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Language and Religion

Lao language is the national language. Other languages used are French, English, Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese.

One thing that does not change is the magic the old culture including the way of living of Lao people is the thing that the world tourists wish to see...

A Traditional Lao Home
The unique characteristic of a traditional Lao home has a direct impression on the Lao people and their live hoods that is different from the present mixed architecture of tradition and modernism. A traditional Lao home is built high off the ground with hardwood stilts embedded either into the ground or on stones. Wooden planks are used for flooring. Wood boards or bamboo are used for siding and either grass or shingle can be used for roofing depending on what the home owner can find at the moment.

A Faed home consist of two connecting structures, one structure includes the bedroom and the other for greeting guest. The bedroom in both a Faed and Sier home are divided for the parent, male and female siblings and a room called Hong Beung. This room is used as a guest room ; besides guest only the male member of the family may sleep here because it is also used as a worshipping room where family Buddha images are kept. The home mentioned above are previously difficult to find now that a combination of more modernism than tradition are used in building new homes.

At the custom's office

Language	Meaning in English
Dan phasy yoo sai ?	Where is the custom's office ?
Khoy pen nak thong thiov	I am a tourist.
Khoy pen nak thulakid	I am a business man.
Nee man kapau dern thang khong phai ?	Whose is this luggage ?
Nee man kapau dern thang khong khoy	Here is my luggage.
Khoy tong peud man bor ?	Must I open it ?
Khoy bor mee gnang cheng	I've nothing to declare.
Nee man nang sue dern thang khong chao bor ?	Is this your passport ?
Nee man nang sue dern thang khong khoy	Here is my passport.
Number bad phan den	Passport number.
Dan thee ork der thang	Port of departure.
Chud pasong khong kan dern thang.	Purpose of visit.
Khuang sai suan tua	Personal effects.
Khong khuan hai pheun	The gift for friend.
Khong thee laluek	A souvenir
Sing khong lau nee thon sai phasi bor	Are these things dutiable ?
Khoy tong chai thau dai	How much must I pay ?
Khoy mee thang mod thau nee	This is all I have.
Than kuad ka laev bor	Have you finished ?
Mue uen sau ped mong khoy cha ork dern thang.	I'll leave at 8 a.m tomorrow.
Khoy cha chaeng ork yoo sai ?	where am I checking out ?
khor bill dae.	my bill, please.
Chao ouw check dern thang bor?	Do you take traveller's checks ?
Khoy phak saduak sabai dee.	I've enjoy my stay.
Eun lod taxi hai khoy dae.	Please call a taxi for me.
Luam kha ahan sau nam.	Breakfast included.
Luam kha ahan song khab.	Two meals included.
Hong kin ahan yoo sai?	Where is the dinning room?
Hong kin duem yoo sai?	Where is the snak bar?
Han kafe yoo sai?	Where is the coffee shop?
Khoy khor number tho ra sab chao dae !	Give me your telephone number.

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LAO KHAO NAXOU

This part of poetry for drinking party runs from my tongue, while Madame Ba's daughter serves us new alcohol for tasting. 70 Km from Vientiane, Siri and I safely arrived in Bane Naxou, the village for alcohol products. Usually at lunch time, alcohol drinking is not good for the health. However, to visit the alcohol distiller, we have to accept their good will. After the first cup our fatigue went away.

Alcohol powder is made with garlic and other roots of spices such as Kha and Sikay to make the alcohol with good taste and nice foams. That is the reason that when people drink, the words Kha! Kha! and Kha is said....because of the mixture off Kha said Siri.

Naxou alcohol has been a popular product for many generation. All are made by natural components and do no damage the health like chemical powders. These practices have been miantained since early times. The provision of fire to the pot is not too hot. If very hot fire is provided, the taste is like the burnt smell. When we drink this low quality product, we get drunk easily.
" When drunk
Go home by an ox cart.
If a little drink
One returns on his own foot"

Bane Naxou is names after Ban Naxou in Moungkhoune district, Xiengkhouang province. More than one hundred from Xiengkhouang to the West of the Mekong river to establish their new villages. Along the way Phonehong, so some of the refugees decide to establish their villages in Phoning district in order to keeo their family name and their race. Here is humidity, flat terrain, a high yield of production.

RELIGION

Buddhism first appeared in Laos during the eighth century A.D. as shown by both the Buddha image and the stone inscription found at Ban Talat near Vientiane, now exhibited at the Museum of Hoprakao.

After the foundation of the unified Kingdom of Lane Xang, King Fan gum (14th century) declared. Buddhism as the state religion and urged the people to the abandon animism or other beliefs such as the cult of spirits. His policy meant to develop the Laos culture based on a common faith: the Theravada Buddhism.

The Lao Lum (lowlanders) who make up 70% of the population and predominantly live Mekong River.

The Lao Song (hill tribes) who constitute 10% of the population and live in the mountainous areas.