Culture

Laos Bans Money Bouquets, Crafts Made From Kip Banknotes

Laos has banned the production, sale, and advertising of crafts made from kip banknotes, including money bouquets and decorative money trees, under a new directive issued by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce on 22 October. The directive targets products made by folding, gluing, stapling, or otherwise incorporating banknotes into...

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...

Vientiane Shuts Down KM38 Dharma Practice Center After Leader Defies Order Over Reborn Buddha Claim

On 24 September, Vientiane authorities shut down the KM38 Dharma Practice Center in Sangsai...

Vat Phou Champasak Returns to State Management After Concession Expiry

Champasak authorities assumed full management and preservation of the Vat Phou UNESCO World Heritage site on 1 September. This transition follows the expiration of private...

Charity Orchestra Concert to Showcase Lao Heritage Songs in Vientiane

A charity orchestra concert in Vientiane will showcase 10 Lao heritage songs reimagined and rearranged by composer Alounyaded Ladsahody. “A Symphony of Heritage” will feature...

Young Lao Chess Team Wins 12 Medals from Singapore

Laos continues working to develop chess among younger generations.  A group of young Lao players has returned from Singapore with 12 medals after gaining international...

Attapeu Looks to Job Support as School Dropouts Rise

Attapeu is expanding its employment services as the province seeks to respond to labor shortages and help people who have left school find work,...

New DNA Study May Reveal Who is Buried in Laos’ Plain of Jars

Scientists may soon solve one of Laos’ biggest mysteries: who buried their dead inside the giant stone jars at the Plain of Jars, and...

Thailand, China and Vietnam Fuel Laos’ Tourism Growth in 2026

Laos welcomed nearly 2.6 million international tourists in the first half of 2026, up 9.9 percent from the same period last year, according to...