Trivia in Laos

National symbols

Flag: Blue band in the center with thin red bands above and below, white circle symbolizing the Mekong River and unity

Emblem: Depicts That Luang, dam, rice, and cogwheel representing socialist construction

Trivia & facts

• The official name is often abbreviated to "Lao PDR" both domestically and internationally.
• Traffic circles are more common than traffic lights even in the capital Vientiane.
• Coffee cultivation began in the Bolaven Plateau during the French colonial period.
• The white circle on the national flag symbolizes the full moon reflected in the Mekong River, not the Buddhist Dharma Wheel.
• The Bun Bang Fai festival, involving bamboo rocket launches, is held in various places as a rain prayer event.
• The "sinh," the traditional women's garment, has patterns that vary by region.
• Over 90% of the country's electricity comes from hydropower, earning it the title "Battery of Southeast Asia."
• Grazing water buffalo serve as a banking alternative for asset preservation in rural areas.
• Night markets are popular for handmade bamboo products and hand-woven silk fabrics.
• Lao and Thai languages have high mutual intelligibility, but Lao uses its own Lao script.