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Laos-China Railway Project 16% Complete

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Laotian Times
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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

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Laotian Times
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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

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Laotian Times
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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

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Laotian Times
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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

By
Laotian Times
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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

13th Annual Lao Food Festival Set to be Largest Yet

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Laotian Times
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13th Annual Lao Food Festival
13th Annual Lao Food Festival

President of the Lao Business Women’s Association Madame Chanthachone Vongsay has encouraged Vientiane residents and visitors to attend the 13th Annual Lao Food Festival, which is scheduled to be held at Chao Anouvong Park in Vientiane Capital from this 24 Jan to 27 Jan, 2018. This year’s theme is entitled “Best Lao Food to Welcome Visit Laos Year 2018.”

“The festival aims to promote opportunities for women entrepreneurs to exchange knowledge and learn how to improve their food products and supply market demand, thus boosting their income generation,” Chanthachone said.

The 13th Annual Lao Food Festival is expected to draw about 180 booths, more than previous years, from domestic and foreign exhibitors, including Lao culinary vendors across the country, as well as their counterparts from the ASEAN countries.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the 10th Annual Lao Food Festival
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the 10th Annual Lao Food Festival

In addition, embassies from ASEAN countries such as Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand will also participate in the festival to promote and display their national foods.

The festival will also feature a cooking contest where top Lao chefs will display their skills preparing specific dishes.

Contestants for the cooking contest stand ready
Contestants for the cooking contest stand ready

The winners of the contest will be awarded 5 million kip as the top cash prize, 3 million kip and 2 million kip for the first and second runners-up. Eligible candidates can apply for the contest at 021465034.

The major sponsors of the festival this year are: Lao Brewery Company, the Dao Heuang Group, the Department of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion and KP Company. It is organized by the Lao Business Women’s Association.

The 10th Lao Food Festival takes place from January 29-31

VO The 10th Lao Food Festival takes place from January 29-31 at Chao Anouvong Park in Vientiane.INTRO: People with a taste for good food will be able to satisfy their stomachs at this year's Lao Food Festival, which is scheduled to take place from January 29-31 at Chao Anouvong Park in Vientiane.STORY: The event is organised by the Lao Businesswomen's Association in collaboration with the Lao Women's Union. This year's festival features 120 booths. One hundred of these exhibit and sell a variety of food and products from around the country while the other 20 booths display goods selected by event sponsorsAccording to the Lao Businesswomen's Association President Chanthachone Vongsay, this is a significant increase over the 70 booths set up at last year's festival. The event is to promote women's businesses in terms of cooking and restaurants in Vientiane and the provinces.It is also a chance for women who run businesses in food preparation and production to discuss their experiences and how they can improve their products to meet market demand.The food industry in Laos has grown extensively over the past few years and more and more people both within the country and outside are discovering the special qualities of Lao food.The Lao Businesswomen's Association believes Lao food will become popular in neighbouring countries with good marketing and strong support from the government.One of the event's highlights will be a khao poon saep (rice noodle) cooking competition, with contestants to come from 11 technical schools in 10 provinces.The winner receive a cash prize of 3 million kip and a certificate while the second and third runners-up receive two million and one million kip respectively.

Posted by Lao National Television-English News Program on ວັນພະຫັດ ທີ 29 ມັງກອນ 2015

 

The food festival will begin at 9:00 and end at 17.00 (Jan 24-27, 2018).

Official Poster for the 13th Annual Lao Food Festival
Official Poster for the 13th Annual Lao Food Festival
Source: KPL

29 Road Accident Deaths During New Year Celebration

By
Laotian Times
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Motorcycle accident (photo credit: Vientiane Rescue)
Motorcycle accident (photo credit: Vientiane Rescue)

Twenty-nine (29) people were killed in road accidents nationwide between 29 Dec 2017 and 2 Jan 2018.

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Vang Vieng Expressway to be Extended to China

By
Laotian Times
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vang vieng expressway to china

The Vientiane to Vang Vieng expressway is now to be extended to China, according to a recent announcement by Yunnan Construction Engineering Group.

The first phase of the expressway will link Vientiane Capital with Vang Vieng, stretching some 113.5km, and the $1.2 billion USD agreement for the expressway was signed when Chinese President Xi Jinping made an official visit to Laos.

Now, the expressway is to be extended to reach the border between Laos and China at Boten, in Luang Namtha Province. This will provide an excellent opportunity for trade and passenger transport between the two nations.

The road will run parallel with the existing Road 13 north, and vehicles will be able to travel at up to 80 km per hour. It is expected that facilities such as gas stations, hotels, shops and restaurants will be constructed at various points along the course of the four-lane highway.

The project, headed by Yunnan Construction Engineering Group, is under a Build-Operate-Transfer model. It is expected to be complete by 2020.

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