The nation-state of present-day Laos emerged in the 20th century, but the region has been populated for thousands of years. Laos had had a long history of invasions and wars until it became politically stable in 1975.
Being a land of rich ethnic diversity and historical ruins, thousands of tourists visit Laos each year.
Quick Facts
- 500 BC – The Plain of Jars, one of the most important prehistoric sites in Southeast Asia, dates from between 500 BC and 500 AD
- 400 AD – Theravada Buddhism was introduced to Laos
- 900-1300 AD – Most of Laos is subordinate to the Khmer Empire at Angkor.
- 1353 – Lan Xang (Million Elephants) Kingdom, founded in the 14th century by Fa Ngum.
- 1893-1953 – Laos was ruled by the French
- 1975 – Laos becomes a communist country
Ancient Laos
The history of Laos can be traced back to over 46,000 years ago. An ancient human skull was found, dating back to that period, at the Tam Pa Ling Cave in the Annamite Mountains. Laos' first inhabitants were hunter-gatherers. Later they became farmers growing rice and pulses.
2,000 BC - Stone tools used by farmers. Bronze was used in Laos (when??) and from about 500 BC iron was used.
500 BC - The Plain of Jars, one of the most significant prehistoric sites in Southeast Asia, dates from between 500 BC and 500 AD.
1st century AD - The ancient people of Laos were influenced by Indian culture. Indian merchants later introduced Theravada Buddhism to Laos.
400 to 800 AD - People living on the Mekong River formed small cities and kingdoms called Muang. During this period, Theravada Buddhism gradually came to overshadow Hinduism and Animism.
1200 AD - Tai people entered the kingdom and introduced small tribal states, led by kings believed to be partly divine.
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My husband and I are planning a 3 week…
Alisa was a great listener to all the things we wanted to incorporate into our trip. We discussed everything throughly, and when I had questions, she had answers the next day. I really appreciate her responsiveness and detail with me. I feel like we are in the best hands with Alisa and Asia Highlights. More
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Very great experience our driver D was…
Very great experience our driver D was never late and always had waters and a cold towel for us and our tour guide Som was very informative and had amazing English I recommend them both highly for anyone else traveling More
Rylan Coache, Feb 2024
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Excellent guide in Siem Reap
Our recent time spent in Siem Reap was made even more memorable by our expert guide, Som Piseth. Som was knowledgeable, attentive, flexible and super helpful - we learnt so much about Siem Reap and Cambodia in our 3 days with him. His English was excellent and his knowledge of, and pride in, his country was outstanding. We would highly recommend Som for anyone wanting an excellent guide in Siem Reap! More
Sharon Townshend, Feb 2024
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Asia Highlights trip to Thailand
Our first tour guide in Bangkok, Marie, was great to tour around with. She was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. Our next stop in Chang Mai we were greeted by our new tour guide, Rafael. He too was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. He made it feel as if we were traveling around with a long time friend. Every time we arrived at a new destination, we were greeted at the airport by someone with a sign with our name making our travels easy. I would definitely recommend Asia Highlights to anyone looking for a well planned trip of a lifetime! More
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Amazing Thailand experience
The tour guides were all knowledgeable and accommodating, especially Mayuree in Bangkok- absolutely wonderful. We felt taken care of and every step of the way was catered to our needs. More
Ashley White, Feb 2024
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Private tour perfect for our times
Asia highlights organized a private tour with our requests. Everything was perfect ?? the driver Tom and the guide Ying were always on time with a smile in their face. Always willing to help and make our trip perfect. Bangkok is a very hot city so we minimized the time outside. The driver always had cold towels for us in the van and cold beverages. More
Virginia, Feb 2024
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Thailand
We loved Chiang Mai and Susie did a great job showing us several temples, taking many pictures of us with the elephants at the sanctuary (a definite highlight of the entire trip!), and making sure we were well fed, which became a running joke between us.We had a very relaxing few days in Phuket enjoying the beautiful beaches. Kai was great, answering all of our questions and giving us a nice tour of the old town. The all-day speedboat tour of the Phi Phi islands started off a little shaky as the sea was quite rough so if you’re at all uncomfortable bouncing around in a speedboat, you might want to skip that tour. Things did calm down as the day went on and some of the areas they took us to for swimming, snorkeling, etc were really beautiful. A couple of the islands were too crowded with people. More
Andrea Roberts, Feb 2024
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What a Wonderful Trip
What a Wonderful Trip! We booked with Sharon and our trip was great - guides were waiting for us at each stop, and they were all very nice and helpful. I cannot stress how amazing the guides were - they made the trip. More
Rachel, Feb 2024
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Ask for Victor!
If you are traveling to Bangkhok you need to request Victor. He made our trip amazing! My family completed bucket list items with his guidance. He knew exactly how to get us places, kept us on time, made us feel safe, educated us on history, spoke excellent English and was genuinely a nice man! Everyone we encountered was awesome- but Victor is the reason for my 5 star review! More
Sandy, Jan 2024
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Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a…
Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a wonderful trip to Thailand. We had a great time. The tour guides were wonderful as were the hotels you booked for us. We will definitely contact you to plan our next trip More
Carol Yeung, Jan 2024
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Ying was the best
Ying was the best. She was really knowledgeable and kind. Thank you Ying for wonderful experience in Thailand! More
Sylvester Yeung, Jan 2024
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Very well organized
Very well organized. Our tour guide, Ying, was amazing! She had full knowledge of every location we visited and made sure our itinerary was fulfilled as expected. She was extremely helpful for our airport experiences, and made sure we arrived at an appropriate time. More
David M. Kang, Jan 2024
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Family trip to Thailand
We were lucky to be greeted by Marie and her driver.In Marie, we have made a friend for life. She is incredibly smart and knowledgeable about her home country. From the vast number of temples to safely traversing Chinatown.She helped give us tips on our free days, locate left behind lost clothing and arrange for pickup. She even helped check us in for our flight to Chiang Mai.She prepared us ahead of time for every event we had scheduled and bonded with our kids, 3x 13 year olds. More
Justin Levenbrook, Jan 2024
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Thailand with and amazing tour guide Ying
I highly recommend Ying as a tour guide in Thailand. Her expertise in Thai culture, combined with her passion for food and genuine love for her country, made the tour an exceptional experience. If you're looking for a guide who will not only show you the sights but also immerse you in the local culture and help you discover delicious Thai cuisine, Ying is the perfect choice. More
Diana Irizarry, Jan 2024
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Asia Highlights Thailand trip
Asia Highlights provided us with a great travel trip. They made it very easy to navigate through Thailand with everything going very smoothly. From the easy transportation to the great day itinerary everything was awesome. Will definitely look to use this agency again in the future. More
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Perfect 2 WK Thailand Trip for a Solo Female Traveler
Bank was our guide in Bangkok and he showed us around the city with ease and we were able to see and try things I never would have planned on my own. After Bangkok, our small group flew to Chiang Mai for Yi Peng lantern festival and that was a breathtaking experience that I will never forget! Pop was our guide in this city and she was knowledgeable, kind and caring which made our experience even more memorable. More
Tia, Dec 2023
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We recently have just returned from Thailand
We recently have just returned one from a 5 week trip to Thailand through Asia Highlights. We had a wonderful time and Asia Highlights went beyond our expectations. They truly tried their best to make sure everything went smoothly and we were taken care of! Everyone was amazing and we would definitely use them in the future!! Many thanks to everyone that helped to make this an incredible once in a lifetime experience!! More
Karen Rocque, Dec 2023
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Indochina Experience
On our 5th day of our trip with Asiahighlights. We felt well taken care of before and it hasn’t changed since we started from Bangkok to Hanoi (guide Kim was verrry knowledgeable!) to Halong Bay (spectacular scenery) to Hoi An (guide Nhieu Tran, giving great local (shopping) tips and insights). More
Stefan Eisenhut, Dec 2023
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The Lan Xang Kingdom (Million Elephants)
The Khmer from Cambodia ruled Laos from the 9th to the 13th century.
In the 14th century, Laotians founded a kingdom called Lan Xang. The first king was Chao Fa Ngum, who was succeeded by his son Phaya Samsenthai in 1373. He ruled until 1421 and under him Lan Xang became a prosperous kingdom. However, those who succeeded him were less skillful rulers.
In the 16th century Lan Xang was threatened by Burma but it managed to retain its independence.
In the 17th century greatness was restored to Lan Xang by Sourinyavongsa (1637-1694). His long reign is seen as a golden age, during which Lan Xang was powerful and prosperous. However when Sourinyavongsa died in 1694, he did not leave an heir.
This prosperous kingdom has left Laos with many impressive religious buildings and historical sites at Luang Prabang and Vientiane. This history of Lan Xang Kingdom is sacred to Lao people who believe it will bring prosperity to their country.
The Kingdom divided
The kingdom of Lan Xang in 1354 united the area that is now Laos. This lasted for over 350 years, until 1707, when the kingdom split into three separate states controlled by Siam. They were called Vientiane, Champasak and Luang Prabang.
When it was divided in that way, Laos was weakened and fell prey to Siam (Thailand). Burma invaded Laos and conquered Siamese Ayutthaya in 1763. Siamese retaliation came in 1778 when Taksin's army defeated the Burmese. This meant that Siam's control over Laos became even more entrenched.
However, Annam (Vietnam) took control over Laos in 1795, and kept it until 1828. In 1804 Anuvong became king of Vientiane. By 1825 Anuvong had become determined to overthrow Siamese domination and restore the kingdom of Lan Xang.
In 1827 he advanced into Siam but was defeated and forced to retreat. Anuvong fled to Vietnam. Several months later he returned to Vientiane but was captured by the Siamese (Thai), which ended all hope of a restored Lan Xang.
Between 1831 and 1834, Vietnam and Siam fought the Siamese-Vietnamese War for control of Laos. Nguyen dynasty in Vietnam then took over much of the Lao territory that is now Northern Laos.
By 1850, Laos' rulers were forced to pay tribute to Siam, China, and Vietnam. However, Siam maintained the most influence and control.
French Rule
From 1893 to 1953 Laos was ruled by France. In that period, the country manufactured tin, rubber and coffee.
The French colonial period remains influential in contemporary Laos. The French cuisine brought croissants, café au lait, freshly baked baguettes, pâté, and wine to Laos.
French architecture is also prominent in parts of Laos, including small residences, mansions, and tourist attractions.
Although the French occupied Laos, they had little interest in the country. However, In 1941 France and Thailand fought over Laotian territory. The Japanese intervened by forcing an armistice, which meant that Thailand acquired parts of Laos.
Towards the end of World War II, the Japanese forced King Sisavang Vong to declare independence from France. When the Japanese surrendered to the Allies in September 1945, prince Phesarath was prime minister of Laos, and led a government called Lao Issara (free Lao).
However, Laotian independence did not last long. The French invaded Laos in 1946 and resumed their control of the country.
The Independence of Laos
Five years after the end of World War II, Prince Souphanouvong formed an organisation called Paphet Lao, or 'Land of the Lao'.
A few years later, in 1953, France began to lose control of Southeast Asia and withdrew completely from Laos in 1953. After French rule, Laos became an independent, constitutional monarchy.
Although independent, Laos remained politically divided between a royalist government supported by the USA, and the pro-communist Paphet Lao assisted by their allies, the Viet Minh.
The Vietnam War (Second Indochina War)
The Asian War marked the 1960s, and politically unstable Laos became involved. For 9 years, from 1964 to 1973, America tried but failed to defeat Paphet Lao and reclaim their territory.
When in 1975 the communists assumed control of South Vietnam and Cambodia, the royalists left Laos, and Paphet Lao took leadership. They founded The Lao People"s Democratic Republic the same year and began a communist regime.
Revolution and Reform
In 1986, Laos implemented a comprehensive renovation policy, which entailed changing from a centralized to a market-oriented economy, opening up the country to tourism and cooperation with foreign countries, and restoring democracy.
Laos joined ASEAN in 1997, and the WTO in 2013. With foreign investments in projects like electric power and public transportation increasing, the economy started to bloom. Visitors could choose many different forms of transportation, various styles of hotels and high-end restaurants with local cuisine.
Today, Laos has political stability, constant economic growth and favorable investment conditions, strengthening and promoting the country.
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Visit Laos with Asia Highlights
Laos has many culturally significant tourist attractions. Among them is the delightful city of Luang Prabang, which was once the capital and was influenced by the French occupation of the country. Patuxai Victory Monument is dedicated to the people killed in the fight to gain independence from France, Japan and Siam.
With our experienced guide, you can fully enjoy not only the beautiful scenery but also the rich history of this land. Check these links for more information.
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Our guide lele is a wealth of information, Lele is very professional and very attentive to our needs. Lele is amazing. Lele got everything spot on. It probably helps that Guilin is a brilliant place to visit so Lele has great material to work with but that doesn't take anything away from how much Lele helped make it a great trip.
moreOur guide for Beijing was super knowledgeable and experienced and able to help us to achieve as much as we wanted within the time given. We had a fun time guided by him as he is also super humorous and you can see how he interacts with the vendors and people whom he comes by. Thank you for a very enjoyable time in Beijing and accommodating to all our needs!
moreOur China Highlight guide. Michael, was attentive, thoughtful and knowledgeable. He narrated many interesting historical events about Chengdu while touring around the city and having afternoon tea with us. He was thoughtful to provide us with snacks during long hikes at Leshan or walks around the city.
moreShe was very flexible and added extra time when we needed it and we felt extremely well taken care of. She also chose the best restaurants for us,
moreOur tour guide Helen, was excellent, she was very kind, professional and passionate for her work and she also loves Pandas! She will take you to take the best panda photos and to know more about Chengdu city. Our tour was great, she took us to all our destinations always with the best spots: Temples, pagodas, famous streets, theaters, pandas...you name it! Everything was great.
moreHe picked up our pre-booked boat/other excursions tickets so we were able to avoid all the long lines and chaos. He is knowledgeable of the places we visited, courteous, fun to travel with and well-versed in Chinese classics.
moreTom is the guide that will take you to where no other guide will. We pushed for the experience and Tom and the team delivered more than what we could have ever asked for. His English speaking ability and his Chinese history knowledge is second to none.
moreTom is the guide that will take you to where no other guide will. We pushed for the experience and Tom and the team delivered more than what we could have ever asked for. His English speaking ability and his Chinese history knowledge is second to none.
moreOur day trip to Hangzhou was phenomenal. Derek, our guide, was impeccable. By far the best guide we have had so far. He is extremely knowledgeable about the country’s history and geography and was always excited to share his insights.
moreXian es encantadora, el hotel Eastern house boutique muy buena elección por parte de la agencia, los desayunos muy completos para complacer todo tipo de gusto, lo recomiendo 100%, el itinerario fue muy acertado fueron 2 días en la ciudad xian, compartimos con la guía Susana, la atención, la amabilidad y sobre todo su profesionalismo fue lo que marcó la diferencia, sus detalles, estaba siempre en el lugar y momento correcto para hacer de xian un lugar inolvidable.
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