WESTMINSTER : Visiting Royal Family of Laos Takes a City Tour

The royal family of Laos, whose members have lived in exile in France for the past 20 years, toured Westminster on Monday as part of a West Coast visit to study how Laotian refugees are adapting to American life.

The U.S. visit is the second for Prince Sauryavong Savang and the first for his wife, Princess Daravan Savang, and their son, Sourivong Savang.

“From the start of the trip, I have been delighted with the situation and freedoms of the Laotian people in San Diego, Las Vegas and Santa Ana,” Prince Savang said through an interpreter.

“I have been invited to other states in the near future and look forward to visiting more Laotian people.”

On Monday, the family toured Westminster and the Little Saigon area. Visits to Sacramento and Fresno are scheduled later this week.

An estimated 185,000 refugees resettled in the United States after the Communist Party’s takeover of Laos in the early 1970s.

In 1975, the monarchy was abolished and the Communist Lao People’s Democratic Republic was established. As a result, an estimated 250,000 people, about 10% of Laos’ population at the time, sought refugee status in the United States and Thailand.

“The royal family has been kicked out of Indochina the same as us, and they are political refugees,” said Westminster Councilman Tony Lam, who left his native South Vietnam after the fall of Saigon in 1975.

“They may not be recognized by the Laotian government, but when they come to our city we treat them as dignitaries.”