Place details
Place nameLao
Other namesSathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxôn Lao, Lao, République démocratique populaire, Laos, Lao People's Democratic Republic, LAO, LA, ISO418, LA00, Laotian
Latitude18
Longitude105
SourceThesaurus of Geographic Names
Overview
Nearly same area as modern nation was united as one kingdom 14th-18th cen.; hostilities with Burmese & Thais 16th cen.; Thais captured capital 1778; Franco-Thai border clashes late 19th cen.; civil strife 1960s; Communist areas bombed in Vietnam War; official language is Lao, though Tai, Hmong, Lao Theung, French & English are also spoken.