December 29, 2022

Book Festival Laos 2022 returned

Book Festival Laos 2022

Formerly called the "Vientiane Book Festival" and after having been on hiatus for 2 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has returned as "Book Festival Laos" this year.  In fact, even its Lao title in Lao language was changed.  It's considered the largest literature event in the country.

December 26, 2022

First Hmong Lao contestant becomes Miss Universe Laos 2022

Miss Universe Laos 2022
Photo Credit:  Miss Universe Laos

On October 8, 2022, the Miss Universe Laos pageant concluded with its first ethnic Hmong winner, Miss Payaengxa Lor, 21, having been crowned Miss Universe Laos.

December 21, 2022

Why tracking the most popular Lao Youtubers can be a challenge

Discussing charts and graphs

Have you ever seen websites that provide the ranking lists for the most popular Lao Youtube channels?  Here's an explanation of why you need to be weary of those numbers.

December 19, 2022

Meedee Books - Possibly the best Lao children's book publisher currently


There are a handful of Lao publishers of children's and kids books in Laos nowadays.  However, one of my favourites, and arguably the highest quality publisher currently, is Meedee Books based in Vientiane.

Please note this is not a paid ad.  I just love their books.  I wish these books existed when I was growing up. 

December 18, 2022

Laos based Youtube channels can now be monetized

Youtube logo

December 18, 2022 - As reported by InsideLaos.com and LaotianTimes.com, Youtube has finally come around in allowing Lao youtubers to monetize their channels after years of Lao Youtube channels existing on the video sharing platform.

December 17, 2022

Celebrity British Chef Gordon Ramsay names Laos the number 1 food destination

December 17, 2022 - As reported by NextShark, a Youtube video interview by Cho Seung-yeon posted on December 2, the interviewer asked where Gordon thought the number 1 food destination is.  He responded with 3 answers but the first out of his mouth was Lao.  He went on to mention Vietnam and also the Spanish city of Madrid and again repeated Lao before the interviewer went on to the next question.

December 16, 2022

The return of the Lao National Games

2022 11th Lao National Games opening ceremonies celebration
Photo Credit: KPL, 2022

December 16, 2022 - After multiple delays in previous years, the 2022 11th Lao National Games is currently happening, from December 13-22.  This year the event is being hosted in the province of Xiengkhouang.

Hundreds of athletes from 17 provinces, Vientiane prefecture and four government ministries are competing and vying for medals and glory.

Crowds and long lineups of excited fans, cars and motorbikes have been noted throughout Phonsavan, the province's capital city, especially on routes going to sport venues.

December 15, 2022

Inflation in Laos reached new highs every month since May for 2022 so far

Inflation increasing

December 15, 2022 - While December's inflation rate won't be released until next month, as of this writing, the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment's Statistics Bureau reported that for the month of November, Laos saw its highest inflation yet at 38.46%, a 23-year high.

December 14, 2022

Newly formed Lao Gymnastics Federation joins the Asian Gymnastics Union

FIG and AGU visits Lao Gymnastics Federation
Image Credit: Lao Gymnastics Federation on Facebook, 2022

December 14, 2022 - In what appears to be a newly formed sporting body of perhaps only a year old, the Lao Gymnastics Federation (LGF) has  appeared on the international scene along with its Facebook and Instagram pages.