Some 100 statutes of Buddha have been stolen or lost in Luang Prabang province over the past five years, according to a 2009 investigation report by the province's Heritage Department.

That Luang temple and Vat Si Phouttabath have suffered the largest losses.

The report stated about 16 statues had also gone missing from Vat Xiengthong, one of the oldest temples in the province.

Luang Prabang Provincial Heritage Department Deputy Director, Mr Bounkhoung Khouthao, said most of the statues were stolen in 2006, with most thought to have been crafted in the 14th century...more >>

The stolen pieces were made of wood or bronze and were taken from 42 temples in the town of Luang Prabang .

“Unfortunately the thefts are continuing,” Mr Bounkhoung said.

The most recently reported theft took place last month at Vat Phousi in the heart of Luang Prabang.

Most people agree the scale of the thefts is reason for officials from the relevant sectors to cooperate more closely and take more steps to tackle the problem.

Some officials fear the mounting thefts could affect the overall image of the World Heritage Site and even the tourism industry.

High market demand for valuable artefacts is increasing the likelihood Buddha images will be stolen. Mr Bounkhoung said an old statue could fetch 200,000 to 300,000 baht (48 million to 72 million kip).

He said novices living in Luang Prabang temples had been assigned to sleep close to the rooms in which Buddha statues were housed, but this would only solve the problem in the short term.

What was needed, he said, was for village authorities and temple guards to take more responsibility in preventing the theft of the statues.

Mr Bounkhoung said very few stolen Buddha images had been recovered even though most of them were registered in the province.

He congratulated one British man who brought four Buddha images back to Luang Prabang in 2007 after buying them from traders.

Two of the four images were found in Chiang Mai , Thailand , one in France and another in the UK .

There are known to be at least 20,000 Buddha images in Luang Prabang province, most of them in the main town.

Officials say there are ongoing thefts of Buddha images from Ting Cave , none of which have been registered by authorities.

Officials have met on several occasions to discuss the problem but the thefts continue.

From January to March this year, more than 200 Buddha images were stolen from four temples in Savannakhet province.

Most of them were less than 100 years old, were made of bronze and weighed 100 to 300 grammes.

By Somsack Pongkhao
Vientianetimes

(KPL) Ancient human fossils aged around 11,000 years old have been found in Luang Prabang province, said an archaeologist.

Dr. Joyce C White, who is also Senior Research Scientist at University of Pennsylvania, the United States, held a press conference here last week saying the Middle Mekong Archaeological Project (MMAP) with co-operation with the Heritage Department, the Ministry of Culture and Information and the University of Pennsylvania, had found five ancient human fossils in Vangtaleo Cave, Ban Phadeng Neung, Luang Prabang district in the same name province.

The discovery was the oldest human fossils ever found on the earth, said Dr. White.
In 2007, MMAP discovered a grave with ancient human fossils identified to have at least 1,800 years old in Phouphakhao Cave in Phonesavad village, Luang Prabang district, Luang Prabang province.

The Middle Mekong Archaeological Project in Laos was approved by the government in 2005. It is a survey conducted along three rivers such as Nam Khane, Nam Seuang and Nam Ou in Luang Prabang. A few months after its approval the project discovered 58 ancient caves in the province.

Miss Aphone Lao beauty contest 2008 was held on 20 December, at the National Cultural Hall, Vientiane Capital, Laos.

18 women selected across the country are attended at the Miss Aphone contest 2008 last night and the final results for this beauty contest is as follow:

Miss Apone Lao 2008 is A10 from Champasack
The frist runner up is A9 from Champasack
The second runner up is A2 from Vientiane
The 4 & 5th is A8 & A16 from Vientiane

Miss Congeniality is A7 from Luang Prabang
Miss Photogenic is A8 from Vientiane
Miss Popular vote is A4 from Vientiane

All the competitors had learnt many kinds of activities before the contest for examples: the Lao Traditional, food cooking and other traditional culture of Laos. The Miss Aphone contest is aiming at promoting fine traditional culture of Laos.

To see more photos: visit our gallery >>

Photo:The movie theatre at Lao-ITECC was packed to capacity when people came to see Sabaidee Luang Prabang from June 5 to 7.

Audiences packed the theatre at Lao-ITECC on June 5 to 7 to watch the film Sabaidee Luang Prabang, a Lao-Thai co-production which premiered in Laos on May 23.

The film pans the major provinces of Laos , taking in Pakxe, Vientiane and the allure of the country's biggest drawcard, the World Heritage-listed town of Luang Prabang . It describes the growing love between the two main characters, and features comic episodes that introduce a lighter touch.

The film stars Bangkok-based Lao-Australian actor Ananda Everingham as Sorn, a first-time visitor to Laos , and Ms Khamly Pallawong as Noi, his tour guide from Vientiane.

The Lao co-director, Lao Art Media president Anousone Sirisackda, said the producers were pleased with the feedback they had received from audiences and critics...more

He said Ministry of Information and Culture officials who had attended the premier at the National Culture Hall had expressed their satisfaction with the film's content and message.

“We are pleased with our achievements; this could be the new face of the Lao film industry after more than 30 years without a full-length feature production,” Mr Anousone said.

“Even though the film depicted the most significant aspects of Lao culture and lifestyle, we were sorry that time and budget constraints prevented us from making a more in-depth portrayal of Laos .” “We're not expecting to earn much from the film,” Mr Anousone said. “The main benefit of the production is the publicity that Laos will get. We'll definitely make another film, but we have to consider many factors. The good feedback we've received is a strong inspiration to do more.”

The production team is planning to screen the film to audiences in Luang Prabang, Champassak and other major provinces.

Another large crowd is expected when the film is shown at the National Culture Hall in Vientiane on June14.

Source: Vientianetimes

Photo: Ms Sammi Cheung (left) and Ms Gigi Leung have fun with children in Pakxeng district.

Hong Kong singing stars Ms GiGi Leung and Ms Sammi Cheung visited Pakxeng district in Luang Prabang province as Child Sponsorship Ambassadors for World Vision last week.

The purpose of their visit was to meet sponsored children and learn more about poverty stricken communities so that World Vision can improve its services.

Upon their return to Hong Kong, Ms Leung and Ms Cheung said they will share their experiences and raise awareness amongst their fans and the people of Hong Kong to help those less fortunate around the world...more info>>

They hope to take home the message that there are many people still suffering from hunger and who have little opportunity to study or lift themselves out of poverty.

Ms Leung said there were three main things she wanted to share. “The first is to cherish all life, second is to be thankful for what you have, and third is to give generously.”

They said that they were deeply touched by the generosity and hospitality of the people in Laos , especially in the rural areas.

They added that people received them with smiles and treated them warmly, especially during baci ceremonies. “Lao people are very friendly, helpful and very honest,” said Ms Leung.

Ms Leung and Ms Cheung each shared one of their many memorable moments from their visit to Pakxeng district.

“My special moment was when I met my sponsored child, Yong. We went with him to fetch some water from down the hill. He was holding my hand, I think because he had presumed that we didn't know the place very well.”

“He is a really good boy and hardworking too; I was so glad to spend some time with him and his family,” Ms Leung added.

Ms Cheung said that her special moment was having lunch with her 10 sponsored children.

“I realised that education is really important as it can give children the confidence to face the future. I would like to continue to help people and have good relationships with my sponsored children in the rural communities,” she said.

This was Ms Cheung's first visit to a developing country and her time in Laos had a great impact on her.

She knew that this opportunity had taught her many lessons and transformed her life. She said she would give a helping hand to more people in the years to come.

The two women also visited some of the projects sponsored by World Vision and learnt about its combined work with the government of Laos in poverty alleviation projects for the diverse population of the country.

World Vision is an international NGO working in 31 districts across 6 provinces, whose goal is to uplift the living standards of the poorest people in society.

World Vision is implementing a number of projects in areas such as mother and child health, water and sanitation, education, food and child sponsorship that focus mainly on the well being of children.

By Ms Vanhlee Lattana, Communication Associate, World Vision Lao PDR

New Lao singer from the world heritage town of Luang Prabang, Touly, officially released her full album in Vientiane entitled "Just say hi" under the Valentine Music record last February 7th. Before this album, Touly used to have her first album in Luang Prabang at Santipab school, the place where she graduated from.

You may have heard about Touly before from her popular song "Jep bor Jum", which
has been broadcasted in many Lao radio and TV programs. At present, her song is in the top 5 chart at Music Boom, Lao star TV channel. This song is composed by herself and is inspired by her friends and all people around her. There are totally 10 songs in this album, in which, she composed all the songs and mixed the sound by herself...more

It spends about a year and a half to complete this album and music videos. The location of her music videos are 50% spotted in Luang prabang and 50% in Vientiane. Before Touly entered the music industry, she met Mr. Kai, the partner of Valentine music company and later, become the singer of this company.



She revealed that there are some difficulties for her to be a singer. She is now working as a tourist guide in Luang prabang province and she has to travel to Vientiane and other provinces for her concert. Nevertheless, to become a singer is her utmost dream and she is now very proud to see this album gaining more and more popularity in Laos.

Last but not least, she wants to invite everyone to listen to her song and not to buy a pirate CD. She will try her best to improve herself and to produce more quality products to the society.

source: ecom
translated by volunteer.

A new feature film, entitled Sabaidee Luang Prabang , a collaboration between Lao Art Media and Thailand 's Spata, will soon be enthralling audiences with colourful images of Laos .

Work on the film began in December, with three of the 70 scenes filmed in Vientiane and the rest in Champassak and Luang Prabang provinces. It will be released ahead of Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year) in April.

After approval by the various sectors, the producers expect to feature their film at the National Culture Hall and Lao-ITECC; at the same time it will be screened in theatres in Thailand .

The film tells the real-life story of a young man of mixed Lao-Australian parentage, who grew up in Australia immersed in a culture very different to that of his parents. But he falls in love with Lao charm and hospitality - and a beautiful girl - during a visit to his mother's home in Luang Prabang province...more info and photos>>

Thai actor Ananda Everingham, who was happy to contribute his time, play's the lead role, falling in love with a local Lao beauty, the daughter of a Luang Prabang souvenir shop owner.



“We didn't encounter many difficulties during shooting and our team was determined to produce a good film,” said the President of Lao Art Media, Mr Anousone Sirisackda, on Monday.

He was unable to calculate the overall cost of the production, but explained that everyone involved had tried to make the best film they could within budget, to capture the beauty of Laos for local and foreign audiences alike.

“The film won't just showcase the beauty of our nature and culture, but will also help to promote and develop the entertainment industry in Laos , particularly if it is successful in foreign cinemas,” Mr Anousone said. “After this release, I hope that Lao films and filmmakers will become more well-known and have the chance to work on further productions.”



The producers will be adding subtitles in English so that overseas visitors can follow the story and gain an insight into Laos .

By Phonesavanh Sangsomboun
Vientianetimes

More photos at:
http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=98894&p=3&topicID=15155300

LUANG PRABANG, LAOS: Visitors to Luang Prabang will no longer be able to rent bicycles and motorbikes in the main town, following a ban by local authorities on these rental businesses.

The ban has been put in place despite complaints by some local residents that it will present a negative image of the town to tourists.

The Head of the Luang Prabang Tourism Office, Khamphui Phommavong, said Monday (21 Jan) that motorbikes and bicycles were a major cause of road accidents, as visitors often were not experienced at riding or did not understand the local road rules and caused confusion among other road users...more info

He added that the problems also included an increase in thefts of rental bikes from tourists, further tarnishing the image of the World Heritage-listed town.

“We want to encourage people to walk around the city,” he said. “Those who don't want to walk can always take tuk-tuks and vans to get around.”

However, local people will still be allowed to ride their motorbikes and bicycles, but should observe the traffic regulations.

A local tour guide, Champou, said the former owners of bikes for rent were now selling them to locals who wanted them for their children to ride to school.

Officials said tourists could still ride bicycles and motorbikes if they were part of a group tour with a guide as this would avoid problems.

Specific parking spaces would be arranged for tuk-tuks and vans, which would leave more walking space and cut down on traffic congestion.

Luang Prabang authorities are also discussing how to ease traffic flow by installing more signs and increasing awareness amongst local people of the regulations.

“Only after we have our traffic problems sorted out can we consider allowing rentals again. We expect this to be some time in 2010,” said Khamphui.

A senior official from the Lao National Tourism Administration, Saly Phimphinith, stated that the administration was aware of the issues and believed that improving the regulations would create a more ordered city and attract more tourists.

But critics say bicycles, at least, should be allowed in central Luang Prabang, as they do not cause pollution and the city is small enough to be suitable for bike riding.

In addition, they say more traffic police could be deployed to tell people when they are riding in the wrong direction or breaking any other rules.

Two years ago, Luang Prabang's governor issued an order banning bicycle and motorbike rentals in the town, but the order was not strictly enforced.

Authorities also banned buses in the central town area two years ago to help improve the traffic flow.

Luang Prabang became a UNESCO World Heritage town in 1995, on the condition that it attempts to preserve its urban environment.

However, the town centre has changed as hotels, restaurants and other businesses have been established to cater to the tourist trade, with visitors numbering more than 300,000 in 2007. Authorities are anticipating a further increase this year to 400,000. (By SOMSACK PONGKHAO/ The Vientiane Times/ ANN)

(KPL) By the year of 2007, the tourism sectors has grown up steadily which created revenue for the country almost 26 percent per, said Mr Soukhaseum Phothisane, Vice Chairman of Lao National Tourism Authority to the media on 27 December.

He added that there were 1.3 million foreign tourists arrival Laos during 10 months, growing 900,000 people over last year figure, about 37 percent increased compared to the same previous of last year. About 1,400,000 tourists are expected to come to visit Laos at the end of this year, which will provide a benefit to the country about US$ 200 million...more

According to Mr. Soukhaseum, the service sector is now improving its facilities to serve their clients including hotel, guesthouse, and restaurant and tourist sites. In other hand, the handicraft products by ethnic people is also encouraged to display at the various activities in domestic and foreign countries including Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Japan.

In addition, Lao government also plans to upgrade the communication and transportation system in grass root level in order to attract more tourists. This included the road from Km 20 to Konglor cave, Luang-Namtha Airport, and other roads to the new tourist sites.

Go together with the tourism administration office improvement in the provincial level, the government will also build the awareness on how importance of tourism to the social-economic development.

Source: kpl

Mr Vilasith Savath or Sith, 22, was announced as the first winner of the Mr Clear 2007 contest at Romeo nightclub in Vientiane on Sunday.

The event was held by the Unilever Thai Trading Ltd, a distributor of Clinic Clear Shampoo which held this event to select presenters and advertising models.

“I did not think I would win as there were so many smart-looking guys on the stage with me, but I just did my best,” Mr Sith said....more info >>

Vilasith, originally from Luang Prabang province, received a prize of 2.5 million kip, the Clinic Clear trophy 2007, a Clinic Clear gift set, and will become a promoter for the company for one year.



The runner up, Mr Santi Luangkhot or Dono, 17, was voted the Sexiest Man and received prizes worth 1.5million kip plus a Clinic Clear gift set.

The third place prize for the Most Active Man went to Mr Inthanousin Sivilaisak or Ai, 18, who received 1 million kip and a Clinic Clear gift set.



The Most Charming Guy was Mr Phongsathon Vongthavon or Billy, 20, while the Healthiest Man was Mr Vixayaphone Phoneseua or Gig, 22, and the Best Sportsman was Mr Phouttakon Bouttaveht or Ae, 25, each of whom received 600,000 kip and a Clinic Clear gift set.

The Manager of Clinic Clear Thailand, Ms Alounny Atsavalerthsak said, “The contest, entitled Mr Clear 2007 , represents the first time that we have held such a competition in Laos . The idea was to choose well-presented young men to appear in newspapers, magazines and on billboards advertising our products here.”




The organiser opened applications last month, over 50 people participated and six contestants were chosen to compete on Sunday.

The event opened with a showcase of breakdancing skills by dancers from the Lao Bangfai Breakdancing Club and was followed by a fashion show where six young men modeled sportswear and casual clothes.

During the evening there were many games, with the winners receiving company products as prizes.

The event also featured a mini-concert by artists from Indee Records including Modern Dance, Princess and LOG, who entertained the audience before the announcement of the winner.

The votes that decided the winner were 50 percent from the judging panel and 50 percent from the audience.

MORE PHOTOS*

By PHOONSAB THEVONGSA
September 04, 2007
Vientianetimes

Royal Lao life in this laidback paradise

LUANG Prabang was once home to the nation's royal family. The socialist state no longer supports royalty but some 5.6 million Lao people call home this country that is one of the region's poorest.

Like many poor nations, Lao Peoples' Democratic Republic happily welcomes tourist who inject much needed foreign exchange into the economy.

Luang Prabang is the jewel in the nation's tourism crown and attracts tens of thousands of tourists each year. They come to appreciate the laid-back lifestyle, the former vestiges of royalty, many ancient Buddhist temples, a collection of stylish boutique hotels and some ultra chic restaurants...more

Since Laos relaxed it's tourism policies and opened its doors to more tourists over the past few years, it has become one of Indochina's hottest destinations. Perhaps it is the mystique of this small-landlocked nation situated between Thailand and China, maybe it's the history or possibly it's just that more travellers these days are interested in getting off the well-trodden travel trails of Asia.

While the development in Luang Prabang has made noticeable modifications, very little has changed in the urban fabric since I was last there some 12 years ago. This is mostly due to Luang Prabang obtaining World Heritage status in 1995, and the rigid adherence to a masterplan that protects the town from rampant and irresponsible development. While chic boutique hotels offer some very smart designer accommodation, the facades of most historic buildings remain intact.

Laos has experienced a turbulent history and the Luang Prabang monarchy became so weak and ineffective that it was forced to pay tribute to various foreign forces, from the Thais, Burmese to the Vietnamese. After being attacked in 1887 the kingdom accepted the protection of the French. The last king died in 1959 and the subsequent communist uprising in the country meant that the royal family would never rule again.

These days, princely travellers have several choices for accommodation in the royal town including Maison Souvannaphoum, once the royal residence of Prince Souvanna Phouna, and the stylish and chic The Aspara.

When you arrive at both properties you know they are out of the ordinary. Maison Souvannaphoum is managed by Angsana Hotels and Resorts (part of the Banyan Group) so guests should expect the unexpected in a country that is full of pleasant surprises. While retaining the residence's architectural integrity there are splashes of colour to arouse the senses. Bright orange is the colour of choice and the stunning orange perspex wall in each bathroom introduces contemporary style to the building's heritage qualities.

A short distance across town (nothing is more than 10 minutes away in Luang Prabang), overlooking the Khan river, The Apsara has been described as the most chic place in town. There's only one problem for design-conscious travellers they may check in and never want to leave.

The streetside restaurant at The Apsara features both western and eastern cuisine including four-course set meals from an astonishing US$12 ($18).

Each room in the house has been decorated with four-poster beds, antique teak furniture and luxurious teak-lined bathtubs, while air conditioning and hot water keep guests in touch with the comforts of contemporary travel.

There is also an abundance of budget accommodation for backpackers who flock here in droves as part of their Indochinese tour of duty. Simple, clean accommodation is available in any number of 20 or so guesthouses established in converted homes. The good news is that rates start from just US$5 a night.

Not only is Luang Prabang a stylish retreat where life moves at a very simple pace (heavy vehicles are not allowed in the historic precinct) but its compact size makes it easily negotiable either on foot or bicycle, which can be rented for just US$1 per day.

Visitors should take time out to enjoy a little sightseeing along the historic streets with rests in between to partake of some delicious Lao coffee, soothing fruit shakes, shopping for intricate hill tribe embroided products and to relax beside the mighty Mekong river at sunset to enjoy some spicy Lao cuisine.

While moving around Luang Prabang is uncomplicated, getting there is not so easy and that's what makes it so appealing only the truly dedicated make the effort. This is the place for independent travellers armed with the last copy of the Lonely Planet. Tour bus groups are not part of the Luang Prabang scene yet and hopefully won't ever be thanks to well-established Unesco development procedures.

The quickest, easiest and most expensive way to arrive is by Lao Aviation on one of several daily 40-minute flights from capital Vientiane. There are also international flights from Bangkok and Hanoi.

The overland alternatives from the capital include buses, mini vans or private vehicle with a driver. Such journeys take from eight to 11 hours and while much cheaper, take a very circuitous but scenic route.

Adventurous travellers can take the two-day boat journey from northeast Thailand along the Mekong river. There are several options from luxurious travel, tourist boats and local public boats.

Like much of Laos, travellers arriving by boat have to endure a little hardship. However, travelling here is well worth the effort as there are few places in Asia where life moves at such a relaxed pace. The Brunei Times

by David Bowden

KUALA LUMPUR


Source: The Brunei Times

A quiet spectacle occurs at dawn every day in Luang Prabang, the former royal capital of Laos. Hundreds of saffron-robed monks file out from the city's monasteries seeking alms. In small groups throughout the streets of the historic old town, locals line up and kneel, heads bowed in silence. As the monks pass by, they place offerings such as rice and money in the monks' silver bowls and receive blessings for the coming day...more

It's a peaceful image at odds with the country's violent past. Years of war and poverty have left the landscape visibly fractured. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. dropped the equivalent of one planeload of bombs on the country every eight minutes in a futile effort to defeat the Vietcong. Because of this, Laos earned the dubious distinction of being the most heavily bombed nation in the history of warfare.

There's little evidence of that this quiet morning. After following the procession through the rising heat and dilapidated grace of the old town, I walk over to Laos's most revered temple, Wat Xieng Thong. After years of neglect, it's undergoing renovations. Young monks paint trim and polish pieces of what looks like broken glass on the outer wall of the main temple. I soon realize the coloured fragments are part of a large mosaic depicting a flame tree that is believed to have stood at this site before the temple was built in the 16th century.

I meet Samone, a 20-year-old monk relaxing in the shade of a tree. I make out a few tattoos underneath his robe as he explains that his years at the monastery are almost up. Out of economic necessity, many Lao send their sons to a monastery, where they can receive basic shelter, food, and education. Samone explains he's now ready to move to Vientiane, the capital, and enroll in university. He plans to study English and perhaps work as a tour guide, get married, and buy a new scooter. He's lucky–he has a sister in the U.S. who can provide some assistance. University is out of the question for most in a country for which the CIA's World Factbook estimates the annual per capita income at only about US$2,000.

On the edge of town, a short distance from the temple, is the outdoor Hmong market. The Hmong are one of many hill tribes scattered across Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos, in an area known, because of its opium production, as the Golden Triangle. They are comparative newcomers to Laos, having arrived from southern China at the beginning of the 19th century, and they have long been met with suspicion. After the Vietnam War, the Hmong were severely persecuted by the Communist government for supporting the wrong side. Today, forced relocation and urbanization have scattered them as far as the United States.

They have an international reputation for their artistry, and many survive by selling crafts and textiles. After a few minutes of browsing, I find myself haggling with a girl about 10 years old. She looks sweet enough in a pink Hello Kitty T-shirt, but she's as tough as nails and knows her English numbers as well as any accountant. After negotiating like a seasoned pro, she gets her price: US$40 for a large aquamarine blanket embroidered with her tribe's trademark geometric patterns.

The next day, my wife and I hire a van to visit the Kuangsi waterfalls, about 30 kilometres outside the city. Our driver, Som Bat, turns out to be a monastery dropout. After a few years as a monk, he fell in love and left to get married and have a child.

The countryside around Luang Prabang varies dramatically depending on the time of year. During the dry season, from October to April, dust coats everything in a fine brown powder, but in the rainy season, from July to October, every shade of green leaps out from the fields and hills. Outside of the major cities, much of the country is unpopulated, and villages lack electricity. Nonurban roads remain largely undeveloped, and trains are nonexistent. Rice paddies and the odd temple are the only signs of habitation.

After a refreshing swim in the waterfalls, Som Bat suggests we visit a Hmong village. As we turn off the dusty main road into a dirt compound, we find a group of women grinding corn with a large swinging pestle and others gathered in the shade of their huts sewing bright designs on fabrics that they will sell in town. I'm welcomed by an older woman with a beatific smile that consists of one single tooth. She takes my hand and pulls me into a hut. Through the cloudy sunlight I make out a group of men sitting on the dirt floor. One reaches up and pulls on my hand for me to sit down. As I do, another offers me a water pipe. It's opium. Suddenly everything swims into focus: the men are stoned. I smile and turn back outside into the clear sunlight.

The Hmong's relationship with opium is well-known. Some rely on it for economic sustenance, selling it to drug smugglers who eventually transfer it to Bangkok and Hong Kong for overseas export. The Hmong's connection to the U.S. is a well-documented tale of manipulation and betrayal. During the war, the CIA exploited Hmong resentment toward the government and actively recruited an anti-Communist faction. In return, the Hmong were promised aid and an independent state. At the end of the war when the Communist Pathet Lao became the new government, promises were forgotten, and the Hmong have been treated with suspicion and derision ever since.

The next day we take a boat ride up the Mekong River to the Pak Ou caves. After a few hours, we arrive at the final resting place for thousands of Buddha statues. Rather than destroy the images, the Lao prefer to bury them or place them in sacred caves. As we climb the staircase, row after row of Buddhas–in differing sizes and styles–comes into view, their wide eyes staring out at us in a surreal welcome.

On our final night in Luang Prabang, we walk up Phousi Hill for a view of the sunset. The hill is the geographical and spiritual centre of the city; it also happens to be capped with a rusted anti-aircraft gun dating from the Vietnam era. A couple of young monks sit casually on the barrel as the sun dips below the horizon. The contrast is striking: in just a few hours they will likely be offering blessings, as life goes on peacefully, despite the country's shattered past.


ACCESS: When planning to visit Laos, it's best to avoid the rainy season, when roads are often washed-out. The best time to go is between November and February, when it's not rainy or too hot. It's easy to find clean, affordable accommodation in Luang Prabang. Try the Canadian-run Le Calao ( www.calaoinn.laopdr.com/) , a tastefully renovated 1904 building in the heart of the historical old town. Rooms start at US$60; ask for one with a balcony overlooking the Mekong River.

Direct flights to Luang Prabang leave regularly from Bangkok on several carriers, including Lao Airlines ( www.laoairlines.com/). There are also direct flights from Chiang Mai, Thailand; Hanoi, Vietnam; and Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Source: www.straight.com

Located right at the crossroads of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), the rapidly growing tourism industry of landlocked Laos is at the same juncture at which the Thai tourism industry found itself in the 1980s _ the face-off between ''quantity'' vs ''quality'' of visitor arrivals and boosting its ability to manage the growth.

Exactly 15 years after the GMS tourism-development plans took off with the formation of the first subregional tourism working group at an international travel conference in Pattaya, all the key drivers of growth are in place. Laos is ''now more connected to the GMS by air and road links than any time in history,'' Sounh Manivong, director-general of Lao National Tourism Administration's Department of Planning and Cooperation, told an ecotourism conference here last week...more

Visitor arrivals have crossed the one-million mark to 1.2 million last year and are targeted at two million by 2010. Airports in Vientiane, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang and Pakse have been upgraded or are in the process of being so. Lao Airlines and other carriers are linking Laos to the GMS and beyond, with AirAsia expected to be first low-cost carrier to launch a Vientiane-Kuala Lumpur service later this year.

The North-South road linking Yunnan to North Thailand via Luang Namtha and Bokeo provinces is nearly complete. The Savannakhet-Mukdaharn Thai-Lao Mekong Bridge is complete and Highway Routes 8, 9 and 12 will link Vietnam and Thailand via Laos. New roads have been built to Konglor Cave in Khammouane and to Kuangsi Waterfall in Luang Prabang.

Asean citizens receive visa-free access and a 30-day visa-on-arrival upon payment of US$30-40 at international border checkpoints in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Champasak, Bolikhamxay, Xieng Khouang and Khammouane. Visa extensions are possible and border-pass travel facilities are available for neighbouring countries.

The range of emerging accommodation reflects the profile of visitor arrivals, from ecolodges to family-run guesthouses and five-star hotels. Mr Sounh said there are now 5,300 rooms in Vientiane, 3,200 rooms in Luang Prabang, 2,400 rooms in Champasak and 900 Rooms in Luang Namtha.

Positioning itself as the ''Ecotourism Centre of GMS'', Mr Sounh said the national policy goal is to alleviate poverty in the countryside by dispersing tourists to the provincial regions, where Laos' unique cultural and natural attractions exist.

Dozens of foreign development and aid agencies are involved in tourism projects all over the place. Mr Sounh identified the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Khammouane and Champasak; the Dutch agency SNV in Vientiane, Houaphanh, Luang Prabang, Khammouane and Savannakhet; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in Luang Namtha, Xieng Khouang, Luang Prabang and Champasak, the aid agency German Development Service (DED) in Bolikhamxay, Oudomxay and Xieng Khouang; the Deutsche Gesellschaft f adi?r Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), another German agency focusing specifically on sustainable development, in Muang Sing; the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) in Savannakhet; the European Union in Luang Namtha and Luang Prabang; WWF, the global conservation organisation, in Champasak, and the governments of New Zealand and Luxembourg in various other projects.

The Americans want to join in _ the Kenan Institute sent a representative to this year's ecotourism conference to seek potential projects.

Although the environmental and ecotourism focus is a perfectly suited objective in view of the growing apprehensions over climate change, deforestation is continuing unabated, and the levels of the Mekong River are visibly declining. Interestingly, neither problem was mentioned by any of the speakers throughout the conference.

The ADB representative who is at the hub of the bank's tourism coordinating effort, Alfredo Perdiguero, said that the ADB sees the GMS tourism exercise as being successful enough to replicate in both South Asia and Central Asia. But he identified a number of concerns.

He said the projected rapid growth in arrivals over the next decade due to improved connectivity could lead to more ''border tourism'' that would see it being highly concentrated near the urban areas, especially in the direct vicinity of international border checkpoints, which would lead to a limited poverty reduction impact.

He said there was still a ''lack of a logical spatial framework'' guiding regional investment in tourism-related infrastructure and the human resource development capacities in both the public and private sectors were still weak.

Mr Perdiguero read the ''insufficient attention'' being paid to the sustainable management of key cultural, natural and urban tourism resources, as well as the ''uncoordinated approach and industry indifference to managing potential negative social impacts of tourism''.

As these problems are identical to those Thailand has faced over the years, it was no surprise for the conference to hear a stark warning from Sasithara Pichaichannarong, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, for the Lao tourism industry not tLaotian tourism at the crossroads
IMTIAZ MUQBIL

Located right at the crossroads of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), the rapidly growing tourism industry of landlocked Laos is at the same juncture at which the Thai tourism industry found itself in the 1980s _ the face-off between ''quantity'' vs ''quality'' of visitor arrivals and boosting its ability to manage the growth.

Exactly 15 years after the GMS tourism-development plans took off with the formation of the first subregional tourism working group at an international travel conference in Pattaya, all the key drivers of growth are in place. Laos is ''now more connected to the GMS by air and road links than any time in history,'' Sounh Manivong, director-general of Lao National Tourism Administration's Department of Planning and Cooperation, told an ecotourism conference here last week.

Visitor arrivals have crossed the one-million mark to 1.2 million last year and are targeted at two million by 2010. Airports in Vientiane, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang and Pakse have been upgraded or are in the process of being so. Lao Airlines and other carriers are linking Laos to the GMS and beyond, with AirAsia expected to be first low-cost carrier to launch a Vientiane-Kuala Lumpur service later this year.

The North-South road linking Yunnan to North Thailand via Luang Namtha and Bokeo provinces is nearly complete. The Savannakhet-Mukdaharn Thai-Lao Mekong Bridge is complete and Highway Routes 8, 9 and 12 will link Vietnam and Thailand via Laos. New roads have been built to Konglor Cave in Khammouane and to Kuangsi Waterfall in Luang Prabang.

Asean citizens receive visa-free access and a 30-day visa-on-arrival upon payment of US$30-40 at international border checkpoints in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Champasak, Bolikhamxay, Xieng Khouang and Khammouane. Visa extensions are possible and border-pass travel facilities are available for neighbouring countries.

The range of emerging accommodation reflects the profile of visitor arrivals, from ecolodges to family-run guesthouses and five-star hotels. Mr Sounh said there are now 5,300 rooms in Vientiane, 3,200 rooms in Luang Prabang, 2,400 rooms in Champasak and 900 Rooms in Luang Namtha.

Positioning itself as the ''Ecotourism Centre of GMS'', Mr Sounh said the national policy goal is to alleviate poverty in the countryside by dispersing tourists to the provincial regions, where Laos' unique cultural and natural attractions exist.

Dozens of foreign development and aid agencies are involved in tourism projects all over the place. Mr Sounh identified the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Khammouane and Champasak; the Dutch agency SNV in Vientiane, Houaphanh, Luang Prabang, Khammouane and Savannakhet; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in Luang Namtha, Xieng Khouang, Luang Prabang and Champasak, the aid agency German Development Service (DED) in Bolikhamxay, Oudomxay and Xieng Khouang; the Deutsche Gesellschaft f adi?r Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), another German agency focusing specifically on sustainable development, in Muang Sing; the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) in Savannakhet; the European Union in Luang Namtha and Luang Prabang; WWF, the global conservation organisation, in Champasak, and the governments of New Zealand and Luxembourg in various other projects.

The Americans want to join in _ the Kenan Institute sent a representative to this year's ecotourism conference to seek potential projects.

Although the environmental and ecotourism focus is a perfectly suited objective in view of the growing apprehensions over climate change, deforestation is continuing unabated, and the levels of the Mekong River are visibly declining. Interestingly, neither problem was mentioned by any of the speakers throughout the conference.

The ADB representative who is at the hub of the bank's tourism coordinating effort, Alfredo Perdiguero, said that the ADB sees the GMS tourism exercise as being successful enough to replicate in both South Asia and Central Asia. But he identified a number of concerns.

He said the projected rapid growth in arrivals over the next decade due to improved connectivity could lead to more ''border tourism'' that would see it being highly concentrated near the urban areas, especially in the direct vicinity of international border checkpoints, which would lead to a limited poverty reduction impact.

He said there was still a ''lack of a logical spatial framework'' guiding regional investment in tourism-related infrastructure and the human resource development capacities in both the public and private sectors were still weak.

Mr Perdiguero read the ''insufficient attention'' being paid to the sustainable management of key cultural, natural and urban tourism resources, as well as the ''uncoordinated approach and industry indifference to managing potential negative social impacts of tourism''.

As these problems are identical to those Thailand has faced over the years, it was no surprise for the conference to hear a stark warning from Sasithara Pichaichannarong, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, for the Lao tourism industry not to repeat Thailand's mistakes.

''I really mean that,'' Dr Sasithara said, noting that the realisation of these mistakes was itself one of the factors driving Thailand's policy shift towards promoting ''quality'' tourism.

Imtiaz Muqbil is executive editor of Travel Impact Newswire, an e-mailed feature and analysis service focusing on the Asia-Pacific travel industry.

o repeat Thailand's mistakes.

''I really mean that,'' Dr Sasithara said, noting that the realisation of these mistakes was itself one of the factors driving Thailand's policy shift towards promoting ''quality'' tourism.

Imtiaz Muqbil is executive editor of Travel Impact Newswire, an e-mailed feature and analysis service focusing on the Asia-Pacific travel industry.

by IMTIAZ MUQBIL
Source: Bangkok post

Photo: Wat Xieng Thong is arguably the lovliest of the temples at Luang Prabang.

by: Kristi Ross, Contributor, Luang Prabang, Laos

If Luang Prabang (also known as Loungphrabang) didn't exist, only a poet or an opium dreamer would dare invent it.

The Mekong and Nam Khan rivers wrap around the ancient Lao capital like a shawl. Steps lead up from riverside jetties to streets shaded by trees whose skirts of roots are as wide as their crowns.

Along the main roads orchids and bougainvillea spill down from French colonial balconies and ground-floor cafes serve espresso, herb teas and flaky croissants...more

The back lanes are lined with traditional timber houses, textile galleries and mulberry-paper shops, punctuated by the flaring roofs of the wat (temples).

In the morning market, hill-tribe villagers offer pungent roots, forest greens and fresh-trapped game while town-dwellers crowd the benches of the noodle stalls.

Luang Prabang strides worlds, is ancient and contemporary, Lao and French, Mien and Hmong all at once.

*****

Once, it took longer to travel here up the Mekong than to sail all the way from France to Saigon. Now, flights arrive daily from Vientiane, Bangkok and Chiang Mai, but flying in dilutes the essence.

Better to take the highway from Vientiane, Laos' present-day capital, and wind up through improbable mountain ranges and great tracts of fresh-burnt swidden, deep primeval forests and stands of whispering teak.

Now and then the narrow, potholed road coils through linear villages of timber and bamboo where dark-bristled pigs with low-slung bellies doze in the shade and children set off from one or two-roomed schools, walking back to widely-scattered hamlets that can only be reached on foot.

Often, both highway and villages perch on the edge of nothing, looking as if they are about to tumble gracefully into valleys far below.

Travel through landscapes like these for 12 to 14 hours, and when the first unlikely rooftops appear in the last of the afternoon light, Luang Prabang appears not just as a cosmopolitan fusion, but as a deeper mystery.

Dawn brings brief reverberations from monastery drums, pearly light shimmering on tile roofs, roosters crowing out their territories in villages across the rivers still hidden by morning mist.

All along the narrow peninsula of the old town, men and women slip quietly out of doorways to wait along the pavements as they have done for centuries. Soon the monks will come, long shuffling snakes of saffron, burnt orange and gold, and the laity will lay up merit in this life or the ones to come by spooning handfuls of sticky rice into begging bowls.

At Wat Xieng Thong, loveliest of all the town's temples, the bamboo shingle roofs sweep down almost to the ground, sheltering walls patterned with a mosaic of blue, green and turquoise glass.

While the monks are out on their morning rounds, the courtyard is deserted save for hopping sparrows and dozing cats. A sunbeam splashes through the open door of the sim, lighting the huge Buddha image at one end and all the smaller ones in gold and bronze that rise in a pyramid around him.

A faint breeze stirs the golden leaves of a bodhi tree ornament on the altar. Somewhere, a drum sounds. In the silence that follows, peace oozes out of the ancient walls.

Source: The Jakarta post

By: Diana Plater

The Australian, Irish and Welsh backpackers I met at the Hive bar in Luang Prabang, Laos, invited me 10 pin bowling.

It's not the sort of thing you'd expect to do in a UNESCO-protected town high up in the mountains of northern Laos.

But not surprisingly this town has few western night clubs or late night bars.
And the only place to drink late at night in town is at the bowling alley...more

But, by the time we'd had a few drinks of beer Lao, a deliciously spicy dinner at one of the many restaurants in town, then nightcaps of Lao Lao (or locally-made whiskey) with local Diet Coke (I'm not sure what was worse) we never got there.

I was lucky to find a tuk tuk driver to take me back to my hotel.

It was a fairly active night for what could be one of the most languid places I've ever been to.

It's almost as if time stands still in this French colonial town known more for its spirituality than bowling.

Even the Buddhist monks seem to move slower than normal.

And walking around town in 38 degree heat, I'm reminded that only mad dogs, Englishmen and then maybe tourists go out in the midday sun. It's so hot you can almost feel the air swallowing you. Everybody else seems to be lying inside or in the shade using as little energy as possible.

It's low season and local school holidays. They say Christmas time is better for visiting and can even get chilly at night.

I visit the 16th century Wat Xieng Thong, known as a masterpiece of Buddhist architecture with a tiered roof, glittering golden facades and richly coloured mural painting. It's a working temple and monks have hung their orange robes out to dry after doing their laundry.

I stop for an iced lemon tea and lunch at one of the riverside cafes overlooking the murky brown waters of the Mekong. The son of the restaurant owner is painting pictures of monks with pen and ink on saa paper made from the mulberry tree and its bark.

He tells me he's an art student. The town seems to be full of them, if you go by the number of art shops and galleries.

In the late afternoon, men play boule along the river front, on even the smallest patch of dirt.

In his book The Mekong: Turbulent Past, Uncertain Future (Allen and Unwin, 2006), former Australian diplomat Milton Osborne says the Mekong has ``always been a river for work, for travel and for fishing, and, not infrequently, for war''.

Luang Prabang was once known as Asia's sleeping beauty. The former capital of the ancient Lam Xang kingdom, with around 32 pagodas along with religious and historical monuments, was made a World Heritage town by UNESCO in 1995.

It has especially strong ties with Buddhism, being a traditional destination for novices and students of the faith.

Flying over the mountains on the way in, you can't imagine anybody living in such rugged land. This is the country where what became known as The Secret War was played out - US bombings including attacks on what came to be known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a North Vietnamese supply route through East Laos and the Cambodian-Vietnam border.

The Communist Pathet Lao took over in 1975; they've only opened the place to tourism in the past 10 years. Now, around 140,000 people or seven times the city's estimated population visit the place over a one-year period.

UNESCO's role is partly to try to support the town's growth within the framework of strict controls so the historic buildings are preserved.

Development must take into account ancient Laotian social, architectural and religious mores.

Buddhism is a force that underpins every aspect of life here.
Around 6am every day, hundreds of monks and novices attend the alms-giving ceremony, where locals give them sticky rice, fruit and sweets.

Tourists are asked not to be obtrusive.

The Pathet Lao forced the last king of Laos, Savang Vathana, to abdicate, snuffing out a 600-year-old monarchy. Twenty years later, Christopher Kremmer, an Australian foreign correspondent, tried unsuccessfully to crack the mystery behind the fate of the royals - as outlined in his book, Stalking the Elephant Kings: In Search of Laos.

The former Royal Palace is now a National Museum, which is worth visiting for its rooms that give a glimpse of what life was once like for the royals. There's an eclectic mix of exhibits, including gifts from other countries, among them a boomerang from Australia.

It's where the Pha Bang Buddha is kept, which gives the town its name.

It's said to be have been cast in Sri Lanka in the first century AD and twice stolen by the Thais. But, it has been back in Laos since the mid 19th century.

A beautiful exhibition known as The Quiet in the Land of Buddhism-inspired images, including photographs, was on display in an outer building.
Luang Prabang is now on the backpacker route. My new friends had made their way across country after doing an elephant trek near Chiang Mai in northern Thailand then crossed the border and came by boat up the river, taking two days to get there. Others come down the river from Vietnam.

And it's also a town with a growing number of more well-heeled visitors.

Many fly in to what is considered one of the most difficult airports to land in in South-East Asia.

The hotel where I'm staying, La Residence Phuo Voa, has a spa which overlooks the mountains with its own small swimming pool - lazing in it after a massage is like having a huge bath to yourself.

At night, staff place candles in the main swimming pool overlooked by the floodlit shrine on top of Mount Phou Si. The food at its Phou Vao restaurant is traditional Laotian cuisine alongside European dishes with local influences.

The walk up Mount Phou Si from the town gives spectacular views and is popular at sunrise and sunset.

Apart from exploring the town and its wonderfully photogenic architecture and temples, shops and galleries there's also the night markets full of traditional clothes, woven cloth, scarfs, jewellery and souvenirs.

The only two relatively close excursions out of town are the Pak Ou caves and the Kuang si waterfall. Many agencies run half-day tours. But then there's also bowling.

IF YOU GO:
La Residence Phou Vao is from $141 per room per night for a garden view room.
To book/query call Orient-Express Hotels (02) 8248-5200 or email: charlie.turnbullorient-express.com
Also visit www.residencephouvao.com.
Bangkok Airways flies daily and sometimes twice daily between Bangkok and Luang Prabang. Details: visit www.bangkokair.com
Qantas flies to Bangkok. Visit www.qantas.com.

Source: www.brisbanetimes.com.au

The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, a private museum in Luang Prabang.

Ethnology (ຊາດພັນວິທະຍາ)museum opens in Luang Prabang

The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre has opened its doors in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR.

A private museum, the Centre features exhibits of ethnic artefacts, a museum shop and the Patio Cafe.

The official opening, held on July 5, was attended by Kongchanh Khammavong, chairman of the Lao National Front for Construction, Luang Prabang province, William Booth, managing director of Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company, and more than 100 business people, government officials, and tour company representatives.

The response from visitors to the new cultural attraction has been very positive.....more

"I am going to tell the Governor about the Centre and he will need to visit soon - this is a very good initiative," said Khammavong.

"Many tourists are interested in learning more about ethnic groups and the exhibits are very professional and well-lit," added Caroline Gaylard of Tamarind Restaurant.

The centre showcases ethnic clothing, household objects, religious artefacts, and handicrafts, with information provided both in English and Lao.

The museum shop sells books, photos and handicrafts directly from ethnic communities.

The Patio Cafe, run by L'Elephant Restaurant, serves food and drinks with a view of That Chomsi. Guided tours and seminars are available on request.

Thongkhoun Soutthivilay, co-director of TAEC explains, "Our objective is to help locals and visitors learn about the different ethnic groups of northern Laos. We also want to provide a new and interesting learning experience."

Funds from entry fees, donations, and services go to the running of the Centre and developing activities that promote cultural diversity and preservation.

The Centre is the brainchild of Tara Gujadhur and Thongkhoun Soutthivilay, the founders and co-directors.

Gujadhur is an American who worked as an adviser to the Luang Prabang Tourism Office for 3 years before starting this project.

Soutthivilay has been working at the Luang Prabang National Museum for more than six years, and is currently the collection manager. The two began work on TAEC over one year ago, finding and renovating a heritage building, researching and working with ethnic communities, and building a collection.

They hope that the Centre will be a resource for anyone wanting to appreciate and preserve the cultural diversity of Laos.

For more information write to the Centre at Ban Khamyong, Luang Prabang, telephone or fax (+ 856) 71 253 364, e-mail: information@taeclaos.org or visit www.taeclaos.org.

Source: nationmultimedia.com

Cigarettes put historic sites, status at risk

Story by APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL

Luang Prabang has become the first World Heritage city to ban smoking in public places. Eye-catching red and white posters, stickers and mobiles carrying anti-smoking messages both in English and Lao have been put up in every corner, from tourist attractions like the historic Xiangthong temple to accommodation and retail shops of this serene city on the Mekong River in Laos since May 30, World No Tobacco Day.

Apart from health reasons, Luang Prabang residents believe the smoke-free policy will enable them to better conserve the city's historic sites, such as the huen moradok, or colonial-style mansions that were built when the country was still under French rule...more info

Scientific studies have found that cigarettes appear to pose as much danger to the historic landmarks as human health.


The city's residents say some of the ancient buildings have been reduced to ashes over the past few years in cigarette-related fire accidents caused by the carelessness of smokers, who had dropped burning cigarette butts on the floor and ignited the fires.


''Second-hand cigarette smoke is also harmful to the health of non-smokers. We want to make sure no more damage is done to the beautiful and ancient buildings that are still standing and housing rich architectural work out of someone's carelessness, as that could see Luang Prabang being stripped of its World Heritage status one day,'' said Bungon Ritthiphakdee, coordinator of Southeast Asian Tobacco Alliance, a non-governmental organisation advocating the anti-smoking project.


The organisation played an active role in drafting the ''Tobacco Free Luang Prabang'' regulation which prohibits smoking in both indoor and outdoor areas of tourist spots and temples, state offices and public transport.


Any hotels, guesthouses and restaurants which still permit smoking are now required to arrange designated smoking areas for their guests.


According to a public opinion poll conducted by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), 96.7% of respondents, including local residents and business operators, agreed with the smoke-free campaign.


About 59% of restaurant operators also agreed to give the campaign a boost.


''In general, most locals dislike cigarettes and second-hand smoke. But they think it is impolite to ask their guests to refrain from smoking. So having this regulation in place helps them greatly. It is good for their health, business and the World Heritage city at the same time,'' said Maniphan Vongphosy, researcher at ADRA. Although the Lao government has had the smoke-free policy in place since 2000, which bans smoking in schools, hospitals, government offices, restaurants and other public places, enforcement was weak.




In order to raise public awareness, anti-smoking activists and the government co-hosted a mini-marathon to campaign for tobacco-free zones on May 30. More than 600 officials, students and local people took part in it. Daeng Boonkamtip, a staff member of the Le Tam Tam guesthouse, said the place has always allowed its guests to smoke since it opened five years ago.


''But now the time has arrived to ban it. The strong smell of second-hand smoke is unacceptable, especially in a small place like ours. Cigarette smoke makes it difficult to breathe during work. More importantly, it drives away non-smoking guests,'' said Daeng, who also attended the campaign activities on May 30.

Kongchan Kommavong, vice-chairman of the Luang Prabang Tobacco Control Task Force, said he believed the regulation would help protect the health of residents in the province, while he also believes that the smoke-free policy benefits the tourism industry in Luang Prabang.

''From now on, our heritage city will be smoke-free. We want to set a good example for other World Heritage sites, and to demonstrate that it is our policy to protect the health not only of the people of Laos, but also of visitors,'' he said.

Source: bangkokpost

With climate change, development, pollution and neglect destroying some of the world's most important destinations, Conde Nast Traveler has drawn up a list of "20 Places to See Before THEY Die."

The list, in the magazine's May issue, looks at the threats facing these landmarks and how to best see these wonders before they disappear.

The top 20 list:

1. Bagan, Myanmar - One of the world's finest examples of medieval Buddhist art and architecture is threatened by haphazard restoration and rebuilding.

2. Borneo, Indonesia - Logging is decimating the rainforest, home to hundreds of animal species, including the world's largest population of endangered wild orangutans... more info:.

3. Baku, Azerbaijan - A rare, walled city of mosques and marketplaces is being bulldozed to make room for the 21st century.

4. The Pantanal, Brazil - The world's largest freshwater wetland is almost entirely unprotected from deforestation and pollution and could be gone within 50 years.

5. Budapest's Jewish Quarter, Hungary - Modern buildings and parking lots destroy the character and art nouveau architecture in one of Europe's most historic Jewish anclaves.

6. Florida's Everglades, United States - This subtropical wilderness has already shrunk by half in the last century, threatened by a development boom.

7. Babylon, Iraq - Pillaging and looting are destroying the ancient city with its mud-brick ruins, stone sculptures, and the famous hanging gardens.

8. Bhutan, Southeast Asia - The isolated Himalayan nation and its tropical lowlands, pine forests, and wildlife are threatened by environmental degradation.

9. Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, Colombia - Climate change is shrinking the mountain's 18 snowcapped peaks, five major glaciers, lakes, and waterfalls.

10. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador - The 20-island archipelago is home to dozens of endemic species that are being endangered by a rapidly growing human presence.

11. Ha Long Bay, Vietnam - The tour-boat traffic and careless tourists jeopardize the turquoise waters, misty caves and limestone pillars.

12. Indonesia's Coral Triangle - Overfishing and climate change endanger the unparalleled biodiversity of the world's most diverse marine habitat.

13. Kathmandu Valley, Nepal - 2,000-year-old temples are crumbling because of uncontrolled urban development and insufficient preservation funds.

14. Luang Prabang, Laos - UNESCO's conservation regulations are ignored in the 300-year-old city by homeowners more interested in profiting from an influx of tourists.

15. Luxor, Egypt - Erosion from the Nile River dam and mismanaged tourism are harming thousands of Egyptian tombs.

16. Nosey Be, Madagascar - Resort developments are encroaching on the whales and turtles that make their home on the unspoiled beaches of the Mozambique Strait.

17. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania - Tourist traffic is damaging the roads and paths into the 2,000-foot-deep dormant volcanic crater and the delicate ecosystem it contains.

18. Michoacan Mountains, Mexico - Illegal logging is destroying the forests, the winter getaway for millions of monarch butterflies.

19. Galle Forte, Sri Lanka - After the 2004 tsunami, the cash-strapped government has little to spare for restoration of the crumbling 200-year-old Dutch bungalows.

20. Tibet - The once-cloistered Buddhist kingdom is being exposed to HIV and drugs, and is losing many of its traditional customs and language to the modern world.

Source: The Gazette (Montreal) 2007

NVCSports Ltd was appointed by the Government of Lao People's Democratic Republic to organise the country’s first ever international cycle race in Laos this November 2007.

The Tour of Laos has the full support of the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Civic Authorities along the route and the Lao Cycling Federation. The race will comply with the rules and regulations of Union Cycliste Internationale and will be included on the Asian Calendar of UCI...more info

The race dates are planned so that the race ends just before the start of the South East Asia Games allowing teams from countries that are eligible for the Games, a last minute opportunity to improve their skills before the start of the Games. The competing teams are being invited from many countries in Asia, who will face tough competition from top teams from Europe, America, Africa, Oceania and Australasia.

The race route has yet to be finalised but it will embrace parts of the scenic Laos, as well as focusing on the ancient Royal City of Luang Prabang and the present capital city - Vientiane.

It is anticipated that this race will generate much media interest worldwide as it will be the largest sporting event in Laos’ recent history and it will help prepare the Nation of Laos, in hosting the South East Asian Games in 2009. NVCSports is working closely with Pulse8 Media to give the race maximum media coverage regionally and internationally.

Pulse8 Media aims to provide live event coverage of the Tour of Laos cycle race via ESPN Start Sports, distributed via thirteen regions in Asia and reaching 164 million households. In addition, Pulse8 Media plans to produce two documentaries which will focus around recent history and developments in Laos that will be distributed via two global channels, National Geographic and Discovery Networks International, televised up to 170 countries and produced 35 languages worldwide.

Source: http://www.sportbusiness.com/

Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are worth a visit this summer.

Junk the usual summer international destinations like London and Paris and try a different kind of holiday. Check out parts of Asia so far inaccessible for many. Fly to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, also known together as Indo-China. There are still no direct flights to get to these countries from India but there are flights that take you there via either Malaysia, Singapore or Thailand . Once you reach, you are transported to a completely different world. Before this old world and natural beauty is lost, plan a trip fast...more

After decades of war, Vietnam is finally rebuilding itself and attracting tourists in a big way. The two major cities in the country ・capital Hanoi and modern Ho Chi Minh City are a major contrast and a must visit for any tourist.

Throughout the thousand years of its eventful history, marked by destruction, wars and natural calamities, Hanoi still preserves many ancient architectural works including the Old Quarter and over 600 pagodas and temples, which are quite a sight to behold. Hanoi also has 18 beautiful lakes such as Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, and Truc Bach Lake, which are the lungs of the city.

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon in the Mekong Delta, on the other hand, is one of the most important cities in Vietnam after Hanoi, being its commercial centre. Ho Chi Minh Museum, formerly known as Dragon House Wharf, Cu Chi Tunnels, museums, theatres, cultural houses are some of the places to visit. And if you like architecture, don稚 miss the city痴 beautiful buildings.

The two main cities to visit in Cambodia are its capital Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Phnom Penh is located at the confluence of three rivers ・the Mekong, the Bassac and Tonle Sap. The most attractive part of Cambodia are undoubtedly its unending list of temples. The temples at Angkor Wat, about six kilometres from Siem Reap, south of Angkor Thom, are the most famous.

The oldest and loveliest of Laos city痴, Luang Prabang, was founded between the sixth and the seventh centuries and is renowned for its serenity. Much of the town and its pagodas are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When in the city, don稚 miss Wat Xieng Thong, a temple built in 1560 and which was used for royal ceremonies.

The other city, Vientiane was partially rebuilt during the colonial period, with French-style buildings and is small, and picturesque. It contains some pagodas, museums, wide boulevards and attractions like Patuxai and Vientiane痴 Arc de Triumphed.

by Ravi Teja Sharma
www.business-standard.com