Culture OF

LAOS
NATIONAL FLAG OF LAOS
IDENTIFICATION

The ethnic Lao in Laos account for 50 to 60 percent of the

population, depending on how some subgroups are classified. The
way people self-identify ethnically is often contextual. Related
groups include the so-called tribal Tai, Black Tai, White Tai, and
Red Tai. These groups are not Buddhists and are influenced by the
neighboring Sino-Vietnamese culture. The country contained forty-
three ethnic groups in 1995 according to the official classification,
mostly in the countryside and mountains. The cities contain
significant ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese populations.
Location and Geography.
Laos is a landlocked Southeast Asian country surrounded by Thailand, Vietnam,
Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), and China. It has an area of about 91,400 square miles
(236,800 square kilometer). A key physical feature is the Annamese Cordillera
mountain range that runs from north to south, along the eastern border with Vietnam.
There are other secondary ranges, and to the north of the capital, Vientiane, is the
highest peak, Mount Bia. Out of these ranges all the main rivers flow from east to west
into the Mekong River. In the north, the Mekong forms a short border with Burma and
most of the border with Thailand. Along the rivers there are floodplains suitable for rice
paddies. There are no extensive lowland plains. Upland soils are much less fertile, but
there are two plains areas: the Plain of Jars, and the Boloven Plateau in Champassak
Province. Most of the country is covered by monsoon forests with varied wildlife. A
tropical monsoon climate is modified by the mountains. The wet season runs from May
to October.
Vientiane was the capital of earlier Lao kingdoms. It
was destroyed by the Siamese early in the nineteenth
century, but the French reestablished Vientaine as the
capital in 1893, when Laos became part of French
Indochina. A royal capital existed in Luang Prabang
until the fall of the monarchy in 1975. The two other
main cities, Savannakhet and Pakse, are also on the
Mekong.
Demography. In 1998, the population was
5,261,000. Urban dwellers made up 23 percent
of the population. Close to 70 percent of the
population is under 30 years old. Laos is one of
the least densely populated countries in Asia.
Linguistic Affiliation. Lao is the language of government, education,
and mass communications. Lao belongs to the Tai language family.
There are variations in pronunciation and vocabulary from north to
south. Most Lao understand and speak Thai. Lao has many borrowings
from Pali and Sanskrit, particularly in its literary forms.
Among the minorities, there is the Miao-Yao (Hmong-Iu Mien) language group,
mostly spoken in the north. Among the Hmong, Chinese characters are used in
religious rituals. Many Hmong are fully literate in an orthography developed by
missionaries, and there is a Hmong messianic script. Among the Iu-Mien (Yao),
literate individuals use Chinese characters to write histories. Tibeto-Burman
speakers, mainly in the north, also make use of Chinese characters for ritual
purposes. Austronesian and Mon-Khmer speakers live in the north but are most
heavily represented in the south. These groups have no indigenous tradition of
literacy. Illiteracy is as high as 40 percent, primarily among older people and
women. Because of the use of Lao as a lingua franca, most people have some
knowledge of it, particularly for purposes of trading. Vietnamese and Chinese in
urban areas have autonomous traditions of literacy, and have their own schools. The
majority of them are also fluent in Lao.
Symbolism. The key national symbols are Buddhist, despite the fact that
only around 60 percent of the population is Buddhist. Before the
revolution in 1975, Buddhism and the monarchy were linked as key
symbols. The Communist regime tried to substitute purely secular
national symbols, and a calendar of mostly secular holidays was
instituted. The flag of the first independence movement in 1945, the Lao
Issara, replaced that of the Royal Lao Government (RLG). With the
collapse of communism, the state has reverted to purely nationalist
symbols; this "retraditionalizing" of the regime has meant a greater
prominence for Buddhism.
The national day of December 2 was celebrated after the revolution, but
has been eclipsed by the celebration of the That Luang Festival. The
That Luang stupa in Vientiane, built by the revered King Sethathirat, is
one of the most sacred spaces and is recognized by all groups. Other
national icons are also Buddhist, but some, such as the megalithic jars
from the Plain of Jars, point to complex origins. Much of this
iconography was pioneered by the RLG, including that associated with
"hill tribes," who are typically presented in their "national dress." In
general, national culture symbols are drawn fro Lao culture, suggesting
that other ethnic groups are required to assimilate these symbols.
This is a source of low-key contention in the country. The appropriation of
"old regime" symbols has muted some of the conflict between refugee Lao
and the LPDR (Lao People's Democratic Republic), but has led to debates
over how much of the past to "revive."
Nowhere is this conflict clearer than in the declaration of the old royal capital
as a national heritage city by UNESCO, thus making Luang Prabang a
symbol of Lao culture and a tourist attraction. This dual use has led to debates
about how much of the royal ("feudal") past should be revived. The
communist government tried to promote a cult around the communist leader
Kaysone Phomvihane after his death, and statues of him were erected all over
the country.
Lao culture is a bit conservative, easygoing, and
family and friend centered. The name of the game
is enjoyment and ease of life. While some parts of
the culture might seem counter-intuitive to the
western mind, these tips will help you navigate the
sabai, sabai Lao life.
Freedom of expression

Criticism of the Lao government is not tolerated by citizens and

you’ll be hard pressed to find Lao people who are open about their
opinions of communism, the party, or the seemingly infinite layers of
bureaucracy. Instead, expect idioms and euphemism to stand in for
any direct criticism. If you criticize your own government, you might
be met with wide eyes. You’re better off to not talk about the Lao
government at all.
Sabai sabai or take it easy
Time is more of a suggestion in Laos. Don’t be surprised if
waiting staff, hotel staff and store clerks take their good old
time and provide less than ideal customer service. If you’re
meeting a Lao friend, don’t be surprised if they flake on you
or make you wait. And don’t be surprised if they bring
another friend or two along. It’ll be less of a headache if you
forget about making plans ahead of time all together and
embrace the spirit of living in the moment.
You’re fat
While talking about sex or dropping the F bomb or wearing
a bikini is not appropriate in Lao culture, talking about
someone’s physical appearance is fair game. Expect to hear
a lot of comments about your looks, especially if you’re
taller, blonder, fatter, skinnier, or have more facial hair than
the average Lao person. It’s totally normal for a Lao person
to talk about how fat or skinny they are compared to you.
You might even get your love handles pinched.
The Lao calendar
Being primarily Buddhist, Laos has two calendars: the Gregorian
calendar used for business and the lunar calendar used for holidays
and festivals. Pi Mai, or Lao New Year in the fourth lunar month of
2018 marked the beginning of 2561 in the Buddhist calendar. The
Boun Bung Fai rocket festival is in the fifth lunar month. Boun
Khao Phansa, at the start of the three-month long Buddhist Lent is
in the seventh lunar month. Bout That Luang is in the 12th lunar
month.
Muan baw? (Are you happy?)
Lao culture is centered on the pleasures of life: eating, drinking,
sleeping and chatting with friends. Work obligations rarely take
priority over socialization. It’s common to be asked if meals,
weekend activities, weddings and whatever you’re doing right now
is “muan,” or enjoyable. When asked, always answer in the
affirmative, regardless of what you really think. The Lao avoid
stress, do enough to get by and prioritize laughter with friends and
hanging out with family over achieving success or riches.
Weddings
If you’re are lucky enough to be invited to a Lao wedding, go! They
are “the more the merrier” type events and it’s not uncommon to
attend your neighbor’s niece’s wedding or your co-worker’s cousin’s
wedding having never met the couple before. A baci ceremony is
followed by a family-style sit-down lunch or dinner and lots of Lao
line dancing, some speeches and photos. Beer with ice and Lao
whisky will be free flowing and guests come and go as they please.
Lao sin
Step foot in Laos and you’ll see women wearing calf-length tubular
skirts. The sin sits high on the waist, has a hook closure and a
decorative, often embroidered foot, or bottom. Schoolgirls wear
navy or black sins, government employees wear khaki sins and
matching tops every Monday, and all women will wear sins to
weddings or temple functions. Weaving and embroidery patters will
vary by geographic location and ethnicity of the weaver, but the
basic shape remains.
Buddhist precepts
Buddha preached not to take life, steal, commit adultery, lie, and
take intoxicants. Laos has a very low theft rate and Lao people are
some of the most honest and trustworthy when it comes to others’
money and property. While the divorce rate is low, it’s not unheard
of for a husband to take a “mia noy” meaning “little wife” or
mistress. Some non-Buddhist ethnic minorities practice polygamy,
and many Buddhists drink copious amounts of Beer Lao, bending
the intoxicants rule.
Gender bending Khatoeys
Laos is particularly accepting of the gay community, including
transgender individuals and cross dressing. Khatoeys or Ladyboys can
be seen working in hotels or restaurants, often with a full face of
makeup, wig and enviable manicure. As part of the nightlife scene,
Ladyboys in Laos aren’t as likely to be sex workers as those in
Thailand. That being said, don’t accept solicitations for sex as
prostitution (as well as consensual premarital sex between a foreigner
and Lao) is illegal in Laos. Public displays of affection are culturally
inappropriate in all contexts, even holding hands or a peck on the cheek
can make locals uncomfortable, so save it for after hours.
What’s your Suu Lin?
While Lao people are given a multi-syllabic formal first name when
they’re born, they often go by their one-syllable Suu Lin, or “play
name.” Lao people sometimes have different nicknames in different
social circles and its not uncommon to never learn your friends’ full
given names. Nicknames are given to babies to ward off evil spirits
and are often unflattering, with literal translations of “fat,” “wide,”
“small,” or “eye.”
Stop, look and listen
Lao drivers are erratic, accidents are all too common, drunk driving is
rampant and motorbike drivers can often be seen driving the wrong
way on a one-way street, on the sidewalk, right up into a building or
through the market. Be vigilant about your surroundings and don’t
assume that drivers see you or that they will yield or slow down if
they do. Same goes for crosswalks: look both ways and don’t assume
that just because you have the light in your favor, someone else won’t
run a red light.
Thank you
 Submitted by:
Isagani g. lanuza jr.