The Vietnamese government publishes a weekly English-language tabloid. There is no locally based foreign language press in Laos. International radio, especially shortwave, is readily available in all three counties. The BBC and the Voice of America were most frequently mentioned as sources of information. Like Radio Marti, broadcast to Cuba, the proposal may harm diplomatic relations rather than facilitate democracy.
International television is also readily available.
Laotians, many of whom live in the river downs along the Mekong, have ready access to local Thai television broadcasts from directly across the river. Satellite-distributed television is available in both Vietnam and Cambodia. The leading distributor is Star Television out of Hong Kong. It broadcasts BBC 24-hour news, MTV and Chinese movies. Land-line telephone communication is almost nonexistent.