Starting 1 June, Japanese travelers will be able to stay in Laos without a visa for up to 30 days, doubling the previous limit of 15 days, as announced by Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith during his visit to Japan on 29 May.
The extension was formalized during a meeting between President Thongloun and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and Japan. The occasion reinforced Laos’s decision to strengthen ties through expanded travel privileges.
Laos has offered visa-free entry to Japanese citizens since 1 January 2007, allowing ordinary passport holders to visit for up to 15 days without a visa. For longer stays, travelers were previously required to obtain a visa in advance.
Additionally, Japanese citizens holding official or diplomatic passports have enjoyed a longer visa exemption period of up to 90 days, under a bilateral agreement that came into effect on 1 April 2015.
Japan was not among the countries granted special visa exemptions under the “Visit Laos Year 2024” campaign, which included Thailand, China, Taiwan, and several European nations. Those temporary exemptions concluded on 1 January 2025.
Beyond tourism, the two leaders expressed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in energy and decarbonization under the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative. A summit on this initiative was held last year in Laos.
President Thongloun and Prime Minister Ishiba also reaffirmed their intention to strengthen governance in Laos, recognizing Japan’s long-standing support for the drafting and implementation of the Lao Civil Code and other legal frameworks.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Laos-Extends-Visa-Free-Stay-for-Japanese-Tourists-to-30-Days.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2025-06-11 05:36:002025-06-05 17:38:12Laos Extends Visa-Free Stay for Japanese Tourists to 30 Days
Laos has officially approved DanceSport as a medal event at the Lao 12th National Games, marking the sport’s debut in the country’s competition.
The organizing committee officially approved the inclusion of DanceSport on 23 May, following years of advocacy and the recent establishment of the Lao DanceSports Federation (LADSF).
The committee cited the sport’s readiness in terms of trained judges, coaches, athletes, officials, and available competition venues.
The competition will award three gold medals across individual Breaking battles (1 vs 1 format), couple category, and team category, with 6-8 members per team. The 12th National Games will be held from 15 to 25 November, in Vientiane, featuring a total of 34 sports.
Dance Sport is gaining global popularity among youth. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Breaking or Breakdancing (a style under DanceSport) became an official Olympic medal sport for the first time.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/WORDPRESS-PHOTO-FORMAT-1-5.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2025-06-10 05:32:002025-06-05 17:33:48DanceSport to be Included in National Games Medal Competitions
On 26 May, Mahosot Hospital in Vientiane Capital renewed its partnership with Fuwai Cardiovascular Hospital of Kunming, China, to enhance cardiac care in Laos.
The renewed agreement, covering 2025 to 2029, aims to strengthen cardiology services at Mahosot Hospital by focusing on staff training, medical technology exchange, and equipment support.
According to Lao State Media, the collaboration will help improve patient care, support disease prevention efforts, and advance medical research. Special attention will be given to pediatric heart surgeries, particularly for children born with congenital heart conditions.
Souxath Vongphachanh, Director General of Mahosot Hospital, said the new MoU continues a partnership that began in 2019 but was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This latest agreement comes in the context of broader cooperation between Laos and China in the healthcare sector.
On 12 October 2024, the Lao government inaugurated a new building for the hospital, designed to provide state-of-the-art medical care, utilizing advanced technology to benefit patients in Laos while offering convenience for healthcare providers, as part of the Lao-China cooperation “Belt and Road” initiative.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Mahosot-Hospital-New-Building.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2025-06-09 05:29:002025-06-05 17:31:42Vientiane, Kunming Hospitals Partner to Boost Cardiac Care in Laos
Laos Extends Visa-Free Stay for Japanese Tourists to 30 Days
Starting 1 June, Japanese travelers will be able to stay in Laos without a visa for up to 30 days, doubling the previous limit of 15 days, as announced by Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith during his visit to Japan on 29 May.
The extension was formalized during a meeting between President Thongloun and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and Japan. The occasion reinforced Laos’s decision to strengthen ties through expanded travel privileges.
Laos has offered visa-free entry to Japanese citizens since 1 January 2007, allowing ordinary passport holders to visit for up to 15 days without a visa. For longer stays, travelers were previously required to obtain a visa in advance.
Additionally, Japanese citizens holding official or diplomatic passports have enjoyed a longer visa exemption period of up to 90 days, under a bilateral agreement that came into effect on 1 April 2015.
Japan was not among the countries granted special visa exemptions under the “Visit Laos Year 2024” campaign, which included Thailand, China, Taiwan, and several European nations. Those temporary exemptions concluded on 1 January 2025.
Beyond tourism, the two leaders expressed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in energy and decarbonization under the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative. A summit on this initiative was held last year in Laos.
President Thongloun and Prime Minister Ishiba also reaffirmed their intention to strengthen governance in Laos, recognizing Japan’s long-standing support for the drafting and implementation of the Lao Civil Code and other legal frameworks.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/05/30/laos-extends-visa-free-stay-for-japanese-tourists-to-30-days/
DanceSport to be Included in National Games Medal Competitions
Laos has officially approved DanceSport as a medal event at the Lao 12th National Games, marking the sport’s debut in the country’s competition.
The organizing committee officially approved the inclusion of DanceSport on 23 May, following years of advocacy and the recent establishment of the Lao DanceSports Federation (LADSF).
The committee cited the sport’s readiness in terms of trained judges, coaches, athletes, officials, and available competition venues.
The competition will award three gold medals across individual Breaking battles (1 vs 1 format), couple category, and team category, with 6-8 members per team. The 12th National Games will be held from 15 to 25 November, in Vientiane, featuring a total of 34 sports.
Dance Sport is gaining global popularity among youth. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Breaking or Breakdancing (a style under DanceSport) became an official Olympic medal sport for the first time.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/05/27/dancesport-to-be-included-in-national-games-medal-competitions/
Vientiane, Kunming Hospitals Partner to Boost Cardiac Care in Laos
On 26 May, Mahosot Hospital in Vientiane Capital renewed its partnership with Fuwai Cardiovascular Hospital of Kunming, China, to enhance cardiac care in Laos.
The renewed agreement, covering 2025 to 2029, aims to strengthen cardiology services at Mahosot Hospital by focusing on staff training, medical technology exchange, and equipment support.
According to Lao State Media, the collaboration will help improve patient care, support disease prevention efforts, and advance medical research. Special attention will be given to pediatric heart surgeries, particularly for children born with congenital heart conditions.
Souxath Vongphachanh, Director General of Mahosot Hospital, said the new MoU continues a partnership that began in 2019 but was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This latest agreement comes in the context of broader cooperation between Laos and China in the healthcare sector.
On 12 October 2024, the Lao government inaugurated a new building for the hospital, designed to provide state-of-the-art medical care, utilizing advanced technology to benefit patients in Laos while offering convenience for healthcare providers, as part of the Lao-China cooperation “Belt and Road” initiative.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/05/27/vientiane-kunming-hospitals-partner-to-boost-cardiac-care-in-laos/