Folklore in Laos is handed down from generation to generation and provides much of the historical information about the culture. Even in such a distant civilization, however, there are parallels between the East and West. A famous folk story for example is that of Jouanah, a young Hmong girl who finds true love and happiness despite her cruel stepmother, aided by her mother's spirit and a pair of magical sandals. Sound familiar? This fable in modern times is given the title 'Jouanah, the Hmong Cinderella.' Some folklore is backed up with historical data and archaeological facts, such as the story of the plain of Jars where local folklore states - in the 6th century - the warrior king Khun Jeuam defeated the evil chieftain Chao Angka. A feast followed the battle at which hundreds of gigantic jars of lao-lao rice wine were consumed, and the huge jars that held them were left behind. The physical evidence of hundreds of large stone jars can still be seen today on the plain of Jars (however the true origins of the giant stone jars still eludes archeologists even to this day).

Furthermore, some folklore results in traditions that are still used today. An example of this is the myth of Champasak, which was a major city in Laos 1400 years ago. The beautiful Queen Nang Pao ruled it, but she had a love affair with a neighbouring Prince, and an illegitimate child was born. Nang Peng succeeded her mother on the throne, but was dreadfully unhappy about her heritage. She decreed that all unmarried mothers in the kingdom must sacrifice a buffalo for their sins, and the last recorded use of this tradition was as recent as the 1980's. It cannot be said for certain whether this story has any truth in it, but even today in traditional parts of Laos unmarried mothers are known as 'Nang Pao's Daughters.' 

The state of modern Laotian literature is not as spectacular as it could be primarily because the publishing industry itself is small. It is steadily improving. Lao literature is generally full of morals. It is rarely read or seen by tourists. It is, however, increasing, as more and more international aid and recognition is given to the small country. Laos is now part of the programmes of UNESCO and Asian Cultural Centers for UNESCO (ACCU), particularly in the field of book development in the latter. The steadiest literary output from Laos is in the form of its newspapers and even magazines.

The Lao author Outhine Bounyavong however has broken down the barriers that history placed before Laotian writers, "Father's Friend", "Sacrifice" and "Mother's Beloved" are anthologies of short folklore based stories. They explore the Laotian traditions and culture whilst pondering the questions that many philosophers have asked throughout the generations and cultures of the world. The simple yet emotional Buddhist outlook that is seen through the eyes of this writer is an in-depth look into humanity, particularly of that in Asia. The modern literature produced by Bounyavong mixes Western modernity with the ancient culture of Laos and is groundbreaking on more of a social level rather than being considered a traditional literary "masterpiece". The stories themselves are somewhat predictable but enjoyable. They are filled with sentimental endings and romantic prose peppered with moralistic lessons. They include a bucolic charm that portrays the Laotian folklore in a light never seen before in the Western world. Hopefully, as Laos follows the rest of the world into the 21st century, the faint whispers that were once symbolic of a proud and prolific literary culture will continue to grow until it becomes a steady roar.

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