Faulty traffic lights, flooding, and a growing number of vehicles are worsening traffic congestion in Vientiane, where police say more than 40 percent of the capital's traffic lights are either malfunctioning or out of service.
Speaking at the press briefing on 14 July, Sangkhom Phommalath, Head of the Traffic Police Department under the Vientiane Capital Public Security Headquarters, said the capital has 68 signalized intersections.
Only 39 are operating normally. Seventeen are completely out of service, while another 12 are only partially functioning because of technical faults, leaving many of the city's busiest intersections without reliable traffic control.
Police said the faulty traffic lights are one of several factors contributing to congestion,...
From 14 October, Lao designers and businesses will be able to protect the look of their products in multiple countries through a single application submitted to the World Intellectual...
Lao authorities have stepped up their crackdown on illegal wildlife trade after raiding a Chinese-owned restaurant in central Vientiane, one of several wildlife enforcement operations carried out this year.
On...
Laos has strengthened its regional ties after formally confirming its status as a Dialogue Partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), signing an agreement with the organization in Beijing...
Laos' economy is expected to continue expanding this year, even as slower growth and inflation present challenges, according to a global financial institution.
In its latest outlook released on 9...
Expanding the railway to southern Laos, rolling out a new school system, reducing poverty, and improving roads and water supply were among the key issues discussed during the First...
Laos has collected approximately USD 12 million in digital taxes from global technology companies since introducing its digital tax system in late 2024, according to Deputy Prime Minister and...
Vietnam has launched the Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) system, replacing the paper arrival card that travelers previously filled out at the border with an online declaration submitted within 72 hours before arrival.
The system collects passport details, flight information, purpose of visit, and accommodation details, transmitting them to immigration electronically in advance. Upon validation, travelers receive a QR code that officers scan at the airport.
The card went live first at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on 15 April. Vietnam’s busiest gateway, Tan Son Nhat handles over 25 million passengers annually and has become known for lengthy immigration queues, some travelers report lines of 500 people or...
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...
Lao authorities have stepped up their crackdown on illegal wildlife trade after raiding a Chinese-owned restaurant in central Vientiane, one of several wildlife enforcement operations carried out this year.
On 18 May, officers from the Law Enforcement Network for Aquatic Animals, Wildlife and Forestry (LAO-WEN) inspected a restaurant in Chommany village, Xaysettha district, after receiving reports that it was serving protected wildlife to foreign tour groups.
During the inspection, officers found live animals, carcasses, and wildlife products allegedly prepared and sold...
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...
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, defeating Portuguese side GD Estoril Praia B 4-2 in the final to become back-to-back champions of one of the world's best-known youth football tournaments.
Just weeks earlier, in mid-June, the club's under-10 team also won the MIC Football 7 tournament in Spain, giving Laos two international youth football titles during a single European tour.
When the players returned to Vientiane on 8 July, parents, supporters, and football fans gathered at the airport to welcome them home.
For the coach Tonjukkit Noysomsy, defending the IberCup title was always going to be the team's toughest challenge.
"We knew it would be very difficult," he said. "We never underestimated any opponent. We prepared for a long time through training, studying matches, and analysing replays."
Tonjukkit said the tournament also gave the team an opportunity to introduce Laos to people who knew little about the country.
"We are proud to represent Laos," he said. "Many people there knew very little about Laos. During the tournament I...
