Nanning, Guangxi, China: Attapeu authorities are considering developing a water route to the popular Nong Fa (Sky Lake) as foreigners always ask to go there when visiting the province.
Now the popular tourist attraction is receiving even more attention at the 13th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit taking place here from September 9-14, where Laos is featuring Attapeu as its City of Charm in a bid to promote tourism and city-to-city exchanges.
Deputy Director of the Attapeu provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department, Mr. Kongchak Sisavad, told Vientiane Times on Tuesday that the province’s governor had approved a proposal to develop a water route to the lake.
The proposed route is about 50 kilometres long and it would take a boat one hour to travel from Sammakhixay district to the lake, Mr. Kongchak said.
The province’s Administration Office is now planning to sign an agreement with a local company to survey a water route via the Xekhaman River.
The road route to the lake is about 170km long, but one section of about 70km is difficult to negotiate in the wet season.
Mr. Kongchak said Laos’ City of Charm pavilion at the Osmanthus Hall of the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Centre featured several of Attapeu’s attractions, but many visitors were showing a particular interest in Nong Fa lake and the Brao ethnic group.
The lake is located high on a hilltop and has very clear water that reflects the blue sky and resembles the sea in colour. It is believed the lake formed after a meteor crashed at the site hundreds of years ago.
The Brao ethnic group is one of 11 distinct groups in Attapeu province. They typically build their houses on hilltops and wear elaborate bracelets on their arms and legs. They also cut their teeth, pierce ears, and use animal tusks as earrings.
The Cities of Charm pavilion at the expo aims to enrich cooperation between China and the ASEAN member states and boost country-to-country ties.
China and the 10 ASEAN countries feature one of their cities at the expo each year, to publicise development and business opportunities in trade, investment, science and technology, culture, and tourism.
The other cities of charm featured at this year’s expo are Fuzhou in China, Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei, Koh Kong province in Cambodia, Indonesia’s Archipelago, Terengganu in Malaysia, Mawlamyine in Myanmar, General Santos City in the Philippines, Singapore, Bangkok in Thailand and, Buon Ma Thuot in Vietnam.
Source: Vientiane Times
