Laos - Useful information for your trip

Laos, in Asia, is one of the wildest countries in Indochina, its nature and culture still appearing untouched. It's a landlocked country, whose capital city is Vientiane. 

Its territory is crossed by Mekong river, whose fertile valley is the heart of the country. Another important river is Nam U, flowing into the Mekong near Luang Prabang. Nam Ngum also flows into the Mekong, near the capital city, Vientiane. Laos is mainly covered by mountains and plateaus and the highest peak is Phou Bia (2820 m).

The climate is tropical monsoonal, characterized by three seasons, one hot and dry from March to April, the wet season from May to October and a cool dry season from November to February. The country has a lush vegetation, made up of monsoonal tropical forests, with bamboo in the undergrowth, The flower symbol of Laos is frangipani.

There are 500 bird species, including rare green peacock, several species of snake and lizard, the black gibbon, Java mongoose, Siamese hare, wild cats and raccoon dogs. In the south, near Khong island, it's possible to view rare Irrawaddy dolphins in spring. 

In Laos about 49 ethnic groups live together, each with different traditions and languages​​. Although Lao is the official language of the country, only a small percentage of the population is able to speak it, this is why the different ethnic groups prefer to use their own idioms.

The economy is Laos is mainly based on investment and trade with the nearby countries. Subsistence farming plays a key role, employing 80% of the labor force. 80% of farming land produces rice. The country is rich in mining sources, such as coal, gold, bauxite, tin and copper. The metallurgical sector is developing.

Tourism is growing considerably, thanks to the popularity of the laid back happy lifestyle of the Laotians, who have kept the traditions of ancient Asia intact through the ages. Main attractions are the World Heritage Sites, such as the city of Luang Prabang, the archaeological site of Vat Phu, the temples in Vientiane, the views of Vang Vieng and Nam U valley, the Plain of Jars and much more.