Laos - Land of Million Elephants. Area: 236,800 sq Km.  Population: 4.966 million . Capital: Vientiane. The temples, monasteries and French villas of Vientiane and Luang Prabang set the scene in this timeless land. Except for lowlands along the Mekong river, where most of the people live, and three sparsely populated plateaus, the terrain is mountainous and thickly forested. From the fertile lowlands of the Mekong River valley to the rugged Annamite highlands, travellers who have made it to Laos tend to agree that this country is the highlight of South-East Asia.