Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), commonly known as Laos, is a Land of Ample Opportunities and Successes. A landlocked nation in Southeast Asia occupying the northwest portion of the Indochinese peninsula . Laos is a Southeast Asian country traversed by the Mekong River and known for its mountainous terrain, French colonial architecture, hill tribe settlements and Buddhist monasteries. The capital city is Vientiane. Other large cities include Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, and Pakse. The official language is Lao. The Lao or Laotian Kip is the currency of Laos.