29.7 C
Vientiane
Friday, October 10, 2025
spot_img

Young Barista Crowned at First International Coffee, Tea Day in Luang Prabang, to Compete in South Korea

From 3 to 5 October, Luang Prabang hosted the International Coffee and Tea Day (ICTD) 2025, the first-ever joint celebration of International Coffee Day and International Tea Day in Laos.  The event also featured over 40 exhibition booths and the Lao Young Barista Championship, where Tavanh Sengdala won first place and will represent Laos at the World Barista Championship in Korea this November. This year’s event was under the theme “Coffee and Tea for Better Lives: Embracing Collaboration for a Sustainable Future”. Coffee and tea are among Laos’s most important agricultural exports, providing jobs and income for more than 310,000 families. Over 25,000 households cultivate coffee and tea on small-scale farms, producing...

Economy

Young Barista Crowned at First International Coffee, Tea Day in Luang Prabang, to Compete in South Korea

From 3 to 5 October, Luang Prabang hosted the International Coffee and Tea Day (ICTD) 2025, the first-ever joint celebration of International Coffee Day and International Tea Day in...

Vientiane’s ‘Girls Takeover’ Wraps Up, Giving Young Women a Real-World Leadership Experience

Plan International Laos - A youth leadership initiative involving ten adolescent girls and young women has concluded in Vientiane, giving participants the opportunity to step into senior leadership roles...

Tropical Storm Bualoi Causes Widespread Damage Across Laos, Leave Four Deaths

Between 28 and 30 September, Tropical Storm Bualoi, the country’s 20th storm of the year, swept across Laos, bringing heavy rains, floods, and flash floods that severely impacted communities...

World Sight Day 2025: Investing in Eye Health Could Bring USD 31.2 Million Benefit to Laos Over the Next Five Years

A recent study revealed that an investment of USD 2.12 million in eye health could generate USD 31.2 million in economic benefits for Laos over the next five years. According...

New Entrance Gates at National University of Laos Sparks Online Debate

A new entrance gate at the National University of Laos has stirred heated discussion online, with many questioning whether such investment should instead address more pressing educational needs, especially...

Cross-Border Wind Power Project in Laos to Begin Supplying Vietnam by End of 2025

A major wind power project backed by Vietnamese investment in Laos’ Bolikhamxay Province is now 80 percent complete and is expected to begin full commercial operations by the end...

Travel

Bus Service Between Khon Kaen-Vientiane Resumes After Five Years

Starting 10 October, the Transport Company (BKS) will resume its bus service connecting Khon Kaen, Thailand, to Vientiane, Laos, following a five-year suspension. The cross-border service was originally halted on 25 March 2020, after Laos and Cambodia closed their borders as part of COVID-19 containment measures.  The 194-kilometer route takes approximately four hours, with air-conditioned buses accommodating 42 passengers.  Tickets are priced at THB 180 (around USD 5), with two daily round trips: departing Khon Kaen at 8:15 am and returning from Vientiane at 2:45 pm. The new service aims to facilitate travel, promote tourism, and strengthen economic ties between Thailand and Laos. It was initially scheduled to resume in June 2022, but delays...

ASEAN Rail Tourism Corridor Takes Center Stage at Mekong Tourism Forum 2025

Laos hosted the Mekong Tourism Forum 2025 in Luang Prabang from 24 to 27 June, spotlighting the proposed ASEAN Rail Tourism Corridor (ARTC) as a key initiative to boost regional travel and connectivity. Held...

New Eco-Tourism Project Aims to Protect Wildlife, Boost Jobs in Luang Namtha

Luang Namtha Province is set to transform Xang Boten village into a conservation-focused tourist destination through the newly launched Xang Boten Tourism Project, a joint initiative between the Lao government and a Chinese...

Health & Environment

World Sight Day 2025: Investing in Eye Health Could Bring USD 31.2 Million Benefit to Laos Over the Next Five Years

A recent study revealed that an investment of USD 2.12 million in eye health could generate USD 31.2 million in economic benefits for Laos over the next five years. According to the Value of Vision report, investing in eye health provides some of the highest economic and social returns for communities in Laos. The study finds that early detection and treatment of vision loss could generate USD 17 million in productivity gains, USD 6.9 million from increased employment, 3,070 additional...

Sport

SEA Games Mascot Redesign Sparks Debate Over National Identity

The redesign of the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games 2025 mascot has stirred debate in Thailand, as organizers replaced the original seven colorful characters with two new figures featuring the colors of the...

Thailand Cleared to Host Petanque at SEA Games After World Federation Reversal

Thailand will host the pétanque competition at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games this December, following a reversal by the World Pétanque and Bowls Federation (WPBF) of an earlier suspension over regulatory violations. As...

Politics

Lao, North Korean Leaders Hold Historic Talks in State Visit to Pyongyang

Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith paid an official state visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) this week,...

Vice President of Laos Meets Singapore Ambassador for Farewell Visit

Laos' Vice President Pany Yathotou met with Singapore’s Ambassador to Laos, Sudesh Maniar, at the Presidential Palace on 6...

Historic First U.S.-Lao Business Roundtable Strengthens Trade and Investment Ties

On 29 September, Washington, D.C., hosted the first-ever U.S.-Lao Business Roundtable, bringing Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone together with American...

Lao President Set to Visit North Korea for Party Anniversary, Date Unconfirmed

Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith is expected to make an official visit to North Korea this month at the invitation...

Feature

Laos Wins Best National Costume at Mister Global 2025 with Mani Khot Tree-Inspired Design

The ancient Mani Khot tree, a sacred symbol rooted in Champasack Province, southern Laos, has taken the global spotlight, inspiring the Best National Costume award at Mister Global 2025 in Thailand and earning Laos a place of pride on the international stage. Representing Laos, Youphalayth ‘Bobbie’ Phethany, Mister Global Lao 2025, brought home the award with the costume titled “The Guardian Angel of the Mani Khot Tree.” The sacred Mani Khot Tree of Champasak, Laos, is revered in legend as the Tree of Destiny.  Believed to possess magical powers, the tree is said to bring prosperity in the direction its branches point.  While Bobbie did not design the costume himself, he played a central role in developing the idea and overall concept. Deeply connected to his Champasack roots, he wanted to wear something that would stand out and reflect Laos’ rich culture and mythology. The ancient Mani Khot tree, known in Lao legend as the Tree of Destiny, became the core inspiration. “I’ve spent two weeks thinking about the concept, but I couldn’t think of anything until one night I dreamed of Khon Phapheng Waterfall, where the tree is located,” Bobbie said. That dream sparked...

Lao, North Korean Leaders Hold Historic Talks in State Visit to Pyongyang

Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith paid an official state visit...

Vice President of Laos Meets Singapore Ambassador for Farewell Visit

Laos' Vice President Pany Yathotou met with Singapore’s Ambassador...

Historic First U.S.-Lao Business Roundtable Strengthens Trade and Investment Ties

On 29 September, Washington, D.C., hosted the first-ever U.S.-Lao...

Lao President Set to Visit North Korea for Party Anniversary, Date Unconfirmed

Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith is expected to make an...

Australian Business Champion Visits Laos to Boost Agriculture, Mining Cooperation

Australia’s Business Champion for Laos, Charles Olsson, is visiting...