Laos Travel Guide

It’s hard to think of any other country with a population as laid back as Laos. Baw pen nyăng (no problem) could be the national motto. On the surface at least, nothing seems to faze the Lao and, especially if you’re arriving from neighbouring China or Vietnam, the national psyche is both enchanting and beguiling. Of course, it’s not as simple as ‘people just smiling all the time because they’re happy’, as we heard one traveller describe it. The Lao national character is a complex combination of culture, environment and religion.

To a large degree “Lao-ness” is defined by Buddhism, specifically Theravada Buddhism, which emphasizes the cooling of the human passions. Thus strong emotions are a taboo in Lao society. Kamma (karma), more than devotion, prayer or hard work, is believed to determine one’s lot in life, so the Lao tend not to get too worked up over the future. It’s a trait often perceived by outsiders as a lack of ambition.

[...Read more]