Laos trivia: 48 questions and answers

Vientiane. Vientiane, on the Mekong opposite Thailand, is the capital and largest city. Luang Prabang was the old royal capital.

True. True. Laos is surrounded by China, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, and it is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia.

Lao kip. The Lao kip has been the currency of Laos since 1953. Thai baht is sometimes accepted near the border, but the kip is the only official currency.

Malaysia. Malaysia does not border Laos. The neighbours of Laos are China, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Fa Ngum. Fa Ngum, raised in exile at Angkor, founded Lan Xang in 1353 and made Theravada Buddhism the state religion.

A million elephants. Lan Xang means 'a million elephants', a boast about the power of the king and his war elephants.

Vientiane. Setthathirath moved the capital to Vientiane in 1560, and a few years later built Pha That Luang there.

True. True. The Emerald Buddha was carried off in 1779 and is now in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok. Haw Phra Kaew in Vientiane, built to house it, is a museum.

The monarchy ended and the Lao People's Democratic Republic was proclaimed. On 2 December 1975 the monarchy ended and the Lao People's Democratic Republic was proclaimed. Full independence came in 1953 and ASEAN membership in 1997.

True. True. The air campaign over Laos was officially secret, and many unexploded bombs from it still lie in the ground.

Sticky rice. Sticky rice, khao niao, is the heart of every Lao meal. It is rolled into small balls with the fingers and used to scoop up food.

Larb. Larb is chopped meat or fish mixed with lime juice, fish sauce, chilli, fresh herbs and toasted ground sticky rice.

River algae. Kaipen is made from river algae, pressed into thin sheets with sesame seeds and garlic, dried in the sun and quickly fried.

Luang Prabang. Or lam comes from Luang Prabang. Slices of 'chilli wood', sakhaan, make it gently tingle on the tongue.

True. True. The French brought the baguette, and today khao jee pâté is sold from street stalls, especially for breakfast.

False. False. Tam mak hoong uses unripe green papaya, shredded and pounded in a mortar with garlic, chilli, lime and fish sauce.

True. True. Closing the basket shows that you have finished your meal.

Crispy fried rice balls. Nam khao is made with crispy fried rice balls, broken up and tossed with sour pork sausage, peanuts, lime and herbs, and eaten in lettuce leaves.

Phonsavan. Phonsavan, on the Xiangkhoang Plateau, is the base for visiting the Plain of Jars.

True. True. Vang Vieng, north of Vientiane, is known for its karst scenery, caves and kayaking on the Nam Song.

Houayxay. Houayxay, opposite Chiang Khong in Thailand, is where many travellers board the slow boat down the Mekong to Luang Prabang.

Pha That Luang. Pha That Luang, built in 1566, is the national symbol and appears on the national emblem.

True. True. Patuxai resembles the Arc de Triomphe, but it is decorated with Lao mythical creatures.

The Khmer. The Khmer built Vat Phou, a Hindu temple on a sacred mountain above the Mekong, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.

Burial practices. Burial practices: human remains, beads and tools have been found in and around the jars, some of which were set in place more than 2,500 years ago.

Mekong. The Khone Phapheng Falls are on the Mekong, near the Cambodian border. They are the main reason ships cannot sail up the river into China.

False. False. Kuang Si Falls is in the north, about 29 km south of Luang Prabang.

A cave that a river flows through for about 7 km. Kong Lo is a cave that a river flows through for about 7 km. Visitors cross it in small motorboats.

A full moon over the Mekong. The white disc is said to stand for a full moon over the Mekong, and for the unity of the Lao people. The blue stripe stands for the river.

True. True. In 1991 the stupa replaced the hammer and sickle on the emblem.

The khaen, a bamboo mouth organ. The khaen, a bamboo mouth organ, is the national instrument. Khaen music was added to UNESCO's list in 2017.

About 80 million. About 80 million bomblets failed to explode. Clearing them is slow work that still goes on today.

Four. Four: the Town of Luang Prabang, Vat Phou, the Plain of Jars, and Hin Nam No National Park, added in 2025.

More than 10 km. More than 10 km: the falls spread across many channels between the islands of the Mekong.

Hello. Sabaidee means hello. Thank you is khop jai, sorry is khaw thot, and delicious is sep.

Sticky rice. Khao niao is sticky rice: khao means rice and niao means sticky.

True. True. The Vientiane dialect has six tones, so the pitch of a word changes its meaning.

Khmer. The Lao script was adapted from the Khmer script and is a close relative of the Thai alphabet.

Khop jai. Khop jai means thank you. Khop jai lai lai means thank you very much.

No problem, it's nothing. Bo pen nyang means 'no problem, it's nothing'. It is the answer to a thank you or an apology.

How much?. Tao dai? means 'How much?'. Friendly bargaining is normal in Lao markets.

True. True. Bo means 'not' and pet means 'spicy'.

False. False. Sep lai means 'very delicious'. 'I don't understand' is khoy bo khao jai.

Take off your shoes. Take off your shoes, and wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees when visiting temples.

False. False. The head is the most respected part of the body, so you should not touch anyone on the head.

Unexploded bombs from the war may remain in the ground. Unexploded bombs from the war may remain in the ground, mostly near the border with Vietnam. The main tourist towns and sites are cleared.

Food, such as sticky rice. Food, such as sticky rice, is offered to monks in the morning. Monks are not allowed to accept money.

True. True. Tap water in Laos is not safe to drink, but bottled water is cheap and easy to find.