Lao People's Democratic Republic History Timeline

Locator Map of Lao People's Democratic Republic

Lao People's Democratic Republic's Information

Flag of Lao People's Democratic Republic

Land Area	230,800 km²
Water Area	6,000 km²
Total Area	236,800km² (#82)
Population	7,019,073 (#103)
Population Density	30.41/km²
Government Type	Communist State
GDP (PPP)	$40.96 Billion
GDP Per Capita	$5,700
Currency	Kip (LAK)
Largest Cities	Vientiane (196,731) Pakxe (88,332) Savannakhet (66,553) View all cities in Lao People's Democratic Republic

800s - 1800s

(800 - 1324) Khmer Empire ruled present-day Laos and Cambodia
(1353) Luang Prabang, the royal capital and a center for Buddhism and arts was founded,
(1400s) Khmer Empire declined due to invasions from Thailand
(1700s) Thailand established control over much of Laos, divided region into three states, Luang Prabang in the north, Vientiane in the center, Champassak in the south
(1828) Vientiane Lao rebelled, were defeated and area was incorporated into Siam
(1893) France absorbed territories east of Mekong River into French Indochina via treaty with Thailand

1900s

(1904) Franco-Siam treaty allowed France to annex territories east and west of Mekong River
(1907) Franco-Siam treaty was completed, France gained territorial control
(1941) Japan invaded Laos
(1945) French rule over Laos reestablished
(1950) Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos became independent states in French Union
(1951) Prince Souvanna Phouma became prime minister
(1953) Viet Minh invaded Laos
(1953) Northern Laos evacuated by French troops
(1954) Laos gained full independence as a constitutional monarchy
(1954) Civil war began between royalists and Pathet Lao Communist group
(1954) SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization) was created to stop the spread of Communism in southeast Asia
(1954) Prime Minister Souvanna resigned, formed government with Pathet Lao Communist group
(1960) U.S. conducted extensive aerial bombardment of Laos trying to destroy North Vietnamese sanctuaries and supply mines on Ho Chi Minh Trail
(1960) Government of Laos fled to Cambodia as capital city of Vientiane was at war
(1960) Rightest government established under Prince Boun Oum
(1961) U.S. increased military aid, technicians' support
(1961 - 1973) U.S.' CIA backed secret army in Laos to help fight Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese; over 50,000 Hmong civilians died
(1962) U.S. Marines arrived in Laos
(1962) Geneva Conference forbade U.S. to invade eastern Laos
(1964 - 1973) U.S. warplanes dropped estimated 2.3 million tons of bombs during 580,000 bombing missions over Laos
(1971) North Vietnamese troops captured Plain of Jars
(1973) Cease fire agreement in Vientiane divided Laos between communists and royalists
(1974) American forces left Laos
(1975) Communists took control of administration of Vientiane City
(1975) King Savang Vatthana of Laos abdicated throne, the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR) was established as the only political party
(1975) Kaysone Phomvihane became prime minister
(1975) Over a third of the Hmong population left Laos
(1975) "Socialist Transformation" of economy launched
(1979) Government forced to change approach as food shortages caused hundreds of thousands to flee to Thailand
(1979) Agricultural private enterprise was permitted
(1986) Market-oriented reforms were introduced
(1989) First elections held since 1975, Communists retained power
(1989) Laos opened to foreign tourism for first time since 1975
(1991) Thailand and Laos signed security and cooperation pact
(1991) New constitution endorsed
(1991) Kaysone Promvihane became president, Khamtay Siphandon became prime minister
(1992) President Phomvihane died, Prime Minister Siphandon became head
(1992) U.S. restored diplomatic ties with Laos
(1994) Friendship Bridge over the Mekong River linked Thailand and Laos
(1994) Laos and Vietnam signed bilateral Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation
(1995) Mekong River Commission created with Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand as the members
(1995) U.S. lifted 20-year aid embargo
(1997) Laos joined Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
(1997) Financial crisis in Asia decimated value of Lao kip currency, plunged to half its prior value
(1998) Khamtay Siphandon became president

2000s

(2000) Bomb attacks hit capital
(2000) Government began decentralizing; more autonomy, budgetary responsibility given to provinces
(2001) Khamtay Siphandon reelected president
(2001) Finance Minister, Bounnyang Vorachit, named prime minister
(2001) International Monetary Fund approved loan for $40 million to help strengthen economic stability, reduce poverty
(2001) World Food Programme (WFP) began three-year program to feed about 70,000 malnourished children in Laos
(2002) Majority of candidates elected in parliamentary elections were from Lao People's Revolutionary Party
(2003) Fact Finding Commission stated Lao Citizens Movement for Democracy (LCMD) started revolutions in 11 provinces; government dismissed claim
(2003) LCMD killed three soldiers during clashes, government denied claim
(2004) Association of South East Asian Nations held in Laos
(2005) U.S. established Normal Trade Relations
(2005) World Bank approved financing support for the $1.2 billion Nam Theun Two Dam
(2006) Choummaly Sayasone elected president
(2006) H5N1 strain of bird flu killed more than 2,000 on poultry farm
(2006) Over 400 members of Hmong ethnic group emerged from jungle hideouts, surrendered to authorities
(2007) Nine people were charged with plotting a coup in Laos who had emigrated to the U.S. by U.S. prosecutors
(2007) Transparency International ranked Laos as one of the most corrupt countries in the world
(2008) Laos took steps to join World Trade Organization as full member
(2009) Rail connection opened over Mekong River, connection Thailand and Laos
(2009) Thailand sent over 4,000 ethnic Hmong asylum seekers back to Laos
(2010) Severe drought caused Mekong River to drop to lowest level in 20 years, halted cargo traffic and boat tours
(2010) Prime Minister Bouphavanh resigned due to "family problems", Thongsing Thammavong, National Assembly President, appointed prime minister
(2011) Laos opened its first stock exchange
(2011) Parliament gave President Choummaly an additional five-year term
(2012) Laos won approval to join World Trade Organization
(2012) Plans approved for construction of massive dam at Xayaburi on lower Mekong River
(2013) Flash floods and heavy monsoon rains killed at least 20, washed away roads, damaged crops

This page was last updated on April 7, 2017.

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