Laos-Vietnam Railway UXO Clearance Reaches 90 Percent in Laos Section

Surveying, clearance, and destruction of unexploded ordnance (UXO) along the Laos-Vietnam Railway project in Khammouane Province has reached 90 percent completion, clearing the way for heavy machinery to begin construction, local media reported on 12 November. The work is entering its final phase, with the project preparing to move into infrastructure construction. The project owner, PTL Holding Company, appointed Insi Company to carry out field clearance along the route, removing unexploded bombs and other ordnance before excavation and earthworks begin. Large Bombs Found in Khammouane Recent clearance operations have highlighted the risks facing construction teams in the province. Last month, Insi's team relocated three large unexploded bombs weighing about 1,360 kilograms in total in...

Economy

Laos-Vietnam Railway UXO Clearance Reaches 90 Percent in Laos Section

Surveying, clearance, and destruction of unexploded ordnance (UXO) along the Laos-Vietnam Railway project in Khammouane Province has reached 90 percent completion, clearing the way for heavy machinery to begin...

Laos Adopts Five-Year Plan to Protect Migrant Workers

Laos has approved a five-year migration plan aimed at protecting workers’ rights, improving access to decent jobs, and expanding social protection for people moving across its borders. The framework, endorsed...

Thousands of Students Leave School Before Graduation in Vientiane

Vientiane Capital has fallen short of government goals to reduce school dropouts, with financial pressures and barriers to attendance keeping children out of classrooms, education authorities reported on 10...

Vientiane Forecasts Faster Economic Growth This Year

Vientiane Capital expects its economy to grow by 7.6 percent this year, falling short of its 8 percent target as handicraft production, mining, and tourism-related businesses face slower growth. The...

Thailand Plans to Extend Work Permits for Lao, Myanmar Migrant Workers

Thailand is planning to extend work permits for more than 2.3 million migrant workers until February 2029, as it seeks to address labour shortages and retain workers from neighboring...

Lao Scholar Draws on History to Explore What Makes a Country ‘Great’

In many Lao communities, temples are among the cleanest places around. People sweep the grounds, tend to the gardens, and take care of the buildings. There is a shared...

Travel

Thai Airways Reports Breach Involving Over 60,000 Passenger Records

Thai Airways is investigating unauthorized access to passenger booking information held by its service provider Amadeus, with around 60,529 records potentially affected, the airline said on 9 November. The airline will notify affected passengers individually after checking the information supplied by Amadeus. It has reported the incident to the relevant authorities, while its review of the affected records continues. The information potentially accessed includes passenger names and booking references, alongside travel dates, routes, and cabin classes. The airline also identified around 376 additional records that may contain more extensive personal details, including passport numbers, nationalities, phone numbers, email addresses, and frequent flyer membership numbers. Flight, ticket, and seat numbers may also be...

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...

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...

Health & Environment

Oudomxay Investigates Eight Illegal Gold Mining Cases, Public Questions Official Oversight

Authorities in Oudomxay Province have investigated eight cases of illegal mining, prosecuted 10 people, and collected more than LAK 2.688 billion (USD 119,000) in fines and other payments to the state, according to a provincial report. The cases involved illegal mineral extraction, including alluvial gold mining. Some operations used basic equipment, while others relied on heavy machinery. Saksombat Keositthivongsa, head of the provincial task force, presented the findings on Oudomxay Radio and TV Station. The latest case came to light on 28...

Sport

Salavan United Terminates National Football Player Over ‘Unexcused Absence’ Amid Match-Fixing Allegations

Salavan United Football Club, based in Salavan in southern Laos, has terminated the contract of Lao national team winger Soukphachan Lueanthala amid match-fixing allegations, citing his “unexcused absences” from training. The club announced the...

Laos Prepares For ASEAN Para Games With 12-Sport Bid

Laos is preparing to compete in 12 sports at the 14th ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur next October. The Lao team has proposed entering athletics, swimming, powerlifting, boccia, women’s goalball, men’s blind football,...

Politics

Japan Provides JPY 955.8 Million in Road, Bridge Repair Equipment to Laos

Japan handed over road and bridge repair equipment worth JPY 955.8 million (USD 6.05 million) to Laos on 9...

Laos, Russian Region of Tatarstan Discuss New Trade Opportunities

Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan wants to expand trade and investment with Laos, with the region’s official media describing current...

Luang Namtha Finds 184 People Allegedly Involved in USD 1 Million Corruption Cases

Authorities in Luang Namtha have identified 184 people involved in two corruption cases that cost the state LAK 23.3...

Lao Press Chief Joins Belt and Road Journalists Forum in China as New Station Opens for Foreign Media

Laos took a seat among journalists from more than 50 countries and regions at the 2026 Belt and Road...

Feature

Lao, Thai Textile Traditions Meet in Dress at Bangkok Exhibition

A gown combining Thai silk and Lao fabric brought two neighbouring countries' textile traditions together at an international fashion exhibition in Bangkok in October. Titled Lao-Thai Solidarity, the dress featured traditional Lao weaving patterns alongside Thai silk, with each material making up half of the design. Lao designer Khamphao Bouaphanh, founder of Khamphao Sungdai, created the gown for the Global Thai Silk Exhibition. It showcased how traditional textiles from both countries could be incorporated into contemporary fashion. The design featured a Naga motif along the lower skirt, a Dao Kai Noy pattern on the bodice, and a sash made from Pakse Mudmee silk. Weaving Two Textile Traditions Together The dress combined 50 percent Thai silk with 50 percent locally woven Lao fabric. Rather than keeping the materials separate, the design brought them together through patterns and details associated with both countries. The Naga motif, a recurring element in Lao art and textiles, ran along the lower panel of the skirt and wrapped around the back. The upper bodice featured the Dao Kai Noy pattern, translate to Little Chick Star, or the Pleiades in english. A sash made from Pakse Mudmee, a traditional Lao ikat silk,...

Japan Provides JPY 955.8 Million in Road, Bridge Repair Equipment to Laos

Japan handed over road and bridge repair equipment worth...

Laos, Russian Region of Tatarstan Discuss New Trade Opportunities

Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan wants to expand trade and...

Luang Namtha Finds 184 People Allegedly Involved in USD 1 Million Corruption Cases

Authorities in Luang Namtha have identified 184 people involved...

Laos’ Population Growth Slows as Birth Rates Fall, 2025 Census Finds

Laos’ population is growing more slowly, with birth rates...

Hongkong Land Unveils LANDMARK Orchard as New Name for Wheelock Place

HONG KONG SAR / SINGAPORE – Media OutReach...

Somerset Clarke Quay Singapore To Open On 15 December 2026, As A New Global Flagship For The Somerset Brand

The new flagship property will showcase Somerset's signature approach...

ATI Secures Manila South Harbour Concession Renewal To 2063

Renewal provides long-term certainty for ATI to advance investment...