Лаос. Travel digest

Japan has supplied a set of airport equipment to Laos under a grant‑aid scheme, aimed at upgrading the country's civil aviation facilities and improving regional connectivity.

The aid, part of the Economic and Development Programme launched in 2021, was officially handed over on 1 April at Vientiane’s Wattay International Airport. The programme provides 21 different types of

On 1 April, Vientiane hosted a ceremony marking the International Day for Mine Awareness. The event gathered government officials, development partners and pupils from five secondary schools.

Participants observed supervised demonstrations of land‑survey and clearance techniques and attended sessions covering the history of unexploded ordnance (UXO), relevant international conventions

From 1 April, ticket prices on the Laos‑China Railway have been increased on every line.

The adjustment amounts to roughly a nine‑percent rise and applies to all adult passenger classes.

On the heavily travelled Vientiane – Luang Prabang route, the new fares are LAK 1,063,000 (about US$48.5) for business class, LAK 569,000 (about US$26.0) for first class

The Lao Baseball Softball Federation (LBSF) together with Lao Youth Baseball (LYB) organized the first Baseball5 Friendly Cup in Vientiane. The one‑day tournament brought together almost 100 participants – players, volunteers and spectators – and marked the official introduction of Baseball5 in Laos.

Four mixed‑gender teams competed, with most athletes aged between 15 and 25

A group of ancient monoliths known as the Hintang Archaeological Park, located in Houameuang District of Houaphanh Province, has been granted national cultural‑heritage status.

The complex contains more than 1,500 upright stone pillars and over 150 large stone discs scattered across hills and forested areas. Archaeologists estimate the monuments date back 2,500–3,000 years, likely

The Lao government has presented a proposal to the National Assembly to advance a railway that will link the capital Vientiane with Vietnam’s Vung Ang Port in Ha Tinh Province.

The line will be 562 km long and built in three sections. The first segment, 147 km, runs from Thakhek to the Moua border crossing and will be constructed first. Subsequent sections will extend the track

On 10 March, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Vientiane began a trial period during which all passengers can travel for free. The complimentary‑fare phase lasts until 9 May; regular ticket prices will apply from 10 May onward.

The service operates daily from 06:00 to 22:00. During peak periods (06:00‑09:00 and 16:00‑18:00) buses run every six to seven minutes; outside peak

Dr. Bounloth Sodaluck, known locally as Dr. Pom, was raised in the rural area of Xayaboury Province, where she witnessed families struggling to obtain medical care for sick children. After completing secondary school, she earned a place at the University of Health Sciences in Vientiane and later completed clinical training at Lao Friends Hospital for Children in Luang Prabang.

Today

On 6 March 2026, Laos inaugurated the new Bokeo International Airport, situated in Ban Nyai Simueangngam, approximately five kilometres from the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.

The airport is the country’s first international facility built under a private‑finance model. It was developed by Greater Bay Area Investment and Development (Hong Kong) through a Build‑Operate‑Transfer

The newly opened Fifth Lao‑Thai Friendship Bridge, inaugurated on 27 December 2025, recorded state revenue of more than LAK 47.5 billion (about USD 2.2 million) during its initial month.

Authorities have set a target of LAK 350 billion (approximately USD 16 million) for the whole of 2026.

Key commodities crossing the checkpoint include fuel, consumer goods, electrical

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) notes that Laos has begun to steady its economy after a period of sharp inflation and pressure on the national currency. Policy tightening in late‑2024 contributed to this improvement.

Inflation, which peaked at more than 30 % in 2023, fell to approximately 7.7 % by 2025. The Lao kip also showed signs of stabilisation.

Growth

Japan has granted USD 17,400 under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) to finance a new water‑supply facility in Meuteun village, Phongsaly Province. The project is intended to improve local access to safe and hygienic water.

The grant agreement was signed by Japanese Ambassador Koizumi Tsutomu and the chairman of the Phongsaly Provincial Administrative

The Luang Prabang City Administrative Committee has issued a new traffic directive aimed at easing congestion and improving order within the UNESCO World Heritage zone of the city. The regulation introduces fines that vary by vehicle type and the number of offences.

Recent measures, such as the February restrictions around the Night Market and historic peninsula, barred tour

The Lao government has announced its intention to submit nominations to UNESCO for five intangible cultural traditions and three natural or built heritage sites over the next five years, as part of the 10th Five‑Year National Socio‑Economic Development Plan.

In Champhone district of Savannakhet Province, two historic landmarks have been officially recognised as National Heritage sites, strengthening efforts to safeguard the region’s cultural and religious legacy.

The three‑day ceremony held from 2–4 March brought together provincial and district officials, Buddhist monks and local residents to celebrate the Ho Tay Pidok Library and

Phetthong Inthavong, coordinator of the Lao Conservation Trust for Wildlife (LCTW), leads the country’s fight against the illegal wildlife market. His team rescues a variety of species—including gibbons, bears, alligators and deer—provides medical care, rehabilitates them, and ultimately releases them back into suitable habitats.

The LCTW facility is not a public zoo. Enclosures

Minor Hotels, a global hotel owner and operator, has revealed plans for Avani+ Lanexang Vientiane, a design‑focused premium lifestyle hotel slated to open in the second quarter of 2026. This will be the group’s second property in Laos, complementing the existing Avani+ Luang Prabang hotel in the UNESCO‑listed town of Luang Prabang.

Located on Fa Ngum Road, about a 15‑minute drive

On 25 February, the Lao authorities and Thailand’s APDL Solar Power Sole Co., Ltd signed a memorandum to conduct a feasibility study for a 100‑megawatt solar power project in Bolikhamxay Province.

The proposed plant will be located in Nam Ngiep village, within Paksan district, and will occupy roughly 140 hectares. The site was chosen because of its high solar irradiation and

The Ministry of Agriculture has issued a decree aimed at tightening regulation of the rapidly growing rubber sector and curbing the associated loss of forest cover.

The legal act sets out detailed rules for the establishment and operation of rubber plantations, mandatory data reporting, and processing standards. It requires every plantation to be registered, to obtain proper

Kaysone Phomvihane City has been selected as one of four Lao cities to receive the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award for the 2026‑2028 period, confirming its status as a leading travel destination in Laos.

The award was announced in early January in Cebu, Philippines, together with fellow Lao winners: Luang Prabang City, Viengxay district in Houaphanh Province, and Pakse City in