Welcome to Laos! I travelled to Laos today with a group of friends I met at my hostel in Chiang Rai. We are going to take a two day slow boat down the Mekong River and arrive in the city of Luang Prabang on Friday. Let's start with some first impressions and history before giving my final remarks on Thailand. I crossed the land border into Laos this afternoon. Immediately on the other side of the border I noticed some differences. First, Laos appeared a lot poorer than Thailand. There were many buildings under construction and shopping strips with less developed infrastructure. This is supported by the following fact: As of 2023, Thailand's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is approximately $514.8 billion, with a GDP per capita of $7,336. In contrast, Laos has a GDP of about $14.9 billion and a GDP per capita of $1,999. On the other hand, I immediately noticed that the Lao people are much warmer and friendlier. While I was driving into the city from the boarder kids were running and waving and adults on motorcycles waved and greeted us as well. This never happened in Thailand once. I am looking forward to understanding the people and culture here more deeply, they seem very sweet. Now, the most shocking first impression of Laos was that next to every Laos flag there was the hammer and sickle flag, a known symbol of communism. Laos is one of the few remaining communist states in the world, governed by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party since 1975. The hammer and sickle here is used to emphasize the nation's commitment to its socialist principles. Here is a brief modern history of Laos. In the late 19th century Laos became part of French Indochina, alongside Vietnam and Cambodia. France established control over Laos in 1893, using it primarily as a buffer against British expansion in SE Asia. Laos gained independent from France in 1953 and established a monarchy, the Kingdom of Laos. However, the country was drawn into the Cold War, with the US and USSR supporting rival factions within the country. During this time the monarchy struggled to maintain control and communist insurgents, led by the Pathet Lao, gained strength from support from China and North Vietnam. Laos became heavily involved in the Vietnam Was due to its location along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. In 1975 after the US withdrawal from Vietnam, the Pathet Lao seized power, overthrowing the monarchy and declaring a communist state. Until today, the government tightly controls political expression, media and opposition. Laos faces issues like poverty, corruption and over reliance on foreign investment from China. I am excited to explore this country, its people and its roots for the next couple of weeks. Now to give Thailand its roses. My month in Thailand was amazing filled with so many different things. My highlights are: training Muay Thai, snorkeling in Koh Tao, NYE with Zach and Jacob, motorbike ride to Chiang Dao, and tubing in Pai. I definitely want to return to Thailand, specifically to explore the North and off-the-beaten path places along the Mekong River. The lowlights include: over-tourism in southern Thailand, lack of real Thai culture, lack of welcoming spirit from the locals. Laos is the first country I will be entering as a solo traveller and I am excited to go with the flow, meet new people, and get lost a little bit. Khớp khun kap Thailand and Sabaidee Laos!
