In an effort to promote the newly launched Visit Laos Year 2018, Lao National Radio (LNR) has teamed up with Voice of Vietnam (VOV)’s Director General of the Radio, Mr Nguyen The Ky.
On November 21, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith hosted a reception in Vientiane, where Mr Nguyen informed the PM about the results of the discussions between VOV and the LNR, that took place a day prior. The Director General explained that both sides have agreed that the 2015-2018 cooperation agreement, including popularizing events during the Vietnam – Laos Year of Friendship and Solidarity 2017.
The Director General has committed to promoting Visit Laos Year 2018 by highlighting the beauty, traditional customs and people of Laos to listeners.
VOV will train LNR officials, reporters, technicians and managers and help Lao broadcasters upgrade several television and audio equipment.
Prime Minister Thongloun spoke highly of the collaboration between VOV and LNR over the past years, asserting that radio services play a significant role in circulating news, especially in remote and mountainous areas.
On the occasion, the PM thanked the Vietnamese Party and State and VOV in particular for providing effective support for LNR, which he said further strengthen ties between the two radio stations and between the two countries.
Earlier in the week, China also pledged to promote Visit Laos Year 2018, and even engaged in talks of a joint Visit Laos-China Year 2019.
On Monday, November 20, Lao government officials contributed 20 tonnes of rice and a tonne of dried pork and beef in aid to those affected by Typhoon Damrey, in the central coastal province of Phu Yen, Vietnam.
Typhoon Damrey, the 12th major storm to hit the East Sea, pummeled Vietnam’s south central coast on November 4, claiming 89 lives, leaving 18 missing and causing injury to 174 victims in central and Central Highlands localities.
Vietnam’s Secretary of the province’s Party Committee thanked the Lao Government for their immediate support and vowed to deliver the relief to those in need as soon as possible.
Following the transfer of the disaster relief supplies, all donations were dispatched to people living in the mountainous districts of Dong Xuan, Song Hinh and Son Hoa.
Tonnes of goods, including sugar, milk and canned foods have also been donated by Russia to aid flood recovery in Vietnam and have been allocated to the affected districts in the province.
The relief demonstrates the close ties between the people of Laos and Vietnam in times of crisis.
A team of researchers from Bioversity International in collaboration with local experts, have recently reported that the popular Cavendish banana grown in Laos, has been infected with Fusarium oxysporum Tropical Race 4 (TR4) at banana plantations north of Vientiane.
Also known as Panama disease TR4, the disease is a soil-borne fungus that causes severe epidemics and crop losses in Cavendish plantations. Though considered one of the most destructive diseases found in banana plants worldwide, the epdemic doesn’t harm people or other fruit varieties.
However, banana plants that are affected by Panama disease seldom produce marketable bunches. Once the disease is established, the fungus persists in the soil for many years, making the production of banana varieties, such as Cavendish, economically unviable.
With the Cavendish banana accounting for 45 percent of all bananas grown worldwide, leading producer Mainland China has expanded commercial production into neighboring countries such as Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
In late October of this year, a team of 4 researchers spent 3 days surveying and observing plantations along the Vientiane-Vang Vieng road axis. It was discovered on a 45 hectares field that crops of Cavendish bananas established in 2014 for export to China, had lost half of the production area due to severe epidemic of Foc TR4. Chinese managers reported to scientists that the disease appeared at early stages after planting, suggesting that the nursery plants which were imported from China were infected before importation.
The Panama disease is most commonly spread by the movement of infected plant material, but can also spread with soil and water movement or by contaminated equipment. Researchers theorize that the initial outbreak in the area was due to infected nursery plants, indicating that little attention is being paid to the threat of TR4 by the Chinese banana growing companies.
The infiltration of Foc TR4 in Laos does not only threaten the rapidly expanding Chinese Cavendish banana production, but also susceptible popular varieties grown by small farmers for local markets in Laos.
With 70 percent of Beerlao’s exports going to China, it is evident that Laos and China have bolstered ties all across the board.
In 2011, Beerlao began exporting to China and was the first sponsor of the China-ASEAN Expo in 2012. The manager of the overseas department of Beerlao, Phengrattanavong Khomsone stated that it took just four short years for Beerlao to become a household name in China. China is now the company’s largest overseas market.
China currently is the largest investor in Laos and the country’s second largest trading partner. From January to September, bilateral trades reached 210 million U.S. dollars, an increase of 25.1 percent year-on-year. China has heavily invested in everything from hydropower to minerals to garment trade in Laos in recent years.
The China-Laos railway, currently under construction, will further increase cultural and commercial exchange between the two countries. For instance, Lao agricultural produce such as organic rice, coffee and bananas have gained recognition and traction amongst Chinese consumers.
A source from the Lao Academy of Social Science has stated, “It takes at least a day to transport farm produce to China, but when the railways opens, it will only take four hours.” The source added that infrastructure cooperation in railways, roads and power generation is lifting China-Laos ties to a new level.
In 2015, China helped Laos launch its first communications satellite, which has significantly improved the quality of radio and television broadcasts in the country. Countless Chinese television programs that have been translated into Lao have been aired, with the two countries now currently working together to translate classic Chinese cartoons.
On Monday, November 20, a river cruise option popular amongst tourists and locals on the Nam Ou River in Laos, was officially cancelled as the impact of a new dam ends an era of river cruising.
Official announcements made by local authorities have confirmed that the completion of the new hydro Nam Ou 3 Dam would terminate all cruising possibilities between the two riverside towns.
Over the weekend leading up to the closure, tour operators frantically alerted their overseas partners, informing them of the permanent suspension of the Nam Ou River cruises, between the towns of Nong Khiaw and Muang Khua.
The Nam Ou River converges with the Mekong River north of Luang Prabang, almost directly opposite the Pak Ou caves.
The distance between Luang Prabang and Nong Khiaw is 142 km by road (a travel time of 4 hours), while Muang Khua is further upstream from Nong Khiaw. Traveling by road between the two towns is a much longer proposition than by river covering a distance of 210 km, and an estimated travel time of over five hours.
It is speculated that the closure will impact tourism and businesses in both towns, with the economy in both villages likely to suffer due to the hydro dam.
Eliminating the popular Nam Ou river cruises will disappoint many tourists, as the boats provide the best way to experience the natural beauty of northern Laos from a relaxing river perspective. These trips will now be replaced by bus transports, following a road that weaves through valleys, occasionally skirting the river, but in places forced by the terrain to make wide diversions.
Navigation limitations between Nong Khiaw and Luang Prabang will also reduce other cruise options. It will disrupt trips that pass near Done Nguen on the downstream journey to Luang Prabang via the Pak Ou caves. The caves are on the banks of the Mekong River almost directly opposite the mouth of the Nam Ou.
Tour operators have been warned that this limitation would require tour groups to travel using a mix of boats, cars or buses to complete the trip.
Though cruises on the Mekong River are operating as normal, the closure of the Nam Ou cruises comes at an unfortunate time, as the country is at peak season for tourists traveling into Laos and Luang Prabang, with cruise trips on the Mekong River and Nam Ou as the most popular sightseeing options.
Earlier this year, Thai country singer Lumyai Hai Thongkam made national news by attracting negative attention from Thai General Prayuth Chan-ocha, for her sexually provocative dance moves and outfits.
The teen is now back with a new music video and fresh critiques, this time from Lao people. Her sexual dance moves accompanied by a skimpy gold outfit, set against a serene Vang Vieng backdrop has sparked debate amongst Laotians worldwide.
In the video, 18 year-old Lumyai performs with country artist, Charoenpan Phrakanyai, as Vang Vieng’s infamous mountain backdrop looms behind them.
Although her video “Plaa Kor Yai Viagra” (Snakehead Fish Viagra) was shot back in May, the controversial music video is just now making waves with Laotians across the globe.
Posted last week to a Lao-language Facebook page, another provocative MV shot in Vang Vieng drew a slew of negative comments, many of which complained that bikinis were inappropriate in a conservative country like Laos. However, some defended the video debating that Lumyai was promoting tourism in the small town located north of Vientiane.
Some of the comments criticized the Thai singer, questioning if the culture was studied before arriving to film the video, while others saw no problem. One Youtube user argued, “It’s so hard to be born a Thai, people are always criticizing you for this and that. Have you actually ever been to Vang Vieng yourself? Farangs are in bikinis everywhere. Do you commentators wear traditional Thai costumes to the beach?”
With so much negative criticism hailing from her image, the teen singer has before stated, “Sometimes I wear a jean jacket to dance, and the organizer will say that I don’t look like Lumyai if I cover up too much. I have to dress sexy, or people will forget me.”
Her manager, Thanassorn Phutinan, explained that toning Lumyai’s image down would be a detriment to her brand as fans associate her with her glittering gold bikinis or hot pants. He stated, “We don’t mean to have her dress revealingly, but sometimes the organizers who hire us will threaten to pay only half if she doesn’t change clothes.”
Lumyai, whose real name is Supansa Wetkama, grew up poor in the Thai countryside. She immigrated with her family from Roi Et to Bangkok, where she helped her grandma sell candy as a child. She got into the Salaya Performing Arts school after sixth grade and started working as a luk thung (country) singer to support her family.
Her most popular song “Phu Sao Kha Lor” (“Party Girl”), was released in November and racked up more than 200 million views in the span of three months. Gen.Prayuth Chan-ocha has repeatedly criticized her image and performances, sometimes even dispatching police to her concerts to cover her up.
Sengdara Communications Renews Commitment to Go Group
Siem Reap (Cambodia) – The GO Group, Asia’s largest independent public relations, marketing and strategic communications network held a leadership summit for its associates from member agencies at the Sokha Angkor Resort in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
The summit’s agenda included, among others, networking between affiliate agencies and associates to foster stronger connections and solidify cross-national exchange of knowledge and resources, including exploring new concepts, insights and methodologies to gain better, more innovative and effective ways to serve clients.
“We are truly excited to be hosting our counterparts from the GO Group right here in Cambodia,” said Sisopheak Siet, Managing Director of Active Communications.
“We truly believe this to be a great place to hold the summit. Besides being centrally located by affiliate agencies in the group, Cambodia has also in recent times been an incredible emerging market for brands, with growing maturity in the area of communications. It has also provided the opportunity for delegates to step out of their regular routine and group together and learn from each other – and what an incredible way to hold this summit, against the backdrop of one of the world’s most famous landmarks and largest religious monument in the world – the Angkor Wat,” he added.
The summit saw the convergence of numerous executives from affiliate agencies across the region. Currently, the GO Group, headquartered in Malaysia’s GO Communications comprises affiliated agencies in Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan, India, China and Hong Kong.
Go Group Summit Delegates, Siem Reap, Cambodia
“The GO Group consists of the best local agencies in each market with a deep cultural understanding of their respective clients and media landscape. The concept of coming together on an annual basis allows the group a platform for an exchange of knowledge and further solidify our network policies and strategies to take to market as a powerful force. Our thanks go out to Sisopheak and his team for putting this together, and we’re confident that it will be an extremely beneficial time for all who attend,” said Peter de Kretser, CEO of GO Communications and Director of the GO Group.
“While we seek to share and learn from each other about our experiences in different sectors, we also seek to strengthen our offering to clients including building our digital capabilities. We are truly fortunate to have a great working relationship with our network agencies and have seen the group growing a number of regional clients,” he added.
He also stated that the group is looking into plans to expand beyond the Asian region by extending its reach to Australia, United Kingdom and the United States.
“It’s absolutely incredible to be in the Kingdom of Wonder and to see the magnificence that is the Angkor Wat. As one of the newer members to jump on board the Go Group, Laos’s Sengdara Communications is particularly proud to be a part of Asia’s largest independent marketing network. We would like to renew our commitment to the Group and look forward to welcoming more members in the near future,” says Viroun Sengdara, Managing Director of Sengdara Communications, one of the newest members of the Go Group.
More information about the GO Group can be found at www.gocomm.com.my.
During a conference between the Attapeu and Sekong province chapters of the Lao Front for National Construction and the Kon Tum chapter of the Vietnam Fatherland Front on November 16, both countries reached a consensus on maintaining efforts to build a Vietnam-Laos borderline of peace, friendship and cooperation.
Speaking at the conference, an official of the Vietnam Fatherland Front urged the three provinces’ front organisations to continue coordinating seamlessly in an effort to enhance close cooperation in the implementation of the Vietnam-Laos borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation agreement and development during 2017-2020.
Participants at the event agreed to routinely exchange information and experiences in front work, continue promoting the bilateral friendship and solidarity among local people, particularly those in border districts, and encourage locals to get involved in maintaining security and order in border areas.
Vietnam pledged to coordinate with relevant agencies and businesses in organizing market-days in border areas to introduce its products to Lao locals.
The Attapeu and Sekong provinces shares a 142km border with Vietnam’s Kon Tum province.
