Lao Voices

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 [...]

There is no stopping now. The plan to develop a modern town at That Luang marsh is on the go.
Govt outlines plans for That Luang marsh development
Vientiane will match other Asean capitals when the That Luang marsh is transformed into a modern town.
Vientiane Mayor Dr Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune told Japanese and local journalists yesterday at the [...]

For those that are living in the US, flying to Laos in the future might be a lot easier. You won’t have to make stop in Taiwan, Thailand or other countries and can go straight to Wattay International Airport in Vientiane after making a stop in Japan.

Laos, Japan mull direct flights
Officials from Laos and Japan [...]

By now you will have noticed that something has seriously gone wrong in the US. Many banks have serious problems and are writing of billions of dollars in “bad loans” aka the “subprimal slime” . The most prominent recent example of that was Bear Stearns, a former triple A bank that fell down hard. The [...]

The Lao Traditional Food Festival of 2008 was also opened to foreign participants so there were a few booths from Thailand, displaying E-San food and products. Som Pa Thong or sour pickled fish was a big hit at the festival. Even my aunt in Vientiane bought some to try it out. When I called her [...]

Samples of home made products in Laos that were on display at the Lao Traditional Food Festival 2008, at the Lao National Culture Hall last month (February 22-23). The colorful candles would be something that I would buy for myself or give away as gifts. I particularly like the candles in a shape of Dok [...]

Congress recently passed the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, which President Bush signed on Feb. 13, 2008. If you normally file your income tax return, then there is nothing that you need to do, but for those that don’t normally file, especially our elders that receive social security payments, to be able to receive [...]

After two weeks of intense negotiations, Congress passed the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. The plan will provide tax rebates of up to $600 for individuals and up to $1,200 for couples filing jointly, with an additional payment for families of $300 a child, and a minimum payment of $300 for individuals who pay [...]

I believe that the generosity chart is based on percentage of income of donors, which means that the donors don’t have to make a lot of money but their giving to nonprofit charity of their choice is calculated in percentage. Most southern states, such as my state is considered a church state and religious [...]

Entrepreneurs call for high ceiling on import tariffs
Representatives of private enterprises in Laos have proposed that the government make the ceiling for import tariffs as high as possible, as a way of protecting the market for Lao-made goods.
The representatives from several private companies, including manufacturers of cement, steel, and agricultural goods, submitted the proposal to [...]