A Life for Laos: The enduring legacy of President Souphanouvong

Commemorating the 116th birth anniversary of President Souphanouvong, who helped shape modern Laos (July 13, 1909 – July 13, 2025)

President Souphanouvong, revered as a national hero, a brilliant intellectual and a revolutionary of unwavering resolve, devoted his life to the liberation, unity and development of Laos.

President Souphanouvong. Photo KPL

As the country commemorates the 116th anniversary of his birth, the Lao people honour not just the memory of a president, but the enduring spirit of a man who lived and sacrificed for the nation.
Born on July 13, 1909, in Luang Prabang province, Prince Souphanouvong was of royal descent, the son of Viceroy Bounkhong and Mom Kham-ouane. He grew up alongside his two sisters and half-brothers Princes Phetsarath and Souvannaphoumma, all of whom would play key roles in the nation’s history.
But unlike many royal children, Souphanouvong displayed humility from a young age, often stepping beyond the palace walls to mingle with ordinary citizens. These early experiences deeply influenced him. He witnessed the harsh realities of colonial rule under the French, seeing first-hand the poverty and suffering of Lao people forced to serve the colonial regime. This planted in him the seeds of resistance and a sense of duty to fight for justice.
A scholar ahead of his time
From the start, Souphanouvong was an outstanding student. At age seven, he began his education in Luang Prabang and was soon recognised as a top student with a keen interest in learning. In 1920, he continued his studies in Vietnam, attending high school in Hanoi. He quickly became proficient in multiple languages, including French, English, Vietnamese, Latin and Greek.
Pursuing higher education in France, he studied science, arts and literature before enrolling at the prestigious École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées in Paris, where he trained as a bridge and road engineer. In 1937, he became the first Lao person to graduate in this field. His return to Indochina marked the beginning of his professional life, as he worked as a civil engineer in Vietnam, a position that would soon give way to a life of revolutionary activism.
During this time, he met and married Ms Viengkham, who stood beside him throughout his political journey.
The path of resistance
In October 1945, with World War II having disrupted colonial authority, Souphanouvong seized the opportunity to return to Laos via National Road No 9 through Savannakhet. He joined the Lao Issara (Free Laos) movement, committed to ending French colonial rule. Appointed commander of the Lao Issara army in Thakhaek district of Khammuan province, he led Lao and Vietnamese coalition forces in fierce battles against French troops.
Despite their courage, the resistance was overwhelmed by superior firepower. Thakhaek fell under heavy bombardment, and many civilians were killed. President Souphanouvong was wounded and fled across the Mekong river to Thailand, where he received medical treatment before returning to resume the fight.
In 1949, when the Lao Issara movement dissolved and some leaders surrendered to the French, President Souphanouvong and Prince Phetsarath refused to give in. “The movement against France for liberating the Lao nation will continue until victory,” he declared while in exile in Bangkok. His determination galvanised the Lao people to continue their struggle for independence.
Building unity and strength
On August 13, 1950, the People’s Representative Congress convened to establish the Neo Lao Issara, a new national front. President Souphanouvong was appointed its President and Prime Minister of the resistance government. The Congress laid out 12 guiding principles to unite all Lao ethnic groups in the fight for national liberation.
As part of his diplomatic efforts, President Souphanouvong visited Vietnam in 1950 and was later admitted as a member of the Indochina Communist Party in 1951. He became an important bridge between the Lao and Vietnamese revolutionary movements.
Following the official establishment of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) in 1955, President Souphanouvong was appointed to the Party Central Committee. In 1956, he was re-elected as President of the Lao Patriotic Front Central Committee. He then issued a national policy statement calling for peaceful neutrality, demanding the withdrawal of foreign troops and respect for the 1954 Geneva Accords.
In the same year, President Souphanouvong led negotiations with the Kingdom of Laos, represented by his half-brother Prince Souvannaphoumma. Their talks were fruitful, leading to a joint statement on national reconciliation, respect for civil rights, and the peaceful unification of the country.
Toward a new nation
In 1957, a national coalition government was formed, and President Souphanouvong was appointed Minister of Planning, Construction, and Urban Planning. Even as French influence receded, Laos soon faced new pressures from the American military presence in Indochina.
President Souphanouvong remained a staunch advocate for independence and neutrality. After years of armed struggle, political negotiation and international diplomacy, Laos reached a turning point. On December 2, 1975, after the fall of the monarchy, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) was proclaimed.
President Souphanouvong was unanimously elected as the first President of the Lao PDR and became President of the Supreme People’s Council. A year earlier, he had chaired the National Political Consultative Committee as the country prepared for this historic transition.
He continued to serve the nation in multiple roles, including as President of the Lao Front for National Construction from 1979 onwards. At the 3rd and 4th Party Congresses, in 1982 and 1986 respectively, he was re-elected to the Party Central Committee and Politburo, remaining a guiding figure through Laos’ formative years.
A lasting legacy
President Souphanouvong passed away on January 9, 1995, but his legacy lives on in every corner of the country he helped liberate. Known affectionately as the “Red Prince”, he bridged the worlds of nobility and revolution, of privilege and people’s power.
His life was a testament to resilience, unity and service. Whether in the classroom, on the battlefield, or in the halls of leadership, President Souphanouvong never wavered in his commitment to the people of Laos.
As we honor the 116th anniversary of his birth, we remember not just a historical figure, but a man whose vision, courage and sacrifices helped build the foundations of a sovereign, peaceful and united Lao nation.
Source: Propaganda and Training Committee of the Party Central Committee.

 (Latest Update July 18, 2025)