Sticky rice (khao niaw) can be a meal in itself but is also eaten with accompanying sauces and side dishes. You will find this is the go-to staple of Laos and eaten daily. Soups and stews are also common, with noodle soup being a particular favorite that is consumed at any time of day, including breakfast.

In terms of the flavors to expect, Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese cuisine has had a heavy influence. In contrast to these spicy noodle and rice-based dishes, Laos also lives with the legacy of its French rule in the 1900s. Consequently, khao jee (baguettes) filled with meat, vegetables and chili paste are found all over the country. Laap or larb is another popular meal; a salad consisting of ground meat, with a lime, garlic and herb dressing, mixed with roasted rice. Tam mak houng (papaya salad) is also worth tasting, combining shredded papaya with fish sauce, chilies and lime juice, among other ingredients, and served with noodles. Barbecued meat and grilled river fish eaten from bamboo skewers, giant fried prawns with spring rolls, and kaipen - sundried sheets of freshwater green algae and sprinkled with sesame seeds - add to the snack list.

When it comes to desserts, sticky rice once again dominates where it is typically combined with mango, coconut or banana to make a variety of treats. Banana rice pudding, baked coconut rice pudding, coconut dumplings, coconut custard cake, and a vast range of tropical fruits also make fabulous desserts.

Beerlao is beer made from jasmine rice, hops and yeast, that is both sipped by locals and exported across the world. Lao lao is the regional equivalent to whiskey, while drinking lao hai is very similar to sake. Making the most of the easily accessible fruits in Laos, coconut milk and fruit juices are readily available.

Other common soft drinks include milk, tea (usually served with sweet condensed milk and poured over ice), coffee and sugar cane juice. Avoid drinking tap water (or ice cubes made from tap water) and stick to bottled water instead.

As a landlocked country, Laos is surrounded by Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, China and Vietnam. With a mountainous and hilly landscape, only a small area of the flat, low land can be farmed. The tropical monsoon climate has encouraged the growth of northern tropical rainforests that include bamboo and banana plants.

In contrast, its forest-covered mountains reach a height of over 2,800 metres. Wildlife is abundant with large mammals such as bears, rhinos, elephants, tigers, deer, gibbons and monkeys being among the inhabitants. Reptiles and amphibians are just as diverse and plentiful, with everything from snakes, frogs and turtles living here. Meanwhile bird species include storks, hornbills, ibises and woodpeckers. Many of the animal species living in Laos are endangered, including the Irrawaddy Dolphins, also known as Mekong River Dolphins.