Other than a brief period during the 1960s, when the former French colony became a player in the Vietnam War, Laos has been largely ignored by the West. But since the country re-opened its doors to foreigners in the 1990s, there has been a steady flow of visitors. Much of Laos is forested, with the rugged Annamite Mountains running across most of the country, where new species of large mammals are still being discovered. Hillstribe people occupy much of these highlands while Buddhist monasteries of the ethnic Lao fill the lowland river valleys.

Main languages are Lao, English and French and the currency used is the kip. Phone country code is 856.