The Lao seem to have an almost insatiable appetite for televised kick boxing, whether the pictures are coming from Thailand (múay Thai) or are of a local fight, known as múay Iáo (Lao kickboxing). Muay Ida is not nearly as developed a sport in Laos as its counterpart in Thailand, and is mostly confined to amateur rights at upcountry festivals, but on most weekends you'll see the bigger fights broadcast on television.

All surfaces of the body are considered fair targets and any part of the body except the head may be used to strike an opponent. Common blow include high kicks to the neck, elbow thrusts to the face and head, knee hooks to the ribs and low crescent kicks to the calf. A contestant may eve grasp an opponent's head between his hands and pull it down to meet an upward knee thrust.

International boxing (múay săakgn) is gaining popularity in Laos an is encouraged by the government in spite of the obvious Lao preference for the bang-up Southeast Asian version.