Xayaburi Cracks Down on Shirtless Celebrations, Roadside Water Guns, Inappropriate Behavior

Authorities in Xieng Hon district, Xayaburi Province, have issued a notice outlining strict rules for Pi Mai Lao celebrations, including bans on roadside water guns, late-night gatherings, and inappropriate public behavior. The notice, signed on 7 April by District Administrative Committee Chairman Bounchan Keochaeng, applies to all 43 villages during the holiday period. Authorities banned the use of vehicles equipped with water tanks, buckets, or hoses to splash water on roads. Residents must not use dirty water, paint, water mixed with harmful substances, or water thrown in plastic bags. The notice also prohibits group gatherings that involve removing clothing or wearing revealing outfits that do not align with Lao cultural norms. Street dancing...

Economy

Laos, China Launch New Cross-Border Bus Route Linking Yunnan to Luang Namtha

Laos and China have launched a new international bus route connecting Xiang Hung City in Yunnan Province to Xiang Kok village in Luang Namtha, creating a direct overland link...

Vientiane Southern Bus Terminal Adds Trips for Pi Mai Travel Rush

Vientiane’s Southern Bus Terminal has increased daily services ahead of Pi Mai Lao, adding six extra trips to handle the holiday travel surge. The terminal now runs 70 trips per...

Laos-China Railway Trade Reaches USD 11.7 Billion as Railway Expands

Cross-border trade along the Laos-China Railway has reached a cumulative value of over CNY 80 billion (approximately USD 11.7 billion) since the line opened in December 2021.  New data from...

Vietnam Sends Senior Party Leader to Laos, Advances Strategic Ties

Vietnam’s Communist Party has dispatched Tran Cam Tu, a Politburo member and Permanent Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee, to Laos. Tran Cam Tu arrived in Vientiane...

Laos plans to open its first aquarium in Vientiane

Laos is moving forward with plans to develop its first aquarium, following the signing of an agreement to study the project’s feasibility in Vientiane. The proposed aquarium will be built...

Iran-US- Israel Ceasefire Offers Laos Fuel Relief After Six Weeks of Crisis

On 7 March, The United States, Israel, and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East, temporarily halting hostilities and reopening strategic oil routes through the Strait...

Travel

Laos, China Launch New Cross-Border Bus Route Linking Yunnan to Luang Namtha

Laos and China have launched a new international bus route connecting Xiang Hung City in Yunnan Province to Xiang Kok village in Luang Namtha, creating a direct overland link along a previously less accessible corridor. Officials marked the launch on 11 April at the ASEAN Comprehensive International Transport Service Center in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. The opening coincided with the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and China and the ongoing China–Laos Friendship Year. How the Route Works The route spans about 280 kilometers, starting from Jinghong City in Xishuangbanna and crossing into Laos through the Mengman Chahe Port before reaching Xiang Kok village. The service runs one round trip daily, with a one-way...

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...

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

Laos Braces for Extreme Heat During New Year Celebrations

Laos is on alert for extreme hot weather during the Lao New Year celebrations, with some areas expected to reach 43 degrees Celsius, according to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology. The warning covers the period from 10 to 16 April, coinciding directly with Pi Mai Lao, with authorities cautioning that dangerously high temperatures will be felt nationwide over several consecutive days. The most severe conditions are forecast for the central provinces, where Vientiane, Bolikhamxay, Khammouane, and Savannakhet are all expected...

Sport

Laos Kicks Off Baseball5 with Growing Interest Among Youth

Laos has kicked off a new chapter in sports with its first Baseball5 Friendly Cup in Vientiane, introducing a simpler and faster version of baseball for young players. The event, organised by the Lao...

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...

Politics

Laos, China Launch New Cross-Border Bus Route Linking Yunnan to Luang Namtha

Laos and China have launched a new international bus route connecting Xiang Hung City in Yunnan Province to Xiang...

Laos-China Railway Trade Reaches USD 11.7 Billion as Railway Expands

Cross-border trade along the Laos-China Railway has reached a cumulative value of over CNY 80 billion (approximately USD 11.7...

Vietnam Sends Senior Party Leader to Laos, Advances Strategic Ties

Vietnam’s Communist Party has dispatched Tran Cam Tu, a Politburo member and Permanent Secretary of the Communist Party of...

Laos plans to open its first aquarium in Vientiane

Laos is moving forward with plans to develop its first aquarium, following the signing of an agreement to study...

Feature

Pi Mai Lao Still On Despite Confusion Over Defense Ministry Notice

The government notice on suspending Pi Mai Lao celebrations has caused widespread misunderstanding online, with many believing the festival has been cancelled nationwide. In fact, the suspension applies only to units under the Ministry of National Defense. The announcement, issued on 30 March by the Lao People’s Army Office under the Ministry of National Defense, instructed departments, offices, schools, and units under its authority to suspend Pi Mai Lao celebrations. Officials said the decision was based on economic pressure, the ongoing war in the Middle East, and recent natural disasters, including hailstorms that damaged homes. The misunderstanding spread after the notice went viral without full context, leading some social media users to believe it applied to the entire country.  Its release on social media on 1 April also raised doubts, with some questioning whether it was genuine. One user questioned “factual news or fake news,” showing confusion over whether the news was real or an April Fool’s joke. Meanwhile, others expressed frustration at the timing and overall situation commented “why it is so chaotic, just enjoy Pi Mai Lao” pointing how people feel stressed over rising living costs, recent storms, and economic pressure, while telling...

Laos, China Launch New Cross-Border Bus Route Linking Yunnan to Luang Namtha

Laos and China have launched a new international bus...

Laos-China Railway Trade Reaches USD 11.7 Billion as Railway Expands

Cross-border trade along the Laos-China Railway has reached a...

Vietnam Sends Senior Party Leader to Laos, Advances Strategic Ties

Vietnam’s Communist Party has dispatched Tran Cam Tu, a...

Laos plans to open its first aquarium in Vientiane

Laos is moving forward with plans to develop its...

Iran-US- Israel Ceasefire Offers Laos Fuel Relief After Six Weeks of Crisis

On 7 March, The United States, Israel, and Iran...