From 24 to 25 May, Japan celebrated the Laos Festival 2025 at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo, marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and Japan. With the theme “Laos You Can Visit in a Day,” the event offered a cultural experience that allowed Japanese visitors to immerse themselves in Lao traditions, cuisine, music, and language.

Designed as a “visitor-participation Laos festival,” the two-day event featured a wide range of interactive activities. 

Highlights included the traditional Baci ceremony, where a Lao monk tied sacred threads around visitors’ wrists while offering blessings. Visitors also had the chance to join a Lao dance workshop and take part in Lao language lessons.

One of the most popular attractions was a parade recreating the Lao Rocket Festival, held three times each day, which welcomed public participation.

The festival concluded with a special prayer by a Lao monk during the grand finale, wishing happiness and prosperity to all attendees.

Food and drink booths showcased Lao culinary delights rarely found in Japan. Attendees enjoyed signature dishes alongside Beer Lao, which has won a gold medal at the World Beer Competition. A product fair featured a range of Laotian goods, including silk skirts and shirts, herbal teas, coffee, handmade crafts, and ethnic clothing.

Entertainment was a central part of the festival, with live performances by artists from both Laos and Japan. The main stage featured traditional dances performed by the Lao government troupe and musical sets using ethnic instruments such as the khene. A satellite stage hosted additional cultural performances, including Laotian songs and interactive shows for children.

Families were also catered for with a “kids’ corner,” which included a play area, cultural crafts, and eco-bag making activities. The festival placed strong emphasis on environmental consciousness, with cleaning and beautification activities led by volunteers, including students from Sakura International High School. The event’s Eco Station promoted sustainability throughout the grounds.

As both countries mark 70 years of diplomatic ties, the event served as a platform to promote mutual understanding and closer people-to-people connections.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/05/26/laos-festival-2025-brings-cultural-celebration-to-tokyo/

The iconic That Dam, or Black Stupa, one of Vientiane’s most culturally significant landmarks, is set to undergo a major restoration as part of a new preservation initiative led by the Lao government.

Authorities from Chanthabouly district convened on 14 May to assess the feasibility of restoring the ancient stupa, launching a comprehensive survey to identify areas in need of repair.

The restoration effort will be a collaborative venture between the public and private sectors, with the Vientiane Capital Administration spearheading the initiative. 

The Department of Culture, under the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, will work alongside the Buddhist Fellowship Organization of Laos to compile an official historical report on the monument. 

Meanwhile, private entities will provide crucial funding to support the restoration.

Located near the intersection of Setthathirath Road and Sithane Road, just a short walk from the American Center Vientiane, That Dam is one of the city’s most easily accessible landmarks. Its dark weathered exterior and mysterious origin have long intrigued both locals and visitors.

In Lao, “That” means a structure that holds relics of the Buddha, and “Dam” means black. No one knows exactly when the stupa was built, but experts think it was built in the 16th century.

A local legend adds mystery to the site. People say a seven-headed Naga, a mythical water serpent in Buddhist stories, once guarded the stupa. 

Long ago, the stupa was covered in gold. But during the Siamese-Laotian War in the 1820s, Siamese soldiers took the gold. Since then, the stupa has remained dark colored.

The upcoming renovation will help protect the old structure. It will also attract more tourists and help people learn more about Vientiane’s cultural heritage, the authorities believe.

Further details about the restoration timeline and budget allocation are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/05/23/vientiane-discusses-restoration-plan-of-historic-black-stupa/

Thailand is falling behind in the race for sustainable tourism, industry leaders warned at the Thailand Tourism Forum 2025, held on 7 May in Bangkok.

Alisara Sivayathorn, CEO of Sivatel Bangkok Hotel, pointed to a troubling statistic: fewer than 1 percent of hotels in Thailand currently meet international sustainability standards.

The forum, “Will Travellers Pay for a Better World? Rethinking Value in Responsible Tourism,” spotlighted the growing demand for eco-conscious travel and the need for the Thai tourism sector to catch up. 

Speakers emphasized that responsible tourism is no longer a niche trend but a global expectation, especially as regulators, particularly in Europe, begin to tighten requirements.

Sustainable tourism spans four main pillars: sustainable management, socio-economic impact, cultural preservation, and environmental protection. These principles guide efforts to cut pollution, conserve biodiversity, and use resources responsibly.

But despite mounting international pressure, progress in Thailand remains slow. According to the Siam Commercial Bank Economic Intelligence Center, just 109 hotels nationwide have achieved certification aligned with global sustainability benchmarks. That represents less than 1 percent of the country’s hotel stock.

The consequences are becoming more immediate. As booking platforms and AI-driven tools increasingly prioritize certified properties, hotels that fail to meet standards risk being sidelined from lucrative segments like business travel and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions).

Public Interest Grows, but Businesses Lag Behind

Despite the lack of readiness among businesses, Thai travelers themselves are becoming more environmentally aware. Between 2024 and 2025, online conversations around plastic reduction and waste management surged, appearing in more than 6,800 social media posts with over 1.2 million engagements.

Surveys show that 65 percent of Thai tourists say they are willing to pay more for sustainable travel experiences, and 62 percent would pay extra specifically to avoid single-use plastics. Still, affordability remains a key factor. Many consumers continue to choose cheaper, less sustainable options when eco-friendly alternatives are inconvenient or unavailable.

Laos Makes Strides Toward Certification

While Thailand struggles to meet benchmarks, neighboring Laos is being recognized on the global stage. 

In March, Luang Prabang won third place in the Green Destinations Top 100 Story Awards for “Destination Management” at the Internationale Tourismus-Börse (ITB) in Berlin. The award recognized the city’s achievements in sustainable visitor management and post-crisis recovery.

Now, Luang Prabang is taking the next step. On 15 May, officials held a consultation at the provincial Department of Information, Culture and Tourism to prepare for Green Destination certification.

Soudaphone Khomthavong, head of the department, called on stakeholders to offer input to strengthen the application. Certification would elevate the city’s global standing and reinforce its World Heritage credentials.

Tourism remains a key pillar of the local economy. In the past year alone, more than 2.3 million domestic and international visitors traveled to Luang Prabang, generating over USD 1.2 billion in revenue. Top attractions include Kuangsi Waterfall, Mount Phousi, Wat Xieng Thong, and the popular night market.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/05/22/thailand-falls-behind-in-sustainable-tourism-as-laos-wins-global-praise/

Every year on 21 May, tea lovers across the globe raise their cups in celebration of International Tea Day, a nod to one of the oldest and most loved drinks in the world.

From Asia to Africa and the Americas, tea is more than just a beverage. It’s a tradition, comfort, and a shared experience across cultures.

Tea’s history stretches back thousands of years, beginning in ancient China. Over time, it spread across continents, shaping rituals in Japan, sparking revolutions in the West, and becoming a daily comfort for millions.

While the world often hears about the big tea players like China, India, and Sri Lanka, there’s a quieter, lesser-known tea story brewing in  the mountains of the north Laos.

In Phongsaly Province, tea has grown for hundreds of years. The world’s oldest plantation, now 400 years old, reaches up to six meters in height, is located about 18km from Phongsaly Town, and carefully harvested by the Phunoy ethnic group, who have passed down their traditional techniques through generations.

The cool, misty mountains of northern Laos create ideal conditions for growing rich, organic tea. Handpicked and traditionally processed, Lao teas are popular across the region for their bold, earthy flavors and smooth finish.

In recent years, tea cultivation in Laos has expanded significantly. The majority, over 85 percent, is grown in northern provinces such as Phongsaly, Xiengkhouang, Oudomxay, Bokeo, Xayabouly, and Houaphanh. Southern provinces like Champasak and Xekong have also joined the movement.

Fresh tea leaves are primarily sold to local traders, around 80 percent of whom are Chinese, before being exported mainly to China’s Yunnan Province.

Smaller quantities also reach regional and European markets, including France and Germany.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/05/21/laos-celebrates-its-ancient-tea-legacy-on-international-tea-day/

Laos has taken a new step toward becoming a regional trade hub by leasing land for a new dry port next to the 5th Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge.

On 9 May, the Lao government signed an agreement to lease the land of 383,311 cubic meters to the local private company to build a new storage space.

This storage will be built in a village called Kuayoudom in the Paksan district. It will be right next to a new bridge between Laos’ Bolikhamxay province and Thailand’s Bueng Kan province, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year. 

The warehouse, places for trucks to unload, offices, and a shop have been built since 2023, now they are making it much bigger with more space for storing and moving goods.

The port is also located alongside Road No. 13, which has the highway project in the future, and a key route to connect Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam to the planned dry port in Laksao, Khamkeut district, as well as to the proposed Vientiane–Vietnam highway project.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/05/14/laos-approves-new-dry-port-project-in-bolikhamxay/