champa holidays magazine

Golden Triangle Circuit

The Gibbon Experience

Luang Prabang Hightlights

The City of Eternal Spring

The Mekong Delta’s Economic Charmw w w . L a o a i r L i n e s . c o m | w w w . c h a m p a h o L i d a y s . c o m | w w w . c h a m p a m a g . c o m

Lao airLines in-fLight magazine issue 16 apriL - may

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Dr.Somphone DOUANGDARAPresident of Lao Airlines

Welcome on BoardOn the occasion of the upcoming Lao New Year, I would like to invite you and your families to travel with Champa Holidays tour packages on 11th & 16th to Guangzhou, China for 6 days and 5 nights and on 16th & 18th to Danang, Vietnam for 3 days 2 nights , during the long holiday from Saturday, 13 April to Wednesday, 17 April 2013. The flight is on board one of Lai Airlines’ recently arrived new Air-bus A320s, which we are preparing to provide you with a safe and pleasant journey, as we do with all our aircraft.

Lao Airlines would also like to take the auspicious occasion of Lao New Year, which is the “Year of the Snake” on the Buddhist calendar, to wish all our passengers our best wishes, and trust that you will receive the highest level of comfort and service on all our A320 flights.

Best wishes from Lao Airlines,

ໃນໂອກາດປໃໝລາວນ ລດວສາຫະກດການບນລາວ ຂເຊນບນດາທານທອງທຽວໄປກບ ການບນລາວ ບນ ລດຟາໄປຍງເມອງກວາງເຈາ - ຊາງຊາ ປະເທດຈນ ໃນວນທ 11 ແລະ 16 ແລະ ດານງ-ຫອຍອນ-ພເຂາບານາ ສສ ຫວຽດນາມ ໃນ ລາຄາພເສດ ໃນວນທ 16 ແລະ 18. ພາຄອບຄວພກຜອນເນອງ ໃນໂອກາດ ປໃໝຊງເປນມພກຍາວນບແຕວນທ 13-17 ເມສາ (ວນພດ ຊງເປນມພກຊດເຊຍວນທ 14) ເຮດໃຫ ເໝາະສມຫາຍທຈະໄດເດນທາງໄປທຽວບອນທຍາກ ໄປ, ໄປແລວທອນໂຮມເອາປະສບການໃຫມ ຄນກຳໄລ ໃຫກບຊວດ. ການບນລາວໄດສະໜອງຄວາມສະດວກ ສະບາຍໃຫແກທານ ທກຖຽວບນດວຍເຮອບນ A320 ລຳໃໝລາສດ (ລຳທ 4) ຊງຫາກມາຢໃນຝງບນຂອງ ລດວສາຫະກດການບນລາວໝາດໆ ພອມທຈະພາ ທານເດນທາງດວຍຄວາມສະດວກສະບາຍ ດວຍຄວາມ ໝນໃຈ.

ເນອງໃນໂອກາດປໃໝລາວປນ (ປມະເສງງນອຍ) ລດວສາຫະກດການບນລາວ ຂອວຍພອນໄຊໃຫທານ ຈງປະສບແຕຄວາມສກສມຫວງທກປະການປາດຖະໜາສງໃດຂໃຫໄດຕາມຄວາມປະສງ ແລະ ມງມາດ ປາດຖະໜາ. ອວຍພອນໃຫທານເດນທາງດວຍຄວາມ ສະດວກສະບາຍພອມດວຍການບລການຂອງພວກ ເຮາເທງເຮອບນ A320 ຕະຫອດທກຖຽວບນ.

ດວຍຄວາມປາດຖະໜາດຈາກລດວສາຫະກດການ ບນລາວ

ສະບາຍດທານຜອານທງຫາຍ

ຈຳປາຮລເດ ສະບບນ ພດຖກກງກບເທດສະການສງການປໃໝ ລາວ. ບນປະເພນທປະຊາຊນລາວ ໄດປະຕບດມາຕງແຕບຮານນະການກງ ກບວນທ 14, 15 ແລະ 16 ເມສາ 2013. ສຳລບການປຽນ ພ.ສ. ຈາກ 2555 ເປນ 2556 ແມນແຮມຄຳ 1 ເດອນ 6 ກງກບວນທ 25 ພດສະພາ 2013. ໃນສະບບນພວກເຮາ ພາທານໜຈາກຄວາມວນວາຍໄປທຽວທຳ ມະຊາດແຂວງບແກວ. ໄປເຮາະເຫນທາງອາກາດກບກດຈະກຳເບງທະນ ຫລ ເອນອກຢາງກມໂບນໃນພາສາອງກດ ແລະ ພາທານແວະຫລນຫວຍຊາຍ ຕາມເສນທາງສາມລຽມຄຳ. ກອນພາທານໄປຮຽນຮສລະປະລະຫວາງຫດຖະ ກຳພນເມອງ ແລະ ໂລກແຫງສລະປະຈາກນກສນລະປະປະເທດໄທ ແລະ ເອອຍນອງເຜາມງ ທໂປເຈກສະເປດ ແຂວງຫລວງພະບາງ ແລະ ໃນລະຫວາງ ເດອນເມສາ ທານຈະມວນຊນກບ ຄວາມຍງໃຫຍຂອງປະເພນແຫນາງສງ ຂານກບເທດສະການປໃຫມລາວ. ທທກປແມນອງອດວຍນກທອງທຽວທງພາຍ ໃນ ແລະ ຕາງປະເທດ. ປະເພນນໄດປະຕບດພອມໆກນໃນທວ ສປປ ລາວ ແລະ ຢອອມແອມລາວເຮາກມຫລາຍປະເທດໄດສະເຫມສະຫອງປໃໝ ເໝອນກບລາວເຮາຕາມປະຕທນ ‘’ຈນທະຣະຄະຕ’’ ກມ ເຂດປກຄອງຕນເອງ ສບສອງພນນາ ສປຈນ, ມຽນມາ, ປະເທດໄທ, ຣາຊະອານາຈກກຳປເຈຍ. ໃນໂອກາດປໃໝລາວນ ຈຳປາຮລເດ ຂອວຍ ພອນໄຊແກຜອານທງ ຫາຍຈງມຄວາມສກກາຍສກໃຈປາດຖະໜາສງໃດຂໃຫໄດຕາມທຕງອະທ ຖານຈດໄວ.

EXECUTIVE ADVISERS:MR. SOUKASEUM PHOTHISANEDR. SOMPHONE DOUANGDARAMR. SOMSANOUK MIXAY MR. CHANTHY DEUANSAVANH EDITOR-IN-CHIEf:MR. SOUKHEE NORASILPLAO PROOf EDITOR:MR. SOMSOUK SOUKSAVATH ENGLISH EDITOR:MR. BERNIE ROSENBLOOMEXECUTIVE EDITOR:MS. PHITSMAI CHANTHABOURY

GRAPHIC DESIGNER:INSMAI CREATIVE COMMUNICATIONTRANSALATION:MR. ANOUSA KOUNNAVONGPHOTOGRAPHY | JOURNALIST:MARION LE ROUXACCOUNT-fINANCE:MS. KHOUNKHAM CHANTHABOURYCHAMPA HOLIDAYS MAGAzINE IS PRODUCED & PUBLISHED BY INSMAI CREATIVE COMMUNICATION TEL/fAX: (856-21) 223590, 020 22464321

[email protected]

www.champamag.com | www.insmai.com

OWNER & PUBLISHER:INTER MEDIA LAO CO.LTDTEL/fAX: (856-21) [email protected] license of Lao Airlines

LAO AIRLINES HEAD OffICE:WATTAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTSOUPHANOUVONG AVENUEVIENTIANE CAPITAL, LAO P.D.RP.O BOX: 6441TEL: (856-21) 513 150fAX: (856 -21) 512 004

[email protected] | www.laoairlines.com

LAO AIRLINES IN-fLIGHT MAGAzINE

Sabaidee readers,

This issue of Champa Holidays magazine has been published in time for when Lao people observe the “Water festival” or Lao New Year, a cultural tradition celebrated since ancient times. The coming New Year holiday will take place on 14, 15, and 16 April 2013, however the year will not change from 2555 to 2556 B.E. until 25 May.

To welcome in the Lao New Year, this issue will take you to Bokeo Province and its beautiful nature while seeking rare gibbons, before returning to Houei Xai, the municipal capital, and following the Golden Triangle Circuit. You will also head to Project Space in Luang Prabang, where traditional handicrafts meet the art world, and visit exhibitions by a Thai artist and Hmong woman.

for those in Laos for the New Year, you will be able to join in the many mid-April activities such as the procession of Miss Song-kane, which attracts huge crowds of tourists from both Laos and other countries every year. In fact, this festival is celebrated on the same dates throughout Laos and in neighboring coun-tries such as Cambodia, parts of southern China, Myanmar, and Thailand.

On this special occasion Champa Holidays magazine would like to extend our warmest wishes, and may this New Year bring you success.

Soukhee NorasilpEditor-in-Chief

Editor’s Note

Don Chan Palace Hotel & Convention, Unit 6 Piawat Village, Sisattanak District, Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel: (856-21) 244 288 Fax: (856-21) 244 111-2 Email: [email protected]

ຕາມເສນທາງສາມລຽມຄຳ

ປະສບການທະນ: ຕນເຕນດວຍການຫອຍໂຫນ

ຫວງພະບາງຜານສາຍຕາຈຳປາໂຮລເດ

ໂຮງແຮມພະລາດຊະວງ ຊຽງທອງ

ຕວເມອງແຫງລະດບານໃໝຊວນລນ

ໂລກແຫງຫດຖະກຳພນເມອງ ແລະໂລກແຫງສລະປະ

ໜງສາລະຄະດເລອງ “ຊາງ”

ມນສະເໜທາງເສດຖະກດຂອງປາກແມນຳຂອງ

ສາງຝນປນນຳໃຈ

ສາລະບານ

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CoNtENts

Old Meets New on the Golden Triangle Circuit


Luang Prabang five Highlights

Xiengthong Palace Hotel


Luang Prabang Project Space

“Chang” Thunders through Vientiane

The Mekong Delta’s Economic Charm

Dream Building and Heartfelt Sharing

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INSIDE LAOSINSIDE LAOS

By Marion Le Roux

Bokeo Province

To THAILAND

Namtha River

Pha Oudom District À´õ ©ö

Nam Fa Hotsprings

Nam Nyorn Waterfall

To Luang Namtha

Dok Ngiew Casino The Gibbon Experience

Nam Kan NPA

Paktha District À´õ

Houay Xay

Houay Xay District À´õ Don Sao

Island

Souvannakhomkham

Ban Nam Keung

Tonpheung District

Mekong River ãÓŠÌŸÁÜÃ

Meung District À´õ

Ban Nam Nyu

Ban To Lae

Ban Don Chai

Ban Py Bounthong

Ban Nam Chang

Ban Pak Ngao

inside Laos making tracks Old Meets New on the Golden Triangle Circuit

ເດນທາງທອງທຽວຕາມເສນທາງສາມລຽມຄຳໂດຍການຂລດຈກ ຕາມຄຳແນະນຳຂອງອງການທອງທຽວ, ຂາພະເຈາສາມາດຮສກໄດເຖງ ປະຫວດສາດເກາແກ ແລະ

ປະຫວດຂອງການສາງສາພດທະນາ: ເຊງເປນຈດບນຈບຂອງຈນ, ໄທ ແລະ ພະມາ, ແຂວງບແກວມສະຖານທເກາແກ ແລະ ຄວາມທນສະໄໝທຄມຄາກບປະສບການເດນທາງ.

ຂລດຈກໄປທາງພາກຕາເວນຕກສຽງເໜອ ຈາກຫວຍຊາຍຕາມ ເສນທາງແຄມນຳຂອງໄລຍະ 50 ກໂລແມດ ຈນເຖງສວນນະໂຄມຄຳ, ພເຂາທເຕມໄປດວຍຄວາມຂຽວສດຊນ ເຮດໃຫເສນທາງຄດຄຽວ ຂາພະເຈາຮສກວາກຳລງເດນ ທາງໄປຍງໃຈກາງຂອງອານາຈກທເກາແກເຊງເປນດອນທມຄວາມກວາງ 10,000 ເຮກຕາ ອາໄສຢໂດຍເຜາໄຕ 1,000 ປ

ກອນໜານ ໃນປະຈບນກສາມາດເຫນຮອງຮອຍເສດເຫອຂອງອານາຈກລານຊາງໃນສດຕະວດທ 16 (ສະໄໝລານນາ). ຂາພະເຈາຍາກເຫນ ພະພດທະຮບທເຮດດວຍຫນສງ 7 ແມດທສາງຂນໃນສະໄໝນນ.

For my tour of the Golden Triangle Circuit in Laos’ Bokeo Province, I rented a motorbike and followed the itinerary suggested by the Tourism Depart-ment. The trip gave me a taste of distant history, and history in the making, alongside some oddities and intricacies that are well worth experiencing at the confluence of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.

Getting up early before hitting the road to the Golden Triangle, gives you time to climb the steps just off the main street to majes-tic Vat Jom Khao Manilat. The hilltop temple offers views of Bokeo’s capital Houei Xai and beyond the Mekong to Chiang Khong in Thailand. Also on the hill, and only open in the mornings, stands fort Carnot. Built in 1900, it was as colonial france’s Western-most Indochinese stronghold. Though currently undergoing restoration, fort Carnot still is one of the best persevered colonial military outposts in Laos.

As I rode northwest from Houei Xai on the 50 km hilly green and winding 50-km Mekong River road, my mind yielded to a day dream. I was on my way to the centre of ancient Souvannakhomkham, a 10,000-hectare aban-doned kingdom at the infamous Golden Triangle. Northern Tai ethnics inhabited the area 1,000 years ago, before their civilization crumbled.

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INSIDE LAOS

15

ຕາມເສນທາງໄປສ ສດຕະວດທ 16, ຂາພະເຈາອອກຈາກເສນທາງລຽບແຄມແມນຳແລວລຽວໄປທາງບານດອນທາດເຊງຂາພະເຈາໄດພບເຫນບນດາແມຍງພວມເກບເກສອນດອກງວເພອເຮດເປນຍາປວພະຍາດ ແລະ ລດຂນໝາກໄມຂອງຈນ. ແຕພໄປເຖງບານດອນທາດກບພບຄວາມເປນ ຈງຂອງສດຕະວດທ 21 ແລະ ກບທນເຫນຮອງຮອຍຂອງ ພະພດທະຮບ ຈາກຄຳແນະນຳຂອງຊາວບານ, ຂາພະເຈາກໄດຂລດຕໄປຕາມທາງດນແດງຈນໃນທສດກໄດເຫນ ພະພດທະຮບອງດງກາວ ແລະ ກຮສກວາບ ຄອຍມຫຍງລບກວນ ແລະ ກບມຄນເດນທາງໄປທຽວຊມ.

ກອນຈະເດນທາງກບຂາພະເຈາໄດຖກແນະນຳໃຫໄປທຽວຊມກາຊໂນສາມລຽມຄຳ ຕງຢຫາງຈາກບານປະມານ 30 ກໂລແມດ ໄປທາງ ບານຕນເຜງ. ນບແມນສງທຂາພະເຈາຍາກເຫນໃນເບອງຕນ ແຕຍອນ ຄວາມຍາກຮຍາກເຫນກອດໃຈບໄຫວ ເຊງສະຖານທແຫງນບມປາຍລະບ ມພຽງສງປກສາງທທາສຄຳ, ຖະໜນໃໝ, ສະອາດ ແລະ ລມາທຽວຮບສງ ລກຄາທມາຈາກຊາຍແດນ. ນແມນອກໂລກໜງ.

ກບມາຍງຫວຍຊາຍ ແລະ ກອນທຈະເດນໄປສວນນາໂຄມຄຳໃນເຊາວນ ໃໝ, ປນຂນໄດໄປຊມ ວດຈອມເຂາມະນລດ ທຫຍງໃຫຍຕງຢເທງຖະໜນ ສາຍຫກ. ນະຈດດງກາວທານສາມາດຊມທດສະນຍະພາບຕວເມອງ ແລະ ວວເມອງຊຽງຂອງຂາມແມນຳໄປຍງຝງໄທ ແລະ ໃນເທງພດງກາວ ຍງມຄາຍ ທະຫານຝຣງຄາຍກາກໂນເຊງເປດແຕຕອນເຊາເທານນ. ຄາຍ ດງກາວ ສາງຂນໃນປ 1900, ຄາຍດງກາວຖວາເປນຄາຍທໝນສຳຄນ ທສດຂອງສະໄໝເມອງຂນຝຣງໃນອນໂດຈນ; ເຖງວາປະຈບນພວມໄດ ຮບການບລະ ນະ, ຄາຍກາກໂນກແມນໜງໃນບນດາຄາຍທະຫານຝຣງ ສະໄໝເມອງຂນທໄດຮບການປກປກຮກສາດທສດໃນລາວ.

They returned in the 11th century and eventually fell under the Lanna Kingdom’s influence, before the Lane Xang King-dom took control by 1545. I wanted to find the 7-metre-tall stone Buddha that dated to that time.

I was off to the 16th century, and as I turned off the main river road to Ban Done That, where the giant Buddha sits, I found myself immersed in the reality of 21st-century Bokeo. Banana tree fields stretched for kilometres, and every now and then a woman carrying a basket to gather kapok flower pistils would appear from the plantation’s labyrinth, while Chinese trucks were being loaded with fruits.

I eventually entered Ban Done That village, where the same pistils were drying in the sun, to be consumed as a healing medicine, but the giant Buddha was nowhere to be seen. Vil-lagers eventually pointed me on the way, and I rode on more dusty roads past wheat fields. finally, a couple of men staying at dormitories close to the plantations pointed to the iconic statue, sitting alone, undisturbed and barely visited.

After some tasty khao soi noodle soup in the village and get-ting ready to find my way back to the river route, the locals advised me not to miss the new Golden Triangle Casino. It was 30 minutes away on a dirt road heading to Ban Tong Pheung. This was not really what I was initially looking for, but they aroused my curiosity. There were no signs pointing to the place, but it eventually appeared like a mirage with its golden dome, neat new avenues lined with palm trees, and mini-carts transporting guests from the Thai border. A plaza with Swan Road, South Garden Road, and Garden Hotel Plaza was a surreal money city in another world, and I quickly headed back to Houei Xai and the Laos I was familiar with, wondering whether I actually knew Laos that well at all.

Souvannakhomkham ancient city

inside Laos making tracks Old Meets New on the Golden Triangle Circuit

16

There are only a few circumstances in which I’d feel at ease welcoming strangers into my dwelling at 06:00 on a damp morning, and this was one. Then again, noth-ing seemed real. The forest sounds and a hard day’s

trek had coaxed me to sleep, and now gibbons were singing in the golden mist below, as if teasing us to find them…or maybe not.

Humans tend to think everything revolves around them, especially when it comes

to cute creatures.

INSIDE LAOS inside Laos The Gibbon Experience: zip-line fun for forest Conservation

By Marion Le Roux

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ພຽງແຕບພທໃດເຫດການທເກດຂນກອາດເຮດໃຫທານປະຫາດໃຈໄດເພາະພເຖງເວລາ6ໂມງເຊາກມຜມາຢຽມຢາມ ຈາກເຮອນຫງໜງໄປອກເຮອນຫງໃໝ. ເບງແລວກເຮດໃຫອດຄດບໄດວາທກສງບແມນຄວາມຈງ. ເນອງຈາກເມອຍລາ ຍອນການຍາງປາຕະຫອດວນ, ຈງຫບຕານອນແຕຫວຄຳພອມກບທກສຽງຮອງນນມາຈາກທກສາລະທດຂອງປາ ແລະ

ໜງໃນນນກແມນສຽງຮອງຂອງທະນທພະຍາຍາມຢວຢວນໃຫທານຫງໄຫແລະຕດຕາມຕນສຽງນນໄປ.

“Tree House” By Guilhem

17

The thought of apish sirens amused me, but seemed natural in this environment. We were perched in a wooden house 40 metres above the ground, and our fellow tourists announced their arrival by sliding in from the trees on a zip-line. This was the only mode of transportation, even for those afraid of heights. Ac-tually, zip lining to top of the trees (or gravity ascension) is a great invention by Jef, the founder of the Gibbon Experience project, and it has already inspired a bunch of other projects.

Our red-cheeked, gloved visitors, some sporting knee socks to avoid leech bites, grinned from ear to ear. They smelled of forest and mud, and were ready for the daring “Waterfall Gibbon Experience” rather than the more laidback “Classic Gibbon Experience” for which I had signed up.

Both options comprise two nights and two days in the forest with ac-cess to the zip-line cable network running through the different canopy layers. Our new acquaintances’ adventure would take them on a two-to-three-hour trek deep into the Nam Kan National Protected Area on a trail following the Nam Nga River. They’d spend the night in a waterfall tree house overlooking a swimming hole...No pain, no gain.

My Classic Gibbon Experience was more flexible. I could spend my time as I wished, like sleeping in late, lazing away the day in the treetops, and watching a spectacular forest sunset and sunrise. With the clouds clear-ing up below, we spotted a gibbon family in the distance and couldn’t take our eyes off them until they disappeared when the rain started to fall.

The sprinkling only lasted long enough for us to sip a warm cup of cof-fee, while watching the waterfall gang march off. We then dozed off for 30 minutes for extra strength for our second day of hiking and flying through the trees.

ຕະຫອດຄຳຄນອນອບອວນເຕມໄປດວຍກນອາຍແຫງທຳ ມະຊາດທເຕມປຽມ, ພວກເຮາອາໄສໃນເຮອນເທງຕນໄມ ສງຫາງຈາກໜາດນ100ກວາແມດແລະຜຢຽມຢາມໃນ ຕອນເຊາກສງສນຍານການມາເຖງຂອງຕນດວຍການ ຫອຍໂຫນຈາກຕນໄມມາເຖງເຮອນໄມທພວກເຮາພກ ຄາງຄນ. ແລະ ສງນນກຄວຖທທກຄນຈະຕອງໄດນຳໃຊ ເພອອອກພະຈນໄພທຽວຊມທຳມະຊາດ, ນຳຕກຕາດ ແລະ ທະນ ເຖງວາບາງຄນຈະຢານຄວາມສງແຕກຕອງກດ ແຂວຍມແລວກຫອຍໂຫນຕນເອງໄປຕາມເສນເຊອກ ເໜອນດງທະນ.

ທງສອງປະສບການນຕອງໄດໃຊເວລາສອງວນແລະສອງຄນໃນປາແລະສາມາດນຳໃຊເຄອຂາຍສາຍສະລງທແລນຜານປາທກລະດບຈນໄປເຖງເຂດສະຫງວນໃນປາເລກ. ອາດໃຊເວລາເຖງ2-3ຊວໂມງຕວນຫອຍໂຫນຕາມລອງນຳງາແລະທານອາດເລອກວາຄນທຳອດຫຄນທສອງທ ຈະໄປພກເທງເຮອນຕນໄມໃກກບນຳຕກຕາດພອມໆ ກບອາບນຳເຢນສດຊນຢກອງເຮອນ. ແນນອນທານສາ ມາດເລອກເອງໄດວາຈະໃຊບລການປະເພດໃດ ແຕສງພ ເສດກຄໂອກາດໃນການຊມຕາເວນຕກແລະຕາເວນຂນ ຜານຜາປາຍໄມ.

ເນອງຈາກວາເລອກເອາບລການທດຈງ ມຄວາມສະດວກ ສະບາຍ ແລະ ຫຫາໃນການນອນ, ແຕໃນສະຖານທດງ ກາວຖາສະບາຍຫາຍກອາດເຮດໃຫຮສກວາບມຄວາມ ເປນທຳມະຊາດ. ພາຍຫງທໝອກກອງເຮອນເລມເຈອຈາງ ພວກເຮາກສງເກດເຫນຄອບຄວຝງທະນ ແລະ ກໄດພາກນ ເບງພວກມນຫອຍໂຫນ ຈນສດຊວສາຍຕາ ແລະ ນຄສງ ເຕມເຕມພະລງສຳລບກດຈະກຳພະຈນໄພໃນມທສອງໃນ ປາອດມສມບນແຫງນ.

6ໂມງເຊາ: ປະເຊນໜາກບທກສງໃນປາ

inside Laos The Gibbon Experience: zip-line fun for forest Conservation

18

Simply put, zip-lining is great fun and only requires basic skills, like not getting stuck one-fifth of the way before reach-ing the next tree. You might feel exhausted, sore, or itchy, but soaring on cables through trees makes it all worth it. There’s nothing like the experience of flying above the jungle canopy on wires up to 500 metres long with only an old tire to slow you down.

And it’s all the more enjoyable when you discover that the Gibbon Experience is not just about fun. The man behind this initiative, initially trained as an economist, calls it “a child-hood fantasy with a serious purpose.” The goal is to drive local people so they protect their environment, and switch from an economy based on forest destruction to one on forest con-servation.

With tropical forests disappearing due to logging and com-mercial interests, excessive slash-and-burn practices, demand for cleared land, and corruption, the Gibbon Experience’s mandate is to think differently…and act.

Since 1996 the team has been implementing self-sufficient forest conservation schemes run by villagers and local offi-cials. In 2004, Lao forestry authorities joined with Animo, the enterprise that runs the Gibbon Experience, and established the 123,000-hectare Bokeo Nature Reserve to protect the pristine nature of northern Laos. In 2008, this forest bordering the Nam Ha National Protected Area in Luang Namtha, was upgraded to Nam Kan National Park through approval by Na-tional Assembly.

Since the first treetop house was built in 2004 to draw atten-tion to the black-crested gibbon’s habitat while maintaining a social enterprise, the Gibbon Experience has built eight ad-ditional wooden lofts.

ປະສບການໂຫນໂຕດວຍເຊອກສະລງ…

ການຫອຍໂຫນໂຕດວຍເຊອກສະລງເປນກດຈະກຳທສາງຄວາມເບກບານມວນຊນໄດສງໂດຍບຕອງມທກສະຫຍງຫາຍເປນພເສດ. ເຖງວາບາງຄນ ຈະຮສກຕນເຕນ, ສນ ແລະ ຍານຄວາມສງ ແຕມນກຄມຄາ ເນອງຈາກວາປະສບການນຈະເຮດໃຫທານຮສກເໝອນການບນປນປາຍເທງທກລະດບຂອງປາຕບດງໜາທເຕມໄປດວຍຄວາມອດມທາງທຳມະຊາດ. ເມອການເດນທາງຮອດຈດ 500 ແມດ ທານກຈະໄດພກຜອນດດດມຄວາມ ມເອກະລກສະເພາະຂອງປະສບການນ.

ທານອາດຮສກປະທບໃຈຖາຮບຮວາປະສບການທຽວຊມທະນແມນມ ຫາຍຢາງໜາປະທບໃຈເໜອກວາການສາງຄວາມມວນຊນ…

ຜທລເລມໂຄງການດໆດງກາວເຊງແມນນກເສດຖະສາດໄດປຽບກດຈະກຳລເລມນວາ “ກດຈະກຳມວນຊນແບບເລກນອຍແຕມເປາໝາຍທຍງ ໃຫຍ”. ໂຄງການນມເປາໝາຍໃນການຊວຍເຫອຄນທອງຖນໂດຍການຫນ ປຽນການສາງເສດຖະກດຈາກການທຳລາຍປາມາເປນການສາງເສດຖະກດຈາກການອະນລກປາໄມ. ທລະກດຄາໄມ, ກະສກຳປກພດຊະນດດຽວ ແບບນາຍທນ, ການຖາງປາເຮດໄຮເກນຂອບເຂດເປນສາເຫດຕນຕໃນ ການທຳລາຍປາເຂດຮອນ. ໂຄງການປະສບການທະນໄດຖກມອບໝາຍ ໃຫຄດໃນມມມອງທແຕກຕາງ ແລະ ຈດຕງປະຕບດ.

ແຕປ 1996 ເປນຕນມາ, ທມງານໂຄງການໄດສມໃສ ແລະ ຈດຕງປະຕ ບດກດຈະກຳປກປກຮກສາປາດຳເນນໂດຍຊາວບານ ແລະ ອຳນາດການ ປກຄອງທອງຖນ. ໃນປ 2004, ເຈາໜາທປາໄມຮວມກບບລສດອານໂມ ໄດສາງເຂດສະຫງວນທາງທຳມະຊາດຂອງແຂວງບແກວ ໂດຍມການຮວບ ຮວມກດຈະກຳເຊອກສະລງ ແລະ ເຮອນຕນໄມ 15 ຫງເຂາກນ ແລະ ໄດມອບໝາຍໃຫບລສດອານໂມເປນຜໃຫບລການປະສບການທະນ ເພອເປນການປກປກຮກສາຊບສນອນລຳຄາຂອງທາງພາກເໜອຂອງລາວເຊງມຊາຍແດນຕດກບເຂດປາສະຫງວນນຳທາ. ເຂດດງກາວມເນອທທງໝດ 123,000 ເຮກຕາໂດຍມການປະສມປະສານລະຫວາງເຂດຮາບພຽງ ແລະ ພຜາທມລະດບສງແຕ 500 ແມດເຖງ 1500 ແມດ.

INSIDE LAOS

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The Gibbon Experience works closely with local people from 12 villages in the Nam Kan National Park, and currently employs 120 full-time staff, among which are Lao, Lamet and Hmong ethnic minorities. The undertaking aims to transform the local economy from traditional farming, logging and poaching, to one based on sustainable, conser-vation-focused activities

Unlike some tour providers, the Gibbon Experience has a well defined ethical approach to working with ethnic minorities, and operates from bottom-to-top by encouraging the locals to actively participate. This technique empowers the minorities rather than reducing them to ethno-touristic stereotypes.

One of the Gibbon Experience’s main objectives involves replacing traditional slash-and-burn cultivation with environmentally friendly, irrigated paddy fields. Some flat-lands in the Bokeo Nature Reserve are now dedicated to irrigation agriculture whereas all the hills are inside the protected forest.

The Gibbon Experience dedicates 8 per cent of its proceeds to flattening land for irri-gation agriculture and another 8 per cent goes to forest ranger operations It also pays the salaries of the rangers, who monitor 25 per cent of the reserve, and plants 100 000 trees each year to create wood-producing zones in the nature reserve and ensure the old trees won’t be used for logging.

In fact, canopy visits generate as much annual income as a logging company would, so don’t hesitate to come, have fun, and take part in this truly sustainable tourism project!

ປະຈບນໂຄງການດງກາວສາມາດສາງ ການຈາງງານໄດເຖງ 120 ຕຳແໜງ ແລະ 40 ຄນກເຮດວຽກປະຈຳປະກອບມທງລາວສງ ລາວເທງ ແລະ ລາວລມ ແລະ ມທງໝດ 12 ບານທເຂາຮວມກດຈະກຳທຫນປຽນຈາກການທຳລາຍມາເປນການປກປກຮກສາປາໄມ.

ສງທແຕກຕາງຈາກຜໃຫບລການທອງທຽວທວໄປ ໂຄງການປະສບການທະນເນນໃສການສະໜອງບລການທມຈນຍາບນໂດຍມການເຮດວຽກຮວມກບຊນເຜາຕາງໆບນພນຖານການມສວນຮວມ, ນບຖ ແລະ ມຜນປະ ໂຫຍດຮວມກນ.

ອກໜງໃນບນດາກດຈະກຳດໆຂອງໂຄງ ການກຄການຫນປຽນການຖາງປາເຮດໄຮມາເປນການເຮດນາຄງ ທໂດຍການນຳໃຊລະບບຊນລະປະທານ; ຈດຕງໜວຍ ຮກສາປາໂດຍມການໃຫເງນເດອນຈາກ ໂຄງການປະສບການທະນ , ສາງເຂດ ສະຫງວນໃນເນອທ 25% ຂອງເຂດສະ ຫງວນ ເພອປກຕນໄມ 100,000ຕນ ໃນແຕ ລະປເພອສາງເປນເຂດສະຫງວນພເສດ ໂດຍບມການອະນຍາດໃຫຕດໄມ ເພອ ເປາໝາຍທາງການຄາ. ສະນນຈງຂເຊນ ຊວນທານເດນທາງມາທຽວຊມ ແລະ ມວນ ຊນກບກດຈະກຳທຫາກຫາຍ ເພອເປນສວນ ໜງຂອງໂຄງການ!

- Drive there with a car rented from Europcar, and spend two days motoring to Houei Xai, with an overnight stop in Luang Prabang.

- Take the VIP bus from Vientiane to Luang Prabang (10 hours) and then to Houei Xai (12 hours). Vientiane-to-Luang Prabang VIP buses via Vang Vieng depart every-day from the Northern Bus Terminal at 08:00, 09:00, and 20:00 for LAK 120 000. You

can buy a ticket at the bus station on the same day as you plan to leave or book passage at a Vientiane travel agency, which adds a fee for transportation to the bus

station from the city centre.

- fly on Lao Airlines, which offers five direct weekly flights.

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HightlightsHightlights

Champa Magazine recently returned to Luang

Prabang, and Bernie Rosenbloom sought out

what was new and cool. He found handicrafts

labelled “Handmade in Luang Prabang”, an

elephant adventure with a night in a luxury

tent, a postcard scene just 15 minutes by cycle

from town, a colonial prison turned into a 5-star

hotel, and Laos’ best Blood Marys.

Champa Holidays: five Highlights in Luang Prabangຈດໜາສນໃຈຂອງຫວງພະບາງຜານສາຍຕາຈຳປາໂຮລເດ

ຫວາງບດນມານວາລາສານຈຳປາໂຮລເດມໂອກາດກບຄນໄປເມອງຫວງພະບາງ ແລະ ທານ ເບນ ໂລເຊນບມ

ກໄດອອກຄນຫາເຖງສງໃໝໆແລະໜາສນໃຈ. ເພນໄດ ພບພເຄອງຫດຖະກຳທຕດສະຫາກ”ເຄອງຜະລດດວຍມໃນຫວງພະບາງ”, ຂຊາງພະຈນໄພເພອພກແຮມໃນ ເຕນທຫຫາ, ຂລດຖບຊມທດສະນຍະພາບພຽງແຕໄລ

ຍະ 15 ນາທຈາກຕວເມອງ, ຄາຍຄມຂງໃນສະໄໝ ເມອງຂນຖກຫນມາເປນໂຮງແຮມລະດບ 5 ດາວ ແລະ ເຄອງດມປະເພດຄອກເທວ Blood Marys

ທດທສດຂອງລາວ.

5inside Laos five highlights in Luang Prabang

photos by Xiengthong Palace

22

3. Pedal to a Postcard Rent a bicycle and pedal south of Luang Prabang Town for about 15 minutes (3.5 km), until you reach the Nam Dong River Bridge and Lanith’s soon-to-open Balcony Bar & Res-taurant. Often whizzed over by vans and busses heading to the Kuangsi Waterfalls, the bridge scene at Ban Khoy offers plenty, including remnants of a french colonial span. During high waters, boats ply the Nam Dong. When the river runs low, you can watch farmers tending to vegetable gardens on the reclaimed fertile banks, with a wooden suspension bridge crossing the river behind them. Stop at the roadside noodle shop or restaurant and take a snapshot.

www.tourismluangprabang.org

Hightlights

1. ຍຫຫລວງພະບາງສະຫາກແລະເຄອງໝາຍສນຄາບອກໃຫຮຫາຍໆຢາງກຽວກບຄນທນຳໃຊ ຜະລດຕະພນນນ. ຕວຢາງ, ຄອມພວເຕແລບທອບທມຮບໜາກແອບເປນ ຖກກດທຕດທາງດານຫງຂອງໜາຈໝາຍເຖງວາບກຄນທເປນເຈາຂອງມ ເງນຫາຍ, ແຕວາສະຫາກຜະລດຕະພນທເຮດດວຍເຈຍ, ເຄອງປນດນ ເຜາ, ເຄອງໄມເອຍອງ, ກະຕາ, ເຄອງປະດບ, ແຜນແພ ແລະ ໄມແກະສະ ຫກ ທສະມາຄມຫດຖະກຳຫວງພະບາງນຳສະເໜອອກໃໝອານວາ “ເຮດ ດວຍມໃນຫວງພະບາງ” ບອກໃຫພວກເຮາຮຫຍງແດ? ມນສາມາດບອກ ໃຫຮວາທານປາຖະໜາທຈະສະໜບສະໜນເສດຖະກດທອງຖນດວຍ ການຊເຄອງຫດຖະກຳທມສະຫາກເພອເປນທລະນກຫຂອງຂວນ. ຊອກຊເຄອງທມສະຫາກ, ໄດທຕະຫາດກາງຄນ, ຮານຄາໃນຕວເມອງ ແລະ ໃນບນດາບານທເປນຕນກຳເນດຂອງຜະລດຕະພນເລານນ.

3. ຂລດຖບຊມທດສະນຍະພາບ

2. ຢອນເວລາຄນທານຍງຊງຈຳຄວາມໜາຕນເຕນໃນໄວເຍາທໄດຮວມເດນທາງກບຂະບວນ ຊາງໃນສດຕະວດທ19 ໄປຍງດນແດນທລກລບ? Shangri Lao ສາມາດເຮດໃຫຄວາມຝນນກາຍເປນການພະຈນໄພໃນຍາມຄຳຄນທມເອກະ ລກຍາງບເປນຕາໜາເຊອ. ທານທຢາກເປນນກສຳຫວດຈະຕອງໄດພກ ຄາງຄນໃນເຕນທຫຫາຂອງຂະບວນຊາງໂດຍມການຕກແຕງດວຍເຟນ ເຈເຄອງຫດຖະກຳສະໄໝເກາເທງພນທເຮດດວຍໄມ ແລະ ເດນທາງ ພະຈນໄພພາຍໃຕຫວຂ ທຄາຍຄກບບດຄວາມຂອງ ທານ ດຣ ພ ເນດສ ໃນໄລຍະການເດນທາງໃນຊມປ1980’ ຂອງເພນ. ທານຈະໄດເດນຕາມ ຮອຍຂອງເພນໂດຍມການເດນທາງຜານປາໄມເທງຫງຊາງ ຢດຊມ ນຳຕກຕາດໂດຍທານສາມາດເລອກລະຫວາງການຂຊາງ, ລອງນຳທ ໂອບອອມດວຍໄມໄຜຫການຍາງປາ.

ເຊາລດຖບ ແລະ ຂໄປທາງຕອນໃຕຂອງເມອງຫວງພະບາງປະມານ15ນາທ (3.5ກໂລແມດ) ຈນກວາຈະ ເຖງຂວນຳດງ. ຕະຫອດໄລຍະທາງກຈະມກເຫນລດຕ ແລະ ລດເມພວມມງໜາໄປຕາດກວາງຊ, ທວທດຢ ເທງຂວບານຄອຍສາມາດຊມທດສະນຍະພາບຫາຍຢາງ ບວາຈະເປນຮອງຮອຍສງປກສາງສະໄໝເມອງ ຂນຝຣງ. ໃນໄລຍະຍາມນຳມາກ, ກຈະເຫນເຮອມາຈອດຢແຄມຝງນຳດງຢາງຫວງຫາຍແຕພນຳລດກຈະ ເຫນໄທບານພາກນສບຊາວດນເພອປກພດພນທນຍາຫານໃສຝນດນອນເຕມໄປດວຍຄວາມອດມສມບນ ບວກກບວວຂວອຂາມແມນຳທຖວາເປນ ສາກຫງກຍງໄດອດທະລດ. ທານສາມາດຍດພກຕາມຮານເຝ ຫ ຮານອາຫານແຄມທາງ ແລະ ຖາຍຮບໄດ.

1. BrandedLabels and logos say plenty about the person using the product. for example, a laptop with a bitten apple on the monitor’s back means that person has more money than me. But, what do paper products, pottery, lacquerware, baskets, jewellery, textiles, and wooden carvings boasting the Luang Prabang Handicraft Association’s new “Handmade in Luang Prabang” labels say? They say you’re someone who wants to support the local economy by purchasing an authentic hand-crafted souvenir or gift. You can find “Handmade in Luang Pra-bang” products at the Night Market, shops around town, and in the villages of origin.

2. Step Back in TimeRemember the childhood fantasy of joining a 19th century elephant journey into a mysterious land? Shangri Lao turns this dream into an incredibly authentic overnight adventure, though a tree-house lounge, swimming pool, and restaurant dining have replaced some the bygone era’s creature com-forts. Wannabe explorers spend the night in luxurious canvas tents with antique handcrafted furniture on wooden floors, and themed after journal entries by Dr P. Neis during his 1880s expeditions. You’ll follow his trail through primeval forest on the back of a pachyderm and stop at waterfalls on a choice of tours that include bamboo river raft rides and treks.

www.shangri-lao.com

INSIDE LAOSinside Laos five highlights in Luang Prabang

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4. ປຽນຄາຍຄມຂງມາເປນໂຮງແຮມຖາຫາກວາທານເຮດວຽກໃນອດສະຫະກຳການເງນ ແລະ ອາດສງໄສ ວາຊວດໃນກຳແພງເປນຄແນວໃດ ທານຄວນໄປພກທໂຮງແຮມ Hotel de la Paix, ເຊງເຄຍເປນຄາຍຄມຂງສະໄໝເມອງຂນຝຣງມອາຍ100 ກວາປທໄດຮບການບລະນະໃໝ ທານ Warden Kevin M O’Hagan ໃຊເວລາພຽງສອງປເພອປຽນຄາຍຄມຂງດງກາວໃຫກາຍມາເປນໂຮງ ແຮມລະດບ5ດາວທຫຫາ, ມອາງອາບນຳ ແລະ ຫອງອາບສວນຕວຂະ ໜາດໃຫຍ. ດານນອກກມສະລອຍນຳ ແລະ ສວນ ທເຄຍເປນບອນອອກກຳລງກາຍຂອງນກໂທດ. ນອກນທາງໂຮງແຮມຍງບລການດານສະປາ ແລະ ອາຫານຊນຍອດຂອງລາວ ແລະ ຕາເວນຕກຄຽງຄກບບລການຮກ ສາຄວາມປອດໄພຄນນະພາບສງ.

5. ເຄອງດມຄອກເທວ Bloody Mary ທດທສດຂອງລາວເຄອງດມຄອກເທວ Bloody Mary ທບາ ແລະ ຮານອາຫານ Sammy Lavorel ແມນເຄອງດມປະເພດຄອກເທວທດທສດຂອງລາວ. ຜນງານດງກາວແມນເປນຂອງພະນກງານປງເຫາທສາມາດສາງສນປງແຕຄອກເທວ ໄດເຖງ 50 ກວາຊະນດແຕກຕາງກນ. ເຖງປາຍຈະຂຽນບອກວາເຄອງປະກອບອາຫານທກຢາງມາຈາກລາວເພອເຮດຫນາຜດຊາ, ປາສຕາ, ເບເກ ແລະ ເທກເມກ, ແຕພະນກງານເສບຊຳພດເວາວາຊຊເປນອາຫານຍອດນຍມຂອງຮານ. ໃນຮານມການຕກແຕງຕາມແບບຫບຫອບ ແລະ ມການບນ ເລງເພງແຈສໃນຍາມຄຳຄນດວຍຄາບລການທສມເຫດສມຜນ. ອອ

4. Go Directly to JailIf you work in the financial industry and wonder what life is like behind the walls of a white-collar prison, stay at Hotel de la Paix, a 100-year-old restored french colonial jail. Warden Kevin M O’Hagan resurrected the fledgling lockup in less than two years to establish a five-star penitentiary with 23 luxu-rious cells, some opening to private dipping pools, and all sporting super-sized plush bathrooms. Gardens and a swim-ming pool occupy the old exercise yard, and activities include a full-menu spa. fine Lao and Western cuisine has replaced the mess hall grub, and the guards’ service quality is second to none.

www.hoteldelapaixlp.com

5. Laos’ Best Bloody MaryI’m not sure if it is the spices or vodka that beats the morn-ing-after beast and kick-starts the day, but the Bloody Marys at Sammy Lavorel’s S Bar & Restaurant are among the best. The credit goes to the bartenders, who know how to concoct more than 50 different cocktails. They even mix “Mocktails” for teetotallers. Though the menu displays everything from Lao Tapas to pizza, pasta, burgers, and Tex-Mex, the waiter said the fusion sushi was the most popular dish, with patrons rav-ing about the wasabi. And in spite of the hip decor with jazz that switches to a night-time DJ, the price is right.

www.facebook.com/Sbarlaos

INSIDE LAOS

Vientiane-based travel writer, Bernie Rosenbloom, has covered Southeast Asia for more than 15 years. He has authored several Lao provincial guidebooks, and alongside his role as English editor for Champa Holidays, he contributes travel articles to various publications and websites. Bernie is also the public rela-tions consultant for Lanith (Lao National Institute for Tourism and Hospitality) and the New zealand-Laos CBT-SED project. E: [email protected]. W: www.bernco-laos .com.photos by Xiengthong Palace

inside Laos five highlights in Luang Prabang

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INSIDE LAOS

ໃນຕວເມອງທມຊສຽງໃນການທຳລາຍສະຖຕດານຈຳນວນນກທອງທຽວ, ມນຫາຍາກທຈະພບສະຖານທໆ ສາມາດຕອບສະໜອງໄດທງສອງຢາງ ໃນເວລາດຽວກນ: ຄວາມສະຫງບສກ ແລະ ຄວາມໜາຕນເຕນ ເຖງແມນ ວາສະຖານທນຈະຕງຢໃກກບວດຊຽງທອງ, ເຊງເປນວດທໄດຮບການສກ ກາລະບຊາສງສດ ໃນຫວງພະບາງ ແລະ ຕງແຄມຢແມນຳຂອງ, ໂຮງແຮມ ພະລາກຊະວງຊຽງທອງ ສາມາດເສກສນ ທກສງໄດ.

ນະສະຖານທດງກາວທານກຳລງຢໃນຈດໃຈກາງຂອງສງທກຳລງເກດ ຂນໃນຫວງພະບາງ ແລະ ມນກຖກຕອງແລວເມອກາວບາດຍາງອອກຈາກໂຮງແຮມຕາມທາງຍາງທມເງາຮມເຢນ ແລະ ສະຫງບສກໂອບອອມໄປ ດວຍຕນດອກເຈຍ, ດອກຈຳປາພວມເບງບານ ແລະ ຮານຄາຂອງນາຍຊາງ ຫດຖະກຳຕາມສອງແຄມທາງ, ທານສາມາດຜອນຄາຍໄປກບຄວາມຮສກ ແປກໆງາຍໆໃນຕວເມອງ ແລະ ກຢໃກກບສະຖານທທອງທຽວທໜາສນ ໃຈທສດຂອງຕວເມອງ, ປາສະຈາກຄວາມກງວນໃຈໃດໆທງໝດ.

In a city with soaring visitor numbers, tourists find it difficult, if not impossible, to relish in both tranquillity and excite-

ment, but Luang Prabang’s Xiengthong Palace Hotel, once the residence of Lao kings, has succeeded in providing this atmosphere at its property facing the Mekong River next to the revered Wat Xiengthong Temple.

There you are, staying in the heart of what is happening in Luang Prabang, yet the moment you step out of the hotel, a quiet alley of hardware stores and other shops shaded by bougainvilleas and champa trees quietly welcomes you to the city and stress-free, easy access to most of its popular sites.

ໂຮງແຮມພະລາດຊະວງຊຽງທອງ “ຄວາມສະຫງບທາມກາງຄວາມຫຫາ”

Xiengthong Palace HotelTranquillity amidst Luxury

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inside Laos accomodation XiengThong Palace

ໂຮງແຮມແຫງນເລມໃຫບລການໃນທາຍປ 2011 ມ 26 ຫອງນອນ ທສດຊນ ແລະ ກວາງຂວາງທກໆຫອງໄດຮບການຕກແຕງດວຍລດນຍມທລະອຽດອອນ. ເຊງໄດມການໃສໃຈລງລາຍລະອຽດ ແລະ ການບລການທເໝາະກບຄວາມຕອງການຂອງລກຄາ, ໂດຍມການເອຢອງ ດວຍພາບແຕມສລະປະສະໄໝໃໝ ແລະ ມການສອດແຊກອອກແບບຢາງມລກສະນະວດທະນະທຳ, ອນເຮດໃຫທກຫອງມລກສະນະພເສດ ແລະ ຮສກອບອນ.

ສງປກສາງແຫງນເຄຍເປນພະລາຊະວງເກາໃນສະໄໝລາຊະອານາ ຈກ ລານຊາງ ແລະ ກເຄຍຖກນຳໃຊໂດຍ ເຈາອານວງ ໃນສດຕະວດທ 19 ເຊງ ຕມາກໄດຖກຮກສາໄວ ແລະ ຮບການບລະນະ.

Opened at the end of 2011, the Xiengthong Palace Hotel fea-tures 26 spacious, airy rooms including 14 superior rooms, nine suites, and three Mekong premiere suites, all furnished and decorated with subtle taste. Designers paid great atten-tion to details, with contemporary and traditional artwork giving each room a special, warm touch, accented by dark woods, silk, and comfortable beds. The results, backed by per-sonalised service, lure guests to indulge in its simplicity.

Though the hotel is new, it isn’t contemporary. Rather, high-end renovation of the original buildings marks the former royal residence dating to the Lane Xang Kingdom, and last occupied by King Chao Anouvong in the 19th century.

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INSIDE LAOS inside Laos accomodation XiengThong Palace

ຮບປະທານອາຫານທ ໂຮງແຮມຊຽງທອງພາເລດ ກເປນອກປະສບການ ໜງທບຄວນພາດເນອງຈາກວາສະຖານທດງກາວສະໜອງບລການອາ ຫານທມລກສະນະສາກນຄນນະພາບສງ ບວກກບເຫາແວງຊນຍອດມໄວຫາກຫາຍເພອໃຫທານເລອກທ ຮານອາຫານຄວແຄມຂອງ.

ນອກນທາງໂຮງແຮມຍງມບລການນວດແຜນໂບຮານເພອເຮດໃຫທານຮສກດ ແລະ ຜອນຄາຍຫງຈາກເດນທາງທອງທຽວຕະຫອດວນ ແລະ ບລການຮມຢາເພອເປນການບຳບດຮກສາສຂະພາບໃນຫອງທເປນສວນຕວ.

ແນນອນທານທມາພກເຊາໃນ ໂຮງແຮມຊຽງທອງພາເລດ ແຫງນ ຄວາມ ຄາດຫວງຂອງທານຈະຖກຕອບສະໜອງຕາມຄຳຂວນຂອງໂຮງແຮມທວາ: “ຄວາມສະຫງບທາມກາງຄວາມຫຫາ “ແຕຕາມຄວາມຈງແລວໂຮງແຮມ ແຫງນຊຳພດສະໜອງຍງກວ ຄວາມສະຫງບ ແລະ ຄວາມຫຫາ ເນອງຈາກວາຄວາມໜາຕນເຕນຂອງຕວເມອງກຢໃກກວາທທານຄດ.

Dining at the Xiengthong Palace Hotel also provides a dis-tinct experience, offering an international fusion of taste and refinement. “Kitchen by the Mekong” delivers fine, authentic dining, with a menu displaying a wide selection of various cui-sines bolstered by a solid wine list.

The hotel’s Ayu Spa presents wellness and relaxation, includ-ing foot massages for traveller’s weary feet in private treat-ment chambers and personal sauna/steam rooms. Among other indulgencies, a pedicure and manicure finish off an ex-perience one expects from total individual care.

A stay at Xiengthong Palace Hotel not only exceeds the ex-pectations created by its motto, “Tranquillity amidst Luxury”, but takes guests beyond this level to provide Luang Prabang’s excitement within direct reach.

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OUTSIDE DESTINATIONoutside destination The City of Eternal Spring

While some destinations search for a magic motto, Silk Road trad-ers passing through China two millennia ago perfectly branded Kunming as “The City of Eternal Spring”. Why? These Han Dynasty merchants noticed that while sizzling heat broiled much of Chi-na in the summer, Kunming stayed cool. When winter froze the north, flowers blossomed in The City of Eternal Spring.

Comfortable mid-20°C weather covers Kunming, the capital of China’s southernmost Yunnan Province, from March to October, with June-to-September rains putting a nip in the air. However, the winter months from November to february can bring snowy mornings, but the chill wears off during the day.

Once named ‘Tuodong’, Kunming sprouted around Dianchi Lake as a Bronze Age crossroads, with trails heading to India, South-east Asia, and cities throughout China. The Han seized control of this important intersection in the 2nd century BC, but 500 years later, local chieftains retook the rugged turf.

The Nanzhao Kingdom moved in during the 8th century, with the Dali Kingdom taking the reigns in the 10th. Kublai Khan marched into Yunnan in 1253, but within decades, the Ming Dynasty drove out the Mongols, before the Manchurians held sway.

In the 19th century, British and french colonials moved in, and renamed Tuodong to Kunming, and the city grew into a manu-facturing centre by World War 2. for an in-depth investigation into the region’s fascinating past, visit the Museum of Yunnan Province and its exhibition of more than 100,000 relics.

ພຄາຕາມເສນທາງສາຍໄໝທເດນທາງໄປທວຈນສອງພນປທຜານໄດໃຫສມຍານາມເມອງຄນມງຢາງດເລດວາເປນ ‘’ເມອງແຫງລະດບານໃໝຊວ ນລນ” ຍອນຫຍງຈງເອນຊນ? ພຄາຊາວຫນກມນໄດສງເກດເຫນວາບລ ເວນສວນໃຫຍໃນຈນແມນລະດຮອນ, ແຕຄນມງຊຳພດມອາກາດເຢນ.ໃນຍາມໜາວທາງພາກເໜອອາກາດໜາວຈນເປນນຳກອນ, ດອກໄມຊຳພດ ເບງບານໃນເມອງລະດບານໃໝຊວນລນ.

ລະຫວາງເດອນມນາ ຫາ ຕລາ, ອາກາດໃນເມອງຄນມງ-ນະຄອນຫວງ ທາງຕອນໃຕຂອງຈນມອາກາດເຢນສະບາຍປະມານ 10 ອງສາໂດຍສະເລຍ, ແຕເດອນມຖນາ ຫາ ກນຍາແມນມຝນຕກ ສວນເດອນພະຈກ ຫາ ກມພາ ຈະແມນລະດໜາວເຊງຕອນເຊາອາດມຫມະຕກ.

ຄນມງເຊງເຄຍຖກເອນວາ ຕໂອດງ ຕງຢບລເວນໜອງດຽນຈ ແລະ ຖວາ ເປນບອນບນຈບຂອງຍກທອງແດງເຊງມເສນທາງເຊອມຕໄປເຖງອນເດຍ ແລະ ອາຊຕາເວນອອກສຽງໃຕ ແລະ ບນດາຫວເມອງໃຫຍໃນທວຈນ.

ໃນອະດດຄນມງຕກຢພາຍໃຕການຄວມຄມຈາກຫາຍຊນເຜາ ແລະ ຣາຊະ ອານາຈກພາຍໃນປະເທດ ແລະ ຈນເຖງສດຕະວດທ19, ປະເທດລາ ເມອງຂນອງກດ ແລະ ຝຣງໄດເຂາມາຍງດນແດນດງກາວ ແລະ ປຽນຊ ຈາກຕໂອດງມາເປນຄນມງ ແລະ ເມອງດງກາວໄດຮບການພດທະນາກາຍມາເປນສນກາງການຜະລດອດສະຫະກຳໃນໄລຍະສງຄາມໂລກຄງທ II. ສຳລບການຄນຄວາລງເລກກຽວກບປະຫວດສາດອນໜາຫງໄຫ ຂອງຂງເຂດດງກາວ ທານສາມາດເຂາໄປທຽວຊມ ແລະ ສກສາຄນຄວາໄດ ທຫພພດຕະພນແຂວງຢນານ ແລະ ການວາງສະແດງສງຂອງຫາຍກວາ 100,000 ຢາງ.

By Bernie Rosenbloom

ຕວເມອງແຫງລະດບານໃໝຊວນລນThe City of Eternal Spring

photos by Sergey Kahn

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outside destination The City of Eternal Spring

ສຳຫວດເມອງຄນມງນອກເໜອຈາກຄວາມໜາຫງໄຫທາງປະຫວດສາດແລວ, ໄມດອກ, ຕນໄມ, ປາໄມ ແລະ ຄວາມຂຽວສດຊນອນໆຂອງຕວເມອງເຮດໃຫຕວເມອງດງ ກາວນອນໃນແຜນທການທອງທຽວ. ເມອງແຫງລະດບານໃໝຊວນລນໃນປະຈບນແມນເຕມໄປດວຍສງປກສາງເພອສຳລບງານວາງສະແດງພດສວນ ໂລກໃນປ 1999. ຕກສງທາງດານຂວາຖກສາງຂນຢາງໂດດເດນສະຫງາ.

ແລະ ການລງທນດງກາວກຄມຄາ. ຕາມການລາຍງານຂອງຜອຳນວຍການ ຕະຫາດບລສດທອງທຽວ ທານ ລບ ຊາງ, ໃຫຮວານກທອງທຽວຕາງປະເທດຈຳນວນຫາຍຍງມຄວາມປາດຖະໜາທຈະເດນທາງໄປທຽວຊມ 34 ສວນທວາງສະແດງໃນງານພດສວນໂລກ. ສວນທຖກຈດວາງສະແດງນນ ແມນມຄວາມສຳຄນຫາຍຕນກທອງທຽວເນອງຈາກວາເຂາເຈາໄດຮຽນຮກຽວກບພນພດຕາງໆຂອງໂລກ ແລະ ກຮວາພດດງກາວຊວຍປກປອງ ໂລກແນວໃດ.

ສະຖານທທຊວນໃຫຫງໄຫທສດໃນຕວເມອງປະກອບມປາຫນ , ເຊງໃນນ ແມນປະກອບມພພດຕະພນຖຳຫນ ແລະ ເຂດທວທດຈອຊຽງລວນແຕມຊສຽງອນໜາປະທບໃຈໃນບນດານກທອງທຽວ ເນອງຈາກວາ: ມຖຳ, ພເຂາ ແມນຳ, ຜາສງຊນ ແລະ ຮດຄອງວດທະນະທຳຊນເຜາອນຊງຄນຄາ.

ນອກນ, ບລສດທອງທຽວຍງແນະນຳໃຫທານໄປທຽວຊມບານຊນເຜາແບບ ຢາງຂອງຢນານເຊງທານສາມາດທຽວຊມຊງເຮອນແບບຢາງຂອງ26 ຊນ ເຜາ. ນອກຈາກສະຖານທດງກາວແລວຍງມສວນສາທາລະນະແຄມໜອງ ນຳທໃຫຍທສດໃນເມອງ ແລະ ວດຍວນທງທມອາຍເຖງ 1200 ປຕງຢເທງຈອມພ.

Explore KunmingAs intriguing as Kunming’s history is, the city’s flowers, trees, shrubs, and other greenery are what placed the city on the tour-ism map. Today’s City of Eternal Spring is rooted in a construction spree that prepped it for the 1999 World Horticultural Exposition. Towers, motorways, and bridges cropped up among the parks, lakes, rivers, and wooden shops.

And the investment paid off. According to YAK Traveller Service Marketing Director Lab Sang, foreign tourists insist on inspecting the Expo’s 34 garden parks. “(The gardens) are very important for visitors, as they show the various kinds of plants in the world and how these plants protect our environment.”

China Travel, like many other agents, takes their customers to the famed Stone forest. “The Cave Museum and Jiuxiang Scenic Area are the most marvellous tourist spots,” said the company’s Web Editor Ruru zhou.

Kunming Municipal Tourism Administration Marketing Director Li Jindie agrees, “Jiuxiang is famous for its karst caves, mountains, rivers, deep valleys, and minority customs and cultures.”

Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Media Travel Consultant Rein-hard Hohler recommends the Yunnan Nationalities Village. “The attraction houses 26 ethnic minority model villages, all of which can be experienced within a five-hour walk.”

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OUTSIDE DESTINATION

for those with just a few hours to burn, Chris Horton, editor of GoKunming.com, suggests “Salvador’s Coffee House on Wenhua Xiang for a meal and coffee, then head down the hill to Green Lake Park.” He also recommends the short walk to1,200-year-old mountainside Yuantong Temple followed by a massage at Ging-ko Tree.

for late-April/early-May visitors, the Kunming International Cul-tural and Tourism festival presents a three-week celebration of music, dance, art, and great deals on local jade handicrafts, though various ethnic crafts are available all year long.

According to Mr zhou, “Kunming offers wax prints, Sani hand-bags, and Dai brocade, and most can be found at Jinma Biji Arch-way at Jinbi Road. The flower and Bird Market at Old Kunming Quarter has numerous stands selling jewellery and other curios.”

for refreshments, Mr Horton said tea lovers will find plenty of shops. “There is pu’er tea - a local specialty with dark liquor that is full of antioxidants.” for larger appetites, he said try a bowl of “Over the Bridge Rice Noodles”: chicken broth, various meats, seasoning, and rice noodles. Another Kunming essential is steam pot chicken cooked in double boilers.

Cigarette connoisseurs with cash can buy by a pack of 20 rolled with Kunming’s famed chemical-less tobacco for USD40, and big spenders can purchase hand-carved wooden cartons with 10 packs for up to USD500.

Golfers can tackle several championship-level courses. Spring City Golf & Lake Resort’s Nick zhao said, “Kunming, with its large mountain area and beautiful lakes, give golf course architects more space to design all kinds of holes with different features.”

ສຳລບນກທອງທຽວທມໂອກາດເດນທາງໄປໃນໄລຍະທາຍເດອນເມສາ ຫາ ຕນເດອນພດສະພາ, ເທດສະການວດທະນະທຳ ແລະ ທອງທຽວສາກນເມອງຄນໝງນຳສະເໜການສະແດງດນຕ, ເຕນ, ສລະປະ ແລະ ຫດຖະ ກຳທອງຖນ ແລະ ຫດຖະກຳຊນເຜາກມການວາງສະແດງຕະຫອດໄລຍະ ສະເຫມສະຫອງ 3 ອາທດ.

ສຳລບທານທຄດເຖງຂອງຝາກຂອງທລະນກກສາມາດຊອກຊໄດທຕະ ຫາດດອກໄມ ແລະ ນກໃນເຂດເມອງເກາຄນມງເຊງທານສາມາດຊອກຊ ເຄອງປະດບ ແລະ ສນຄາປະເພດຕາງໄດ.

ສຳລບທານທຕອງການສາງຄວາມສດຊນ, ໂດຍສະເພາະແມນຜທມກດມຊາກມຫາຍຮານທບລການຕນຕຳຫບຜເອທເປນປະໂຫຍດແກສຂະພາບ, ຫວາທານອາດລມລອງລດຊາດໝທມຊສຽງຂອງເມອງເຊງສາມາດເລອກໝສະໜດຕາງໄດຫເຂາປຽກເຂາກມຊສຽງເຊນກນແຕສງທບຄວນພາດກແມນໄກຕນຄນໝງທມຊສຽງ.

ຜທມກຢາສບກມໃຫບລການຢາງຫາກຫາຍເນອງຈາກວາຢາສບຈາກເມອງນມຊສຽງຍອນມສານເຄມໜອຍເຊງຜຊສາມາດຊອກຊຢາສບທມລາຄາ ປະມານຖກປະມານຕດລະ 40$ -50$ແລວແຕສະພາບເສດຖະກດຂອງໃຜລາວ.

ສຳລບນກຕກອບກມສະໜາມທມມາດຕະຖານການແຂງຂນລະດບສາກນໄວບລການ. ເນອງຈາກສະພາບພມມປະເທດເອອອຳນວຍຈງເຮດໃຫການອອກແບບສະໜາມກອບໃນຄນໜງມຄວາມສວຍງາມເປນພເສດ ເນອງຈາກວາມພເຂາ ແລະ ໜອງນຳທຳມະຊາດທຫວງຫາຍ.




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AccommodationThe City of Eternal Spring offers more than 100 star-rated hotels, with a selection to fit any trav-eller’s requirements, from families on holiday to business event delegates. Most accommodation is within minutes of the international airport and less than an hour’s drive from the main sites.

Business and leisure travellers, with a penchant for purchasing, often stay at the zKunming, located on a tree-lined boulevard surrounded by major shopping areas. This “oasis of international stan-dards of comfort and accommodation” also pres-ents an ideal base for exploring the nearby Stone forest and other attractions.

The four-star Yunnan Economic and Trade Hotel in the city centre is growing in popularity among foreign conference organizers, Chinese celebri-ties, and government dignitaries. The reason: lo-cation. The hotel and conference hall is within 15 minutes of Dongfeng Square, Nanping Walking Street, Yuan Tong Temple, and shopping plazas, and just 6 km from the airport. As for dining, en-joy a meal in the hotel’s restaurant, which won a Guinness World Record by offering 1,188 dishes on opening day.

Among Kunming’s most distinguished hotels, the Kunming Jin Jiang Hotel sits in the business cen-tre, and features 276 bright and spacious rooms, well-fit-out with plenty of electronic options for businesspeople and families. Corner rooms offer harbour or mountain views, and two restaurants serve Huaiyan-style cuisine and Yunnan delica-cies.

With plenty to see and do, and loads of accom-modation options, topped with direct daily flights from Vientiane, The City of Eternal Spring presents a perfect nearby getaway.

ສະຖານທພກເຊາເມອງແຫງລະດບານໃໝຊວນລນ ມໂຮງແຮມລະດບ 5 ດາວຫາຍກວາ 100 ແຫງ ເພອຕອບສະໜອງຄວາມຕອງ ການຂອງນກເດນທາງແຕລະປະເພດບວາຈະເປນນກ ເດນທາງແບບຄອບຄວຫນກທລະກດເດນທາງເຂາຮວມ ກອງປະຊມຕາງໆ. ສະຖານທພກເຊາສວນໃຫຍແມນຢ ໃກກບສະໜາມບນ ແລະ ເສນທາງຫກຂອງຕວເມອງ.

ນກທລະກດຫຊາວຄາຂາຍທມຖານະດມກຈະພກໃນ ໂຮງແຮມຊາກຣະຄນໝງ. ນອກນຍງມໂຮງແຮມລະດບ 4 ດາວ ໂຮງແຮມເສດຖະກດ ແລະ ການຄາຢນານທມຊສຽງ ໃນການໃຊເປນບອນຈດກອງປະຊມໃຫຍ, ຄນໃນວງ ການບນເທງ ແລະ ເຈາໜາທພາກລດກມກຈະໃຊບລ ການ. ໂຮງແຮມນມຊສຽງຍອນສະໜອງລາຍການອາ ຫານເຖງ 1,188 ລາຍການທຖກບນທກໃນປມກນເນດບກ. ນອກນຍງມໂຮງແຮມອນອກຈຳນວນໜງທໄດຮບ ຄວາມນຍມ ແລະ ຕງຢຈດໃຈກາງດານເສດຖະກດຄນໝງຈນຈຽງ.

ເນອງຈາກວາມຫາຍສງໃຫຊມ ແລະ ທອງທຽວ ແລະ ທາງເລອກບອນພກເຊາທຫາກຫາຍ ນອກນຍງມຖຽວບນ ຕງຈາກວຽງຈນ, ເມອງລະດບານໃໝຊວນລນຈງເປນອກທາງເລອກໜງສຳລບການເດນທາງທອງທຽວໃນປະເທດໃກຄຽງ.

outside destination The City of Eternal Spring

w w w. g r e e n d i s c o v e r y l a o s . c o m

Explore LAOSthe LAO way

Trekking, Biking, Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Zip Lining & Elephant Adventures

Because you care!

INSIDE LAOS inside Laos art Luang Prabang Project Space

If you don’t know about it, you might miss the modest building shouldered by appliance and hardware shops

on Kitsalat Road, and that would be a shame, as the three-storey, 1970s Vietnamese-style house at the uphill

path to the Luang Prabang Ethnic Museum holds Project Space, a cutting-edge art gallery, studio, and rooftop ter-

race where traditional handicrafts meet the art world in the cultural capital of Laos.

ເວທ ຫວງພຣະບາງ

ລະຫວາງໂລກແຫງຫດຖະກຳພນເມອງ ແລະໂລກແຫງສລະປະ

By Marion Le Roux

Project Space Luang Prabang

Where traditional handicraftsmeet the world of art

34

It’s not everyday when one encounters detailed buffalo-blood painted portraits enshrined in cur-rency, gods shaped like humans and vice-versa, and biological specimens scattered among decompos-ing traditional architecture, but that’s what Project Space delivers. Each of the four exhibition rooms of-fers a taste of both the handicraft and art worlds. It’s like walking through a corridor of the Laos/South-east Asian subconscious… bribes that might not appear or remain untold are narrated in colours and shapes.

Since it opened in December 2010, Project Space has invited mostly Lao artists to exhibit their work, though Thais and a few foreign residents also pres-ent their art. It has also served as a visitor centre dur-ing the last two years’ Luang Prabang film festival, with screenings of the short movie programme, ex-hibitions and panel discussions taking place on the 2nd floor.

When I visited the gallery in february, Prasert Yod-kaew’s drawings and sculptures illustrating the the-matic constraint, “Science and faith”, mesmerized me. “In an age defined by technology, where does one find room for dreams, myths, or lyrical fanta-sies?” the Thai artist asks. As an answer, he confronts his audience with sketches of designs of unfathom-able devices like a detailed catalogue of otherworld-ly creatures in motion.

His blend of mostly Western science and engineering drawings, with fantastic Thai decorative elements, spotlight the many cultural variables involved in the contradictions between old and new, and local and global.

for those visiting Luang Prabang between 30 March and 30 April, be sure to check “Pencils of Promise” for which an array of photographs and intimate portraits by Lao based photographer Bryce Erikson will be displayed. The exhibition aims at celebrating the 4th year anniversary of the eponymous Luang Prabang NGO.

ຖາວາທານບຮຈກກບສະຖານທແຫງນ ທານອາດບໄດ ໃສໃຈກບອາຄານ ທມລກສະນະທຳມະດາຕງຢລະ ຫວາງຮານຂາຍເຄອງໃຊໃນເຮອນ ແລະ ຮານອປະ ກອນຄອມພວເຕເທງຖະໜນກດສະຣາຊເຊງໜາກບ ທາງຄອຍ ຂນໄປຫພພທະຕະພນຊນເຜາຫວງພຣະ ບາງ ແລະ ມນຄງເປນຕາໜາເສຍ ດາຍບໜອຍ. ອາ ຄານສາມຊນຊງເຮອນຫວຽດນາມຊມປ 70 ຕງຢໃຈ ການເມອງຫວງພຣະບາງຖກຮບຮກນໃນນາມເວທວາງສະແດງຫວງພະບາງ ແລະ ເປນບອນສະແດງຜນງານ ດານສລະປະອນໜາຕນຕາຕນໃຈຂອງ ເມອງຫວງ ທາງດານວດທະນະທຳຂອງລາວແຫງນ.

ເມອທານຍາງເຂາໄປໃນ 4 ຫອງວາງສະແດງທແຕກຕາງກນໃນສະຖານທດງກາວ ທານຈະຮສກໄດເຖງສອງຢາງ - ຫດຖະກຳທເປນຮດຄອງປະເພນ ແລະ ສລະປະຂອງໂລກ. ມນເຮດໃຫຮສກວາກຳລງຍາງໃນເສນທາງບນ ຈບກນລະຫວາງລາວກບອາຊຕາເວນອອກສຽງໃຕ, ສງຕອບແທນອນຊງ ຄນຄານອາດບປະກດໃນແຫງອນ ແລະ ກບຄອຍເປນທຮບຮ ແຕຊຳພດ ຖກເລາຂານຍາງບນຈງໂດຍຮບຊງ ແລະ ສສນ.

ແຕມເປດໃຫບລການໃນເດອນທນວາ 2010, ເວທຫວງພະບາງໄດເຊອ ເຊນນກສລະປະສວນໃຫຍຈາກລາວ ແລະ ຄນຕາງປະເທດທດຳລງຊວດ ໃນລາວ ແລະ ນກສລະປະຈາກໄທເພອວາງສະແດງຜນງານຂອງເຂາເຈາ.

ຂາພະເຈາໄດມໂອກາດໄປຍຽມຍາມຫອງວາງສະແດງນໃນເດອນກມພາ ທຜານມາ ແລະ ຫງໄຫກບພາບແຕມ ແລະ ແກະສະຫກ ຂອງທານ ປະເສດ ຍອດຂຽວ ນກສລະປະໄທທໄດສະແດງໃຫເຫນຂ ຈຳກດລະ ຫວາງ “ວທະຍາສາດ ແລະ ຄວາມເຊອ”. ການປະສມ ປະສານ ວທະຍາສາດຕາເວນຕກ ແລະ ວທການແຕມລວດ ລາຍຕາມອງປະກອບ ທພເສດ ແລະ ການຕກແຕງລາຍລະອຽດຕາມແບບຂອງໄທໄດສະແດງໃຫເຫນຄວາມແຕກຕາງທາງດານວດທະນະທຳທຫວງຫາຍເຊງມອງ ປະກອບດານເວລາ ແລະ ສະຖານທໆບກງກນລະຫວາງຄວາມເກາ ແລະ ຄວາມໃໝ, ທອງຖນ ແລະ ສາກນ.

ຖາທານເດນທາງໄປຫວງພຣະບາງລະຫວາງວນທ 30 ມນາ ເຖງ 30 ເມສາ, ທານບຄວນພາດການວາງສະແດງ ພາບຖາຍຂອງທານ Bryce Eriksen ເຊງຕະຫອດໄລຍະສາມປທດຳລງ ຊວດໃນລາວ ເພນໄດຖາຍ ຮບສະໜອງໃຫແກອງການຈດຕງທາງສງຄມ ແລະ ພາກທລະກດ ເຊງແມນ ຮບຖາຍໄລຍະໃກຊດ ແລະ ພາບທມລກສະນະທຳມະຊາດຂອງຄນລາວ ຕາມເອກະລກສະເພາະຂອງເພນ.

“ຈດວນຍານເບອງຫງມດຕດ”, ການວາງສະແດງຜາປກແສວແຂວນຝາ ໂດຍ ນາງ ຈຊຽງ ເຊງເປນການວາງສະແດງຫກໃນເວທຫວງພະບາງຈນ ເຖງວນທ 30 ເມສາ. ຜາດງກາວມຄວາມປານດຢາງບນຈງ, ເປນຜນງານທມສສນຈາກຜາຝາຍປະກອບກບລວດລາຍຮບພາບຈາກຈນຕະນາການ ຂອງນາງ, ຜາແຂວນຝາໄດສະແດງເຖງຄວາມປານດມສມຂອງບນດາເອອຍນອງເພດຍງເຜາມງທວາງຂາຍໃນຮານຂາງທາງ ແລະ ຕະຫາດກາງຄນ, ເຊງມການບນຈງລງສສນຢາງແປກປະຫາດ ແລະ ເລອງເລາທລກລບທມ ຕວລະຄອນຫາກຫາຍທກມກຽວກນ. ນາງ ຈ ຊຽງ ແຕງງານກບຄນຊງທສາ ມາດສສານກບວນຍານໄດສະນນຜນງານຂອງລາວຈງມອງປະກອບດານຈດວນຍານຜສາງຢາງກະຈາງແຈງ. ທານ ມແຊນ ບາດ ສະໂຕຣແບນ ທມໂອກາດ

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INSIDE LAOS

“The Genie behind the Scissors”, a collection of large-stitched embroidered hangings by Tch-eu Siong, is the gallery’s main exhibition until 30 April. Her work requires patience, as seen in the colourful pieces of cotton fabric and scraps of images from her dreams. Her hangings reveal the world of the frail Hmong woman in the street stalls of the night market through strangely coloured and oddly shaped characters interlocked with even more characters.

Tcheu Siong is married to a shaman, and all the detailed characters in her work have names of well-known spirits in her husband’s world. She said these characters come from distant dreams and visions, and her cut-out figures embody the zone between consciousness and dreaming. Michèle Baj Strobel, who stayed with Tcheu Siong and explored the world of her work in de-tail, said, “The art of Tcheu Siong sends one back to a world where the lines blur between the living and the spirits, and make an echo...Scattered across the fabric, the collage is like a kind of language, a voice coming from the inner self, intimately associated with the artist, who is totally focused on the work in progress. Beside her, the words of the shaman (her husband) are an invisible material flowing in a discontinuous stream.” ໄດຢໃກຊດກບນາງ ຈ ຊຽງ ແລະ ສກ

ສ າ ຜ ນ ງ າ ນ ຂ ອ ງ ນ າ ງ ກ າ ວ ວ າ : ”ສລະປະຂອງ ນາງ ຈຊຽງເຮດໃຫ ທານຮສກວາ ເດນທາງກບຄນໄປຍງ ໂລກທມ ເສນເປນເງາແບງແຍກ ລະຫວາງໂລກມະນດ ແລະ ຈດວນ ຍານ ແລະ ສະແດງສງດງກາວອອກ ຜານຜນງານປກແສວເປນພາສາ ສສານຈດວນຍານຂອງການມະໂນ ພາບຈາກຄວາມກຽວພນລະຫວາງ ນກສລະປນ ແລະ ຄນຊງ (ໝຜ)”

www.projectspace-luangprabang.comcontact@projectspace-luangprabang.com

ເວທຫວງພະບາງ ແມນແນວຄດ ລເລມຂອງທານ ຊອງປແອກ ໂດວາ, ນກສະຖາປະນກ ແລະ ອອກແບບພາຍໃນ, ແລະ ທານ ຣກ ກາແດລາ, ນກຈດພມ ແລະ ຜສາງຜນງານດານສລະປະຕາງໆ ເຊນ: ຮບພາບປາຣ, ວຖຊວດ ຂອງຄນ ແລະ ສວນພກສາຊາດ ຜາຕາດແຄຫວງພະບາງ. ສະຖານທດງຊງຄນຄາແກ ການທຽວຊມພອມໆກບ ຫພພດທະຕະພນຊນ ເຜາຫວງພະບາງ.

Project Space • Luang Prabang was initiated by interior architect and designer, Jean-Pierre Dovat, and Rik Gadella, publisher and creator of Paris Photo, Parcours des Mondes and Luang Prabang’s Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden currently under construction. Be sure

to stop by during your visit to the Luang Prabang Ethnic Museum.

inside Laos art Luang Prabang Project Space

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INSIDE LAOS inside Laos Movie Chang Movie

ຈາກປະກາຍແສງອນມດມວທສອດສອງໄປຍງຈຍກ ທທານ ອວ ແບກນາກ ຈາກອງການ ຊເນມາ ຕກໆ ໄດຈດການສາຍໜງກາງແປນລອບພເສດ ເຂດຄວຽງໃນນະຄອນຫວງວຽງຈນ ບນດາທານຜຊມທມາເບງຮບເງາຈາກ ຄາຍສາງໜງຂະໜາດໃຫຍ ຊເລອງ “ຊາງ” ພາກສຽງອສານ ໃນວນທ 25 ມງກອນທຜານມາ ໄດຖກນຳພາເຂາສການເດນທາງທໜາຢານກວ ແລະ ບເປນຕາໜາເຊອ ທາມກາງຜຄນພວມປນຕນໄມໜຕາຍຈາກການໄລລາຂອງເສອປາທຊງພະລງ, ເຮອນຊງລາວຖກຝງຊາງຢຽບຢາງຮາບຄາບ ແລະ ແລວ “ຄວາມສະຫາດກສາມາດເອາຊະນະຄວາມແຂງແຮງ” - ເສອດຳ ແລະ ສດປາອກຈຳນວນໜງຖກຍງຕາຍເນອງຈາກວາພວກມນ ເຂາໄປລກກນແບເຖງຄອກ. ທນນແມນປາດງເລກ ແລະ ສຽງດນຕທບນເລງ ໂດຍວງດນຕປະສານສຽງແຫງຊາດຂອງລາວກກມກຽວດກບພາບທສາຍອອກມານນ, ຈນເຮດໃຫທານຜຊມບຮສກວາຕນກຳລງໄດຍນການຫນດນຕສດຈາກນກດນຕ12ທານ. ທານ ອວ ເບນາດ ເປນຜກຕງການສາຍຮບເງາ ເຊງມຖານຢແຂວງຈຳປາສກ ແລະ ກໄດນຳເອາການສາຍຮບເງາເຄອນ ທ “ຊເນມາຕກໆ” ໄປສາຍໃນທວລາວຕະຫອດໄລຍະ 7 ປທຜານມາ ໂດຍໄດສາຍຮບເງາເລອງ “ຊາງ” ແລະ ຮບເງາອກຫາຍເລອງທຜະລດໂດຍ ບສເຕ ຄຕນ ແລະ ຊາລ ຊບປນ ເປນຕນ. ທານ ອວ ຮຈກຮບເງາເລອງ “ຊາງ” ຜານ ອງການ ຊາງອາຊ ຂອງຝຣງ ທເຮດວຽກໃນການປກປກຮກສາສດ ທໃກສນພນໃນລາວແຕປ 2001. ຈາກວນນນຈນເຖງປະຈບນ, ອງການ ຊາງອາຊມຄວາມຍນດທຈະນຳສະເໜຮບເງາທຂອນຂາງເປນປະເດນຖກຖຽງສມະຫາຊນເນອງຈາກວາຮບເງາເລອງນມພາບເກາສະແດງໃຫເຫນ ຊາງຈຳນວນໜງຢາງໜາອດສະຈນໃຈ ແລະ ກເປນໜາສງສານໃນປາ.

ຜຊມຈຳນວນໜງກມຄວາມຕກໃຈຈນບກາເບງຮບເງາຈນຈບເລອງ. ໃນເວລາ ແລະ ສະຖານທໆ ສມໃສການປກປອງສດໃກສນພນ, ຮບເງາ ເລອງດງກາວໄດສາງຄວາມສບສນເນອງຈາກວາມການນຳສະເໜພາບ ຄວາມຄວາມຮນແຮງເຊນການຂາສດປາໂດຍໃຊອາວດປນຍງ.

ສາງຄວາມຄກຄກໃນນະຄອນຫວງວຽງຈນ

ແຕເຖງຢາງໃດກຕາມຜທຢຊມຈນຈບກຮສກປະທບໃຈກບຄວາມພະຍາຍາມອນກາຫານຂອງຜສາງຮບເງາເລອງນ ຄ ທານ ມາລຽນ ຊ ກບເປ (Me-rion C. Cooper) ແລະ ທານ ເອນເນສ ບ ໂຊດສກ (Ernest B. Schoed-sack) ເຊງເພນໄດໃຊເວລາຖາຍທຳເຖງສອງປໃນປາເລກທາງຕອນເໜອຂອງສະຫຍາມ ເຊງປະຈບນແມນເຂດແຂວງໄຊຍະບລແຕປ 1925 ຫາ 1927 ເຊງໃນທສດເພນກສາມາດສາງຮບເງາທສະຫຍອງຂວນນສຳເລດ ເຊງຖໄດວາເປນຮບເງາເລອງທຳອດທສາມາດປະສມປະສານພາບຈາກ ສາລະຄະດສດປາກບຂນຕອນການຖາຍທຳໜງທສາມາດສາງຄວາມສນ ໃຈທເໜອຄວາມເປນຂອງມະນດໄດ. ແຕຖາຫາກເບງຍອນຄນປະຫວດໄລ ຍະສອງປທໃຊເວລາໃນປາເລກ ເພອຖາຍທຳສດປາທມຄວາມດຮາຍ ແລະ ບວກກບເຄອງມກຍງບທນສະໄໝ ແລະ ບສາມາດຊມໄລຍະໄກໄດ ຍງໄປກວານນກມພະນກງານໃນກອງຖາຍທຳເຖງ 400 ກວາຊວດເພອຂນຟມ ຫາຍຮອຍມວນຕະຫອດໄລຍະຖາຍທຳ, ຄງຈະມເລອງພະຈນໄພ ແລະ ເລອງເລາຕະຫກທຫາກຫາຍເພາະຈຳຕອງໄດທຳການຖາຍທຳແບບໄກ ຊດສດປາ ແລະ ຮບເງາເລອງດງກາວກໄດຮບຄວາມຊມເຊຍຈາກນກວຈານໜງ.

ສຳລບຮບເງາເລອງຊາງ ທໄດສອງແສງເຖງທກເລກນ ແລະ ການປະເຊນ ໜາອນໜາຕນເຕນລະຫວາງຄນ ແລະ ສດນນໄດກາຍເປນການສາງພນ ຖານໃນການສາງຮບເງາທມສສຽງໂດງດງເລອງ “ຄງຄອງ” ເຊງໄດຮບ ການຖາຍທຳ 5 ປ ຫງຈາກນນ ໂດຍກມນກສາງໜງທມກຮກໃນການ ພະຈນໄພກມດຽວກນ ແລະ ກມຄວາມສະຫຍອງຂວນບນອຍກວາເລອງ “ ຊາງ ”. ໃນການສາຍຮບເງາຮອບປະຖມມະເລກຮບເງາເລອງຄງຄອງທ ຊານເບນາດໂນ ເມອງຄາລພເນຍ ເດອນມງກອນປ 1933, ຜຊມຮອງ ຕກໃຈກບສາກທເປນຕາໜາຢານກວ, ບາງຄນອອກຈາກໂຮງສາຍເພາະ ບສາມາດທນເບງໄດ ບາງຄນກວພາກວຈານເຖງຄວາມຮນແຮງ ແລະ ໜາຍານກວຂອງສາກຕາງໆ. ແຕເຖງຢາງໃດກຕາມໜງເລອງດງກາວກ ສາມາດນຳອອກສາຍໄດພາຍຫງທຜສາງໄດມການດດແກເນອຫາ ແລະ ຕດຕອນທມຄວາມຮນແຮງສະຫຍອງຂວນອອກ.

“ຊາງ”ໜງສາລະຄະດເລອງ

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inside Laos Movie Chang Movie

On the evening of 25 January, an audience gathered on Vien-tiane’s Khouvieng Road, and sat in the dim light cast by the giant screen installed by Cinema Tuk Tuk’s Yves Bernard for a special open-air viewing of “Chang” (Elephant). They were about to em-bark on a gruesome yet fantastic trip, during which men climb trees to escape a nimble tiger, wooden houses on stilts are swept away by a herd of stampeding elephants, and – “as intelligence beats strength” – a panther, along with a list of other wild animals, is shot dead as she sneaks into the goat pen for lunch. It’s a jungle out there.

Champasak-based Yves, who started the “Theatre of Shadows”, has been taking his mobile “Cinema Tuk Tuk” throughout Laos for the past seven years, screening “Chang” along with legendary Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin films.

french non-profit ElefantAsia, which has been working to protect the endangered animal in Laos since 2001, introduced “Chang” to Yves. ElefantAsia had been eager to show the rather controversial motion picture to the public, as it contains archived images with an astounding number of forlorn elephants in the wild. And, the soundtrack matches the images so well, that one almost grows unaware of the outstanding live performance by the 12-piece “Theatre of Shadows” orchestra.

A few viewers were shocked, and left, as the flick ignites confu-sion at a time and place when society is focusing on conserving endangered species. To be sure, the film is violent and cruel, but with both human and inhuman qualities. It contrasts scenes of a poor family and their adopted gibbon’s daily struggle, with those of villagers killing beasts at gun point. “Never totally victorious, never totally defeated, thus is the destiny of men in the jungle,” states one subtitle.

However, those who stayed were amazed at the bold endeav-our by filmmakers Merion C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack. from 1925 to 1927, they lived in northern Siam’s jungle, which is present-day Sayabouly Province, to create this jaw-dropping film, the first to combine wildlife documentary footage with staged sequences of melodramatic human interest.

It is important to remember that today’s sophisticated telescopic and zoom lenses did not exist 80 years ago, and many photos of

wild animals back then were taken during head-on encounters at close range. If one could find logbooks kept by the filmmak-ers during their expedition, they would surely find fascinating anecdotes. Imagine the stories of two years in the jungle with a 400-person film crew carrying hundreds of film reels and loads of equipment needed for the shoot.

In the early 20th century, many artists and intellectuals “despised” cinema, viewing it as a low-brow form of mass entertainment. However, one reviewer in a “Close Up” article published in Octo-ber 1927 argues, “the hours or days or weeks of waiting that must have gone to secure some of the close-ups of jungle beasts...One was made to be aware of the whole jungle, not of mere episodes from the jungle...and that moment when the curtains roll back, and suddenly the whole end of the theatre is one seething mass of stampeding elephants and destruction, is the answer of cin-ematography to those who profess to despise it.”

In “Chang” all the traps and dramatic encounters between men and animals lay the foundation for the blockbuster “King Kong”, made five years later by the same adventurous filmmakers, and it is no less shocking than “Chang”.

As with the Vientiane screening of “Chang”, at the preview of “King Kong” in San Bernardino, California, in January 1933, au-dience members screamed and either left the theatre or talked throughout the subsequent scenes. Conversations focused on a grisly sequence, in which Kong is shown shaking four sailors off a log bridge, causing them to fall into a ravine, where they are eaten alive by giant spiders.

Cooper cut the scandalous scene, though “King Kong” does con-tain a range of violent scenes with men retaliating against attacks from wild animals (or the other way around), but it is merely a tale. On the other hand, “Chang” leans more towards the docu-mentary genre, confronting the audience with issues threatening their sense of identity and integrity.

Nevertheless, while “Chang” displays the audacity of mass animal killings, it also presents a useful media to raise awareness on the fragility of all forms of life and the need to achieve the correct natural balance.

“Chang”By Marion Le Roux

Thunders through Vientiane

Business The Mekong Delta’s Economic Charm

ປາກແມນຳຂອງ ຫ ເມກງແດນຕາ ມທງໝດ 9 ປາກຊາວຫວຽດ ນາມ ຮອງວາມງກອນ 9 ຫວ. ຍອນວາສາຍນຳໄດໄຫມາດນ ແດນຫວຽດນາມແລວແຕກອອກເປນຫລາຍສາຂາຫງຈາກນນກ ໄຫລງໃສທະເລຈນໃຕ ຢໃນພາກໃຕສດຂອງ ປະເທດຫວຽດ ນາມ. ບລເວນເນອທເອນວາປາກ ແມນຳຂອງມທງໝດ 40,000 ກໂລແມດມນທນ ກວມເອາ 13 ແຂວງ ທມ ພນລະເມອງເຖງ 17 ລານຄນເປນເຂດດນດຳນຳຊມອເຂາອປາ ແລະ ພດ ພນທນຍາຫານ.

ຢຂງເຂດປາກແມນຳນຍງໄດຮບຜນສະທອນໂດຍກງຈາກສະພາບດນຟາອາກາດ ໂດຍສະເພາະອດທພນຈາກມລະສມເຂດຮອນ ເຊງລະດຝນ ເລມແຕ ເດອນພດສະ ພາເຖງຕລາ ລະດແລງເລມແຕເດອນພະຈກເຖງ ເດອນເມສາ, ອນຫະພມໂດຍ ສະເລຍປະມານແຕ 26°C– 27°C ການປຽນແປງຂອງລະດບນຳຂອງບລເວນນຈງ ຂນກບສະພາບດນຟາອາກາດສວນໃຫຍແມນມາຈາກອດທພນ ແລະ ຄວາມແຮງ ຂອງພາຍນນເອງ.

The Mekong Delta encom-passes a network of nine

tributaries, which local Vietnam-ese call “The Nine-Headed Drag-on” due to its natural nautical network before it emptying into the South China Sea.To tourists, the 40,000-sq-km Mekong Delta presents a classic canvas of floating markets and villages on stilts. History buffs dream of 19th century expedi-tions through the waterways. However, the 17 million people living in the Delta’s 13 provinces call it home, and make a living in the fertile region by growing rice, fruit, and vegetables, and netting fish.

ມນສະເໜທາງເສດຖະກດຂອງປາກແມນຳຂອງThe Mekong Delta’s Economic Charm

ໂດຍ: ດອກຊອນ ດອນໂຂງ / By Dokson Donkhong

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ປາກແມນຳຂອງເປນເຂດພດທະນາເສດຖະກດຂະໜາດໃຫຍ ເອນວາລະດບຕນໆຂອງປະເທດຫວຽດນາມກໄດເຊນ ການຜະລດເຂາ ຜກ, ໝາກໄມ ປະມງ ອດສາຫະກຳ ການທອງທຽວ ແລະ ອນໆ ໃນເນອທປກເຂາມ 2,6 ລານເຮກຕາ ເທາກບໜງສວນສຂອງເນອທປກເຂາໃນທວປະເທດ ຜນເກບກຽວເມອປ 2011 ສາມາດສງເຂາອອກຂາຍຕາງປະເທດ 23 ລານ ໂຕນເທາກບ 55% ຂອງການສງໃນທວປະເທດ ແຂວງທນຳໜາຂອງ ການປກເຂາ ກມແຂວງກນໂຖ ແຂວງຫຕຽນ ແຂວງກາເມາ... ການປະມງ ເປນທາແຮງໜງທສຳຄນຂອງປາກນຳ ໂດຍສາມາດຫາປາໄດ 3,168 ໂຕນຕປເທາກບ 58% ຂອງການສງອອກໃນທວປະເທດ.

ເວາສະເພາະຈດພເສດແຂວງວນລອງ ແມນຕງຢລະຫວາງກາງຂອງສອງ ແມນຳສາຂາ ຄນຳໂຫ ແລະ ນຳຕຽນເຊງໄຫມາຈາກນະຄອນໂຮຈມນມ ລວງຍາວປະມານ 130 ກໂລແມດ. ແຂວງດງກາວຍງຢໃຈກາງຂອງບນດາ ແຂວງປາກນຳ ຄາຍຄວາເປນເປນໂລກໜງພເສດທຫມລອມດວຍທຳ ມະຊາດສຂຽວເປນຕວແບບທມກສາງກດຈະກຳຂນເລອຍໆ.

ນອກຈາກນແຂວງວນລອງຍງເປນແຂວງຟນຳຄຖກຫມລອມດວຍສາຍນຳ ແລະ ມການປກດອກໄມເປນສນຄາຢາງຫວງຫາຍຄຽງຄກບພດພນທນ ຍາຫານຊະນດອນໆດງນນຢຕາມຕະຫາດຕາມແຄມທາງຈງພບວາມ ສນຄາທເປນໝາກໄມ ດອກໄມຫາຍຊະນດຫາຍສສນເຕມໄປໝດພປານມການແຕມແຕງຈາກຈດຕະກອນຜມສມ ເມອເບງພາບເລານໂດຍມສາຍນຳຂອງຢສາກເບອງຫງທປະກອບດວຍການເຄອນໄຫວຂອງຊວດຕວຈງ ຂອງຜຄນທກຳລງຂບເຮອ, ແຈວເຮອ, ພາຍເຮອ ເພອຊຂາຍຜນຜະລດປະສມປະສານກບເຮອທອງທຽວປະເພດຕາງໆ ສາງໃຫຄາຍຄວາວນລອງເປນນະ ຄອນດອກໄມໝາກໄມທບມຍາມຫບໄຫເປນຕະຫາດນຳ ແລະ ນະຄອນແຫງການທອງທຽວທາງນຳ ເພອຊມສວນ ແລະ ພກແຮມຄນຕາມໝບານ ຊາວກະສກອນໃນເກະດອນຕາງໆ.

ສວນແຂວງອນໆ ທຕງຢປາກນຳຂອງ ກມທາແຮງທາງເສດຖະກດຄາຍຄກນເຄອນໄຫວເໝອນກນສາງພາບພດທຈບໃຈແກຜພບເຫນກາຍເປນ ຄວາມຊງຈຳ ແລະ ມນສະເໜໃຫກບຜຄນທໄດມາທອງທຽວຢຽມຢາມ ແລະ ຊອກຫາຜນປະໂຫຍດຈາກແຫງການຜະລດແຫງນຢາງບເວນແຕລະວນ.

As the Mekong Delta is located in a low-lying coastal region, this economic hub is affected by a vary-ing sea level and is particularly sus-ceptible to floods, especially due to climate change. The average tem-perature is between 26-27°C, with the rainy season running from May until October and the dry season lasting from November to April.

The Mekong Delta’s distinct envi-ronment makes it one of Vietnam’s leading economic hubs where rice growing, vegetable farming, and fishing join tourism as key eco-nomic drivers. The delta’s rice farms cover 2.6 million hectares, account-ing for a quarter of the nation’s rice cultivation area and more than 50 per cent of the country’s rice exports at some 23 million tonnes per year. Can Tho, Hau Giang and Ca Mau Provinces tally the largest yields.

Adding to the delta’s bounty is fish, and anglers annually haul in some

INTERVIEW

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3,200 tonnes from the Nine Dragons, a whopping 58 per cent of Vietnam’s finned-seafood exports. The best spot for landing a good catch is in Vinh Long Province between the Hoh and Tiang Rivers, which flow 130 km from Ho Chi Minh City.

Vinh Long sits in the centre of the delta, surrounded by a lush green environment, presents the perfect base for outdoor activities, and seems like the backdrop from a best-selling novel. The province appears to float as the waters, decorated with colourful flowers and other cash crops, circle the prefecture known for its fruit-and-flower markets, both on the water and along the road.

Perhaps one of the world’s most fascinating eco-nomic hives bolstered by its Mekong backdrop, this aquatic tourism town presents a flower-and-fruit city that never sleeps, and probably hasn’t for cen-turies. Better yet, the constant movement of locals riding, sailing, or rowing boats while selling their products mix well with tourist cruises and overnight stays in one of many farmers’ villages on the many surrounding islands.

Many of the other Mekong Delta provinces blend tourism with a jumble of commercial activity, add-ing to the Nine Dragons’ economic charm.

Business The Mekong Delta’s Economic Charm

YOUTH PROJECT

9t16j[jvoouh DDDDD mujgIqkrq[daoWill Be There.....Where We Meet

Lao Convenience Store

YOUTH PROJECT

ຫາຍທານອາດຈະໄດຍນ ແລະ ຮຈກພສມຄວນກຽວກບໂຄງການຊາວໜມເດນທະເລອາຊຽນ-ຍປນຫ (Ship for South East Asian Youth Program) ທລດຖະບານຍປນ ແລະ ພາຍໃຕການຮວມມຂອງບນດາປະ ເທດສະມາຊກໄດໃຫການຊວຍເຫລອມາກວາ 40 ປ ແລະ ໃນໂອກາດທປະເທດລາວໄດເປນເຈາພາບໃນການຈດງານພບປະອະດດຊາວໜມເດນທະເລຄງທ 25 ໃນທາຍເດອນເມສາ 24-27, 2013 (SIGA) ທນະຄອນ ຫລວງວຽງຈນ, ຜຂຽນຈະຂພາທານມາຮຈກກບອກມມໜງທຫລາຍທານ ອາດບຮ.

Youth Project Dream Building and Heartfelt Sharing

Laos will host the 25th annual Ship for South-east Asian Youth Programme (SSEAYP) and its International General Assembly (SIGA) in Vien-tiane from 24-27 April 2013, for young Asians to exchange culture and knowledge and to sharp-en their skills to become future leaders, while alumni meet to share their views.

The Japanese government has financed SIGA, a general meeting of former SSEAYP participants, in close cooperation with members of the As-sociation of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN), since the assembly’s inception in 1987.

Each year, 29 young people from 11 countries take sea trip to some six countries, as a “short cut” to learn about the different Asian cultures and ways of life, while also gaining invaluable knowledge and experience to help them be-come Asia’s future leaders.

Last year’s 24th SSEAYP journey lasted a whop-ping 53 days, as the ship of young leaders called on ports in Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei, while inland visits were organised to Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.

SSEAYP was founded 40 years ago, and in 1987, the programme’s chief representatives from each of the ASEAN member countries and Japan decided to organize the first SIGA. Japan hosted the event in 2012. SIGA’s main objectives are to provide a forum for SSEAYP alumni to exchange opinions and to discuss their current roles and contributions to the socio-economic develop-ment of their respective countries.

ສາງຝນປນນຳໃຈDream Building and Heartfelt Sharing

ໃນແຕລະປຈະມຊາວໜມ 11 ປະເທດ, ປະເທດລະ 29 ຊວດ ພາກນອອກ ເດນທາງໄປຫລາຍກວາຫກປະເທດເພອແລກປຽນວດທະນາທຳຮຽນຮເຊງກນ ແລະ ກນ, ແລະ ການຝກທກສະໃນການເປນຜນຳຊງຖໄດວາ ເປນຄວາມຮທາງລດຊະນດໜງ. ການເດນທາງທະເລເປນໄລຍະ 53 ວນ ເປນການເດນທາງຍາວນານພສມຄວນ ໃນປທຜານມາຄະນະດງກາວກໄດເດນທາງໄປຢຽມຢາມກວາ 6 ປະເທດໄດແກ ຢປນ, ຫວຽດນາມ, ໄທ, ສງກະໂປ, ອນໂດເນເຊຍ, ແລະ ບຣໄນ. ພອມກນນນ, ກໄດມການຜດປຽນ ເດນທາງໄປຢຽມຢາມ ປະເທດ ມຽນມາ, ກຳປເຈຍ ແລະ ລາວ ໂດຍບນດາຫວໜາຂອງແຕລະປະເທດ.

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YOUTH PROJECT

ການເດນທາງທເຕມໄປດວຍຄວາມປະທບໃຈພວກເຂາໄດພບພປະສບ ການທທາທາຍ, ແລະ ກໃຫເກດມແຮງບນດານໃຈທຈະນຳເອາປະສບ ການທໄດຮຽນຮມານນ ມານຳໃຊໃຫເກດປະ ໂຫຍດສງສດແກສງຄມດວຍ. ການສາງໂຄງການໃດໜງ ເຊນໂຄງການ ແບງປນນຳໃຈຊາວໜມກ ເປນໂຄງການໜງຂອງຄະນະຊາວໜມປ 2012. ເຊງເປນໂຄງການສາງໂຮງຮຽນແບບຢາງທໄດເລມຈາກໂຮງຮຽນປະຖມ ສມບນໜອງບວທອງ, ເມອງປາກງມ, ນະຄອນຫວງວຽງຈນ. ເພອທຈະເຮດ ໃຫໂຮງຮຽນກາຍ ເປນບານຫງທສອງຂອງນອງນກຮຽນທມຄວາມສະອາດ, ສວຍງາມ ແລະ ດງດດໃຈກໃຫເກດຄວາມກະຕລລນໃນການຢາກໄປຮຽນຫາຍຂນ.

ນຳໃຈທຳອດທສຳເລດໃນທາຍເດອນກນຍາ ທ 29 ປ 2012 ກແມນກດຈະກຳ ບລະນະສອມແປງໂຮງຮຽນ ໂດຍການທາສໂຮງຮຽນພາຍໃຕການສມທບ ຊວຍເຫອທາງດານແຮງງານຈາກຊາວໜມບານ ແລະ ທາຍເດອນກມພາ ທ 24 ປ 2013 ຜານມາ ຄະນະຊາວໜມລາວເດນທະເລ ກໄດດຳເນນການມອບ ຄວາມຮດານສຂະອະນາໄມ, ໂພຊະນາການ ແລະ ກສາງອາງລາງມໃຫກບ ນອງນອຍຢໂຮງຮຽນດງກາວ. ນອກນນ ບນດາຊາວໜມລາວເດນທະເລ ຄງທ 39 ນ ຍງສບຕກດຈະກຳສງເສມການຮກສາສງແວດລອມໂດຍໃຫນອງນອຍຮຈກການໄຈແຍກ, ຖມຂເຫຍອເພອສາມາດນຳເອາຂເຫຍອ ມາໝນໃຊຄນ ແລະ ດຳເນນການປກຕນໄມເພອຊວຍກນຫລດຜອນພາວະ ໂລກຮອນ ແລະ ສາງໂຮງຮຽນໃຫກາຍເປນໂຮງຮຽນສຂຽວ ໃນເດອນມຖນາ ທຈະມາຮອດນ. ພອມກນນນ, ກຈະມການບລຈາກອປະກອນກລາ, ອປະ ກອນການສກສາ ແລະ ການຫນກລາ ເພອຊກຍສງເສມໃຫໄວໜມຫນມາໃສໃຈກບສຂະພາບຂອງຕນຫາຍຂນ. ຫລກເວນການສາງປະກດການຍທໃນສງຄມ.

ເປນຫຍງຈງເລອກໂຮງຮຽນນ?ການເລອກໂຮງຮຽນດງກາວແມນ ໄດຮບການຮວມມປະສານງານຈາກ ໜວຍງານຫອງການການປກຄອງເມອງທແຈງໃຫພວກເຮາໄດຮບຮເຖງໂຮງຮຽນທຍງຕກຢໃນທາຮບມຄວາມຮຽກຮອງຕອງການໃຫມການຊວຍເຫອໃນເມອງດງກາວ. ແຕໃນຄວາມເປນຈງ ພວກເຮາກຍງມເປາໝາຍທຈະດຳເນນເຄອນໄຫວກດຈະກຳຢໃນໂຮງຮຽນແຫງອນທເຫນວາຍງມຄວາມຂາດແຄນອປະກອນການສກສາ ຫ ສຂະ ອະນາໄມ ແລະ ຕອງການຄວາມຊວຍເຫອ.” ວດາລດ ວງນະໄລແສນ

ໜງໃນສະມາຊກເດນທະເລຄງທ 39, ປ 2012

ນອງຮບຜດຊອບຫນາທຫຍງ?“ຂາພະເຈາໄດເປນຜຮບຜດຊອບໃນການສາງກດຈະກຳນຳພານອງນກຮຽນ ຮຽນຮ, ສາງກດຈະກຳທເປນການສາງທກສະຄວາມສາມາດໃຫເດກທນອກຈາກຮຽນໃນຫອງຮຽນພອມນນກສງເສມໃຫເດກມຄວາມສາມາດ, ມຄວາມ ກາຄດກາສະແດງອອກຫາຍຂນ” ສລວງ

ແສງສໄລ (DJ ເປດ ໃຈໄວໝມ ແລະ Sharing Radio) ຫນງໃນສະມາຊກເດນທະເລຄງທ 39, ປ 2012

Youth Project Dream Building and Heartfelt Sharing

ຜທມກແບງປນໃນການມສວນຮວມກສາມາດປນນຳໃຈ ຜານທາງພວກ ເຮາ ແລະ ພວກເຮາຍນດທຈະເປນສກາງ. ສາມາດຕດຕຜານ Email: [email protected] or Tel: +856 20 22464321

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The SSEAYP programme allows participants to return home with the experience they gained by facing challenges and absorbing knowledge, which they can use to benefit their respective communities. for example, 2012 SSEAYP representatives from Laos launched a group initiative, “Heartfelt Sharing”, with the aim of creating a model primary school as a second home for students. They selected Nongbuathong Primary School in Pakgneum District Vientiane for this pilot project to bring a cosy, eye-catching, personable environment to inspire young students to learn.

The Lao alumni of the 39th SSEAYP 2012 kicked into action on 29 September 2012, by first restoring and painting the school, with the Village Youth Union chipping in their labour. On 24 february 2013, the project began a hygiene and nutritional campaign, while installing a sink to provide students with access to clean water for washing their hands.

In July this year, the group plans to organise an environmental education campaign to teach youngsters how to separate and recycle garbage, plant trees to help to reduce climate change, and create the first green school in the district. Athletic and edu-cational materials will also be donated to the school to encourage students to participate in sports to maintain their good health and help them avoid antisocial behaviour.

Ms. Vidalath Vongnalaysane, 2012 SSEAYP participants, explained why the group chose this particular school. “The selection of this pilot project was based on the recommenda-tion of the district’s administration authority, which said this school is in real need of as-sistance but lacks financing. However, we would also like to expand our actions to other schools in need of educational materials and hygiene knowledge.”

Mr. Soulivong is taking the lead in designing students’ outside class activities aimed at enhancing their skills and talents, especially through self expression.

For those wishing to contribute to this charitable cause, your heartfelt donations are welcome. For more information,Email: [email protected] or Tel: +856 20 22464321

NEWS & EVENTS

ຜຊະນະເລດ

ປະເພດອາຍ 13-15 ປ

1. ທາວ ພອນປະເສດ ແສງມະນວງ ອາຍ 15ປ ຮຮ ມສ ເພຍວດ

2. ນາງ ລດຕະນາ ສກຈະເລນ ອາຍ 14ປ

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ປະເພດອາຍ 10-12ປ

1. ນາງ ສປດາ ຫງສວນ ອາຍ 11ປ ຮຮ ປະຖມ ຊາງນອຍ

2. ທາວ ອານນ ສດວນນະເດດ ອາຍ 12ປ ຮຮ ມດທະຍມ

ປະຊາທປະໄຕ ແຂວງຫວງພະບາງ

3. ນາງ ເບນດາວນ ແສງນະພາ ອາຍ 11ປ

ປະເພດອາຍຕຳກວາ 10ປ

1. ນາງ ສນຕາ ຫງສວນ ອາຍ 9ປ ຮຮ ປະຖມ ຊາງນອຍ

5. ທາວ ເກມບອນ ຈະເລນສກ ອາຍ 9ປ ຮຮ ປະຖມ

ຫອມສະຫວນ

6. ນາງ ດາວນ ພວງມາລາ ອາຍ 8ປ ຮຮ ປະຖມວຽງຈນ

ພດທະນາ

news & events Toyota newsNEWS & EVENTS

ວນທ09 ມນາ 2013 ທຜານມາ, ບລສດໂຕໂຍຕາໄດຈດງານປະກວດ ແຕມຮບ “ຍນຕະກຳແຫງອານາຄດລດໂຕໂຍຕາໃນຝນຂອງຂອຍ” ຄງທ 3 ຂນທ ຫວດທະນະທຳແຫງຊາດ, ນະຄອນຫວງວຽງຈນຈດປະສງຂອງງານນແມນເພອສງເສມກດຈະກຳຍາມວາງ, ເສມຂະຫຍາຍຄວາມຄດສາງສນດານຈນຕະນາລງໃນງານສລະປະ ແລະ ພດທະນາຂດຄວາມສາມາດຂອງ ເດກນອຍລາວສເວທສາກນໃນອະນາຄດ.

ພເສດງານນແຕກຕາງຈາກປທຜານມາເພາະເປນປທຳອດທໄດຈດການ ປະກວດຢ 4 ແຂວງຄ: ນະຄອນຫວງວຽງຈນ, ຫວງພະບາງ, ສະຫວນນະເຂດ ແລະ ຈຳປາສກ ເຊງໄດຮບຄວາມສນໃຈຈາກນອງນອຍເຍາວະຊນທງໝດ 800 ຄນ ໃນນນຈາກແຂວງສະຫວນນະເຂດ 137 ຄນ, ແຂວງຈຳປາສກ 135 ຄນ, ຫວງພະບາງ 120 ຄນ ແລະ ນະຄອນຫວງວຽງຈນ 408 ຄນ.

ການປະກວດແຕມຮບທທາງໂຕໂຍຕາຈດຂນນໄດແບງອອກເປນ 3 ປະ ເພດຄ: 13-15 ປ, 10-12 ປ ແລະ ຕຳ ກວາ 10 ປ ເຊງລາງວນຊະນະ ເລດຈະໄດຮບເງນສດ 5,300,000 ກບ. ນອກຈາກເງນສດແລວ ຜໄດຮບຊະ ນະເລດລະດບປະເທດຈະຖກສງເຂາປະກວດການແຕມຮບລະດບ ສາກນທຢປນ ຖາຫາກຕດອນດບ 1 ໃນ 3 ຈະໄດຮບລາງວນໄປທດສະ ນະສກສາທປະເທດຢປນໃນເດອນສງຫາ 2013 ນອກດວຍຖວາເປນກດຈະກຳດໆທບລສດໂຕໂຍຕາໄດຈດຂນເພອນອງນອຍແລະພແມ ປະຊາຊນຕາມຄຳຂວນຂອງເພນທວາ: “ໂຕໂຍຕາພມໃຈທໄດເຕບໂຕຮວມ ກບສງຄມລາວ”

ງານປະກວດແຕມຮບຍນຕະກຳແຫງອະນາຄດລດໂຕໂຍຕາໃນຝນຂອງຂອຍຄງທ 3

Lao Toyota Co, Ltd organised its 3rd Toyota Dream Car Art Contest at the Lao National Cultural Hall on 9 March 2013, to promote outside class learning activities, strengthen young Lao students’ creativity, and boost their abilities to compete at an international level.

This year’s competition among 800 students was unique as it simultaneously took place in four provinces: 137 participants from Savannakhet, 135 from Champasak, 120 from Luang Prabang, and 408 from Vientiane.

Though hot weather hovered over the event, teachers, parents, and students appeared happy as they participated in the many activities, such as art performances, traffic rules education, photo souvenirs, the Toyota motor show, and games.

The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest is divided into three categories: Category1 is for students aged 13-15 years old; Category 2 covers kids from 10-12 years old, and Category 3 targets youngsters under 10 years old.

The winner of each category received LAK 5,300,000, while the first runners-up for each category was awarded LAK 3,180,000, and second runners up pulled in LAK 1,060,000. On top of this, the winners will represent Laos in the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest on the international stage, as those claim-ing the first three places received study tours in Japan being held this August.

This competition is part of Toyota’s corporate social responsibility pro-gramme for young students and their parents under its slogan, “Toyota moving forward”.

Toyota Holds 3rd Dream Car Art Contest in Laos

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ສນທປກສາ ແທກໂດ TACDO Consulting Center

P.O .Box 7382. Banphaxay, SisattanakDist, Vientiane, Lao PDR Office: 021 285139-40, Tel/Fax: 021 353961, Mobile: 020 55519581 Email: [email protected], www. tacdocenter.com

ໃຫບລການຝກອບຮມ ແລະ ໃຫຄາປກສາ: ດານບລຫານ ແລະ ຈດການ

ການພດທະນາຊມຊນ ການເງນຈລະພາກ ສ ງແວດລອມ

Consulting and Training Services in: Leadership and Management

Community Development

Microfinance

Environment

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Vang Vieng

Ban Sabai BungalowsJust a few minutes from the centre of Vang Vieng, these charming bungalows are perfectly set on the banks of the Nam Song River. They also come with great views of the spectacular limestone peaks that surround the area.

A Sisavang Street, Ban Viengkeo, Vang Vieng W www.inthira.com

Riverside Boutique ResortThe Riverside Boutique Resort consists of thirty four luxury rooms and suites surrounded by tropical gar-dens and centred around a swimming pool.

A Ban Viengkeo, VangViengW www.riversidevangvieng.com

Nam Lik Eco-villagefor nature lovers and those looking to embrace the great outdoors, the Nam Lik Eco-Village is a dream come true. The resort is designed to work in harmo-ny with nature, as well as various community devel-opment projects in nearby Ban That Wang Monh.

A Nam Lik River Bank, Ban That, VangVieng

Dream Time Eco RetreatLocated about 30 kilometres up the Me-kong from Vientiane near Ban Hom, Dream Time Eco Retreat is off the tourist trail but easy to access. Set in a forest with rock for-mations on a seasonal freshwater stream that flows into the Mekong, this eco retreat offers simple wooden lodges in nature.

A W www.dreamtime-laos.com

Lao Orchid HotelSituated close to the Mekong River in front of Vat Chanh, Vientiane’s well-known Lao Orchid Hotel provides perfect accommo-dation for businesspeople and travellers.

A Chao Anou Roadd, Vat Chanh, VTEW www.lao-orchid.com

KiridaraSet on a hillside surrounded by teak for-ests, this 24-room boutique hotel offers panoramic views of Mount Phou Si, with easy access to Luang Prabang Town and its international airport.

A 22/13 North Road, Ban NaviengkhamW kiridara.com

The BelleRive Boutique HotelThe BelleRive Boutique Hotel offers luxury accommodation and tranquillity for up-scale, independent travellers in the histori-cal centre of the peninsula, and close to Vat Nong and Vat Sensai temples.

A 99 Baan PhonhueangW www.thebellerive.com

Muangthong Luang PrabangWith a boutique feel the Muangthong Ho-tel is an impressive complex of 4 two sto-rey buildings, built around a central court-yard and swimming pool. The buildings, with large wooden pillars are of modern Lao design with a french colonial flavour and traditional Lao roofs.

A Oupalathkhamboua Rd., Ban ThatluangW www.muangthonglpb.com

Nong Khiaw Riverside, Muang NgoyLarge comfortable wooden bungalows on stilts offer breathtaking river views and a warm welcome from Danish owner Eskil and his friendly team. The homemade food is excellent. The best place to stay in Nong Khiaw.

A Ban Sop Houn, Muang NgoyW www.nongkiau.com

Vientiane

Luang PrabangMore favourite accommodation choices, visit: www.champamag.com

ACCOMMODATION ADVISOR

Where to stay

Vientiane Garden HotelThis newly renovated hotel offers 40 spacious rooms with panoramic garden and swimming pool views in the heart of Vientiane’s shopping and dining area. The Vientiane Garden Hotel’s guestrooms deliver cosmopolitan elegance and comfort to suit the needs of leisure and adven-ture travellers, and perfect for businesspeople, families, and couples.

A Sihome Road, VTEW vientianegardenhotel.com

Beau Rivage Mekong HotelIdeally situated on the Mekong Riverfront in downtown Vientiane, the popular Beau Rivage’s modern design offers guests new, attractive, modern accommodation and great value.

A fa Ngum Road, Ban Seetarn NeuaW www.hbrm.com

A great little retreat in Champassak ProvinceKingfisher Ecolodge.

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XiengkhouangAuberge PhouphadengA delightful hilltop resort in beautiful country-side close to Phonsavan, Auberge Phouphadend makes an ideal base for exploring the famous Plain of Jars. fifteen comfortable wooden bunga-lows have been built in-amongst a forest of pine and fern trees.

A Xieng Khouang City Center, Xieng Khouang

OudomxaiCharming Lao HotelClose to the centre of town, the Charming Lao Hotel is ideal for anyone visiting Oudomxai for business or pleasure. All rooms are equipped with modern facilities. Best choice in town.

A Vanghai Village, Xay District, OudomxayW www.charminglaohotel.com

Luang Namtha The Boat Landing, Ban KoneThis premier eco-lodge is a great jump off point for those looking to explore the Nam Ha Protect-ed Area. All the bungalows have been built using local materials and in a local style, while guaran-teeing a comfortable stay. A great choice.

A Ban Kone, Luang NamthaW www.theboatlanding.com

SavannakhetDaoSavanh Resort Rooms offer unique views of the Sedone River, as it flows into the Mekong. Close to a market and Wat Luang, Pakse’s most celebrated Buddhist Pa-goda, it’s also a great place to experience local life. Rooms are clean and comfortable.

A Ban Thahea, Kaisone Phomvihan, SavannakhetW www.daosavanhhtl.com

ChampasakInthira Hotel, ChampasakThese 2 stunningly restored Colonial era Trading Houses on the ‘right side of the river’ are not only the closest Hotels to the Ancient Temple Wat Pho, but are also the most contemporary and stylishly designed hotels in the Locality.

A Ban Vat Amard, Champasak DistrictW www.inthira.com

Little Eden Guesthouse, DondetThe Little Eden Guesthouse is located on the north-western tip of Don Det in the Mekong’s 4,000 Islands (Siphandon). The property offers great views, and presents an ideal location to take pleasure in fantastic sunsets while enjoying a meal and drink at the riverside restaurant.

A Sunset Side, Don DetW littleedenguesthouse-dondet.com

Arawan Riverside Hotel, PakseThe only all in one 5 stars hotel in Pakse, Champa-sak Province, LAO PDR. The hotel located along the Mekong River and in the central city of Pakse

A Salakiew srteet, PakseW www.arawanhotelpakse.com

12 Khouvieng Rd, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDRPhone: +856 21 26 4097. Fax: +856 21 26 3064

Email : [email protected]

www.facebook.com/Riversidevangvieng | www.riversidevangvieng.com

Ban Viengkeo, Vang Vieng, Vientiane Province, Lao PDRPhone: +856 (0)23 511 726-8. Fax: +856 (0)23 511 729Email: [email protected]

...The spirit of traditional Lao hospitality... on the bank of the Nam Song River

Experience the wealth of our cultural heritage

...Elegance and timeless comfort... in the heart of Vientiane

Experience the beauty of historical Laos

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Luang Prabang World Heritage City

For more information please contact Champa Holidays Tour or Lao Airlines officesTel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile: 22413161, 22224884Email: [email protected], [email protected], www.champaholidays.com

Luang Prabang has a beautiful and tranquil dream-like setting with a fusion of foreign influences and splendid land-scape and scenery, making this an idyllic, unspoiled and charming destination for visitors. It is no wonder this amaz-ing city has been declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO. The ancient city was the former capital of Laos, with a reign of more than 63 kings over 600 years. Luang Prabang is known as the ‘Thousand Pagoda City’ and there are countless intriguing architectural highlights in this sleepy and once royal capital.

How to get to Luang Prabang?Lao Airlines has direct flights from Bangkok, Chiangmai and Hanoi daily; three times a week from Siem Reap; three flights daily from Vientiane.

Luang Prabang Free & Easy Stay-3 Days

Code: CPH11

Enjoy the free & Easy Stay package in the World Heritage City of Laos which in-cludes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommodations in a hotel room of your choice with daily breakfast, round trip airport transfer and half day city tour.

Luang Prabang Stop-Over-3 Days

Code: CPH12

Luang Prabang Stop-Over tour includes a round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, trans-portation in private car, accommodation in a twin shared room with breakfast, English speaking guide, admission fee to indicated sights, and government taxes and service charges. The tour program is as follows:

Day 1: Arrival-Luang Prabang Arrival at Luang Prabang airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Af-ter a short rest, we will visit the impressive stupa of Vat Visoun and the shrine of Vat Aham and Vat Mai. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. from there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by hilltribe groups and lo-cal people from the surrounding area of Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Pra-bang.

Day 2: Luang Prabang-Pak Ou CaveOn this day, we enjoy a short-guided tour to see the city’s oldest temples of Vat Sene and the magnificent Vat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, rep-resenting classical Laotian architecture. We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil coun-

tryside as well as time to explore the mys-terious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lac-quered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we will stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is produced. On return, we’ll take a short drive to another small village, Ban Phanom, which is fa-mous for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)

Day3: Luang Prabang-DepartureVisit the National Museum (closed Tues-days) at the former Royal Palace. It displays a collection of artifacts reflecting the rich-ness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last reign. There will also be time to look around the Central Market. After visiting these sights in the morning, there may be free time (depending on your flight) to venture into town and stroll around the shopping area. The tour ends after your transfer to the airport for departure. (B)

Luang Prabang World Heritage City

For more information please contact Champa Holidays Tour or Lao Airlines officesTel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile: 22413161, 22224884Email: [email protected], [email protected], www.champaholidays.com

Luang Prabang Wonder-4 Days

Code: CPH13

Enjoy Luang Prabang Wonder – 4 days and 3 nights which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, transportation in private car and accommodation in a twin shared room with daily breakfast, English speaking guide, admission fees to indicat-ed sights, government taxes and service charges. The tour program is as follows:

Day 1: Arrival-Luang PrabangUpon arrival, you will be met and trans-ferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang has been claimed by UNESCO to be ‘the best preserved city in Southeast Asia’. During your time here, we’ll visit the impressive stupa of Vat Visoun and the shrines of Vat Aham and Vat Mai. We then climb up to the top of mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. from there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people from the surrounding areas of Luang Pra-bang. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)

Day 2: Luang Prabang-Pak Ou CaveEnjoy a short-guided tour to see the city’s oldest temple of Vat Sene and the magnif-icent Vat Xiengthong with its roofs sweep-ing low to the ground, representing classi-cal Laotian architecture. We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside as well as time to explore the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On return, we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, a small village known for its hand weaving. Overnight inLuang Prabang. (B)

Day 3:Luang Prabang-Khouangsi VaterfallAn optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (of-ten in the form of sticky rice) from faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the ritual. from there, you will visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings.

Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and this day you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou, Lao Oum Village and Ban Thapene, which are Khmu vil-lages. This then takes us to the beautiful Khouangsi Vaterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails.

On the return trip to Luang Prabang by late afternoon, we continue to Ban Xang-khong, a village well known for its silk weavings and for its Saa (jute) Papermak-ing. We return to the city by late evening to admire the sunset at Vat Siphoutha-bath. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)

Day 4: Luang Prabang-DepartureVisit the National Museum (closed Tues-days) at the former Royal Palace. It dis-plays a collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last reign. There will also be time for us to look around the Central Market. After visiting these sights in the morn-ing, there may be free time (depending on your flight) to venture into town and stroll around the shopping area. The tour ends after your transfer to the airport for departure. (B)

Ho Chi Minh City - VietnamFormerly known as Saigon

How to get to Ho Chi Minh City? You may take Lao Airlines flight from Vientiane or Pakse to Hochiminh on Tue, Thu & Sat.

Ho Chi Minh Free & Easy Stay-3 days

Code: CPH61

Enjoy the free & Easy Stay package in the historical Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, two nights accommodation in a three star hotel with daily breakfast, round trip airport transfer and a half-day tour in Ho Chi Minh city.

Ho Chi Minh-Mekong Delta-3 Days

Code: CPH62

The Ho Chi Minh Mekong Delta 3 days and 2 nights package includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights ac-commodation in a twin sharing room, daily breakfast and one lunch at the ho-tel, transportation in private car, entrance fees to tourist sites and a one-day tour of the Mekong Delta including tour guide as follows:

Day 1: Meet on arrival at Tan San Airport and transfer to hotel for check-in and then free time or shopping.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh (Meals: B/L)

After breakfast, depart at 8:00 am, driv-ing to the Mekong Delta, nicknamed the large rice basket of Vietnam. This day in-cludes visiting Vinh Trang pagoda, cruis-ing on the Mekong river to an island for

sightseeing and observing the daily activ-ities of local people, taking a paddle boat along the small canal, visiting a bee farm, orchards, enjoying tea, honey, seasonal fruits, sweets, amateur traditional music performances, touring a coconut candy mill and then lunch on the island. On the way back, stop for shopping.

Day 3: Depart Ho Chi Minh (B)

After breakfast at hotel , free time or shop-ping and transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for your departure flight.

Ho Chi Minh Vung Tau 3 Days

Code: CPH63

Ho Chi Minh Vung Tau 3 days and 2 nights includes round trip air ticket on Lao Air-lines, 2 nights accommodation in a twin sharing room, full meals, transportation in private car, entrance fees to tourist sites, tour guide and tour program as fol-lows:

Day 1: Arrive Ho Chi Minh – CITY TOUR (L,D)

Arrive Ho Chi Minh by QV515 at 10:45. Welcome by friendly guide then transfer to hotel. Buffet lunch provided by hotel.

PM: City tour – visit local neighborhoods and landmarks such as China Town, Thien Hau Pagoda, Remnant War Museum, Re-unification Hall (formerly Presidential Pal-

ace), Opera House, City Hall, stop at the Main Post Office & Notre Dame Cathedral for pictures. On the way back to the hotel, stop at a lacquer ware factory for shop-ping. Back to hotel and enjoy a set dinner at Sapphire Hotel.

Day 2:HCMC – VUNG TAU – HCMC (L, D)

Depart in the morning for Vung Tau, a fa-mous tourist spot. free for swimming and sea bathing at Mariana Club. Set lunch at the local seafood restaurant. Visit memo-rial statue of Saint George (30 m high) on Small Mountain - the highest Saint statue in VietNam; visit Niet Ban Tinh Xa, the most beautiful pagoda in Vung Tau on a hillside facing the sea. On the way back to HCMC, stop at Long Thanh to buy fruits of the season. Arrival HCMC, enjoy a set din-ner on a Saigon floating restaurant. Trans-fer back to hotel for leisure time.

Day 3: HO CHI MINH – VIENTIANE

free time until transfer to airport for a flight at 11:45 am. End of service.

Amazing Angkor, Siem Reap - CambodiaHow to get to Angkor Vat? You may take Lao Airlines flight from Vientiane or Pakse with daily service or depart from Luang Prabang on Mon, Thu & Sat.

Angkor Vat Free & Easy Stay-3 Days, 2 Nights

Code: CPH41Enjoy the free & Easy Stay package in Siem Reap city which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accom-modation in a three/four star hotel with daily breakfast and round trip airport transfer.

Amazing Angkor VatFull Package - 3 Days, 2 Nights

Code: CPH42 Visit the Amazing Angkor city on a 3 days and 2 nights package with Champa Holi-days which includes roundtrip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommoda-tion in a twin sharing hotel room, meals, transportation (car, van or bus), entrance fees to tourist sites, English/Thai speaking guide and tour program as follows:

Day 1: Arrive – Siem Reap (L/D) Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport and transfer to hotel for check-in and visit the National Museum then have lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Vat Thmei Artisan Angkor, Old Market, then have dinner at Koulen II Restaurant with Apsara Dance show. After dinner, visit the Night Market, then back to hotel.

Day 2: Angkor Thom (B/L/D )After breakfast at hotel, visit South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon temples, Bapuon, Phimenakas, Terrace of Elephant and Leper King. In the afternoon, visit Ta Prum temple, Takeo, Angkor Vat temple and Vatch the sunset over Bakheng Hill, din-ner and back to hotel.

Day 3: Siem Reap – Pakse/Vientiane (B) Breakfast at hotel, visit old market and transfer to Siem Reap International Air-port to fly back.

Angkor Vat - Phnom Penh -SihanoukvilleFull Package - 6 Days, 5 Nights

Code: CPH42Day 1: Arrive Siem Reap (L/D) Arrive at Siem Reap International airport and transfer to hotel for check-in. Lunch at Sophea Angkor Pich Restaurant then visit South Gate of AngkorThom , Terrace of Elephant, Angkor Vat and Vatch the sunset over Bakheng Hill, dinner at Kolen II Restaurant.

Day 2: Tonle Sap Lake – Phnom Penh (B/L/D)At 7:30 am guide and van pick up to visit the Tonle Sap Lake, and have an early lunch at Kolen II restaurant. At 12:00 noon depart by van to Phnom Penh and check-in to a three star hotel and have dinner at the Tonle Basac restaurant.

Day 3: City tour Phnom Penh – Siha-noukville (B/L/D)At 8:00 am guide and van pick up to visit the Royal Palace, museum, the killing fields, and have lunch at Tonle Basac res-taurant and at 1:00 pm depart by van to Sihanoukville and check-in to Hotel Gold-en Sand, then have dinner at the Beach Restaurant.

Day 4: SihanoukvilleAt 8:00 am guide and van will pick up to Ream Beach. Lunch at Beach Restaurant and in the afternoon visit the Ochheuteal beach, then have dinner at a beach res-taurant.

Day 5: Sihanoukville – Siem Reap (B/L/D)At 8:00 am visit Sihanoukville Market and lunch at Tonle Basac Restaurant, and drive back to Siem Reap, check-in to hotel and have dinner at Sophea Angkor Pich Res-taurant.

Day 6: Siem Reap – Pakse/ VTE (B) Breakfast at hotel, visit old market and transfer to Siem Reap International Air-port to your next destination.

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