The Lao People’s Army is commemorating its 75th founding anniversary with a series of activities, highlighting past achievements and its ongoing commitment to safeguarding the country. The celebrations have also seen high-profile visits, military exercises, and public displays.
Chinese Aerobatic Team Begins Adaptive Flight Training in Laos
CCTV+ — The Red Falcon Air Demonstration Team of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force started its adaptive flight training in Laos on Monday morning for the upcoming stunt performance.
At the invitation of Laos, the aerobatic team arrived in the country on Saturday for the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People’s Army.
It is the first time for an aerobatic team of the Chinese air force to perform in Laos and the first time for the Red Falcon to perform outside China.
Established in 2011, the Red Falcon is made up of outstanding flight instructors from the Aviation University of the Air Force and homegrown JL-8 aircraft.
TUMI Opens New Store at the Iconic Saigon Central Post Office

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 January 2024 – TUMI, the leading international travel, lifestyle and accessories brand, is excited to announce the opening of its new store at Saigon Central Post Office, Vietnam – an iconic landmark with cultural and historical significance in Ho Chi Minh City. The expansive space covers 1,163 sq. ft. and is designed to provide a luxurious shopping experience for TUMI customers.

Saigon Central Post Office is a well-known cultural destination in Ho Chi Minh City that attracts numerous visitors. It stands out for its distinctive architectural structures built between 1886 and 1891. Recognized among the top 11 most beautiful post offices globally by Architectural Digest magazine, it has preserved its prominent Western architectural style featuring intricate floral patterns and a distinctive yellow color – the original color of the building and the color of Vietnam’s postal industry – for over 130 years.
The new TUMI store is a distinctive focal point as the first global lifestyle and travel brand situated right next to Saigon Central Post Office. Beyond providing a luxurious shopping experience for fashion enthusiasts, TUMI respects and preserves the cultural beauty of traditional Vietnamese architecture with the integration of the building’s existing structural columns into its design concept. The store’s design also seamlessly blends the brand’s DNA with the post office’s iconic color and historical characteristics, which include elements of Gothic, Renaissance, and French architecture, whilst the facade features specific design cues including a black perforated TUMI signage during the day and front-lit signage at night.
Blending old with new, visitors to the TUMI Saigon Central Post Office store will be able to browse the brand’s new Spring collection and view the latest campaigns on LED screens. Highlights include the brand-new ASRA Shoulder Bag in a vibrant Purple with Sentosa Sunset trim for day-to-evening wear, the highly functional and stylish Voyageur collection for women in the new seasonal colorway Halogen Blue with braided detailing and silver hardware, and the iconic 19 Degree polycarbonate travel pieces made with recycled materials in the glossy new seasonal colorways of Acid Green and Halogen Blue.
The TUMI Saigon Central Post Office store is the embodiment of luxury and heritage. Explore the finest in travel and lifestyle accessories and be a part of the TUMI legacy by visiting the store at 80A Nguyen Du, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, HCMC, 70000, Ho Chi Minh City.
TUMI Saigon Central Post Office Store, Vietnam
Address: 80A Nguyen Du, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, HCMC, 70000, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Telephone: +84 888 592 199
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday from 09:00 – 21:00
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Hashtag: #TUMI
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About TUMI
Since 1975, TUMI has been creating world-class business, travel and performance luxury essentials, designed to upgrade, uncomplicate and beautify all aspects of life on the move. Blending flawless functionality with a spirit of ingenuity, we’re committed to empowering journeys as a lifelong partner to movers and makers in pursuit of their passions. For more about TUMI, visit TUMl.com. TUMI and TUMI logo are registered trademarks of Tumi, Inc.© 2024 Tumi, Inc.
Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Visits Laos for First Time in Six Years

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand visited Laos on 12 January in her first trip to Laos after six years. The visit came as a response to an invitation from Lao Vice President Pany Yathotou, emphasizing the ongoing commitment to strengthening the relationship between Laos and Thailand.
Tallest Building in Laos to Open in March, Marking 75th Army Anniversary
The upcoming 75th anniversary of the Lao People’s Army will be marked with the grand opening of the towering 33-story Latsavong Plaza in central Vientiane Capital on 22 March.
Luang Prabang Tourist Entry Fee Hike Sparks Online Divide Among Users
Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its natural beauty and cultural richness, faces a potential setback with a recent announcement by the provincial governor. On January 10, the governor revealed a substantial increase in entry fees for the area’s popular tourist attractions. This unexpected development has stirred concerns among travelers eagerly anticipating the “Visit Lao Year 2024” campaign.
Myanmar Military, Ethnic Alliance Reach Cease-Fire Agreement

BEIJING (AP) — Myanmar’s military has reached a cease-fire agreement with an alliance of ethnic minority guerrilla groups it has been battling in the country’s northeast, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Friday. Myanmar’s military government confirmed the development, as did the ethnic alliance.
The agreement was brokered at talks mediated by China on Wednesday and Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, the spokesperson of Myanmar’s ruling military council, said in an audio note to journalists that the two sides had met in Kunming and after talks, agreed on a temporary cease-fire agreement. Thursday in Kunming, a Chinese provincial capital about 400 kilometers (250 miles) from the border with Myanmar, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.
“China hopes the relevant parties in Myanmar can conscientiously implement the agreement, exercise maximum restraint toward each other, and solve the issues through dialogue and consultations,” she said at a daily briefing in Beijing.
“We will continue discussions We will continue to work for the strengthening of the cease-fire,” Zaw Min Tun said.
A previous cease-fire pact reached in mid-December was not honored by either side.
Chinese spokesperson Mao said the military and the Three Brotherhood Alliance — which comprises the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, and the Arakan Army — agreed to an immediate cease-fire, the disengaging of military personnel and the settlement of their disputes through negotiations.
“The two sides promised not to undermine the safety of Chinese people living in the border area and Chinese projects and personnel in Myanmar,” she said.
The Three Brotherhood Alliance on Friday night issued a statement on the Telegram messaging platform detailing what it called the Haigeng Agreement, apparently named after the Kunming hotel where China has hosted cease-fire talks.
It said the cease-fire began Thursday at 9 p.m. local time and committed both sides to avoiding confrontations and employing dialogue to resolve disputes, especially regarding the use of arms.
The alliance pledged not to attack encampments and outposts of the military government, which reciprocated by agreeing not to try to launch attacks using artillery and airstrikes, said the statement.
However, a separate statement issued by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army said the military on Friday fired heavy weapons into villages in four townships where its guerrillas were operating.
Myanmar has been wracked by violence that began after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. The Three Brotherhood Alliance launched an offensive against the military in October and took control of Laukkaing, a key city on the border with China, last week.
Their attacks have posed the greatest battlefield challenge to Myanmar’s military rulers since the army takeover.
Much of the fighting is along Myanmar’s border with China, blocking cross-border trade and threatening further political destabilization of Myanmar, a strategic ally of China that is already tangled in civil war in many parts of the country.
Independent Myanmar media reports said the cease-fire would not apply to fighting in other parts of the country. The Arakan Army is fighting the military’s forces in its home ground in the western state of Rakhine.
China is concerned about the rising violence and the safety of Chinese citizens in northern Myanmar, China has also been cracking down on cyberscam operations that have trafficked Chinese workers into Myanmar and forced them to work, including in Laukkaing.
The alliance has claimed widespread victories, including the seizure of more than 250 military posts, about a dozen towns, and five major border crossing points controlling crucial trade with China.
Zaw Min Tun said Myanmar and China will continue to negotiate to reopen the border trading gates, which were closed after combat began and most or all of which are now in the hands of the Three Brotherhood Alliance.
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Associated Press
Thailand Set to Recognize ‘Wai’ Greeting as Official National Symbol
Thailand is set to officially recognize the iconic “wai” gesture—”nop” in Lao—as a fundamental part of its national identity, the Thai National Identity Committee announced on 11 January.