Vientiane boat racing 2008

October 15, 2008. In the early morning Lao national TV started live broadcasting Vientiane Boat Racing Festival. I usually stayed home at this day each year watching the racing from TV rather than sitting on the bank of the Mekong river under hot sun.

This year I planned to visit one of our friends whose house is located near the river bank. We (2 sons 1 wife and me) left home at about 3 p.m heading North to Wat Oubmoung along Luang Prabang road. The traffic was terrible especially at downtown. Along the both sides of the road the footpath was changed to the bike parkings with 10,000 kip per one bike (the normal price is 2000)

We arrived at the destination, the house still has a fact of a recent flood and sand bags used to fight flood still remained. I could see some of my coleagues sitting around big table. This picture is typical as every houses located near the festival must receive guests the same way, food and drinks.

We stayed with the party not for so long before we moved to another house and start eating and drinking again not even know which boat is the winner. That happens to many people each year.



We arrived home after dark as it was raining a bit. At night the festival still continued without us. In the next morning we heard from TV that this year people could see more Nāga's Fireballs than last year

The end of budhidst-lent day

Here come again Orkphansa day (ອອກພັນສາ). On October 14, my family prepared land fire boat (ເຮືອໄຟໂຄກ) made of banana tree and decorated with candle light in the evening as usual.


About 8 p.m we all went to nearby Wat to join the candle-carrying circle walk (ວຽນທຽນ). In the Wat there were more young girls with candles and flowers in their hands more than boys. About 8:30 p.m the monks hit the drum and gong and the walk around the temple started.


On the streets you could here the firecrackers and see firework. The famous Vientiane's boat racing festival (ບຸນຊ່ວງເຮືອ) will be in the next morning.

Vientiane prepares for 'Boun Ork Phansa'

(KPL) Vientiane Administration discussed the preparation for 'Boun Ork Phansa', the celebration of the end of the three-month Buddhist Lent, and the annual boat racing festival of Vientiane Capital.

Boun Ork Phansa will fall on 15 October, while the boat racing festival will be held on the following day to in preservation of the local tradition and culture.

The participants approved the appointment of different committees in charge of the preparation.
The meeting was chaired by Chief of Chanthaboury district Mr. Saithong Keoduangdy.

Tourists to Vat Phu increased by 5 per cent

(KPL) In the last 11 months this fiscal year around 30,000 visitors fro Europe, America and Asia have visited Vat Phu the second World Herritage of Champassak province.
The tourists from such origins is increased by five per cent compared to the same period last year.
A local tourism official said last week tourists from Europe, America and Asia shared the majority of Vat Phu's visitors.
Mr Khankham Kanbouta, the Head of Vat Phu Management Office said since last October around 53,800 tourists had visited the second World Herritage in the province. These included 19,257 domestic tourists and 34,627 foriegn tourists.
Champassak with the assistance from the government of France has improved the tourist site of Vat Phu and set up a project to preserve traditional handicrapt production of local people to attract greater number of tourists to the southernmost province.

Shops along the Mekong riverside to be removed by October

(KPL) The Mekong Riverside Development and Embankment project in Vientiane capital will require 146 families to remove their shops along the Mekong riverside from Vat Chanh to Kaoliao before October.
The removal is to support the implementation of the project including the construction of a dike, embankment and a 12-ha park for Vientiane residents, which will be carried out with a loan from the government of the Republic of Korea.
Relevant authorities have allocated some areas in Nong Niao area in Sikhottabong district for resettling the people who will have removed their shops.
A plan on constructing the park has been drafted and discussed at this week's meeting which was attended by Vice Mayor of Vientiane Bounchanh Sinthavong and relevant officials.

• The park is to attract both domestic and foreign tourists and to benefit directly and indirectly income generation of Vientiane residents and contribute to the economic development of Vientiane, said Mr. Bounchanh Keosithamma, director of the Mekong Embankment and Development Project.

• The park stretches from the junction at Sithanneua village to Don Chan Palace Hotel.

After completing the draft plan of the park we will continue accomplish the plan for the construction of the dike and embankment, said Mr. Bounchanh.

UXO of Xiengkhouang

Xiengkhouang was heavily bombed during war time. Today people here use bomb shells to decorate houses.





If you see this, that means it safe from UXO