Laos is a socialist country located in the Indochina Peninsula of Southeast Asia, bordered by Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, Thailand and Myanmar to the west, and China to the north. It has a land area of 23.68 square kilometers and a population of 7.38 million. Vientiane is the capital and largest city of Laos and the political, economic, and cultural center of the country. Laos, the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, is one of the least developed countries in the world and has a weak industrial base, with a GDP of US$18.8 billion in 2021. However, the country is very rich in mineral resources, with proven copper reserves of 182 million tons, bauxite reserves of 200 million tons, tin reserves of 130,000 tons, and a large number of mineral resources such as gold, iron ore and coal. The degree of development is extremely low due to technical and traffic reasons. Laos is rich in forest resources, with a forest coverage rate of more than 50%, rich in mahogany, oil, wood, pears and other precious woods. Agriculture covers 8 million hectares of arable land, and agriculture accounts for 26% of the country's GDP. All in all, Laos is a relatively backward economy, rich in mineral resources and beautiful scenery, which is a country suitable for tourism.
The Lao Triumphal Arch, near the Prime Minister's Office in Vientiane, is a magnificent building built to commemorate the independence and liberation of the Lao people. Built in 1969, the Arc de Triomphe is 45 meters high and 24 meters wide. In 1975, when Laos was liberated, citizens of Vientiane passed through the city in a celebratory parade. It is surrounded by arched doors and carvings, which look like the triumphal arch in Paris, France, and the triumphal arch in France connecting the most prosperous street, the difference between the two, the Lao triumphal arch is carved and decorated with temple characteristics, full of Buddhist colors, and the Buddha statues and mythological stories carved on the door show the traditional national culture and art of Laos.
The ceiling is a major attraction, with painted figures from Buddhist mythology, beautifully carved and resplendent. There are 150 spiral steps to the top floor overlooking Vientiane City. There are 7 floors in total, the first to fourth floors are indoors, the third and fourth floors are places where souvenirs are sold, the fifth and sixth floors are outdoors, you can see the city 360 degrees, and the seventh floor can look out from the window. The buildings around the Arc de Triomphe were built with the aid of the Chinese government, and the Musical Fountain Square has been built. The Arc de Triomphe is a landmark in Vientiane and attracts many tourists every year.
Tha Luang is an important attraction in Vientiane, it is a symbol shared by Buddhism and the sovereign state of Laos, and the image of Tha Luang is above the national emblem of Laos. Built in 1556, Phra Luang Temple is the grandest of the Lao temples. The whole body of the stupa is covered with gold, and it is said that Shakyamuni's hair and Buddha bones were buried under the stupa. The whole stupa has three floors, 45 meters high and 54 meters wide, the base of the main pagoda is square, and there are worship pavilions in each orientation. The second floor has 30 auxiliary towers, and the third floor is covered with gold leaf. Each floor has passages and stairs, and the cloister enshrines various Buddha images. During the war, Tha Luang was destroyed, the treasures in the temple were looted, and it was rebuilt in the 30s of the 20th century. The temple holds the Tha Luang Festival Festival every November, during which monks and believers from all over the country flock to the temple, and there are cultural and sports and fireworks displays. In addition, Luang Prabang, Guanxi Waterfall, Nansong River, and Xiangkun Wanfo Temple are all worth visiting.
China and Laos are friendly countries, and mainland enterprises have many investment projects in Laos. It has built 18 hydropower stations in Laos, with a total installed capacity of 2,348 MW. Undertaking the largest wind power project in Southeast Asia, driving Laos' energy transition. With an investment of 50 billion yuan, an international railway spanning the Eurasian continent was built, with a total length of 414 kilometers, from Kunming, China to Vientiane, Laos, realizing same-day access between the two places. In addition, China and Laos have also carried out extensive cooperation in infrastructure, finance, trade, communications, agriculture and tourism.
Laotians are very Buddhist and do not like fast-paced life. Work efficiency is very low, they leave immediately after work, they never work overtime, they are very peaceful in their hearts and do not quarrel with people. In Laos, if a woman hands you a cigarette, don't take it. The smoke shows that she has taken a fancy to you and wants to marry you. Once you take the cigarette, it means that you agree to the affair. In Laos, Buddhism is revered as the state religion and included in the constitution. Men in Laos have to leave the house once in their lives, at least for three or five days or more. Laotians eat with their right hand, and they consider the left hand unclean. Laotians do not like white and think it is unlucky. In Laos, it is not possible to touch someone's head, they consider the head sacred and inviolable. Do you want to travel to such a country?