Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Laos’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saleumxay Kommasith, inaugurated the reopening of Hungary’s embassy in Vientiane on 14 June, marking a significant milestone in the long-standing diplomatic relations between the two nations.
In a ribbon-cutting event held at the Royal Square building, the newly reopened embassy marks Hungary’s renewed commitment to fostering closer political and economic ties with Laos. This establishment, located next to the Crowne Plaza Vientiane on Samsenthai Road, positions Hungary as the fourth European Union (EU) member country with an embassy in Laos after Germany, France, and Luxembourg.
Hungary previously operated an embassy in Laos from 1975 to 1991, until the fall of the Soviet Union.Three decades later, the two countries are reunited in Laos.
Speaking at the inauguration, Minister Szijjártó emphasized the importance of mutual respect and dialogue in overcoming the geographical distance between the two countries. He highlighted the shared histories of struggle for freedom, which underpin the strong bilateral relations.
Minister Szijjártó’s visit coincides with Laos’s chairmanship of ASEAN this year. He stressed the significance of engaging with Laos to enhance the relationship between the Southeast Asian bloc and Europe with Hungary set to assume the EU chairmanship on 1 July.
According to Szijjártó, Hungarian investments in Laos have grown substantially, totaling around USD 200 million in recent years. These investments mainly focus on agriculture, water management, and public administration development. Bilateral trade has also seen a fifty-fold increase this year, showcasing the success of their cooperation, the Hungarian minister stressed.
At the event, minister Saleumxay praised the visit, which he described as a milestone in enriching relations and cooperation. He expressed gratitude for Hungary’s support and reiterated the commitment to further extend reciprocal assistance through multilateral frameworks, including the United Nations, ASEAN-Hungary, and ASEAN-EU.
The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement highlighting the reopening of the embassy as a symbol of the shared desire to strengthen the diplomatic relationship established over six decades ago.
A notable aspect of Hungary’s support to Laos has been in education. Over the years, approximately 300 Lao students have studied in Hungarian universities. Many graduates now hold significant positions in Laos’s public administration, particularly in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Hungary-Reopens-Embassy-in-Laos-After-Three-Decades.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2024-06-21 08:29:232024-06-19 08:30:43Hungary Reopens Embassy in Laos After Three Decades
The Lao government should consider visa waivers for additional countries to attract more tourists, as proposed by Lao National Assembly (NA) members during the ongoing 7th Ordinary Session on 10 June.
The tourism industry has made a substantial contribution to the economy of Laos in recent years. As a result, Saithong Xaiyaong, a member of the National Assembly from Champasack Province, suggested that visa waivers could attract more tourists to Laos. He urged the Lao government to carefully evaluate which countries and visitors could benefit from such a policy.
He urged the government to streamline visa requirements and the visa process for visitors.
Meanwhile, Saithong also emphasized the need for Laos to upgrade its tourism infrastructure, enhance facilities at tourist sites, and implement higher standards at restaurants, hotels, and popular attractions. He noted that these improvements could create a positive impression on visitors and encourage them to revisit Laos.
Currently, Laos grants visa exemptions to citizens of 36 countries. However, the exemptions can vary depending on whether they hold diplomatic, service, or ordinary passports, as stated by the Department of Immigration of Laos.
These countries include Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cuba, the Czech Republic, North Korea, Ecuador, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Norway, Peru, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Russia, Serbia, Slovak, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam.
Last year, Laos moved up slightly to 93rd place on the Henley Passport Index, which ranks passports based on the number of countries their holders can access without a visa.
Tourism experts believe that expanding these visa waivers to more countries could significantly boost tourist arrivals in Laos. In the first three months of this year, Laos experienced a 36 percent increase in foreign tourist arrivals compared to the same period last year, with over 1.1 million visitors, according to the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. The statistics, revealed by the Tourism Marketing Department of the ministry, highlight that the largest numbers of tourists came from Thailand, Vietnam, China, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and Germany.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Lao-Government-Discusses-Tourist-Visa-Exemptions-to-Attract-More-Visitors.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2024-06-20 08:27:392024-06-19 08:28:59Lao Government Discusses Tourist Visa Exemptions to Attract More Visitors
Luang Namtha Province is actively enhancing its tourist sites to attract both foreign and national tourists. The province is particularly popular in winter, drawing visitors to its ethnic villages and temples.
Recently, the provincial authorities, in collaboration with the Lao Private Import-Export Trade and Service Company, also signed an agreement to conduct a feasibility study to enhance natural and historical tourism in the province.
The agreement includes an 18-month study in Natuey village, Luang Namtha district, covering 149 hectares. The goal is to identify new potential tourist attractions in the area.
This year, as Visit Laos Year 2024 unfolds, the province has a variety of activities planned to welcome visitors. Highlights include Boat Racing in October across several districts, the Xieng Teung Stupa Festival in November, and the Luang Namtha Stupa Festival in December. Other festivities include exploring the Khmu Festival in Nalae district and the Akha Festival in Long district.
Visitors can enjoy popular activities such as trekking, kayaking, hiking, and camping. These activities offer diverse experiences, such as exploring the Nam Ha Biodiversity Conservation Area and encountering ethnic communities like the Akha, Tai Lue, and Yao in Sing district, as well as the Khmu, Akha, and Hmong villagers in Vieng Phoukha and Long districts.
Additionally, to further boost tourism in the province, authorities and a local business have plans to build a restaurant, resort, and guesthouse at the popular Tad Namdee waterfall, while also introducing adventure activities at the site.
The Tad Namdee waterfall is a key attraction in the province, drawing visitors interested in the traditional lifestyle of the local ethnic group, especially the Lanten people who maintain their customs, traditional dress, and handicrafts.
Located approximately 620 kilometers from Vientiane Capital, Luang Namtha is accessible by plane, the Laos-China Railway, and bus.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/7-1.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2024-06-19 09:24:002024-06-19 08:26:29Luang Namtha Boosts Tourism with New Attraction Study
Hungary Reopens Embassy in Laos After Three Decades
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Laos’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saleumxay Kommasith, inaugurated the reopening of Hungary’s embassy in Vientiane on 14 June, marking a significant milestone in the long-standing diplomatic relations between the two nations.
In a ribbon-cutting event held at the Royal Square building, the newly reopened embassy marks Hungary’s renewed commitment to fostering closer political and economic ties with Laos. This establishment, located next to the Crowne Plaza Vientiane on Samsenthai Road, positions Hungary as the fourth European Union (EU) member country with an embassy in Laos after Germany, France, and Luxembourg.
Hungary previously operated an embassy in Laos from 1975 to 1991, until the fall of the Soviet Union.Three decades later, the two countries are reunited in Laos.
Speaking at the inauguration, Minister Szijjártó emphasized the importance of mutual respect and dialogue in overcoming the geographical distance between the two countries. He highlighted the shared histories of struggle for freedom, which underpin the strong bilateral relations.
Minister Szijjártó’s visit coincides with Laos’s chairmanship of ASEAN this year. He stressed the significance of engaging with Laos to enhance the relationship between the Southeast Asian bloc and Europe with Hungary set to assume the EU chairmanship on 1 July.
According to Szijjártó, Hungarian investments in Laos have grown substantially, totaling around USD 200 million in recent years. These investments mainly focus on agriculture, water management, and public administration development. Bilateral trade has also seen a fifty-fold increase this year, showcasing the success of their cooperation, the Hungarian minister stressed.
At the event, minister Saleumxay praised the visit, which he described as a milestone in enriching relations and cooperation. He expressed gratitude for Hungary’s support and reiterated the commitment to further extend reciprocal assistance through multilateral frameworks, including the United Nations, ASEAN-Hungary, and ASEAN-EU.
The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement highlighting the reopening of the embassy as a symbol of the shared desire to strengthen the diplomatic relationship established over six decades ago.
A notable aspect of Hungary’s support to Laos has been in education. Over the years, approximately 300 Lao students have studied in Hungarian universities. Many graduates now hold significant positions in Laos’s public administration, particularly in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/06/17/hungary-reopens-embassy-in-laos-after-three-decades/
Lao Government Discusses Tourist Visa Exemptions to Attract More Visitors
The Lao government should consider visa waivers for additional countries to attract more tourists, as proposed by Lao National Assembly (NA) members during the ongoing 7th Ordinary Session on 10 June.
The tourism industry has made a substantial contribution to the economy of Laos in recent years. As a result, Saithong Xaiyaong, a member of the National Assembly from Champasack Province, suggested that visa waivers could attract more tourists to Laos. He urged the Lao government to carefully evaluate which countries and visitors could benefit from such a policy.
He urged the government to streamline visa requirements and the visa process for visitors.
Meanwhile, Saithong also emphasized the need for Laos to upgrade its tourism infrastructure, enhance facilities at tourist sites, and implement higher standards at restaurants, hotels, and popular attractions. He noted that these improvements could create a positive impression on visitors and encourage them to revisit Laos.
Currently, Laos grants visa exemptions to citizens of 36 countries. However, the exemptions can vary depending on whether they hold diplomatic, service, or ordinary passports, as stated by the Department of Immigration of Laos.
These countries include Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cuba, the Czech Republic, North Korea, Ecuador, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Norway, Peru, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Russia, Serbia, Slovak, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam.
Last year, Laos moved up slightly to 93rd place on the Henley Passport Index, which ranks passports based on the number of countries their holders can access without a visa.
Tourism experts believe that expanding these visa waivers to more countries could significantly boost tourist arrivals in Laos. In the first three months of this year, Laos experienced a 36 percent increase in foreign tourist arrivals compared to the same period last year, with over 1.1 million visitors, according to the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. The statistics, revealed by the Tourism Marketing Department of the ministry, highlight that the largest numbers of tourists came from Thailand, Vietnam, China, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and Germany.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/06/14/lao-government-discusses-tourist-visa-exemptions-to-attract-more-visitors/
Luang Namtha Boosts Tourism with New Attraction Study
Luang Namtha Province is actively enhancing its tourist sites to attract both foreign and national tourists. The province is particularly popular in winter, drawing visitors to its ethnic villages and temples.
Recently, the provincial authorities, in collaboration with the Lao Private Import-Export Trade and Service Company, also signed an agreement to conduct a feasibility study to enhance natural and historical tourism in the province.
The agreement includes an 18-month study in Natuey village, Luang Namtha district, covering 149 hectares. The goal is to identify new potential tourist attractions in the area.
This year, as Visit Laos Year 2024 unfolds, the province has a variety of activities planned to welcome visitors. Highlights include Boat Racing in October across several districts, the Xieng Teung Stupa Festival in November, and the Luang Namtha Stupa Festival in December. Other festivities include exploring the Khmu Festival in Nalae district and the Akha Festival in Long district.
Visitors can enjoy popular activities such as trekking, kayaking, hiking, and camping. These activities offer diverse experiences, such as exploring the Nam Ha Biodiversity Conservation Area and encountering ethnic communities like the Akha, Tai Lue, and Yao in Sing district, as well as the Khmu, Akha, and Hmong villagers in Vieng Phoukha and Long districts.
Additionally, to further boost tourism in the province, authorities and a local business have plans to build a restaurant, resort, and guesthouse at the popular Tad Namdee waterfall, while also introducing adventure activities at the site.
The Tad Namdee waterfall is a key attraction in the province, drawing visitors interested in the traditional lifestyle of the local ethnic group, especially the Lanten people who maintain their customs, traditional dress, and handicrafts.
Located approximately 620 kilometers from Vientiane Capital, Luang Namtha is accessible by plane, the Laos-China Railway, and bus.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/06/12/luang-namtha-boosts-tourism-with-new-attraction-study/