Laos welcomed over 3,061,928 international tourists in the first eight months of 2025, a 15 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to the Tourism Development Department. 

ASEAN visitors remain the largest group, with Thailand leading at 977,675 arrivals, followed by Vietnam with 790,403, China with 750,650, South Korea with 127,379, and the United States with 49,934.

The most popular attractions continue to be nature-based and cultural tourism, with Vientiane Capital, Vientiane Province, Luang Prabang, and Champasack drawing the highest numbers of visitors. 

Luang Prabang alone recorded over 2.15 million tourists in the first seven months of 2025, an 83.8 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Champasack, home to the Vat Phu UNESCO World Heritage Site, welcomed more than 426,126 visitors in the same period last year.

In 2024, Laos received over 4.1 million tourists generating USD 1.1 billion in revenue, the country aims to exceed its 2025 target of 4.3 million visitors by year-end.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/09/19/tourist-arrivals-in-laos-increased-by-15-percent-in-first-eight-months-of-2025/

The renovation of Vientiane’s Chao Anouvong Stadium is on track and is expected to be completed by October 2026, the Ministry of Education and Sports said. 

The project, valued at JPY 4.171 billion (approximately USD 29 million), is funded through grant aid provided by the Government of Japan and is being implemented by Japanese contractors Hazama Ando – Toa Road JV, who won the contract through a competitive bidding process. 

The grant agreement was originally signed in December 2023, and followed by a groundbreaking ceremony on 26 March this year.

Upon completion, the stadium is expected to become the first inclusive sports facility in Laos, designed to support multiple athletic activities. 

While specific details have not been officially confirmed, prototype visuals suggest that the stadium will accommodate football, rugby, running tracks, and other field-based sports suitable for both training and recreational use.

The stadium will be entirely accessible to persons with disabilities, according to the Ministry of Education and Sports. 

It is also envisioned as a central hub for community engagement, fostering opportunities for exercise, sports, and public gatherings in the Lao capital.

First built in 1950 in the center of Vientiane capital, Chao Anouvong Stadium has long served as a venue for national sports such as football, rugby, and para-athletics, as well as community events.

The stadium is named after Chao Anouvong (King Anouvong), the King of Vientiane during the early 19th century.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/09/16/chao-anouvong-stadium-renovation-on-track-for-late-2026-completion/

Luang Prabang is set to host the That Chomsi Stupa ceremony from 5 to 6 October, celebrating the city’s cultural traditions and the stupa’s spiritual significance. 

This annual event will feature a series of religious and cultural activities atop Mount Phousi.

The celebrations will begin on 5 October at 8:30 am with the decoration of That Chomsi Stupa and its surrounding grounds.

In the afternoon, religious ceremonies will take place starting from 1 pm.

On the following day, 6 October, the program will continue with monks chanting prayers for ancestors at 10:30 am. 

This will be followed by the offering of lunch to the monks at 11 am. The ceremony will conclude at 12:30 pm with a sermon delivered by the monks.

From 19th-Century Origins to Timeless Traditions

That Chomsi was built in 1804 during the reign of King Anourouth and sits atop Mount Phousi in the center of Luang Prabang. 

According to local legend, a deep pit once existed at the site, said to reach the center of the earth. 

A monk who entered the pit discovered a great treasure but was betrayed by villagers, who sealed him inside. Using magical charms, he fought his way out, defeating seven guardians of the treasure. 

When the king learned of the villagers’ betrayal, he ordered drums, gongs, and cymbals to be beaten every three hours to prevent dragons from disturbing the world, a ritual still observed today at nearby Wat Thum Thao.

Today, visitors make their way up the hill, climbing around 300 steps to reach the stupa. 

Though the climb can be tiring, it offers a chance to pause midway at Wat Tham Phousi Shrine, which houses a smiling Buddha tucked inside a cave and a reclining Buddha statue, before reaching the top to enjoy sunset views over the city.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/09/15/luang-prabang-to-celebrate-that-chomsi-stupa-ceremony-this-october/

Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air have jointly announced a ban on the use of power banks during flights, citing growing safety concerns over lithium battery-related incidents in aviation.

Under the new policy, passengers are no longer permitted to use portable chargers to power or recharge their devices while onboard.

Passengers are now required to remove power banks from their carry-on luggage prior to boarding and keep them in a visible location throughout the flight. While these devices may still be brought onboard in limited quantities, their use during the flight, including charging them via the aircraft’s USB ports. is strictly prohibited.

The move follows increasing global scrutiny of lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries, which are widely used in power banks due to their high energy density. However, these batteries are also highly sensitive to heat, impact, and rapid changes in air pressure. Such sensitivity raises the risk of battery malfunctions, including short circuits, overheating, and in severe cases, fire or explosion.

These dangers are significantly heightened when batteries are stored in the aircraft’s cargo hold, where temperature and pressure can fluctuate dramatically and where strong vibrations are more common. 

Compounding the risk is the fact that checked baggage is less closely monitored during flight, meaning any incident involving a power bank in the cargo area may go undetected until it becomes critical. As a result, both airlines continue to enforce a strict ban on transporting power banks in checked luggage.

Under current aviation safety regulations, passengers are allowed to carry a limited number of batteries in their hand luggage. 

Devices with a capacity of up to 100 watt-hours, which typically translates to around 20,000 milliamp-hours at 5 volts, are allowed in quantities of up to ten per passenger. 

For larger power banks, with capacities between 100 and 160 watt-hours (or approximately 20,000 to 32,000 milliamp-hours), the limit is two per person. Any power bank that exceeds 160 watt-hours or 32,000 milliamp-hours is not permitted on board under any circumstances.

Both Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet urge passengers to verify the specifications of their devices before traveling and to adhere strictly to all safety guidelines. 

The new regulations aim to minimize in-flight risks and ensure the continued safety of passengers, crew, and aircraft.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/09/15/vietnam-airlines-vietjet-ban-use-of-power-banks-in-flight-due-to-safety-risks/

World Bank Laos – A decision announced today by the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will promote nature-based tourism in forested areas of Laos.

The regulation provides incentives for small-scale private investment in national parks and protected areas through projects that create jobs, contribute to environmental preservation and build economic partnerships with communities.

The Decision on Tourism in Forest Areas is supported by a World Bank-financed business leveraging facility to attract investors from registered micro, small, and medium enterprises. The facility will provide tourism companies with advisory services on product development, training on nature-based tourism requirements, and funding for small public infrastructure, marketing, and other aspects of tourism development.

“The Lao PDR is developing sustainable private sector–driven nature-based tourism as one of the pillars of the next National Socio-Economic Plan and its National Green Growth Strategy,” said Kikeo Singnavong, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.

“Carefully regulated tourism development can bring great benefits in both employment and income generation for local people in forested areas, providing an economic incentive for them to conserve biodiversity and natural beauty.”

The business leveraging facility, part of the World Bank supported Lao Landscapes and Livelihoods project, provides three types of financing: for planning and feasibility work, challenge funds that target priority investment in particular areas, and matching funds for product development and marketing work.

Interested companies will be able to apply through prospectuses prepared by the Department of Forestry for each of the five national parks (Hin Nam No, Nam Et-Phou Louey, Nakai-Nam Theun, Phou Hin Poun, and Phou Khao Khouay) and three protected areas (Khoun Xe Nong Ma, Laving Lavern, and Yord Nam Mo-Phou Sam Soum).

“Under the business leveraging facility, companies can access funds and technical support to develop tourism that will benefit local people through jobs while preserving  the environment’s natural beauty, provided the companies meet the standards set by the government and follow protected area management plans, guidelines and regulations,” said Viengsamay Srithirath, World Bank Senior Country Officer for Laos.

Also attending the announcement were representatives and residents of the national parks and protected areas, related government agencies, and Inthy Deuansavanh, president of the Lao Tourism Association, who detailed some of the investment opportunities available in the eight protected areas.

The World Bank estimates that nature-based tourism could grow to provide about 10% of GDP and 10 percent of jobs in Laos.

This project aims to create job opportunities for 75,000 women alone.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/09/12/new-incentives-for-nature-based-tourism-investment-in-lao-forests/