People Laos' ethnically diverse population is usually divided by topographical zones into three groups: 1. The wet rice cultivating, Buddhist Lao Loum of the lowlands, who are politically and numerically dominant, constituting over half of the total population. 2. The Lao Theung who occupy the mountain slopes and make up about a quarter of the population. 3. The Lao Soung, or upland Lao, who live in the high mountains and practise shifting cultivation, and who make up less than a fifth of Laos' total population. These subdivisions are simplistic and in practice the lines between ethnic groups are increasingly blurred as communication and migration increase across the country. The largest non-Lao groups in Laos are the Chinese and Vietnamese communities in the main cities. Religion The predominant religion is Theravada Buddhism. Animism is common particularly among the mountain tribes. Buddhism and spirit worship coexist easily, even though phi worship is officially banned. The clearest example of this is the Baci ceremony which all Buddhist lowland Lao practise regularly at every major life event such as birth, marriage and death. The ceremony calls all the good spirits together to ward off the evil spirits and to get strength for these important moments in life. Most Christians (primarily Roman Catholic) have left since 1975. Art and Architecture Lao art is well known for its wealth of ornamentation. As in other neighbouring Buddhist countries the focus is primarily religious in nature. Temple murals and bas-reliefs usually tell the story of the Buddha's lives, the Jataka tales. There is not as wide a range of art in Laos as in Thailand, as the country has been constantly dominated by foreign powers that tended to suppress indigenous culture. Much of Lao history and culture has been destroyed over the centuries, as plundering neighbours such as Siamese/Thais, Chinese and Vietnamese ransacked the towns and cities. Also, wood has always been the primary building material, resulting in a limited life span for ancient monuments. The Ramayana, the famous Indian epic, has become a part of the Lao cultural heritage, and is known as the Phra Lak Pralam. Many of the doors and windows of temples are engraved with scenes from this story, depicting for example the struggle between good and evil. Prime examples are the huge teak shutters at Wat Xieng Thong in Luang Prabang. Sculpture in Laos is more distinctive in style, the best pieces originating from the 16th to 18th centuries. Characteristic of Lao Buddha images is a nose like an eagle's beak, extended earlobes, and tightly curled hair. The best examples are in Wat Phra Kaeo and Wat Sisaket in Vientiane. In addition, there are certain mudras (gestures) that are found only in Lao Buddhist sculpture. These include the ‘Calling for Rain’, (the Buddha standing, both arms held stiffly at the side of the body, fingers pointing downwards) and the ‘Contemplating the Tree of Enlightenment’.

Language The official language of Laos is Lao, as spoken and written in Vientiane. As an official language it has successfully become the lingua franca between all Lao and non-Lao ethnic groups in Laos. Lao is a monosyllabic, tonal language but it contains many polysyllabic words borrowed from Indian, Pali and Sanskrit as well as words from Khmer. It has 6 tones, 33 consonants, and 28 vowels. Lao is also spoken in north-east Thailand and north Cambodia, which was originally part of the kingdom of Lan Xang. There are five main dialects in the country, each of which can be divided into further sub-dialects. In colonial days French was introduced in the country and is still spoken in towns today, particularly by the older generation. Increasingly, English is being used by the government and the younger generation in the towns are also learning to speak English. Dance and Theatre Lao music and dance have much in common with those of Thailand. Popular instruments include bamboo flutes, drums, gongs, cymbals and pinched or bowed string instruments shaped like banjos. The national instrument is the kaen, a hand-held pipe organ. It is made from bamboo and is similar in appearance to the South American panpipes. Apart from the classical theatre, there is the traditional folk theatre. It is called moo lam and might be best compared with the European tradition of roving minstrels. Moo lam is a very special Lao form of theatre and it has survived all kinds of censorship without change. Classical Lao theatre and dance have Indian origins and were probably imported from the Cambodian royal courts in the 14th century. Thai influence has also crept in over the years. The national folk dance is the lamvong Lao, a circle dance in which people dance in a big circle, the men on one side facing the women, so that in fact two circles within each other exist. Manners As with all cultures everywhere in the world, there are some general rules of conduct that a traveller in Laos should follow. It is best to avoid the time round 11am when visiting a wat as this is when monks usually take their morning meal. Women should not attempt to shake the hand of a monk, hand anything to him, or sit beside him since monks are not allowed to touch women. When talking to a monk, try to keep your head lower than his. When sitting down, feet should point away from the altar and main image. Arms and legs should be fully covered when visiting wats. A small donation is advisable, and it is appropriate to kneel down when giving it. In general pointing with the index finger is considered rude. Patting children on the head should be avoided, as it is the most sacred part of the body. The traditional form of greeting is with hands together, prayer-like, and with head bowed, as in most parts of Asia, but handshaking is done more frequently today. Sensitivity pays when taking photographs. Be very wary in areas that have (or could have) military importance such as airports, where all photography is prohibited. Also be careful when photographing official functions and parades without permission. Always ask permission before photographing a person or in a temple. Holidays And Festivals Festivals in Laos are largely linked to agricultural seasons or historical Buddhist holidays. The general word for festival in Laos is boun (merit) - which means doing good things during the festivities in order to gain merit for a life after death.