Royaume du Laos Laotian Ethnic Groups

ROYAUME DU LAOS on 15 December 1964 issued a First Day Cover  set of stamps showing five of the Laotian Ethnic Groups. Aside from the beautiful stamps by French artist Marc Leguay, the postmark dated 22 February 1973 states "CESSEZ-LE-FEU AU LAOS (Ceasefire in Laos)".

This referred to the Vientiane Treaty whereby a cease-fire agreement between the two warring factions in the Laotian Civil War (the Kingdom of Laos and the communist Pathet Lao) was signed in Vientiane (the capital of Laos), on 21 February 1973. Subsequently, the Pathetic Lao came to power in 1975, after the Lao Civil War. The Pathet Lao were always closely associated with Vietnamese communists and North Vietnam. During the civil war, it was effectively organised, equipped and even led by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN).

There are 68 official ethnic groups in Laos, belonging to three main groups: Lao Loum, Lao Sung and Lao Theung.

- Lao Loum - About two thirds of the Laotian population is ethnic Lao, the principal lowland inhabitants and the politically and culturally dominant group.

- Lao Sung - Hill people and minority cultures of Laos such as the Hmong, Yaho, Thai Damm, Dao Shan and several Tibeto-Burmen speaking peoples have lived in isolated regions for many years. Collectively, all these groups are known as Lao Sung (High Lao).

- Lao Theung - The predominate people in the central and southern mountains of Laos are the Mon-Khmer tribes that include the Khammu, Lawa, Katu, Katan and other small tribes. They are known as Lao Theung (Upland Lao) or Kha.

 

The stamps in this set included:

Yaho Hunter
Designer: Marc Leguay, Engraver: Roger Fenneteaux

Kha Hunter
Designer: Marc Leguay, Engraver: Jean Pheulpin

Lao Women representing the three Main Ethnic Groups of Laos: Lao Loum, Lao Sung and Lao Theung
Designer: Thao Tuan, Engraver: Charles Mazelin