Students, teachers and volunteers gather at the Vangvieng Ethnic School on November 5 for the “Connecting Hearts through K-Culture” event, hosted by the Korea International Cooperation Agency Laos Office. The event marked the official handover of a newly constructed multipurpose sports field, developed through an on-site project led by a World Friends Korea volunteer. ​Participants engaged in a variety of activities, including futsal matches, dressing up in Korean national costume, a Korean-Lao food exchange, and youth mentoring sessions supported by the Capacity Improvement and Advancement for Tomorrow programme. The initiative aimed to promote cross-cultural understanding while improving community facilities for local students.

Hongsa Power Company Limited awards five scholarships under its Local Scholarship Student Programme 2026 during a ceremony held on November 9 in Xayabouly province, attended by company representatives, local officials, students and parents. Worth a total of 355 million kip (71 million kip each), the scholarships support university studies for students from Hongsa, Ngeun and Xienghon districts in Xayabouly province. Under its guiding concept “Powering with CARE”, Hongsa Power has provided over 750 secondary school and 100 bachelor degree scholarships since 2011 to foster sustainable youth development.

Nakhon Phanom province in Thailand hosts the “Nakhon Phanom-Khammuan Cross-Border Run 2026” on November 8 under the theme “One River, Two Nations” to promote sports tourism and strengthen ties across the Mekong River. The opening ceremony was co-chaired by officials from both sides and attended by runners and local representatives. Featuring a half marathon (21.1km), mini marathon (10km), and a fun run (5km), the course routed participants across the 3rd Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. The event encouraged a healthy lifestyle while boosting local commerce, hospitality, and cross-border tourism.

General Manager and Co-Owner of the Belle Rive Hotel in Luang Prabang, Mr Damian Killer (left), receives awards at a recent ceremony held at the Siam Kempinski Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, attended by representatives of the international hospitality industry. Belle Rive Hotel won the Best Luxury Small Hotel in Southeast Asia and Best Luxury Boutique Hotel in Laos awards, while Mr Killer was named Global Winner in the Best General Manager category.