Flag of Laos

Laos is a communist state in Southeast Asia, located in the Indochinese peninsula between Burma and Thailand in the West, China in the North, Vietnam in the East and Cambodia in the South.

The Mekong marks the border with Burma and, in part, with Thailand. The country is divided administratively into 16 provinces (khoueng), to which is added the territory (Nakhon luang) of the capital, Vientiane. With the exception of Vientiane (Viangchan), there is no other major city. However, Luang Prabang is to the North and Savannakhet and Pakse to the South.