Laos is considered one of the poorest countries in the world, yet has not experienced the problems of famine, debt and slums associated with many third world and developing countries. Approximately 80% of the population of Laos lives in rural areas, while the remaining population resides in the capital of Laos, Vientiane, and some other provinces of the capital (Laos Cultural Profiles, 2009). In these urban areas of Laos there are markets and administrative centers of trade and communication. The population of Laos is made up of over forty ethnic groups representing three families and within each family there are different life patterns, agricultural practices, government policies and religious beliefs. The three family groups consist of; 1) Lao Sung 2) Lao Theung (Central Lao) and 3) Lao Loum (Lowland Lao) (Laos Society, n.d.). The Lao Sung reside on mountain tops or hillsides and are made up of six different ethnic groups, with Hmong making up the majority of the population. Initially they were mobile people who ventured into new lands leaving the old village for another group of farmers to continue using. However, the population increased and the villages became more stable. A Lao Sung village is generally made up of 60 – 80 houses, with around twenty people sharing a house (Upland Lao Society, 2011). The houses are built on the land and are usually made of wooden planks and split bamboo. The houses are divided into two areas, one for cooking and the other for sleeping. Inside the houses the floor is made of dirt and the furniture is minimal with a low table and stools in wood or bamboo. There are also beds or benches for sleeping and a supply of rice and corn is kept inside the house. The Lao Sung p......center of the sheet.......d.). Retrieved October 26, 2011, from Laos: http://www.heritage.org/index/country/LaosSisouphanthong, B., & Myers, C.N. (2006). Retrieved October 26, 2011, from INTERNATIONAL TRADE: http://www.undplao.org/whatwedo/bgresource/humandev/UNDP-NHDR06c.pdfU.S. Department of State. (2011, April 8). Excerpt from 2010 Human Rights Report: Laos: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/eap/154390.htmUnited Nation in Lao PDR. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2011, from Progress to the MDGs in the Laos PDR: http://www.unlao.org/mdgs/mdg3.aspWikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from Human Trafficking in Laos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking_in_LaosFuture Trends. (2011). Retrieved November 1, 2011, from http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Asia-and-the-Pacific/Laos-FUTURE-TRENDS.html.Land Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2011, from