Laos has ordered the immediate suspension of the import and sale of Squishy toys nationwide after authorities warned that some may contain hazardous chemicals that pose health risks, particularly to children.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce issued the order on 28 July, instructing provincial industry and commerce departments across the country to halt the import and sale of non-certified Squishy toys and step up inspections of shops, markets, supermarkets, shopping centres and online sellers.
According to the notice, market inspections found that some imported Squishy toys contained excessive levels of benzene, a chemical that can irritate the eyes, nose and throat and trigger allergic reactions. The ministry also warned that...
Laos is exploring plans to turn state-owned fuel stations into electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging hubs as part of its push to expand charging infrastructure and reduce reliance on imported...
Online sellers in Vientiane must register as businesses and obtain an e-commerce licence or face fines of up to LAK 10 million (approximately USD 440), under a notice issued...
Former Mekong River Commission (MRC) Chief Executive Officer Anoulak Kittikhoun has been appointed Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Mekong Institute, becoming the first Lao national to...
Laos has launched a new state-backed company to inspect and certify the quality of products, following public complaints about low-quality goods being sold in the country.
The new company, State-owned...
Trade between Laos and Vietnam reached USD 1.305 billion during the first six months of 2026, as growing cross-border trade, tourism and infrastructure projects continued to strengthen economic ties...
The USD 5 billion Luang Prabang hydropower dam on the Mekong River remains on track to begin generating electricity in 2030, with construction now more than 72 percent complete,...
Laos welcomed nearly 2.6 million international tourists in the first half of 2026, up 9.9 percent from the same period last year, according to the latest figures from the Tourism Development Department under the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.
Thailand remained the country's biggest source of visitors, with 833,738 arrivals, accounting for 32.2 percent of the total. China followed with 26.1 percent, while Vietnam ranked third with 22.6 percent.
Together, the three neighboring countries brought more than 2 million visitors to Laos, making up about 81 percent of all international arrivals during the first six months of the year.
ASEAN continued to dominate as Laos' largest tourism market, contributing nearly 1.47...
Laos expects to welcome between 5 and 6 million international tourists in 2026, with Chinese visitors projected to account for around 2 million of that total, according to government estimates.
The numbers will be...
Laos welcomed nearly 3.8 million international tourists in the first ten months of 2025, a 13 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
In figures released on 7 December, the Tourism Development...
Laos has ordered the immediate suspension of the import and sale of Squishy toys nationwide after authorities warned that some may contain hazardous chemicals that pose health risks, particularly to children.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce issued the order on 28 July, instructing provincial industry and commerce departments across the country to halt the import and sale of non-certified Squishy toys and step up inspections of shops, markets, supermarkets, shopping centres and online sellers.
According to the notice, market inspections...
While the FIFA World Cup dominates football headlines, a Lao youth footballers has returned from Europe with two international titles.
On 5 July, W.I.G NAGA's under-13 team successfully defended its IberCup title in Portugal,...
Vientiane's Chao Anouvong Stadium renovation has surpassed 70 percent completion and remains on schedule for handover in October 2026.
Shuji Hayashi, senior architect at Azusa Sekkei, the project's consulting firm, told the Laotian Times...
Cats spend much of their day sleeping, stretching in the sun, at times hunting, or just watching the world go by. For a group of Lao artists, those habits have become the inspiration for art.
Life feels busier than ever, and Laos is no exception. Seven artists in Laos have turned to cats to explore what many people seem to be searching for today: a little more freedom, self-acceptance and joy in the ordinary moments of everyday life.
Their exhibition, Like a Cat's Tiny Life, running until 31 July at The Tamper Coffee & Studio in Vientiane, brings together paintings, illustrations and photography that ask a simple question: what can people learn from slowing down?
Why Cats?
“All seven of us wanted to create a small space filled with warmth through stories about cats. We wanted people to experience life through the artists’ small perspectives on cats,” artist Fanta Keomanila told The Laotian Times.
For him, cats represent independence.
He described them as animals that follow their own way, sleeping and resting when they choose and finding happiness in simple moments such as watching birds or lying in the warm sun, rather than conforming to...
