"Lao" vs. "Laotian"

According to the dictionary, a Laotian is a person from Laos or of Lao descent. "Laotian" is also an adjective for things pertaining to Laos or Laotians.

I have never heard a citizen or an expat use the word "Laotian." The only people who use the term are clueless tourists. Everyone, for example, talks about "Lao people," drinking beer "Lao Style*," and asks questions like, "Is she Thai or Lao?"

I know I'm going to get an email about how "Laotian" is a more egalitarian term because the Lao are only one ethnic group in Laos, etc. I'm aware of this, I'm just reporting what people say.

While I'm on this subject, when referring to the country, most expats say "Lao" instead of "Laos." This is because the Lao word for "Laos" is "Lao." You might need to read that last sentence a few times before it makes sense. The French added an "s" to the country name just for the hell of it and we've been stuck with "Laos" instead of "Lao" ever since.

One of the most common questions I get is about the pronunciation of "Vientiane." There are three possible answers:
1. The Lao name for their capital.
2. The closest English transliteration of 1.
3. Pronunciation of "Vientiane."

I obviously can't give you 1 since I'm writing in English, but 2 would probably be Wiengchan, although the "w" could also be a "v" and the "ch" could also be a "j." No westerners use this when talking to other westerners, in fact they seem to avoid saying the name of the city whenever possible. "Vientiane" can be pronounced vee-ehn-tee-ehn or vee-ehn-tee-ahn. The French pronunciation is also fine.

*poured into a small glass which is immediately drunk and passed to the next person