A gown combining Thai silk and Lao fabric brought two neighbouring countries' textile traditions together at an international fashion exhibition in Bangkok in October.
Titled Lao-Thai Solidarity, the dress featured traditional Lao weaving patterns alongside Thai silk, with each material making up half of the design.
Lao designer Khamphao Bouaphanh, founder of Khamphao Sungdai, created the gown for the Global Thai Silk Exhibition. It showcased how traditional textiles from both countries could be incorporated into contemporary fashion.
The design featured a Naga motif along the lower skirt, a Dao Kai Noy pattern on the bodice, and a sash made from Pakse Mudmee silk.
Weaving Two Textile Traditions Together
The dress combined 50 percent Thai...
In many Lao communities, temples are among the cleanest places around. People sweep the grounds, tend to the gardens, and take care of the buildings. There is a shared...
Laos has received a credit rating upgrade after issuing a USD 500 million international bond and signing a tax agreement with Hong Kong aimed at reducing costs for cross-border...
Laos is eyeing a major expansion of its clean energy exports following a proposed agreement to supply up to 500 megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity to Singapore.
On 30 October,...
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has ordered trade offices nationwide to stop imposing measures that restrict business competition or obstruct the movement of goods.
Issued on 28 October, the...
Laos’ inflation edged down to 7.7 percent in October from 7.8 percent in September, but households continue to face higher electricity bills and other everyday expenses.
Prices rose 0.9 percent...
Laos will suspend access to South Korea’s seasonal work program for 3 years if the nationwide overstay rate reaches 70 percent, under new rules introduced as the country expands...
The number of foreign nationals living in Laos has nearly doubled over the past decade, led by a sharp increase in Chinese residents, even as hundreds of thousands of Lao citizens live abroad.
Laos recorded 79,827 foreign residents in its 2025 census, up from 45,538 in 2015. The census also counted 313,766 Lao citizens living abroad, as the country faces slowing population growth and labour shortages.
Chinese nationals accounted for much of the increase in the foreign population. Their numbers rose from 1,825 in 2005 to 13,400 in 2015 and 25,492 in 2025. Vietnamese nationals remained the largest foreign group, with 28,269 residents in 2025.
Thousands of Lao Citizens Seek Work Abroad
The...
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 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...
Heavy rainfall caused a reservoir used by a rare earth mining company to breach in Houaphanh Province on 2 November, sending more than 1,000 cubic meters of muddy water into nearby waterways, provincial authorities said.
Officials inspected the site in Thabpheung village, Xamneua district, on 4 November to assess the damage and discuss the response.
According to the latest report by state media, the breach occurred at around 2:00 AM. Authorities said heavy rain caused soil to collapse on a steep...
Salavan United Football Club, based in Salavan in southern Laos, has terminated the contract of Lao national team winger Soukphachan Lueanthala amid match-fixing allegations, citing his “unexcused absences” from training.
The club announced the...
Laos is preparing to compete in 12 sports at the 14th ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur next October.
The Lao team has proposed entering athletics, swimming, powerlifting, boccia, women’s goalball, men’s blind football,...
A gown combining Thai silk and Lao fabric brought two neighbouring countries' textile traditions together at an international fashion exhibition in Bangkok in October.
Titled Lao-Thai Solidarity, the dress featured traditional Lao weaving patterns alongside Thai silk, with each material making up half of the design.
Lao designer Khamphao Bouaphanh, founder of Khamphao Sungdai, created the gown for the Global Thai Silk Exhibition. It showcased how traditional textiles from both countries could be incorporated into contemporary fashion.
The design featured a Naga motif along the lower skirt, a Dao Kai Noy pattern on the bodice, and a sash made from Pakse Mudmee silk.
Weaving Two Textile Traditions Together
The dress combined 50 percent Thai silk with 50 percent locally woven Lao fabric. Rather than keeping the materials separate, the design brought them together through patterns and details associated with both countries.
The Naga motif, a recurring element in Lao art and textiles, ran along the lower panel of the skirt and wrapped around the back. The upper bodice featured the Dao Kai Noy pattern, translate to Little Chick Star, or the Pleiades in english. A sash made from Pakse Mudmee, a traditional Lao ikat silk,...
