@Laos
Introduction Laos
Background:
In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government,
ending a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closer ties to Vietnam
and socialization were replaced with a gradual return to private
enterprise, a liberalization of foreign investment laws, and the
admission into ASEAN in 1997.
Geography Laos
Location:
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
18 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 236,800 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
land: 230,800 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries:
total: 5,083 km
border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km,
Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km