Laos won the National Costume at the Mister Global 2025

 

Youphalat Phethany representing Laos.

Source:  Mister Global, October 2025

Learn Khmu language

Source: Greetings in Khmu,  Khmu Language Channel

Loving this Youtube Channel that's helping to shine a spotlight on the Khmu language.  

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.

Interview with a female Lao deportee

Source:  Konbannok, December 5, 2025

Watch along as Youtuber Konbannok (who himself is Lao but from California, USA) interviews a Lao female deportee on her experience being deported from America to Laos.  Main discussion starts at time marker 13:10.

Video is mostly in English with a bit of Lao.

Meet the artist who designed the Lao kip

Source:  The XYZ Arts Center, 2022

Even at the age of 66, he admits that he still has the thirst and desire to learn different artistic styles and techniques.  Meet Mr. Anoulom Souvandouane.  

Corruption and Cigarettes

Original Title:  How Imperial Brands’ confidential contract kept cigarette prices low in Laos - while secretly enriching a political insider
By: Jason McLure, Maria Pérez, and Mailee Osten-Tan
Co-Published by:  The Examination and The Diplomat, June 17, 2025

The 2001 deal delivered millions to an in-law of the former president, Bounnhang Vorachit, while blocking tobacco tax hikes for 25 years.

This story was supported in part by a grant from the Pulitzer Center and is co-published between The Examination and The Diplomat.

Laos Uncovers Widespread Corruption, Records Billions in Losses Over Five Years

By:  Thongsavanh Souvannasane, Laotian Times, November 14, 2025

Laos has uncovered widespread corruption cases nationwide over the past five years, identifying 334 individuals implicated in financial misconduct between 2021 and 2025, with total losses exceeding LAK 642.93 billion (nearly USD 30 million), alongside significant losses in multiple foreign currencies.