Officially name: The Lao People's Democratic Republic
Capital: Vientiane
Largest city: Vientiane
Official language: Lao
Government: Socialist republic, Communist single-party state
Laos has a tropical monsoon climate, with a pronounced rainy season from May through October, a cool dry season from November through February, and a hot dry season in March and April.
Pi Mai Lao or Lao New year is the liveliest holiday of the year and one that everyone looks forward to, as it is a time when many people visit their families all over the country.