The Wat Phou Festival or Boun Wat Phou is the highlight of the year for Champasak District; a three-day fiesta held as part of the Makha Bouxa Buddhist Festival.
Laos’ First Real Estate Expo Expecting To Draw 40+ Firms To 2-Day Fiesta
The first real estate investment expo in Laos is set to open eyes, hearts, dreams, and pocketbooks at Don Chan Palace Hotel on Friday & Saturday, March 1-2 2019.
Open to attendance from the public with free entry, Patrons will not only have a chance to eye off some the nation’s best property deals, but go in the draw to win international flight packages and a host of other prizes.
Laorealestate.la, in partnership with the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) and Laos’ leading online marketplace, www.yula.la, is excited to announce it will be hosting the event.
The Laorealestate.la Expo 2019 is set to bring together Laos’ top property developers, architects, builders, real estate agencies, plot land vendors, banks offering home loans, insurance companies, law firms, and even international property investments.
The Laotian Times, Lao Post and Champa Meuang Lao magazine were among media partners in attendance at the launch.
More than 40 firms will exhibit in one room, for two days only, and the event is expecting over 3000 local and international attendees. Laos’ best luxury car brands and related businesses will also exhibit at the entrance of the event.
On top of a variety of property offerings, the Laorealestate.la Expo will also offer attendees access to a dedicated free seminar room with over 20 seminars from Laos’ leading real estate agents, property development experts, economists, lawyers, financiers, and Government officials.
Various international guests will present in the seminar room, to take a look at Laos’ real estate market in a regional context.
Seminars are focussed on educating buyers and sellers on the Lao investment climate, regulation, pitfalls, and upsides of the sector, and advice for first both first home and experienced buyers.
A special guest confirmed for the event is Dr. Somchai Charoenvarakiet, a Thai Feng Shui Real Estate consultant of over 20 years.
Dr. Somchai is set to offer his insights on how to maximize the positive energy of their home or office through Feng Shui design techniques.
All seminars will be translated via headsets in Lao, English and Chinese languages.
For the first time in the country’s history, all the big names from the Lao real estate industry will be together under one roof.
This presents a perfect opportunity for local buyers and international investors to survey the country’s best property opportunities.
Property sellers and financiers will also bring special expo-only promotions to guests.
“The LNCCI is proud to be a partner of the first ever specialised real estate investment expo in Laos,” Vice President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), Mr. Daovone Phachanthavong, told the media gathered at the launch.
“Ultimately, events such these will develop the whole sector and the wider economy, sharing information, best practices, business connections and generating a wider consumer base for exhibitors and sponsors, across both local and international networks.”
“This exciting event will provide the perfect platform to celebrate Laos’ real estate industry and to showcase the opportunities this market has to offer to both end-buyers and investors,” Mr Dominick Williams, Chief Executive Officer of APA Insurance Laos (Phongsavanh Insurance (APA) Co., Ltd), the main sponsor and key partner of the laorealestate.la Expo 19 alongside the LNCCI, Yula.la and laorealestate.la, told the gathering.
“Ultimately this will support the progress of the Laos real estate sector and the economy as a whole. As a leading local provider of property and construction insurance, as well as mortgage protection insurance, APA Insurance is delighted to support Expo as partner and main sponsor, and we very much look forward to welcoming guests to Don Chan on March 1st and 2nd, 2019”.
“The 2019 Expo is a great platform for property related businesses to generate leads and increase sales, it also represents a chance to celebrate the local real estate industry and give businesses an opportunity to strengthen their brand.” Mr. James Whitehead, CEO of Yula.la & laorealestate.la, said.
“For our attendees, we are offering a unique opportunity to view a range of property investment options in one room, over 2 days; ranging from plot land options, houses, villas, condos, construction firms, architectural designers, and property services and advice.
“First home buyers will also benefit from a range of home loan options, and specific legal and insurance advice.
“Those seeking international investment, travel, immigration and education options will also benefit from a range of exhibitors advertising opportunities in destinations such as Australia, USA, Europe, Malaysia, and Thailand – to name a few.
“The dedicated seminar room will offer a perfect and totally free opportunity for potential property buyers to learn about taxes, valuations, land laws, investment considerations, market trends and how to finance a home safely, among many other topics. We will have over 20 local and international speakers in the seminar section, over the two-day event.
“The event is now over 70% sold out for exhibitors and sponsors, thanks to a huge effort from the yula.la sales and marketing team, and we have already registered over 1300 local and international guests to join us next month.”
Digital Classified Group (DCG), the Australian-based parent company of Yula.la & Laorealestate.la, is bringing the real estate show concept to Laos after having successfully ran similar expos in several other markets internationally, including Cambodia and Papau New Guinea.
It is boasting a track record of well over USD $80 million worth of property sales at those various events, 30,000 attendees and over 200+ exhibitors.
The event will also be supported through a wide array of Lao and international media partners, including major local media channels both on and offline, Lao’s most prominent business chambers, and an array of investor networks across ASEAN and in China.
Digital Classified Lao Sole Co., Ltd., the Lao subsidiary of Digital Classified Group, would like to extend the utmost thanks to our partners of the first ever Laorealestate.la Expo, namely the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment & APA Insurance.
Those wanting to supercharge their brand and business connections are urged to sign up for a booth.
To become an exhibitor or sponsor and take your real estate brand to the next level, visit https://realestatekh.lpages.co/lao-real-estate-expo-2019-exhibitors-sponsors/ or contact: +856 20 55 550 906 | contact@yula.la
Attendees are encouraged to register as soon for event updates and prizes vis https://realestatekh.lpages.co/lao-real-estate-expo-2019-attendees/ to sign up for free entry and RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2192522880987586/
Sponsors include APA Insurance, provider of property and construction insurance, Archineer Associates, Architecture, Engineering and Consultancy firm; Aristo Developers, Property Developing companies in Cyprus, and Bluegrass Design Group and Guru Group, end-to-end marketing companies.
Additional Partners & Media include American-Lao Business Association, The European Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Laos, Austcham Lao, Muan.la, Bizgital, ECCIL (The European Business Chamber), The Laotian Times & LaoPost, Talatlao magazine, Realestate.com.kh, Champa Meuanglao Magazine, J&C Services, 108 Jobs, cvConnect, Kiwipay, Silkroad Media and Big Blue.
The Laotian Times reporting on real estate issues and stories can be found here.
via laorealestate.la yula.la & LNCCI. Laotian Times, Lao Post, Champa Meuang Lao among the media partners.
Words + Laotian Times; Images + Laos Briefly
Luang Namtha, Phongsaly Feeling Earth Move As M4+ Quakes Detected
Earth tremors in Laos north have been reported, with another quake of some 4.0 felt in the early hours of January 16 in Luang Namtha Province.
The data detections come via Thailand’s Meteorological Agency seismologists, with confirmations made by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in Laos.
The quake was detected at 21.11 ° N, 101.58 ° E at 0:26 local time.
It followed a smaller 3.0 tremor at 18:38 local time nearby in Luang Namtha’s Ban Tintok (21.15°N , 101.64°E).
These followed a 4.9M quake was detected on January 10 in Ban Nateuy, Luang Namtha.
Another earthquake calculated at Magnitude 4.7 centered under Phongsaly province’s village of Ban Ngay Neua was detected Monday evening of January 14, an official notice confirmed.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment notice, the tremor at 17:54 measured a magnitude of 4.7 on the Richter Scale Ban Ngay Neua Village, Phongsaly Province (21.85N 101.91E) with no reports of damage.
Authentic, Natural, Charming, Chill As Bloggers, New Media Explore Unpretentious, Indelible Mekong Moments in Southern Laos
Southern Laos: Could there be a more adventurous yet chilled, charming and unpretentious place in SE Asia for genuine, authentic, relaxing and inspiring #MekongMoments?
Like a rustic riverboat floating down the river around the bend into sight, the boatman and passengers sardonic smile a nod of recognition before continuing on its way, this part of multiethnic and deeply cultural Laos is at once revealing and elusive, genuine and intriguing, practical, straightforward and beguiling.
If you have spent time in this extraordinary country, you may well know exactly what I am talking about. It may go double for the easygoing south, home to a multitude of ethnic of whom the Katu are counted.
It may be just a murmur like a bubble of a brook, or a discovery waiting around the corner like a stunning waterfall.
For this writer, at least one foot has been firmly rooted in Laos’ capital Vientiane’s news media scene for the past few years.
The other? Always ready to set off on adventure north, south, east or west, of course!
On behalf of Laotian Times and my own media blog Laos Briefly, I’d be bringing our audience on a ride by joining a group of bloggers and new media to be Charmed by Nature, Southern Laos style.
So, it was with both anticipation that one prepared to take a leap of faith and flight via Lao Airlines from Vientiane’s Wattay Airport’s brand new domestic terminal to the charms of Pakse to meet the folk and reacquaint myself with the place I would be spending quality time with. Sabaideeeee!
It was already the business end of #VisitLaosYear 2018 festivities, an effort to attract more folk to experience one of South East Asia’s most authentic and allowing its chilled destinations to capture more hearts.
Now, I was back deep in Laos Simply Beautiful’s South with a smile on my face.
There was also a bit of trepidation. How would one’s musings gel with this group of funky adventurers from Australia, Canada, Nepal, Thailand, Pakistan, Switzerland, UK, and US and based in Bangkok and beyond?
Needless to say, there was a lot to learn and more fun to have as we all jumped in the deep end to experience the delights and adventures that await visitors to southern Laos.
If there was any doubt, sharing such experiences over a week was always gonna be fun with those behind blogs with titles like the Chow Traveller, The Roaming Cook, This is Mick, StellaBalcony, Anna Sherchand, Dose of Life, Gerber Photography and The Travelerz alongside local brethren We Are Lao.
Ancient and inclusive traditional VIP welcomes with garlands wandering around the ancient and historic pre-Angkorian temples of Vat Phou to trying to climb up a date palm like a sprightly 70-year-old sugar farmer.
Candles lit, luck wished and bonds created with gathering by proud provincial authorities.
Sipping coffee to get the heart started to blowing your mind ziplining across the face of a 220-metre waterfall.
Nodding off on a relaxing riverboat ride before being awoken to see a rare living treasure in the form of an endangered Irrawaddy dolphin.
These are just some of the extraordinary experiences and adventures that visitors to Southern Laos can experience and enjoy, and so we were!
From the elevated reaches, rich volcanic soils fueling the growth of coffee, tea and cascades of the Bolaven Plateau to the slow flow of the river around the 4000 islands, mighty rapids and calm dolphin pool of the Mekong’s lowest reach in Laos, the natural attractions abound in Southern Laos.
Fresh air and unbounded beauty await those whose lives are spent more in concrete jungles than rainforest canopies and sparsely inhabited tropical islands.
Speaking of flavor, the food! “Extraordinary!”
Drawing on a rich tapestry of ingredients found at various elevations, Lao cuisine has been emerging into the spotlight in recent years alongside its more famous neighbors, the trip’s keenest foodies gushed.
Like the cuisine, dance and music added flavor and color and sound to the experiences that are now fond memories.
Watching participants been drawn up and into the dance as full participants was another reminder of the inclusive strengths of Lao culture that adds another layer to the country’s experience on offer to travelers.
Picture wise, Southern Laos is also a photographer and videographers dream.
Early light Alms Giving to Monks and Bustle of the Markets.
Golden Buddhas.
Shimmering sunrises and sunsets.
Ever-evolving cloud formations over the Mekong.
All create scenes that make the heart flutter and prove a snappers dream come true.
Checking out blogs of aforementioned fellow adventurers and I have been transported way back to southern Laos once again!
#VisitLaosYear2018 #MekongMoments #SouthernLaos #CharmingByNatureOnline and in person, I would encourage you, dear reader, to do the very same whenever you get the chance in Southern Laos!
From Laos With Love: Russian-made T-34 Tanks Head Home
Laos has long been a favored destination for Russian-produced military hardware, yet now some tanks are rolling back in the other direction.
Recently retired from “active service” in the Lao Armed Forces, some 30 Soviet WW II-era T-34 battle tanks have made the journey back from Laos to Russia, according to press organizations, including news agency Associated Press.
“The equipment transferred by the Lao side is planned to be used during the Victory Parades in various cities of Russia, for updating museum exhibits, as well as for making historical films about the Great Patriotic War,” The National Interest magazine reported the Russian defense ministry as saying.
According to the report, the ministry said Wednesday the tanks are “fully combat-ready and will be used in military parades and for making World War II movies”.
“More than 58,000 T-34s were built between 1940 and 1946, making it the world’s most widely produced tank, but only several of them have remained in working condition in Russia,” the AP report stated.
The T-34’s key role in defeating Nazi-aligned forces has seen them emerge as a widely revered symbol of the Russian nation’s heroism and wartime suffering.
The move comes as Laos takes delivery of some more up to date Russian kit in the form of T-72B ‘White Eagle’ MBTs tanks YAK 130 fighter jet aircraft as reported in the Diplomat.
The two governments agreed to the transfer while also working out a broader arms deal, with reports in December of Russian-made arms deliveries ahead of Laos’ Army Day on January 20.
Kings For A Day, Pastry Passions Of Lifetimes: Country’s French Patissiers Do La Galette des Rois
From Hotels to Bakehouses and more beyond, representatives the very best of the city’s patissiers were on show as the Ambassade de France au Laos hosted annual feast La Galette des Rois for Epiphany / 3 Kings Festival in Vientiane on January 10.
The nation’s Ambassadrice Mme Florence Jeanblanc-Risler, was there to offer words of welcome to guests in which she reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to the deep historical, longlasting and evolving links to Laos.
The Laotian Times was there to sample the feast for all senses & Laos Briefly joined the fun to capture a few pics, each putting on a few extra kilos just to fully round out the festive season once and for all…
Words via The Laotian Times
Images via Laos Briefly
Vientiane’s Mercure Hotel To Shut Doors As March 1 Closure Announced
Mercure Hotel chain has announced the closure of its Vientiane property from March 1, 2019.
The Mercure is set to continue trading until February 28 shutting its doors for the final time March 1, the letter signed by general manager Christopher Yeo and dated December 26, 2018, announced.
Boasting 172 well-designed guestrooms, the four-story hotel long benefited from its site conveniently situated on the airport end of Vientiane’s downtown.
More recently the highly competitive market for higher end hotel accommodation and proximity to the larger Crowne Plaza Hotel were doubtless among the factors driving demand and affecting considerations on the viability of the business in Vientiane for the Mercure Chain, part of the Accor group.
Laotian Times like other denizens of the city and beyond will be tuned in to learn what’s next for this prime spot located opposite the Park Honouring the legendary monarch King Fa Ngum.
