We are delighted to announce that the Center for Lao Studies (CLS) celebrates its 20th anniversary this year! Since its founding in March 2006, CLS has served as a vital hub for advancing knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of Lao culture, history, language, and scholarship around the globe.

Dear Readers,

Sabaidee! Twenty years ago, we established the Center for Lao Studies based on a simple but powerful belief: that Lao histories, cultures, and lived experiences matter, and deserve sustained scholarly and public attention. CLS began as a dream - the dream of a refugee.

Plans for the creation of CLS emerged from a meeting of like-minded individuals at the First International Conference on Lao Studies in 2005. I left that meeting full of hope, but I never imagined that CLS would grow into an international community of scholars, students, artists, and community members. I am truly honored to have connected with so many people dedicated to research and knowledge sharing about Laos and the Lao diaspora.

Over the past two decades, CLS has created spaces for dialogue and collaboration through the International Conference on Lao Studies (ICLS), the Journal of Lao Studies, the signature Summer Study Abroad in Laos (SAIL) program, and many community-centered initiatives, such as the Between Two Worlds project and traveling exhibit. Our goal was and remains to weave together academic study with lived experience, creating spaces where scholarship and community knowledge meet. I am so grateful to those who believed in the dream of CLS and helped turn it into a shared reality, and I thank all of you, our supporters and CLS community members, who followed and supported us along this journey. This anniversary is a collective achievement.

We invite you to celebrate with us, and to help shape what comes next for CLS.



We remain committed to nurturing emerging voices, adapting to changing academic and community landscapes, and ensuring that Lao Studies not only endures, but flourishes, for generations to come.

Warmest Regards,

Vinya Sysamouth, Ph.D.

Executive Director

In September 2025, members of the Board met for CLS’ annual retreat in Washington, D.C. In our nation’s capital, they created space to reflect on the past year, assess both accomplishments and challenges, and engage in thoughtful conversations about where CLS is headed. Against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world, it was reassuring to reconnect with others who hold shared values and commitment to CLS’ vision.

At the retreat, board members revisited the events, programs, and initiatives of the past year, setting out to refine how these align with CLS’ mission. The board engaged in focused and thoughtful discussions to clarify strategic priorities, strengthen sustainability, and expand relationships with scholars, community partners, and supporters to advance Lao Studies in meaningful ways.



One of the retreat highlights was a visit to the Asian Reading Room at the Library of Congress, where Southeast Asian reference specialist (and board member) Ryan Wolfson-Ford drew attention to a rich collection of books and resources focused on Laos.[insert photo here]. It is definitely worth visiting, if you are in D.C.

Another highpoint was an outing to Wat Lao Buddhavong in Catlett, Virginia. The Lao community there was preparing items for the upcoming Boun Kathin, a Buddhist festival in which community members offer new robes to monks who have completed the three-month rainy season retreat, called vassa. The Kathin festival brings together family and friends from the greater DC metro area, strengthening social and religious ties, and reinforcing Buddhist values of generosity, gratitude, and community service while also ensuring the well-being of the monks and the temple.

While at the temple, Dr. Sysamouth took the opportunity to present information about CLS’ Study Abroad in Laos program to an attentive audience.In SAIL, in addition to intensive Lao language study, students engage directly with local individuals and organizations, grounding their studies in the local setting.SAIL offers students opportunities to have real-time conversations with local community members, and observe how history and traditions they learn about in the classroom intersect in daily life. Additional information about this year’s SAIL program can be found in this newsletter.

CLS is excited to offer another year of SAIL. Students will have a chance to study Lao at the Lao American Institute in Vientiane for five weeks with instructors from the National University of Laos.

Applications are now available for our 2026 summer SAIL program. The program is open to undergraduate and graduate students, educators, and administrators interested in Lao culture and identity. New this year is that the program is also open to those who have attended previously, with reduced tuition for returning students. The deadline to apply is April 16, 2026.

TO APPLY FOR SAIL, CLICK HERE!

The new issue of our Journal of Lao Studies is now available! JLS editor Phimmasone “Mike” Rattansengchanh writes in his introduction, “I am glad that the revival of the Journal of Lao Studies with volume 8 was not a one hit wonder. Here is volume 9! This is my second year as Editor-in-Chief and I am proud to help amplify and promote Lao Studies in all its forms.”



The volume includes both research essays and book reviews, so be sure to check it out. And for the researchers and writers reading this, please consider submitting work for consideration for the journal. The Journal of Lao Studies (JLS) offers scholars in the field of Lao Studies the opportunity to publish their research in a double-blind peer-reviewed journal. JLS accepts submissions on an ongoing basis. Reach out to the editor with any questions at mike.rattansengchanh@msutexas.edu. 

Journal of Lao Studies (JLS) 

December 2025 Volume 9 Issue 1

Table of Contents

Editor’s Introduction and Announcements

pp. i-vi

RESEARCH ESSAYS

A Monastery’s Treasure Account: Collecting Payment Proofs

SILPSUPA JAENGSAWANG

pp. 1-23

Landscape, Settlement, and Architecture along the Pao River, 1695-1927

IVAN POLSON and PAYONG MOONVAPEE

pp. 24-55

Laos, North Vietnam, and the Credibility of Nehru’s Leadership in Asia, 1954-1962

WYNN GADKAR-WILCOX

pp. 56-80

BOOK REVIEWS

Wolfson-Ford, Ryan. Forsaken Causes: Liberal Democracy and Anti-Communism in Cold War Laos. University of Wisconsin Press, 2022.

VOLKER GRABOWSKY

pp. 81-84

Schwenkel, Christina. Building Socialism: The Afterlife of East German Architecture in Urban Vietnam. Duke University Press, 2020.

ANNA KOSHCHEEVA

pp. 85-88

Yokoyama, Satoshi, Takahita Niwa and Hongwei Jiang, eds. Population Dynamics and Livelihood Changes of Small-Scale Societies in Laos (International Perspectives in Geography, 22). Springer, 2025.

NORBERT FRANCIS and THI-NHAM LE

pp. 89-92

TO ACCESS THE LATEST ISSUE OF JLS, CLICK HERE!

The Institut für Ethnologie at the Centre of Asian and Transcultural Studies, Heidelberg University, and the Center for Lao Studies (CLS) are pleased to announce that the Eighth International Conference on Lao Studies (ICLS8) will be held on September 10-13, 2026 in Heidelberg, Germany. Please consider joining us for this significant occasion in a most beautiful place. Nestled along the banks of the Neckar River in southwestern Germany, Heidelberg is renowned for its romantic landscapes and architectural splendor, and of course, Heidelberg University, Germany’s oldest university and one of Europe's strongest research institutions.



We are actively seeking paper and panel proposals. The theme of this year’s conference is “The Time and Space of Laos: Neighbors and transformations.” It is not only in the idiom of “from landlocked to landlinked" that Laos has been recognized as a country intensely linked with its neighbors. It is also the fact that it is embedded within countries of highly different political organizations and economic statuses. As such, Laos has managed to find unique ways of dealing with both its influences and transformations

This addresses time – the time of changes and of tradition and of national and geopolitical developments. It also concerns space: besides Laos’s borders with neighbors, it has wide ranging international linkages, but also contains the contrasts between highland and lowland, city and countryside. It contains new modes of transportation and communication that compress time and space, such as railroads and cellphones, but also the cycles of agricultural life and its transformation through climate change. The Eighth International Conference on Lao Studies invites proposals for workshops and presentations that address these issues in a widely conceived way. 

If you are interested in presenting at the Lao Studies conference, please send in your abstract before the February 22, 2026 deadline. You may submit directly to Laostudies8@uni-heidelberg.de.

TO REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE, CLICK HERE!

In 2025, our very own CLS Traditional Lao Culture (TLC) Dance Troupe received a grant from the City of Richmond’s Environmental and Community Investment Agreement (ECIA) program to provide Lao traditional dance training, Lao culinary classes, and self-defense training.

Under the guidance and training of their dance teacher, Khamla Toni Sayavong, the participants learned how to develop a stronger cultural identity through dance in addition to practicing a healthy and safe lifestyle. The TLC dancers performed at 10 events throughout the Bay Area in a six-month period.

Furthermore, the Lao culinary class was a big hit with the youth. Youth, ages 16 and younger, who had never cooked or even tasted traditional Lao dishes, loved the activity. They saw how easy it was to cook Lao food because they recognized all the ingredients from home.



Lastly, the self-defense lessons provided a valuable and interactive introduction to improve mindfulness and physical strategies to avoid or defend against aggressors for both children and adults.

TCL is excited for 2026, and will continue to represent Lao culture through dancing, cooking, and other activities!

We are thrilled to announce the "Between Two Worlds: Untold Stories from Laos" Traveling Exhibit or B2W, which will be showcased at the Southwestern Community College Library in Chula Vista, California, as part of the larger "Across The Waves Exhibition." This remarkable exhibit aims to shed light on the poignant journeys of refugee communities from Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, sharing their stories of resilience and cultural exchange.

We warmly invite you to our opening reception on March 2, 2026, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, where you will have the opportunity to connect with fellow community members and engage with these vital narratives. The exhibit will be available for viewing until July 2026, so we encourage anyone in the San Diego area to come and support this meaningful initiative.

A heartfelt thank you goes to LAOSD, the official steward of the B2W exhibit, along with Southwestern Community College and our generous sponsors, including the McConnell Foundation, for their invaluable support. Together, let us foster a deeper appreciation for the rich tapestry of Lao heritage and the broader refugee experience.

For more information, please reach out to Prof. Jojo Ruianto-Ramirez at swcasianamerican@swcdd.edu. Your presence and support will make a significant impact!

We warmly invite you to explore the Center for Lao Studies Research Archive, located at 10193 Combie Road, Suite 140, Auburn, California 95602.

Open by appointment, our archive serves as a vital resource for students, researchers, and community members alike, offering a unique collection that includes academic works, rare and out-of-print books, self-published materials, magazines, manuscripts, and memorabilia. With a strong emphasis on Southeast Asian history and culture, our archive aligns with CLS's mission to preserve and promote Lao heritage.

We encourage you to engage with these invaluable resources, as they are designed to enrich your academic pursuits and personal understanding of Lao Studies. Accessibility is key, so please feel free to make an appointment to delve into these rare materials that can significantly enhance your research and learning.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Center for Lao Studies is committed to supporting our community, and we welcome any inquiries you may have. For more information, please visit our website at www.laostudies.org or contact Siamphone Louankang directly at (415) 857-3096 or via email at siamphone@gmail.com.

We look forward to supporting your journey in Lao Studies!

2025 Highlights:

As we step into 2026, CLS proudly celebrates a remarkable achievement—indexing over 1,000 books as part of our unwavering commitment to preserving Lao culture, though we’re only halfway through this essential journey! The outpouring of generosity from our community, with donations of treasured books, papers, and art, stands as a powerful testament to our shared dedication to cultural preservation.

Excitingly, we are on the brink of making rare and out-of-print books and manuscripts available online, offering scholars and cultural enthusiasts an unparalleled opportunity to delve into invaluable resources that tell the story of our heritage.

Additionally, we’ve partnered with the esteemed Kingsavanh Pathammavong, a retired VOA Lao broadcast journalist, to record captivating audiobooks that you can soon enjoy on Spotify under the title LaoAm.

And let’s not forget our ongoing folktale readings, hosted by prominent community members, which foster connection and cultural exchange—an invitation for everyone to participate and contribute to enriching our beloved Lao heritage!