The Lao Factor

Sunset over Mekong river in Laos

Incentive travel programs are re-emerging as a popular trend for companies to reward staff for meeting sales targets. And it's proving popular whilst cash bonus' are still appreciated and well received, an effective incentive travel program will have far longer lasting benefits bringing several hidden perks to the company, especially with the right destination and activities giving your staff a truly unforgettable travel experience. Exotic off the beaten path destinations are proving popular for incentive travel programs with companies opting to send employees to countries and participating in activities they wouldn't typically choose themselves.

2018 marks the official launch of "Visit Laos Year 2018" a project which aims to bring more tourism to the region, so that the country is viewed more as a destination, rather than a passageway for travellers and backpackers. Not as well established as Thailand, this initiative hopes to demonstrate to the world Laos has as much to offer as Thailand architecturally and culturally without the blatant western commercialisation of the region, offering a chance for travellers to discover a land and way of life pre-urbanization.

Back packers returning from a tour of Southeast Asia along with a new head of dreadlocks or a man-bun, a couple of dodgy tattoos and a new affinity for harem pants and wearing flip-flops in all weather conditions. When they're not harping on about how much cheaper things were when travelling (nearly always beer and fags) they'll be regaling in tales about how Laos was their favourite part of the trip, the only respite being when they go off again the next year, and so the cycle continues ad infinitude.

Laos- So how do you say it?

For years the correct pronunciation of Laos has been a contentious topic among travellers with outcomes ranging from passive aggressively "agreeing -to-disagree" to a full-on slanging match fought in the comments section of a web page.

Officially, the correct pronunciation is "Laos" (rhymes with mouse; "s" is sounded). That being said, the word of mouth from the indigenous folk is that they have become so accustomed to hearing travellers mispronouncing their country as "Lao"(rhyming with cow) ,this bogus pronunciation has even been adopted by the natives to ensure Westerners understood them better. A similar situation to when someone's been getting your name wrong for years, and eventually grow tired of correcting them and you just end up exclusively going by your new moniker to that person instead.

That said, there is a correct usage of "Lao" instead of using "Laos"

"Lao" is used as an alternate word for "Laotian" - meaning a person from Laos.

Folk music from Laos is often referred to as Lao music.

Officially, the language of Laos is known as Lao.

Fueling the confusion, the full English version of the official name is the "Lao People's Democratic Republic," or Lao PDR, for short.

The Lao People's Democratic Republic commonly referred to by it's colloquial name of Muang Lao; literally translated as Lao country is a communist and landlocked country in Southeast Asia at the heart of the Indochinese peninsula. It is bordered by Myanmar (Burma) and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southwest, and Thailand to the west and southwest.

Geography

Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, its thickly forested landscape consists mostly of rugged mountains, the highest of which is Phou Bia at 2,818 metres (9,245 ft) with some plains and plateaus. The Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand, whereas the mountains of the Annamite Range form most of the eastern border with Vietnam and the Luang Prabang Range the northwestern border with the Thai highlands. There are two plateaux, the Xiang Khoang in the north and the Bolaven Plateau at the southern end. The population of Laos as it is today is estimated at 6,972,496, with a population density of 30 per sq km (78 people per sq mile)

Climate

Laos has a mostly tropical savanna climate. A tropical monsoon and humid sub-tropical climate also occur in places. There is a distinct rainy season from May to November, followed by a dry season from December until April. Local tradition maintains that there are three seasons(rainy, cold and hot) as the last two months of the dry season(October and November) are significantly hotter than the earlier four months.

Tourism

Tourism in Laos has increased rapidly from 80,000 visitors in 1990 to 1.8 million in 2010. Main attractions for tourists include Buddhist culture and colonial architecture in Luang Prabang, gastronomy and ancient temples in the capital Vientiane, ancient and modern culture and history in the Plain of Jars region. Military history of the Laos Civil War in Sam Neura, trekking and visiting the hill tribes in Phongsaly and Nuang Namtha, tiger and other wild animal spotting in Nam Et-Phou Louey, caves and waterfalls near Thakthek, the Irrawaddy dolphin and Khone Phapheng Falls at Si Phan Donor - or as they're known in English, the Four Thousand Islands, Wat Phu, an ancient Khmer temple complex and the Bolaven Plateau for waterfalls and coffee.

The European Council on Trade and Tourism awarded the country the "World's Best Tourist Destination" designation for 2013 for this combination of architecture and history.

The Lao National Tourism Administration, related government agencies and the private sector are working together to realize the vision put forth in the country's National Eco tourism Strategy and Action Plan. This includes decreasing the environmental and cultural impact of tourism, increasing awareness in the importance of ethnic groups and biological diversity, providing a source of income to conserve, sustain and manage the Lao protected area network and cultural heritage sites and emphasizing the need for tourism zoning and management sites that will be developed as ecotourism destinations.

Buddhism in Laos

Buddhism is the main religion of Laos; with the Theravada teachings being the branch of Buddhism in the region. This more conservative Buddhist practice is the foundation of all Laotian culture with Buddhist iconography reflected in all its art forms and architecture.

Lao Buddhists are very devout with many Lao men joining a monastery or temple for a short period of their lives, almost as a sort of rite of passage. Although many of those that join at a young age will live on as a monk for life. Many donate food to monks in order to gain merit or improve karma. Laotian Temples were often regarded as "Universities" for monks. Lao monks are highly respected and revered in Lao communities. It is estimated that 65% of the population identify as Buddhist.

Vientiane

Vientiane (pronounced Viang-chan) is the capital and largest city of Laos located on the banks of the Mekong river in proximity to the border with Thailand. Vientiane was named the capital in 1563 due to the threat of a Burmese invasion but was subsequently invaded and pillaged in 1827 by the Thai. The city became the administrative capital whilst the country was under French rule and is today in the 21st century the economic centre of Laos. The city's population currently stands at 783,000. Vientiane is known for the country's most important landmark; That Luang a national monument in Laos and a symbol of Buddhism in the country.

Vientiane offers a relaxing riverside break where one of the best things you can do is grab a drink find a spot and enjoy the sun’s spectacular show as it sets over the Mekong. Despite being the largest city in Laos and the hub of commerce and administration, Vientiane is still refreshingly laid back.

In contrast to the rural areas, the city itself offers a vast selection of hotels and restaurants with a few elegant french style open air cafes paying tribute to a time when Laos was under French protectorate in the early part of the 20th Century until the country was granted independence in 1954. The French influence seen in the architecture contrasting nicely with the omnipresence of Buddhist iconography sprinkled all around.

Even after sunset the city switches to night mode and a variety of bars open their doors catering for all; from chic cocktail lounges to more casual backpacker type saloons in more informal surroundings.

Things to see and do

Buddha Park. (Vientiane) - also known to locals as Xieng Khuan. Buddha Park is exactly what its English name suggests; a sculpture park located 25km southeast from Vientiane, in a meadow by the Mekong River.

That Luang (Vientiane)- or Pha That Luang, to use its full official title is a large Buddhist gold-covered hemispherical monument, or stupa, in the centre of Vientiane. Since its initial establishment, suggested to be around the 3rd century, the landmark has undergone several reconstructions as recently as the 1930s as a result of persistent foreign invasions of the area over the years. It is regarded as the most important national monument in Laos, and a national symbol.

Vang Vieng (Vientiane) - Vang Vieng is a small-town north of Vientiane, on the Nam Song River in Laos. It's surrounded by striking limstone mountains, and caves. Tham Poukam to the west, is a cave with a blue-green lagoon and a reclining Buddha statue. North is the deep Tham Nam Cave which has a spring at its entrance. Nearby, in Tham Xang Cave features a stalactite resembling an elephant. Vang Vieng is home to 16th and 17th century monasteries.

Tad Fane waterfall (Champasak) - The Tad Fane twin falls thunders over a hundred metres down steep cliffs into a gorge, located a few kilometres west of Paksong Town, Champasak Province. The scenic rainforest spot is part of a larger national park home to wild animals including leopards, tigers, elephants and monkeys. The Tad Fane Waterfall is located within the Dong-Hua Sao jungle, part of the National Biodiversity Conservation areas in Champasak Province in Laos.

Wat Phu (Champasak) - Wat Phu is a ruined Khmer hindu temple complex in southern Laos. It is found at the base of mount Phou khao approximately 6 kilometres from the Mekong in Champasak Province.

The Plain of Jars (Xieng Khouang) - The plain of Jars is a megalithic archaelogical landscape in Laos. It consists of thousands of stone jars scattered around the upland valleys and the lower foothills of the central plain of the Xiang Khoang Plateau.

Kuang Si (Luang Prabang) - The Kuang Si Falls, sometimes known as Tat Kuang Si waterfalls, is a multi- levelled waterfall 29 kilometres south of Luang Prabang. This attraction is a favourite side venture for tourists travelling through Luang Prabang.

Pak Ou Caves (Luang Prabang) - Near Pak Ou the Tam Ting and the tham Theung are caves overlooking the Mekong River 25 km to the north of Luang Prabang.

Activities:

As well as a smorgasbord of ancient sites to experience and just as many naturally occurring wonders to visit. If you're outdoorsy physical type. Vientiane's got that based covered also. A variety of outdoor activities are on offer, where you can pursue all the outdoor adventures and hobbies you're used to at home, in the tropics of southeast Asia.

Nam Ngum Lake

Located 90-kilometres from Vientiane by car is an amazing region of Laos; Nam Ngum Lake (pronounced; "Nam-Yum") is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike for its peaceful, quiet settings surrounded by various traditional methods of agriculture.

Package tours are available, whereby a car will collect you from your hotel in Vientiane early in the morning taking you on a scenic 90-kilometer drive north to Nam Ngum Lake. Depending on weather and road conditions, the drive takes around 90 minutes. En route is a stop off at Vang Xang; a small archaeological site built in the 11th century, where Buddha images and sculptures are carved into the side of the sandstone escarpment. The site's picturesque location along a small river makes Vang Xang the perfect pit stop whilst travelling to your destination of Nam Ngum Lake.

Arrive at Lake Nam Ngum around late morning in time for lunch at a lakeside restaurant. Before taking to the waters for a guided boat trip on the pristine waters of the lake. Sit back and relax as you cruise by the lush vegetation along the backwaters and soak up river life, before continuing on to Ban Kheun and visiting the nearby zoo.

The tour concludes with a stop at a local salt works to observe the fascinating salt extraction process before returning back to Vientiane. 

Promoting its Visit Laos Year 2018 campaign; aimed at reinvigorating the country's declining tourism industry. The Lao government laid out ambitious goals of attracting 5.2 million tourists, with projected revenues approximating $910 million in 2018.

The World Travel & Tourism Council predicts that the total contribution of the tourism industry to employment, including jobs supported by the industry, is expected to grow by 0.3% to 384,500 jobs in 2018 from 383,500 in the previous year increasing to 428,000 jobs in 2028. The total contribution of the tourism of the country's GDP is expected to rise by 4.7% in 2018, increasing to $3.37 billion in ten years.