LOCA, a homegrown ride-hailing startup from Laos, is raising the bar for safety, sustainability, and digital convenience in the country’s transport sector.
Built with a strong focus on passenger protection, LOCA ensures that every driver on the platform passes a mandatory in-person exam and training session, along with a comprehensive background check.
To further protect its users, LOCA includes insurance coverage for every ride, offering up to LAK 500 million (around USD 53,000) in case of any unforeseen accidents, covering both customers and drivers.
Founded in 2018, LOCA has quickly grown to become a trusted mobility platform, setting itself apart through a strict driver onboard process, compliance, innovation, and a deep commitment to user safety and service quality.
With a growing reputation among international visitors, LOCA has become the most trusted transportation platform for more than 400,000 tourists traveling in Laos. One of the key reasons for this trust is the company’s 24/7 human call center, providing real-time support and peace of mind to riders.
Additionally, LOCA remains the only ride-hailing service in the market that allows direct credit card payments for bookings, eliminating the need for cash and creating a smooth, hassle-free travel experience.
According to LOCA CEO Souliyo Vongdala, the company places a strong priority on safety and tax compliance, ensuring that all stakeholders—from drivers to government agencies—can benefit from the platform’s growth.
To promote transparency, LOCA clearly states how each trip supports national development: drivers on the platform pay a 5 percent income tax, while the company pays 10 percent value-added tax (VAT) and 20 percent profit tax. This ensures that every ride not only supports the driver and company but also contributes to public revenue and national infrastructure.
Beyond safety and compliance, LOCA is leading the way in the country’s electric vehicle transition. The company currently has over 1,000 active drivers, with approximately 90% of them operating fully electric vehicles. This shift aligns with LOCA’s broader commitment to environmental responsibility and reducing the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels.
LOCA’s efforts are further backed by heavy investment in EV infrastructure. As of today, LOCA has built and operates 47 fast-charging stations across Laos, making it the country’s largest EV charging network. These stations are not limited to Vientiane Capital but extend nationwide, supporting the growing number of EV drivers and helping pave the way toward a cleaner, greener Laos.
Every ride with LOCA is more than just a trip—it’s a contribution to safer transport, fair economic participation, and the national transition toward green mobility. By choosing LOCA, customers are directly supporting local drivers, a responsible Lao company, and the government through tax contributions, while also playing an active role in building a more sustainable future for Laos.
The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the United States Department of State has classified Lao as a “moderately difficult” language for native English speakers to learn. It falls under Category III, alongside languages such as Hungarian, Russian, and Thai.
Based on decades of research and experience training American diplomats, the FSI’s research noted that Category III languages typically involve significant linguistic and cultural differences from English.
Learners usually require about 44 weeks, or approximately 1,100 classroom hours, to achieve professional working proficiency in Lao.
Other Category III languages include Hindi, Vietnamese, and Thai. Lao and Thai, in particular, are often compared due to their similarities, they are both tonal languages, have related writing systems, and share similar grammar and vocabulary.
However, while Thai is often considered more accessible for self-learners thanks to the wide availability of learning materials, Lao presents an additional challenge due to the relative scarcity of study resources outside of Laos.
As a result, learners often benefit more from immersive experiences, such as studying the language within Laos. Some report that, in a native environment, Lao can even be slightly easier to learn than Thai.
The FSI also designates a Category IV, which includes Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Japanese, and Korean.
These languages are regarded as exceptionally difficult for English speakers, typically requiring 88 weeks or 2,200 classroom hours to master. Contributing factors include unfamiliar writing systems, such as Chinese characters and Japanese kanji, tonal pronunciation, and complex grammar structures.
The FSI’s language classification system is widely used as a practical guide for English speakers, particularly those pursuing careers in diplomacy, international development, or global business.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lao-Language-Ranked-Moderately-Difficult-by-US-Foreign-Service-Institute.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2025-06-18 05:50:002025-06-05 17:52:09Lao Language Ranked ‘Moderately Difficult’ by US Foreign Service Institute
China has introduced a new “ASEAN Visa” for citizens of the ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and observer Timor-Leste, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced at a press briefing on 3 June.
Lin explained that the visa will be available to business personnel from these countries, along with their spouses and children, allowing multiple entries over five years and stays of up to 180 days.
The move builds on China’s existing visa exemption deals with countries like Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia, as well as the “Lancang-Mekong Visa” for Mekong River nations, aiming to boost regional travel and cooperation.
The announcement came as China began granting unilateral visa-free entry to citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay on 1 June, expanding such access to 43 countries in total. China has also recently opened visa-free travel to all Gulf Cooperation Council nations.
According to Lin, these policies reflect China’s commitment to openness and fostering global cooperation.
In the first quarter, over 9 million foreigners entered China, up more than 40 percent year on year, while over 18,000 foreign-invested firms were established in the first four months, a 12.1 percent increase.
Looking ahead, Lin said China plans to further improve its entry policies and expand the list of visa-free countries. He noted that the aim is to enable more international visitors to benefit from China’s improved product supply, broader consumption choices, and better services.
LOCA Drives Change: Ride with Safety, Sustainability, and Smart Mobility
LOCA, a homegrown ride-hailing startup from Laos, is raising the bar for safety, sustainability, and digital convenience in the country’s transport sector.
Built with a strong focus on passenger protection, LOCA ensures that every driver on the platform passes a mandatory in-person exam and training session, along with a comprehensive background check.
To further protect its users, LOCA includes insurance coverage for every ride, offering up to LAK 500 million (around USD 53,000) in case of any unforeseen accidents, covering both customers and drivers.
Founded in 2018, LOCA has quickly grown to become a trusted mobility platform, setting itself apart through a strict driver onboard process, compliance, innovation, and a deep commitment to user safety and service quality.
With a growing reputation among international visitors, LOCA has become the most trusted transportation platform for more than 400,000 tourists traveling in Laos. One of the key reasons for this trust is the company’s 24/7 human call center, providing real-time support and peace of mind to riders.
Additionally, LOCA remains the only ride-hailing service in the market that allows direct credit card payments for bookings, eliminating the need for cash and creating a smooth, hassle-free travel experience.
According to LOCA CEO Souliyo Vongdala, the company places a strong priority on safety and tax compliance, ensuring that all stakeholders—from drivers to government agencies—can benefit from the platform’s growth.
To promote transparency, LOCA clearly states how each trip supports national development: drivers on the platform pay a 5 percent income tax, while the company pays 10 percent value-added tax (VAT) and 20 percent profit tax. This ensures that every ride not only supports the driver and company but also contributes to public revenue and national infrastructure.
Beyond safety and compliance, LOCA is leading the way in the country’s electric vehicle transition. The company currently has over 1,000 active drivers, with approximately 90% of them operating fully electric vehicles. This shift aligns with LOCA’s broader commitment to environmental responsibility and reducing the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels.
LOCA’s efforts are further backed by heavy investment in EV infrastructure. As of today, LOCA has built and operates 47 fast-charging stations across Laos, making it the country’s largest EV charging network. These stations are not limited to Vientiane Capital but extend nationwide, supporting the growing number of EV drivers and helping pave the way toward a cleaner, greener Laos.
Every ride with LOCA is more than just a trip—it’s a contribution to safer transport, fair economic participation, and the national transition toward green mobility. By choosing LOCA, customers are directly supporting local drivers, a responsible Lao company, and the government through tax contributions, while also playing an active role in building a more sustainable future for Laos.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/06/06/loca-drives-change-ride-with-safety-sustainability-and-smart-mobility/
Lao Language Ranked ‘Moderately Difficult’ by US Foreign Service Institute
The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the United States Department of State has classified Lao as a “moderately difficult” language for native English speakers to learn. It falls under Category III, alongside languages such as Hungarian, Russian, and Thai.
Based on decades of research and experience training American diplomats, the FSI’s research noted that Category III languages typically involve significant linguistic and cultural differences from English.
Learners usually require about 44 weeks, or approximately 1,100 classroom hours, to achieve professional working proficiency in Lao.
Other Category III languages include Hindi, Vietnamese, and Thai. Lao and Thai, in particular, are often compared due to their similarities, they are both tonal languages, have related writing systems, and share similar grammar and vocabulary.
However, while Thai is often considered more accessible for self-learners thanks to the wide availability of learning materials, Lao presents an additional challenge due to the relative scarcity of study resources outside of Laos.
As a result, learners often benefit more from immersive experiences, such as studying the language within Laos. Some report that, in a native environment, Lao can even be slightly easier to learn than Thai.
The FSI also designates a Category IV, which includes Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Japanese, and Korean.
These languages are regarded as exceptionally difficult for English speakers, typically requiring 88 weeks or 2,200 classroom hours to master. Contributing factors include unfamiliar writing systems, such as Chinese characters and Japanese kanji, tonal pronunciation, and complex grammar structures.
The FSI’s language classification system is widely used as a practical guide for English speakers, particularly those pursuing careers in diplomacy, international development, or global business.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/06/05/lao-language-ranked-moderately-difficult-by-us-foreign-service-institute/
China Launches Multi-Entry ‘ASEAN Visa’ to Boost Regional Ties
China has introduced a new “ASEAN Visa” for citizens of the ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and observer Timor-Leste, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced at a press briefing on 3 June.
Lin explained that the visa will be available to business personnel from these countries, along with their spouses and children, allowing multiple entries over five years and stays of up to 180 days.
The move builds on China’s existing visa exemption deals with countries like Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia, as well as the “Lancang-Mekong Visa” for Mekong River nations, aiming to boost regional travel and cooperation.
The announcement came as China began granting unilateral visa-free entry to citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay on 1 June, expanding such access to 43 countries in total. China has also recently opened visa-free travel to all Gulf Cooperation Council nations.
According to Lin, these policies reflect China’s commitment to openness and fostering global cooperation.
In the first quarter, over 9 million foreigners entered China, up more than 40 percent year on year, while over 18,000 foreign-invested firms were established in the first four months, a 12.1 percent increase.
Looking ahead, Lin said China plans to further improve its entry policies and expand the list of visa-free countries. He noted that the aim is to enable more international visitors to benefit from China’s improved product supply, broader consumption choices, and better services.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/06/05/china-launches-multi-entry-asean-visa-to-boost-regional-ties/