Laos has tightened controls on outdoor burning as air pollution continued to affect major cities on Tuesday, with the government warning that forest fires and agricultural burning remain the main drivers of seasonal haze and health risks.
Air quality in the capital, Vientiane, stood at an air quality index (AQI+) reading of 127 as of 10:45am local time, according to monitoring group IQAir, while the tourist town of Vangviang recorded a reading of 80. An AQI above 100 is generally considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Conditions worsened late last week, when Vientiane briefly entered what international guidelines classify as “very unhealthy” to “hazardous” territory. IQAir reported an AQI reading of 203 on Friday morning. Other cities also saw elevated levels, with Luang Prabang at 152 and Pakse at 126.
In response, the Lao government announced stricter measures to curb PM2.5 pollution during the January–April dry season, warning that uncontrolled burning for land clearing and farming remains the primary cause of forest fires and poor air quality, Vientiane-based Laotian Times reported on Monday.
Authorities said fires linked to upland agriculture, plantations and rice fields, as well as burning grass for livestock, hunting-related fires, and the failure to create firebreaks, continue to release large amounts of fine particulate matter that pose risks to public health.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has issued new instructions for the 2025–26 dry season, calling for tighter controls on burning, faster fire detection and stronger coordination between central and local authorities.
Government agencies have been directed to expand the use of hotspot monitoring systems to identify outbreaks earlier and improve response times. Provincial agriculture, forestry and environment departments must submit regular reports on fire impacts and develop fire-risk maps to support prevention planning and budget allocation.
A nationwide ban on all outdoor burning from January to April has been ordered, covering agricultural land, forests, residential areas, peatlands and waste disposal sites. Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the ban and taking legal action against violators.
In line with Asean guidelines, the government said it would promote sustainable farming practices to reduce reliance on burning, including farmer training, technical support and improved market access for non-burning methods.
Asean’s framework encourages alternatives to slash-and-burn farming, including the use of agricultural waste for composting or bioenergy, and calls for improved data-sharing and joint response mechanisms when pollution spreads across national borders.
The World Health Organization has described Laos’ air pollution as a complex, seasonal problem, with fine-particle pollution typically peaking during the March–April burning season and building from December as the dry season begins.
The United Nations research has also noted that the landlocked country can be affected by transboundary haze in addition to domestic burning, complicating efforts to curb PM2.5 during the dry months.
