Feature

Lao Scholar Draws on History to Explore What Makes a Country ‘Great’

In many Lao communities, temples are among the cleanest places around. People sweep the grounds, tend to the gardens, and take care of the buildings. There is a shared understanding that these places are sacred, belong to everyone, and that caring for them is a collective responsibility. But why doesn't...

The Photographer Who Speaks for Laos’ Forests

In the forests of Laos, observation comes before words for Souksamlan “Toun” Laladeth. That idea...

Deported to Laos, US Returnees Find Their Way in an Unfamiliar Home

The men behind a barbecue grill in Vientiane speak English more easily than Lao. Some...

Seven Lao Artists Are Taking Life Advice From Cats

Cats spend much of their day sleeping, stretching in the sun, at times hunting,...

Young Lao Footballers Win International Titles as World Cup Fever Grows

While the FIFA World Cup dominates football headlines, a Lao youth footballers has returned...

Lao Coffee Export Concerns Grow Amid a Global Rise in Prices

According to recent reports, Vietnam's traditionally massive stockpile of coffee beans is dwindling, which is anticipated to increase global coffee prices. How will this...

Laos’ Financial Crisis Can Be an Opportunity for Reform

Country’s previous growth trajectory was not sustainable, writes Kanni Wignaraja, U.N. assistant secretary general and director of the U.N. Development Program’s Asia and the...

Investing in Ethnic Midwives to Protect Maternal Health, UNFPA

Op-ed in line with UNFPA’s report.  Vida is a 28-year-old midwife from the Akha community who is proud of her role in ensuring women in...

Must Smuggled Food Be Destroyed? Perhaps It Could Go to the Needy

Police and provincial authorities in Laos have the authority to inspect and seize all illegal goods along the border, but why has food been...

Dressing for Success in Laos

When in Laos, it's always best to do as the Laotians do, particularly when it comes to dress. While western culture has begun to grow...

Dangerous Dining in Rural Laos: The Catastrophic Consequences of Curious Cuisine

Although the consumption of wildlife is a time-honored tradition in Laos, as well as many other parts of the world, in an era of...