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"A Million Elephants and One White Parasol" (Lan Xang Hom Khao).

This was the name of the first Lao kingdom of the 14th century that included all the area of the middle Mekong - an area much larger than present-day Laos.

Fa Ngum, who founded the kingdom, chose Luang Prabang as its capital. The capital has since moved but Luang Prabang remains a beautiful, magical city where the River Khan joins the Mekong.