The Phra Bang (also written Phrabang, and which literally means "delicate Buddha") is the mystical national emblem of this country. It is a statue 83cm high, covered in gold leaf.
According to the legend, this statue was made in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) between the 1st and the 9th century. It belonged for a long time to the Realm of Angkor before being given to Prince Fa Ngum, after the creation of the Realm of a Million Elephants and a White Parasol. It arrived in Luang Prabang in 1359, and so the town was renamed.
The Phra Bang is considered as a symbol of the right to rule Laos. Only a (...)

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The melody of the National Anthem may not have changed between the old monarchist government and the communist one that has prevailed since 1975, but the words have, of course, been "reviewed and changed" after the events ...
The National Anthem since 1975
The Lao people have always dramatically exemplified their homeland, All their energy, their spirit and their hearts joined together as one,
Progressing together united, determined, honouring Lao dignity and declaring the right to be masters of themselves, The ethnical groups of Lao’s are equal,
They will no longer allow (...)

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There are many celebrations in Laos, a typical example being the number of New Year’s Days that are celebrated here : no less than 5 : The Hmong New Year, then the Lao Theung, then the Christian, then the Chinese, and at last the Lao New Year. A sixth New Year’s Day (Yao) should also be celebrated, at least locally, as this ethnical group is important in the North-West of the province.
The most important of all these celebrations has got to be the Baci, regularly organised for all sorts of occasions ...
The Baci ceremony
Laotians regularly celebrate the soukhouane ceremony, also called (...)

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With nearly 5 million inhabitants on an area half the size of France, Laos is one of the least populated countries in S.E. Asia (17 inhabitants per km2).
Laos counts about 80 ethnical groups which can be grouped into 4 families. Each group speaking its own dialect and having its own customs, traditions, religion, etc.
The Laos Thais (or Laos Loum of The Low Lands) : represent 75% of the population of Laos, and encompass 23 ethnical groups
The Laos Theung (Middle Altitude Lands) : also called proto-Chinese, include 58 different ethnical groups
The Laos Soung (live in the Mountains (...)

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According to the latest studies being carried out by Amphai Doré, a Frenchman of Laotian Origin, the people of Laos originally came from China, where there are still about 20 million inhabitants who speak Lao, having the same ethnical structures composed of Lao Loum, Lao Theung and de Lao Soung.
From the Palaeolithic era to the XIIIth century
The first archaeological findings of Man in Laos go back to the Palaeolithic era in the form of sharp or pointed stone artefacts. To the north of the Annamite chain, in the Phou Loi (Tham Pong) chain of mountains, Proto-Australians are supposed to (...)

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Laos is definitely a ‘green’ country; luxurious vegetation, mountains and forests interspersed, here and there, with deforested areas which are a proof of human presence. Numerous species find refuge in these unexploited areas, some of which are still to be discovered. Others are becoming extinct, because of man’s excesses mainly from China or Vietnam …
Geography
Journeys in these surroundings take on a feeling of adventure. However, neither bus nor canoe (the two most usual means of communication) are quick ; travelling in this country takes time, a lot of time.
surface area: 236 800 km2 (...)

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In this very poor country, one of the things you notice, is that nobody dies of hunger. Most families manage, not only to meet their needs, but even to put an important part of their small earnings to one side so as to participate in the small futile pleasures that make life enjoyable. Laos is a country of smiles, where composure and serenity reign and from where a sort of karma and an invigorating energy exude. Laotians say that this special karma, was born with Laos, many centuries ago.
Laos was born at the being of the XIVth century of our era, with the “Realm of a million elephants and (...)

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