Sayabouly Elephant Fest: What to do with Chinese Influx?
Sayabouly authorities are wondering how to accommodate the 500 or so Chinese visitors who will attend the elephant festival in the provincial capital this week and next. The popular annual event always fills guesthouses as people from around Laos flock to Sayabouly for the chance to see elephants close up and personal. Deputy Governor
Free the Bears Off to Roaring 2019 Start
The Free the Bears Lao team headed of on 18 February for a nine-hour drive to rescue two moon bears. The Lao team has been battling for 18 months to rescue these two. (Laos Rescues #67 & #68) Laos Rescue #66, nicknamed Mary Christmas, is on the road to recovery after she was almost
Vientiane Half Marathon Slated for 3 March
The 4th annual Vientiane International Half Marathon will be held on 3 March 2019. Participants in this year’s run The Vientiane International Half Marathon (VIHM) is the first competitive running race in Laos. The challenging 21 KM, 10 KM, and 5 KM courses will weave through cultural and historic streets, landmarks, and provide runners
Minister Lists Tourism Complaints, Tells Government to Act
Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Dr Bosengkham Vongdara unloaded a list of travel complaints on the government last week, and called for cooperation to address the barriers hampering Tourism growth. Problems in Paradise Dr Bosengkham and other senior officials presented a slate of problems that tourists encounter when entering and exiting the country:
Salavan Opens Secret Waterfall and Caves
Southern Salavan Province has opened Phouphasouk Park with its dozen caves and 25-metre-high Nanglod Waterfall just 9 km from the provincial capital. Amazing rock formations The caves cut into forested limestone outcrops among fast flowing streams that feed Nanglod Waterfall. The province is first focussing promotion efforts on Phouphasouk and Praleusy Caves and
MoICT Publishes Trade Brochure
Download “DESTINATION LAOS: A briefing for travel agents & the tourism trade” published by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism
Trash Idol Sets Luang Prabang Clean Up Dates
Somsak Sengta and his Trash Idol team have announced a pair of dates for 2019’s Luang Prabang city-wide clean up. School kids take to the streets and clean With an eye on waxing up the UNESCO site after and before high season for tourists, the dates are Friday, 26 April, and Friday 27 September.
France to Support Preservation of Laos’ Historical Structures
A French aid organisation aims to help Laos protect heritage sites and infrastructure in Savannakhet and Champasak provinces, with discussions of a €6 million-project ongoing. Director General of the National Heritage Department Thongbay Phothisane told the Vientiane Times that the project’s main focus is restoring and maintaining temples, houses, and French colonial buildings of
Sikhottabong Stupa Festival Date Announced
The annual Sikhottabong Stupa Festival in Thakaek, Khammouane Province will be held on 19 February. Sikhottabong Stupa The Sikhottabong Empire originally built Thakaek’s iconic 29-meter-high, golden-tipped That Sikhottabong Stupa in the 6th century. Lane Xang Kingdom’s King Phothisarat and King Saysethathirath refurbished it in the 1500s to its present form. A sizeable statue of
ECC Brings Honours Home to Laos from ATF
The Elephant Conservation Centre (ECC) nailed Laos’ slot on the 2019 Experience Mekong Collection (EMC) Showcase at January’s ASEAN Tourism Forum in Halong Bay, Vietnam, by taking top honours in the “Do” category. The ECCTeam The ECC captured the “Do” class for Laos by offering learning experiences with elephants led by a dedicated team
