A new genus and species, Laoponia saetosa, are established to contain the first members of the family Caponiidae to be discovered in Asia. Only two Old World genera of caponiids have been described, both from Africa; in having only two eyes, the newly collected spiders from Laos resemble southern African Diploglena, rather than the type genus Caponia. However, members of Diploglena (which are poorly known, and are therefore discussed and illustrated) have an endite shape and eye pattern indicating that they may be most closely related to the Chilean genus Tisentnops. Laoponia may be most closely related instead to the endemic Californian genus Calponia; similar California/East Asia disjuncts are known in other old spider lineages.