Lao Voices

Mekong Television with Ajarn Bounhong Khommarath from San Diego, California, posted on October 13, 2008. He spoke about the housing market and the impact of the sub-prime mortgage crisis and the impacts on the Lao community.
You can watch this clip in high quality by navigating with the triangle icon (first one on bottom right of [...]

Beer Lao commercial that has been showing lately on Lao TV channels.

I’ve been thinking about the rise in gas price lately and thought about farmers that have to rely on steel buffaloes to plow the rice paddy, I’m wondering if it’s cost effective this way.  This might be time to bring back our trusted friend, the water buffalo.
When we first moved to Thailand, our family became [...]

An episode about a family in Laos making a living by producing blackboard chalk.

1000 Stories about Laos documentary show. This episode is a rerun about one village in Khammuan province making a living by weaving floor mat.

I think Chinatown is not what it used to be, since 911 many restaurants and small businesses folded, if you never lived in the area, you would not know the difference because it appears that it’s still bustling, and crowded as ever.

We walked so much that I thought my legs would fall off, and [...]

Another video clip by Kody704 of the new shopping mall in Savan. The later part of the clip shows Tat Eehung.

To quote a famous Dutch footbal player and coach, Johan Cruijff, “Every disadvantage has its advantages”. This could also become true for Laos. The people of Laos hunger for electricity to increase productivity and general comfort of life. Unfortunately, only 48 percent of Laotians are connected to the electrical grid.  High costs and a lack [...]

SanJiang Shopping Mall is located in Oumoung (Neua) village, Sikhottabong district, Vientiane. According to the Vientiane Times Newspaper, the mall is the “gathering point for the Chinese merchants” and most of the products are imported from China. The stalls are mostly run by Chinese merchants with some Lao merchants selling Lao clothes and textiles and [...]

Many rice fields that covered the mountainous North of Laos are gone. They are steadily being replaced by rubber trees. The Chinese are coming to Laos and they need their rubber products for their galloping economy. It appears nothing can stop the ever growing Chinese machine that seems perpetually hungry for manufacturing products supplies.
The Chines [...]

Producers seek niche market for roasted coffee
The production of Lao coffee is projected to decline this year due to irregular rainfall, but exporters will focus on creating value added products and seek out foreign niche markets for roasted Lao coffee.
Last year 20,000 tonnes of coffee beans were grown, the highest yield ever in the history [...]

China assists Lao-Viet railway study
The Lao government is conducting a feasibility study for a proposed rail link from Vientiane to Thakhek district, Khammuan province, and on to Muya in Vietnam to connect to the Vietnam Railway Network, a senior official said yesterday.
A group of 12 Chinese technical staff came to Laos three weeks ago and [...]

Lao Airlines welcomes New Year with price hike
In the face of rising fuel prices, Lao Airlines is struggling to make a profit and has announced its intention to charge passengers more for domestic flights starting this month, according to company officials.
The company’s Deputy Director, Mr Ley Bounbandith, confirmed on Friday that the airline would raise [...]

World Bank says Laos more attractive to investors
The World Bank says Laos is now more attractive to investors due to new laws which make it easier to do business.
“Improvements to the financial sector’s legal framework through recently passed laws on commercial banking are attracting new investors to the banking sector and extending financial services more [...]

Europeans keen to join Lao tourism boom
More than 1,000 European visitors expressed an interest in Lao tourist attractions and handmade textiles at the International Tourism Berlin 2008 travel trade fair, according to tourism officials.
“Around 100 European businesses said they would be prepared to work with Lao tourist operators attending the fair, and also made inquiries [...]