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Vietnam to Import More Energy from Laos

By
Laotian Times
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Vietnam has decided to import an additional 200 MW of electricity from Laos next year amid possible power shortages.

The country’s decision comes amid concerns that it may suffer energy shortages from 2020.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade estimated that the country would experience a shortage of 3.7 billion kWh in 2021, which will reach its peak of 15 billion kWh in 2023 before halving each year and falling to 3.5 billion kWh in 2025.

VnExpress quoted unnamed officials at the ministry as saying that the only short-term solution to overcome the power shortage is to import from Laos.

The officials cited speeding up work on major power projects as a long-term solution.

In June, Laos agreed to sell 5,000 MW of electricity to Vietnam, in addition to exports of more than 300 MW.

It was expected to supply 1,000 MW by 2020, and both countries were hoping to increase Lao electricity exports to Vietnam to 3,000 MW by 2025 and to more than 5,000 MW by 2030.

Additionally, Laos and Vietnam agreed in August to develop energy and mining projects as well as electricity trading contracts.

Speaking at the 40th Meeting of the Laos-Vietnam Inter-governmental Committee in Vietnam in 2019, Lao Minister of Energy and Mines Khammany Inthirath asked the visiting Vietnamese trade minister to consider the possibility of purchasing power from thermal power projects in Khammouane Province, as well as a wind power project in Sekong Province.

In response, Vietnam’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Tran Tuan Anh, said Vietnam was willing to cooperate with the Lao side to further boost electricity trade projects.

Kuang Si Falls Named in List of Best Overseas Attractions for Japanese Tourists

By
Laotian Times
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Kuang Si Falls Named in List of Best Overseas Attractions for Japanese Tourists
Photo: Jeff Jaquith

Laos’s Kuang Si Falls in Luang Prabang has been named as one of 50 best overseas attractions for Japanese tourists in 2019, a recent survey has shown.

The falls ranked 26th in the list of 50 most popular destinations for Japanese tourists in 2019 compiled by TripAdvisor Japan. It is the first time for a tourist site in Laos to make the list.

TripAdvisor Japan came up with the list based on comments and reviews left on the company’s website.

The list, which included Kuang Si Falls, was topped by Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, followed by St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and La Sagrada Familia in Spain.

In October, Booking.com Japan named Vientiane as the best city for walking tours in Southeast Asia where tourists could explore the city on foot day and night.

At that time, the website said tourists can walk down streets lined with French colonial-style buildings and visit historic sites and monuments such as Pha That Luang.

It added that it was highly recommended to visit night markets near Mekong River when it gets darks where tourists can enjoy many different street foods.

LVMC (Kolao) Acquires GMS Trading in Laos, Eyes New Business

By
Laotian Times
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LVMC (Kolao) Acquires GMS Trading in Laos, Eyes New Business

LVMC Holdings, formerly known as Kolao Holdings, has announced that it acquired 100 percent shares in GMS Trading Sole in Laos for USD 357,623.

The move is aimed at pursuing “new business,” the company explained without providing further details.

GMS Trading enjoys businesses in real-estate development and distribution of home appliances and agricultural products in Laos.

LVMC, meanwhile, offers a range of businesses including distribution of global vehicle brands, manufacture and assembly parts, production and sales of motorbikes, car trading, rental service and others.

The company was first established in 1997 in Laos and adopted the brand “Kolao” in 2009 by setting up a holding company. It currently operates in Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Pakistan and Laos.

Thailand Hopes to Attract Affluent Lao Tourists

By
Laotian Times
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Thailand Hopes to Attract Affluent Lao Tourists

Thailand will push health and wellness tourism and shopping to attract high-income tourists from Laos.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) plans to team up with Thai private hospitals and Lao influencers to promote the medical segment to high-income Lao tourists, Bangkok Post reported.

TAT will also partner with leading retailers such as Big C Supercenter, Central Group and The Mall Group to offer special deals for Lao customers at cross-border and Bangkok stores for a specified period.

The agency identified politicians, government officers and a new generation of businessmen as the drivers of Thai tourism from Laos. About 100,000 Lao tourists include those with high incomes.

Tourists in this group spend about THB 40,000-50,000 (USD 1320-1650 per) trip per person for a stay of four days, three nights, and they often come for shopping and beauty services. Other types of tourists spend an average of THB 30,000 (USD 990) per trip with the same length of stay, the paper noted.

Affluent Lao tourists usually travel from Vientiane to Thailand by crossing the border at Nong Khai province. Some visit the city of Udon Thani in Thailand before heading to other destinations such as Bangkok or Phuket.

Thailand saw a record-high 2 million visitors from Los in the first 11 months of this year, generating THB 50 billion (USD 1.64 billion). TAT believes the figure would grow by 5 percent from the previous year and 8 percent next year.

Lao J-Pop Girl Group LaoNavy Performs in Japan

By
Laotian Times
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Lao J-Pop Girl Group LaoNavy Performs in Japan

Remember LaoNavy, the J-pop group from Laos who performed on Japanese Culture Day in Vientiane in September?

LaoNavy has now made its very first Japanese debut. The group performed in Japan for the first time in the western city of Kumamoto, the same city that will soon see flights from Lao Airlines connecting it with Laos.

LaoNavy, which consists of seven Lao girls aged between 14 and 21, is produced and managed by a Japanese businessman based in Vientiane who hopes to lay out the foundation of a platform that nurtures more girl groups in the country.

LaoNavy performing at Vientiane Center
LaoNavy performing at Vientiane Center

By their look and the style of performance, the group hopes to follow the footstep of the mega-hit girl band in Japan, AKB48.

At their performance in Kumamoto, LaoNavy wore their signature navy-blue costumes, singing two songs in Lao and Japanese.

LaoNavy are to visit the Kumamoto prefectural government office this week, according to a report by NHK.

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

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

South Korean low-cost airline T’way Air is to launch a new route to connect the South Korean city of Daegu and the Lao capital Vientiane.

The new route will be launched on December 26 and operate twice a week. As a trial, the airline will operate the new route until February 27 next year.

Daegu is a city in North Gyeongsang Province with about 2.465 million people.

T’way Air is currently operating two routes connecting South Korea and Laos.

One route between Incheon and Vientiane runs seven days a week while another route between Busan and Vientiane operates twice a week, namely on Wednesday and Saturday.

Korean tourism to Laos has grown in recent years, and in 2018, a total of 174,405 South Korean citizens visited Laos, a two percent increase from the previous year.

In his latest visit to South Korea, Lao Thongloun Sisoulith said he hoped more South Koreans would visit Laos and try different locations while experiencing the country’s unique historical and cultural heritage.

Cold Weather Set to Continue in Laos

By
Laotian Times
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Cold Weather Set to Continue in Laos

The much anticipated cool season has begun in earnest, with temperatures in some regions set to drop as low as 3 degrees Celcius by the end of the week.

The Lao Meteorology and Hydrology Department has warned that a cold front moving across the country will see temperatures dropping to as low as 5-7 C in northern Laos. Heavy fog and some strong winds are expected to accompany the cooler temperatures.

The public has been urged to prepare for cooler weather, and ensure warm clothes and blankets are at the ready.


Temperatures in Vientiane Capital may decrease by a further few degrees during the evenings, dropping as low as 9 degrees by Saturday night.

Southern Laos will see colder nights and early morning fog, with minimum temperatures as low as 14C forecast, accompanied by strong winds.

Laos and Russia to Hold Laros 2019 Joint Military Exercises

By
Laotian Times
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Laos and Russia to Hold Laros 2019 Joint Military Exercises
Laros 2019 Russian Lao Military Exercises

The first Russian-Lao military exercises, Laros 2019, will take place in Laos from 10-19 December.
A total of 500 troops from Russia and Laos will join the exercises.

Russia is to delegate tank crews from a mechanized infantry group based in the Transbaikal region’s Eastern Military District.

A spokesman for the Russian Eastern Military District, Alexander Gordeyev, was quoted by the Russian News Agency as saying the militaries of the two countries held a conference on organizing and holding the military exercises, agreeing upon the title “Laros-2019” for the event.

During the exercises, the contingents will share experiences in the use of battle equipment in forest, swamp and mountainous terrain, and practice the techniques of joint operations in the jungle.

The Lao military will provide the Russian troops with T-72MS tanks, armored reconnaissance vehicles, machine guns and automatic rifles for the duration of the exercises.

One of the joint drills’ main objectives is to expand bilateral military cooperation, including in the fight against international terrorism.

Some 30 Soviet WWII-era T-34 battle tanks were sent from Laos to Russia in January this year, with the fully combat-ready tanks to be used in Russian military parades, after Laos retired them from active service.

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