Lao Airlines aircraft (Photo courtesy of the carrier)
Hanoi (VNA) - Lao Airlines will resume direct flights from Vientiane toDa Nang city, central Vietnam, on March 30.
Accordingly, the Da Nang - Vientiane air route will see twoflights per week on Thursdays and Sundays.
Noudeng Chanthaphasouk, commercial director of Lao Airlines,said that the resumption of the direct route, favoured by a large number oftourists before the COVID-19 outbreak, will meet increasing demand of visitorsin the region after the removal of travel restrictions caused by the pandemic.
Lao Airlines previously operated the route to Da Nang withstops at Pakxe and Champasak in southern Laos, using ATR72-600 aircraft.However, carrier dropped the Pakxe stop and started nonstop flights just weeksbefore the two-year pandemic brought all international flights to a halt.
Later this month, it will use airbus A320, with a flighttime of 1 hour and 15 minutes and a round-trip ticket costing about 4.8 millionLAK (290 USD).
Earlier, Lao Airlines resumed direct flights to Hanoi and HoChi Minh City right after the country reopen its door for international tourismon May 9, 2022./.
Laos expects to serve 1.4 million domestic and foreign tourists this year with revenue from the tourism sector expected to reach more than 340 million USD, according to the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism.
The first China-Laos-Thailand round-trip freight train departed from Kunming capital of southwest China's Yunnan province on February 8 and is expected to arrive in Bangkok in 55 hours.
Vietnamese infrastructure developer Deo Ca Group JSC has signed a joint venture agreement with Laos’ Petroleum Trading Lao (Petro Trade) Public Company to develop a railway project linking the two countries.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
The new halal cooperation arrangement will streamline halal certification and product assurance processes, making it easier for New Zealand exporters to access the Indonesian market.
Lao Airlines aircraft (Photo courtesy of the carrier) 
