Socio-Economic Development

Vientiane Completes New 9.3-Kilometer Mekong Embankment

On 1 July, Vientiane officially opened a new 9.3-kilometer stretch of Mekong riverfront featuring parks, walking and cycling paths, sports facilities, and flood protection infrastructure following the completion of Phase II of the Mekong River Integrated Management Project. The new embankment extends from Wat Nak village in Sisattanak District to...

Laos Raises Tax-Free Income Threshold Under New Personal Income Tax Rules

Laos has officially raised the monthly income exempt from personal income tax from LAK...

Laos Reports Economic Growth as Inflation Slows to 7.4 Percent in June

Laos recorded 5 percent economic growth in the first half of 2026, while inflation...

Laos Restores Higher Fuel Excise Taxes as Emergency Relief Measures End

On 24 June, Laos reinstated higher excise taxes on fuel, restoring regular gasoline tax...

Japan Approves USD 2.3 Million Scholarship Grant for Lao Civil Servants

Japan has approved JPY 378 million (USD 2.3 million) in scholarship funding to support...

Vietnam, Laos Promote Trade, Industrial, Energy Cooperation

On 3 January, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and the Lao Embassy in Vietnam agreed to continue coordinating closely to promote...

New Lao-Thai Bridge Close to Completion

Construction of the fifth “Friendship Bridge” across the Mekong River, linking Bolikhamxay Province in Laos and Bueng Kan Province in Thailand, is now 96.64...

Lao Government Addresses 73,000 Illegal Workers Abroad

The Lao government has revealed that more than 73,000 Lao workers are currently working abroad illegally, particularly in neighboring countries, despite the government's efforts...

Vientiane’s New Bus Project: A Step Forward or a Traffic Gamble?

Additional reporting by Kheuakham Chanlivong In Laos, daily commutes are largely dominated by private vehicles, with public buses playing only a minor role in Vientiane...

Lao Government Allocates USD 960 Million for 2025 Development Projects

The Ministry of Planning and Investment announced the approval of 746 State investment projects for 2025, with a total value of LAK 20,957 billion...

Mekong River Commission Launches Education Hub, One Mekong App in Vientiane

On 23 December, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) celebrated the opening of its Education and Visitor Center and the launch of the One Mekong...