Happy Lao New Year 2569!

 

May all past occurrences be laid to rest.

May you take on the New Year with renewed strength and wisdom.

May you have many blessings in happiness and love.

ໂຊກດີປີໃໝ່ລາວເດີທຸກຂົນ

Happy Lao New Year everyone!

Lao Art Week 2025

Source:  Dork Ya Studio, 2025.

For the past 3 years, Vientiane has hosted the Lao Art Week event and each year it continues to grow.  This year it ran from October 10-19, 2025 and featured artwork by more than 100 artists across 12 different venues.

The 1st Lao Gold Festival 2025

Source:  Lao Bullion Bank

Start planning and get your tickets - Sabaidee Fest 2025 opens next month in July

Now in its third year, Sabaidee Fest has grown to become America's largest Southeast Asian music and cultural festival in a short period of time.

San Diego Lao Food Festival 2025 set to open next month in June

This year marks the event's 3rd iteration.  In just a short period, this event has become one of America's largest Lao food festival events in the country.

8th Lao Studies Conference 2025

Calling all scholars, students and fans of Lao studies.  This is your event!

When: 11-14 September 2025
Where: Centre of Asian and Transcultural Studies, Voßstr. 2, Building 4110, Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

Blue Chair - the Luang Prabang film festival returned in 2024

In December 2-9, 2024, Luang Prabang saw the return of its film festival, which had been renamed Blue Chair Film Festival 2 years ago.  At the beginning of 2024, we wrote about our hopes that it would return and thankfully it did.

A Lao tradition - the blessing of the home

Source:  Lao Heritage Trails, 2022

In Laos, there are many spiritual ceremonies for all sorts of life events and they often intertwine animism with Buddhism.  One of those rituals is the blessing of the home which is typically done when you move into a new home or are about to build a new one.  Have a look.

Lao Food Festival 2025 in Vientiane

Source:  PadupDin, January 23, 2025

From January 22-26, Vientiane again hosted the Lao Food Festival.  An exciting event for all the foodies out there.  And it was free to attend!

Beautiful performance by a Lao traditional orchestra

Source:  World Wood Day, 2018

Back in 2018, Laos hosted the World Wood Day - an annual event held in different cities around the world by the World Wood Day Foundation.  At the event, the Lao orchestra performed using many Lao traditional musical instruments, several of which are made from wood.  Have a look.

Vientiane celebrates New Year 2025 with a bang

By: Laoconnection.com, January 1, 2025

This year's international New Year's celebrations went beyond anything the country of Laos and its humble capitol have ever seen.  A great way to cap off Visit Laos Year 2024.

First marathon series to span Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia

Source:  Viettel Marathon - Unitel Luang Prabang 2024 (via SEA Games Youtube channel)

9th ASEAN Tradition Textile Symposium

Lao Fashion Designer Bandid Lasavong - ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase

Bandid Lasavong of MenFolder speaks at the ASEAN International Fashion Week 2024 in September about sustainable fashion production practices and the use of Epson's direct printing technology.

Source: ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase

Lao Fashion designer Bandid Lasavong of MenFolder at Lao fashion Week 2024

Source:  Z Fashion TV (Laos). Event date: October 4, 2024

Shared via Youtube on The Influencer channel

The top 5 from the Young Lao Fashion Designers Project - Lao Fashion Week 2024

Source:  Z Fashion TV (Laos). Event date: October 4, 2024

Shared via Youtube on The Influencer channel

Ministry of Silk's runway show at Lao Fashion Week 2024

Source: Z Fashion TV (Laos), October 2, 2024

Shared on Youtube via The Influencer channel

Khang's runway show at Lao Fashion Week 2024

Source: Z Fashion TV (Laos), October 2, 2024

Shared on Youtube via The Influencer channel

Recap of the Vientiane Performing Arts Festival 2024

Source:  Vientiane Performing Arts Festival

The performing arts in Laos continues to grow.  And this festival is a strong indication of that.  Here's a recap of this event back from February 16-17, 2024.  The performances ranged from traditional Lao dancing to modern dance, puppetry to magic.  Have a look! 

Lao Traditional Dancing Competition in Vientiane

Source:  Suab Hmong Broadcoasting

Traditional dancing is alive and thriving in Laos.  Watch this competition and the different dance troupes who competed on April 6, 2024 in Vientiane.  The combination of great dancing, music, creativity, and performance reveals is just wonderful!