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Vat Phou Featured on National Geographic as Hidden Gem in Southeast Asia

Vat Phou, an ancient temple in Laos’ Champasack Province, has been featured in a National Geographic Travel article as a hidden gem for travelers seeking serenity, history, and beauty without the crowds.  This UNESCO-listed site was praised for its “striking resemblance to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat” but with a quieter, more intimate experience. In the article, the National Geographic draws attention to Vat Phou’s unique architectural and spiritual qualities, describing it as a “travel dupe” for Angkor Wat. While Cambodia’s iconic temple attracts some six million tourists a year, Vat Phou remains a relatively untouched site. Background Similarities Both temples were constructed during the Khmer Empire, which spanned from the 9th to 15th centuries,...

Economy

Lao-China Railway to Pilot Automated Parking Fee System at Vientiane Station

The Lao-China Railway Company has announced plans to introduce an automated parking fee collection system at Vientiane Station as part of a pilot project scheduled to begin between August...

Laos Launches Disability-Inclusive Early Warning Workshop to Strengthen Climate Resilience

A two-day workshop on Disability-inclusive early warning messaging is starting today in Vientiane. The host is the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in collaboration with the Department of Meteorology...

Government Officials Undergo Water Rescue Training as Rainy Season Starts

From 30 June to 2 July, officials from key government agencies in Laos, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, participated...

Tourism Fuels Revenue Surge in Luang Prabang in Five Months of 2025

Luang Prabang earned nearly LAK 700 billion (USD 32 million) in the first five months of 2025, with tourism playing a significant role, said Khammouane Khambounme, Head of the...

Lao Inflation Rate Eases to 7.2 Percent in June

Laos’ inflation rate eased for the second month in a row, falling to 7.2 percent in June 2025 from 8.3 percent in May, according to the latest report from...

THAILAND: Contract Signing for Three-Airport High-Speed Rail Expected in July After Five-Year Delay

Thailand’s high-speed rail project connecting Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports is set to finally move forward, with the signing of the revised contract expected this July. Owned by the...

Travel

Vat Phou Featured on National Geographic as Hidden Gem in Southeast Asia

Vat Phou, an ancient temple in Laos’ Champasack Province, has been featured in a National Geographic Travel article as a hidden gem for travelers seeking serenity, history, and beauty without the crowds.  This UNESCO-listed site was praised for its “striking resemblance to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat” but with a quieter, more intimate experience. In the article, the National Geographic draws attention to Vat Phou’s unique architectural and spiritual qualities, describing it as a “travel dupe” for Angkor Wat. While Cambodia’s iconic temple attracts some six million tourists a year, Vat Phou remains a relatively untouched site. Background Similarities Both temples were constructed during the Khmer Empire, which spanned from the 9th to 15th centuries,...

ASEAN Rail Tourism Corridor Takes Center Stage at Mekong Tourism Forum 2025

Laos hosted the Mekong Tourism Forum 2025 in Luang Prabang from 24 to 27 June, spotlighting the proposed ASEAN Rail Tourism Corridor (ARTC) as a key initiative to boost regional travel and connectivity. Held...

Vientiane Launches Sustainable Tourism Initiative with Innovative Technology for Growth

The Lao government has announced plans to boost tourism in Vientiane Capital with the theme "Vientiane's Sustainable Tourism," The initiative aims to incorporate innovative technologies into tourism management and create new attractions for...

Health & Environment

Xayabouly Province Home for 220 Registered Domestic Elephants

Xayabouly Province is currently home to 220 registered domestic elephants. Of these, 143 are actively working within the province, while the others are active in different areas outside the province, Kenthao district deputy governor Somsy Saophila noted during a meeting on 3 July. Domestic elephants are elephants raised by humans for various purposes, such as transportation, farming, or performances. They are considered the direct property of their owners and must be legally registered, which includes creating a ‘photo ticket’ that...

Sport

Lao Telecom Partners with JAS to Launch Premier League Package for 500,000 Lao Fans

Football fans in Laos now have a new reason to celebrate. Jasmine International Public Company Limited (JAS), the exclusive rights holder for the English Premier League (EPL) and FA Cup across Thailand, Cambodia,...

First Equestrian Federation in Laos Sets Stage for Horse Sport Growth

Laos officially entered the world of horse sport with the establishment of its first Equestrian Federation on 26 May. Equestrian sport will make its official national debut at the upcoming 12th National Games, to...

Politics

Lao Prime Minister Receives Japan’s Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun

The Japanese Emperor awarded Lao Prime Minister (PM) Sonexay Siphandone the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising...

Hun Sen Calls for Halt to Thai Imports and Film Screenings Amid Renewed Tensions

Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen has called for an immediate suspension of the import of key strategic goods from...

‘Looking to the Next 70 Years’: US and Laos Celebrate Enduring Friendship

On 2 July, the United States Embassy in Laos hosted an Independence Day celebration at Crowne Plaza in Vientiane...

Laos Showcases Tax Reform, Seeks Support on the International Stage

Laos outlined its progress in strengthening domestic resource mobilization and called for continued international support during the 4th International...

Feature

Dalai Lama Says he Will Have Successor After his Death

By Tenzin WOEDEN/AFP - The exiled spiritual leader of Tibet confirmed on 2 July that he will have a successor when he dies, reassuring Buddhist followers around the globe that the 600-year-old institution of the Dalai Lama will continue. It is a landmark decision for Tibetans, many of whom had feared a future without a leader, as well as for global supporters who see the Dalai Lama as a symbol of non-violence, compassion and the enduring struggle for Tibetan cultural identity under Chinese rule. According to Tibetans, Tenzin Gyatso is the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is lauded by his followers for his tireless campaign for greater autonomy for Tibet, a vast high-altitude plateau in China about the size of South Africa. He and thousands of other Tibetans have lived in exile in India since Chinese troops crushed an uprising in the Tibetan capital Lhasa in 1959. The charismatic Nobel Peace Prize-winning Buddhist had previously said the institution of Dalai Lama would continue only if there was popular demand. He said Wednesday he had received multiple appeals over the past 14 years from Tibetan diaspora in exile, Buddhists from across the...

Lao Prime Minister Receives Japan’s Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun

The Japanese Emperor awarded Lao Prime Minister (PM) Sonexay...

Hun Sen Calls for Halt to Thai Imports and Film Screenings Amid Renewed Tensions

Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen has called for an...

Laos Showcases Tax Reform, Seeks Support on the International Stage

Laos outlined its progress in strengthening domestic resource mobilization...

Kiwa PVEL Releases 11th Edition of the PV Module Reliability Scorecard

The total number of Top Performers remains steady, but...

AXA Launches “Max Goal II Insurance Plan”

Shortest guaranteed breakeven timeframe and market-first Wealth Master Service to...