To promote the growing tourism sector in Laos, the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism recently organized an intensive training course to enhance the standards of Lao tour guides to meet ASEAN benchmarks.
The training, held from 6 May to 19 July in Vientiane, attracted 83 aspiring Lao tour guides, offering a blend of theoretical and practical sessions to improve the quality of their qualification, insights, and skills.
Phouthone Dalalom, Director of Hospitality and Tourism Training Division of Vientiane Capital highlighted the significance of this initiative.
“Our expectation is to increase the number of tour guides, especially those with multilingual skills, to meet the international demands of the tourism sector and ensure tourists are satisfied with the service,” he said. “We also aim to create new opportunities for those who have left the profession.”
Dalalom added that the training has so far met 80 percent of its implementation goals. The course covered a comprehensive range of topics, including guiding tourists to sites, problem-solving, competency-based training, and refreshing knowledge, skills, and attitudes. It also provided a platform for participants to ask questions and share their experiences and opinions on tourism.
Director General of the Institute of Mass Media, Culture, and Tourism, Khamla Yoisaykham, emphasized the need for collaboration with both domestic and international organizations to ensure that Lao tourism personnel are well-prepared and competitive on a regional scale.
One of the participants, Viengsavanh Southammavong, an international guide, shared her experience.
“I feel delighted to be part of the course. I learned a lot of Lao traditions such as the original way of dancing and singing, information about Phathat Luang Stupa in Vientiane, and more details about Lao ethnic groups,” she said. “I will share this information and knowledge with foreigners to help them understand more about Laos as a representative of the country.”
Phonephililoun Khaminxou, another participant, emphasized the role of guides as ambassadors for Laos. She noted that the training equipped her with essential skills and techniques, including first aid, time management, problem-solving, Lao history, and Buddhism.
“I learned a lot in the course, and I’m excited to apply this knowledge in my guiding duties,” she said.
The course aimed to ensure that guides are multilingual and professional, capable of serving tourists efficiently. Additionally, it fostered a network for sharing experiences and emphasized the importance of ongoing cooperation with local and international entities to continually enhance the quality of tourism personnel.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Social-Media-Users-Call-for-Boost-in-Safety-Measures-Amidst-Tourism-Growth-1.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2024-08-12 00:43:002024-07-29 12:45:24Lao Tour Guides Trained to Meet International Standards
The Lao government has approved the construction of the fourth section of the Laos-China expressway connecting Oudomxay Province to Boten at the Chinese border in Luang Namtha Province.
Newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Laos, Fang Hong, recently met with Laos’ Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ngampasong Muongmany, to discuss various infrastructure projects. During their talks, they agreed to urge the developers of this expressway section to speed up construction to maximize the benefits.
This section is part of an ongoing project to improve transportation links between Laos and China, which is divided into four phases. The newly approved fourth section will cover a distance of 63 kilometers from Oudomxay to Boten, according to local media.
Phase 1, which stretches 109 kilometers from Vientiane Capital to Vang Vieng district, was completed in 2021. This section has quickly gained popularity among travelers, as it has cut travel time from more than three hours to just one hour.
Meanwhile, the construction of Phase 2, connecting Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, and Phase 3, linking Luang Prabang to Oudomxay Province, is currently under review for contract renewal.
The Vientiane-Boten expressway project is funded jointly by the Lao government and China’s Yunnan Construction and Investment Holding (YCIH) Group, with YCIH holding a 95 percent stake and the Lao government contributing 5 percent. This is the first highway project of its kind in Laos.
Once completed, the expressway will be operated under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model for 50 years.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/8-4.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2024-08-09 00:41:002024-07-29 12:43:05New Expressway Section from Oudomxay to Boten Gets Green Light
Soubin Phetsomphou has brewed his way to a sensational victory as the champion of the Lao AeroPress Championship 2024 (LAC24), held in Vientiane on 14 July. This triumph has earned him the honor of representing Laos at the World AeroPress Championship from 19-21 September in Lisbon, Portugal. There, a 44 year-old from Luang Prabang will compete against more than 5,000 of the world’s most skilled brewers from 60 countries.
The LAC is a national competition where coffee enthusiasts compete to represent Laos in the annual World AeroPress Championship. Since 2022, LAC has been the only official AeroPress competition in Laos that sends the winner to compete on the global stage.
This year, the LAC24 was held in Vientiane’s Lane Xane Muay Lao gym, featuring 17 participants. The event aimed to blend various communities – coffee, boxing, music, and creative minds – while strengthening connections within the barista community.
“I want to support Laos baristas to show that even though Laos is a small country, we can be on the international stage with other countries,” said David Viron, owner of Dam Dam cafe and host of the annual Lao AeroPress Championship.
David also discussed expanding opportunities for foreigners living in Laos to join the competition and encouraging more women to participate.
“This year’s competition has higher standards compared to the previous two years. Applications are currently only for Lao people, but in the future, it will be more open to other nationalities because I’ve seen many coffee lovers in Laos that aren’t Lao. I also support every gender to join too, especially women because coffee is for everyone.” he said.
This year’s winner, Soubin, shared his motivation for entering this competition.
“I love drinking coffee. One day, I tried special drip coffee and found it very interesting and more than just a coffee. Since then, I started to study about it,” he said. “Currently, I’ve ordered some coffee beans to practice brewing and create recipes for the upcoming world competition. My dream is to be the world champion. I will do my best and will bring victory to Laos.”
In both the national and international AeroPress competitions, contestants have five minutes per round to brew coffee using the same ingredients, such as water and coffee beans. After brewing, international judges conduct a blind test to choose the winner.
Interest in coffee brewing in Laos began to grow significantly in the early 1900s with the French protectorate, which introduced coffee plants to the region. They initially planted Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica varieties in the northern part of Laos. Despite setbacks during World Wars I and II, coffee cultivation gradually resumed and expanded over the years.
Today, most of Laos’ coffee is grown in Paksong district on the Bolaven Plateau, situated about 4,265 feet (1,300 meters) above sea level and receiving plenty of rainfall. Robusta is the most produced coffee in Laos compared to Arabica or Liberica. In 2022, Robusta accounted for 15,000 tons and Arabica a mere 5,000 tons.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1-2.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2024-08-08 00:39:002024-07-29 12:41:07Champion Coffee Brewer: Soubin Phetsomphou to Compete on World AeroPress Stage
Lao Tour Guides Trained to Meet International Standards
To promote the growing tourism sector in Laos, the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism recently organized an intensive training course to enhance the standards of Lao tour guides to meet ASEAN benchmarks.
The training, held from 6 May to 19 July in Vientiane, attracted 83 aspiring Lao tour guides, offering a blend of theoretical and practical sessions to improve the quality of their qualification, insights, and skills.
Phouthone Dalalom, Director of Hospitality and Tourism Training Division of Vientiane Capital highlighted the significance of this initiative.
“Our expectation is to increase the number of tour guides, especially those with multilingual skills, to meet the international demands of the tourism sector and ensure tourists are satisfied with the service,” he said. “We also aim to create new opportunities for those who have left the profession.”
Dalalom added that the training has so far met 80 percent of its implementation goals. The course covered a comprehensive range of topics, including guiding tourists to sites, problem-solving, competency-based training, and refreshing knowledge, skills, and attitudes. It also provided a platform for participants to ask questions and share their experiences and opinions on tourism.
Director General of the Institute of Mass Media, Culture, and Tourism, Khamla Yoisaykham, emphasized the need for collaboration with both domestic and international organizations to ensure that Lao tourism personnel are well-prepared and competitive on a regional scale.
One of the participants, Viengsavanh Southammavong, an international guide, shared her experience.
“I feel delighted to be part of the course. I learned a lot of Lao traditions such as the original way of dancing and singing, information about Phathat Luang Stupa in Vientiane, and more details about Lao ethnic groups,” she said. “I will share this information and knowledge with foreigners to help them understand more about Laos as a representative of the country.”
Phonephililoun Khaminxou, another participant, emphasized the role of guides as ambassadors for Laos. She noted that the training equipped her with essential skills and techniques, including first aid, time management, problem-solving, Lao history, and Buddhism.
“I learned a lot in the course, and I’m excited to apply this knowledge in my guiding duties,” she said.
The course aimed to ensure that guides are multilingual and professional, capable of serving tourists efficiently. Additionally, it fostered a network for sharing experiences and emphasized the importance of ongoing cooperation with local and international entities to continually enhance the quality of tourism personnel.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/07/25/lao-tour-guides-trained-to-meet-international-standards/
New Expressway Section from Oudomxay to Boten Gets Green Light
The Lao government has approved the construction of the fourth section of the Laos-China expressway connecting Oudomxay Province to Boten at the Chinese border in Luang Namtha Province.
Newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Laos, Fang Hong, recently met with Laos’ Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ngampasong Muongmany, to discuss various infrastructure projects. During their talks, they agreed to urge the developers of this expressway section to speed up construction to maximize the benefits.
This section is part of an ongoing project to improve transportation links between Laos and China, which is divided into four phases. The newly approved fourth section will cover a distance of 63 kilometers from Oudomxay to Boten, according to local media.
Phase 1, which stretches 109 kilometers from Vientiane Capital to Vang Vieng district, was completed in 2021. This section has quickly gained popularity among travelers, as it has cut travel time from more than three hours to just one hour.
Meanwhile, the construction of Phase 2, connecting Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, and Phase 3, linking Luang Prabang to Oudomxay Province, is currently under review for contract renewal.
The Vientiane-Boten expressway project is funded jointly by the Lao government and China’s Yunnan Construction and Investment Holding (YCIH) Group, with YCIH holding a 95 percent stake and the Lao government contributing 5 percent. This is the first highway project of its kind in Laos.
Once completed, the expressway will be operated under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model for 50 years.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/07/24/new-expressway-section-from-oudomxay-to-boten-gets-green-light/
Champion Coffee Brewer: Soubin Phetsomphou to Compete on World AeroPress Stage
Soubin Phetsomphou has brewed his way to a sensational victory as the champion of the Lao AeroPress Championship 2024 (LAC24), held in Vientiane on 14 July. This triumph has earned him the honor of representing Laos at the World AeroPress Championship from 19-21 September in Lisbon, Portugal. There, a 44 year-old from Luang Prabang will compete against more than 5,000 of the world’s most skilled brewers from 60 countries.
The LAC is a national competition where coffee enthusiasts compete to represent Laos in the annual World AeroPress Championship. Since 2022, LAC has been the only official AeroPress competition in Laos that sends the winner to compete on the global stage.
This year, the LAC24 was held in Vientiane’s Lane Xane Muay Lao gym, featuring 17 participants. The event aimed to blend various communities – coffee, boxing, music, and creative minds – while strengthening connections within the barista community.
“I want to support Laos baristas to show that even though Laos is a small country, we can be on the international stage with other countries,” said David Viron, owner of Dam Dam cafe and host of the annual Lao AeroPress Championship.
David also discussed expanding opportunities for foreigners living in Laos to join the competition and encouraging more women to participate.
“This year’s competition has higher standards compared to the previous two years. Applications are currently only for Lao people, but in the future, it will be more open to other nationalities because I’ve seen many coffee lovers in Laos that aren’t Lao. I also support every gender to join too, especially women because coffee is for everyone.” he said.
This year’s winner, Soubin, shared his motivation for entering this competition.
“I love drinking coffee. One day, I tried special drip coffee and found it very interesting and more than just a coffee. Since then, I started to study about it,” he said. “Currently, I’ve ordered some coffee beans to practice brewing and create recipes for the upcoming world competition. My dream is to be the world champion. I will do my best and will bring victory to Laos.”
In both the national and international AeroPress competitions, contestants have five minutes per round to brew coffee using the same ingredients, such as water and coffee beans. After brewing, international judges conduct a blind test to choose the winner.
Interest in coffee brewing in Laos began to grow significantly in the early 1900s with the French protectorate, which introduced coffee plants to the region. They initially planted Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica varieties in the northern part of Laos. Despite setbacks during World Wars I and II, coffee cultivation gradually resumed and expanded over the years.
Today, most of Laos’ coffee is grown in Paksong district on the Bolaven Plateau, situated about 4,265 feet (1,300 meters) above sea level and receiving plenty of rainfall. Robusta is the most produced coffee in Laos compared to Arabica or Liberica. In 2022, Robusta accounted for 15,000 tons and Arabica a mere 5,000 tons.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/07/24/champion-coffee-brewer-soubin-phetsomphou-to-compete-on-world-aeropress-stage/