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Vang Vieng Sees Less Visitors amid Drop in Chinese, Korean Tourists

Vang Vieng

One of Laos’s most iconic tourist towns, Vang Vieng, has witnessed a decrease in the number of visitors in recent weeks amid concerns about Covid-19.

Vietnam to Check Visitors from Laos for Coronavirus

Vietnam to test visitors from Laos and Cambodia

Vietnam has announced that the country will carry out mandatory health checks on people entering Vietnam from Cambodia and Laos.

Laos Prohibits Vehicles From Crossing Borders Without Road Tax Payment

Road Tax in Laos 2020

Laos has announced that it will prohibit vehicle owners who have not paid road tax from crossing the border into other countries.

Vientiane Begins Construction of Expressway No. 1

Part of the Ha Noi-Vientiane expressway on the Vietnamese side. (Photo: NDO)

The Lao capital of Vientiane has begun construction of Vientiane Expressway No. 1, a move that is expected to ease traffic congestion in the city.

Stick Rice Scandal, Danger Mountains, Lady Lottery – This Week In Social Media

Stick Rice Scandal, Danger Mountains, Lady Lottery - This Week In Social Media

The Laotian Times brings our readers an updated list of some of the most shared topics this past week, based on reach and engagement on Facebook.

Sticky Rice Scandal

Following two atrocious mass shootings in Thailand, a delirious Thai woman took to Twitter to express scandalously racist views on the possible cause of the murders. The woman falsely argued that since the recent shooters in Lopburi and Nakhon Ratchasima (both in northeastern Thailand, an area known as Issan) had two things in common: that they were both soldiers who loved guns and that they loved to eat sticky rice. She concluded by saying that the people that love to eat sticky rice are Lao. In many segments of Thai society, the term “Lao” is used pejoratively to refer to someone who is low-class, reflecting socio-economic class and cultural dynamics between the more affluent Thai of Bangkok and other traditionally Siamese-based provinces and the poorer northeastern Issan region of Thailand, that is historically and culturally closer to Laos.

Social media on both sides of the Mekong River erupted in furor as the spark of racial hatred was ignited, prompting a famous Lao celebrity popular in Thailand, Apple Miniberry, to launch a vitriolic response against the obscure Thai woman. Many members of the Thai media also stood by all those who ate sticky rice and strongly rejected these racially charged statements, which unsurprisingly had a few but noticeable subscribers.

Nevertheless, an overwhelming number of Thais (even many non-Issan Thais) showed solidarity with all who loved sticky rice as evidenced by the hashtag #saveເຂົ້າໜຽວ (save sticky rice) trending number 1 on Twitter Thailand for a long period of time.


Danger on Tortuous Phou km9

A driver is in critical condition after his large transport truck had lost control and rolled over while navigating on Phou Km9. This happened only several hours after a pick-up truck had also met with the same fate, testifying to the danger of the tortuous roads surrounding the mountains.

Police Crackdown On Prostitution In Vientiane

From Jan 29-Feb 8, Vientiane police cracked down on several restaurants and bars acting as fronts for prostitution rings: two establishments in Xaysettha district, two in Xaythany district, and one in Sisattanak district. A total of five restaurant owners have been arrested and fifteen suspected prostitutes are currently being investigated.

Prostition is currently illegal in Laos.

Elephant Mayhem

During a rehearsal for the annual elephant festival in Sayaboury, an elephant startled both spectators and trainers when it became aggravated and tried to mount another elephant. It is suspected that the elephant was in sexual heat. No casualties have been reported so far.

Road Tax 2020 Reminder

Vehicle owners are urged to pay the 2020 Road Tax or face a penalty. Those who have not yet paid the 2018 tax will be fined 60% of the value, and a 40% fine will be imposed on those who haven’t paid the 2019 tax. The road tax can be paid at various banks including BCEL, with digital solutions that make it more convenient for motorists.

While everyone agreed that road taxes should be paid, many on social media decried the state of many of the public roads and wondered whether the taxes were being used judiciously.

Lucky Lady and the Lottery

A lady by with the FB profile R Muay Soukdakhom Muay (nicknamed Honey) managed to win not one but two lottery draws from the Lao Digital Lottery (LAK 300,000,000) and the Sokxay Modern Lottery (LAK 930,000,000).

Many social media users articulated their suspicion, arguing that the fact that the woman won two different lottery draws on the same day was evidence of foul play or that it was just a marketing scam.

Thief Sentenced to Electrocution

A man from Luang Namtha is in critical condition after he had been electrocuted by an electrical wire he tried to steal (for reselling).

Drunk Driver

A seemingly clueless driver drove through the central island structure around the That Luang roundabout.

Laotian Times Top 5: This Week’s Top Stories

Laotian Times Top 5 Weekly Roundup

The Laotian Times rounds up the top five biggest news stories of the week. Here are the top five:

Vientiane Hosts ASEAN-China Meeting on How To Combat Coronavirus

Foreign ministers from ASEAN Member States and China gathered in Vientiane yesterday to discuss the latest updates on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The 10-nation bloc decided to convene an emergency meeting, hosted by Laos, to share vital information between the countries and China on how to coordinate regional efforts to contain the outbreak.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi were present in Vientiane to discuss how nations could work more intimately to fight against the coronavirus epidemic.

Xayaburi Dam Dispels Rumors of Role in Dry Mekong River

Xayaburi Dam holds stakeholder and media visit

Amid an ongoing drought and low water levels, the state of the Mekong River is a topic that is animating discussion along the watercourse, with sights often aimed squarely at the Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Plant.

To help clear the waters, the project owners invited regional media for a site visit.

Several months ago, the Xayaburi HPP was partly blamed for the low levels of water downstream by officials in Thailand, a claim denied by the dam’s operators.

Due to the fact that Xayaburi HPP employs a run-of-river type installation, this necessarily invalidates the claim that the dam is storing water, which would lead to low water levels.

Xayaburi HPP’s senior management cites robust historical data to support the claim that water inflow is expected to reach average levels in the Mekong during this year’s rainy season, beginning in May 2020.

Laos to Build World’s Largest Floating Solar Power Project at Nam Ngum 1

Floating Solar Array in Laos to be Worlds Largest

A signing ceremony was held on Thursday for the development of a floating solar power plant on the surface of the Nam Ngum 1 dam reservoir.

The Floating Solar Power Project at Nam Ngum 1 will be a public-private partnership, with the Government of Laos holding a 20% share, while the private sector will hold 80% over a 25-year concession.

The solar project at Nam Ngum 1 is to have an installed capacity of 1,200 MW, covering an area of over 1,500 hectares, making it potentially the world’s largest project upon completion.

Laos to Experience Electricity Shortage During Hot Season

Electricity Shortages during Peak Season in Laos

Electricity generation will not be sufficient to supply all areas in Laos during times of peak consumption from March to June, according to authorities, who are urging the public to cut energy usage during this period.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines has announced that less power can be generated while reservoirs are only half full

Accordingly, the ministry is warning the public and businesses that it will be necessary to conserve electricity and minimize use during the peak season.

State-Run Logistics Boss Sentenced to Life for Corruption

State-Run Logistics Boss Sentenced to Life In Prison For Corruption

The Vientiane People’s Court has sentenced a former director of Lao Logistics State Enterprise to life imprisonment on charges of corruption.

Director of the Lao Logistics State Enterprise, (LLSE), Mr. Khampheng, was found guilty of abusing his position in the form of embezzlement and bribery, according to an article in the Lao Security News.

Three Korean Airlines Halt Flights to Laos Amid Coronavirus Concern

T’way Air to Launch New Route between Korean city Daegu and Vientiane

Three South Korean budget airlines have announced that they will temporarily halt flights to and from Laos amid concerns over the new coronavirus outbreak.

Lao Central Bank Warns Over Fake Kip Banknotes

Fake Lao Kip Circulating

The Bank of the Lao PDR has issued a warning about fake kip banknotes after a significant number of such notes were found in Khammouane Province.