Culture

Miss Universe Laos 2026 Told to Stop Activities Over Brand Rights

Miss Grand International Public Company Limited (MGI) has demanded that organizers of Miss Universe Laos 2026 immediately stop all activities, saying they lack permission to hold the pageant or use the Miss Universe trademarks. In a statement, MGI and Miss Universe Eastern Pte. Ltd. said they had not authorized the...

Laos Bans Money Bouquets, Crafts Made From Kip Banknotes

Laos has banned the production, sale, and advertising of crafts made from kip banknotes,...

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...

Khammouane Targets UNESCO Geopark Status to Boost Tourism

Khammouane is preparing a UNESCO bid for the Hinboun Geopark, hoping the international designation...

Young Lao Push for Change 50 Years After Party Victory

By Beatrice Siviero/AFP - The Lao capital Vientiane has an uncharacteristic buzz lately, bedecked with flags and T-shirt vendors ahead of commemorations of 50...

Rosewood Luang Prabang Announces Festive Season Events

Rosewood Luang Prabang is set to host a series of events and dining experiences from December 2025 through January 2026. Located in the UNESCO...

Turmoil in Tiaras at Miss Universe Pageant in Thailand

By Sally JENSEN/AFP - This year's Miss Universe in Thailand has been marred by ugly drama, with allegations of an insult to a beauty...

Registration, Licensing Required for Sound System Use During That Luang Festival

The Department of Culture and Tourism of Vientiane Capital has announced that all individuals, businesses, and organizations planning to use loudspeakers or sound systems...

Young Luang Prabang Artisan Wins Global Award for Lao Embroidery

Lao handicrafts shone brightly on the global stage, as a unique embroidery technique by a young Lao artisan won the Youngest Artisan award at...

Smoke-Dried Bodies Could Be World’s ‘Oldest Mummies’, Recent Study Found

AFP - Some ancient societies in China and Southeast Asia appear to have smoke-dried their dead, effectively mummifying them thousands of years earlier than...