Development

Former MRC Chief Anoulak Kittikhoun Named First Lao Head of Mekong Institute

Former Mekong River Commission (MRC) Chief Executive Officer Anoulak Kittikhoun has been appointed Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Mekong Institute, becoming the first Lao national to lead the regional organisation. The appointment was announced during Mekong Forum 2026, held in Bangkok on 22–23 July, where the institute...

Trade, Energy, Tourism Drive Laos-Vietnam Economic Ties Past USD 1.3 Billion

Trade between Laos and Vietnam reached USD 1.305 billion during the first six months...

Laos Must Spend More on Healthcare as Costs Rise, World Bank Says

Healthcare in Laos is under growing financial pressure, and the country can no longer...

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...

Laos Launches Cultural Association to Preserve Heritage, Build Soft Power

On 16 July, Laos established a new cultural association tasked with preserving national heritage...

January Trade Surplus Marks Sharp Rebound from Year-Earlier Deficit

Laos began 2026 on stronger footing, with exports rising to USD 886.7 million in January, up 36 percent from the same month last year....

Laos–North Korea Friendship Marked at Kim Jong Il Anniversary Event in Oudomxay

Officials in Oudomxay Province marked the 84th birth anniversary of Kim Jong Il on 9 February, highlighting longstanding ties between Laos and North Korea. The...

Laos, Cambodia Sign Deal to Boost Cross-Border Transport Connectivity

The southern Lao province of Attapeu and Cambodia’s Ratanakiri Province agreed to develop transport connectivity between the two countries. The agreement, signed on 13 February,...

Japan Commits USD 2.7 Million to Strengthen Mekong Water Monitoring

Japan has pledged up to JPY 424 million (over USD 2.7 million) to improve water quality monitoring and management in the Lower Mekong Basin,...

Savannakhet’s 270-Meter Wooden Bridge Faces Final Season as Concrete Span Nears Completion

Laos’ longest wooden bridge in Savannakhet Province may soon see its final season, as authorities move closer to opening a permanent concrete replacement across...

Laos Targets 6 Million Visitors in 2026 as Chinese Arrivals Projected at 2 Million

Laos expects to welcome between 5 and 6 million international tourists in 2026, with Chinese visitors projected to account for around 2 million of...