Starting 1 September, the Lao government began collecting a fee of LAK 10,000 (USD 0.46) from all domestic and international tourists, including group tours and individuals, at all international border checkpoints.
This fee will be processed through the electronic banking system (Easy Pass) and is intended to contribute to the tourism fund, according to the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MICT).
The government introduced this fee to ensure transparency in income and expenses while transitioning to a fully digital payment system.
As per the new system, foreign tourists will pay the fee upon entering the country, while domestic tourists will be charged when exiting. The fee is set at LAK 10,000...
Starting 1 September, the Lao government began collecting a fee of LAK 10,000 (USD 0.46) from all domestic and international tourists, including group tours and individuals, at all international...
A Chinese firm has announced plans to invest USD 600 million in pomelo cultivation and processing in Laos, aiming to strengthen agricultural exports and improve rural livelihoods.
On 6 December,...
Luang Prabang Province in Laos is making strides to boost its startup ecosystem through a collaboration with Sejong City and the Hannam University Consortium from South Korea.
A four-day workshop...
Corruption continues to pose a significant challenge in Laos, with total losses amounting USD 32.1 million in 2024, according to the State Inspection and Anti-Corruption Authority (SIAA).
On 9 December,...
On 26 November, Ngampasong Muangmani, Minister of Public Works and Transport, addressed concerns about road damage caused by overloaded trucks while highlighting efforts to manage vehicle weight and protect...
From 2 to 5 December, the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Summit 2024 brought together 100 young leaders from across ASEAN and Timor-Leste in the World Heritage Site...
Starting 1 September, the Lao government began collecting a fee of LAK 10,000 (USD 0.46) from all domestic and international tourists, including group tours and individuals, at all international border checkpoints.
This fee will be processed through the electronic banking system (Easy Pass) and is intended to contribute to the tourism fund, according to the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MICT).
The government introduced this fee to ensure transparency in income and expenses while transitioning to a fully digital payment system.
As per the new system, foreign tourists will pay the fee upon entering the country, while domestic tourists will be charged when exiting. The fee is set at LAK 10,000...
Laos continues to shine on the global tourism stage, earning 219 ASEAN Tourism Standards Awards for its dedication to sustainability and exceptional travel experiences.
On 26 November, Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism Suansavanh...
Laos has recorded over five million tourists this year, exceeding expectations and generating more than USD 1 billion in revenue, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone announced on 18 November.
According to the PM, domestic tourist...
Vietnam will ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products starting in 2025, the National Assembly announced on 30 November.
Early next year the country will join Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, and Thailand in banning these products.
This decision aims to safeguard youth, promote long-term health and wellness, and support Vietnam’s broader goal to reduce tobacco use.
Research shows that using e-cigarettes can lead to a higher likelihood of smoking regular cigarettes, increasing from 3.5 percent in 2021 to 8 percent in 2024, especially...
The Lao youth football team, with three groups of players from the WIG NAGA club, competed in the 2024 Jaifa King’s Cup in Lopburi, Thailand, on 5 December.
The tournament saw teams from ten...
Two Lao bodybuilders, Chintana Khambounheuang and Khamla Samavong, each won a gold medal at the 15th World Bodybuilding Championship held in the Maldives from 5 to 11 November.
Chintana claimed gold in the Swimming...
Laos’s Mittaphab Hospital and Thailand’s Ramathibodi Hospital from Mahidol University achieved a medical milestone by successfully performing their first...
Statement by UNFPA Executive Director, Natalia Kanem, on Human Rights Day, 10 December
Human rights exist to protect us, all of us, from harm and to ensure lives of dignity and inclusion. Peace and prosperity depend on fulfilling human rights.
Three decades ago, people from all over the world convened at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo. They agreed that inclusive and sustainable development depends on women and girls fully realizing their human rights, particularly their reproductive rights.
Since then, significant strides have been made towards the achievement of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. Today, we celebrate the fact that many more countries have passed laws and invested in services to safeguard bodily autonomy and enable women and girls to enjoy equal opportunities to thrive. More measures are in place than ever before to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, one of the most pervasive violations of human rights.
Yet, there is still much work to do. Today, millions of women and girls in all their diversities continue to be denied their fundamental human rights. Only 56 percent of women are able to make their own decisions...
