Located in Southeast Asia, Laos PDR is centrally positioned around Myanmar (Burma) and the Northwestern part of China. Vietnam lies west of Laos and Cambodia borders the southwestern portion. Lastly, Thailand borders the southwestern and west area of Laos. Thick forestry landscaped areas and mountainous terrains are abundant around Laos. The Annamese Cordillera mountain range is a notable Landmark in Laos that runs along the Vietnam border in the North and South direction. (Evans). There are other secondary ranges, and to the north of the capital, Vientiane, is the highest peak, Mount Bia. Out of these ranges all the main rivers flow from east to west into the Mekong River. Grant Evans states “In the north, the Mekong forms a short border
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Many natural resources and minerals can also be found here as well. Vientiane was the capital of the previous Lao kingdoms that were ultimately destroyed by the Siamese back during the 19th century. Years later, The French government reinvented and rebuilt the capital and Laos became a part of French Indochina. A royal capital existed in Luang Prabang until the fall of the monarchy in 1975. Savannakhet and Pakse, are other notable cities in Laos that can be found along the Mekong river which is also used as a transportation route. Evans states that in 1998, the population was 5,261,000 (“Laos”). Inner city locals consist of about a quarter of the Lao residents. It was previously noted that nearly ¾ of the Laotian inhabitants were all believed to be under the age of 30. Based on previous census reports, Laos is one of the less populated areas in Asia (Evans). After the fall of Communism throughout the world, Laos was determined to “retraditionalize” Buddism and ultimately regressed back to its pro-autonomy cyphers (Evans). The That Luang stupa in Vientiane, built by the revered King Sethathirat, is one of the most sacred spaces and is recognized by all groups. This is a source of low-key …show more content…
The appropriation of "old regime" symbols has muted some of the conflict between refugee Lao and the LPDR (Lao People's Democratic Republic), but has led to debates over how much of the past to "revive." Nowhere is this conflict clearer than in the declaration of the old royal capital as a national heritage city by UNESCO, thus making Luang Prabang a symbol of Lao culture and a tourist attraction. This dual use has led to debates about how much of the royal ("feudal") past should be revived. The communist government tried to promote a cult around the communist leader Kaysone Phomvihane after his death, and statues of him were erected all over the country. More people of Lao ethnic origin live in Thailand than in Laos. Laos was almost absorbed into Siam and that has tinged Lao national identity with
Many natural resources and minerals can also be found here as well. Vientiane was the capital of the previous Lao kingdoms that were ultimately destroyed by the Siamese back during the 19th century. Years later, The French government reinvented and rebuilt the capital and Laos became a part of French Indochina. A royal capital existed in Luang Prabang until the fall of the monarchy in 1975. Savannakhet and Pakse, are other notable cities in Laos that can be found along the Mekong river which is also used as a transportation route. Evans states that in 1998, the population was 5,261,000 (“Laos”). Inner city locals consist of about a quarter of the Lao residents. It was previously noted that nearly ¾ of the Laotian inhabitants were all believed to be under the age of 30. Based on previous census reports, Laos is one of the less populated areas in Asia (Evans). After the fall of Communism throughout the world, Laos was determined to “retraditionalize” Buddism and ultimately regressed back to its pro-autonomy cyphers (Evans). The That Luang stupa in Vientiane, built by the revered King Sethathirat, is one of the most sacred spaces and is recognized by all groups. This is a source of low-key …show more content…
The appropriation of "old regime" symbols has muted some of the conflict between refugee Lao and the LPDR (Lao People's Democratic Republic), but has led to debates over how much of the past to "revive." Nowhere is this conflict clearer than in the declaration of the old royal capital as a national heritage city by UNESCO, thus making Luang Prabang a symbol of Lao culture and a tourist attraction. This dual use has led to debates about how much of the royal ("feudal") past should be revived. The communist government tried to promote a cult around the communist leader Kaysone Phomvihane after his death, and statues of him were erected all over the country. More people of Lao ethnic origin live in Thailand than in Laos. Laos was almost absorbed into Siam and that has tinged Lao national identity with