(KPL) Lao Judo players won two gold medals more at the 24th SEA Games on 11 December.

Mayouly Phanouvong and Phonevane Si-amphone defeated Thai rivals, and Vietnamese’s in Ju-No Kata double’s women with the top 275.5 points, while Viengvilay Chansy and Chindavong Sivanvilay won the hearts of juries with their best performance in Nage-No Kata double’s men.

Lao athletes also won nine bronze medals including two from petanque, four from boxing, two from Mouay Lao and one from rugby on 11 December.
To 11 December Laos ranks the 8th in top-ten ASEAN Games chart wining four gold medals, one silver and 22 bronze medals.

KPL

28 Laotian youth leaders and young professionals are chosen across Laos as delegates to the 2007 Ship for SouthEast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP).

The 28 Lao participating youth are part of a 300-member delegation from within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan...more info >>

The SSEAYP, an annual youth diplomatic cultural exchange program sponsored by the Cabinet Office of Japan, administered in the country by the National Youth Commission (NYC), and is participated in by delegations from Japan and the ASEAN countries, aims to “cultivate the spirit of Asian cooperation” through fostering and strengthening camaraderie and mutual understanding between and among the young people of Southeast Asia and Japan by providing 300 of them annually the opportunity to live together for around two months on board luxury sea vessel M/S Nippon Maru and visit the participating countries.

While on board the ship, the participants will have interactions through solid group activities, discussions, exhibits, cultural presentations and other activities. While on country visits, they will undertake various activities such as courtesy call, interaction with local youth, educational visits to relevant institutions, and home stay with local families.

The Lao delegation will join its counterparts from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan in Singapore on October 22 for the inauguration ceremony.

SSEAYP 2007 is scheduled to be held from 22 October to 12 December 2007. During this period, the ship will visit five of the ten ASEAN countries namely Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos (by air) and Japan

Members of the Lao Participating Youths (LPY) to this year’s SSEAYP include Tomm, member of Princess, famous group girl band.

SSEAYP started in January 1974 based on Joint Statements issued between Japan and the five ASEAN countries, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined in 1985. Vietnam participated in the programme in 1996 while Laos and Myanmar participated in 1998. Cambodia joined the programme in 2000.

MORE PHOTOS OF LAO Participating youth this year at: http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=98894&p=3&topicID=13413226

http://samakomlao.blogspot.com

Keota Xayyasing is now a very popular artist among teens across Vietnam, according to the top charts on many Vietnamese TV and radio channels.

Keota, age 22, is now studying Economic in Vietnam, debuted his first album in 2006. His song "Gửi làn gió" is in Vietnamese top charts for many months. To view photos and music clips from his concert, click:.


















To view his music clip, click here:.

http://samakomlao.blogspot.com

source: lao students in Vietnam

Laos is set to receive a PATA Foundation grant this year that will be awarded to the Kaysone Phomvihane Memorial Tour Cave Office for the development of an audio tour and related promotional materials on the "Viengxay Story", into Lao, Vietnamese and English. The Viengxay Story details the nine years in which 23,000 Laotians sought shelter in caves from aerial bombardment in a "secret war." Between the years of 1964 and 1973, up to 480 caves in the Viengxay district in Houaphanh province in Lao's northeast were transformed into a city where Laotians sought refuge... more info and photos

PATA members the Netherlands Development Agency (SNV) and the Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA) are working to develop the caves as both a tourist destination and a "world peace site that focuses on poverty reduction and the needs of local people".





Houaphanh is currently the poorest province in a country where 40% of the population survive on less than US$1 per day. The tourism development of the caves has been supported locally as it represents and acts as a vital tool in the fight against poverty.






"For tourists who take the time to reach Viengxay and the nearby attractions throughout northeast Lao, we can promise a very enriching and educational experience," said LNTA Chairman, Somphong Mongkhonvilay.

The LNTA is scheduled to unveil plans for Viengxay's 'cave city' development to international travel agents at the Lao Ecotourism Fair, July 26-29 in Vientiane.


Source: e-Travel
MOre photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/19882127@N00/sets/72157594529646069/