Pha That Luang in Vientiane, the national symbol of Laos
Landscape in Vang Vieng
In 2005, The United States established normal trade relations with Laos, ending a protractedperiod of punitive import taxes.The mekong River forms a large part of the western boudary with Thailand whereas the mountains of the Annmite Cain form most of the eastern border with Vietnam. In 1993, the Government set aside 21 % of the nation's land area for preservation. The country is one of four in the opium poppy growing region known as the "Golden Triangle." According to ther oct. 2007, UNODC fact book opium poppy Cultivation in the south east Asia, the cultivation area was 15 sq. kiloms. down from 18 sq. kils. in 2008.
Wattay International Airport in Vientiane
A street market in Luang Prabang
The Lao economy is heavily dependent on investment and trade with its neighbors , Thailand, Vietnam, China etc. But it lacks infrastructure. It has no railways except a short link with Vietnam and Thailand.
Rivers are an important means of transportin Laos
Buses connect the major cities
Laos is one of the poorest country in Asia itsrank in Asia from the bottom is four and rank in the world from bottom is 26th and from the top is 179 with average income per capita is 320 $. Its rank and estimate inb IMF, WB and CIA fact book are,
2007 est, ...........2007 est.,.......2008 est
rank/est...............rank/est...........rank/est
150/669..........140/684............149/709.
