Laos is facing a serious debt crisis in 2025. For many years, the government borrowed a lot of money, mostly from China, to build big dams along the Mekong River. The plan was to sell electricity to other countries and make Laos the “battery of Southeast Asia.” But the income from these dams has been [...]
In Laos, many young girls from poor and ethnic minority communities are being forced or tricked into sex work. Some girls are as young as ten years old. They are promised good jobs, but end up in hidden places in the capital city where foreign men from Japan, China, and South Korea come to exploit [...]
Laos is facing a serious education crisis at home. Many students are dropping out of secondary and high schools, especially in poorer provinces like Attapeu, Sekong, and Savannakhet. The reasons include economic struggles, not enough teachers, and schools lacking proper buildings and dormitories. In some areas, students have to travel long distances to get to [...]
Laos has accepted 189 out of 257 human rights recommendations during its recent review, including one to ratify the Convention against Enforced Disappearances. However, it still has not taken this step, despite making similar promises in the past. Rights groups are deeply concerned that Laos rejected calls to properly investigate cases like that of Sombath [...]
In Vang Vieng, Laos, hosts often offered free shots, “happy hours,” and beer buckets to attract young backpackers. These drinks, cheap and sometimes homemade, are part of the town’s wild party culture. These free or very cheap drinks might be mixed with dangerous substances like methanol, a toxic industrial alcohol that can cause vomiting, vision [...]
The Lao capital, Vientiane, is experiencing more serious flooding as climate change intensifies the monsoon rains. Storms such as Tropical Storm Wipha in recent weeks have overwhelmed old-fashioned drainage systems in the city, overwhelming big sections of the city and paralyzing daily life. People are regularly isolated from schools, hospitals, and workplaces, with poorer communities [...]
Young people in Laos are trying their best to make their communities better, but they still have numerous challenges. Early marriage is a major issue; nearly one in every five girls marries before the age of 18. It usually puts an end to their education and risks early pregnancy, poor health, and poverty. Most girls [...]
Lao authorities are helping people affected by recent floods in many provinces. On 3 August, Vice President Pany Yathotou visited a flooded village in Xieng Khouang Province, where 34 houses were damaged and one person died. She gave supplies and urged local leaders to repair roads, homes, and schools, and move people living near rivers [...]
Days of heavy rain and Storm Wipha have caused flash floods and rising rivers in many provinces of Laos, including Luang Prabang, Huaphan, Xiengkhouang, Xayabouly, Khammuan, and Vientiane. In Luang Prabang, Xiengngeun, Nan, and Pakxaeng districts are badly hit. Eighteen villages in Xiengngeun are flooded, and emergency teams are assisting people in relocating to safe [...]
Long Tieng, a quiet village in central Laos, was once a secret U.S. military base during the Cold War. From 1960 to 1975, the CIA operated there with Hmong fighters and secret pilots to fight communist forces. The village’s airstrip, once one of the world’s busiest, is now used by children and farmers. Visitors can [...]