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100 www.paradisesonline.com Known as 'the land of a million elephants' Laos is an unspoiled adventure and one of the most enigmatic countries in Asia. The Lao are a gentle and hospitable people. Their relaxed pace of life is a haven from the busier neighbouring countries of Thailand and Vietnam. Capital and major centres Vientiane, both the Laotian capital and seat of government, is a charming, secluded capital accentuated by a blend of tree- lined avenues, lively markets, religious temples and crumbling French colonial mansions. Luang Prabang is the former royal and religious capital. Stunningly surrounded by lush, forested hills, it was once closed off to tourists. It sits at the meeting point of the Mekong River and the Nam Kahn. Its historic temples and town can be covered on foot in a day. The people With a population of almost seven million people, Laos is home to around 68 ethnic groups. Laos has attracted a variety of cultures and ethnicities but it is largely a traditionally Buddhist, agrarian society. Buddhism permeates nearly every facet of life, as it is the religion of approximately 90 percent of the Laos population. The people speak Lao with different dialects, Vientiane being the most widely used. History Possessing a rich history spanning more then 10,000 years, Laos has spent much of its time under the control of its neighbours—the Cambodians, Vietnamese, Chinese and Burmese. Therefore, Laos' national identity is hard to establish. Laotian history dates from the 13th century, when the Thai people came south from China's Yunnan province under pressure from the armies of Kublai Khan. Unified in 1353, the capital Luang Prabang was established and Lan Xang, as it was previously known, was a powerful and prosperous nation. When the French took control in 1893, they incorporated Laos into French Indochina with Vietnam and Cambodia. Despite several armed revolts, the Laotians continued as a French Colony until WWII. Achieving their independence in 1975, the communist Pathet Lao took control of the government, ending the sixth-century-old monarchy. Initial closer ties to Vietnam were replaced with a gradual return to private entertainment, an easing of foreign investment laws, and the admission into ASEAN in 1997. Nature Laos' beautiful landscape is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Rare primates, mammals and numerous birds are all found in this sanctuary. Freshwater dolphins can be found in the Mekong River. Over half the country's landscape is densely forested, and 70 percent is mountainous. Laos' highest peak, at 2820 metres, is found in the mountain ranges of northeastern Laos in the province of Xiang Khouang. The sights Laos' capital city Vientiane is often described as the most relaxed capital city on earth. Sitting on a bend in the Mekong River, it is a great tourist site with Buddhist monasteries and lively markets. The beautiful Pak Ou caves are strikingly carved into a limestone cliff facing a river. Housing Buddha images of all styles and sizes, trips can be arranged through guesthouses and tour operators. The Pha That Luang is perhaps the most significant national monument in Laos Land of a million elephants