Officially name: The Lao People's Democratic Republic
Capital: Vientiane
Largest city: Vientiane
Official language: Lao
Government: Socialist republic, Communist single-party state
Despite the Communist takeover in the mid-1970s, Laos remains a Buddhist country in everything but name. Patriotic holidays are still celebrated in this landlocked country, but only on Buddhist holidays do the Lao people let their hair down and celebrate.
Beer Lao Brewery Co (LBC), located on the outskirts of Vientiane, produces the very drinkable Bia Lao, the Romanized name for which is 'Beerlao' (sometimes , spelt 'Beer Lao'). A draught version (bia sot: fresh beer) is so far available only in bars in Vientiane, and like all Beerlao contains 5% alcohol.