Laos Climbs Corruption Rankings, Surpasses Thailand for First Time

Laos improved its standing in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), rising one position and surpassing Thailand for the first time. The country scored 34 points, up from 33 in 2024 and marking a six-point improvement from 28 in 2023, signalling steady progress. The 2025 CPI ranks 182 countries on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean) based on perceived public sector corruption. In 2025, Laos placed 114th globally, while the global average fell to a new low of 42.  Laos now also ranks ahead of the Philippines, which maintains a score of 32. Despite this progress, the country remains well below the international threshold of 50, indicating ongoing governance...

Economy

Laos Targets 6 Million Visitors in 2026 as Chinese Arrivals Projected at 2 Million

Laos expects to welcome between 5 and 6 million international tourists in 2026, with Chinese visitors projected to account for around 2 million of that total, according to government...

Luang Prabang to Restrict Tour Vans from City Centre, End Riverside Parking

Authorities in Luang Prabang have approved new traffic measures to reduce congestion around the Night Market and historic areas, following repeated complaints over traffic jams and disorderly parking. The Luang...

Laos, United Arab Emirates to Cooperate on Digital, AI, Cybersecurity, Economy

Laos has taken new steps to strengthen its digital security as the government pushes ahead with online services, artificial intelligence, and digital finance. During the World Government Summit 2026 in...

Vientiane Capital Surpasses 2025 Revenue Target by 31 Percent

Vientiane Capital collected more than LAK 14 trillion (approximately USD 650 million) in 2025, surpassing its annual target by 31 percent, according to the Department of Finance of Vientiane...

Champasak Welcomes Nearly 730,000 Tourists, Exceeds Annual Target

Champasak Province recorded positive tourism growth in 2025, welcoming nearly 730,000 visitors and reaching 207 percent of its annual target, according to provincial authorities. The southern Lao province recorded 286,941...

Laos–China 500 kV Power Line Fully Connected, Operations to Begin in April

Laos and China have completed the full connection of the Laos–China 500 kilovolt (kV) power transmission line, further enhancing their cross-border energy cooperation. since the line link on 5 February,...

Travel

Laos Targets 6 Million Visitors in 2026 as Chinese Arrivals Projected at 2 Million

Laos expects to welcome between 5 and 6 million international tourists in 2026, with Chinese visitors projected to account for around 2 million of that total, according to government estimates. The numbers will be the result from the 65th anniversary of Lao–China diplomatic relations and growing interest in travel along the Lao–China railway, which will further connect to another railway in ASEAN, China, and Europe. Tourism remains one of Laos’ key economic pillars. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the country received nearly 5 million international visitors annually, including more than 1 million Chinese tourists. At the time, Chinese visitors generated close to USD 700 million in revenue, surpassing income from several other...

Champasak Welcomes Nearly 730,000 Tourists, Exceeds Annual Target

Champasak Province recorded positive tourism growth in 2025, welcoming nearly 730,000 visitors and reaching 207 percent of its annual target, according to provincial authorities. The southern Lao province recorded 286,941 domestic tourists and 441,123...

International Tourism in Laos Surges 13 Percent in First 10 Months of 2025

Laos welcomed nearly 3.8 million international tourists in the first ten months of 2025, a 13 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. In figures released on 7 December, the Tourism Development...

Health & Environment

Mekong Heart Project Treats First Children at Mahosot Hospital

The Mekong Children’s Heart Care Project has treated its first children with congenital heart disease at Mahosot Hospital in Vientiane, marking a major step forward for pediatric cardiac care in Laos. On 7 February, a visiting medical team treated three children during a one-day mission at the hospital. Health workers identified one child through a school-based heart screening program in Luang Prabang in December 2025, while Mahosot Hospital referred the other two cases. Health officials said the cases clearly show how...

Sport

Lao Paralympic Team Heads to ASEAN Para Games in Thailand

The Lao National Paralympic Team will send 164 athletes with disabilities to compete in the 13th ASEAN Para Games, set to take place in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, from 20 to 27 January. The delegation...

Finding Her Flag: Lao-American Golfer Malisone Chanthapanya’s First Swing for Laos

Malisone Chanthapanya, a 22-year-old Lao-American golfer, was selected to represent Laos professionally at the SEA Games this year, marking both her first appearance at the regional multi-sport event and her first visit to...

Politics

Laos, United Arab Emirates to Cooperate on Digital, AI, Cybersecurity, Economy

Laos has taken new steps to strengthen its digital security as the government pushes ahead with online services, artificial...

Laos, Australia Develop New Teacher Resource to Support Inclusive Education

The Lao Ministry of Education and Sports, with support from Australia through the BEQUAL program, is preparing to release...

Japan PM Takaichi Basks in Historic Election Triumph

By Hiroshi HIYAM/AFP - Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi savoured an election landslide 8 February, with her ruling party...

Conservative Thai PM Claims Election Victory

By Montira RUNGJIRAJITTRANON/AFP - Thailand's conservative prime minister claimed victory in the country's general election on 8 February, after...

Feature

Risky Orange E-Motorbike Stunts in Vientiane Spark Safety, Behavioral Concerns

Dangerous riding involving orange electric motorbikes has sparked public concern in Vientiane Capital after young riders were seen performing wheelies and stunts on busy public roads.  Compounding the issue, many bikes are being abandoned improperly across the city. Photos and videos of the reckless behavior quickly circulated on social media, prompting sharp criticism from residents who warned that such actions endanger both riders and other road users.  The stunts reportedly took place in areas with heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic, significantly increasing the risk of serious accidents. QR Code Rental System Under Scrutiny The electric motorbikes are belong to a Chinese-owned QR code-based rental service.  The bikes operate on a free-floating system: riders pay via QR scan, can ride anywhere, and park anywhere. Once parked, anyone else can scan the bike and continue riding. While convenient, this system has contributed to bikes being left abandoned or improperly parked throughout public spaces, including sidewalks, road shoulders, and near intersections, obstructing pedestrians and creating additional safety hazards. Similar Incidents in Luang Prabang City This is not the first time concerns have been raised over such services.  Before appearing in Vientiane, a similar electric motorbike rental business operated in Luang Prabang City...

Laos, United Arab Emirates to Cooperate on Digital, AI, Cybersecurity, Economy

Laos has taken new steps to strengthen its digital...

Laos, Australia Develop New Teacher Resource to Support Inclusive Education

The Lao Ministry of Education and Sports, with support...

Japan PM Takaichi Basks in Historic Election Triumph

By Hiroshi HIYAM/AFP - Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi...

Conservative Thai PM Claims Election Victory

By Montira RUNGJIRAJITTRANON/AFP - Thailand's conservative prime minister claimed...

Vientiane Capital Surpasses 2025 Revenue Target by 31 Percent

Vientiane Capital collected more than LAK 14 trillion (approximately...