Honoring Obama's Visit to Laos a Decade Later

From the desk of Allie Soisouvanh Price, Legacies of War Advocacy Ambassador

A decade ago this month, President Barack Obama became the first and only American president to visit Laos. For most Americans, it was a brief foreign policy stop that quickly faded from the headlines. For millions of people in Laos and diaspora from Laos in the U.S. , it was something far more important. The visit marked the first time an American president publicly confronted a painful chapter of history that the United States had largely overlooked for decades. 

Laos is a country that Americans know little about. Between 1964 and 1973, the United States dropped more than 2.5 million tons of bombs on Laos during what became known as the Secret War. American aircraft flew roughly 580,000 bombing missions, equivalent to one planeload of bombs dropped one every eight minutes for nine years. Decades later, unexploded ordnance (UXO) still claims lives, limits economic development, and prevents families from safely using their land. 

President Obama did more than become the first American president to visit Laos. He publicly acknowledged America's role in the Secret War, recognized the suffering it caused and announced a historic increase in funding to clear UXO. Those actions signaled reconciliation rather than avoidance. His remarks helped lay the foundation for greater trust, stronger relations, and a shared commitment to move forward together.

Diplomacy is often measured by treaties signed or agreements reached. But sometimes its greatest impact is symbolic. By traveling to Laos, President Obama sent a message that the relationship between the two nations deserved attention and respect. He showed that America could acknowledge its past while working toward a more cooperative future with Laos.

As a Lao American, President Obama’s visit carried an even deeper meaning for me. Growing up, Laos was rarely mentioned in my classrooms or political conversations. When Southeast Asia was mentioned, the focus was almost always on Vietnam. Many people could not locate Laos on a map, let alone realize that it is the most heavily bombed country per capita in history. As a Lao American, I felt invisible and that my heritage did not matter. Few understood the sacrifices and resilience of the people of Laos or the experiences of refugee families from Laos who rebuilt their lives in the United States after the communist government took power in 1975.

Watching an American president stand on Lao soil and speak honestly about our shared history felt like a weight lifting from my shoulders. For the first time, it felt as though our country mattered. Our history mattered. We were no longer invisible. Ten years later, that moment still holds true for me.

President Obama's historic visit illustrates why engagement with Southeast Asia matters. The region remains central to economic growth, regional security and international diplomacy. Strong partnerships are built not only through shared strategic interests, but also through trust, respect and a willingness to confront difficult history. America's engagement with Laos demonstrates that meaningful diplomacy is not reserved for the world's largest powers. 

The anniversary of President Obama's visit also serves as a reminder that reconciliation is not a single event. Clearing unexploded ordnance, expanding educational exchanges, supporting economic development and strengthening relations require constant commitment and effort. These are long-term investments that strengthen both nations while demonstrating that reconciliation requires commitment, not just symbolic gestures. 

Some anniversaries simply mark the passage of time. Others remind us what is possible. President Obama's visit to Laos did not erase history, nor did it solve every challenge between our countries. But it demonstrated that acknowledging difficult truths can open the door to stronger relationships. Ten years later, that visit reminds us that diplomacy is not only about negotiations between governments. Sometimes it begins with acknowledging the people and histories that have too often been forgotten.