist temples and pagodas.

The capital city, Vientiane is located on the shores of the mighty Mekong River. Little has changed over the years and continues to offer an exotic veneer of French Culture.

Luang Prabang is the ancient royal capital of Laos and is one of Asia's most beautiful cities. Encircled by forested mountains, the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, temples, old villas, and civic buildings nestle among tropical foliage and palms as though the city is in one big garden.

Our tours through Laos will give you a good insight into this ancient and secretive land for so long shut off from the rest of the world.