Laos - interesting facts

The state of Laos , located in South-East Asia, was formed in the XIV century, and it was then called Lan Sang Hom Khao, which in translation means "The country of a million elephants and a white umbrella." A little more than 6 million people live here today.

Why is the country of Laos interesting?

Many of us know about the country of Laos quite a bit. But avid amateur travelers dream to visit this exotic southeastern country. Perhaps you will be curious to learn some interesting facts about life in Laos:

  1. This is the country in which the Communist Party rules, there are even pioneer organizations, and schoolchildren wear pioneer ties. However, elective power is elected by the president of the state.
  2. In the north of the country there is an unusual place called the Valley of Jars . There is a huge amount of huge stone pots. The weight of some of them reaches 6 tons, and the diameter is 3 meters. The opinion of scientists - these vessels were used by an unknown people, who lived here about 2000 years ago. Local residents claim that these pots were made by giants who once lived in the valley. Most of this area is closed for visits due to unexploded ordnance left in the ground after military bombings
  3. The main city of Laos, Vientiane is the smallest city in the whole of Southeast Asia.
  4. On the territory of the Buddha Park, located near Vientiane, there are more than 200 Hindu and Buddhist statues. And inside the three-meter head of the demon a complex is created, the tiers of which are symbols of paradise, hell and earth.
  5. In the alphabet of Lao there are 15 vowels, 30 consonants and 6 signs of tone. So, one word can have up to 8 different meanings, depending on its tonality of pronunciation.
  6. In May, the inhabitants of Laos celebrate the rain festival - the oldest festival , during which they remind their gods that they will send down moisture for the earth.
  7. Every man - a Lao citizen, professing Buddhism - must spend 3 months in the monastery on obedience. They go there during the summer holiday of Khao Panza. On this day, on the waters of the Laos rivers, people shoot down many burning lanterns.
  8. The bridge between Laos and Thailand was known for its constant traffic jams. The fact is that in one country the road traffic is right-hand, and in the other - left-sided, and the drivers of both countries could not agree on where it is necessary to change the lane. Finally, the decision was found: in one week the cars are being rebuilt in Laotian territory, and the next - in Thai.
  9. Lao people love very spicy food. In the meat soup they add sugar, and in some local dishes are prepared from bats.
  10. In the jungle south of the Lao city ​​of Luang Prabang there is a real miracle of nature - the Kuang Si waterfall . Its feature is not in the number of cascades, but in the extraordinary azure color of the water.