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Lao American History and Culture Resources

This LibGuide offers a curated selection of resources that highlight the history, culture, and contributions of the Lao American community.

Lao American Literature and Oral Histories Resources

Bounthapanya, Sothida Taen (2025). (Re)Connecting Through Sieosavat: Remembering the words of elders and ancestors in transcribing and translating from Lao to English. California State University, San Marcos. Master's Thesis (http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/bg257r20f)

Branfman, Fred, ed. (2013). Voices From the Plain of Jars: Life Under an Air War, University of Wisconsin Press

Coburn, Jewell Reinhart. (1979). Encircled Kingdom: Legends and Folktales of Laos

Epstein, Steve. (1995). Lao Folktales: Xieng Mieng: The Cleverest Man in the Kingdom,  Vientiane Times Publications

Epstein, Steve. (1999). Lao Folktales: Tales of Turtles, Tigers, and Toads, Vientiane Times Publications

Epstein, Steve. (2005). Lao Folktales, Silkworm Books

Fee, C. (2016). “Great Gourd from Heaven, a Laotian American Myth.” In American Myths, Legends, and Tall Tales: An Encyclopedia of American Folklore

Huo, T.C. (1998). A Thousand Wings. New York: Dutton

Huo, T.C. (2000). Land of Smiles: A Novel, New York: Plume

Khamkeo, Bounsang. (2006). I Little Slave: A Prison Memoir from Communist Laos, Eastern Washington University Press

Pan, Prinston (Creator). Lao Stories: Laotian American Oral History Project (2020–2021)
 OAC Finding Aid

Phetphouthay, Sithiphone. (2012). The Red Rose, ISBN: 9781453567081

Phounsiri, Krysada Panusith. (2015). Dance Among Elephants, ISBN: 9780989885027

Phouthavong, Boon. (2024). Hope Beyond the Camp Amazon Link

Phrasavath, Thavisouk. (2011). Stepped Out of the Womb: A Memoir of a Journey to the Land Where the Sun Falls, ISBN: 9780984597505

Rantala, Judy Austin. (1994). Laos: A Personal Portrait from the Mid-1970s, McFarland Publishing

Ratsapho, Dee. (2020). Taken Out of Laos: A Memoir of Courage, Hope, and the Search for Identity, ISBN: 9781946300935

Smyth, David . The Canon in Southeast Asian Literature: Literatures of Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Phillippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Taylor and Francis, 2013. 

Stories from Laos: Folktales and Cultures of the Lao, Hmong, Khammu, and Iu-Mien. (1995)
  Pacific Asia Press

Thammavongsa, Souvankham. (2020). How To Pronounce Knife, Little Brown

The Wolf and the Moon: And Other Lao Folktales. (2014), Dunwoody College of Technology

Thō̜ngkham ʻŌ̜nmanīsō̜n. (2021). Sāi phūaphan sœ̄ng kan læ kan lavāng silapakam kap vannakhadī Lāo Vīangchan: Samnakphim Matuphūm

Treasures of Lao Literature. (2000). Vientiane: Vientiane Times Publications

Turpin, Leslie. “Traces of Places: A Vicarious Journey into Memories of the Homeland in a Lao -American Community.” 2004. 

ʻUthin Bunnyāvong, Inversin, B., Duffy, D., Eds. (1999). Mother’s Beloved: Stories from Laos
 University of Washington Press

Vongsay, Duangphouxay, Saymoukda (2018). When Everything Was Everything
 Illustrated by Cori Nakamura Lin

Wayuphā Thotsa. (2008). Lao Folktales, Libraries Unlimited

Youme, Landowne & Kouanchao, Malichansouk. (2010). Mali Under the Night Sky: A Lao Story of Home, Cinco Puntos Press