Bounyavong was born in 1942 in Xaignabouli Province, he grew up in the capital, Vientiane, where one of his early teachers was Pierre Somchine Nginn, author of the first novel in Lao.
Outhine held a variety of jobs during the 1960s, and began to publish short fictional works in newspapers and magazines.
[1] Outhine worked during the Laotian Civil War and, after the Communist victory in 1975, continued to write for the State Publishing House.
Many of his stories celebrate traditional aspects of Laotian rural life, and at least one collection has been translated into English as Mother's Beloved (ISBN 9789747551044).
After which Outhine returned to Laos and with his wife they created a printing shop named Phai Nam after the magazine founded by Maha Sila Viravong.