Lao PDR used to be called Lane Xang, "The Land of A Million Elephants". It was the name given to the country by King Fa Ngum whuen he reunified the country in 1353 A.D.
Lao folk music features the khan, or Lao panpipe, a wind instrument that is devised of a double row of bamboo like reeds fitted into a hardwood sound box. The khean is often accompanied by a bowed string instrument or saw.
The National Dance is a folks dance called the Lamvong, or Circle Dance, in which couples dance circles around one another until there are three circles in all: a circle prescribed by an individual, a circle danced by a couple, and one by the whole crowd.
The cultural history of Lao PDR has been shaped by a blend of three religions. The early Lao were animists, believers in spirits, and many of these traditions still prevail; then Brahmanism spread eastward from the Indian subcontinent, and finally Buddhism, the most obvious influence on Lao culture today, made its unique influence on Lao PDR.
Many Lao males choose to be ordained as monks temporarily, normally spending anywhere from a few days to three months at a wat or temple.
Lao art and architecture is often unique and expressive. Most tourists will visit a wat or temple during their visit to Lao PDR, and see the traditional turned-up roofs of the wat. Wat is the compound where monks reside.
Sculptures usually depicting the image of Buddha are distinctively Lao: the "calling for rain" posture, which depicts the Buddha standing with his hand held rigidly at the side, fingers pointing to the ground. The flat, elongated earlobes, arched eyebrows and cauline nose are typically Lao. Another unique feature is that the bottom of the image's robe turns up on both sides in a perfectly symmetrical fashion.
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