Lao National Radio 2024

Since working at Lao National Radio played a big part of my early working life – as a VSO volunteer – I have taken the opportunity to go back there whenever I have returned to Laos since leaving in 1975. I was curious to find out how the station was continuing. On every occasion I was given a warm welcome.

More than half a century after first walking through its doors, I returned to Lao National Radio to find a familiar institution transformed. While the landmark buildings and communications tower remain enduring symbols of Lao broadcasting, modern studios, digital production facilities, and international partnerships reflect the station’s continuing evolution in a rapidly changing country.

On previous occasions the main station in Vientiane appeared to be very run down. Much of the old equipment was still in place but no longer functional, and an air of despondency was conveyed by the staff whom I met. They were badly in need of a makeover. Besides, the station as we knew it had been commissioned in 1960 by Prince Souphanna Phouma and was a source of pride and prestige until 1975 when the traditional foreign aid was withdrawn and a new administration was ushered in. The original management had left the country while a few technicians still remained to maintain the equipment. And it remained that way until 2022 when a massive injection of funds from other Asian countries brought about a massive facelift at all levels.