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...

Laos, Vietnam Plan Joint University, Expand Student Exchange

Laos and Vietnam have agreed to establish a Lao-Vietnam University in Laos and expand a program sending students from border areas to study in...

Seno EV Hub Launches Laos’ First 400kW Fast-Charging Station for Multiple Electric Vehicles

A new electric vehicle (EV) charging station, capable of serving up to eight vehicles simultaneously, has officially opened at the Seno Rest Area in...

Transport Ministry Orders Changes to BRT Design as Project Faces Safety, Funding Challenges

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has ordered adjustments to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, shifting from concrete curbs to painted lane...

New Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge Set for Inauguration on 25 December

The fifth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, spanning 1,350 meters, connects Bolikhamxay Province in Laos with Bueng Kan Province in Thailand. The bridge has been fully...

Prime Minister Orders Payments to Contractors, Signals Changes to BRT Project

The Prime Minister has approved payments to contractors for work already completed under the Vientiane Urban Sustainable Transport Project (VSUTP), while ordering adjustments to...

A New Deal for the Mekong

By Anoulak Kittikhoun - Imagine the Mighty Mekong Basin not as a source of friction among riparian countries but as a platform of joint...