I recalled reading an article about how important it is for Lao actors to wear traditional Lao outfits in movies. An good example would be Alexandra in the Thai soap and the new movie "Saibaidee Luang Prabang". I think its great that a part of our culture is being shown to the world. So i was wondering if there was a committee that seats around in Laos and wait for people make "cultural mistakes" or how Thailand is making fun of Laos. If it is so important that these actor/actress to wear our traditional outfits-then what about those hundreds of VCDs? IF there was a standard on how Lao women should dress and conduct herself. Then i'm sure a lot of those tacky dress dancing ladies would all fail.

Lao cultural is slowly expanding through out the world.

Just thinking of the four subcultures in Laos, the Lao Lum, Lao Thai, Lao Theung, and Lao Sung, is there a uniform dress standard across all these? Particularly with the highlanders, do the Lisu and Mien dress like Hmong in the same circumstances in public? It's rather unique.

I think we're getting off topic here. For the sake of confusion this apply only to ethnic Lao-ok! In the Thai soap with Alexandra and the new "Saibaidee Luang Phrabang" both actress have to wear traditional Lao dresses. I think the Lao people in power had a say on the issue. It seems like the authorities have certain standards set up for the entertainment industry. I was wondering if these standards are apply to these lovely ladies. Then why not apply it to the VCDs' thats coming out of Laos. I'm sure you all seen some of the tacky vidoes with the girls dress in third rate Vegas outfits and dancing very poorly. I'm not making fun, but I wondering why this standard is not apply in all aspects of the industry.

Pathet Laos divided into 3 subcultures and those are Lao Lum, Lao Theung and Lao Sung. "Lao thai" is never been part of it. Red tai, black tai, phoo tai, tai lue, tai phouan, tai issan.......etc are classified as Lao. Now a day pretty much every Lao citizen regardless of your ethnicity will be refer as Lao.

Cambodian culture has been influenced by many things from Lao.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIGiZilQ9Fs

There are other things too, but this seems to be the most obvious in shape and form. + Khmer don't really use the Khene, at least I don't ever recall hearing the Khene unless it was for this dance.

OH, oh.........This username "Thydaa" in the Youtube was making the following comments.

"trickystle, Cambodia is an ancient country where there are rich culture and tradition. This dance 'robam kane' is a tradtional Khmer dance which existed before Laos became a country. "

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIGiZilQ9Fs

Yeah, as we've mentioned before, the Khene is actually a Lao instrument...it's nice to know that some Khmer people also enjoy listening to the Khene as well.

This is what I appreciate about the relationship between Lao and Khmer people. We don't have a problem admitting that we've been influenced by Khmer culture, and they apparently also do not have a problem acknowledging that we've also influenced some aspects of their culture. I think this mutual respect probably stemmed from the royal courtship between the Lao prince and his Khmer princess way back when.

Although we're not related by blood, we're still like brothers because we respect each other.