Doesn’t the Patuxay Monument remind you of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe? After all, Patuxay means Gate of Triumph. Ironically, it was built to honor those who fought the French for independence, which Laos attained in 1954. Laos was a “French Protectorate” beginning 1893. After independence in 1954, there was an uneasy peace. This was followed by civil war among the different parties while Laos existed as a constitutional monarchy.

In 1975, the Communist Party, Pathet Lao, overthrew the monarchy and created the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR or LPDR). Pathet Lao remains in power. Since the fall of communism in Central and Eastern Europe in the late 1980s, Laos has been modernizing its economy, and is actively soliciting foreign investments. It heavily promotes tourism, and was so successful that President Obama visited in 2016!

Map of Places Visited