Laos - The People And The Land - A Journey Through Postcards

Join with me to a journey to Laos. The journey will begin in 1900's until today through several postcards.

I don't have a lot, maybe 450-500 postcards, but I decided to show them for those who want to learn about the country and its history, culture and the ethnic groups diversity.

Alfred Raquez (1864 (?) - 1907) was a prolific writer, photographer, traveler and editor who vividly described China, Laos, Cambodia, Siam, Annam, and Java at the beginning of the 20th century.

In 1906, Raquez issued 166 of his photos as postcards show Laos. I will start mainly with this group of postcards. Here is Raquez on the right with a group of Lao people represented Laos in the Colonial Exhibition held in Marseille, France - 1906:

Muay Lao - traditional Lao boxing. Four PC's show different stages of the competition - Raquez postcards, 1906:

Lao Royal elephants - Luang Prabang, Raquez PC's 1906:


Elephants on the river, Province Bolikhamxay - Raquez, 1906:

Traditional spinning and weaving - Raquez PC's, 1906:

Sao Deng, Sao Si and Sao Boun - Lao girls from Champassak (Southern Laos) represented Laos in the Colonial Exhibition held in Marseille, France - 1906, Raquez PC's:

The Presentation of the Nang Meo Legend – Raquez PC's, 1906

These PC's show a representation of the ancient Lao legend Nang Meo performed by three Lao girls from Champassak: Sao Si, Sao Boun and Sao Deng (see previous post). The legend very resembles the Aesop's fable "The Ant and the Grasshopper".

There are three characters in the Nang Meo presentation:
Nang Meo – represented by Sao Si
Soulingsa – represented by Sao Deng
Thao Samon – represented by Sao Boun

Women of Laos - Raquez PC's - 1906:





Same PC as above but artificially colorized

Lao orchestra from province Attapeu, Island Khong and province Savannakhet - Raquez PC's 1906:

Different ethnic groups of Laos in the early of the 20th century - Raquez PC's 1906

- Kaseng, Khas Khouenes, Khmu, Lave and Nhahoeuns

Different ethnic groups of Laos in the early of the 20th century - Raquez PC's 1906

Wat Phu temple - Raquez PC's 1906

Wat Phu is a Buddhist temple ruins near the Phu (mountain) Kao, Champasak province, built in 11th to 13th centuries. The Wat Phu is dedicated to god Shiva. It was declared as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2001.

Lao traditional canoes - Raquez PC's 1906
Two PC's show canoe race on the Mekong river, a custom of several festivals.

People of province Houaphane - Raquez PC's 1906

The Hemong (Meo) ethnic group, most in northern Laos - Raquez PC's 1906

Landscapes of Laos in the early of the 20th century - Raquez PC's 1906