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 (...)

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 (...)

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. (...)

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...
See the difference between before and after the revolution...
The (...)

The Lao alphabet uses a calligraphy derived from that of India and very near to the Thai alphabet (we can find in these two languages, similar groups of consonants and vowels, having almost the same pronunciation.)
Consonants
There exists 34 consonants in the Lao language divided into 3 (...)

The transcript given below is imperfect, and only to approach reality: certain consonants or vowels do not exist in the language of Sheakspeare ... it will be advisable to assist with his hands to be understood Laos;-)
H located after the consonants express an aspiration of the consonant. Kh, (...)

Here are 24 fonts that can be downloaded so as to start getting used to Laotian writing. To be able to use these characters without a special keyboard, you can download the picture that has been prepared to relate between the English keyboard (QWERTY) and Laotian letters. You must make sure you (...)

Here are some links to help you learning, improving or only by curiosity to see what it is. Special "massive" to Karin who lived long time in Laos, and made this her dictionary. I hope she agree about sharing (otherwise please advise). Format : Excel (.xls)
The Lao language is a reflection of (...)

Buddhism started in India 500 years before our era, more or less at the same time as Pythagore.
It was first revealed by the words of a man of noble origin (the son of a King or a Rajah) who devoted his life to finding the remedy for all men’s hardships and tribulations, found it, and gave it (...)

According to the Buddhist calendar, which is still used in many countries, including Laos, Buddha’s birth goes back 543 years before J.C. Historians are unanimous as to the real existence of a man, Gautama (also called Siddhârta or Sakyamuni) who dedicated his life to the research for a (...)

Laos is mainly Buddhist with a Theravada or small vehicle tendency (over 60% of the population). Buddhism, like Christianity, hides numerous splits and ruptures which date from the death of Buddha. One of the main controversies concerns intermediary existence : some people think that its a (...)

Buddhism, which is participated in, by most Laotians, gives a rhythm to their life as from first thing in the morning. Daytime, as we say here, starts in the evening with the preparation of sticky rice that will serve as a basis for the morning collections. This rice needs a long preparation as (...)

The morning collection of the bonzes (in Lao : Tak bat) is an animated tradition for the population of Luang Prabang. It has become an important tourist attraction because of its beauty. However, when tourists don’t know the customs, their clumsiness can disrupt this ceremony. We would like to (...)

His father, Suddhodona was the King of the Sakya clan (he was probably only Rajah, or landowner of the warrior class) having married Queen Maya, very wise and virtuous who stayed pure even during the beginning of her marriage. One day she had a dream : she saw, without feeling the slightest (...)