-
✴︎
Xieng Khuang’s historic That Found stupa entices more visitors
That Found stupa in Khoun district, Xieng Khuang province, is attracting more than 300 visitors a month following its renovation, a significant improvement compared to the past. An official at the Xieng Khuang provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department, Mr Phonekeo Houng Aloun, told Vientiane Times the stupa was restored last year for the second time after it was damaged during the Indochina War. “The stupa houses some of Buddha’s bone ashes and is more than 600 years old,” he said. Stalls at the site now sell handicrafts and local goods, and rent out traditional ethnic costumes that people can wear to have their photo taken in front of the stupa. Most visitors are Lao and Buddhist, so they worship and pray at the stupa. “Xieng Khuang provincial authorities will hold a special festival to solemnise the stupa. Such an event has not been held for hundreds of years,” Mr Phonekeo said. The stupa is located in Khoun district and has good road access. Besides the stupa, Xieng Khuang is home to other fascinating sights such as the enigmatic Plain of Jars, hot springs, caves and old temples. The province is located about 435km north of Vientiane. Xieng Khuang attracted more than 80,000 visitors in the first six months of this year, while last year the province attracted more than 178,000 tourists, according to the province’s Information, Culture and Tourism Department. Source: Vientiane Times
-
✴︎
Refill not Landfill Campaign for Southern Laos
The Southern Laos Marketing Taskforce is preparing to launch its Refill not Landfill campaign to reduce plastic waste in the tourism sector by promoting re-usable water bottles and water refill stations. More than 30 businesses in Champassak Province, including hotels, restaurants, markets, and local travel agents, have expressed interest in participating in the campaign. The roll out of the bottles and refill stations is expected before the start of the high season in October. This initiative aims to raise awareness on plastic pollution and support local businesses in establishing a drinking water refill station network in Southern Laos. The campaign will support participating businesses in setting up refill stations and promoting re-usable alternatives to single-use plastic consumption. The campaign was initiated by the Southern Laos Marketing Taskforce comprised of the Department of Information, Culture and Tourism, Champasak Hotel and Restaurant Association, and Champasak Province Association of Travel Agents, with support from Terraclear, a local manufacturer of ceramic water filters, and Swisscontact.
-
✴︎
Laos Co-Stars in Pandaw’s New 3-Country Cruise
Luxury liner, Pandaw, has launched a 21-day combo river cruise that spends 11 days scouring the Mekong between Vientiane and the Golden Triangle. The other leg of the journey explores Halong Bay, and the Red River Delta and tributaries near Hanoi. The itinerary includes a Vientiane-Hanoi flight. The cruise starts or ends at Chiang Saen, Thailand, and anchors in well-known and less-visited Mekong landings in Laos. From Vientiane, the RV Laos Pandaw heads upriver and moors overnight at Ban Xanakham, before continuing to Paklay in southern Sayabouly to inspect its French colonial buildings. Then, it’s on to an ethnic Khmu village in the jungle. The vessel passes through the locks at the Sayabouly Dam, and continues to Luang Prabang for two days. The cruise continues to a Pak Ou elephant camp, Buddhist sanctuary, and cocktails on a sandbank. The vessels then sails to Ban Bo. A morning visit to a local Khmu near Pak Beng starts the day, which ends at Pak Sit for the night. After an early walking tour of the Khmu village, the cruise heads to Houay Xay, and a walk through the small port town. The cruise finally reaches its goal, the Golden Triangle, before the final port, Chiang Saen. For details and the full itinerary, click here.
