A member of the Tai Kadai (or just Kadai) language group, Lao is tonal, very similar to its Thai cousin. In fact there are more Lao speakers in Thailand's northeastern border lands of Isaan than there are in Laos. The two languages are so similar that Thai television and radio have become very popular among the Lao people.
Lao language is the national language. Other languages used are French, English, Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese.
