Laos - some history, politics, 2008 holidays

Lao, Lao PDR, Lao P.D.R. or Laos – which is it? Although the name was changed officially in 1975, the country is still referred to as Laos by most other countries and the media. Lao PDR is the official short form for the Lao People's Democratic Republic, but locally the word 'Lao' is used as both noun and adjective to describe the country, its people and traditions, as well as its produce and products. The word 'Laos' is an abbreviation of the French Les Laos, the plural of Lao, and was coined by the French in 1893 when they united and ruled over three small kingdoms of Les Laos (the Lao people) centred around Luang Prabang, several hundred kilometres north of the present capital Vientiane. French colonial architecture, language, cuisine and ancient Renaults and Citroens are much in evidence in Lao towns and cities. After the Japanese occupation during the Second World War, the Geneva Agreement of 1954 gave the country its independence from colonial rule.

Following the end of the Indochina Wars and capitulation of South Vietnam to communist forces from the North, December 1975 saw the creation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. During this time, communist forces controlled the country, resulting in almost ten percent of the population fleeing to the United States where they were given refuge and eventually citizenship. Today there are over 200,000 Lao people living in the USA alone, with more in Canada and Europe.

This map shows the Lao PDR in relation to its surrounding neighbours. Click on the image to see more maps with more detail and better definition.

The government of the Lao PDR comprises three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The executive branch consists of a president, vice president, prime minister, first deputy prime minister, two deputy prime ministers, and a cabinet, also called the Council of Ministers. The National Assembly elects the president and vice president for a five-year term. The president, with approval of the National Assembly, appoints the prime minister for a five-year term. The prime minister appoints all the deputy ministers. The Council of Ministers is appointed by the president; however it has to be approved by the National Assembly. The legislative branch is a unicameral National Assembly with 109 seats. All of the members serve a five-year term and are elected by popular vote. The judicial branch consists of a People's Supreme Court. The National Assembly, on the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee, elects the president of the People's Supreme Court. The National Assembly Standing Committee appoints the vice president and the judges of the People's Supreme Court.

In 2005 the single party government of the Lao PDR celebrated thirty years in power. Its political doctrine follows the Vietnamese model. Lao is closely aligned with Vietnam both politically, militarily as well as for trade purposes. It has strong ties with China too. Relations are now friendly but still a little guarded with its capitalist neighbour Thailand.

Although the government is socialist in style, many capitalist ideas such as private land and business ownership are encouraged. Full and partially State-owned enterprises still exist, but the private and joint venture sector is expanding rapidly, especially in and around cities. Hydroelectric power projects financed via foreign aid contribute significantly to the Lao GDP and export income. Electricity is sold mainly to Thailand.

Development of the basic infrastructure is accelerating, being accomplished almost completely with financial aid and joint ventures with both Eastern and Western countries. However, social development is slow in areas of education or medical care for the common people. Lao's business development is also capitalist in nature. There are only two real communist countries remaining in the world: Cuba, which apparently exists on the the pure charisma of its leader, and North Korea, which is in the grip of permanent famine and paranoia. China, while calling itself communist, is in fact not that at all. As with Vietnam and the Lao PDR, they merely have single party authoritarian regimes, mere ghosts of old-style communism.

The Lao people by nature are friendly and sociable, and family considerations and needs are of paramount importance. Daily life is influenced by strong and traditional religious beliefs. Buddhist philosophy is fused with animistic beliefs which preceded Buddhism. Animism is still practised by Thai and Lao people, especially from mountainous regions. It is the belief that things in nature, like trees, mountains, the sky, even buildings, have souls or consciousness; belief in a supernatural force that animates and organises the universe, and the belief in the existence of a spirit than can exist separately from a body.

Other cultural similarities exist between the Lao and their Thai neighbours just across the Mekong River which forms the border between Thailand and Lao. Vientiane has a partly colonial past, and French was the official language for some time. The influence is still evident in the form of some schools, restaurants and bilingual signs on older government buildings. English is fast replacing French as a second language after Lao itself, but Chinese and Vietnamese influences are noticeable, especially in the developing business sector. Spoken Thai is understood by most Lao people in the regions bordering the two countries.

Although the Lao PDR has an area similar to Great Britain (or the US state of Utah), the population estimated at under 6 million in 2006 is, by comparison, only about 10% that of the UK, Thailand or Vietnam. A landlocked country, Lao is surrounded by Burma (Myanmar), China and Vietnam to the north and east, and Cambodia and Thailand to the south and west. The Mekong River, originating in China, flows through more of Lao than any other country. The river was used by the colonists to demarcate an arbitrary border with Thailand (still under dispute in parts), and the people living in the villages on the two sides of the river suddenly became nationals of different countries, but they still share a common culture and similar language, and many families have relatives on both sides of the river.

For about twenty years after independence Lao was an almost closed state, discouraging Western foreign aid and visitors. Foreign ties were mostly with the USSR and communist bloc. Many Lao people were sent to Russia for education, both political and industrial. After the break-up of the Soviet Union, Russian influence and aid diminished rapidly, and the economic advantages of tourism finally became obvious. The government gradually relaxed its tight control, opened more border crossings, and three international airports of Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse now serve visitors from neighbouring countries. Foreigners still require entry visas, but they are readily obtainable at embassies or on arrival for 30 days at 14 road and river entry points. Since the Lao PDR became a member of ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations, Vientiane frequently hosts international meetings, conventions and events. Tourist arrivals increase every year.

ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations, currently comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. A pact was signed in July 2006 at an ASEAN meeting in Vientiane allowing at least two-week visa-free entry for all citizens of member countries. Some arrangements were already in place, but Myanmar was not included in reciprocal facilities.

National Public Holidays of the Lao PDR in 2008

Jan 1: New Year's Day

Jan 6: Pathet Lao Day

Jan 20: Army Day

Feb 7: Chinese New Year

Mar 8: International Women's Day

Mar 22: Day of the People's Party

Apr 13-15: Lao New Year, Boun Pi Mai, Pee Mai. Preparations and
    some business closures begin a few days before and continue for
    several days after the official dates. The 16th is the First Day of
    the Lao New Year.

May 1: Labour Day

May 9: Europe Day

May 20: Buddha Day (Vesak)

June 1: Children’s Day

July 18: Khao Pansa; Buddhist Fast (Lent) begins on the Full Moon

August 13: Free Lao (Issara) Day

August 15: Constitution Day

August 23: Liberation Day

August 30: Boun Khao Rice, Boat Racing Festival in Luang Prabang

October 12: Independence (from the French) Day

October 14: End of Buddhist Lent Day Bouk Ok Pansa &

October 15: Lao Boat Racing Competition and Festival
in Vientiane, Savannakhet and Champassack Provinces,
to celebrate the Mekong River.

November 24: That Luang Festival and Trade Fair in Vientiane Capital

December 2: Lao National Day

December 24-28: Christmas Holiday

December 31: Year End Holiday (Western New Year & Bank Holiday)

Others days are taken as unofficial public holidays, including the following Monday if a holiday falls over a weekend. Government offices, and random shop and office closures occur, but it is difficult to get details of dates much in advance. Teachers' Day, Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day and Children's Day are celebrated and New Year celebrations start in December and often continue well into January, encompassing Western, Chinese and Vietnamese cultures.

Learn more about Lao – the country, its people and culture – by checking the menu on the left of this page.
 

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