The government of Laos has issued the eligibility requirements for honorary citizenship and special privileges to foreign nationals.
A recent decree No.14 issued by the government states that foreign nationals who are granted honorary citizenship are exempt from visa requirements for exiting and entering Laos and can choose to reside in the country permanently.
They are also eligible to purchase land on a state-owned property for a specified period and lease both state and privately-owned land.
Foreign national applicants must meet several criteria to receive honorary Lao citizens.
Applicants be at least 18 years old, abide by the Lao constitution and laws, have never been imprisoned for an intentional crime, and are in good health without any history of illegal drug use or conviction.
Prominent businessmen are eligible to apply if they have donated at least USD 500,000 towards the country’s socio-economic development as well as brought in USD 1 million in foreign investment to Laos before applying.
Professional qualifications or expertise equivalent to a doctorate or professor level, in addition to exceptional abilities, will also be preferred in applications for honorary citizenship which can be submitted for consideration to the Ministry of Justice through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a Lao representative mission in the applicant’s home country.
Honorary citizens would be prohibited from interfering and threatening government officials, breaking the law, bribing and receiving bribes, and participating in illegal political movements.
The Ministry of Justice is required to review the application within five business days and evaluate the application for 30 days before forwarding it to the government for further review.
This new policy has been introduced to recognize the outstanding contribution that foreigners have made to socio-economic development in Laos.
Vientiane Capital has welcomed more than 300,000 foreign tourists this year, according to officials.
The number was revealed during a recent consultation workshop held in Vientiane on 23 September between the public sector and the business sector on ways to revive tourism.
The meeting, hosted by the Vientiane Capital Department of Information, Culture and Tourism, revealed that the number of foreign tourists who came to visit the nation’s capital through tour operators registered in Vientiane has increased to more than 5,000 people.
At the same time, over 1,000 Lao tourists traveled outbound to foreign countries through Vientiane-based tour operators, according to officials.
Tourists in Bangkok, Thailand.
Laos and Thailand Visit Each Other
Laos also made up the fifth largest nationality for tourism arrivals in Thailand, with information from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) suggesting that over 157,000 visitors from Laos arrived in Thailand between March and July this year.
Malaysian, Singaporean, Indian, and UK tourists made up the other amounts.
For the first time in more than three years, the Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF) returns as a free and live event, from 8 – 11 December.
The UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, Laos, will once again host filmmakers, film industry professionals, and fans of Southeast Asian cinema at this annual event.
In cooperation with the Luang Prabang Department of Information, Culture, and Tourism, LPFF will present four days of regional film sourced, as always, exclusively from across Southeast Asia.
In 2020, LPFF presented a free virtual festival throughout the region. Twenty-four features, ten shorts, and eight film favorites from prior LPFF events reached thousands of viewers in ten countries. Further cutbacks during the pandemic made a 2021 event impossible.
This year, says LPFF Executive Director Sean Chadwell, “when our government partners approached us in May, the day the Lao borders reopened, the path back to a live event wasn’t clear at all. At that point, we had an office,” he laughs, “only because it’s the norm to pay rent here several months in advance. No staff. Nothing in the bank.”
By early June, partner commitments — from Lao Telecom, M Money, and The Asia Foundation — support from the local hospitality community, and dedicated volunteers had kick-started the effort to produce a comeback festival.
“It’s a typical story arc,” Chadwell points out, “where you think the good guy is down for the count but he manages to haul himself back up for the fight. The only thing we’re missing is the soundtrack.”
This year, audiences can expect more than 20 feature films from across Southeast Asia, public discussions and Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, and the easygoing, cinephilic atmosphere for which LPFF is known.
The festival is also known for big crowds — Luang Prabang has no operating movie theater, so its December event is a rare treat for local audiences. More than 1,000 viewers routinely fill its main night venue, which showcases primarily Lao and Thai content. This year, LPFF will add a second, smaller night venue in order to offer a few more selections from around the rest of the region.
From 2016 through 2019, LPFF also hosted a regional Talent Lab for developing concepts for feature films, in cooperation with the Tribeca Film Institute (TFI). “That won’t yet return,” Chadwell says, “but since TFI’s dissolution in 2020 we’ve quietly been working on delivering Labs again in 2023.”
He points out that two recent Southeast Asian successes, Kavich Neang’s White Building (2021, Cambodia) and Martika Ramirez Escobar’s Leonor Will Never Die (2022, Philippines) were both at the LPFF Talent Lab in 2016. “We can’t wait to welcome filmmaker creatives back to Luang Prabang,” he says.
In May 2022, Laos fully opened to international tourists. Hotels and guesthouses, restaurants and outdoor food courts, the Luang Prabang night market, shops and tourist attractions such as Kuang Si Waterfalls and the National Museum (the former Royal Palace) in Luang Prabang have reopened to welcome visitors. The Lao e-visa is now available for tourists as well as visa on arrival at select entry points.
A full festival line-up will be announced in October. All festival events are open to the public and free of charge.
LPFF receives support from corporate sponsors, non-governmental organizations, embassies, and private donors to celebrate Southeast Asian film at the festival and to support the ongoing development of the Lao film industry year-round.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Luang-Prabang-Film-Festival-696x364-1.jpg364696Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2022-09-26 15:14:032022-09-26 15:14:07Luang Prabang Film Festival to Return in December
Laos Announces Criteria for Honorary Citizenship to Foreign Nationals
The government of Laos has issued the eligibility requirements for honorary citizenship and special privileges to foreign nationals.
A recent decree No.14 issued by the government states that foreign nationals who are granted honorary citizenship are exempt from visa requirements for exiting and entering Laos and can choose to reside in the country permanently.
They are also eligible to purchase land on a state-owned property for a specified period and lease both state and privately-owned land.
Foreign national applicants must meet several criteria to receive honorary Lao citizens.
Applicants be at least 18 years old, abide by the Lao constitution and laws, have never been imprisoned for an intentional crime, and are in good health without any history of illegal drug use or conviction.
Prominent businessmen are eligible to apply if they have donated at least USD 500,000 towards the country’s socio-economic development as well as brought in USD 1 million in foreign investment to Laos before applying.
Professional qualifications or expertise equivalent to a doctorate or professor level, in addition to exceptional abilities, will also be preferred in applications for honorary citizenship which can be submitted for consideration to the Ministry of Justice through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a Lao representative mission in the applicant’s home country.
Honorary citizens would be prohibited from interfering and threatening government officials, breaking the law, bribing and receiving bribes, and participating in illegal political movements.
The Ministry of Justice is required to review the application within five business days and evaluate the application for 30 days before forwarding it to the government for further review.
This new policy has been introduced to recognize the outstanding contribution that foreigners have made to socio-economic development in Laos.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/10/21/laos-announces-criteria-for-honorary-citizenship-to-foreign-nationals/
Over 300,000 Tourists Visit Laos Capital in 2022
Vientiane Capital has welcomed more than 300,000 foreign tourists this year, according to officials.
The number was revealed during a recent consultation workshop held in Vientiane on 23 September between the public sector and the business sector on ways to revive tourism.
The meeting, hosted by the Vientiane Capital Department of Information, Culture and Tourism, revealed that the number of foreign tourists who came to visit the nation’s capital through tour operators registered in Vientiane has increased to more than 5,000 people.
At the same time, over 1,000 Lao tourists traveled outbound to foreign countries through Vientiane-based tour operators, according to officials.
Laos and Thailand Visit Each Other
Laos also made up the fifth largest nationality for tourism arrivals in Thailand, with information from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) suggesting that over 157,000 visitors from Laos arrived in Thailand between March and July this year.
Malaysian, Singaporean, Indian, and UK tourists made up the other amounts.
During the same period, Laos recorded a steady stream of visitors from Thailand, with the high-speed Laos-China Railway being a big attraction.
Most Thai tourists visited the UNESCO Heritage Town of Luang Prabang, as well as short stays in Vang Vieng and Vientiane Capital.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/10/03/over-300000-tourists-visit-laos-capital-in-2022/
Luang Prabang Film Festival to Return in December
For the first time in more than three years, the Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF) returns as a free and live event, from 8 – 11 December.
The UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, Laos, will once again host filmmakers, film industry professionals, and fans of Southeast Asian cinema at this annual event.
In cooperation with the Luang Prabang Department of Information, Culture, and Tourism, LPFF will present four days of regional film sourced, as always, exclusively from across Southeast Asia.
In 2020, LPFF presented a free virtual festival throughout the region. Twenty-four features, ten shorts, and eight film favorites from prior LPFF events reached thousands of viewers in ten countries. Further cutbacks during the pandemic made a 2021 event impossible.
This year, says LPFF Executive Director Sean Chadwell, “when our government partners approached us in May, the day the Lao borders reopened, the path back to a live event wasn’t clear at all. At that point, we had an office,” he laughs, “only because it’s the norm to pay rent here several months in advance. No staff. Nothing in the bank.”
By early June, partner commitments — from Lao Telecom, M Money, and The Asia Foundation — support from the local hospitality community, and dedicated volunteers had kick-started the effort to produce a comeback festival.
“It’s a typical story arc,” Chadwell points out, “where you think the good guy is down for the count but he manages to haul himself back up for the fight. The only thing we’re missing is the soundtrack.”
This year, audiences can expect more than 20 feature films from across Southeast Asia, public discussions and Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, and the easygoing, cinephilic atmosphere for which LPFF is known.
The festival is also known for big crowds — Luang Prabang has no operating movie theater, so its December event is a rare treat for local audiences. More than 1,000 viewers routinely fill its main night venue, which showcases primarily Lao and Thai content. This year, LPFF will add a second, smaller night venue in order to offer a few more selections from around the rest of the region.
From 2016 through 2019, LPFF also hosted a regional Talent Lab for developing concepts for feature films, in cooperation with the Tribeca Film Institute (TFI). “That won’t yet return,” Chadwell says, “but since TFI’s dissolution in 2020 we’ve quietly been working on delivering Labs again in 2023.”
He points out that two recent Southeast Asian successes, Kavich Neang’s White Building (2021, Cambodia) and Martika Ramirez Escobar’s Leonor Will Never Die (2022, Philippines) were both at the LPFF Talent Lab in 2016. “We can’t wait to welcome filmmaker creatives back to Luang Prabang,” he says.
In May 2022, Laos fully opened to international tourists. Hotels and guesthouses, restaurants and outdoor food courts, the Luang Prabang night market, shops and tourist attractions such as Kuang Si Waterfalls and the National Museum (the former Royal Palace) in Luang Prabang have reopened to welcome visitors. The Lao e-visa is now available for tourists as well as visa on arrival at select entry points.
A full festival line-up will be announced in October. All festival events are open to the public and free of charge.
LPFF receives support from corporate sponsors, non-governmental organizations, embassies, and private donors to celebrate Southeast Asian film at the festival and to support the ongoing development of the Lao film industry year-round.
To stay up-to-date on the Luang Prabang Film Festival and its activities, follow the project on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lpfilmfest) or visit its website (www.lpfilmfest.org).
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/09/17/luang-prabang-film-festival-to-return-in-december/