On 2 November 2017, Mr. Suvidhya Simaskul, President of the Thai-Lao Association for Friendship, presided over the Offering Ceremony of the Royal Kathin Robe, graciously bestowed by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun to the congregation of Buddhist monks at Phachoa Singkham Temple, Oudomxay, Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The Laotian dignitaries included H.E. Mr. Hiem Phommachanh, President of Lao-Thai Association for Friendship, H.E. Mr. Seng Soukhathivong, Ambassador of Lao PDR to Thailand, Mr. Bounsy Vongbouasy, Consul-General in Khon Kaen province, Mr. Somchit Panyasak, Vice Provincial Governor of Oudomxay Province, and Mr. Ovat Chanthavong, Chairman of Lao Front National Construction of Oudomxay Province. Participants from the Thai side included Ms. Suphatra Srimaitreephithak, Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Lt. Chatchawan Sakornsin, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane, Mr. Danai Karnpoj, Consul-General in Savannakhet, Mrs. Arunrung Phothong Humphreys, Deputy Director-General of the Department of East Asia, Mr. Jaturong Bunnag, President of Thailand - Laos Business Council along with members of Thai private sector and Team Thailand in Lao PDR.  Over 2,000 Thais and Laotians attended this ceremony.

On 1 November 2017, a Kathin celebration was notably held at Oudomxay Conference Center and in accordance with the local tradition. In addition, the Thai-Lao Association for Friendship also organized activities such as a joint performance by Thai and Laotian artists and a market fair to celebrate the occasion.

The first Royal Kathin Ceremony was held in Lao PDR in 1995 and has become a testimony to the deeply rooted bonds of friendship between the peoples of the two countries based on common cultural heritage including their shared faith in Theravada Buddhism. This year, the Royal Kathin Robe was warmly received by local Laotians who lined up on both sides of the passage to the Phachoa Singkham temple.  Constructed in 1355, the Temple enshrines Phachoa Singkham, one of the five Buddha images that were brought to major provinces by the royal command of King Fa Ngum of the Lan Xang Kingdom.  At the end of the ceremony, the donation worth THB 638,850 was presented to the temple, which consisted of contributions from His Majesty the King, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Thai-Lao Association for Friendship as well as Thai and Laotian Buddhists.