Laos — Capital, Flag and Country Facts

Explore Laos: capital Vientiane, population, flag, geography, languages, history and culture.

Laos is in Asia. Its capital is Vientiane.

Climate

Tropical monsoon with a rainy season from May to November and a dry season from November to April

Mostly mountainous with forested highlands; Mekong River valley plains along the western border

Laos is the most heavily bombed country per capita in history.

The Plain of Jars contains thousands of mysterious stone vessels up to 3 meters tall.

Laos has no coastline and is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia.

1353: Lan Xang Kingdom (Kingdom of a Million Elephants) founded by Fa Ngum

1893: France establishes a protectorate over Laos

1953: Independence from France

1964: Secret US bombing campaign begins during the Vietnam War

1975: Pathet Lao takes power; Lao People's Democratic Republic established

2021: Laos-China Railway completed, linking Vientiane to Kunming