Bypass to ease congestion in Luang Prabang

Roads in central Luang Prabang will no longer be congested when a bypass around the town is completed in 2014.
Luang Prabang provincial Public Works and Transport Department Director, Mr Fasanan Thammavong, said recently Luang Prabang authorities and the government will invest about US$21 million to build the bypass and a bridge across the Nam Khan River on the edge of the town.
The 18.4 km bypass will run from Kokngeuw to Phonxay villages. The road will be 11 metres wide, and the bridge will be 202 metres long and 11 metres wide. The bridge will be in the area of Noun village.
“The bypass will be very useful for both locals and tourists. It will help to reduce traffic congestion, road accidents and noise pollution as well as improve public health,” Mr Fasanan said.
He added that the bypass will not only ease traffic congestion, but will also make life easier for local residents and tourists as it is part of a new urban development planned for Luang Prabang, where government offices and businesses will relocate.
It is expected that construction of the bypass and bridge will take three years, with the Phousi Road and Bridge Construction Company to put up the money and undertake the project.
The government will reimburse the company in line with the agreement made between the two parties. The Luang Prabang authorities and the company signed an agreement last year to clear land and relocate people living in the construction area.
Mr Fasanan said construction is now about 10 percent complete and the company has been working full time on the project since the start of this year. The bridge and road are expected to be finished on time.
Luang Prabang has become increasingly congested in recent years as the number of vehicles, residents and tourists has grown. About 300,000 foreign tourists visited Luang Praba ng province last year. According to a report from the provincial Governor, Dr Khampheng Saysompheng, the Luang Prabang authorities will develop the province as a prime location for both domestic and foreign tourists. By 2015, it is envisaged that about 500,000 tourists will visit the World Heritage Site. Luang Prabang province has a population of over 400,000 people, living in 12 districts.
The province is situated in the centre of northern Laos, bordering Oudomxay, Huaphan, Vientiane, Xayaboury and Xi eng Khuang provinces. It has a total area of 16,875 square kilometers and derives its main income from tourism. In fiscal year 2010-2011, local residents earned US$164 million from the tourism industry.

By Times Reporters 
(Latest Update May 7 , 2012)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeConten_Bypass.htm

Luang Prabang crowned World's Top City

(KPL) A representative of the Lao Embassy in France representing Luang Prabang province of Laos on Feb 3 received the Top City award at the World Travel Award ceremony held in London by the UK-based tourist magazine Wanderlust.

Wanderlust decided to award Top City title to Luang Prabang of Laos based on the votes by its readers.

The UK magazine ranked Hoi An in Vietnam the first runner-up and Tokyo of Japan the second runner-up of the Top City category.

Luang Prabang has won the award five times over the last five years. Its first winning was recorded in 2006, the second and third ones in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

In 2009, Luang Prabang was absent from the title and ranked seventh when Antigua in Guatemala grabbed the prize. The fourth time of winning the prize for the first UNESCO World Heritage of Laos was announced in May last year.

Situated in northern Laos, Luang Prabang is the former royal capital of the Kingdom of Lane Xang (one million elephants), blessed with traditional way of life, rich heritage of architecture and culture.

Luang Prabang takes steps to attract more Chinese tourists

Luang Prabang province is seeking to streamline immigration procedures with Xieng Houng city in Yunnan province, China , to boost tourism between the two cities.

The Luang Prabang Provincial Tourism Department has submitted a proposal to the Lao National Tourism Administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to consider the possibility of allowing all Chinese nationals travelling from Xieng Houng to Luang Prabang to pass through immigration checkpoints using only a border pass.

The move aims to simplify the current complicated visa procedure and bring more Chinese visitors to the province, according to the department's Director, Mr Khamphouy Phommavong.

“I believe if all Chinese tourists are allowed to enter our province using only a border pass, similar to Vientiane residents visiting Nong Khai and Udon Thani provinces in Thailand, it would significantly boost tourist arrivals from China,” Mr Khamphouy told Vientiane Times.

He said currently Chinese nationals wishing to travel from Xieng Houng to Luang Prabang are required to obtain a visa in Kunming , the capital of Yunnan province, which can take some time.

There is a system already in place to allow travellers from Xieng Houng to visit Luang Prabang using a special document instead of a visa, but the cost of obtaining the document is exorbitant and not an option for most people .

Mr Khamphouy said Chinese officials had proposed the scheme.

“We held talks with Xieng Houng tourism officials and they proposed that we introduce a policy of using only border passes instead of visas and passports,” Mr Khamphouy said.

Xieng Houng also shares borders with northern provinces of Thailand and a streamlined procedure allowing nationals of those nations to cross the border using only a pass book has already been introduced, he said.

“We have already sent an example of this kind of pass book to the Foreign Ministry and the Lao National Tourism Administration for consideration.”

Mr Khamphouy believes that the current complicated procedure means many Chinese tourists travel to other neighbouring countries instead of Luang Prabang and Laos .

Luang Prabang is a popular tourist destination with tourist arrivals continuing to swell despite the economic recession.

Tourist arrivals to the province increased from 344,029 visitors last fiscal year to 372,833 this fiscal year. Of that figure domestic visitors increased from 112,454 to 127,750, while foreign arrivals jumped from 231,575 to 245,083 people, according to figures collected by the department.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
(Latest Update September 30 , 2009)

http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/free_Luang.htm

Laos to build new Luang Prabang airport

(KPL) Laos will start construction of its new Luang Prabang airport next year and put it into operation in 2013, said Khampheng Saysompheng, Vice-Governor of Luang Prabang province.
The cost of building of the new airport is estimated at 86.4 million USD, provided by a special credit from the Chinese government under an agreement reached during a recent visit to China by Lao President Choummaly Sayasone.
The new airport will have a 3,000m of runway, parallel with the existing ones. It will be capable of accommodating large-sized aircraft like the Airbus 380. The new airport is expected to fuel tourism, the attraction of foreign investment, and socio-economic development in the province.
Thanks to direct flights to Luang Prabang from Hanoi, in Vietnam, Bangkok, Udon Thani, and Chiang Mai in Thailand, and Siem Reap in Cambodia, up to 70 percent of tourists fly to Luang Prabang, the jewel of tourism of Laos, which has been listed by the UNESCO as a world heritage site.

Luang Prabang prepares for Lao New Year

(KPL) Luang Prabang authorities have established 16 sub committees for organising the Lao New Year celebration for year 2552 (according to Lunar calendar) which is falling on 14-16 April 2009.
As the previous years the Luang Prabang authorities have decided to organise trade fair at That Luang Square on 10 April with traditional art performance and Miss Lao New Year contest and the perfume-watering of Pra Bang, the most respectful of Luang Prabang people, at Vat Mai Suvannaphumala.
To attract larger numbers of tourists the authorities of the province have been making efforts in expanding accommodations such as hotels, guesthouses and restaurants and classification of hotels to ensure their service to visitors.
As of 2007, Luang Prabang has 21 hotels, 203 guesthouses and resorts and 104 restaurants and seven entertainment places. These accommodations have 2,162 rooms and 3,439 beds in total.

Luang Prabang benefits from Thai turmoil

Luang Prabang's tourism industry has benefited from recent political turmoil in Thailand as increasing numbers of tourists choose to visit the province, according to a business representative.

Luang Prabang's Hotel, Guesthouse and Restaurant Association President, Mr Khoun Chanthaboupha, yesterday said political unrest in Thailand caused many tourists to reschedule or cancel their holidays to Bangkok and travel to the World Heritage listed city instead.

“We were unable to provide sufficient accommodation for visitors over the New Year period, with some tourists having to sleep at the bus station,” he said.

Mr Khoun said almost 3,000 beds in Luang Prabang town were currently fully booked and more than 50 percent of hotel and guesthouse rooms were booked between now and the end of the tourist season in July.

“We expect more tourists will visit the city over the peak tourist season,” he said.

He said the town was a popular tourist destination because it was beautiful, peaceful and safe, and its residents were kind and welcoming.

Mr Khoun said the increasing tourist numbers had eased fears the global economic slowdown and political situation in Thailand would hurt tourism in the city.

“We have felt no real impact from the global financial crisis so far,” he said.

About 60 percent of tourists were forced to cancel their trips to Luang Prabang during the recent week-long closure of Thailand 's main airport, which is a vital hub for regional transit, according to a report from the association.

Mr Khoun said Luang Prabang was still a very popular destination for international tourists, so there was no need for the association to reduce the price of hotel and guesthouse rooms to try and encourage domestic tourism.

According to a report from Thai media, hotels and guesthouses in Chiang Mai (northern Thailand ) have lowered their rates in an effort to boost domestic tourist numbers.

In Luang Prabang, the price of guesthouse rooms ranges from 50,000 kip to 500,000 kip per room per night, while hotel rooms cost between 50,000 kip and 5 million kip, Mr Khoun said.

Luang Prabang Tourism Department Deputy Director, Mr Khamtan Somphanvilay, said the city would remain popular due to its unique architecture and nearby natural attractions.

Mr Khamtan said a stable tourism sector would encourage investment in the industry in times of economic difficulty, with eight different businesses currently expressing an interest in investing in tourism facilities in the province.

By Ekaphone Phouthonesy
(Latest Update January 06, 2008)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/Free_Luang.htm

Laos to request UNESCO recognition of Khammuan site

Laos plans to ask the United Nations' Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to designate a national protected area in Khammuan province as a world heritage site.

The area is known as Phou Hin Nam Nor ( Stone Pillar Mountain ) and covers an area of 82,000 hectares.

Phou Hin Nam Nor Head, Mr Sysomphone Southijack, this week said Laos made the request because the area was naturally beautiful and full of wildlife.

He said Phou Hin Nam Nor was added to the list of national protected areas in 1993, and is one of 21 such protected areas in Laos . The mountain is believed to have formed due to a volcanic eruption several centuries ago.

The government has listed Phou Hin Nam Nor and the Plain of Jars in Xieng Khuang province for submission to UNESCO for recognition as world heritage sites, Mr Sysomphone said.

“We believe the designation of Phou Hin Nam Nor as a world heritage site would help to attract more tourists to the province,” he said.

The protected area borders the Phong Nga-Kebang National Park in Vietnam , which was named a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2003.

Mr Sysomphone said it would be appropriate for UNESCO to include Phou Hin Nam Nor as an extension of this area of natural beauty.

The first place in Laos to be named a world heritage site was the picturesque and historic town of Luang Prabang , which was added to UNESCO's list in 1995.

In 2001 the Vat Phou temple in Champassak province was also added to the list. This temple is a fine example of early and classic Khmer architecture, dating from the 7th to 12th centuries A.D.

At the foot of Vat Phou lies the remains of the ancient city of Shestupura , first settled in the 5th century A.D and believed to be the oldest urban settlement in Southeast Asia .

By Meuangkham Noradeth
(Latest Update November 26, 2008)

http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/Curren_Laos.htm

Lao Airlines opens new route Luang Prabang-Udonthani

(KPL) The Lao Airlines has opened a new direct route between northern Laos' Luang Prabang and Udonthani, northeastern Thailand, to promote the tourism between the two provinces.
The opening ceremony for the new route was held last Friday at the Udonthani International Airport, Thailand, with the participation of Vice-Governor of Luang Prabang, Mr Khamphaeng Saysomphaeng, and Governor Of Udonthani, Mr Umnard Ponrattana, as well as Director General of Lao Airlines, Dr Somphone Douangdara. Relevant officials from both sides witnessed last week's event.
The Head of the Trading and Marketing Division, Lao Airlines, Lada Sounthone, said: the opening of the Luang Prabang-Udonthani air route is to promote the airborne communication and tourism between the two sister towns of world heritage of Laos and Thailand.
The flights between Luang Prabang and Udonthani will be available twice a week (Fridays and Sundays). The airfare in the first three months after the inauguration will cost US$ 70-80 (one way) and US$ 150 (return ticket).
Up to now, the Lao Airlines have opened direct flights between Luang Prabang and five international destinations in the region, including Kunming (southwestern China's Yunnan province), Hanoi (Vietnam), Siem Reap (Cambodia), and Chiang Mai and Udonthani, Thailand

Luang Prabang world heritage certifies as smoke-free town

(KPL) The World Health Organisation (WHO) has handed over a prestigious award to
Luang Prabang world heritage town of UNESCO to certify Luang Prabang province succeeded in the implementation of non-smoking area.
Luang Prabang is the first world heritage town has been successful in establishment of non-smoking area and promulgated as smoke-free area which has been approved by Luang Prabang Administrative Board considering as national historical event.
The award was handed over by a country representative of WHO to Laos to Luang Prabang Deputy Governor Khampheng Saysompheng in presence of Deputy Minister of Public Health Bounkhuang Phitchit and other high-ranking official concerned, on 26 June, Luang Prabang province.
The main of objective is to build Luang Prabang heritage town as smoking-free town and reduce breathing smoking caused by other severe disease.

PI MAI celebration in Luang Prabang

(KPL) This year’s celebration of PI MAI ( Lao New Year) in Luang Prabang was held with the more attractive events and bigger than ever.
On the first day of the celebration, falling on April 13, local residents headed to the traditional bazaar ( fair) held in the heart of the town with a total distance of nearly two kilometres.
In the afternoon, the focus of the celebration switched to the island of Done Sai Moung Khoun, on the opposite side of the town across the Mekong River, where thousands of people gathered to build sand stupas and release fish and birds to let bad things/omens go with the old year. The local people also organised a baci ceremony, dance performance, traditional sports, fire rocket and visited some natural and cultural tourism sites in the district.
On this occasion, the high-ranking officials from central and provincial level also attended at the event to celebrate with the local people.
In the morning of following day, people went to temples to water Buddha images brought down for public watering. In the afternoon, local people and visitors lined along the Sri Savangvong Road to watch the traditional procession of Hair Vor starting at Wat That Noi to Wat Xiengthong.
Early morning of the last day which is considered to be the first day of the Lao traditional new year, called Mue Sang Khane Khuen, people climbed up Phou Si Mountain, where the renowned Phou Si is stuated, to mark merit by offering steamed rice to spirits, called Yai Khao Phra, along the stairs up the mountain. The Phou Si Mountain stands abruptly in the heart of the town. In the afternoon the procession returned from Wat Xiengthong to Wat That Noi.
Nang Sankane 2551 was Miss Pavenaphone Boupha from Visoun village. 10 year ago, her mother and mother’s sister used to be Miss Sangkan.

Rooms scarce in Luang Prabang for Pi Mai Lao

Although there are now many more guesthouses and hotels in the town of Luang Prabang than last year, almost all accommodation is booked out leading up to Pi Mai Lao , said the President of the provincial Hotel and Guesthouse Association on Monday.

“This year, we can accommodate around 5,000 visitors, almost 2,000 more than last year, but we still cannot meet demand during this peak time,” said Mr Kounchanthaboupha Vongsaravanh.

Luang Prabang was declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation as a World Heritage Site in 1995, the first in Laos .

According to a staff member at the Manolak Hotel, Ms Phone Chanthapanya, all of the hotel's rooms have been full for the last month, with most of the guests booked in by their tour groups. It is the same at the Phousy Hotel, according to the receptionist, Mr Phan Chanthavong.

However, the reservation manager at the Phouvao Hotel, Mr Phonxay Keuthbounmany, said 10 percent of the rooms are still available, perhaps because of the higher cost.

Pi Mai Lao takes place from April 13-15, but people usually celebrate for longer and visitors to Luang Prabang commonly stay there for around eight days, from April 11 until 18, said Mr Kounchanthaboupha.

Visitors had begun making reservations in January, both through tourist agencies and by individual e-mails, so that around 178 guesthouses and 35 hotels were fully booked.

Lao and Thai people account for around 50 percent of visitors to the World Heritage town on this occasion.

Mr Kounchanthaboupha assured Vientiane Times that room prices will remain the same even though there is a high demand.

The province is expected to cope better next year, when five five-star hotels, currently under construction, will be completed in time for the 25 th South-East Asian Games, to be held in Laos in December next year, said Mr Kounchanthaboupha.

According to a report given by Luang Prabang Governor Bounheuang Douangphachanh to President Choummaly during his recent visit to the province, tourism has the potential to play a leading role in the local socio-economic development process.

Mr Bounheuang said tourism is a top priority and the provincial authorities should ensure that all sectors worked with the tourist sector. Many tourist attractions have been developed in rural areas, distributing more income to local people, he added.

“We have cooperative tourist links with many countries. This is proving to be very effective because the number of tourists has been increasing yearly,” he said.

Some 15 flights land at the Luang Prabang airport every day. Income earned from the issuing of visas on arrival at the airport during the first five months of this fiscal year reached 5,661 million kip, a 96 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Mr Bounheuang observed that the average annual income of the residents of Pakharm village, where the night market is located in the town centre, had reached US$2,000 per person, almost four times higher than the national average.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
(Latest Update March 26, 2008)

UNESCO to review Luang Prabang's World Heritage status

UNESCO will send officials to Luang Prabang next month to see whether the town still warrants its World Heritage status, according to a senior official.

The head of the Luang Prabang Heritage Office, Ms Manivone Thoummabouth, said last week that the team of inspectors would arrive in Luang Prabang early next month, and will work there for two weeks to review all heritage sites in a routine inspection.

“They will come with a checklist to ensure all listed building and artefacts have remained intact in the 10 years since the town was listed as a World Heritage Site,” she said in a telephone interview with Vientiane Times.

She said the inspection was not unexpected, because UNESCO inspects all sites 10 years after they have been granted World Heritage status.

She added that UNESCO had proposed an inspection of the town last year. “Lao government and UNESCO officials reached an agreement on a deadline for the Luang Prabang inspection in August during a meeting in Switzerland ,” she said.

Ms Manivone said the team of inspectors had extensive knowledge of World Heritage Sites and remained independent from all state organisations.

UNESCO has removed certain sites from the World Heritage list in the past, including the city of Chiang Mai in Thailand , which was unable to maintain its sites due to rapid development.

Ms Manivone said she had a strong belief that the results of this year's inspection would be positive, because over the past 10 years local authorities have “done an excellent job in maintaining the area”.

She explained that many of the town's temples and houses were in the same condition as they were 10 years ago, and all renovations had been carried out carefully, in accordance with heritage guidelines.

She also said that while local architecture had been preserved, Luang Prabang residents had continued to maintain their traditional lifestyles; women still wear the traditional Lao skirt when offering alms to monks in the early mornings, an example of the many traditions that have largely disappeared in Asia .

Ms Manivone said the Lao government has always been intent on protecting its places of cultural heritage as they reflect the unique Lao culture, and help to boost the tourism industry.

“Many tourists come to Luang Prabang because of its World Heritage status,” she said, adding that this has led to more jobs and better incomes for local people.


By VIENTIANE TIMES
(Latest Update October 02, 2007)