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Bus Service Between Khon Kaen-Vientiane Resumes After Five Years

Starting 10 October, the Transport Company (BKS) will resume its bus service connecting Khon Kaen, Thailand, to Vientiane, Laos, following a five-year suspension. The cross-border service was originally halted on 25 March 2020, after Laos and Cambodia closed their borders as part of COVID-19 containment measures.  The 194-kilometer route takes approximately four hours, with air-conditioned buses accommodating 42 passengers.  Tickets are priced at THB 180 (around USD 5), with two daily round trips: departing Khon Kaen at 8:15 am and returning from Vientiane at 2:45 pm. The new service aims to facilitate travel, promote tourism, and strengthen economic ties between Thailand and Laos. It was initially scheduled to resume in June 2022, but delays...

Economy

Rising Number of Lao Tourists Choose Malaysia as Travel Ties Strengthen

Malaysia is seeing a notable uptick in visitors from Laos this year, pointing to a growing interest among Lao travelers in regional destinations. According to data from Malaysia’s official tourism...

Lao Government, UNFPA Host 2nd Population Conference to Empower Youth for National Development

UNFPA - On 1 October, the Ministry of Finance and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) hosted the 2nd National Conference on Population and Development under the theme “Educate,...

Major Infrastructure Push Targets Road, Rail, and Waterway Upgrades in Laos

Laos has launched a five-year strategic roadmap to modernize its national transport system, with a focus on upgrading roads, bridges, railways, and waterways.  Key projects include the Laos–Vietnam and Vientiane–Champasack...

Government Adjusts Electricity Prices for Final Quarter, Ends of Free Power for Low-Usage Households

The government has announced new electricity rates for households, starting with the October billing cycle, covering the final quarter of 2025. From September to December, the cost of electricity transmission...

Laos Economy Inches Forward as Inflation Eases in September, Exports Keep Rolling

The cost of living in Laos is still rising, but not as fast as before. New data from the Lao Statistics Bureau shows that prices across the country grew...

Laos Targets Over 43 Million Tourists By 2030

Laos aims to attract more than 43 million tourists between 2026 and 2030, Minister of Culture and Tourism Suansavanh Viyaket announced at the Party Congress on 25 September.  The target...

Travel

Bus Service Between Khon Kaen-Vientiane Resumes After Five Years

Starting 10 October, the Transport Company (BKS) will resume its bus service connecting Khon Kaen, Thailand, to Vientiane, Laos, following a five-year suspension. The cross-border service was originally halted on 25 March 2020, after Laos and Cambodia closed their borders as part of COVID-19 containment measures.  The 194-kilometer route takes approximately four hours, with air-conditioned buses accommodating 42 passengers.  Tickets are priced at THB 180 (around USD 5), with two daily round trips: departing Khon Kaen at 8:15 am and returning from Vientiane at 2:45 pm. The new service aims to facilitate travel, promote tourism, and strengthen economic ties between Thailand and Laos. It was initially scheduled to resume in June 2022, but delays...

ASEAN Rail Tourism Corridor Takes Center Stage at Mekong Tourism Forum 2025

Laos hosted the Mekong Tourism Forum 2025 in Luang Prabang from 24 to 27 June, spotlighting the proposed ASEAN Rail Tourism Corridor (ARTC) as a key initiative to boost regional travel and connectivity. Held...

New Eco-Tourism Project Aims to Protect Wildlife, Boost Jobs in Luang Namtha

Luang Namtha Province is set to transform Xang Boten village into a conservation-focused tourist destination through the newly launched Xang Boten Tourism Project, a joint initiative between the Lao government and a Chinese...

Health & Environment

“Sharing New Life” Campaign Launched to Support Maternal, Newborn Health

Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn & Suites Vientiane have launched a new campaign turning hotel stays into life-saving support for mothers and newborns across Laos. Called “Sharing New Life,” the initiative invites guests to make voluntary contributions toward improving maternal and newborn health. Running from 1 October to 31 December, the campaign channels 100 percent of donations to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to help ensure safer pregnancies and healthier beginnings in some of the country’s most underserved communities. “This campaign...

Sport

Thailand Cleared to Host Petanque at SEA Games After World Federation Reversal

Thailand will host the pétanque competition at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games this December, following a reversal by the World Pétanque and Bowls Federation (WPBF) of an earlier suspension over regulatory violations. As...

Thailand to ‘Clarify Misunderstandings’ after SEA Games Petanque Ban

AFP - Thailand said Tuesday, 23 September, it would "clarify misunderstandings" after the world governing body of petanque effectively barred the nation from hosting the sport at this year's SEA Games. The World Petanque...

Politics

Lao President Set to Visit North Korea for Party Anniversary, Date Unconfirmed

Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith is expected to make an official visit to North Korea this month at the invitation...

Australian Business Champion Visits Laos to Boost Agriculture, Mining Cooperation

Australia’s Business Champion for Laos, Charles Olsson, is visiting Laos from 30 September to 3 October to strengthen economic...

Laos, Thailand, U.S. Join Forces Against Cross-Border Crime

On 23–24 September, the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane, in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, organized a trilateral...

Laos, Timor-Leste Implement 30-Day Visa-Free Travel

Laos and Timor-Leste have implemented a 30-day visa waiver for citizens holding ordinary passports, effective 15 August. The agreement...

Feature

Young Luang Prabang Artisan Wins Global Award for Lao Embroidery

Lao handicrafts shone brightly on the global stage, as a unique embroidery technique by a young Lao artisan won the Youngest Artisan award at this year’s International Festival of Handicrafts in Kokand, Uzbekistan.  The festival, held from 19 to 21 September, brought together 250 international participants from over 70 countries. Its aim was to gather talented craftspeople to showcase their national patterns and applied arts.  One Lao artisan stood out for his remarkable contribution, and his deep-rooted connection to his heritage. Khounphithack Latesavat, a 29-year-old business owner of Muenna Lao Silk in Luang Prabang, has a passion for incorporating Lao traditions into clothing, including the Sinh (traditional Lao skirt), shirts, and Lao shoulder scarf.  This was Khounphithack's second attempt at the competition, having previously won second runner-up in 2022. But this time, he came prepared, both creatively and mentally, determined to elevate his work to a new level. “I wanted to finish what I’ve started, and I’ve learned what my mistakes are, so I fixed them to win the competition this time,” he said. Crafting Fashion from Luang Prabang's Spirit At the heart of Khounphithack’s designs lies his hometown: Luang Prabang.  For the fashion show round, he...

Lao President Set to Visit North Korea for Party Anniversary, Date Unconfirmed

Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith is expected to make an...

Australian Business Champion Visits Laos to Boost Agriculture, Mining Cooperation

Australia’s Business Champion for Laos, Charles Olsson, is visiting...

Laos, Thailand, U.S. Join Forces Against Cross-Border Crime

On 23–24 September, the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane, in...

Laos, Timor-Leste Implement 30-Day Visa-Free Travel

Laos and Timor-Leste have implemented a 30-day visa waiver...

Lao Delegation Marks 15 Years of Cluster Munitions Convention at Geneva Meeting

Laos, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Anouparb Vongnorkeo, participated...