Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lane Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For 300 years Lane Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.
Laos is a land link country in the center of Indochina. It shares borders with China and Burma to the north, Cambodia to the south, Thailand to the west and Vietnam to the east.
Approximately 70% of its total area (236,800 square kilometers) comprises of mountain and plateaux areas.
Mekong river (one of the longest rivers in the world) forms a natural border with Thailand. It flows through almost 1,900 kilometers of the territory of Laos.