Lao Village Information System (LAVIS) Material

Author had every things in three languages (English, Lao and Japanese). Don't try to read all three because you will easily get confused. It is, in large parts, a GIS (Geographic Information System) presentation of population census in 1995. Though may not be the standard ones, the translations of places, ethnic group names into all three languages can be quite handy in many cases. Downloadable at
http://huapli.media.osaka-cu.ac.jp/lavis/material/lavis-material.pdf

Sugarcane in Phongsaly: Story of a forecast disaster

Short but informative paper. It discussed conditions, under which replacing slash and burn farming by cash crop production might be a solution to forest preservation. Though not discussed explicitly, the paper also provided first hand information on the question why it was difficult to make the contract farming work.

http://mekonginfo.org/mrc_en%5Ccontact.nsf/0/2B49690F4E42255487256906003074BE/$FILE/pddp.pdf

Forest extraction or cultivation? Local solutions from Lao PDR

I myself have actually come across a few Lao who spending most of their schools days without cashes, but had made it to universities abroad. I think Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) were what made this possible. The following paper may give you an idea about how NTFPs are still important to Lao livelihoods.
http://www.etfrn.org/ETFRN/WORKSHOP/BIODIVERSITY/documents/foppes1.pdf