Laos — a landlocked country — is nestled between Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, and Burma. Most Laotians live in rural regions and remain detached from the world at large. The land is covered with forest and mountains, making travel difficult.
Laos suffered heavy bombing during the Vietnam War and has remained under Communist rule since 1974. Laos is largely an agrarian society that relies on handicraft production to sustain traditions and provide much needed additional income.