Laos
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Capital
Vientiane
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Local time
13:58
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Population
6.5 m
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Driving side
Right
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Calling code
+856
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Currency
₭ LAK (kip)
Laos
-
Capital
Vientiane
-
Local time
13:58
-
Population
6.5 m
-
Driving side
Right
-
Calling code
+856
-
Currency
₭ LAK (kip)
-
Average Salary
$ 281
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Petrol price
€ 1.40 pl
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Precipitation
1 834mm /year
Geography & travel
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Country Area
236 800 km2
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Protected Area
17%
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Forest Area
81%
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Agricultural area
10%
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Annual air passengers
1.22 m
Population
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Ethnicity
Lao Loum - 68 %
Lao Theung - 22 %
Lao Soung - 9 %
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Religion
Buddhist - 60 %
animist and other - 40 %
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Literacy rates
58.3%
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Languages
Lao
French
English
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Armed Forces
129 100
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Murders
7 per 100k
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Alcohol consumption
7.5 l/person
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Smoking
56.6%
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Diabetes
3.6%
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Malaria
21%
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Tuberculosis
182 per 100k
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HIV
0.3%
Economy
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Industries
mining, tin, gold, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, rubber, construction, garments
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Agriculture
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts
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Natural Resources
timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
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Natural Resources
timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
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Renewable Energy
90%
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CO2 Emissions
1 955kt
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Ease of Business
141 (Best=1, Worst=200)
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ATMs per 100k people
23
What not to do when visiting Laos
Laos Don't wear skimpy or low bikini and tight clothes.
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Not useful
Laos Don’t forget the standard Lao greeting is ”Sabaideebore” (How are you?), usually done with both hands pressed together in prayer in front of your body and accompanied with a slight bow or nod. Younger should always bow first. Some men will also shake hands.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't lose the temper and cause "loss of face". The concept of "saving face" is extremely important in East Asian social relationships.
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Did you know?
Laos is the most heavily bombed country in the world.
South-Eastern Asia Don't provide your passport as collateral when hiring vehicles - better use cash as deposit.
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Laos Don't touch strangers and locals.
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Laos Don’t touch anyone’s head - it’s considered rude.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't be too affectionate in public - kissing, cuddling and similar behaviour are frowned upon if in public, especially amongst older locals.
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Laos Don’t touch others during conversations, especially opposite sex.
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Laos Don’t necessarily beckon someone with palm upwards - it may be considered rude. Hold your hand palm downwards with the fingers pointing towards the ground and sway them loosely.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't pull the motorbike in the middle of the road when trying to turn right as you might be hit from behind or from the front by others. Most of the traffic accidents are caused by this as it's common vehicles are overtaking within each of the sides in parallel and stopping in the middle can cause you big troubles.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't point at people or things with your feet - it's considered very rude as the feet are considered as the most inferior parts of the human body.
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Tell us your experience
We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?
Laos Don’t forget Lao law prohibits sexual contact between foreign citizens and Lao nationals, except the two parties have been married.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't show disrespect to Buddha or its images - large or small, ruined or not, it's regarded as a sacred object.
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Laos Don't pronounce it wrong - Laos is pronounced as "Lao", without "s" sound.
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Laos Don't forget to negotiate taxi fare before you ride unless the taximeter is on.
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Laos Don’t forget the rainy season usually lasts from May to November.
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Laos Don’t be a victim of mosquito-borne diseases - protect yourself against bites by mosquitoes.
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Laos Don’t leave the designated and commonly used pathways near the border with Vietnam - there still might be some unexploded mines and ordinances after Indochinese war.
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Laos Don’t forget to remove your shoes before entering someone’s home or Buddhist temple.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't try to outrun the rainstorm on your moped.
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Tell us your experience
We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?
South-Eastern Asia Don't touch a monk. Treat monks with the highest respect. Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman, or to accept anything from the hand of woman.
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