Cambodia supports Don Sahong dam in Laos

By: May Titthara, Khmer Times, November 28, 2016

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen meets Lao National Assembly president Pany Yathotou in Phnom Penh on Saturday.  Photo Credit:  Khmer Times.

Cambodia will support the Don Sahong hydroelectric dam planned to be built in southern Laos less than two kilometers from the Cambodian border, while civil society groups continue to appeal to regional authorities to halt construction on environmental grounds.

This company is turning Laos’ unexploded bombs into jewelry

  Video Credit: By: PBS NewsHour, November 25, 2016

Lao Word of the Day: ນັບຖື / To respect, cherish, believe in

Lanterns and Prayers

Lao Institute of Traditional Medicine - a review of all activities to inventory medicinal plants of Laos

Title:  Inventory of medicinal plants of the Lao People's Democratic Republic: A mini review
By:  Kongmany Sydara, Mouachanh Xayvue, Onevilay Souliya, Bethany G. Elkington, and Djaja D. Soejarto
Organizations:  Institute of Traditional Medicine (Laos), University of Illonois (USA), Field Museum (USA)
Publisher/Year:  Journal of Medicinal Plant Research, vol. 8(43), November 17 2014

Green Climbers

Above the Clouds

Check out Wanderlust Laos's video as they sit at the top of a mountain above the incoming clouds in Luangprabang.


Video Credit: Wanderlust Laos

Popular Lao Love Song at the Moment: ແທງ (teng)

A popular Lao love song ເພງ at the moment is Teng ແທງ by Ty Agat ຕ່າຍ ອາກາດ. 

Video Credit:  Indee Records ອິນດີ້ ເລັກຄອດ

Lao Artist Profile: Mr. Sayon Syprasoeuth

Lao tea industry brewing up more markets

By: Vientiane Times, September 10, 2016

The Lao tea industry has the potential to expand production in the country’s mountainous regions especially for quality organic tea, as there was growing overseas demand, according to an industry expert.

A tea entrepreneur from northern Laos, Bounchan, also commented that Laos has wild tea trees aged 400 to more than 1,000 years old, whose leaves fetch high prices on international markets.

Tea drinkers eager to sample Lao Gold Champa brew

By:  Khonesavanh Latsaphao, Vientiane Times, September 20, 2016

Despite being priced at US$180 a box, there are many people willing to buy Gold Champa Red or Gold Champa Black tea as they are keen to sample this latest offering from Laos' tea producers.

A Different Papaya Salad

I'm willing to bet that you've never seen a tum mak hoong (papaya salad) quite like this.  Video is in Lao language.

Video Credit:  Youtube user Home Made By Kaysone

Project Anoulak Annual Report 2015

Title:  Annual Report 2015
By:  Project Anoulak (ConservationLaos.com)
Year / Publisher:  Project Anoulak, 2015

Vientiane Global Shapers To Host the First TEDx Event in Laos

Source:  LaotianTimes.com, October 31, 2016

The Vientiane Global Shapers, a global initiative under the World Economic Forum, has secured the license for TEDxLaneXangAve, which will be held on Saturday, November 26th, 2016 at the French Institute in Vientiane Capital. The theme of this year’s event is Changing Currents. This is the first time that a TEDx event will be organized in Laos.

The TEDx Program is designed to help communities, organizations and individuals to spark conversation and connection through local TED-like experiences.

Lao seafood salad (yum talay)

By: Youtube user House of X Tia

He smuggled 2 young boys out of Laos in 1977, now they've reunited

By: David Bell, CBC News (Canada), November 6, 2016

It was 1977 and the communists had taken over large swaths of southeast Asia. Refugees were crammed into camps and families torn apart.

Amidst this backdrop, two young boys were smuggled across the Mekong River to Thailand from Laos, the threat of trigger-happy soldiers on either bank a constant.

Now, 40 years later in Calgary, those once-small boys have reunited with the B.C. missionaries who helped them slip through borders to safety.

Lao Words of the Day: To be Patient / Patience

Luangprabang Half Marathon 2016

The Luangprabang Half Marathon (LPHM) recently completed on October 23, 2016, to another resounding success.  It's an event that continues to grow each year.  It's made even more wonderful in that proceeds went towards the Lao Friends Hospital for Children.

Attapeu Waterfalls

Ever been to Attapeu?  It's a small province in southern Laos with beautiful waterfalls.  Have a look in this video and follow along with these guys as they have fun exploring Sepabanglai Waterfall.

Video Credit:  Youtube user Soukasy

Laos' Plain of Jars recreated in virtual reality

Source: Phys.org, October 19, 2016

Australian archaeologists announced plans Wednesday to recreate Laos' mysterious Plain of Jars as a three-dimensional virtual reality experience, that could one day see museum visitors walk through remote dig sites.

Winning Numbers 'Fixed' in Laos National Lottery (ຫວຍລາວ), Sources Say

Source:  RFA News, October 24, 2016

Lottery officials in the communist country of Laos are rigging the system, manipulating winning numbers in order to avoid large pay-outs, sources in the Southeast Asian nation say.

Drawings in the national lottery, which take place three times each week, often show numbers that vanish from purchased tickets or that are deemed unlucky and are unlikely to be chosen, sources say.

Packed after a Celebration