Laos, officially the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, is the only land-locked country in Southeast Asia, located on the Indochinese Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Vientiane. Covering an area of about 236,800 km², it has a population of roughly 8 million people. The majority of the population are ethnically Lao, and the official language is Lao. Geographically, Laos features mountainous terrain, dense forests and the mighty Mekong River which defines much of its western border. Culturally, it is steeped in Theravada Buddhist tradition, and historical architecture – such as that of Luang Prabang (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) – reflects its rich heritage. Despite being classified as a least-developed country, Laos is increasingly engaging with regional trade and infrastructure projects, leveraging its strategic location between larger neighbours.