~ MAY 2 2005

You can’t imagine how helpful your website has been to me. I often wonder how/where I would learn half the things that are on this website. There's a lot of unique stuff and I admire that! I’ve even had deep discussions and debates with colleagues about some of the topics covered in the Advice Column. I never thought a website would make me do that! For example, the topics entitled: Prostitution, Are NGOs All That Wonderful?, Bad Business, Teaching in Laos, and a bunch of others.

Even the graphics are awesome (we talk about that too). Keep up the great work Laoconnection Team and Happy New Year!

On behalf of everyone at LCW, thanks! We're glad to hear that our website generates discussions. And of course we certainly hope that people come away from LCW having learned new things. Have a great New Year too!

Is it true many Lao people marry young?

I think it would be a fair assessment to say that in Laos, the average age for getting married has gotten higher. In fact this would be the same for most Lao communities around the world as well.

In the past it was typical to be married when you were in your mid-to-late teens. Nowadays, early-to-mid 20s is the norm. In Laos and among the ethnic minorities, one will still see very young teens marry.

One may also see large age discrepancies such as very young women marrying much older men. In many of these cases, it becomes evident that the reason such young women will marry into this type of situation is financial. The older gentlemen gains a 2nd or 3rd young and beautiful wife, who becomes a sort of trophy or image booster to the man. And in return the young woman gains financial security for herself and possibly her family. This particular type of case, although still seen, is not common.