news-events

  A new – and free – bridge crossing the Song River in Vang Vieng is now open, in response to complaints about the two-way toll for using the current, centrally located span to reach the area’s main attractions, while also alleviating peak-season traffic. The toll controversy targets the concessionaire, who built the structure and … Read more

  Accor today (23 January 2020) announced its commitment to join the UN Global Tourism Plastics Initiative and to remove all single-use plastic items in guest experience from its hotels by the end of 2022. Accor’s portfolio currently shows five properties in Laos, including Ibis Vientiane Nam Phu, and four in Luang Prabang: the Pullman, … Read more

    In Laos, girls from rural areas often have to leave school before the age of 15, with few career prospects. Four girls are now learning sewing and life-skills at The Little House, a project run by Laos Solidarity through Luang Prabang Library Outreach Programme. Just before Christmas, they were delighted to present John … Read more

  More than a dozen Lao attractions and tourism business took home ASEAN Standards Awards from the ASEAN Together Forum 2020 held in Brunei from 12-16January. Vat Phou Temple in Champassak Province and Vat Xiengthong Temple in Luang Prabang landed Sustainable Tourism Standard Awards, while Vientiane received an award in the ASEAN Clean Tourist City … Read more

  Victoria Xiengthong Palace has implemented the first Plastic- Free Program in a Luang Prabang hotel. “It is a pleasure to transform our hotel into the first environment-friendly hotel that says ‘No’ to plastic in the city,” the hotel reported. “With the humble launching of this special landmark under the acknowledgement of local government, managers … Read more

  The Luang Prabang Deaf&Mute Community’s Special Education Handicraft School has produced a catalogue featuring products now available their shop. Visitors can choose bamboo straws, pillows, laptop and shoulder bags, aprons, scarves, table cloths, and purses. The School for the Deaf and Mute in Luang Prabang holds 85 students from various communities in Laos, and … Read more

  The SayNam Holistic Health Spa Center opened on 10 January 2020 at Wat Hat Siew on the Mekong Road in Phakhom Village to provide health care through treatments, teachings and training sessions. The temple’s abbot Ajarn Ounheuan gave permission to holistic therapists to offer and share their knowledge and experiences to the Lao Community. … Read more

  This year’s Vat Phou Festival will take place on 6-8 February 2020.   The festival, held annually on the 15th day of the increasing moon of the 3rd lunar month (in January-February), coincides with the Makha Busa Buddhist Festival. Believers often travel great distances to attend the ceremony, with some venturing from Thailand and … Read more

  The Lao travel industry has received a boost, with www.imct-training.gov.la recently going live and offering free downloadable training resources, in Lao language, to increase the use of ASEAN competency standards by tourism businesses, trainers and institutions. Photo: Lux-Dev Project LAO/029 “The website also aims to raise awareness and provide the latest information on training … Read more