Laos with the capital city Vientiane is located in Asia (Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand). It covers some 236,800 square kilometres (slightly larger than Utah) with 6,677,000 citizens.

About the flag and history of Laos

Three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band; the red bands recall the blood shed for liberation; the blue band represents the Mekong River and prosperity; the white disk symbolizes the full moon against the Mekong River, but also signifies the unity of the people under the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, as well as the country's bright future.

Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th century under King FA NGUM. For 300 years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1988. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997 and the WTO in 2013.

National administrative regions of Laos

• Attapu
• Bokeo
• Bolikhamxai
• Champasak
• Houaphan
• Khammouan
• Khoueng Viangchan
• Laos (general)
• Louangphabang
• Loungnamtha
• Oudomxai
• Phongsali
• Salavan
• Savannahkhet
• Viangchan
• Xekong
• Xiagnabouli
• Xiangkhoang

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