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Boat Racing Festival in Vientiane Draws Crowds, Celebrates Culture

Every October, the excitement of the Lao people comes alive during the Boat Racing Festival, known locally as Boun Suang Huea. Celebrated nationwide, the festival in Vientiane draws locals and visitors to the Mekong riverside, where they gather to cheer for their favorite boat teams. The festival has deep cultural roots, tracing its origins to the tale of Thao Khamphaphinoy, which tells of a greedy king who coveted a man’s wife, Khamnga. To win her, the king forced her husband, Khampha, to bet on a series of contests: a buffalo fight, a cockfight, and finally, a boat race. After losing the first two bets, Khampha entered the race alone, where...

Economy

ASEAN-UK Creative Economy Program Launched to Boost Regional Ties

The United Kingdom’s Mission to ASEAN and the British Council have officially launched the ASEAN-UK Advancing Creative Economy (ACE) program, an initiative aimed at strengthening the creative economies across...

Laos Reports Progress in Poverty Reduction Efforts

Recent data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry highlights significant strides in poverty alleviation across Laos, although challenges remain as the country aims for developed status. In 2023, 83.13...

Vientiane Province’s Checkpoint Upgraded to International Status

The Ban Vang Local Checkpoint has been officially upgraded to an international border checkpoint, connecting Laos's Vientiane Province to Thailand's Loei Province. This development aims to facilitate cross-border trade,...

Capital Links Forum Highlights Opportunities, Barriers to Investment in Laos

On 11 October, Laos hosted the "Capital Links Forum" at the Souphattra Hotel in Vientiane, bringing together financial institutions, investors, policymakers, and fintech innovators. The event focused on the...

Global Leaders Join ASEAN Summit in Vientiane to Address Regional, International Challenges

The official ceremony for the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related meetings took place on 9 October in Vientiane. President Thongloun Sisoulith and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone welcomed...

ASEAN-China Summit: Laos Leads Dialogue on Cooperation Amid South China Sea Tensions

On 10 October, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of Laos chaired the 27th ASEAN-China Summit in Vientiane, bringing together ASEAN leaders and Chinese officials. Ahead of the meeting, on 9 October, Chinese...

Travel

Boat Racing Festival in Vientiane Draws Crowds, Celebrates Culture

Every October, the excitement of the Lao people comes alive during the Boat Racing Festival, known locally as Boun Suang Huea. Celebrated nationwide, the festival in Vientiane draws locals and visitors to the Mekong riverside, where they gather to cheer for their favorite boat teams. The festival has deep cultural roots, tracing its origins to the tale of Thao Khamphaphinoy, which tells of a greedy king who coveted a man’s wife, Khamnga. To win her, the king forced her husband, Khampha, to bet on a series of contests: a buffalo fight, a cockfight, and finally, a boat race. After losing the first two bets, Khampha entered the race alone, where...

Laos Extends Visa Exemptions to Boost Visit Laos Year 2024

ARTICLE UPDATED ON 27 JUNE, 2024 AT 4:04 PM To bolster tourism in the second half of Visit Laos Year 2024, the Lao government is set to introduce a new policy granting free visas...

StarExpress Tourist Train Launches, Connecting Kunming to Laos

On 24 September, the StarExpress, a new cross-border tourist train, launched its inaugural journey from Kunming, China, to Luang Prabang and Vientiane, Laos.  This new train link is an important step in promoting cultural...

Health & Environment

New Building at Mahosot Hospital Opens, Marks Laos-China Cooperation Milestone

A ceremony to inaugurate the new building at Mahosot Hospital took place on 12 October, attended by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of Laos and Prime Minister Li Qiang of China, along with high-level delegations from both nations. This project was launched in November 2017 and represents a significant milestone in Laos-China cooperation as a part of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative.  The new building is designed to provide state-of-the-art medical care, utilizing advanced technology to benefit patients in Laos...

Sport

Japan Boosts Laos Grassroots Football with Training Gear Donation

Japan has donated over 400 sets of football training wear to the Lao Football Federation (LFF). On 24 September, the Japanese government, in collaboration with the Japan Football Association, officially handed over the...

Labdork Badminton Academy Triumphs at 23rd Beerlao Championship

The 23rd Beerlao Badminton Championship concluded in Vientiane on 25 August, with the Labdok Badminton Academy emerging victorious once again. The Academy clinched five gold medals across various events, maintaining their title from...

Politics

Scoot Airlines Expands Flights to Laos Starting December

Singapore’s Scoot Airlines will increase its flights to Laos from three to four per week beginning in December. This announcement...

ASEAN-UK Creative Economy Program Launched to Boost Regional Ties

The United Kingdom’s Mission to ASEAN and the British Council have officially launched the ASEAN-UK Advancing Creative Economy (ACE)...

Vientiane Province’s Checkpoint Upgraded to International Status

The Ban Vang Local Checkpoint has been officially upgraded to an international border checkpoint, connecting Laos's Vientiane Province to...

New Building at Mahosot Hospital Opens, Marks Laos-China Cooperation Milestone

A ceremony to inaugurate the new building at Mahosot Hospital took place on 12 October, attended by Prime Minister...

Feature

Oxfam’s John Samuel Pushes for Inclusivity at ASEAN Forum

At the ASEAN Business Forum in Vientiane on 24 September, John Samuel, Asia Regional Director of Oxfam International, delivered a powerful message on the importance of inclusivity and women's empowerment in Laos's business landscape.  Representing Oxfam—a confederation committed to alleviating global poverty since 1942—Samuel brought eight years of advocacy experience to the forefront, stressing the critical role that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play in the region's economy.  With over 80 percent of Laos's workforce employed in these enterprises, he emphasized the need for supportive frameworks that promote equitable growth and sustainable practices, calling for collaboration among governments, businesses, and civil society to achieve these goals. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, MSMEs remain the backbone of the national economy, especially in rural areas. “In Laos, small and micro-enterprises provide employment and job opportunities for people in villages. Oxfam has also been working with women's groups, supporting initiatives such as community tourism and environmentally-friendly tourism,” he explained. Community tourism refers to travel experiences that are owned, managed, and operated by local communities, including non-profits, cooperatives, and social enterprises. Addressing Regional Challenges While praising progress in Laos and other ASEAN countries, Samuel acknowledged...

Scoot Airlines Expands Flights to Laos Starting December

Singapore’s Scoot Airlines will increase its flights to Laos...

ASEAN-UK Creative Economy Program Launched to Boost Regional Ties

The United Kingdom’s Mission to ASEAN and the British...

Vientiane Province’s Checkpoint Upgraded to International Status

The Ban Vang Local Checkpoint has been officially upgraded...

New Building at Mahosot Hospital Opens, Marks Laos-China Cooperation Milestone

A ceremony to inaugurate the new building at Mahosot...

ASEAN Summits Conclude with Key Agreements, Leadership Transition to Malaysia

The 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits, held from 6-11...