Foreign leaders and diplomatic missions are paying tribute to Xaysomphone Phomvihane, President of the Lao National Assembly (NA) who died on 8 August at age 69.
In Laos itself, the Department of Culture and Tourism of Vientiane Capital ordered entertainment venues and karaoke bars in the capital to close temporarily five days from 8 to 12 August, to cooperate in paying tribute to Xasomphone’s passing.
Cambodian NA President Khuon Sudary opened the wave of condolences, sending a letter on 10 August to Sounthone Xayyachak, Laos’ NA Vice-President in which she called Xaysomphone’s death a profound loss and expressed deep sadness on learning of his passing.
She praised his leadership, wisdom and lifelong dedication to public service, noting his contribution to national development and modernisation in Laos. Khuon also highlighted his role in strengthening Cambodia-Laos relations, saying his efforts had deepened inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two countries and that Cambodia would always remember his contribution with respect and gratitude.
Vietnam followed with a formal show of national mourning, declaring two days of observance on 10 and 11 August. During that period, offices and agencies nationwide, along with Vietnamese missions abroad, flew flags at half-mast and suspended public entertainment activities.
Also, Vietnamese Party, State, National Assembly and Government delegations visited the Lao Embassy in Hanoi to sign a condolence book, while Vietnam’s NA observed a minute of silence before opening its first extraordinary session. NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man also travelled to Vientiane to lay a wreath in person.
Belarus extended its own condolences soon after, with President Aleksandr Lukashenko writing to Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith to describe Xaysonophone as a devoted son of Laos who dedicated his life to serving his homeland.
Lukashenko said Belarus shared the Lao people’s grief over an irreplaceable loss and pledged that Belarusians would always remember Xaysomphone’s contribution to strengthening bilateral relations and inter-parliamentary cooperation, while also extending support to his family and colleagues
Thailand added its voice through its Thai Embassy in Vientiane, which sent condolences over Xaysomphone’s passing.
The United States joined the tributes as well, with its embassy in Vientiane extending condolences to Xaysomphone’s family, friends and the people of Laos as the country entered a period of mourning.
The United Nations in Laos also sent its condolences, reaching out to Xaysomphone’s family, the government and the Lao people, and pledged to hold his contributions and years of service in high regard.
The European Union in Laos echoed that message, offering sympathy to the Phomvihane family, the NA and the Lao people, and said it would look back on his years of dedication to the country with deep respect.
Further afield, the Lao Embassy in China’s Beijing marked the loss with a memorial ceremony on 10 August, led by Ambassador Somphone Silachaleun and attended by embassy staff, Lao workers and Lao students living in China.
Xaysomphone was born in December 1956, the eldest of four sons of Kaysone Phomvihane, Laos’ first prime minister and a central figure in the country’s revolutionary era, who led the transformation of Laos into the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 1975.
His younger brothers are Thongsavanh, Sanyahak and Santiphab.
Xaysomphone led the Lao Front for National Construction from 2016 before returning to the NA, where he served as president from 2021 until his death, winning re-election in March 2026.
