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Newly discovered Phaka Cave opens in Vientiane
Adventure seekers can now take boat to explore the recently discovered Phaka Cave in Vientiane’s Maed District, about 200 km north of the capital near Vang Vieng and the new tourist destination, Nam Feuang. According to Vientiane Times, Phaka Cave, accessible only by boat, is 120 metres high, 400 metres wide, and about 8 km long, making it larger than well-known Konglor Cave. Though locals have known about Phaka for generations, it wasn’t until the past couple of years that a group of Japanese spelunkers began to explore the cave. While the cave has yet to be fully reconnoitred, the Japanese team reported that water from the Nam Feuang River fills Phaka year around. Maed District Office of Information, Culture and Tourism reported that visitors cannot walk the entire cave, as the water is too deep in places. However, adventurers can boat and wander inside, inspect the limestone formations, and swim in its waters. To visit the cave, contact Nam Feuang village authorities, who can arrange transportation by local residents, and includes a 19-km boat ride. Tourists to Maed District can also explore Moum Cliff and Huay Chad, Huay Khamleab and Huay Pan Waterfalls. Source: Vientiane Times, by Siladda Souliyong
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Avani+ Luang Prabang lands Smart Travel Asia Award
The Avani+ Luang Prabang ranked 22nd on the Top 25 Leisure Hotels list for the Smart Travel Asia Awards 2019. SmartTravelAsia.com is a market research exercise that has run since 2005. It is an independent, free, and fair poll without nomination fees and gala dinners. Voters indicate their preferences for the best airlines, spa hotels, leisure hotels and more.
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QV announces details of new Japanese route
Bounma Chanthavongsa, President of Lao Airlines, recently held a press conference at the Lao Embassy in Tokyo to release details of the upcoming regular direct weekly flights between Kumamoto and Vientiane/Luang Prabang. Lao Airlines will offer two weekly flights to Vientiane, and two to Luang Prabang from Kumamoto, Mr Bounma said, inferring this is circular route. The flights depart Kumamoto at 10:30, which provides seamless connectivity with morning flights from Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, Mr Bounma said. “It means those living around Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka can arrive at Vientiane or Luang Prabang early in the afternoon on the same day as their departure.” The Airbus A320 flight offers 16 business class seats and 126 economy class seats. Mr Bounma said the economy airfare will be around $750, presumably for a return ticket. Flight time to Vientiane is 4.5 hours to Vientiane. Mr Bounma said the inaugural QV flight is expected to take off at the end of November, 2019, but the airline has not yet officially applied for the flight service with the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, but stated they would be applying for it in August.
