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China Opens Ban Keun Air Base as US Pulls Back
We’ve written about it several times already, but it really is a story to watch: China has opened an air force base at Ban Keun Airport. Beijing is keen to say that it’s little more than a training site for Lao pilots, but satellite images appear to show a runway crowded with light attack aircraft and (military) vehicles. Washington's seeming retreat from the country is a stark contrast. The United States has left its Vientiane embassy without an ambassador, put Lao citizens on a 75-country travel ban list and put an end to years of USAID health and bomb clearance programs. President Donald Trump is expected to meet with Southeast Asian leaders in Manila in November, let’s see if that changes anything.
Read more: Politico
$5M Project Speeds Clearance Before Tariffs Rise
Laos is set to lose duty free access under 24 trade programs when it graduates from “least developed country” (LDC) status on November 24. The average tariffs on Lao exports are expected to go up from 0.3 percent to 4.1 percent. A 2023 International Trade Centre study showed that all else being equal the cost increases could cause exports to drop 7.3 percent (~$734M), next year. Nearly four fifths of the losses would come from trade with China (natural rubber would be one of the biggest victims there). To make sure that “all else being equal” is not going to be the case, a new $5 million project is being launched to reduce average border clearance times to about two hours by putting dozens of import and export permits online.
Read more: Laotian Times
LALCO Director Reportedly Shot Dead in Vientiane
Yoshihito Oshima, director of Laos Stock Exchange listed leasing firm LALCO, has reportedly been shot dead in Vientiane. Footage shared by exiled Lao activist Joseph Akaravong appears to show a gunman firing three times at a man beside a minivan before escaping empty handed. Oshima was the eldest son of Kenshin Oshima, whose Japanese lender SFCG collapsed in 2009 with debts of 548 billion yen. The Lao embassy in Tokyo said the footage was an unverified rumor spread by dissidents, but LALCO did share news of Oshima's death on Facebook (without explanation of cause), and named Kenshin's wife, Yuriko Oshima, as director (and his mother President). LALCO later deleted the statement. Lao police have been mum to date.
Read more: Tokyo Reporter (debt collection), Tokyo Reporter (time, place)
Korean Work Visas Connected to Overstay Rates
South Korea is going to pause admission of Lao workers from its seasonal work program for three years if the nationwide overstay rate hits 70 percent. Any province that rises above 20 percent will be subject to a one year suspension, and a nationwide rate of 50 percent would put a pause on the whole country for a year. The tougher rules are being put in place as a renewed deal with Naju City is expanding recruitment to 29 districts in five provinces. More than 33,000 Lao workers have joined the program since 2022, allowing them to earn between $1,600 and $2,000 a month on Korean farms.
Read more: Laotian Times
PH Say Ex-Lawmaker is Meth Jet Mastermind
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is accusing former Bangsamoro lawmaker Sultan Edrieza Hadji Nasser Rimbang of masterminding the 521 kg meth shipment that was rumbled in Laos. Agency chief Isagani Nerez told a congressional hearing that affidavits from people that were investigated pointed to Rimbang. He had previously been described as (just?) the financier. The jet was bound for Malaysia. Police there have said an unnamed Filipino booked the jet for $49,500 and have joined the investigation. In their work on this case so far, Lao authorities have held 13 people, including the pilots and several airport staff.
Read more: Philippine Daily Inquirer (mastermind), Free Malaysia Today (jet booking), Rappler (Marcos denial)
Police Burn Drugs; Warn on Collagen, Kratom
Police have destroyed 44.5 tonnes of seized drugs and drug making chemicals. The haul burned in Bolikhamxay included 6.3 million meth pills. Police are also advertising warning that ketamine, kratom drinks, and drug laced collagen are showing up in area restaurants and karaoke bars.
Read more: Laotian Times
Vietnamese Builder Lined Up for Tower and Smart Farm
Vietnam's Viet Nga Group is being put forward as the main contractor for two projects that together are worth almost $30 million. The company has signed an MOU with Lao firm Supchaleun Group for a proposed Supchaleun Central Tower that would feature apartments, shops and offices in two connected 15 story buildings in Vientiane. It is estimated to cost more than $21.2 million and take two and a half years to build. They also, in a seemingly strange juxtaposition of competencies, have agreed to a 94 hectare smart farm project of 3,000 fish and shrimp ponds to supply as many as two tonnes of catfish a day to the capital.
Read more: VOV News (contractor agreement), VietnamPlus (2026 start)
Money Bouquets Made From Kip Notes Banned
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has banned the making, selling or advertising of “money bouquets” and other crafts using folded, glued or stapled kip (currency) notes. Reselling new notes at prices above their face value is also banned. The ostensible reason provided by the government is that the crafts wear out currency faster. Individuals can be fined up to LAK 5 million (~$230); businesses LAK 10 million (~$460). Fines will be doubled for repeat offenders.
Read more: Laotian Times
Cambodia Plans Wat Phou to Angkor Tour Routes
Laos and Cambodia are pushing joint tourism under their ongoing "Two Countries, One Destination," program that promises faster border crossings and shared tour routes. Ministers Suansavanh Viyaket and Huot Hak told tourism officials in Champasak and Stung Treng to run joint promotions and continue work on improving transport links. Proposed itineraries would connect Wat Phou in Champasak with Angkor Wat.
Read more: Bangkok Post
Tourism Ranking Climbs 10 Spots
A 10-position surge has put Laos 75th of 110 countries in the World Economic Forum's 2026 Travel and Tourism Development Index. Low prices remain a competitive advantage, and the nation’s environmental score rose by roughly one seventh. The report is less flattering about infrastructure, tourist services and technological readiness. More than 2.5 million foreign tourists visited Laos in the first half of 2026, including more than 833,000 from Thailand as they continued to generally shun travel to Cambodia due to a border dispute.
Read more: The Star
That's all for this week, thanks for reading. Your voice matters to us. Feel we're missing something? Have additional sources to suggest? Don't hold back- hit reply and tell us what you think.
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