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...

National Road No. 13 South in Savannakhet Set for Major Rehabilitation

A major 79-kilometer section of National Road No. 13 South is set for restoration after Savannakhet authorities on 13 November approved a new plan...

Lao State Fuel Company Set to Transform into Public–Private Joint Venture

The Lao government is moving to restructure the Lao State Fuel Company (LSFC) into a public–private joint venture as part of its broader overhaul...

National Assembly Calls for Action on Roads, Education, Agriculture

At the 10th Ordinary Session of the 9th National Assembly on 11 November, members proposed measures for the government to address key challenges highlighted...

Laos Cuts Public Debt to 88 Percent of GDP, Reports Budget Surplus

Laos has successfully reduced public debt from 112 percent of GDP in 2022 to about 88 percent in 2025, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone said...

Laos Kicks Off First-Ever Digital Census with Nationwide Field Data Collection

UNFPA - Santiphab Phomvihane, Minister of Finance and Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee for the 2025 Population and Housing Census, led a...

Eight Parking Zones Planned in Vientiane Ahead of BRT Launch

To prepare for the upcoming operation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, the Vientiane Sustainable Urban Transport Project plans to establish eight parking...