Lao People's Democratic Republic
Laos
National anthem of Laos
Pheng Xat Lao
"Pheng Xat Lao" was composed by Dr. Thongdy Sounthonevichit (1905-1968) in 1941 and adopted as the national anthem of the Kingdom of Laos in 1947. The original lyrics were replaced when the Lao People's Democratic Republic was established in 1975 by new lyrics written by Sisana Sisane.
more information on Pheng Xat Lao
Weather in Vientiane

Celcius: 31°
Fahrenheit: 88°
Map of Laos
Basic information on Laos
Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For three hundred years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.
| Location |
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam |
| Population |
6,521,998 (July 2007 est.) |
| Nationality |
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao or Laotian |
| Flag description |
three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band |