This Week in Lao Social Media

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June 29, 2018

Lao social media was dominated by news from Thailand this week as the search continues for a Thai football team lost in a Chiang Rai cave network. The number of vehicles registered in Vientiane suggests future traffic woes, and unscrupulous market vendors cause a stir once again. Other viral posts include discrimination by Thai police and concerns over dams in Northern Laos.

Vientiane Rescue Joins Efforts to Locate Lost Thai Football Team

The population of Laos have been closely following the events unfolding surrounding the search for a Thai boys soccer team who went missing inside a cave complex in Chiang Rai province. Members of Laos’ homegrown heroes, Vientiane Rescue, have been dispatched to Thailand where they will join an international effort to locate the 13 members of the boys soccer team lost in the Tham Luang cave network. Laos is said to be the first nation to have offered support by sending divers from the Vientiane Rescue team.
Image: Vientiane Rescue

900,000 Vehicles Registered in Vientiane Capital

The Head of the Vientiane Capital Vehicle and Driving Management Unit, Mr Nouanxay Phaxaysombath, announced that the number of vehicles registered in Vientiane Capital is steadily rising, with almost one vehicle for each member of the population. With a lack of public transport in commission, this could spell worsening traffic headaches for everyone.
Image: Jotmaikhao

Cheating Market Vendor Stuffs Fish with Weights

One consumer took to social media this week after opening a fish purchased at Suan Mone market to find 28 fishing weights stuffed inside. The post went viral, drawing widespread ire as users shared their own experiences with being cheated at the markets. Users called upon authorities to undertake more thorough and frequent inspections of consumer goods and foodstuffs.
News: Lao Post

Discrimination Against Lao Vehicles by Thai Police

Posted by B Manilat Latsavong on ວັນເສົາ ທີ 23 ມິຖຸນາ 2018

A post by a Lao couple stopped by police in Thailand has gone viral as a case of discrimination against Lao vehicles comes to light. The couple, in their Lao registered vehicle, crossed the border into Thailand to visit a friend at Bangkok Hospital, Udon Thani. The couple were stopped by a Thai police checkpoint in the middle of the road, where the police claimed that the couple ran a red light. Behind them were a long line of Lao registered vehicles, while Thai vehicles were being waved through. Luckily the couple had a dash-cam installed in their car and were able to show a recording to the police. However, the police claimed that the dash-cam footage was unclear and ordered the couple resolve the problem at the police station. At the police station the couple stuck to their guns and were finally released without paying a fine. They posted their experience on social media as a warning to others.

Video: B Manilat Latsavong

Footage of Nam Ou 6 Dam

Posted by Xaisomphone Cps on ວັນພຸດ ທີ 27 ມິຖຸນາ 2018

Footage of water being released at Nam Ou 6 Dam, Phongsaly Province, has gone viral after one citizen voiced his concerns for nearby villagers. However, no explanation for the footage has come to light, so it is unknown if the situation at the dam is normal or not.
Video: Forgot Someday

ACLEDA Bank Lao Launches Mobile App ‘ACLEDA Unity Thanchai’

By

Laotian Times

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June 27, 2018

ACLEDA Bank Lao announced yesterday launched its new “ACLEDA Unity Thanchai” mobile phone banking service. A virtual ‘bank in your hand,’ it provides a convenient and secure way to manage all daily banking transactions anytime and anywhere. It is available in both Lao and English languages and handles transactions in LAK (Lao Kip), USD (US Dollars) and Baht.

“Our aim is to offer access to financial services to the whole community”, said ACLEDA’s Managing Director/CEO Dr. Hay Svay. “ACLEDA Unity ThanChai, also known as ‘ACLEDA ThanChai’, works with all mobile phone networks and a very wide range of mobile handsets. It ‘unites’ a whole selection of financial services under one umbrella that simplifies day-to-day banking through mobile phones anywhere in the country,” he stated.

The app is available on a 24/7 basis and possesses high-level multilayer security features. Customers can view their account balances, obtain mini-statements, transfer between their accounts, transfer from account to mobile number, make payments to other people, make bill payments (pay their utility bills, etc), top-up their mobile phones and pay for other goods and services via QR Code anytime and anywhere right from their personal mobile phone.

By tonight, the bank is expecting the number of downloads and registrations for ACLEDA ThanChai to reach 5,000 and the number of QR Code partners to reach 177. Other services will be added in the near future according to customer demand.

“As a fast-growing bank in a rapidly developing economy, we are looking for a complete integrated mobile banking and payment solution. We want to make sure that our mobile services are universally available to our customers, are safe for them to use and deliver the dependability and reliability that ACLEDA is known for,” said Svay.

“We will be leapfrogging over traditional delivery channels to provide our customers with the latest banking technology.”

About ACLEDA Lao Ltd

ACLEDA Bank is a subsidiary of parent company ACLEDA Bank Plc, which currently has 41 branches and offices nationwide, with over 10-year presence in the domestic financial services sector. At the end of May 2018, the value of the loan portfolio has reached US$115 million with 32,981 borrowing customers. The total savings and deposits was US$92 million with 107,244 accounts. Its total assets was US$158 million and employed 1,064 staffs.

The Bank offers a wide range of banking products and financial services to corporate and retail customers through a variety of delivery channels. ACLEDA is a player in the retail banking market and services its large customer base through a broad network. With 56 ATMs, 80 POSs and ACLEDA Thanchai for customers to have access to the bank’s services anytime and anywhere.

For more information contact:

Kaysone LINTHONG,

Head of Marketing Department

Tel:020 9300 0212

Email: kaysone@acledabank.com.la

Vientiane’s Problematic Donnokkhoum to Nakhuay Road to be Expedited

By

Laotian Times

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June 27, 2018

ທonnokkhoum to 450 years road construction

Authorities in Vientiane Capital hope to resolve the problems facing construction of a new road stretching from Donnokkhoum to Nakhuay villages, connecting to the 450 Years Road in Saysettha District.

Issues faced during construction, which began in 2012, include the contractor running out of money to complete the project, and villagers airing concerns about installation of drainage along both sides of the road, which temporarily affects their livelihoods.

The amount of compensation issued to those who have lost land to the project has not yet been agreed upon.

Represenatives from the Vientiane Department of Natural Resources and Environment have been tasked with holding discussions with affected villagers to explain the necessity of drainage installation, as well as issues related to compensation.

The project is being jointly implemented by the Vientiane Department of Public Works and Transport and the Namtha Road and Bridge Construction Company.

The road is being constructed in three phases. Phase one begins at Donnokkhoum village in Sisattanak District and runs 4,100 meters to Xiengda village in Saysettha District. This section will be 32 meters wide to allow for six lanes of traffic.

Phase two includes a section running from Xiengda village to Nakhuay village, and will be 5,400 meters long.

Phase three, the final section, runs from Nakhuay village to the 450 Years Road. It will be 2,160 meters long and include four lanes for traffic.

Source: Vientiane Times

Ground Broken at First Private Data Center in Laos

By

Laotian Times

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June 26, 2018

LaoDC Data Center Groundbreaking Ceremony

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Hatxaykhao village yesterday as construction began for the LaoDC data center, the first licensed, privately owned data center in Laos.

The LaoDC data center will be one of the largest data centers in Laos, and will be able to host hardware as well as offering dedicated and virtual services.

“The aim of the data center is to offer international standards at a reasonable price that will be affordable for small to medium-sized and larger enterprises in Laos,” said LaoDC Director, Mr Derek Spranger.

“We will offer a range of IT services, including web and email hosting, as well as off-site data backup solutions, integrated business IT hosting, and on-site setups. Training and consulting will also be available,” he said.

LaoDC Director Derek Spranger Attends Ceremony

The LaoDC data center will offer safe and secure hosting services that allow users in Laos to view websites much faster than those hosted overseas, with full local technical support.

The data center, built to international standards by local construction teams, will be ISO certified, and is to be backed up by emergency diesel generators. It will feature a solar plant to reduce environmental impact.

The LaoDC data center will use industry standard technology suppliers like APC, Cisco, DELL, Super Micro and Synology.

With over 30 years of combined industry experience in Sweden, Australia, and Thailand, LaoDC can provide customers with the most expert advice and solutions.

The data center is expected to be complete by February next year.

Laotian Times Reporters

Buddha Park Vientiane Undergoes Makeover

By

Laotian Times

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June 25, 2018

Vientiane Capital’s Buddha Park (Wat Xiengkhuan) has just received a makeover. How refreshing!

Visitors will now be able to stroll around the park in clean, paved cement pathways as they enjoy the breathtaking sights of the amazing sculpture park with more than 200 religious statues. Travelers will also appreciate the improved lawn and gardening work made within the vicinity. Upgrades are soon to be made to the front parking area as well.

According to many tourists, the ideal place for a great Instagrammable photo-op is from the top of the giant gourd structure which is approximately three stories high. The entrance is designed to resemble a demon’s mouth (about three meters high) with a stone ladder inside leading to a magnificent view of the entire park.

ໂສມໜ້າໃໝ່ວັດຊຽງຄວນ

Posted by ປະກາດ Pakaad on ວັນຈັນ ທີ 11 ມິຖຸນາ 2018

According to Visit-Laos.com, Buddha Park Vientiane was built in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, a monk who studied both Buddhism and Hinduism. This explains why his park is full not only of Buddha images but also of Hindu gods as well as demons and animals from both belief systems. The most outstanding ones include Indra, the king of Hindu gods riding the three-headed elephant (also known as Erawan and Airavata), a four-armed deity sitting on a horse and an artistic deity with 12 faces and multiple hands, each holding interesting objects. They are all equally impressive not only because of their enormous size but because they are full of fascinating details and interesting motifs.

Buddha Park Vientiane Wat Xiengkhouan, Hatsayfong District, Vientiane By: All in LAOS

Posted by All in LAOS on ວັນຈັນ ທີ 11 ມິຖຸນາ 2018

Source: Pakaad, All in Lao, Visit-Laos

Lao Government Bonds Soon to be Available on Lao Stock Market

By

Laotian Times

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June 25, 2018

The Lao Government is in the process of preparing documents, measures and regulatory and legal frameworks necessary to register government bonds on the Lao stock market (Lao Securities Exchange – LSX).

All the arrangements are being handled by the Lao Securities Commission Office (LSCO) and the regulatory work and other measures are set to be completed this year, Secretary General of LSCO Saysamone Chanthachack said.

“According to the planned project, we are set to register the government’s bond on the LSX as soon as possible, but the Ministry of Finance is the key decision-maker,” she said, adding that the bond will be the latest product in the local capital market pipeline.

She said the planned bond offering is based on the experiences learned from neighboring countries and ASEAN-Plus-Three countries (China, Japan, and South Korea) because they have successfully offered products similar to the planned bond.

“I can’t give a fixed schedule as to when the bond will be ready for registration or trade on the LSX, but we are doing our best to pave the way for its registration,” Chanthachack said.

Seven companies are currently listed on the local stock market:

Banque pour le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public (BCEL)
EDL Generation (EDL-Gen)
Lao World (LWPC)
Petroleum Trading Lao (PTL)
Souvanny Home Center (SVN)
Phousi Construction and Development (PCD)
Lao Cement Public Company (LCC)

“According to the plan, two to three companies are set to be listed on the LSX this year and some companies are now preparing to meet the requirements of the LSX,” she said.

A sovereign bond is a debt security issued by a national government. Sovereign/government bonds can be denominated in a foreign currency or the government’s own domestic currency, generally with a promise to make periodic interest payments and to repay the face value on a maturity date.

The LSX was established in 2010 with technical and financial support from South Korea. The Korea Exchange has a 49 percent stake in LSX.

Thailand provided technical advice to help build the exchange and it became operational on the 11th of January, 2011.

Source: Vientiane Times

Vientiane Bans Soil Excavation or Transportation During Rainy Season

By

Laotian Times

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June 25, 2018

The Vientiane Department of Public Works and Transport issued a notice temporarily banning the excavation and transportion of soil and sand throughout the capital throughout the rainy season, from 15 June to 15 October 2018.

Continue

Probably the Best Football Campaign Ever

By

Laotian Times

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June 25, 2018

The anticipated football craze is finally here and even better news for football fans is that they get a chance to score limited-edition merchandises from Carlsberg’s Summer Football Campaign. Football spirit is on full mode. The campaign calls out to beer lovers and football fans to collect their favorite country of either England, France, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Portugal or just all of them. But the question is… who are you rooting for?

Carlsberg – “Probably the Best Beer in The World” is celebrating the football event by featuring the mentioned six countries’ flag on its bottles and cans over Carlsberg’s signature hop leaf shape as limited-edition packaging. Let’s just mention that it’s probably the cutest thing ever. Have you seen it?

Carlsberg World Cup Laos — Even the “Probably best beer in World” want to celebrate the The Most watched football game in the World

It’s a face-off between Germany and France… Who can model it better? You choose!

We got Spain cheering on for Denmark! What a good sport!

We have France team looking pretty fierce right now

We have been spotting these cute can and bottle jersey shaped coolers at all these participating outlets, and we can’t get enough of the charm and football spirit.

Grab one to make your experience a little more fun – and join in on the celebrations at our top choices to watch the football craze! After all, it’s only here every four years so let’s celebrate it the right way.

For Huge Excitement and to Cheer on with a big crowd, come experience it at either Vientiane Center or ASEAN Mall.

WORLD CUP “BIG MATCH” DATES: