Hin Nam No National Park in Khammouane Province was officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 13 July, during the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, France. 

The designation establishes Hin Nam No as a Transboundary World Heritage Site, formally linking it with Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park to create the world’s largest contiguous limestone karst landscape.

Covering 94,121 hectares in southeastern Laos, Hin Nam No represents one of the most significant protected areas in the Central Annamite Mountains along the Laos-Vietnam border. 

This protected area demonstrates remarkable geological complexity through its pristine woodland, imposing limestone precipices, remote valleys, and 173 documented caverns. The centerpiece remains the Xe Bang Fai Cave, world’s largest functioning underground river system.

The name “Hin Nam No,” meaning “mountain crest, spiky as bamboo shoots,” aptly describes the rugged limestone formations that have evolved over 300 million years of geology. Some of the park’s dramatic cliffs soar over 300 meters high.

Hin Nam No serves as a sanctuary for numerous rare and endangered species, many of which are endemic to the region. Located within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, home to over 1,500 plant and 536 vertebrate species, including globally threatened animals like the Red-Shanked Douc Langur, Sunda Pangolin, Lao Rock Rat, and Giant Huntsman Spider.

Hin Nam No is not only a natural place, but also a combination site of cultural and historical significance. Several ethnic minority communities reside within its boundaries, each maintaining distinct traditions, customs, and lifestyles.

Hin Nam No becomes the country’s fourth World Heritage Site, following the Town of Luang Prabang (inscribed in 1995), Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasack Cultural Landscape (2001), and the Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang-Plain of Jars (2019).

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/07/14/laos-hin-nam-no-national-park-officially-becomes-a-laos-4th-unesco-world-heritage-site/

Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn & Suites Vientiane have announced the launch of CTC Laos Marketing 2025, a two-day seminar and workshop aimed at helping marketers, online sellers, and content creators in Laos keep pace with the fast-changing marketing landscape.

The event will take place on 26 and 27 July at Holiday Inn & Suites Vientiane, bringing together industry leaders and creative minds from Laos and Thailand to share insights and practical tools.

Organisers say marketing trends are shifting faster than ever, making it crucial for businesses to stay updated. They caution that those who fail to adapt risk falling behind, as traditional strategies focused solely on reach are no longer enough to drive real results. Instead, the focus must now be on content that converts, engages meaningfully, and builds long-term value.

AI, Consumer Behavior,  Sales-Driven Strategies in Focus

The seminar will feature keynote talks and hands-on workshops, with a strong emphasis on using artificial intelligence to enhance marketing effectiveness. Participants will also explore how changing consumer behavior affects decision-making and why sustainable engagement is now more important than ever.

More than eight speakers will take the stage, including business owners, agency founders, marketing strategists, and content experts from both Laos and Thailand. 

Among them are Sittipong Sirimaskasem, CEO and Founder of RGB72 and CREATIVE TALK; Narongyot Mahithivanitcha, Co-founder and Head of Growth at TWF Agency; and Sittinun Polvisutsak, Owner and CEO of Content Shifu. 

Other speakers include Chaweewan Kongchoksamai, Chayanis Jumpeerat, and Lao experts such as Souphanith Vongsengthong, Bounhou Alounvong, Patxalin Phanouvong, and Mangkonephet Xayasane.

The sessions will cover a range of timely topics such as customer behavior, storytelling for monetisation, the Business Model Canvas, and how to apply generative AI in marketing. Attendees will also have opportunities to ask questions, network with peers, and exchange ideas with the speakers.

Early Bird tickets are priced at LAK 1,350,000 (USD 62.74), available for a limited time before increasing to the regular price of LAK 1,690,000 (USD 78.55). Groups purchasing five or more tickets will receive a 15 percent discount. To reserve tickets, contact Chanthasone at 020-59992439. For sponsorship inquiries, reach out to Mangkonephet at 020-77617518.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/07/08/ctc-laos-marketing-2025-to-take-place-in-vientiane-this-july/

Vat Phou, an ancient temple in Laos’ Champasack Province, has been featured in a National Geographic Travel article as a hidden gem for travelers seeking serenity, history, and beauty without the crowds. 

This UNESCO-listed site was praised for its “striking resemblance to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat” but with a quieter, more intimate experience.

In the article, the National Geographic draws attention to Vat Phou’s unique architectural and spiritual qualities, describing it as a “travel dupe” for Angkor Wat. While Cambodia’s iconic temple attracts some six million tourists a year, Vat Phou remains a relatively untouched site.

Background Similarities

Both temples were constructed during the Khmer Empire, which spanned from the 9th to 15th centuries, and share distinctive elements such as carved stone pillars and religious symbolism rooted in Hindu cosmology. 

However, the National Geographic article points out that their layout sets them apart. 

Angkor Wat features concentric enclosures symbolizing Mount Meru, the mythical center of the universe, while Vat Phou is laid out in a linear design along a one-mile raised causeway, leading visitors up a hillside to a sanctuary fed by a natural spring.

This ascending pathway, broken into seven stone terraces, was highlighted as a key reason for Vat Phou’s spiritual impact. 

The design allows travelers to experience a slow climb through sacred structures, culminating in a moss-covered shrine adorned with carvings of apsaras and Hindu deities. 

Originally housing a linga symbolizing the god Shiva, the shrine later came to feature a Buddha statue after the decline of the Khmer Empire in the 13th century.

History, Myth, Solitude Intertwined

National Geographic also pointed to Vat Phou’s setting as a distinguishing feature. 

The temple complex sits at the base of Lingaparvata, or Linga Mountain, named for its phallus-shaped peak associated with Shiva. 

Just four miles from the town of Champasak, with its architecture and riverside, Vat Phou is seen as easily accessible, providing a rare laid-back feeling.

The article also touched on the site’s mysterious origins. 

While its full history is still unclear, local legend says King Kammatha built the first sanctuary after mythical ogres demanded his daughter, Nong Sida. A small pavilion and hidden library named after the princess still stand nearby.

Annual Celebration Embracing the Tradition of Vat Phou Festival

Beyond its archaeological significance, the temple continues to serve as a spiritual center and a gathering place for celebration.

Vat Phou is revered by many Lao people as a sacred site believed to possess protective powers. It continues to serve as a destination for worship and cultural tourism.

Each year, Champasack Province hosts the Vat Phou Festival to celebrate the temple’s legacy. The festival featured a wide variety of traditional and casual activities, catering to both local and international visitors.

According to the National Geographic, it’s the combination of history, mythology, and near-complete solitude that makes Vat Phou one of the region’s most underrated sacred sites.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/07/04/vat-phou-spotlighted-on-national-geographic-travel-for-its-angkhor-wat-resemblance/

Doi Ka Noi, a renowned Lao restaurant in Vientiane Capital known for its ever-changing seasonal menu and commitment to authentic Lao recipes, closed permanently on 13 May. 

The decision followed the unexpected passing of its chef and owner, Ponpailin ‘Noi’ Kaewduangdee, aged 45.

The closure came just months after Asia’s 50 Best named Doi Ka Noi, the 86th best restaurant on the continent – the first Lao restaurant ever to be featured. Noi had recently attended the glittering awards ceremony in Seoul, Korea.

A Lasting Legacy in Print

Before her passing, Chef Noi collaborated with her husband, British writer and photographer Mick Shippen, to publish a deeply personal cookbook, A Child of the Rice Fields: Recipes from Noi’s Lao Kitchen, in late 2024. The 500-page volume not only showcases traditional Lao recipes but also tells the story of a chef devoted to preserving her culinary heritage.

In June, the cookbook was honored at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Lisbon, Portugal, an event often described as the Olympics of food publishing. 

Every year, the awards honor the best food and wine culture books, printed or digital, as well as food television. A Child of the Rice Fields: Recipes from Noi’s Lao Kitchen took first place for “Best Asian Cookbook”, competing against hundreds of entries from around the globe. 

The book was also named runner-up in the “Best Cookbook in the World” category and fourth in the “Food Heroes” category, which celebrates individuals who safeguard culinary traditions.

“Thank you, Noi and Mick, for this 500-page tribute to the heart and soul of Lao cuisine,” said Edouard Cointreau, President and Founder of the Gourmand Awards. 

“The world truly needed this passionate, generous, and beautifully illustrated guide that welcomes readers into Lao food with authenticity and elegance. From beloved everyday dishes to bold and adventurous recipes, your book shares Noi’s exceptional knowledge with clarity, depth, and heartfelt care. The fact that such an impressive work is self-published makes this achievement all the more extraordinary in the world of cookbooks.”

Food as Cultural Memory

Noi’s culinary philosophy was rooted in family, seasonality, and discovery. 

Many of her dishes were inspired by authentic Lao recipes passed down from her grandmother or gathered during her travels to remote Lao villages. At Doi Ka Noi, her constantly evolving menus reflected this philosophy, celebrating whatever seasonal ingredients were freshest at local markets.

She was also the first and only Lao member of the Slow Food movement, which is dedicated to preventing the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions. Noi had also been involved in projects creating nutritious recipes to help improve the health of children in Laos.

Mick told the Gourmand Awards audience in Lisbon, “I am so proud, but heartbroken she was not with me to hear the praise and adoration for our work.”

He also vowed to continue her legacy and complete two other books they had begun together, one on the ethnic foods of Northern Laos and another on the fruits, vegetables, and foraged foods found in markets in Laos. 

“We have completed more than half of the recipes for the Northern Laos book, and although finishing it without Noi will be a difficult and emotional task, I need to do it for her. Noi’s unexpected death at such an early age is a tragedy. When she passed away, a huge amount of knowledge was lost. We had so much more planned over the coming years to ensure Lao culinary culture was preserved and promoted.”

Global Recognition for Lao Cuisine

The impact of A Child of the Rice Fields continues to grow. British celebrity chef Nigella Lawson said, “It’s a big, beautiful, lovingly created book: a feast for the curious cook and a comprehensive and intimately authoritative primer on a fascinating culinary culture.”

A Child of the Rice Fields is the most comprehensive cookery book that captures the depth and diversity of Lao flavors, significantly contributing to the safeguarding of the nation’s culinary heritage. 

“Noi, through her restaurant and book, did more than anyone to promote Lao food internationally. Over the last few weeks, I have received hundreds of messages from people around the world expressing their sadness and recalling fond memories of her and dining at Doi Ka Noi. The book has been sent to countries as diverse as Australia, Poland, Switzerland, Mexico, Taiwan, Japan, and Belgium. The recognition and accolades at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards are also a huge validation of her impact. If interest in Lao food continues to grow around the world, it will be largely due to Noi. That fills me with pride, but also breaks my heart that she is not here to see how important she was,” Mick said.

Her work continues to reach new audiences worldwide. The cookbook is available for purchase in Laos through Doi Ka Noi’s Facebook page and in the US through the specialist bookshop Kitchen Arts & Letters, ensuring that Noi’s life’s work, sharing the stories and spirit of Lao cuisine, continues to reach kitchens and hearts around the world, one dish, one story, and one reader at a time.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/07/01/doi-ka-nois-final-dish-how-a-lao-chefs-cookbook-became-her-greatest-legacy/