Home Blog Page 6471

Eastern Star Bilingual School Highlights Benefits of Reading

By
Laotian Times
-
Eastern Star Bilingual School Highlights Benefits of Reading
Eastern Star Bilingual School Highlights Benefits of Reading
Eastern Star, a private bilingual school in Vientiane, is promoting a love of reading among students and encouraging them to understand the importance of developing their reading skills through a new reading initiative.
 
Ike Goldberg, a senior teacher at Eastern Star Bilingual School, told Laotian Times, “we want to let everyone know that our students are participating in a new reading initiative. This particular program required the complete support of our teachers, principal and parents. As a school, we aim to reach each and every student to improve their learning.”
 
This academic year, the Eastern Star administration has decided to place more emphasis on low-achieving students so that they meet minimum academic standards. In order to identify low-achievers, the Cambridge benchmark test was given to students to test their reading levels.
 
Goldberg said “our school Professional Learning Community has discussed all the important factors that cause some students to have low reading achievement. The first step taken by the administration to improve reading skills was to organise a three-week book fair which involved students participating in both a at-school and at-home reading program. The students had a fun time reading and expressing themselves while sharing stories during their reading hour. Apart from that, each class has its own library. In order to get a new book from their class library, students must first finish a book and write a summary of its contents. The teachers’ room bulletin board is now full of their beautiful summary papers. Some of the students even draw characters from the books they read.”
 
“We have had much success with the program, and we have even extended it to beyond Grades 6-12 which had initially been the target grades. It now applies to primary school and high school students,” Goldberg added.
 
Students will be tested three times a year and their progress shared with parents and other students.
 
“We would like to have all our students on their standard grade reading level. We cannot be more proud of the fact that our students have increased their reading hours in school and at home. We appreciate all of the teachers and assistants who have worked diligently to implement this reading program.” He also mentioned that Ahmet Pektash, the Eastern Star Schools Nongbone principal, has been instrumental in providing the necessary support for the program.
 
Eastern Star Bilingual School Highlights Benefits of Reading
Eastern Star School Students Reading in Public
“After seeing the success of the reading program and the students’ progress, we decided to have our students go out to public places to read books in order to create a reading awareness in Vientiane,” Goldberg continued.
 
Goldberg led twenty students to Patouxay Monument during their reading hour, during which they sat on the ground and read books. Lots of people took pictures with them and conveyed how much they appreciated this wonderful initiative.
 
 

Laos Vying for Chinese Tourism

By
Laotian Times
-
Chinese Tourism in Laos

There is no dispute when stating that Chinese tourism in Laos has been on the rise.

In 2011, according to statistics from the ministry’s tourism sector, data showed that 150,791 Chinese tourists traveled to Laos. Since then, the figure has steadily increased, with almost 400,000 Chinese tourists passing through Lao borders just between January and September of 2016 alone.

After noticing the large number of Chinese tourists and boost in revenue to the economy, Laos has been actively pursuing more Chinese tourists to visit the country.

At a recent annual meeting of the information, culture and tourism sector, Vientiane Times quoted Lao Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Bosengkham Vongdara as saying, “Laos should target more Chinese tourism because Chinese tourists are high-end customers and spend a lot.”

However, tourism operators and specialists say that Laos has areas of opportunities in the tourism market that they need to address to meet the demands of Chinese consumers. Opportunities such as transportation, services, and tourist sites all must be improved and held to a standard, while it is also crucial to address the problems that constantly cause frustration for visitors.

According to the Vientiane Times article, Xanglao Travel Director Vilaysone Louangaphay (the man behind the famous hop-on, hop-off tourist bus) has stated, that in order to fully welcome large numbers of Chinese people, the tourism sector needs to study their requirements. Service standards have much room for improvement; stressing that restaurants, hospitality facilities and transport operators must invoke trust with their guests.

Oudomxay authorities had met with related sectors in three northern provinces that share borders with China, those being Luang Namtha, Bokeo and Phongsaly, to seek consensus in solving issues that impact the tourism climate, says Director of the Information, Culture and Tourism Department in northern Oudomxay Province Phonsavanh Phanthavichit.

Oudomxay officials have held discussions with their Chinese counterparts on how to influence Chinese companies to invest in various sectors in the province, including tourism.

Phonsavanh said the department will continue to work with businesses in hospitality, tourist site operators, and restaurant owners to upgrade their services and infrastructure to accommodate visitors.

The official also states that Chinese people are interested in Lao culture and the lifestyle of ethnic groups, so these areas should be highlighted as part of Laos’ sales pitch.

China is one five nations neighboring the land-locked country, with the others being Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar.

MIST: Groundbreaking Tourism Accelerators Now Accepting Projects in the Mekong Region

By
Laotian Times
-
MIST Mekong Innovative Startup Tourism

HANOI, VIETNAM – The Mekong Innovative Startup Tourism (MIST) Initiative has announced two new accelerators designed to make it easier and faster for innovative tourism businesses to get established in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. The MIST Startup Accelerator will take entries from early stage companies with either travel technology or traditional tourism business plans. The MIST Market Access Accelerator welcomes applications from mature international tourism startups needing assistance entering the region. Both accelerators will close to applications 26 March.

Applicants must demonstrate how they will create jobs, generate positive community impact and contribute to sustainable tourism growth in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, or Vietnam.

“The MIST accelerator programs give a leg up to tourism investments that create jobs, help local communities, and support entrepreneurship, especially for women,” explained Dominic Mellor, senior Asian Development Bank economist and head of the Mekong Business Initiative.

Founders accepted into the MIST Startup Accelerator will attend mini bootcamps to further develop their business plans. The top business plans for each country market will win MIST Innovation Grants, with the best overall receiving US$10,000 and the three runners-up receiving $7,000.

MIST infographic

MIST Market Access Accelerator participants will join familiarization tours of relevant Mekong Region markets. Through these tours, they will receive coaching, custom market insights, and introductions to supplier networks and relevant stakeholders.

Participants in both MIST accelerators will pitch their plans to investors, global acceleration programs, and tourism leaders at the Mekong Tourism Forum in June (Luang Prabang, Lao PDR) and APEC Summit in November (Danang, Vietnam). In-country teams will provide additional advisory services tailored to participants’ business needs.

“The Great Mekong Subregion is among the fastest growing tourism destinations on earth. Start-ups can disrupt traditional practices to adapt to changing consumer behaviors, but let’s also encourage responsible innovation that enhances the region’s appeal for future generations,” said Jens Thraenhart, Executive Director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office.

MIST is a joint venture of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office and the Mekong Business Initiative. It receives regional funding, advisory and technical support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Government of Australia, Amadeus Next, the Pacific Asia Travel Association, and Village Capital. It has been endorsed by young entrepreneurs associations and startup groups in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

Check out the video promo here:

About the Mekong Business Initiative (MBI) – MBI is an advisory facility that promotes private sector development in Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Myanmar, and Viet Nam. MBI fosters development of the innovation ecosystem by supporting business advocacy, alternative finance and innovation. It is supported by the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Australia. On Facebook: MekongBusinessInitiative.

About the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) – Established in early 2006, the MTCO is a collaborative effort between the six countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). Its mission of the MTCO is to help GMS National Tourism Organizations develop and promote the Mekong as a single travel destination, offering a diversity of good quality and high-yielding sub-regional products that help to distribute the benefits of tourism more widely; add to the tourism development efforts of each GMS destination; contribute to poverty reduction, gender equality and empowerment of women; and minimize any adverse impacts of tourism through the development of a sustainable industry. On social media: @TourismMekong.

 

Contact:

Mr. Jason Lusk

MIST Project Coordinator

Mekong Business Initiative

Jason@mekongbiz.org

Worldwide: +1 (202) 738 1792

Vietnam or WhatsApp: +84 (0) 96 976 0912

 

Lao Villages Fall Victim to Chinese Human Trafficking

By
Laotian Times
-
human trafficking in lao villages

It is not uncommon to see reports on human trafficking in the news. We read stories about it happening even in the most powerful nations across the globe. And though there are whispers about it happening in the sleepy little country of Laos, most don’t realize how common it has become in the land-locked country.

Northern villagers in various areas have reported Chinese men entering their villages under the guise of being wealthy, eligible suitors looking for a bride to take home and care for. Girls as young as 16 and 17 are being enticed  to drop out of school and willingly take a husband based on the promise of a better life in China.

However, when they arrive in China, the unfortunate girls are sold into brothels and forced into prostitution.They come from all over the country, the South, the center and Vientiane

The victims are not just restricted to northern Laos, where the land-locked nation borders China, but also the southern and central provinces, and occasionally the capital itself.

These men prey on poor villages and are seeking naive school girls who believe that all Chinese men are rich. The school girls are convinced they will be going to China or another part of Laos where they will get married, but are typically  forced into the sex trade.

A small, possibly increasing, number of women and girls from Laos are sold as brides in China and subjected to sex trafficking,, according to a  US government report on trafficking in persons.

One resident of  Pak Lai District Xayaboury Province spoke of a girl who had finished high school and met a Chinese man who had visited her village. The man told her he loved her, and then made arrangements with a middle-man. Soon after they were engaged, and the man took her to China where she only contacted her family with an occasional message, and her whereabouts were unknown and untraceable.

It was later learned that she was sold to a brothel.

An NGO official has addressed this issue and has stated that it’s unknown how many cases are like this, since there has never been a survey taken.

In her village at least eight girls have gone to China. One girl who left three months ago has never contacted her worried parents.

“Many, many Chinese men come to our village looking for brides,” the villager said. “Some of the girls come back to the village, and a few of them come with one or two babies, but without their Chinese husbands.”

Laos and China  signed an anti-human trafficking memorandum of understanding in 2014, and the  two  countries have devised an action plan to take a stand against human trafficking.

Although the girls who left behind their friends and families were just looking for love, or at least a husband, those who have returned to their villages have understandingly had enough of China.

“These girls say they don’t want to go back to China,” said the villager.

Laos One Of Four Countries To Boost Tourism Integration

By
Laotian Times
-
tourism integration tourism-integration-golden-triangle-special-economic-zone

In collaboration with Thailand, Vietnam and China, Laos is to be included in the development of sustainable tourism integration across eleven provinces in the upper Mekong Basin.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the mechanism of their cooperation was signed last Saturday by officials at the half-day meeting held in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Bokeo province.

Under the MoU, the provinces have agreed to coordinate cross border facilities, on tourism advertising and tourism infrastructure development. This includes tourism route connectivity, human resource development, and integration facilitation for international tourists.

The Laos provinces include Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Oudomxay, Phongsaly, Luang Prabang and Xayaboury; The Chinese prefecture of Xishuangbanna; Sonla and Dien Bien Phu of Vietnam; and the Thailand provinces Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai.

The participating countries will look to cooperate in developing and facilitating a single website for a more efficient approach with tourism sites, tourism advertising, routes, accommodation, restaurants and security guidance for each province being listed.

Additionally, all four  provinces have agreed to provide free Wi-Fi at most tourist service destinations to equip visitors with the ability to communicate while travelling.

At the conference, Bokeo province Deputy Governor Dr Khamking Euaymanihak stated, “the free Wi-Fi will be a channel of advertising where visitors can share their travel experiences including tourist sites and attractions with their friends directly and timely.”

Also highlighted in the tourism integration agreement is the cooperation of the provinces in identifying cross-border tourism points and investing in these areas to attract more tourists to these established sites. They will also look to contribute assistance in the improvements and advertisements of tourist sites, hotels, restaurants, and service facilities to a  quality standard.

Provinces will collaborate in hopes of  developing a more systematic, efficient and comprehensive experience, such  as improving the transportation systems between countries including the road links between Huayxai, Luang Namtha and Xieng Khuang in Laos and Kunming in China, the road between Huayxai in Laos and Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai in Thailand, and the road between Huayxai and Oudomxay in Laos and Dien Bien Phu, Son La, and Nge An in Vietnam.

The participating parties will also determine the optimal Mekong River tourism and goods transportation routes linking all four countries, which according to the programme, could be the Lancang River Tour. This will connect the provinces of Xieng Khuang, Chiang Sen, Bokeo, Xayaboury, Oudomxay, and Luang Prabang.

Border crossing points will also be an area of a improvement that the cooperation will be focusing on so that travelers can enter and exit each international checkpoint with little difficulty or hassle.

Laos Places 3rd On World’s Friendliest Countries List

By
Laotian Times
-

London-based Rough Guides has turned to its Twitter and Facebook followers to ask for their opinion on the world’s friendliest countries. Why do we care? Well, Laos made it to 3rd place!

While a ranking of this nature is probably not particularly scientific, highly objective nor very representative of the world’s real tastes as a whole, it is nevertheless quite flattering that Rough Guides followers chose Lao people as the third most hospitable and welcoming in the world.

The results of the poll conducted included every country from Albania to Uganda, but below are the top ten friendliest countries in the world.

Call us biased if you will, but here at The Laotian Times, we have our own theory about why the following countries are so friendly: because they’re the happiest!

10. Sri-Lanka (of course they are on the list, their name sounds like Shangri-La!)

9. Scotland (is it the Highlands, the Islands, the history, the mystery, the bagpipes, and the poetry? Or could the tickle of frigid air under the kilt after a breakfast of scotch whisky on porridge have something to do with it?)

8. Fiji (must be that great tasting water and the lovely, lovely beaches – but don’t get us wrong, the water does not come from the beaches)

7. Indonesia (great value for money and tremendously great tasting foods like Nasi Goreng, Satay, Soto Mie and Nasi Kuning; if the stomach is happy, then the mind is happy)

6. Myanmar (the Shwedagon Temple is the oldest Buddhist temple in the world – which means that as Buddhists, Burmese people had a head start at being friendly, and have had a longer time to perfect their friendliness!)

5. Thailand (they don’t call Thailand the Land of Smiles for nothing)

4. Nepal (we’d be happy too if we had the tallest mountain in the world)

3. Laos (We’ve got the best tasting beers in the world, that’s why!)

2. The Philippines (they love to sing and they have so many public holidays)

1. Cambodia (despite a bit of a hiccup along the way, the Cambodian people have a long history of friendliness. Or maybe it’s something about eating those big hairy spiders?)

Give us your opinion in the comments section below. Why do you think Lao people are happy and friendly? Is this a good list? Which country should have made it to the list?

Source: Rough Guides

Villa Opera: Homely High-end Italian in Vientiane

By
Laotian Times
-
Villa Opera Italian Food Vientiane

I have found a quiet bit of Italy in Vientiane where the homemade pasta is bellissimo.

After the closure of the Italian restaurant L’Opera, near the Mix Fountain, Mr Pino Peruzzi has re-opened for business with another Italian Restaurant, called Villa Opera. Villa Opera is situated just one block back from the Mekong River on Rue Panya Sri, just behind The Spirit House. After the 7 month refurbishment of an old run down French Colonial Villa it is difficult to imagine what the building used to be like as the refurbishment is to a very high standard, maintaining the traditional exterior with a very modern interior.

If you have previously eaten at the Italian L’Opera you will pleased to find most of your favourites on the menu here. This restaurant is not the place for a cheap meal with antipasti and appetizers priced from 50,000-300,000 kip and mains that include Kobe Steak at 1.5m kip per 200 grams. There are, however, some reasonably priced options with various homemade pasta dishes at around 95,000 kip per dish.

Villa Opera Vientiane

The restaurant was easy to find, occupying a corner on the street, and there is plenty of parking. I received a warm welcome from the owner, Pino, himself on arrival. The restaurant has plenty of seating with nice cozy corners for two and also larger tables for families and groups. The interior is bright, with colored glasses, and is minimal and modern. It has a feel of style and sophistication without being over the top. I felt very comfortable.

The staff seated me at my table and quickly brought me a menu and a large bottle of still water. They soon poured the water before I had chance to confirm I wanted it (I cannot complain about the speedy service but please never assume I want to purchase the water without asking).

I was also quickly brought some complimentary traditional Italian bread, topped with rosemary. It smelt divine with the rosemary on top and was very fresh. Like most breads, it was a little dry, and I would have appreciated some Italian olive oil and maybe some balsamic vinegar to dip my bread in.

Villa Opera Vientiane Laos

Pino came over whilst we were browsing the extensive menu and informed us politely that the restaurant was not fully open yet. They are still awaiting their traditional pizza oven so they can do pizzas but not in the traditional oven. For me this did not matter because I wanted to try the homemade pasta.

For starters I tried the ‘Bruschetta di Salsiccia’ and the ‘Zuppa di Pesce’ (Spicy Seafood Soup). The waitress informed me at the time of ordering that the seafood soup was quite spicy which for me is okay. The starters took about 15 minutes to arrive because everything is made fresh to order, but this was not a problem because I was nibbling on the Italian bread.

The Bruschetta was two pieces of toasted bread with cheese and Italian sausage on it. It was very nice and the Italian sausage was particularly tasty but the flavors were quite simple. By contrast, the spicy seafood soup was a bowl of many flavors, from the fresh seafood broth, to the lemongrass, to the chili and the seafood, alongside all the other herbs and spices. For me the soup had a perfect balance of chili that did not overpower the subtle flavors of the squid, prawns and fish, yet enough to add a little kick to the dish. I will definitely be reordering the spicy seafood soup on my next visit.

Whilst eating the starter there was no offer of fresh salt or pepper, and no one checked back that everything was okay. This may be because the staff are still going through their training. I remember from eating in L’Opera there was always the offer of fresh salt and pepper, and always a quality check back.

For the main course I tried the ‘Homemade egg ribbon pasta with lamb ragout’ and the ‘Lasagne Verdi al Forno’ (Baked Spinach Lasagne). I was keen to try these dishes because both are made with homemade pasta and I am a huge lover of homemade pasta rather than the dry pasta you usually buy in the minimart. The egg ribbon pasta was beautiful and light and reminded me of a recent holiday in Rome, Italy. For a moment I could close my eyes and pretend I was back there. The ragout sauce was plentiful and enough to cover the pasta, with a good quantity of premium pieces of lamb that melted in my mouth.

[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”14″ override_thumbnail_settings=”1″ thumbnail_width=”100″ thumbnail_height=”75″ thumbnail_crop=”1″ images_per_page=”20″ number_of_columns=”0″ ajax_pagination=”0″ show_all_in_lightbox=”0″ use_imagebrowser_effect=”0″ show_slideshow_link=”0″ slideshow_link_text=”[Show slideshow]” template=”/home4/laotiantimes/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/products/photocrati_nextgen/modules/ngglegacy/view/gallery.php” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_thumbnails”]The Lasagna was delicious with many layers of the homemade sheets of spinach pasta, rich meat ragout, and béchamel sauce. It had been baked to perfection served with more of the tasty meat ragout on top. I appreciated that the lasagna had been made as a single portion and was not part of a mass produced larger lasagna that some Italian restaurants serve. Again the homemade pasta was fresh and light. Both of the main dishes were 95,000 kip each, and based on the quality of the ingredients, and because it was homemade pasta, I thought they were both good value for money.

I enjoyed both main dishes but with so much choice of other dishes including classic pasta dishes like ravioli or carbonara, and pizzas, and risotto and other authentic Italian favorites, I will choose something different next time.

Despite being rather full from the starter and main course, I just couldn’t resist trying a dessert. There was no dessert menu but instead the waitress brought over a tray with one of each dessert on it to peruse. The desserts looked extremely tempting, and despite my efforts to try something new I went with my favourite classic Italian dessert, ‘Tiramisu’.

I have eaten Tiramisu in Italy about five times and each time it has been slightly different in terms of cream/sponge/alcohol mix. The Tiramisu at Villa Opera has a thin sponge base, and was very heavy on the cream and light on the liquor. I prefer more sponge, soaked in Marsala and a little less cream, particularly after two other courses when I am feeling a little full. I found it a little too heavy at the end of a meal. Note: there are no prices on the dessert tray so you will need to ask for these.

I will definitely return to Villa Opera because I really liked the relaxed homely feel of it, made even warmer by the personal greeting from the owner, Pino. I also thoroughly enjoyed the homemade pasta with the authentic taste of Italy. Depending on your budget, this might be a place to visit more for a special occasion rather than a regular place to dine.

‘Fifty Shades Darker’ Banned in Laos

By
Laotian Times
-
Fifty Shades Darker Banned in Laos

In the 18 months since the first cineplex opened in Laos, the Cinema Department, under the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism has never censored nor banned a film — until now. Screenings of the erotic romantic drama “Fifty Shades Darker” have been cancelled at all three cinemas in Laos.

According to the Film Authorization Permit that is created for each film shown in Laos: “After inspecting the contents of this film, it was found to be inappropriate to be shown, due to the film’s obscenity; therefore, it is forbidden to show this film in the Lao PDR.”

Notice Banning Fifty Shades Darker

Fifty Shades Darker, starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan, opened worldwide on 10 Feb and has only garnered a 9% favorability rating on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes. The online furor caused by such a ban will surely only increase bootleg DVD sales around the city in the coming months.

1...6,4706,4716,472...6,665Page 6,471 of 6,665