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...
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...
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 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 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 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 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,...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...