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...

Laos Gears Up for First Digital Census in 2025

The Lao government and international organizations are preparing for the 5th Population and Housing Census (PHC) in 2025, set to be the first digital...

Laos’ Ongoing Efforts Towards Opium-Free Future Show Promising Results

Local authorities and police in several northern provinces of Laos have intensified efforts to combat illicit drug cultivation by eradicating opium poppy fields discovered...

Counseling Project Empowers Lao Couples in Reproductive Health

Saly Sorsaksit and Noud Sivanxay have a golden rule: be ready. "We decided before getting married that we would be fully ready as parents before...

Applications Now Open for Australia Awards Scholarships for Study in 2025

The Australian Embassy in Laos is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the prestigious Australia Awards Scholarships for study in Australia commencing...

ASEAN Nears 35 Percent Renewable Energy Target

Solar and wind energy capacity in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region witnessed a 20 percent increase in 2023, reaching a total...

Government Cracks Down on Corruption, Grants Amnesty in Commitment to Social Justice

Savannakhet authorities disciplined 69 officials through expulsion and dismissal over corruption allegations, while the Lao government granted amnesty to more than 1,800 prisoners. These...