Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Phuan
lowland ethnic group
pirogue
narrow dug-out canoe
Ramayana
epic poem of Indian origin (Pha Lak Pha Lam in Lao)
rishi
hermitic ascetic
Royal Lao Army (RLA)
army of the defunct Kingdom of Laos
sala
pavilion with a raised floor and roof but no walls
samana
re-education camp, derived from the word “seminar”
sawngthaew
pick-up truck used for public transport
Shiva
Hindu god
Shivalinga
phallic-shaped stone symbolic of Shiva
shophouse
Southeast Asian property, usually built in terraces and comprising a shop at ground level with residential
areas above
sim
building in a monastery housing the main Buddha image
sin
women's wraparound skirt
Sipsong Chao Tai
the Twelve Tai Principalities, a loose federation that once included parts of northwest Vietnam
and northeast Laos
soi
lane or alley
somasutra
stone pipe for channelling lustral water
stupa
Buddhist structure built to contain holy relics (“that” in Lao)
tad (or tat)
waterfall
Tai
ethnic Thai
Tai Dam
lowland Lao ethnic group, found in Hua Phan and Xing Khuang provinces
Tai Leu
lowland Lao ethnic group, found in northwest Laos
Tai Yuan
northern Thai
talat
market
Talat Sao
Vientiane's morning market
thanon
road or street
that
Lao word for Buddhist stupa
tuk-tuk
three-wheeled motorized taxi
ushnisha
finial symbolizing enlightenment found on the crown of the head of Buddha images
UXO
unexploded ordnance
Vishnu
a Hindu god
wat
Buddhist monastery
wiang (or vieng)
town surrounded by wooden palisades
xe
river (southern Laos only)
xieng
town surrounded by brick or earthen ramparts