Laos Puts Youth at the Center of UXO Awareness Efforts

Laos is increasing efforts to involve young people in tackling unexploded ordnance (UXO), placing youth at the center of awareness and long-term risk reduction.

A ceremony on 1 April in Vientiane marked the International Day for Mine Awareness, bringing together officials, development partners, and students from five secondary schools. 

The event highlighted a growing push to engage the next generation in addressing UXO challenges.

Students took part in supervised demonstrations of survey and clearance work, alongside sessions on UXO history, international conventions, and ongoing risk education efforts. 

Officials said early engagement helps build awareness and safer communities.

The event also launched a nationwide art campaign, inviting participants aged 9 to 35 to reflect on Laos’ UXO legacy. Submissions are open until 19 July, with scholarships worth LAK 10 million (USD 455) awarded to winners.

Laos will also host the Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions from 13 to 18 September in Vientiane, reinforcing its role in global mine action efforts.

Laos remains one of the most heavily affected countries by UXO, a legacy of heavy bombing during the Indochina War from 1964 to 1973. 

Millions of tonnes of bombs were dropped, and many failed to explode, leaving dangerous remnants scattered across rural areas. Today, UXO continues to pose risks to communities, especially in farming areas where people rely on land for their livelihoods.

The United Nations designated 4 April as the International Day for Mine Awareness in 2005 to highlight these dangers and encourage global support for clearance efforts. 

In Laos, the issue remains closely linked to development, as clearing contaminated land allows safer farming, infrastructure, and long-term economic growth.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/04/02/laos-puts-youth-at-the-center-of-uxo-awareness-efforts/

Standing Stones in Houaphanh Recognized as National Heritage

A group of ancient standing stones in Houaphanh Province has been officially recognised as a national cultural heritage site, drawing attention to one of Laos’ most puzzling historical locations.

Known as Hintang Archeological Park (Standing Stones), the site is located in Houameuang District, about 64 kilometers from the provincial center. The area contains more than 1,500 stone pillars and over 150 large stone discs spread across hills and forest.

The stones are believed to date back around 2,500 to 3,000 years, possibly to the Iron Age. However, experts still do not know who built them or why.

The stones are tall and narrow, often placed in groups with larger stones at the centre. There is no clear pattern in how they are arranged, which adds to the mystery.

The Secrets Beneath the Surface

Beneath some of the stones, archeologists have discovered underground chambers. These chambers are large and covered with heavy stone slabs, some over 2 metres wide.

Inside, the chambers are divided into smaller sections and may have been used for burials. However, very few human remains have been found, leaving many questions unanswered.

The site was first studied in 1931 by French archeologist Madeleine Colani, who uncovered clay jars and bronze bracelets during early excavations.

Despite decades of research, the true purpose of the stones remains unclear. Some believe they were linked to burial practices, while others suggest they may have spiritual or ceremonial meaning.

In recent years, authorities have carried out surveys and mapping of the area to better understand and protect the site. Key groups of stones have been identified in 2 villages, where conservation zones have now been established.

To Achieve Global Recognition

Officials say the new national heritage status will help protect the site and support further research. It may also help promote tourism in the future.

The government has also indicated plans to propose the site for UNESCO World Heritage status in the coming years. The push is part of a broader 2026-2030 national strategy, aimed at protecting Lao landmarks alongside cultural staples like ‘Laap’ and the ‘Baci’ ceremony.

For now, Hintang could become the second National Heritage site in Houaphanh, following the recognition of Viengxay’s historic caves, while remaining the most puzzling historical site, raising questions about the people who once lived there.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/03/27/standing-stones-in-houaphanh-recognized-as-national-heritage/

Laos Kicks Off Baseball5 with Growing Interest Among Youth

Laos has kicked off a new chapter in sports with its first Baseball5 Friendly Cup in Vientiane, introducing a simpler and faster version of baseball for young players.

The event, organised by the Lao Baseball Softball Federation (LBSF) and Lao Youth Baseball (LYB), brought together nearly 100 participants, including players, volunteers, and spectators. It marked the country’s first official step into Baseball5.

Four teams, featuring mixed-gender squads, competed in the one-day tournament. 

The event showed strong interest from young people aged between 15 to 25 years old, with organisers saying the energy and turnout point to real potential for the sport in Laos.

Baseball5 is played without bats or gloves, using only a rubber ball and a small space. This makes it easy to set up in schools and local communities, especially where full baseball fields are not available. 

The game also helps players build basic skills like throwing, catching, and running.

Supporting Future Talent

The launch comes as Laos looks to grow its baseball talent. The men’s national team is currently ranked 47th in the world, and building a larger player base, especially young players, is a key goal.

Following the event, LBSF and LYB plan to bring Baseball5 into schools across Vientiane. There are also plans to create a school league to give students more chances to compete and help identify future players.

With strong early interest, organisers plan to make the tournament an annual event and expand it in the coming years. They also hope to build a national Baseball5 team to compete at regional and international level.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/04/02/laos-kicks-off-baseball5-with-growing-interest-among-youth/

Laos-China Railway Raises Fares Across All Routes Starting 1 April

Ticket prices on the Laos-China Railway (LCR) have increased across all routes, according to updated fares published on the LCR Ticket application on 1 April.

The adjustment, representing a roughly nine percent rise, affects all seating classes for adult passengers on all routes.

On the popular Vientiane Capital–Luang Prabang route, business class has risen from LAK 975,000 (USD 44.40) to LAK 1,063,000 (USD 48.50), first class from LAK 522,000 (USD 23.80) to LAK 569,000 (USD 25.95), and second class from LAK 330,000 (USD 15.00) to LAK 360,000 (USD 16.40).

On the longer Vientiane Capital-Boten route, which runs to the Laos-China border in Luang Namtha Province, business class is now priced at LAK 1,799,000 (USD 82.00), first class at LAK 961,000 (USD 44.00), and second class at LAK 605,000 (USD 27.50).

The nine percent increase applies uniformly across all classes and routes along the LCR network, a hotline staff confirmed.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/04/01/laos-china-railway-raises-fares-across-all-routes-starting-1-april/

Laos Seeks Approval for USD 1.3 Billion Railway to Vietnam

The Lao government has submitted a proposal to the National Assembly to move forward with a planned railway linking Laos to Vietnam’s Vung Ang Port.

Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith presented the project on 24 March during the opening session of the 10th National Assembly, describing it as a key national infrastructure priority for the 2026–2030 development period.

Railway to Link Laos to the Sea

The proposed railway will stretch 562 kilometers from Vientiane Capital to Vung Ang Port in Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam, creating a direct route from Laos to the sea.

The project is divided into three sections. The first phase, covering 147 kilometers from Thakhek to the Moua border crossing, will be developed first. The remaining sections will extend the line across Vietnam to the port and connect Vientiane to Thakhek.

The railway will use standard gauge tracks, the same as the Laos–China Railway, and is designed for passenger speeds of up to 150 kilometers per hour and freight speeds of 80 kilometers per hour.

Timeline and Earlier Plans

The proposal builds on earlier plans announced in December, when officials said construction on the Lao section is expected to begin in 2026, with full operations targeted by 2030.

At that time, authorities said most preparatory work had already been completed, including feasibility studies, design, and environmental assessments.

The project is being developed as a public–private partnership involving Petroleum Trading Lao Public Company and Vietnam’s Deo Ca Group.

Vietnam is expected to begin construction on its section in 2027.

The section currently under review by the National Assembly is valued at around USD 1.3 billion and will be developed under a long-term concession model.

However, the full railway project is estimated to cost up to USD 6.6 billion.

Strategic Importance

Officials say the railway would provide Laos with a direct route to the sea, reducing reliance on road transport and lowering logistics costs for trade and exports.

The project is also expected to strengthen economic cooperation between Laos and Vietnam and improve regional supply chains.

Lastly, as part of the agreement, Laos will to receive priority access to key facilities at Vung Ang Port, which can handle large cargo volumes.

The National Assembly is set to decide on initial approval before the current session concludes on 27 March.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/03/24/laos-seeks-approval-for-usd-1-3-billion-railway-to-vietnam/

Vientiane Re-Launches BRT Service with Two Months of Free Rides

Vientiane’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system relaunched its trial operations today, 10 March, offering free rides to encourage residents to embrace the capital’s revamped public transport service.

According to the Vientiane Capital Public Works and Transport Department, the two-month trial phase runs from 10 March to 9 May, during which all passengers may ride free of charge. 

Normal fares will take effect from 10 May onwards.

The BRT will operate daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. During peak hours, 6:00 to 9:00 AM and 4:00 to 6:00 PM,  buses will run every six to seven minutes. Outside of peak hours, passengers can expect a waiting time of 10 to 15 minutes.

The trial route connects Dongdok (National University of Laos) to Talat Sao (Morning Market), spanning 19 stations. Key stops along the corridor include the SEA Games Dormitory, 450 Years Road, View Mall, SOS School, the Kaysone Phomvihane Museum, ICTC Center, Phonphanao, Phonkheng, and Patuxay.

To ensure smooth and safe operations, the BRT runs on a dedicated lane reserved exclusively for BRT buses during service hours. All other vehicles are prohibited from using the lane between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM and will be warned and fined for violations. 

Exceptions are also made for ambulances, fire trucks, rescue vehicles, and government convoys with official police escorts. 

Between 10:01 PM and 5:59 AM, other vehicles may use the BRT lane provided it is safe to do so. Any party responsible for damage to government property within the BRT lane will be fined 10 percent of the assessed damage value and must cover the remaining repair costs.

Authorities have confirmed that the BRT system is now fully operational. This marks the second trial launch of the project, following an initial launch in early November 2024 that was suspended after approximately one month.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/03/10/vientiane-re-launches-brt-service-with-two-months-of-free-rides/

Laos to Nominate Five Traditions, Three Sites for UNESCO Status

Laos is preparing to put some of its most beloved traditions and landscapes before the world, with the government announcing plans to seek UNESCO recognition for five cultural practices and three landmark sites over the next five years.

The nominations form part of the broader 10th Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan, but the cultural ambitions stand on their own.

The Traditions on the List

The five traditions being put forward for UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list are part of daily and ceremonial Lao life.

First, the national dish, Larb, which carries its meaning in its name, “luck” and “wealth” in Lao, and appears at every significant moment in Lao life, from weddings and birthdays to the Lao New Year. The Lao Business Women’s Association pushed the nomination forward, submitting a formal proposal through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in early 2025. A UNESCO decision is expected in September 2026.

If approved, Larb would become Laos’ fourth UNESCO-recognised cultural element, joining traditional dance Fonelamvong Lao (2024), Naga motif weaving (2023), and Khaen music (2017).

Closely tied to those same celebrations is the Sou Khuan ceremony, also known as the Baci, which has also been submitted for consideration.

Rooted in animist beliefs and practiced alongside Buddhism, the ritual is built around the idea that each person has 32 protective spirits, or khouan, which can leave the body during illness, travel, or major life changes. Elders chant blessings around a decorative offering arrangement called a pha khouan, and white cotton strings are tied around participants’ wrists as symbols of protection and unity. It is performed at weddings, births, the Lao New Year, and other milestones.

The nomination has been submitted, but the formal evaluation process has not yet begun.

Rounding out the intangible heritage nominations are Pou Yer – Ya Yer, the mythical grandparents of Lao New Year; Boun Pi Mai Lao itself; and Khao Tom–Khao Lam, the preparation of sticky rice dishes carrying deep ritual and communal significance.

The Sites

Alongside the living traditions, three physical sites are being put forward for World Heritage status, each significant in its own way.

Nakai-Nam Theun National Park, one of the largest protected areas in Southeast Asia, is home to some of the region’s most endangered species across a landscape of extraordinary ecological diversity.

Further north, the Hintang Archaeological Park in Houaphanh Province holds hundreds of ancient stone menhirs whose origins remain only partially understood, lending the site a sense of mystery that matches its cultural weight.

The third site, That Ing Hang in Savannakhet Province, is among the most sacred Buddhist monuments in the country. Built in 1560 by King Setthathirath of the Lan Xang kingdom on the site of a pre-existing Khmer temple, the stupa is believed to enshrine a relic of the Buddha’s collarbone. Its architecture reflects both Lao and Khmer influences, and it has drawn pilgrims for centuries. Restored significantly in the 19th century, it remains an active place of worship today.

UNESCO inscription brings legal frameworks for protection, international funding, and a level of visibility that can change how a place or practice is preserved for generations.

The nominations are expected to be developed and submitted across the 2026–2030 period.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/03/04/laos-to-nominate-five-traditions-three-sites-for-unesco-status/

Lao Woman Builds Northern Laos’ First Pediatric ICU, Wins Regional Award

Bounloth Sodaluck grew up watching rural families in Xayaboury Province struggle to find medical care for their children. Now, decades later, she leads the only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in northern Laos and has just become the first Lao national to win the Women of the Future Southeast Asia Award in the Professions category.

“This award is for the hospital and our team, who are dedicated to saving kids’ lives,” she said.

It is International Women’s Day, and if there is a story worth telling today in Laos, it is probably hers.

Dr. Pom, as she is known, did not come from a family of doctors or a city with good hospitals. After finishing high school in Xayaboury, she earned a place at the University of Health Sciences in Vientiane. Her focus sharpened during clinical rotations at Lao Friends Hospital for Children in Luang Prabang, where she noticed something that would later mark her entire career.

“Children are not good at telling us how they feel, so we need to pay attention,” she says.

She never left.

This year, LFHC marked its 11th anniversary, and Dr. Pom marked it by leading the team that built the hospital’s first PICU, a unit that now handles the region’s most critically ill children, many arriving from remote provinces with few other options.

The hospital has operated for eleven years on entirely private funding, offering completely free care to every child who comes through its doors.

Beyond the ward, Dr. Pom works as Medical Education Director, training junior Lao doctors and interns with skills she developed through additional study in Vientiane and Thailand.

“If I can give my students the tools and confidence to treat sick children, my impact will multiply,” she says.

Women in Laos have been moving into medicine, law, and public life for years now, often without much noise about it.

But the path is rarely straightforward, especially for women from rural areas, where getting to university at all can depend on factors that have nothing to do with ability.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/03/08/lao-woman-builds-northern-laos-first-pediatric-icu-wins-regional-award/

Laos Opens First Privately Financed International Airport in Golden Triangle Area

Laos officially opened Bokeo International Airport on 6 March, marking a major milestone in the country’s aviation development and regional connectivity plans.

Located in Ban Nyai Simueangngam, about five kilometers from the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, the airport is the first privately financed international airport in Laos, developed under a Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT) agreement in which the company finances, constructs, and operates the facility.

The airport operates under a 50-year concession granted by the Lao government to Greater Bay Area Investment and Development (Hong Kong), an affiliate of the Dok Ngiew Kham Group, the concessionaire of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.

The project covers an area of approximately 300 hectares and carries an estimated construction cost of USD 175 million.

Construction began in September 2020, and the airport was built in accordance with safety standards set by Laos’ Department of Civil Aviation and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The airport features a 2,500-meter runway with a width of 45 meters, with runway shoulders measuring 7.5 meters on each side. The design allows the facility to accommodate most narrow-body aircraft commonly used on regional routes.

Aircraft such as the Boeing 737-900ER and Airbus A320 and A321, which carry up to around 200 passengers, will also be able to operate at the airport.

Economic Growth Goals

Thienthong Sopha, Director of Bokeo International Airport Co. Ltd, said the airport was designed to support economic growth, strengthen transport links, and create new employment opportunities in the region.

Domestic routes are expected to include flights to Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Houaphanh, Xieng Khouang, Savannakhet, and Champasak.

The company is also planning to open international routes to connect Bokeo with major regional destinations including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kunming, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Phnom Penh, and Siem Reap.

According to Phoun Khampha, Director of Bokeo (public) Airport, the new facility is designed to handle up to two million passengers annually once fully operational.

Officials say the project will play an important role in supporting tourism, trade, and investment in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, one of Laos’ fastest-growing economic areas.

During the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith officially inaugurated the airport by cutting the ribbon and striking a ceremonial bell nine times to mark the opening.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/03/09/laos-opens-first-privately-financed-international-airport-in-golden-triangle-area/

Fifth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge Generates LAK 47.5 Billion in First Month of Operation

The 5th Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, which officially opened on 27 December 2025, generated more than LAK 47.5 billion (approximately USD 2.2 million) in state revenue during its first month of operation. 

This strong start comes as authorities set a revenue collection target of LAK 350 billion (around USD 16 million) for 2026.

The key goods passing through the checkpoint include fuel, consumer products, electrical appliances, and construction materials. Over the past month, the bridge recorded more than 6,800 entries into Laos and over 7,500 departures, indicating a rise in cross-border movement and trade activity.

The bridge directly connects Laos’ Route 13 with Thailand’s Highway 244, creating a seamless road link between the two countries. It also forms part of the shortest land route connecting Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, with an estimated distance of just 150 kilometers via Lao National Road No. 8.

While the bridge has had a strong start, some operational challenges persist. As a newly opened international checkpoint, certain services are still being streamlined. 

Despite the growing imports for domestic use, transit trade to third countries has remained largely unchanged. 

Moving forward, authorities emphasized that continued improvements in logistics and road infrastructure will play a significant role in determining the bridge’s long-term contribution to Laos’ economy.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/03/04/fifth-lao-thai-friendship-bridge-generates-lak-47-5-billion-in-first-month-of-operation/