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Lao Airlines Launches Direct Shanghai-Vientiane Flights
Lao Airlines has launched a weekly Shanghai-Vientiane service aimed ate the expected influx of Chinese tourists and other passengers during Visit Laos-China Year 2019, according to a Vientiane Times report. Lao Airlines takes off to Shangai The flight takes about 3.5 hours, and is the best option for passengers wanting to avoid transiting through international airports. Deputy Director of Lao Airlines’ Commercial and Marketing Department, Soulasack Souvannasy, told Vientiane Times yesterday the first flight to Shanghai took off from Wattay International Airport on Monday, 28 January, with over 100 passengers. “It was a great flight because we welcomed our first passengers, who included tourists, businesspeople and Lao students taking courses in Shanghai,” he said. Plans are calling for an increase in weekly flights. “From January to March, Lao Airlines will fly to Shanghai once a week. After March, we will increase flights from one to four times a week in line with the plan,” Mr Soulasack said. The Lao Airlines website does not yet show the flight for online booking.
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Bangkok Air to Launch Chiang Mai-Luang Prabang Service
Bangkok Airways is planning to commence three weekly Chiang Mai-Luang Prabang flights on 2 April. According to the airline’s website, flights are scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on board a turboprop, most likely an ATR 72 500/600. PG983 will depart Chiang Mai at 16:30 and arrive at 17:45 in Luang Prabang. The return PG984 leaves at 18:30 and lands at Chiang Mai at 19:45 The site quotes the Chiang Mai-Luang Prabang flight at THB3,605, while the return fare is THB3,385. Currently Lao Airlines is the only carrier with direct flights linking the two cities.
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Festival & Event Update
Lao festival and event schedules and details for February and March are starting to take shape. Boun Kabongyay Festival procession Kabongyay Festival Savannakhet will hold the Boun Kabongyay Festival from 5-7 February, Ban Phonngam, Atsaphon District to join the Brou people, who were recently recognized by the government as Laos’ 50 ethnic group, in celebrating their culture and food. The festival’s first day will feature a procession through the streets of Atsaphon, with Brou people wearing traditional garb and carrying a banana leaf, known as “kabongyay”. The kabongyay is over 15 metres long, and will be set ablaze at the end of the parade. For more information, click here. Vat Phou lit up for the festival Vat Phou Festival The annual Vat Phou Festival, the largest event in Southern, will take place from 17-19 February at the UNESCO World Heritage site in Champasak. The three day event includes a sound and light show, processions, chanting by monks, and praying, along with a procession that shows highlights districts’ traditional dresses, dancing, and concerts. Boats racing (dugouts), game “catch-ducks”; volleyball and petanque competitions are also organized. For more information, click here. Vientiane Half Marathon happiness Vientiane International Half Marathon The 4th Annual Vientiane International Half Marathon will be held on 3 March 2019, to continue the tradition of bringing thousands of runners to the quiet city of Vientiane Capital for the annual run. Competitions cover 21 km, 10 km and 5 km routes, with prizes in a variety of classes with more than 1,000 runners expected to turn up at the starting line. Registration is open until 28 February. For more information, click here. Sayabouly Elephant Festival February dates and details to be announced. For more information, click here.
