Laos, like its immediate neighbors in Indochina, is an interesting blend of communism and newly-arrived free enterprise, with assorted cultural influences. Officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, it is still a single-party state and politically a socialist republic.

Also deeply historic, like its southern neighbor Cambodia, Laos, too, was once a kingdom, the Kingdom of Lan Xang or "Land of a Million Elephants," and later on a French protectorate. Until in 1975, when the communists gained power.

Laos is now just beginning to emerge as a travel destination, and a highly affordable one at that, even though the infrastructure and services are lagging.

Laos is rugged for the most part, with a few flat valleys, especially along the rivers, and there’s no coastline.

Societally and politically, in Laos, the biggest distinction is between the city and village dwellers. As the capital Vientiane grows, and the non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) extend their influence, the laid-back atmosphere will continue to fade. For example, Vientiane (Laos) used to be a small backwater serving as a national capital, but the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit in November 2004 has started to change all that.

Ultimately, there is a sense here of the new and unknown, and the dollar is still worth something!

Flag(53x35):