Decision on Wholesale and Retail Business No.1005/MOIC.DTD, dated 22 May 2015, requires foreign investors in wholesale and retail business [only foreign investors - no equivalent provision exist to domestic investors] to obtain regulatory approval regarding the location of business operations. For the OECD FDIRRI, this is considered a discriminatory approval since it explicitly mentions foreign investors, and no other similar provision seems to apply to domestic investors.
"Article 13 Establishment and Wholesale and Retail Business Operation for foreign investors: 
Foreign investors (individuals or juridical persons) can establish and operate wholesale and retail business in Lao PDR as follows: [...]
2. Locate business operation office in a shopping mall or department store or places that approved by government specifically to each case; [...]"(Decision on Wholesale and Retail Business No.1005/MOIC.DTD, dated 22 May 2015)
Decision on Wholesale and Retail Business No.1005/MOIC.DTD, dated 22 May 2015
[<a href="http://www.laotradeportal.gov.la/kcfinder/upload/files/Decision1005_2015ENG.pdf">Decision</a>]