Postcards from Luang Prabang
Official Name: Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Capital: Vientiane (Viangchan)
Language: Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages
Size: 236,800 sq km
Population: 6,695,166 (July 2013 est.) Lao 55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26% (2005 census)
Average age: 21.6 years
GDP Per Capita: $3,000 (2012 est.)
Religion: Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)
Type of government: Communist state
Currency: Lao Kip 7,800 kip = 1 USD
Source: CIA World Fact Book
Fact: The government of Laos, one of the few remaining one-party communist states, began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986.
Our friend Andee from Savannakhet has helped us to answer some of the questions. Thans a lot Andee!
What is Laos’ National Dish?
A lot of food and every sauce you can imagine, with a special oyster flavor.
There are several national dishes in Laos and they include: Lab (mixed beef meat with fish sauce, chilli andlemon), bamboo soup (bamboo mixed with fish sauce), beef soup (boiled beef mixed with fish sauce, chilli, and local vegetables), papaya salad and grilled chicken. Papaya salad is made from young papaya and a fish sauce called Pa Dak. It has got a strong smell, but Laotians really seem to like it.
Which do you consider the National Favorite Sport?
Kator for Lao or Sepak takraw for Thai is the name of the National Sport of Lao. The game is very similar to volleyball with the main difference being that the players must pass the ball over the net using their feet, chest, head and knees. Also the ball is essencially made of rattan. It is a very popular sport in South East Asia and a very spectacular one as well. You’ll understand better with the video.
Which would you say is the favorite soft drink in Laos?
Coconut juice but we also tasted many juices and syrups mixed with condensed milk and ice – a real treat.
Coconut Juice with condensed milk and syrup ohh and lots of ice!
Who do you consider to be the National Heroe?
According to our friend Andee: His excellency Kaysone Phomvihan is Laos’ national hero. Among the many things he did he fought for Laos against the colonial French and the US army at the time of the secret war. He was born in Savannakhet and his father was Vietnamese. His image is all over Laos, but the most common is in the Lao KIP currency.
Music group loved by young and old?
We have our own song. It is very old and became well known for young and old. It is named: Oh Duang Champa. Champa is Laos’ national flower and this song explains how beautiful the Champa flower is.
Favorite T.V. Show in Laos?
Andee said that Laos T.V. shows have just recently began, but I have seen that people like to watch a lot Thai Soap Operas.
Most popular Brand of car here in Laos?
According to Andee, Toyota and Honda are the most common and come from Japan. Hyundai is becoming popular too because they offer finance plan to acquire one of them. But there are also the famous Tuk Tuk´s, motorbikes or pick up trucks adapted to have a carrier to transport anything! They all come personalized and are a indeed a great ride.
Tuk Tuk with a Che Guevara Deco
The latest and most popular movie made here?
“Sabaidee Luangpabang” is a Thai/ Lao production (the first privately funded Lao movie in 33 years), codirected by the Laotian moviemaker Anousone Sirisackda and Thailand’s Sakchai Deenan, “Good Morning Luang Prabang” is a romantic road movie about a young journalist who grows up in Australia and falls in love with a beautiful Lao girl during a visit to his father’s hometown, Luang Prabang.” – Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop | NEWSWEEK March 2008
httpv://www.thailandqa.com/forum/showthread.php?21114-Good-Morning-Luang-Prabang
Where would you consider to be the number one touristic destiny for Laotians in Laos?
The city of Luang Prabang is perhaps the favorite destination for Lao people. Once the capital of the power of the powerful kingdom of Lan Xang, it is now the World Heritage Site jewel of the country. Luang Prabang is famous for it’s night market, the nearby waterfalls and nature wonders as the Kuang Si Falls and the famous Haw Kham Royal Palace Museum.
View from Luang Prabang
Most common name for Male and Women in Laos?
According to our friend Andee the most popular names in Laos are: Bounmee, Bounma, Airnoy, Somsee for male and E lar, E Loy for female.
Beautiful Laotian Family
How many letters are there in your alphabet?
Taxi in Lao
The Lao alphabet has 26 consonants. Each consonant has a word associated with it to distinguish between a few sounds which have more than one letter, such as “s” and “h” which have two letters each. If you wish to learn more:
The song is beautiful, the sport seems very hard to play and the laos lessons are too funny!
The sport is very spectacular indeed. I tried to play it and well haha let´s just leave it like that.
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