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Konglor-Natan Cave Adds Eco-Activities
The Konglor-Natan Ecotourism Association (AEKN) has added a slate of activities and services at the famed Konglor Cave area with the aim of attracting tour operators and boosting arrivals and revenue for the locals, who manage the site. The AEKN is luring tour operators and travel agents with a range of services and price plans to assist them in organizing tour programs in the Konglor-Natan area. “We will help agents and operators in organizing tours and stays among our community, and provide benefits of preferential pricing,” said AEKN President Saly Thongsavanh. He said the addition of new activities to the traditional cave-tunnel boat ride offers visitors the opportunity to discover more of the Konglor and Natan Valleys. “Visitors can now rent mountain bikes at Konglor and Natan piers for two hours to two days,” Mr Thongsavanh said.” The Natan and Konglor valleys are very flat and easy to ride on a bike. More demanding itineraries are also available.” The AEKN has also identified hiking trails through rice fields and into the forest that cover a range of levels from easy to more strenuous. Handicraft markets are positioned at both piers and managed by the villages’ women, who also offer craft workshops. Accommodation choices include nice guesthouses and homestays, which the AEKN can organize. Tétraktys, a French NGO specializing in local development is supporting the AEKN’s efforts, and is currently implementing an ecotourism and environmental preservation project in the Konglor-Natan area. “We support the local communities in Konglor and Natan to help them have a better sustainable and autonomous management of the tourism site and surrounding areas,” said Flore Hutchings, Tétraktys Project Coordinator in Laos. “(Tourism is) completely managed by the communities, and these activities allow the villagers to benefit directly from the ecotourism benefits and to live better on their territory,” she added. The Konglor-Natan Cave area achieved the Asean Community Based Tourism Standard in 2017. For more information, visit the Konglor-Natan Cave website. Tour operators and travel agents can contact Mr Thongsavanh at salycave@yahoo.com. View the AEKN’s latest press releases.
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Popolo Cantina Opens “Destination Restaurant” in Luang Prabang
Popolo Cantina and Sugar Cocktail Bar has officially opened in Luang Prabang’s old town to create a “destination restaurant” with two concepts in one building. “Popolo” is the establishment’s cantina, and presents a menu that includes pastas, salads, Carpaccio, and pizza. The cantina features handmade furniture from Luang Prabang and Vientiane, “giving a hip and funky feel,” said owners Mao and Thibault Josse. “Our goal is to create a super welcoming place where you can get a nice Margherita pizza for a reasonable price, along with draft beers and affordable wine.” The Sugar Cocktail Bar is a retro bar featuring a short and selected list of cocktails and beers. “We also have a selection of wines ranging from entry levels to some upscale options. Again the objective is to be very laid back and to focus on quality without hurting the wallet,” Mr Josse said. “Set in a restored two-storey heritage building, Popolo restaurant and social club is a cool place to kick back, relax and enjoy Chef Mao’s menu of Mediterranean classics as well as dishes with a delicious twist,” Mr Josse stated. He said the project started in mid-2018 with the renovation of one of the oldest houses in Luang Prabang. “This house is located in the heart of the peninsula between l’Elephant, The Bellerive and 3 Nagas.” Mr Josse stated, “We chose this place because of the building. It is without question charming at all points, and a bit away from the main street in a strategic location.” He added, “With indoor and outdoor seating, groovy tunes and the attached Sugar Cocktail Bar, (the cantina offers a) feel at home atmosphere in this Luang Prabang oasis.” Mr Josse noted that Popolo Cantina is suitable for events, staff parties and birthdays. “We can privatize part of the space and can design specific menus,” he said. Popolo Cantina and Sugar Cocktail Bar is open from 11:00-23:00, and is located across from the Lotus Villa Hotel between the main street and the Mekong. For the exact location and more information, visit @PopoloCantina on Facebook.
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Northern Laos to Get “Smart & Eco City”
by Arno Maierbrugger The Laos government has plans to set up a smart and eco city in its northwestern Oudomxay province within the province’s Namor district and adjoining Luang Namtha district in the province of the same name, the Vientiane Times wrote. Thailand’s Amata Corporation, an industrial city developer, is cooperating with Oudomxay provincial authorities to kick off the project. A cooperation agreement was signed recently in the province by provincial governor Khamphan Pheuyavong and Amata’s CEO Vikrom Kromadit. The agreement for the project called “Amata Smart and Eco City” puts into practice the memorandum of understanding signed between the Lao government and the company on April 2, 2018, to conduct a feasibility study on the development of a smart city. The project area covers 70 square kilometers which the company plans to expand by 200 square kilometers. Under the agreement, Amata will receive land concessions to develop Namor and Luang Namtha districts into a smart city and logistics hub in line with the government’s sustainable and environmentally friendly policies to modernise communities and strengthen local livelihoods. Amata will be responsible for doing economic and technical feasibility studies and seeking sources of funding. Domestic and overseas shareholders are expected to invest in the project this year. Under the suggested development plan, in the first phase the developer would turn Nateuy village near the Laos-China railway and four other villages on 800 hectares of land into a logistics hub. This would serve as a regional center to link with regional and international ports like Laem Chabang in Thailand and Hai Phong in Vietnam. In the second phase, the developer would transform Luang Namtha district into a modern city comprising 14 villages on an area of 3,700 hectares. Advanced technology would be incorporated to attract overseas investors and ensure the project develops effectively. The smart city initiative is one of several mega development projects the government plans to undertake in 2019, deputy prime minister and minister of finance Somdy Duangdy said, noting that the smart city concept was seen as a significant intervention to bolster economic competitiveness so that Laos can attract more foreign investment. Source: Investine
