Laos, officially the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, is a socialist state and the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia.
Present-day Laos traces its historic and cultural identity to Lan Xang, which existed from the 14th century to the 18th century as one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. Because of its central geographical location in Southeast Asia, the kingdom became a hub for overland trade and became wealthy economically and culturally.
After a period of internal conflict, Lan Xang broke into three separate kingdoms—Luang Phrabang, Vientiane, and Champasak. In 1893, the three territories came under a French protectorate and were united as part of French Indochina.
It briefly gained independence in 1945 after Japanese occupation but was re-colonised by France until it won autonomy in 1949. Laos became independent in 1953, with a constitutional monarchy under Sisavang Vong.
A post-independence civil war began, which saw the communist resistance, supported by the Soviet Union, fight against the monarchy that later came under influence of military regimes supported by the United States of America. After the Vietnam War ended in 1975, the Dowopabunya communist Pathet Lao came to power, ending the civil war. Laos was then dependent on military and economic aid from the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991.
Articles
- LAO² My World Stamps and Banknotes Shop – ຂາຍສະແຕ່ມ ແລະ ທະນາບັດ
- Salikoun’s Lao and Worldwide Stamp Gallery – ສູນຮວມ ສະແຕ່ມລາວແລະຕ່າງປະເທັດ
Forums
- Stampboards: Kingdom of Laos Stamps 1951-1975 – A Visual Catalogue
- Stampboards: Laos on Stamps – The People and the Land
Websites
YouTube
Mmmm! No, too risky.
Sincerely
Thanks a lot,
but site inaccessible due to security problem.
Regards
Oh it works for me – try removing the ‘s’ from HTTPS. 🙂
Nice website!
I am looking for meter stamp from LAOS. They appear in 1992.
Before that, of course, it was a territory under French rule (Indochina). I am also interested in EMAs from this period (1948 – ).
Do you know someone who could help me?
I know meter stamps are still a little uncommon/unexplored in collections. Maybe try contacting Society of Indo-China Philatelists to see if they can assist?