Page 76 - Ancient Kingdoms: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia & Vietnam

• Time Zone: Laos is twelve hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am in Washington D.C.,
it is 6pm in Vientiane.

National Holidays: Laos

In addition to the holidays listed below, Laos 03/08 International Women’s Day
celebrates a number of national holidays
05/01 Labor Day/ May Day
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you will be traveling during these holidays, 06/01 Children’s Day
please visit www.timeanddate.com/
holidays. 11/14 That Luang Festival

01/01 New Year’s Day 12/02 National Day

Historical Overview
Early History

Civilization in the Mekong River Valley where Laos is located stretches back at least 10,000
years and centers around the Mekong River. The Thai and Lao people who now inhabit Laos
were originally ruled by the Mons and Khmers. In the 13th century, the Mongols under Kublai
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drove out the Mongols and brought the kingdom of Northern Thailand into existence. From
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began in the 14th century.

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accepted from the Khmers the Pha Bang, a gold Buddha that became a symbolic and powerful
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kingdoms in the Mekong Valley, and by the 17th century Vientiane was established as its
capital and used as the name of the nation.

Foreign Influence

Siam, one of the other powerful nations in the Mekong Valley, and the kingdom of Vientiane
fought a series of wars that by 1820 left the region in tatters. The Siamese continued with their
aggression and by 1885 ruled all of the Mekong Valley. The power of the Siamese was not to
last, however. The French arrived in Southeast Asia about this time and, using what we now
call gunboat diplomacy, took over the various small kingdoms that now existed and turned
them into a single principality that they governed and called Laos.

The French did little for Laos—concentrating instead on developing the territories of Vietnam
and Cambodia where they built cities, roads, and railroads, and supported education and
commerce. Laos, however, was neglected by the French and did not share in the prosperity of
its neighbors.

Modern History

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