Laos–China tourism push: Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith toured Zhejiang’s eco-tourism model in Anji County, highlighting homestays and agritainment as jobs and revenue drivers—an approach Laos wants to replicate as it deepens people-to-people travel links. Rail boosts cross-border travel: China–Laos Railway has carried 73.38 million passengers since 2021, with cross-border travellers topping 840,000; international services between Kunming and Vientiane keep expanding, strengthening tourism and business travel. Vang Vieng gets a major tourism hub: Ground was broken for the USD 216m Vang Vieng Central Plaza at the former airport site, aiming to blend tourism, dining, culture and entertainment and create 4,000–5,000 jobs. India ties with a tourism angle: During India–Lao talks marking 70 years of ties, leaders focused on trade, technology and development, with tourism repeatedly flagged as a growth area; they also discussed tackling transnational internet scam hubs. Safety update—Laos cave rescue: An Australian diver left the operation after days underground as rescuers continued efforts to free the last two men trapped in a flooded cave in Xaisomboun. Mining and agri modernization (travel-relevant): Vientiane introduced systems to tighten mineral export oversight and launched an online Agro-Link platform to speed and modernize agricultural import/export management.