Sabaidee! Welcome to the “Land of a Million Elephants”—Laos, the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, known for its laid-back pace, stunning Buddhist monasteries, and misty mountains. There are around 8 million people living here, and the capital is Vientiane, which sits along the banks of the Mekong River and is often called one of the quietest capital cities in the world. The official language is Lao.

Laos covers about 236,800 square kilometers (91,429 square miles). The country is roughly the same size as the state of Utah in the U.S., or about the same size as Great Britain. The landscape is defined by the mighty Mekong River, which runs the length of the country and serves as its primary “highway” for trade and travel.

The most popular sport is Football, but the traditional national sport is Muay Lao, a form of kickboxing similar to its neighbor’s Muay Thai. Their national animal is the Indian Elephant, which is deeply intertwined with the country’s history and royal symbols.

The flag consists of three horizontal stripes of red, blue, and red with a white circle in the center, where the red represents the blood shed for independence, the blue symbolizes the Mekong River and prosperity, and the white circle represents the moon over the river and the unity of the people.

The food is fresh, spicy, and famous for its use of sticky rice. You must try Larib (or Laap), a minced meat salad flavored with lime, chili, and toasted rice, which is the national dish. Another staple is Tam Mak Hoong, a spicy green papaya salad that packs a serious punch. Unlike many of its neighbors, the primary starch in Laos is Sticky Rice (Khao Niew), which is traditionally eaten with the hands by rolling it into small balls to dip into sauces.

Laos is home to Luang Prabang, a stunning UNESCO World Heritage town where you can witness hundreds of saffron-robed monks collecting alms at dawn. The country is also famous for the Plain of Jars, a mysterious archaeological site where thousands of giant stone jars are scattered across the landscape, some dating back over 2,000 years. If you head south, you’ll find Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands), where the Mekong widens and creates a labyrinth of islands and waterfalls, including the widest waterfall in the world, Khone Phapheng. Laos is also one of the most bombed countries in history per capita, and today, many locals repurpose war scrap into everything from spoons to house pillars.

From the golden spire of Pha That Luang to the turquoise pools of the Kuang Si Falls, Laos is a land of spiritual peace and rugged natural beauty. Khop Chai! That means “Thank you!”