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Luang Prabang Makes New York Times 2018 Travel List

Luang Prabang New York Times Travel List

Luang Prabang has been included in the New York Times annual 52 Places To Go edition of its travel section.

Appearing among the likes of the Swiss Alps and the Caribbean islands, Laos’s own heritage city was listed at number 52, cementing its place as one of the world’s most appealing tourism cities.

The  52 Places To Go edition begins with Louisiana as the top destination amid the city’s 300th anniversary, with Colombia coming second, and Italy taking third place. The list continues ranking cities and countries around the world, with Luang Prabang finalizing the list at number 52, following Bristol, England. 

“Being listed by the New York Times demonstrates how much tourism potential exists in Luang Prabang. The city is now clearly recognized as one of the world’s top travel destinations,” says Jason Rolan, General Manager of EXO Travel Laos.

The New York Times produces its travel list each year, and this is the first time that Laos has been included in the list for over ten years. 

Travel writer Daniel Scheffler describes Laos as “a Unesco site without the crowds,” in his brief about the country:

The charms of this peninsula city, set in the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, are best enjoyed by bicycle. Give alms to saffron-robed Buddhist monks in the early morning, then uncover countless gold-roofed wats (temples), or hike to nearby waterfalls. Why now? Get there before the crowds do. There are new resorts — Rosewood and Sofitel — as well as the more affordable luxury brand Azerai (the hotel will become an Avani in March), plus new air connections from most major Asian cities, along with a planned Chinese rail link, making it all easier to get to.

The listing comes only days after Laos topped the Asia section of a travel hotlist published by The Guardian last week.

The two travel listings come at an opportune time, as 2018 is Visit Laos Year, a Lao government initiative to attract more tourists to the country. The initiative was officially launched last October, and includes a range of special attractions and festivals across Laos, including traditional festivals held by various ethnic minorities. 

Photo Credit: Phoonsab Thevongsa

Laos and China open Joint Lab for Renewable Energy Study

renewable energy laos-china-wind-farm

Laos and China have opened a joint laboratory for the study of renewable energy in Vientiane Capital, according to a press release by the Chinese Embassy in Laos.

The laboratory was constructed through a partnership between the Renewable Energy and New Material Research Institute, under the Lao Ministry of Science and Technology and China’s Yunnan Normal University.

The partnership is being supported by China’s Ministry of Science and Technology.

An inauguration ceremony was held on Tuesday in the presence of Lao Minister of Science and Technology Boviengkham Vongdara, President of Yunnan Normal University Jiang Yongwen, and Chinese Ambassador to Laos Wang Wentian.

Following the ceremony, the Chinese ambassador and the Lao minister of science and technology held talks to discuss further cooperation between the two friendly nations in the field of science and technology.

The renewable energy laboratory, officially named the Laos-China Joint Laboratory for Renewable Energy Utilization and Development, will undertake research on renewable energies, and may help Laos to ensure it generates electricity from 100% renewable sources in the future.

Source: Xinhua
Photo: Dailytech

Vientiane to receive Airport Shuttle Bus Service

Vientiane Wattay Airport Shuttle Bus

A new airport shuttle bus service will commence operations next week, taking passengers to and from Wattay International Airport.

The airport shuttle buses will depart every 40 minutes from the Morning Market central bus station in Nong Chan Village, running from 9am until 10pm. Tickets are to be priced at 15,000 kip for a one way trip.

“Until now, the only public transportation to the airport has been taxi services, which charge around 58,000 kip to the airport from the city center,” said Mr Sithiphon Chanthavong, Deputy Manager of the Vientiane 2 City Bus Service.

“Our shuttle bus will stop at 16 locations via the Presidential Palace, and along Souphanouvong Road,” he added.

Furthering the passenger experience, an app will be available for Android smartphones allowing passengers to check bus routes and hail taxis from their location.

The City 2 bus service, under the Vientiane State Bus Enterprise (VSBE) launched its original service between ITECC and the Morning Market in November last year.

The 34 buses operated by the service were donated by the Kyoto City Council amid hopes to assist in easing traffic congestion.

Official bus stops have been designated around the city to prevent the traditional practice of hailing buses at random locations, which can be problematic to the flow of traffic.

Laos-China Railway Project 16% Complete

Laos-China Railway 16% Complete (Photo credit: KPL)
Laos-China Railway 16% Complete (Photo credit: KPL)

Experts working on the Laos-China Railway Project, which aims to connect Bohan-Boten (Laos-China border) to Vientiane Capital by railway, have stated that progress is currently estimated at 16.4% and expected to be completed as scheduled by the end of 2021.

Over the past two years, contractors have completely drilled 53 channels passing through mountains, built 36 bridges with a total length of 54,000 metres, cleared land for building road access to construction areas with a total length of 800km, installed transmission lines over 400km in length, installed 233 transformers and built a water supply system over 93km long.

The China Railway No 2 Engineering Group. a subcontractor in the sixth section of railway construction running 65.7 km from Phonhol district, Vientiane Province to Vientiane Capital, the framework of which consists of 51km infrastructure construction, construction of 17 bridges and four stations, has recently completed the installation of 130 poles and expects all poles to be installed by the middle of this year.

The Laos-China Railway, with a total stretch of approximately 417km, will feature a single 1.435-metre standard-gauge track, electrified mixed-traffic line for which is to be built to China’s GB Grade 1 standards, suitable for 160km/h passenger and 120km/h freight trains.

A combined investment of the railway is said to be US$6 billion, which makes it China’s largest investment project in Laos.

Source: KPL

 

Vientiane Organic Farmers Going Strong

Vientiane Organic Farmers Group (photo credit: memoriesare.blogspot.com)
Vientiane Organic Farmers Group (photo credit: memoriesare.blogspot.com)

Organic farmers’ groups in the sleepy capital of Laos have enjoyed a constant growth over the past couple of years.

According to the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department, there are 41 organic farmers’ groups in Vientiane, of which 10 are organic rice growers’ groups and 17 are vegetable organic growers’ groups in seven out of nine districts. Sisattanak and Chanthabouly are the only two districts to not have any organic farmers’ groups established.

The 10 organic rice growers’ groups have a total of 281 family members. And, there are 285 family members in the vegetable organic farmers’ groups.

The total annual production of these organic farmers’ groups is estimated to be approximately 300 tonnes.

Fourteen (14) organic farmers’ groups are classified as good agricultural production units in the 5 districts of Hatsaifong, Sikhotthabong, Xaythany, Naxaithong and Pakngum.

Most organic produce produced by the organic farmers are sent to major organic markets of Vientiane Capital including Houayhong Market, Chao Fa Ngum market and That Luang organic market.

Vientiane Organic Farmers Group (photo credit: memoriesare.blogspot.com)
Vientiane Organic Farmers Group (photo credit: memoriesare.blogspot.com)
Source: KPL

Cold, Rainy Weather to Sweep Across Laos This Week

cold weather in Laos

The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology has warned that Laos could be hit with some chilly weather over the next few days due to a cold front moving in from China.

The cold snap will hit the country and last from the 9th to the 14th of this month, causing temperatures to drop by five degrees. Northern provinces will see wet weather and strong winds, with high altitude areas bearing the brunt of the cold.

Phongsaly, Houaphanh, and Xieng Khouang provinces are expected to receive the coldest weather, and residents are being told to ensure they have enough warm clothes, and make adequate preparations. Children and the elderly are the most at risk, and should be kept warm at all times.

Residents are encouraged to monitor temperatures over the next week.

Laos Tops Guardian Hotlist of 2018 Travel Destinations

Laos Travel The Guardian

Laos has topped a hotlist of 2018 travel destinations released by The Guardian, published on its website in the Asia section last week.

The Guardian published the travel hotlist detailing where to go on holiday in 2018. The list is divided by continent, with Laos mentioned ahead of Korea, India, Mongolia, and Taiwan.

In the article, Laos is described as a country more suited to seasoned travelers, although the writer states that the country is working hard to improve its tourism industry.

“Road travel is better than it used to be and new domestic air routes and river cruises have opened,” writes The Guardian.

It continues to mention 18 events that will be held around the country in line with the Visit Laos Year 2018 initiative, including festivals and events in Luang Prabang and Oudomxay.

“Explore the dramatic Bolaven plateau, then join a Mekong cruise, stopping at the ancient temple of Vat Phou,” the article suggests, among other interesting options.

Visit Laos Year 2018 is a Lao government initiative to attract more tourists to the country. The initiative was officially launched last October, and includes a range of special attractions and festivals across Laos, including traditional festivals held by various ethnic minorities. 

In a bid to attract tourism, and as part of Visit Laos Year 2018, the government of Laos waived visas for a number of countries, including four Scandinavian countries, whose citizens are now visa exempt until the end of 2018.

View the full travel hotlist by The Guardian here: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/ng-interactive/2018/jan/06/where-to-go-on-holiday-in-2018-the-hotlist#Asia

Photo: Laotian Times Photographer

Savannakhet Reaches Population of 1 Million

savannakhet

Savannakhet Province is now officially the province with the largest population in Laos, according to a report released by the provincial statistics bureau on Thursday.

The province now makes up 15 percent of the total population of Laos, with Vientiane Capital home to the second-largest population of approximately 850,000.

Champasack Province has 600,000 people, while Luang Prabang has over 400,000.

While Savannakhet now holds the title of most populous province, actual population density is lower than in Vientiane Capital. While Vientiane has large urban areas, the residents of Savannakhet live mainly in rural areas. The provincial capital of Savannakhet Province, Kaysone Phomvihane, which has recently been officially upgraded to a city, has a population of only around 120,000.

Savannakhet Province is the largest province in Laos, at 21,774 square kilometers, and has a growing industry sector. The province still requires better infrastructure and facilities to meet the needs of its relatively large population, however.

Source: Vientiane Times
Photo: www.visit-laos.com