Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong

Laos: History & Culture

Akha girl in traditional dress

The first Lao kingdom, Lane Xang was founded in the 14th century by King Fa Ngum after he conquered and unified the lands north of and including Luang Prabang, Xieng Khouang and the Khorat Plateau, stretching into what is today Thailand.

Luang Prabang remained the capital of Lane Xang until King Phothisarat moved the Kingdom’s administrative seat to Vientiane in 1545. Even after the capital moved to Vientiane, Luang Prabang remained the country’s spiritual and religious centre. First contact with western emissaries occurred in the mid 15th century during the reign of King Surigna Vongsa. After the death of Surigna Vongsa in 1694 Lane Xang broke up into three separate Kingdoms – Vientiane, Champasak and Luang Prabang.

Laos together with Vietnam and Cambodia formed French Indochina during the 19th – early 20th century colonial period. Gaining independence from France in 1953, the Pathet Lao socialist revolutionary movement went on to found the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 1975.

People & Culture

Population and Ethnic Diversity: With a population of nearly 6 million people and a density of only 20 people per square km, Laos is the least populated country in Southeast Asia. In comparison Viet Nam has a population density of 230 people km² and Thailand 120 people km². Roughly 85% of the population lives in rural areas and is mostly made up of the dominant, lowland Lao ethnic group with the remainder of the population comprising 47 officially recognised ethnic minority groups living mostly in the higher and more remote areas of the country. Collectively the peoples of Laos speak dozens of different languages making the country a major centre for ethnic and cultural diversity in Southeast Asia. If you are unable to make it out to the villages there are handicraft shops in almost every provincial capital selling distinct local products. For very high-quality pieces there are many excellent handicraft galleries in the main tourist centers of Vientiane and Luang Prabang, and smaller shops in most provinces.

Language

The national language is Lao as it is spoken in Vientiane, but English is commonly used in major tourist centres. Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai are widely understood and French, German, Russian and a number of other European languages are also spoken by many educated Laotians as many students received university training in Europe during the 1970’s-1990’s. In addition the ethnic minorities speak another 80 distinctive, living languages.

Hmong New Year celebration

Religion

Nearly all of the lowland Lao people – about 60% of the population – practice Theravada Buddhism while, higher in the mountains, the ethnic minorities tend to be animists whose lives are governed by the presence of phi or spirits. In reality though a belief in phi is blended with the practice of Buddhism and can be seen through out the country in the many ceremonies and rituals that characterise Lao culture and in the small spirit houses seen in peoples homes, restaurants, wats and rice fields which are used to make offerings to the elemental spirits. Most Laotians believe they are being protected by khwan – the 32 spirits of the body.

When someone becomes ill it is believed that one or more of the khwan have left the body and need to be recalled with a ceremony known as the baci to bestow health, prosperity and well being on the afflicted person. The cotton strings that are tied around the wrists of the baci participants are used to keep the khwan in place. As a traveller to Laos you may well be invited to join a baci as it is often performed to welcome and farewell guests before and after long trips. It is also the central ritual in Lao weddings and in the naming ceremony for newborn children. Together with the school, the Buddhist wat provides the focal point for village life in lowland Laos. The wat provides a symbol of village identity as well as a location for ceremonies and festivals. Prior to the establishment of secular schools, village boys received basic education from monks at the wat and traditionally were expected to spend a period as a monk or novice prior to marriage or in old age.  No doubt when in Laos you will see the memorable sight of orange robed monks lining up to receive alms in a village or town during their early morning rounds. As monks are trying to detach themselves from the earthly world they are not permitted possessions and so rely on the generosity of the people for food and clothing. Importantly these gifts, most usually granted by women, provide an opportunity for the giver to earn merit for a ‘better’ next life. Attending prayers at the wat on the quarter, full and new moon of each lunar cycle is an important way in which Lao Buddhists earn merit.

Economy

The largest contributor to the Gross Domestic Product is agriculture which provides a living for 80% of the population. The main crop is sticky rice followed by corn, tobacco, cotton and coffee. Raising livestock and the harvest of non-timber forest products such as resins, herbal medicine and forest foods for commercial and home use also make important contributions to the Lao economy and rural people’s livelihoods. The primary national industries include mining, tourism, hydropower, garment manufacture, agro-forestry and production of some common consumer goods.

Agricultural produce is 80% of the economy

Categories: Profile Laos
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