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I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Mango Ice-Cream!

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admin
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Nothing screams ‘summer’ louder than ice-cream, and no one does ice-cream better than Swensen’s. With the hottest time of year steadily approaching, Swensen’s variety of scoops,  smoothies, and sundaes will be sure to cool down everyone in the family.

Though mangoes are delicious all on their own, the sweet, fleshy nectar of the tropical fruit goes well with anything and everything, and ice-cream is no exception. Mango season is highly anticipated nationwide, and for Swensen’s fans as well.

The Laotian Times was fortunate enough to be invited for a tasting of the newest edition to the menu, the OAK-RONG-THONG SUNDAE. What makes the OAK-RONG-THONG flavor unique from all the other sundaes is the garnishes that accompanies it; scoops of mango flavored ice-cream atop pandan sticky rice, sprinkled with young coconut shavings, coconut milk, mango puree, and to finish off the masterpiece, a mango-shaped ‘look-chub’ candy atop a mountain of whipped cream.

Since Swensen’s is all about selection, the sundae is offered in a variety of ways  including the Mango Trio, Mango Boat and, for those who can’t get enough of the mango madness, the Mango Hurricane; 5 big scoops of mango ice-cream, surrounded by pandan sticky rice and all of the trappings.

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For people who are looking to escape the sweltering heat, but want something just a tad more refreshing and healthy, that’s right, we said healthy,  the sugar-free Mango Sorbet Smoothie is the way to go. With just a hint of tartness, the perfectly blended mango sorbet is topped off with a touch of whipped cream (it balances out, the rest of your smoothie is already healthy!) and mango puree.

However, nothing good lasts forever, the OAK-RONG-THONG will only be available from April thru June, so get it while you can! All 3 Vientiane locations will be opened throughout Lao New Year from 10AM-10PM, so if you need a place to escape the heat and water fights, you know where to go!

Swensen’s is currently offering a 10% discount is for those who bring in fliers which have been distributed throughout schools and offices.

More Buses for Pi Mai, Fixed Prices

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Laotian Times
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buses

The Northern Bus Station is ready and equipped to provide service to passengers and commuters who plan to return to their hometowns or visit other people’s hometowns, during the Lao Lunar New Year on April 14-16.

Director of Northern Bus Station, Mrs Chitpasong Luangdetmixay assured that all buses serving northern routes has had safety inspections and each driver has been trained in proper technical driving under the Department of Public Works and Transport, guaranteeing passengers have a good experience arriving to their destinations safely.

The director noted that bus fares will remain the same, and are adding an additional 20 vans to the fleet in anticipation of the influx of travellers.

The fares for different routes are as follows:

Vientiane-Luang Prabang per person: regular bus –110,000 kip; VIP bus – 130,000 kip, sleeper bus ­–150,000 kip, van –150,000 kip.

Vientiane-Oudomxay:  regular bus – 170,000 kip; VIP bus – 190,000 kip; sleeper bus – 190,000 kip.

Vientiane-Xayabury: regular bus – 170,000 kip; VIP bus –130,000 kip; van – 150,000 kip.

Vientiane-Xiengkhuang: regular bus – 110,000 kip; VIP bus – 130,000kip; sleeper bus – 150,000 kip; van – 120,000 kip.

Vientiane-Houaphanh: regular bus – 190,000 kip; sleeper bus – 210,000 kip.

Vientiane-Luang Namtha:  regular bus – 200,000 kip.

Vientiane-Bokeo: regular bus – 230,000 kip; sleeper bus – 250,000 kip.

Vientiane-Phongsaly: regular bus – 210,000 kip; sleeper bus – 230,000 kip.

Pi Mai Lao Anticipated to Draw Another Big Crowd This Year

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Laotian Times
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Pi Mai

With officials announcing Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year) extended to five days this year, people nationwide are eagerly anticipating the festival to begin next week.

In preparation for the widely celebrated holiday, Vientiane has assembled a variety of fun activities for locals and visitors to enjoy and partake in, including a Miss Vientiane contest on April 8, an arts show, a sandcastle building contest, and sports competitions on the sandy shores along the Mekong.

However, due to lack of preparation for the equipment needed by relevant authorities, Pi Mai Lao will be excluding the most iconic parade this year in Vientiane, Miss Lao New Year (Nang Sangkhan), as stated by  Chanthabouly district Governor, Ms Bualon Vongdalasaen.

Instead, the highlight will be a parade of Buddha statues that will give bystanders the chance to pour water over the sacred relics.

Traditionally, Lao households celebrate the new year by blessing their homes and family members with a Baci ceremony to bring good luck, prosperity and good health for the upcoming year.

A Baci ceremony is considered a bedrock for tradition to Lao people, and is an essential part of any housewarming party, New Year festivities, wedding day, baby shower and farewell gatherings, amongst a plethora of other celebrations.

With Luang Prabang being the favored town for visitors during Pi Mai Lao, the quaint little city will be going all out, with a festival on April 10, a Miss Lao New Year contest (Nang Sangkhan) on April 11-12, a Miss Lao New Year parade on April 15, and additional activities planned for April 19.

All other provinces across Laos are also busy preparing for the holiday by planning events that they anticipate will be entertaining to visitors, including the tourist hotspot of Vang Vieng where visitors will be met with a traditional dancing and singing contest on April 13.

Authorities nationwide have assigned a special task force to ensure the safety of visitors during the festival, while business owners in every province are preparing hotels, guesthouses, resorts and restaurants to welcome the influx of people who are anticipated to visit during the long holiday and generating a healthy income for locals.

Xaysana’s Associate, Drug Kingpin Sisouk Daoheuang Captured

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Laotian Times
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Sisouk Daoheauang

Since the capture of notorious kingpin Xaysana “Vanlob” Keophimpha earlier this year, authorities have been on a manhunt for all of Xaysana’s known associates, including drug kingpin, Sisouk Daoheuang.

A senior official confirmed that the arrest of Sisouk was made by Lao authorities in Luang Prabang on Friday, and the suspect was transported to Vientiane Capital for questioning. However, the official maintains that details of the case still remain unclear and  the investigation is still ongoing.

Though captured in Luang Prabang province, Sisouk is said to have owned and operated a used luxury car shop and a horse-riding business in Vientiane, both of which have since been closed.

Thai police major general Pornchai Charoenwongse, deputy chief of the Narcotic Suppression Bureau, has stated that Thai officials are preparing to travel to Vientiane to investigate the alleged felon and that the NSB officers are set to join the Narcotics Control Board in the interrogation expected to take place next week.

Sisouk, who fled authorities after the arrest of Xaysana, is suspected to be part of a major methamphetamines distribution network in Southeast Asia, operated by the 42-year-old Lao national.

As previously reported by The Laotian Times, Xaysana was arrested on Jan. 19 at Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport following a five-year investigation by Lao and Thai authorities.

Authorities assert that the drug baron was distributing caffeine-laced meth tablets known as “yaba” throughout the region.

On Jan 10, police captured a major drug trafficker said to be even bigger than Xaysana, 50-year-old Khonpasong Soukkaseum, also known as Xiengther, along with three of his associates

Film Review: Ghost in the Shell

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Laotian Times
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Ghost in the Shell Film Review

A couple of nights ago, my wife and I watched the 1995 Ghost in the Shell original anime for the first time in something like 15 years. I wanted to refamiliarize myself with the source material before buying my ticket, moreso because of the two years of controversy that began back when the casting was announced and (gasp!) Scarlett Johansson was announced in the lead. Needless to say, I entered the cinema tonight with grave concerns. If you care about the original anime, then you probably share most if not all of those same concerns. The internet certainly had all of our collective concerns and countless more.

So let me happily report that the filmmakers seem to have anticipated nearly all of our concerns and have delivered something which frankly blew me away. A lot of care has been taken to balance the source material with the demands of financing and producing a hundred million dollar summer blockbuster, including the need to headline that film with a Hollywood star.

I can envision two scenarios where you might be disappointed with the film: First, you’ve convinced yourself that there’s no way that the live-action Ghost in the Shell will never live up to your purist expectations and nothing will change your mind. (In which case, your time is probably better spent sulking and typing out an angry, misinformed diatribe on Reddit). And second, after watching the original, you were only interested in this version because it would give you the chance to see Scarlett Johansson without her clothes on. (In which case, you’re probably better off watching something else at home, rather than taking your weird celebrity fetish out into public.)

But for the rest of us, the movie is pretty fantastic and we’ll likely end up heading back to the cinema to give them more money just to soak up the details that we missed the first time through. For those of you that are interested in the film, but aren’t familiar with the source material, here is another point of comparison: I think the movie was far better than The Matrix, and darn near close to the original Bladerunner. It’s an incredibly thoughtful and smart piece of science fiction.

Now before you go, you should know that Ghost in the Shell isn’t a straight-up remake of the original anime, but it draws heavily from the imagery and ideas of the original. If you’ve seen the trailer, then there are a lot of things that likely felt very familiar. However, once you’re in the film itself, you figure out quickly that all of these moments have been recontextualized inside a completely different narrative. It creates an odd feeling of simultaneously knowing what’s coming next (Here comes the spider tank fight!) and having the suspense and tension of not knowing how everything is going to play out (Major’s name is what?!). But Ghost in the Shell gets the big themes dead right, and that’s what’s most important.

It’s really a shame that the online discussion of the film has centered entirely on the supposed ‘whitewashing’ of Major’s character, because frankly, Ghost in the Shell is one of the most genuinely diverse Hollywood blockbusters that I think I’ve ever seen, but it never comes off feeling like a desk-jockey lawyer with a concern for liberal PC backlash was casting through an ethnicity checklist to make sure there was enough representation to make the film marketable in international markets. Rather, Ghost in the Shell presents a world where cybernetic implants have eliminated racial barriers.

The characters speak naturally with each other in their mother-tongue languages (Be prepared for subtitles), while dealing with the more important ideas of the nature of consciousness and the ‘human soul’ in a world where robots are quickly gaining sentience. Without giving too much away, some late reveals even give a satisfying answer for Ms. Johansson’s casting, and not in an offhand bit of dialogue shoehorned in to placate the internet trolls. It’s a substantial piece of the overall plot. The point is, I think if you’re open to giving the director and characters just a bit of trust, you’ll feel like they’ve earned it by the end.

Ghost in the Shell is screening in English twice daily at the Major Platinum Cineplex at Vientiane Center on Khouvieng Road.

 

Prime Minister Urges End of Tedious Policies to Improve Business Climate in Laos

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Laotian Times
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Doing Business in Laos

Prime Minister Thongloun has advised line ministries to eliminate futile procedures in an effort to improve the business environment in Laos.

When addressing the 10th Lao Business Forum in Vientiane earlier in the week, the Prime Minister stated that the government is attempting to develop a suitable business environment that will simplify unnecessary procedures that are a hindrance to domestic and foreign business operations.

He pointed out that Laos has been grappling with needless challenges and obstacles, suggesting to foreign investors that the country is an unsuitable business climate thus deterring potential foreign investors. He added, “for instance, the complicated and slow procedures involved in imports and exports has been a long-time issue, so the Ministry of Industry and Commerce should take action to deal with the problem,”

PM Thongaloun made it clear to the relevant officials that if a solution could not be found for an issue, both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister are prepared to be relied upon as a resource and inclined to give advice on the dilemma.

“By doing so, we will be able to maintain a stable macroeconomic environment as well as promote the establishment and expansion of new and existing businesses,” he said.

Mr Oudet Souvannavong, President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that the Lao Business Forum played a crucial part in developing the country’s business environment and that this was a platform for dialogue.

“Previously, four issues were raised by the private sector, while 14 issues are in the process of being resolved and another 13 issues still require more time to address,” he said.

Minister of Industry and Commerce, Ms Khemmani Pholsena,explained that development of the legal and regulatory environment was essential for the growth of private enterprise.

She mentioned that despite past efforts made, businesses still face a multitude of challenges associated with the unproductive laws and regulations that are reinforced across the nation. However, insight from past interventions and exploration should encourage more effective approaches in the upcoming years.

Representatives from various Private Sector Working Groups reported on issues and recommended a course of action to rectify those issues, to the line ministries during the course of the meeting,

Among the issues raised, were business taxes, particularly value-added tax (VAT) refunds, the excise tax charged for internet services, high logistics and transport costs, and inconvenient import-export procedures.

The tedious and outdated procedures required to start a business, including enterprise registration and licensing, limited access to affordable finance by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), and the lack of information regarding the labour market were also topics up for discussion.

Prime Minister Thongloun concluded the half-day forum by encouraging the private sector to genuinely share and discuss all unresolved issues so that they can be resolved, especially since he believes that the government should be eager in assisting them because it will contribute to the socio-economic development of Laos.

DoubleTree by Hilton Makes Investment in Laos

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Laotian Times
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Doubletree by Hilton Laos

The award-winning DoubleTree by Hilton will soon be among the many new hotels to open in the heart of Vientiane. Earlier in the week, DoubleTree by Hilton Vientiane signed a management agreement with TPD Company Limited, a branch of TK Group, to manage the 160-room luxury hotel.

The announcement solidifies Hilton’s launch into Laos and the brand’s debut in the capital city of Vientiane.

Guy Philips, senior vice president of development – Asia & Australasia, Hilton stated, “the capital city of Vientiane is a key destination in Laos, with tourist arrivals making up approximately 25 percent of total annual arrivals historically. Vientiane has become a strategic market for Hilton’s first point of entry to Laos. As one of the world’s fastest-growing hospitality companies and through our strong partnership with TPD Company Limited, we are confident that the DoubleTree by Hilton Vientiane will perform well in the market.”

As the social and economic capital of Laos, Vientiane is home to a multitude of substantial financial institutions, government agencies and international businesses holding offices.

Its landlocked state has also positioned the country in a unique seat, acting as a trading hub for various goods on account of its access to Thailand and Vietnam via the Mekong River and three link bridges.

The country is foreseen to has seen a surge in economic growth from foreign investment in recent years, and is foreseen to remain one of the fastest growing economies in Asia as a result of the government’s enthusiasm to encourage foreign investors and pledging to developing the tourism industry.

Leading up to the 2016 launch of the ASEAN Economic Community, statistics showed a 70 percent increase in foreign direct investment.

In addition, the much anticipated US$6 billion, 427-kilometer Laos-China railway, that is currently under construction, will connect the Kunming-Singapore railway and will run through central Vientiane making Laos a vital part of the project.

The economy is expected to see a boost in trade and tourism and spur economic growth within the capital.

The DoubleTree by Hilton Vientiane is located on the intersection of Rue Setthathilath and Rue Manthatourath, close to the iconic stupa, That Dam. The hotel is also conveniently located about five kilometres from Wattay International Airport and is scheduled to open in early 2020.

Khammouane Authorities Shut Down 281 Furniture Plants

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Laotian Times
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Illegal Furniture Plants

281 family-operated furniture plants that have been operating without the necessary permits in the districts of Thakhaek, Hinboun, Bualapha, Yommalath, Nongbok, Xebangfay, Xaybuathong, Nakai and Khounkham, were ordered shut down by Khammouane Provincial authorities.

The Provincial Governor recently issued Decision No.587, a cease and desist of family-operated furniture units without the necessary licensing, assigning provincial Industry and Commerce Department to announce the instructions to relevant sector operators and local authorities to execute the order which is scheduled to be completed within two months.

Deputy Head of Industry Division, Mr Vong Xaysana stated that, the Industry and Commerce Office in each district will set forth the mandate so that illegal family-operated furniture plants will be successfully suspended as planned.

Inspections at wood processing facilities revealed an estimated 89 wood processing plants were operating without licences, while others failed to meet certain standards entirely.

An approximated 78 factories will need to show improvements and management directives shortly after Lao New Year, particularly those located near protected forests.

Meanwhile in Savannakhet, provincial authorities ordered termination of 253 family-based furniture plants, most operating without the proper business licenses.

The department recently auctioned off more than 716 cubic metres of confiscated timber that had been illegally logged, fetching over 1.3 billion kip for the state.

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