Flooding Affects 34 Villages in Luang Namtha as Roads, Power Hit Across Northern Laos

Heavy rain has triggered widespread flooding in Luang Namtha, affecting 34 villages and damaging roads, power infrastructure and other facilities, according to state media. Heavy rain from 28 to 29 August caused rivers and streams to rise, triggering flash floods and inundating 34 villages along several waterways, including communities in and around the Boten Special Economic Zone. In Boten, streams overflowed onto roads on the morning of 29 August before floodwaters entered homes and offices in the Boten Special Economic Zone, the Boten International Checkpoint and villages along the Nam Thung River. Provincial authorities said agricultural land, gardens, homes, roads, offices and schools were among the areas affected. A detailed assessment of...

Economy

Laos Inflation Reaches 7.7% in August, Remains Above Target

Laos’ inflation rate reached 7.7 percent in August, a slight increase from 7.6 percent in July, while average inflation for the first eight months of the year stood at...

Laos Signs Deal for 330MW Coal Power Plant in Xieng Khouang

A new 330-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant planned for Xieng Khouang Province is expected to significantly improve domestic electricity reliability for northern Laos, especially during the dry season (March to...

Vientiane Water Enterprise Reports USD 4.2 Million Profit, 103 Villages Still Without Water

Vientiane’s state water supplier reported a profit of more than LAK 91.6 billion (USD 4.2 million) in the first half of 2026, even as it struggles to keep up...

Finance, Transport Ministries Meet to Streamline Cargo Fee Collection

Laos is working to unify fee collection procedures on transit cargo and cross-border tolls across the country's key trade corridors, officials report. The push comes as Laos’ Ministry of Finance...

Laos Tightens Foreign Borrowing Rules as Debt Risks Persist

Laos has tightened controls on foreign borrowing as the government seeks to limit debt risks and reduce pressure on foreign-currency reserves and the Lao kip. Under a new Bank of...

Laos Cabinet Approves New Draft Laws Amid 7.6% Inflation, Reviews Economic Priorities

Laos's Cabinet approved 12 draft laws and proposals during its August 24-25 meeting, as the government reported average inflation of 7.6 percent and reviewed economic, social and disaster-related challenges...

Travel

Flooding Disrupts Flights to Luang Namtha, Oudomxay Also Reports Flooding

Lao Airlines has suspended flights between Vientiane and Luang Namtha after after rising waters affected Luang Namtha Airport, as flooding also spreads into neighboring Oudomxay Province. The airline said flights on the route will remain suspended until conditions at the airport are safe. Passengers with affected tickets can change their travel dates without additional fees or request a full refund. Flooding hit the Boten area of Luang Namtha on 29 August, with authorities warning residents in low-lying areas to closely monitor water levels and follow safety instructions. Luang Namtha Province was officially declared a disaster zone on 30 August, as the conditions in the northern province continued to deteriorate. Oudomxay, which shares a...

New Eco-Tourism Project Aims to Protect Wildlife, Boost Jobs in Luang Namtha

Luang Namtha Province is set to transform Xang Boten village into a conservation-focused tourist destination through the newly launched Xang Boten Tourism Project, a joint initiative between the Lao government and a Chinese...

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...

Health & Environment

Flooding Disrupts Flights to Luang Namtha, Oudomxay Also Reports Flooding

Lao Airlines has suspended flights between Vientiane and Luang Namtha after after rising waters affected Luang Namtha Airport, as flooding also spreads into neighboring Oudomxay Province. The airline said flights on the route will remain suspended until conditions at the airport are safe. Passengers with affected tickets can change their travel dates without additional fees or request a full refund. Flooding hit the Boten area of Luang Namtha on 29 August, with authorities warning residents in low-lying areas to closely monitor...

Sport

Young Lao Chess Team Wins 12 Medals from Singapore

Laos continues working to develop chess among younger generations.  A group of young Lao players has returned from Singapore with 12 medals after gaining international experience against competitors from across Asia and beyond. Team Laos...

Laos Asks Police to Probe Suspected Match-Fixing at ASEAN Cup, Details Still Unclear

The Lao Football Federation (LFF) has reported suspected match-fixing by national team players to police, following the team’s four straight losses at the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026. The letter, dated 7 August, said the...

Politics

EDL Names New Leadership After Former Executives Receive Life Sentences

Souksavart Sosouphanh has been appointed Managing Director and CEO of Électricité du Laos (EDL), less than two months after...

Laos Cabinet Approves New Draft Laws Amid 7.6% Inflation, Reviews Economic Priorities

Laos's Cabinet approved 12 draft laws and proposals during its August 24-25 meeting, as the government reported average inflation...

Laos Steps Up Anti-Corruption Reforms, Deepens Cooperation With Vietnam

Laos is ramping up efforts to strengthen transparency and public accountability, rolling out a new Party resolution alongside deeper...

Laos National Assembly President Xaysomphone Phomvihane Dies at 69

Xaysomphone Phomvihane, President of Laos’ National Assembly and one of the country’s most senior political figures, has died aged...

Feature

Seven Lao Artists Are Taking Life Advice From Cats

Cats spend much of their day sleeping, stretching in the sun, at times hunting, or just watching the world go by. For a group of Lao artists, those habits have become the inspiration for art. Life feels busier than ever, and Laos is no exception. Seven artists in Laos have turned to cats to explore what many people seem to be searching for today: a little more freedom, self-acceptance and joy in the ordinary moments of everyday life. Their exhibition, Like a Cat's Tiny Life, running until 31 July at The Tamper Coffee & Studio in Vientiane, brings together paintings, illustrations and photography that ask a simple question: what can people learn from slowing down? Why Cats? “All seven of us wanted to create a small space filled with warmth through stories about cats. We wanted people to experience life through the artists’ small perspectives on cats,” artist Fanta Keomanila told The Laotian Times. For him, cats represent independence. He described them as animals that follow their own way, sleeping and resting when they choose and finding happiness in simple moments such as watching birds or lying in the warm sun, rather than conforming to...

EDL Names New Leadership After Former Executives Receive Life Sentences

Souksavart Sosouphanh has been appointed Managing Director and CEO...

Laos Cabinet Approves New Draft Laws Amid 7.6% Inflation, Reviews Economic Priorities

Laos's Cabinet approved 12 draft laws and proposals during...

Laos Steps Up Anti-Corruption Reforms, Deepens Cooperation With Vietnam

Laos is ramping up efforts to strengthen transparency and...

Laos National Assembly President Xaysomphone Phomvihane Dies at 69

Xaysomphone Phomvihane, President of Laos’ National Assembly and one...

Laos, Vietnam Set USD 4 Billion Trade Goal as Economic Ties Grow

Laos and Vietnam are pushing to take their economic...