Knowra Laos Laos Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked Southeast Asian country bordered by China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. Its capital is Vientiane.
Mekong River : A major river in Southeast Asia flowing through or along six countries before reaching the South China Sea. It shapes settlement, transport, agriculture, and borders along much of western Laos.
Lan Xang : A Lao kingdom founded in the fourteenth century that covered much of present-day Laos and neighboring regions. Its formation is a foundational episode in Lao state history.
Laos–China Railway : A railway opened in 2021 connecting Vientiane with the Chinese border and China's rail network. It embodies Laos's effort to expand cross-border transport and trade.
UXO Laos : The long-running effort to locate and remove unexploded ordnance in Laos. Bomb contamination from the Indochina wars remains a serious public-safety and land-use issue.
Thailand–Laos relations : The political, economic, and cultural relations between Thailand and Laos. Shared language, river crossings, and trade connect the two countries closely.
Annamite Range : A mountain range running along the border region between Vietnam and Laos. Its rugged terrain forms a physical barrier across Laos's eastern frontier.
French Indochina : A French colonial federation in Southeast Asia that included Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. French rule shaped Laos's borders and modern administrative institutions.
Nam Theun 2 Dam : A hydroelectric dam in central Laos that began commercial operations in 2010. Its electricity exports illustrate the country's hydropower-led development strategy.
Operation Barrel Roll : A covert United States bombing campaign over Laos conducted from 1964 to 1973. It contributed to the country's extensive unexploded-ordnance legacy.
Vietnam–Laos relations : The political and economic relationship between Vietnam and Laos, marked by close party-to-party ties. Their revolutionary alliance remains a defining feature of Lao foreign relations.
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