Laos

[lah-ohs, lous, ley-os, la-aws]

noun

1. a country in Southeast Asia: formerly part of French Indochina. 91,500 sq. mi. (236,985 sq. km). Vientiane.

Laos

/ laʊs, laʊz /

noun

1. Official name: People's Democratic Republic of Laos. a republic in SE Asia: first united as the kingdom of Lan Xang ("million elephants") in 1353, after being a province of the Khmer Empire for about four centuries; made part of French Indochina in 1893 and gained independence in 1949; became a republic in 1975. It is generally forested and mountainous, with the Mekong River running almost the whole length of the W border. Official language: Laotian. Religion: Buddhist majority, tribal religions. Currency: kip. Capital: Vientiane. Pop: 6 695 166 (2013 est). Area: 236 800 sq km (91 429 sq miles)

Laos

1. Mountainous, landlocked republic in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma to the northwest, China to the northeast, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west. Its capital and largest city is Vientiane.

Civil war among communist and noncommunist factions in the 1950s and 1960s attracted extensive covert aid from the Soviet Union, China, and the United States.

During the Vietnam War, Vietnamese communists established the Ho Chi Minh Trail through the remote mountains of Laos to channel troops and supplies from North Vietnam to South Vietnam.

The communist Pathet Lao, with long-standing close ties to the Vietnamese communists, have been in power since 1975.

Part of French Indochina from 1893 to 1949, it was granted full sovereignty in 1954.

Example Sentences

Late last year, she headed out on what was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime, backpacking with mates in Laos, south-east Asia.

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Last month, Ecuador, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Russia and Uganda were added to the existing list, following a number of high-profile incidents including the death of six tourists in Laos in 2024.

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For those seeking an adventure in Laos, a Vientiane hotel or a hotel in Vang Vieng offers a comfortable starting point for exploration.

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The advice previously covered Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Turkey, Costa Rica and Fiji and follows a number of high-profile incidents including the death of six tourists in Laos last year.

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Malaysia is top on 12 points, Vietnam is second on nine points with Laos third on three.

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