Laos Folklore of Northern Siam was originally published in 1899 when the northern and northeastern parts of present-day Thailand were still called Laos. This changed when Prince Damrong created the Thai Nation State as well as a ‘Thai identity. Hence, the French were only able to lay claim to the territory on the left bank of the Mekong. These folktales were part of the oral cultural tradition, not written down, before the author, a missionary, undertook to preserve this cultural heritage, covering many aspects of rural life in northern Siam.