Laos News

PASSING ON EXPERTISE: Phoenix Clearance, a Kiwi firm that specialises in clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance, trains staff at Ban Xai, in the Khoueng Viangchan region of Laos.

These days, most pickup manufacturers make bold claims that their vehicles are very car-like to sit in and drive because they know that many customers don't actually treat them purely as workhorses.

The project was sealed yesterday between Vinachem General Director Nguyen Dinh Khang and Lao Planning and Investment Minister Bounthavi Sisouphanthong in Vientiane and was witnessed by Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and his Laotian counterpart Chummalay Saynhasone.

Alexander Lee, 22, of Yarraville, was found dead alongside Dutch woman Rianne Brouwer in their hotel in Nongkio Village, in the central province of Luang Prabang, on Tuesday.

A memorandum of understanding on Thai-Lao cooperation against contagious diseases was signed at a meeting in Thailand on Thursday, attended by some 120 public health delegates from the neighbouring countries, Thai News Agency reported.

Laos ' Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and Vietnam Television Station have agreed to further strengthen their cooperation efforts and traditionally friendly ties in the information and culture sector.

Lead singer Sifiso Buthelezi has the voice of an angel. Think a young Michael Jackson meets Usher, with a twist of rock.

A young Australian traveller has been found dead in a hotel room in Laos, the third to die in Laos in a month.

Staff at a hotel in the central province of Luang Prabang came across the bodies at the weekend, a spokesperson from the Provincial Tourist Police told ninemsn.

The fact that a jazz trio came from Bangkok to play a swish new venue in the Laotian capital-one that wouldn't look out of place in the City of Angels-says something about the rapid pace of change in Laos.

Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong yesterday visited the Hongsa power plant in Xayaboury province, which is being built at a cost of about US$3.7 billion.

Laos is slowly but surely moving towards elevation from the United Nations' list of least developed countries by 2020, with the goal of reducing the poverty rate to below 22 per cent by the end of 2012.

VIENTIANE, Feb. 6 -- Laos and China vowed on Monday to deepen mutually beneficial and substantial cooperation in various fields, boosting bilateral ties to a new level.

The three unlikely locations - placed first, second and third - were part of a list of ten hotspots readers of Wanderlust thought would eventually make it on to holidaymakers' wishlists.

After giving alms in the early morning of the full moon day in February each year, devotees place balls of rice around the That Phonh stupa in Savannakhet province to honour the guardian spirits.

A Lao company is building a five-star hotel at the southern end of Don Chan in Vientiane, and vows the project will be finished in time for the Asia-Europe Meeting Summit in November.

The Department of the Environment in Laos is considering applying Strategic Environmental Assessment guidelines to current legislation governing environment al protection .

So many places, so little time ... and nowhere near enough money. But that's never stopped me working on my bucket list, which is probably longer now than it was when I started this job.

Phoukeng mountain, a place to cast hars of ancient people, has been declared as a new tourism site in Paek district, Xieng Khouang province, Laotian news agency reported.

A tuk-tuk full of saffron robed monks pass by the entrance to Ban Vilaylac. Their Wat is directly across the street.