Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia.
Officially the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Laos is enclosed by China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. Its lack of a coastline distinguishes it from every other sovereign state in Southeast Asia, all of which have access to a sea or ocean. The country’s geography is dominated by mountains, forests, and the Mekong River, which forms much of its western boundary.
Laos was historically part of the Lan Xang kingdom, whose name means “million elephants.” Vientiane, on the Mekong, is the national capital. A common mix-up is confusing Laos with Cambodia: Cambodia has a coastline on the Gulf of Thailand, while Laos does not. The Mekong gives Laos important river connections, but it is not a sea outlet.