Vientiane Times marks 27th anniversary, launches online payments

Vientiane Times – the first and now the only English newspaper in Laos – on Friday launched its first ever online payment, a move that marked the 27th founding anniversary of the newspaper.
The e-payment system, jointly developed with Banque pour le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public (BCEL), enables customers to subscribe to online news and the newspaper, advertise and pay service costs online.
Addressing the event marking the launch, which also marked the 27th founding anniversary of the newspaper, the Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Lao Press in

Foreign Languages, the publisher of Vientiane Times, Mr Thonglor Duangsavanh, said payments can be made with credit or debit cards and by scanning QR codes.
The cards that can be used are BCEL China UnionPay, VISA, MasterCard, JCB, American Express and China UnionPay. QR codes that can be used are BCEL Onepay, UnionPay, WeChat Pay and Alipay.
“Lao people, foreign expatriates in Laos and people in foreign countries can make payments online anytime and anywhere, which is very convenient and fast,” Mr Thonglor said at the event.
Those wanting to subscribe to online news or the newspaper can easily go to the “subscribe navigation bar” on Vientiane Times’ website with one click or visit this link https://www.vientianetimes.org.la/vttconnectiondb/onlinesub.php and then fill up a form. Advertisements via the online system can be made by going to the “advertise navigation bar” with one click to get to the following link, https://www.vientianetimes.org.la/vttconnectiondb/advertisement.php, and then following the necessary steps.
The e-payment programme has been piloted since February, and many customers have already used it. Addressing the launch event, the Deputy Director of BCEL, Mr Nanthalath Keopaseuth, said the e-commerce system will enable Vientiane Times to offer services to meet the growing needs of global customers around the clock. “This system will help broaden the customer base.
It will fulfill the requirements of local customers and customers in foreign countries,” he said.   
Mr Thonglor recalled the 27-year journey of the newspaper, which was established on April 7, 1994. It began as a weekly and is now a daily newspaper.  Vientiane Times has expanded cooperation and partnership with major news agencies in countries in the region.
It is one of the 24 members of the Asia News Network. Vientiane Times is also among 32 members of the Belt and Road News Network, whose members are from 25 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and America.
In addition, Vientiane Times has cooperated with news agencies in China, Japan, Vietnam, Republic of Korea, Russia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Turkey and India. Under these partnerships, the news agencies permit one another to use and publish each others’ content and photos.
Addressing the event, the Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Savankhone Razountry, who is also the former director and editor-in-chief of the Lao Press in Foreign Languages, welcomed the launch of the e-payment system.
He praised the board of editors and staff of Vientiane Times for their contributions over the past 27 years, which have helped the newspaper to continue to grow. He said Vientiane Times has achieved its political task of being the voice of the Party and government.
Serving as a gateway of information to the outside world, Vientiane Times’ publications have enabled foreigners and the international community to get updated about achievements in national development in a timely fashion.
Among those who attended the event on Friday were the founding director and the first editor-in-chief of the Lao Press in Foreign Languages, Mr Somsanouk Mixay, the Vice President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Daovone Phachanthavong, guests and staff of Vientiane Times.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update April 12, 2021)