Champa Holidays Issue#12

V o l 0 2 i s s u e 1 2 c h a m pa h o l i d ay s t o u r s a n d g u i d e i n l a o s

I s s u e 1 2 AUGUS T - SEP T EM B ER 2 0 1 2

ນ້ຳງຶ່ມສາຍນ້ຳແຫ່ງຕຳນານ The Nam Ngum River ສູ່ພາກຕາເວັນອອກສຽ່ງເໜືອດ້ວຍລົດຈັກ

Northeast Laos by Motobike

Lao Airlines receives ISO certification

ອີກມູມໜື່ງຂອງໂລກທີ່ແຂວງຈຳປາສັກ w w w. c h a m pa m a g . c o m

Leaving the world behind in Champasak

ທ່ອງທ່ຽວທາງນຳ້ທີ່ບາງກອກ

Bangkok by river ທ່ອງທ່ຽວຊົມຕາດເລາະ

Behold Tad Lo

w w w. L a o A i r L i n e s . c o m | w w w. C h a m pa H o l i d ay s . c o m | w w w. C h a m pa M a g . c o m

ສານຂອງທ່ານ ດຣ. ສົມພອນ ດວງດາຣາ ຜູ້ອຳນວຍການໃຫ່ຍລັດວິສາຫະກິດການບິນລາວ Message from Dr.Somphone DOUANGDARA President of Lao Airlines

ປີໃໝ່ລາວໄດ້ຜາ່ ນພົ້ນໄປ ຫວັງວ່າປະຊາຊົນລາວບັນດາເຜົ່າຂອງ

ລາວເຮົາໄດ້ສະຫລອງກັນດ້ວຍຄວາມມ່ວນຊື່ນເພື່ອຮັກສາໄວ້ຊງຶ່ ຮີດຄອງປະ ເພນີອນ ັ ດີງາມຂອງເຮົາໄວ້. ປີນນ ີ້ ອກຈາກເປັນປີທອ ່ ງທ່ຽວລາວ ແລ້ວຍັງເປັນ ປີໜງຶ່ ທີ່ ສປປ ລາວ ເຮົາຕ້ອງໄດ້ອອກແຮງແຂ່ງຂັນກັບເຮັດໜ້າທີ່ຂອງແຕ່ລະ ແຂວງການສະເຫຼີມສະຫຼອງມີແຫ່ງຄວາມສາ ມັກຄີມດ ິ ຕະພາບກັບ ສສ ຫວຽດ ນາມ ຄືສະຫຼອງຄົບຮອບ 55 ປີ ແຫ່ງ ການສ້າງສາຍພົວພັນທາງການທູດລະ ຫວ່າງ ສປປລາວ ແລະ ສສ ຫວຽດນາມ, ສະເຫຼີມສະຫຼອງສົນທິສນ ັ ຍາມິດ ຕະພາບ ຄົບຮອບ 35 ປີ ຂອງທັງສອງປະເທດອີກດ້ວຍ. ນອກນັ້ນໃນທ້າຍປີ 2012 ນີ້ ສປປລາວ ເຮົາຍັງ ໄດ້ຮບ ັ ກຽດເປັນເຈົ້າພາບຈັດກອງປະຊຸມອາເຊັມ (ASEM) ຊຶ່ງລ້ວນແລ້ວແຕ່ເປັນເຫດການທີ່ມຄ ີ ວາມສຳ ຄັນຂອງ ສປປລາວ ຊຶ່ງຈະນຳມາຊຶ່ງຊື່ສຽງ ແລະ ຜົນປະໂຫຍດຕ່າງໆ ທີ່ຈະໄດ້ຕາມມາຕາມພາຍ ຫລັງເຊັ່ນ: ສາກົນຈະເຫັນ ແລະ ເຂົ້າໃຈ ສປປລາວ ຕື່ມຂຶ້ນ. ການທ່ອງທ່ຽວ, ການລົງທຶນ ແລະ ອື່ນໆ ກໍຈະເປັນຕ່ອງໂສ້ຕາມມາຢ່າງ ແນ່ນອນ.

ລັດວິສາຫະກິດການບິນລາວເຮົາເອງກໍໄດ້ວາງແຜນ ແລະ ຕຽມຕົວ

ເພື່ອຮັບເຫດການຕ່າງໆໄວ້ໃນອານາຄົດ. ພວກເຮົາໄດ້ຈດ ັ ຊື້ເຮືອບິນ ATR 72 – 600 ຈຳນວນ 2 ລຳຊຶ່ງເປັນລຸນ ້ ຫລ້າສຸດຂອງບໍລສ ິ ດ ັ ອາເອໂຣສະຊິອານ (Aerospacial) ຊຶ່ງລຳທຳອິດຈະສົ່ງມອບໃນເດືອນພະຈິກ (11) 2012 ແລະ ລຳທີ 2 ສົ່ງມອບໃນເດືອນ ມິຖນ ຸ າ (6) 2013.

ນອກຈາກນີ້ໃນແຜນບິນລະດູໜາວ (Winter Schedule)ຈະເພີ່ມ ຖ້ຽວບິນໄປກວາງໂຈ (CAN) ສປ ຈີນ ແລະ ຖ້ຽວບິນເຊົ່າເໝົາ (Charter

flight) ໄປຍັງໂຕກຽວ (TYO) ປະເທດຍີ່ປນ ຸ່ ອາທິດໜຶ່ງ 4 ຖ້ຽວ ຊຶ່ງໄດ້ເລີ່ມ ປະຕິບດ ັ ແຕ່ ວັນທີ 25/04/2012 ເປັນຕົ້ນມາ. ພ້ອມດຽວກັນນີ້ທາງລັດວິສາ ຫະກິດ ການບິນລາວພວກເຮົາຍັງໄດ້ດດ ັ ແປງ (modify) ເຮືອບິນ MA 60 ໃຫ້ ເປັນ ເຮືອບິນລຳລຽງ (Freighter) ຖືວາ່ ການວາງແຜນກຽມພ້ອມກໍກາຍເປັນ ຮູບປະທັມແລ້ວເພາະວ່າພວກເຮົາໄດ້ກຽມພ້ອມ - ສຳລັບສາຍບິນໄກດ້ວຍ A320 - ສຳລັບສາຍບິນໄກ້ດວ ້ ຍ ATR72 – 600 - ສຳລັບການລຳລຽງດ້ວຍ AM60

Dear readers, As well as the “Visit Laos” year, Laos PDR is also celebrating the 55th Anniversary of Lao-Vietnamese diplomatic relations and 35 years since a friendship treaty was signed between the two countries.

Laos will also be the host of the 2012 Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). This will be a significant event for Laos, enhancing our reputation overseas and allowing our country to play a central role on the international stage. It will also boost tourism, trade and much more.

In response to such historical events, Lao Airlines is preparing to expand its services by purchasing two brand new ATR 72-600 aircraft. The first will be delivered in November 2012 and the second in June 2013. This will replace the MA 60, which will be adapted to be used as freight aircraft.

In addition, we will add a new flight to Kwangchow (China), as part of our new winter schedule. Four weekly charter flights to Tokyo have also been operational since 25 April 2012.

Best wishes Dr Somphon Douandara President of Lao Airlines

Greetings from the Editor ສະບາຍດີຜູ້ອ່ານທີ່ເຄົາລົບ Dear readers,

Welcome to this 12th issue of Champa Holiday Magazine. Although

ຈຳປາຣໍລິເດສະບັບນີ້ເປັນສະບັບທີ 12 ປະຈຳເດືອນ ສິງຫາ ແລະ ກັນຍາກໍພໍດີ Laos’ rainy season is now upon us, there is still plenty for visitors to ເປັນໜ້າຝົນ. ເຖິງຢ່າງໃດກໍ່ຕາມ ການທ່ອງທ່ຽວເຖິງຈະເປັນລະດູທີ່ມີນັກ see and do. It is also the time of year when Laos’ forests are at their greenest; so you are sure to witness some of the most breathtaking

ທ່ອງທ່ຽວມາລາວໜ້ອຍ (Low season) ກໍ່ຕາມ. ຄວາມຈິງແລ້ວການ scenery found anywhere in the region. ທ່ອງທ່ຽວລະດູນີ້ຢູ່ລາວຈະພົບແຕ່ຄວາມຂຽວອຸ່ມທຸ່ມຂອງພູຜາປ່າໄມ້.

In this issue, Fabien Vuillerey heads north by motorcycle to discover

ພາກເໝືອໂດຍການນຳສະເໜີໂດຍ Fab ດ້ວຍການຂີ່ລົດຈັກຊົມຄວາມ some of the area’s many natural wonders. Bernie Rosenbloom ງາມຢ່າງໜ້າມະຫັດສະຈັນຂອງທຳມະຊາດ. ເຊັ່ນດຽວກັບ Bernie ໄດ້ ນຳ guides you through some of the lesser Xe Set known highlights of

Southern Laos, including Tad Lo Waterfall and the Seset Hydropower Plant in Salavan Province. And Somsook Sooksavath takes you to ເຂື່ອນໄຟຟ້າເຊເສັດແຂວງສາລະວັນທາງພາກກາງ ສົມສຸກ ສຸກສະຫວັດ ກໍພາ some of the best spots on the beautiful Nam Ngum River.

ພາທ່ານຊົມຄວາມງາມຂອງທຳມະຊາດທາງພາກໃຕ້ ເຊັ່ນ: ຕາດເລາະ ຂອງ ຊົມ ແລະ ຢ້ຽມຢາມນ້ຳງື່ມຊຶ່ງມີຄວາມງາມບໍ່ນ້ອຍໜ້າກັນ ແລະ ການນຳ

We also bring you the latest on the best places to eat and stay in

ສະເໜີອີກມູມນື່ງຂອງໂລກໃນການພັກຜ່ອນ ສຸດສັບປະດາຢູ່ຈຳປາສັກ. Laos, including the luxurious, peaceful River Laos Resort in Champaສະບາຍດີພົບກັນໃໝ່ສະບັບໜ້າ ສຸຂີ ນໍຣະສິລປ໌

sak, an introduction to one of Vientiane’s most exquisite restaurants and Benjamin Blech’s short guide to drinks and drinking in Laos.

Until next time, from me and everyone at Champa Holiday, Happy Travels!

ບກ Soukee Norasilp Editor

Lao AIrlines In-Flight Magazine EXECUTIVE ADVISERS: MR. SOMPHONG MONGKHONVILAY MR. SOUKASEUM PHOTHISANE DR. SOMPHONE DOUANGDARA MR. SOMSANOUK MIXAY MR. CHANTHY DEUANSAVANH Editor-in-Chief: Mr. Soukhee Norasilp Lao Proof editor: Mr. somsouk souksavath English Editor: Mr. Benjamin Blech Executive Editor: MS. PHITSMAI CHANTHABOURY

Graphic Designer: insmai Creative Communication transalation: Mr. Anousa KOUNNAVONG PHOTOGRAPHy: Fab world Account-Finance: Ms. Khounkham Chanthaboury CHAMPA HOLIDAYS Magazine is produced & Published by insmai Creative Communication Tel/Fax: (856-21) 223590, 020 22464321 info@champamag.com

www.champamag.com | www.insmai.com

Owner & Publisher: Inter Media Lao Co.ltd Tel/Fax: (856-21) 480947 intermedia_laos@gmail.com under license of Lao Airlines Lao Airlines Head Office: 02 Pangkham Rd, Xieng Gnune Village, Chanthaboury District, Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel : (856-21) 212051-54, 212016 Fax: (856-21) 212056, 212058 info@laoairlines.com

www.laoairlines.com

ສາລະບານ Contents 8

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Five Highlights of Bolikhamxay Province ນ້ຳງຶ່ມ ສາຍນ້ຳແຫ່ງຕຳນານທາງດ້ານ ເສດຖະກິດ ແລະ ວັດທະນະທຳ The Nam Ngum River: History, Economics and Culture

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ສູ່ພາກຕາເວັນອອກສ່ຽງເໜືອດ້ວຍລົດຈັກ North-East Laos by Motorbike

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ທ່ອງທ່ຽວຊົມຕາດເລາະ Behold Tad Lo

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Discovering Lao’s Hidden Heritage by Bicycle

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ທ່ອງທ່ຽວທາງນຳ້ທີ່ບາງກອກ Bangkok by river

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A short guide to Lao drinks & drinking

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ຮ້ານອາຫານຝຣັ່ງ ລາແດຣຊ ຕີໃນ L’adresse de Tinay

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ຮຽນເຕັ້ນຊານນາ ແລະ ງານລຽ້ງ Salsa Class & Party

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ແຜ່ນແພ ແລະ ກິ່ນອາຍຂອງອີນດູຈີນ Fabrics & Scents of Indochina

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ຂີ່ລດ ົ ຖີບຊອກຮູມ ້ ລ ໍ ະດົກອັນເຊື່ອງຊ້ອນຂອງລາວ

ອີກມູມໜື່ງຂອງໂລກທີ່ແຂວງຈຳປາສັກ

Leaving the world behind in Champasak

ຂ່າວການບິນລາວ Lao Airlines News

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Ecotourism Laos

Five Highlights in Bolikhamxay Province Bernie Rosenbloom takes you on five Bolikhamxay experiences, most within a day’s drive from Vientiane and a few in the Phou Khao Khouay National Protected Area. You’ll seek to peek at pachyderms, examine a pair of temples known for their mysteries, trek along a moonscape riverbed to a boat ride, cruise up the Nam Kading to impassable rapids, and hike to a 100-meter-tall waterfall.

1. Saltlick City

Looking for wild elephants roaming free? An 80-km drive from Vientiane on Route 13 lands at Ban Na Village and its Wild Elephant Observation Tower and homestay. A short trek delivers you to the forest tower, which overlooks a saltlick and stream that attracts wild elephants in the evening. Though there is no guarantee you’ll see one, but over the years, visitors have reported spotting herds of up to 40 pachyderms including an old tusker, though groups of five to 15 are more common. You can also sign up for a trek to the Nam Hi River, Tad Lung Waterfall, or more distant 40-meter-high Tad Fa.

2. Vats that Wow

Vat Phabath and Vat Phonsane overlap Route 13 near Ban Na, and present two of Bolikhamxay’s most remarkable attractions. In 1933, locals discovered a 2.4x1.2-meter Buddha footprint, and built Vat Phabath around it. Over the decades, journeyers make merit by placing gold-leaf on the phabath (Buddha footprint), and every year in mid-January, the temple holds a festival to pay respect to the phabath. Vat Phonsane sits on sprawling green Mekong Riverside grounds, and is believed to be a sacred place where Buddha once took his meals. The temple is also known for the annual Bang Fai Phayanak Festival during October’s full moon, when the Mekong launches mysterious colored fireballs.

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3. Rambling Rapids

Be among the first to explore the trail along the Yong River’s rapids and overnight at the ethnic Meui village of Ban Yang Kheua at Km 99 on Route 13 South, where the New Zealand CBT-SED project is building a lodge. From here a tractor ride delivers you to the Yong River and its endless rapids racing over a stone-slab bed. A trek follows the river, and sometimes crosses it, allowing you to inspect the perfectly round craters, and infinite small channels gushing between the rocks. The walk ends at a wide set of short falls, where you can swim in a clear pool. From here, a boat continues back to Ban Yang Kheua.

4. Nam Kading Cruise

Take a river cruise few have experienced. About 40 km south of Pakxan, you’ll cross the Nam Kading Bridge and start tasting the upcoming adventure, as longboats putter along the lazy river and vanish into the mountains. A few km along, long-tails at a makeshift port sit ready to take you up the Nam Kading. The once-calm water begins rumbling as the river rushes through a rocky canyon, until the Tad Vang Fong Falls completely block the way. You can anchor at the Nam Kading Protection Center and trek to more rapids by foot. The center also offers a lodge and camping equipment for a stay on the grounds.

5. Napong’s Waterfall Trek

As Route 8 cuts through the “Karst Corridor” a large elephant-shaped outcrop, Pha Xang, appears about 15 km from the Route 13 junction. Welcome to Ban Napong, and ethnic Toum village launching Tad Thone Waterfall treks and offering homestays. The 7-km morning trek to Tad Thone kicks off with a walk through rice fields to an old-growth forest. The trail traverses streams, before the going gets rigorous, with bursts of steep inclines and precarious ravine crossings. But after about 3 hours, Tad Thone appears, shooting over two ledges before a final plunge approaching 100 meters. You can then descend to the fall’s base, an avalanche of massive boulders big enough to host a picnic.

To book a tour to the above experiences, contact a travel agent in Vientiane or the Bolikhamxay Visitor Information Center on Pakxan’s 4B Road (Route 10).

V

ientiane-based travel writer, Bernie Rosenbloom, has covered Southeast Asia for more than 15 years. He has authored several Lao provincial guidebooks, and along with Champa Holiday, has recently contributed stories about Laos to Thai Airway’s Sawasdee magazine, PATA Compass, and Travel Review. Bernie is currently a public relations consultant for the Laos Sustainable Tourism Development Project, Lanith (Lao National Institute for Tourism and Hospitality), and the New Zealand-Laos CBT-SED project. Email: bernie.rosenbloom@gmail.com.

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TOURISM

The Nam Ngum River: History, Economics and Culture

ນ້ຳງຶ່ມ

ສາຍນ້ຳແຫ່ງຕຳນານທາງດ້ານເສດຖະກິດ ແລະ ວັດທະນະທຳ ໂດຍ ດອກຊ້ອນດອນໂຂງ

ນ້ຳງື່ມມີແຫຼ່ງກຳເນີດທີ່ບ້ານຍອດງື່ມ ແຂວງຊຽງຂວາງແລ້ວໄຫຼປ່ອງ ໃສ່ນ້ຳຂອງທີ່ບ້ານ ປາກງື່ມ ເມືອງປາກງື່ມ ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ດ້ວຍຄວາມຍາວຫຼາຍກວ່າ 400 ກິໂລແມັດ. ນ້ຳງື່ມເປັນສາຍນ້ຳ ທີ່ເປັນຕຳນານບົ່ມຊ້ອນ ທາງດ້ານເສດຖະກິດ ແລະ ວັດທະນະທຳ ມັດໃຈຜູ້ຄົນທີ່ຢູ່ອາໄສຢູ່ທັງສອງຟາກຝັ່ງ ກາຍເປັນແຫຼ່ງນ້ຳ ທີ່ໃຫ້ ຄວາມຮັກຄວາມຜູກພັນສາມັກຄີປອງດອງກັນ ຕາມລວງຍາວຂອງ ສາຍນ້ຳ ເຊິ່ງໄຫຼຜ່ານຮ່ອມພູ ຕີນຜາ ປ່າໄມ້ ຕາດ ແກ້ງ ທົ່ງພຽງ ແລະ ຖ່າຍທອດຄວາມງອກງາມທາງ ວັດທະນະທຳແບບແຜນດຳ ລົງຊີວິດຫຼາຍຢ່າງ ໃຫ້ຊາວບ້ານເປັນຕົ້ນ: ຂັບງື່ມຈາກບໍລົມມະຄູ ຈານຊົມ, ຟ້ອນງ້າວຈາກອາຈານປູ່ຕາແສງອ່າງ ແຫ່ງບ້ານປາກກະ ຍຸງເມືອງວຽງຄຳ ແຂວງວຽງຈັນ, ຂັບຊຽງຂວາງ ຈາກດິນແດນ ເມືອງ ພວນ....ຕະຫຼ ອ ດເຖິ ງ ແບບແຜນດຳລົ ງ ຊີ ວິ ດ ວິ ທີ ປຸ່ ງ ແຕ່ ງ ອາຫານ ແລະ ພິທີກຳທາງຮີດຄອງຈົນກາຍເປັນຕຳນານເປັນປະເພນີນັບຖື ກັນມາຢ່າງຍາວນານຈົນເຖິງປັດຈຸບັນນີ້. ນ້ຳງື່ມເຖິງເປັນສາຂາຂອງແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງ ກໍຕາມແຕ່ສະເພາະນ້ຳງື່ມ ເອງກໍມີສາຂາຂອງຕົນຢ່າງຫຼວງຫຼາຍ ເຊັ່ນກັນອັນເຮັດໃຫ້ບໍລິມາດ ນ້ຳໜ້າເຂື່ອນສາມາດຜະລິດ ໄຟຟ້ານັບແຕ່ໂຄງ ການນ້ຳງື່ມ 1 ຈົນ ເຖິງນ້ຳງື່ມ 5 ຫຼາຍພັນເມກາວັດ. ຢູ່ໃນນ້ຳງື່ມຍັງອຸດົມສົມບູນໄປ ດ້ວຍປານ້ຳຈືດຫຼາຍສາຍພັນ ແລະ ສັດນ້ຳຕ່າງໆ ດຳລົງຊີວິດຢູ່ ນອກຈາກນີຍັງເປັນແຫຼ່ງສະໜອງນ້ຳໃຫ້ແກ່ການປູກຝັງລ້ຽງສັດຢູ່ ເຂດ ທົ່ງພຽງ ແຂວງວຽງຈັນ, ນະຄອນຫຼວງ ແລະ ແຂວງຊຽງຂວາງຈຳ ນວນໜຶ່ງອີກ.

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The Nam Ngum River is of great economic and cultural importance to those who live along its banks, displayed in an array of fascinating relationships and lifestyles, from its source at the village of Yodngeum in Xiengkhuang Province, to where it finally flows into the Mekong just south of Vientiane.

The songs of Khabngeum, a respected local musician from Vientiane Province, as well as sword dancers and characters from local folklore, provide a vivid portrayal of traditional lifestyles, customs and works of art from communities beside the river; just a few signs that the area’s rich cultural heritage remains very much alive.

Although Nam Ngum is a tributary of the Mekong, it also branches out into many smaller rivers, making it one of the largest in Laos. Today, the river is one of Laos’ main hubs of hydropower, with its five dams generating thousands of megawatts of electricity. It is also an important source of food thanks to large stocks of fish and other aquatic species, as well as providing vital irrigation for rice production and livestock.

ໂດຍສະເພາະນັບແຕ່ໄລຍະມີນະໂຍບາຍ ປ່ຽນແປງໃໝ່ຢ່າງມີຫຼັກ ການວາງອອກມານີ້ ນ້ຳງື່ມໄດ້ສ້າງສີສັນໃໝ່ຮັບໃຊ້ແກ່ການບໍລິ ການ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວອີກທາງໜຶ່ງ ເຊິ່ງເປັນແຫຼ່ງສ້າງລາຍໄດ້ ທາງເສດ ຖະກິດແກ່ຜູ້ປະກອບການ, ການສ້າງວຽກເຮັດງານທຳແກ່ຊາວ ໜຸ່ມ, ການຜະລິດສີນຄ້າຮັບໃຊ້ການທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ຂອງປະຊາຊົນ ແລະ ພາກສ່ວນທີ່ມີສ່ວນກ່ຽວພັນທັງຫຼາຍ ເປັນຕົ້ນແມ່ນ ແຫຼ່ງທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ໜ້າເຂື່ອນໄຟຟ້ານ້ຳງື່ມ ທີ​ີ່ມີທັງໂຮງແຮມ ເຮືອນພັກສະຖານທີ່ປະ ຊຸມ ຮ້ານອາຫານແຄມງື່ມ ຈຸດທ່ອງທ່ຽວນ້ຳງື່ມມີຣີສອດເຮືອ ທ່ອງ ທ່ຽວ ການລ້ຽງປາກະຊັງເປັນຍ່ານໆ ລຽບຕາມລວງຍາວຂອງນ້ຳ ງື່ມຈົນເຖິງປາກງື່ມ ເວົ້າສະເພາະແຕ່ບ້ານທ່າງ່ອນເທົ່ານັ້ນ ກໍມີທັງ ຮ້ານ ອາຫານເຮືອນແພເປັນສິບໆແຫ່ງເຮືອນຳທ່ຽວຄົບ ທຸກຮ້ານ... ບົນວິຖີຊີວິດວັດທະນະທຳ ນ້ຳງື່ມ ຍັງເປັນຈຸດເຊື່ອມໂຍງຂອງຄວາມ ຮັກອຳມະຕະຂອງຜູ້ຄົນທີ່ມີພູມລຳເນົາໃນແຫຼ່ງ ນ້ຳດັ່ງກ່າວຈົນ ສືບ ເຊື້ອສາຍລາຍລ່ອງ ຂະຫຍາຍໜໍ່ແນວກັນມາຫຼາຍເຊັ່ນອາຍຸຄົນຈົນ ເຮັດໃຫ້ເຮືອນຊານບ້ານຊ່ອງຂອງປະຊາຊົນແຖບນີ້ເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນເລື້ອຍໆ ເຊິ່ງທັງໜົດແມ່ນຄຸນງາມຄວາມດີ ຂອງສາຍນ້ຳງື່ມທີ່ສ້າງໃຫ້ມີທຸກ ຢ່າງ ນັບແຕ່ແບບແຜນ ດຳລົງຊີວິດຕິດພັນກັບການປູກຝັງລ້ຽງສັດ ທຳມະດາ ກ້າວຂຶ້ນສູ່ເສດຖະກິດ ບໍລິການ ແລະ ວັດທະນະທຳທ່າມ ກາງສາຍນ້ຳງື່ມທີ່ບໍ່ມີຍາມບົກແຫ້ງ. ຍ້ອນແນວນັ້ນບັນດາ ນັກຄິດ ນັກຂຽນ ນັກກະວີ ນັກປະພັນ ນັກໜັງ ສືພີມຕ່າງໆ ກໍໃຊ້ປາຍປາກກາອັນແຫຼມຄົມຂອງຕົນ ປະພັນສິ່ງທີ່ ສວຍ ງາມຂອງນ້ຳງື່ມ ອອກເປັນບົດຂ່າວສານ ບົດກະວີ ເລື່ອງສັ້ນ ນະວະນິຍາຍ ບົດເພງ ບົດລຳ ບົດລະຄອນອອກມາແລ້ວຫຼາຍເລື່ອງ ສະທ້ອນພາບດຳລົງຊີວິດທີ່ແທ້ຈິງຂອງຊາວລ່ອງງື່ມ ເພື່ອສະດຸດີ ຄຸນງາມຄວາມດີຂອງແຫຼ່ງນ້ຳອັນຊົງຄຸນຄ່າແຫ່ງນີ້. ດັ່ງນັ້ນ ການ ໄປທ່ຽວນ້ຳງື່ມຈຶ່ງເປັນບ່ອນທ່ຽວໜຶ່ງທີ່ບໍ່ຫ່າງໄກໃຫ້ຄຸນຄ່າທາງຮ່າງ ກາຍ ແລະ ທາງຈິດໃຈ ບໍ່ຄວນແກ່ວງຄ້ອນກາຍໝາກມ່ວງຫຼຽວ ເຫັນແຕ່ບ່ອນອື່ນຄັກ ແຕ່ຢ່າລືມວ່ານ້ຳງື່ມແຫ່ງນີ້ກໍບໍລິການດີໜ້າ ພັກຜ່ອນ ບາງທີອາດດີລື່ນບ່ອນອື່ນຊ້ຳອີກກໍເປັນໄດ້.

Thanks to its many cultural riches, diversity and unique riverside communities, many poets and writers have been inspired

by Nam Ngum, helping to raise the profile of the area. New government policy has also led the area to become one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country, creating many new employment opportunities for young people. Today, many businesses are booming along the river; hotels, resorts, restaurants and fish farms have all sprung up close to the river’s most popular spots. At the village of Thangon 19km north of Vientiane, there’s now plenty of choice when it comes to floating restaurants, accommodation and boat trips.

Part of the charm of the Nam Ngum is that despite rapid economic development, the area still reflects local people’s attachment to the river, as well as its enduring cultural legacy; the slow, laid-back pace of life that so often attracts visitors to Laos. Traditional ways of life also live on, with many still relying on agriculture as their sole of income, allowing their communities to remain self-sufficient.

Visiting the Nam Ngum will bring you never ending unforgettable experiences. So be sure to pencil it in to your travel plan next time you are in Laos!

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TOURISM

ສູ່ພາກຕາເວັນອອກສຽ່ງເໜືອ ດ້ວຍ

ລົດຈັກ

ເມື່ອເດີນທາງທ່ອງທ່ຽວໃນເຂດພາກຕາເວັນອອກສຽ່ງເໜືອຂອງປະເທດລາວ, ທຸກໆໄລຍະຂອງການເດີນທາງ ແມ່ນການພະຈົນໄພເນື່ອງຈາກເສັ້ນທາງສູງຊັນຄົດລ້ຽວແລະເປັນຂຸມຫຼາຍ, ທິວທັດພູມີປະເທດອັນສວຍງາມ ແລະ ວິວສຸດຂອບຟ້າທີ່ບໍ່ມີບ່ອນສິ້ນສຸດເຮັດໃຫ້ດິນແດນແຫ່ງນີ້ເປັນຕາ ໜ້າສະອອນໃຈ. ເນື່ອງຈາກເປັນໜຶ່ງໃນດິນແດນແຫ່ງສຸດທ້າຍທີ່ຖືກລືມຂອງອາຊີຕາເວັນອອກສຽ່ງໃຕ້, ເຂດຫ່າງໄກສອກຫຼິກຂອງ ພາກຕາເວັນອອກສຽ່ງເໜືອແທດເໝາະທີ່ສຸດແກ່ການເດີນທາງທ່ອງທ່ຽວດ້ວຍລົດຈັກ, ແນ່ນອນມັນເປັນວິທີທີ່ດີ ເລີດໃນການເດີນທາງຕາມເສັ້ນທາງນ້ອຍ ແລະ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວຊົມວິຖີຊີວິດທ້ອງຖິ່ນ ໃນຂະນະທີ່ມີຄວາມເປັນອິດສະ ຫຼະທີ່ຈະຈອດພັກເຊົາຊົມວິວຕາມອັດທະຍາໄສ. ສຳລັບທຸກທ່ານທີ່ຢາກເຊົ່າລົດຈັກທີ່ມີຄວາມທົນທານເພື່ອໃຊ້ເດີນທາງໃນພາກຕາເວັນອອກສຽ່ງເໜືອ, ພວກ ເຮົາຂໍແນະນຳຮ້ານບໍລິການລົດເຊົ່າ Jules Classic ຕັ້ງຢູ່ໃຈກາງນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ. ຮ້ານດັ່ງກ່າວເປີດໃຫ້ບໍລິ ການຕັ້ງແຕ່ປີ 2008 ໂດຍຜູ້ທີ່ມີຈິດວິນຍານມັກໃນການຂີ່ລົດຈັກຊາວຝຣັ່ງຊື່ວ່າ ທ່ານເຈຍຣີ, ຮ້ານຂອງເພີ່ນມີ ການບໍລິການຫຼາຍຮູບແບບ. ນອກນີ້ ທ່ານ ເຈັຍຣີຍັງ ສາມາດໃຫ້ຄຳແນະນຳກ່ຽວກັບບັນດາເສັ້ນທາງ ແລະ ປະສົບການທີ່ເພີ່ນໄດ້ພົບຕົວຈີງທີ່ສະສົມມາຫຼາຍປີອີກດ້ວຍ.

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When traveling in Laos’ rugged North-East, each and every mile is an adventure, with its steep, bumpy roads, dramatic landscapes and the never ending prospect of a view even more breathtaking than the last.

As one of Southeast Asia’s last forgotten frontiers, the remote North-East offers some of the best motorbike travel opportunities in the region; without doubt the best way to get off the beaten track and experience local life, while remaining free to stop at your leisure.

For anyone looking to rent a sturdy enough motorbike to take on the north-eastern roads, Jules Classic Rental in the heart of Vientiane come highly recommended. Opened in 2008 by French motorcycle enthusiast Thierry, the shop offers a range of rental options. Thierry can also offer his years of experience of the Lao road network.

Most leave Vientiane on Route 12 towards Paksan, following a fairly boring road for around 100 km until you reach Thabok. Take the lefthand road heading North towards Phou Khao Khouay National Park. After 20 km you hit a rocky trail surrounded by beautiful forest.

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TOURISM

ນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວຫຼາຍທ່ານມັກເດີນທາງອອກຈາກວຽງຈັນໂດຍໃຊ້ເສັ້ນທາງເລກ13ໃຕ້ໄປທາງປາກຊັນ, ໂດຍການເດີນທາງປະມານ 100 ກິໂລແມັດກໍ່ຈະໄປເຖິງບ້ານທ່າບົກ. ລ້ຽວຊ້າຍໄປຕາມເສັ້ນທາງ ໄປປ່າສະຫງວນແຫ່ງຊາດພູເຂົາຄວາຍ. ຫຼັງຈາກເດີນທາງ20 ກິໂລແມັດກໍ່ຈະເຖິງເສັ້ນທາງ ຫິນທີ່ຫຸ້ມອ້ອມດ້ວຍປ່າທີ່ສວຍງາມ. ເມື່ອມາຮອດໄຊສົມບູນກໍ່ເຫັນວ່າມີຄວາມສະຫງ່າງາມ. ຕົວເມືອງນ້ອຍທີ່ມີສະເໜ່ແຫ່ງນີ້ແມ່ນຖືກອ້ອມ ໄປດ້ວຍພູສູງ ໂດຍມີພູເບ້ຍ ຕັ້ງໂດດເດັ່ນສະຫງ່າ, ເຊິ່ງເປັນພູສູງທີ່ສຸດໃນລາວໃນລະດັບ ຄວາມສູງ 2819 ແມັດ. ມື້ຕໍ່ມາຈຳຕ້ອງໄດ້ໃຊ້ເວລາ ຂີ່ລົດເຖິງ 6 ຊົ່ວໂມງ ແຕ່ຍັງດີທີ່ຕະຫຼອດໄລຍະທາງສາມາດຊົມພູເຂົາ ແລະ ຜາຫິນສູງສີຂຽວສະຫງ່າງາມກ່ອນທີ່ຈະຮອດເມືອງຄູນ, ເຊິ່ງເຄີຍ ເປັນເມືອງເທດສະບານແຂວງທີ່ ທ່ານສາມາດທ່ຽວຊົມສິ່ງປຸກສ້າງສະໄໝເມືອງຂຶ້ນ ແລະ ວັດທີ່ຖືກທຳລາຍ, ໃນໄລຍະ36ກິໂລແມັດ ກ່ອນທີ່ຈະຮອດໂພນສະຫວັນຕົວເມືອງເທດສະບານແຂວງຊຽງຂວາງ. ໂພນສະຫວັນມີຊື່ສຽງສຳລັບທົ່ງໄຫຫິນ, ໜຶ່ງໃນບັນດາ ແຫຼ່ງທ່ອງທ່ຽວບູຮານສະຖານໃນອາຊີ ທີ່ລຶກລັບແລະຍັງເປັນປິດສະໜາມາ ເຖິງປະຈຸບັນ. ສະຖານທີ່ແປກປະຫຼາດແຫ່ງນີ້ເປັນບ່ອນປະດິດສະຖານໄຫຫິນບູຮານຫຼາຍຮ້ອຍໄຫຢັ່ງຢາຍຢູ່ຕາມເຂດທີ່ເຄີຍເປັນ ສະໜາມສົງຄາມຕາມຊານເມືອງ ຍາມໃດກໍ່ເປັນສະຖານທີ່ໃຝ່ຝັນຂອງນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວ. ສະຖານທີ່ຫຼັກສາມາດທ່ອງທ່ຽວຊົມໄດ້ພາຍ ໃນໜຶ່ງວັນໂດຍປະສົມປະສານກັບການຢຸດທ່ຽວຊົມນ້ຳຕົກຕາດ ແລະ ບໍ່ນ້ຳຮ້ອນທີ່ຕັ້ງຢູ່ໃກ້ກັນ. ເມື່ອມາຮອດຊຳເໜືອກໍ່ມີຄວາມສວຍງາມບໍ່ແພ້ກັນ. ທຳມະຊາດຢູ່ທຸກຫົນແຫ່ງ, ໂດຍທຸກໄລຍະ ຂອງການເດີນທາງແມ່ນເຕັມໄປ ດ້ວຍພູເຂົາຂຽວງາມຢ່າງບໍ່ເປັນຕາໜ້າເຊື່ອ, ໃນຂະນະທີ່ລ້ຽວຜ່ານພູສູງຊັນແຕ່ລະຄັ້ງໃນແມ່ນເຮັດໃຫ້ຮູ້ສຶກປະທັບໃຈທີ່ຫາໄດ້ຍາກ ໃນໂລກ. ພໍເຂົ້າໄປໃນຕົວເມືອງກໍ່ເຮັດ ໃຫ້ຮູ້ສຶກຍິງປະທັບໃຈເພາະມີທິວທັນອັນສວຍງາມຈົນນັບບໍ່ຖ້ວນທີ່ທ່ານຈຳຕ້ອງໄດ້ເບິ່ງໝົດ ທຸກຢ່າງ. ຮັບປະກັນວ່າທ່ານໃຊ້ເວລາຢ່າງໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງວັນໃນເມືອງວຽງໄຊເພື່ອທ່ອງທ່ຽວຊົມຜາຫິນທີ່ສວຍງາມ, ທົ່ງນາ, ປ່າໄມ້ແລະຖ້ຳຜາຫິນ. ຖ້ຳຫຼາຍຮ້ອຍແຫ່ງຖືກນຳໃຊ້ຈາກຝ່າຍປະເທດລາວ ໃນໄລຍະສົງຄາມ ອິນໂດຈີນຄັ້ງທີສອງເພື່ອເປັນບ່ອນຫຼົບໄພຈາກການຖີ້ມລະ ເບີດຂອງອາເມລິກາ.

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ຖ້າຫາກວ່າທ່ານກຳລັງຄິດທີ່ຈະເດີນທາງພະຈົນໄພແລະການຂີ່ລົດຈັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວຕາມຊົນນະບົດທີ່ໜ້າ ຕື່ນເຕັ້ນທີ່ສຸດໃນໂລກ, ທ່ານ ສາມາດເລືອກທ່ອງທ່ຽວໃນເຂດພາກຕາເວັນອອກສຽ່ງເໜືອຂອງລາວ, ເຊິ່ງ ວິຖີຊີວິດຊົນນະບົດທີ່ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍຮອຍຍີ້ມຂອງບັນດາ ເດັກນ້ອຍ, ທິວທັດອັນໜ້າອັດສະຈັນໃຈແລະ ປ່າຕືບດົງໜາທຳມະຊາດບໍ່ຢູ່ໄກເກີນຄິດ.

Arriving in Saysombone is magnificent. This quaint little town is surrounded by high imposing karst mountains dominated by Mount Phou Bia, the highest summit in Laos at 2819 m.

The next day brings a six hour ride in the company of awesome, high green mountains and rugged rock formations to reach Muang Khoun, the ancient provincial capital where you can visit some ruined colonial buildings and temples, before an easy 36 km to Phonsavan, the provincial capital of Xieng Khuang Province.

Phonsavan is famous for the ‘Plain of Jars’, one of the most mysterious and enigmatic of all Asia’s ancient sights. This bizarre collection of ancient earthen jars scattered in their hundreds across the war-scarred countryside, never fails to stir-up the imagination of visitors. The main sites can be easily visited in a day, combined with a stop at a nearby waterfall and hot spring.

Arriving in Sam Neua is breathtaking. Nature is all around, with mile after mile of impossibly green hills, while each steep turn in the road brings that simple pleasure that has been all but lost in many parts of the world. Getting into town takes forever, as there are so many incredible views that you can’t help stop to take them all in.

Be sure to spend at least a day in Vieng Xay taking in the stunning limestone peaks, rice fields, forests and limestone caves. Hundreds of the caves were used by the Pathet Lao during the Second Indochina War to shelter from the American bombing.

If you’re looking for adventure and some of the world’s most exciting motorbike country, look no further than Laos’ rugged North-East, where a rural life of smiling children, awe inspiring scenery and untamed jungle are never far away.

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TOURISM

ທ່ອງທ່ຽວຊົມຕາດເລາະ

Behold Tad Lo

By Bernie Rosenbloom | Photos by Todd Sanchioni

“ໝາກແໜ່ງ,” ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າກ່າວໃນຕອນສຶກສາເບິ່ງແຜນການເດີນທາງໃນແຂວງ ສາລະວັນ ທີ່ຮ່າງຂຶ້ນໂດຍ ທ່ານ ຈີມ ຈອນສະຕັນ ສັງກັດໃນໂຄງການພັດທະນາ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວແບບຢືນຢົງຂອງທະນະຄານພັດທະນາອາຊີ (STDP-Laos). ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຫຼຽວເບິງທ່ານ ລິກ ພອນ ຫົວໜ້າທີມງານໂຄງການ. ລາວຕອດຫົວ. ຈີມໃຊ້ຊີວິດແລະເດີນທາງເຂົ້າອອກແຂວງສາລະວັນແຕ່ປີ 1997. ຖ້າຫາກລາວຂຽນຄຳວ່າໝາກແໜ່ງ ຫຼືໃນພາສາອັງກິດ “cardamom”, ເນື່ອງ ຈາກວ່າຂ້າພະເຈົ້າບໍ່ເຄີຍໄດ້ຍິນຄຳສັບນີ້ມາກ່ອນ ພໍພັງແລ້ວກໍ່ເລີຍຮູ້ສຶກວ່າ ຄ້າຍຄືກັບຊື່ລົດຍົນວາດໃດວາດໜຶ່ງນັ້ນລະ. ຕາມຄວາມຈິງແລ້ວ, ຊາວກະສິ ກອນແຂວງສາລະວັນຫັນຄວາມສົນໃຈມາປູກໝາກແໜ່ງເພື່ອເປັນພຶດສິນຄ້າ ຫຼາຍຂຶ້ນ ເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າໝາກແໜ່ງຂອງເຂົາເຈົ້າແມ່ນມີເອກະລັກສະເພາະເຊິ່ງ ຕ່າງຈາກສະໝຸນໄພຂຽວທີ່ມີຊື່ສຽງໃນອາຊີໃຕ້. ຈີມໄດ້ກ່າວວ່າ:”ພວກທ່ານຈະເຫັນສວນໝາກແໜ່ງອ້ອມບໍລິເວັນຕາດເລາະ.” ຕາດເລາະແມ່ນເປົ້າໝາຍການເດີນທາງຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າມາເປັນເວລາຫຼາຍປີ ແລ້ວ: ໄລຍະທາງພຽງສອງຊົ່ວໂມງຈາກປາກເຊ ແລະສະຖານທີ່ແຫ່ງນີ້ຖືກປັ້ນ ແຕ່ງໃຫ້ເປັນໜຶ່ງດຽວ. ໂຊກດີ ພານິດ ຈາກກົມພັດທະນາການທ່ອງທ່ຽວຂອງລັດ ຖະບານລາວຈະຮ່ວມເດີນທາງກັບຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ. ລາວສາມາດເຮັດວຽກສີ່ວັນພາຍ ໃນສາມວັນໄດ້ ໃນລະດັບຄະແນນ A+ ແລະນອກນີ້ຍັງແບ່ງເວລາໃນມື້ ສຸດທ້າຍເພື່ອສະຫຼອງດ້ວຍການນັ່ງພັກພ່ອນດື່ມເບຍລາວ ອີກ. ນອກນີ້, ຕອດ ຊານຈິໂອນິ ນັກຖ່າຍຮູບພາບຝີມືດີ ທີ່ມີຄວາມຫຼົງໄຫຼໃນດົນຕີລາວ ກໍ່ຮ່ວມເດີນທາງກັບ ພວກເຮົາ ເຊິ່ງຖືໄດ້ວ່າເປັນໂບນັດຊັ້ນຍອດ.

“Cardamom,” I said while scanning the Salavan Province itinerary prepared by Jim Johnston at the Asian Development Bank’s Sustainable Tourism Development Project (STDP-Laos).

I looked at Rik Ponne, the project’s team leader. He shrugged. Jim had been embedded in Salavan on and off since 1997. If he wrote “cardamom”, cardamom it was...though I’d never heard of it. Sounded like a car brand.

“Actually, Salavan farmers are increasingly turning to mak naeng as a cash crop, as their cardamom is distinct from South Asia’s predominant green medicinal herb.”

Jim said, “You’ll find fields of it around Tad Lo.” Tad Lo had been flashing on my GPS for years: two hours from Pakxe and destined to be winner. Better yet, Phanith from the Lao government’s tourism development department would join me. He can do four days of work in three, get an A+, and still leave time for a day-end Beer Lao. As a bonus, Todd Sanchioni, a top-shelf travel photographer interested in Lao music hopped onboard.

17

TOURISM

ເສັ້ນທາງໝາກພ້າວ ພວກເຮົາລ້ຽວໄປທາງຕາດເລາະພາຍຫຼັງທີ່ຍົກເລີກການເດີນ ທາງໄປເຂດພູຕາໂອຍ. ເຖິງວ່າຈະເປັນເສັ້ນທາງດິນແດງ ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍຕົມໝື່ນຂອງລະດູຝົນ, ພວກເຮົາກໍ່ໄປເຖິງພາຍ ໃນເວລາ20ນາທີ. ພວກເຮົາຊົມເຊີຍຄົນຂັບລົດຈົນເຖິງ ຕອນທີ່ ທ່ານບຸນໂທມ ພົມມະວົງສີ ຫົວໜ້າພະແນກທ່ອງ ທ່ຽວແຂວງສາລະວັນກ່າວວ່າ: “ພວກເຮົາອາດໄປຮອດ, ແຕ່ຖ້າຫາກຝົນຕົກ, ອາດໄດ້ລໍຖ້າຫຼາຍວັນກ່ອນທີ່ພວກເຮົາ ຈະກັບໄດ້.” ຍ້ອນສາເຫດນັ້ນລາວຈຶ່ງໄດ້ເປັນນາຍ. ແຕ່ວ່າ ພານິດ ຕັດສິນໃຈຄິດໃນທາງບວກ. ທ່ານ ພົມມະວົງສີ ຂໍຖອນໂຕຢ່າງສຸພາບ ແລະ ຂໍລົງໃນຕົວເມືອງສາລະວັນ. ພານິດປະກາດວ່າ,“ພວກເຮົາຈະໄປຕາມເສັ້ນທາງໝາກ ພ້າວ”.ພວກເຮົາຂີ່ລົດໄປທາງຕອນໃຕ້ ໄລຍະ 25 ກມ ຕາມ ເສັ້ນທາງເລັກທີ 20, ເຊິ່ງເປັນເສັ້ນທາງປູຍາງໄປຫາເມືອງ ປາກເຊ ແລະ ກໍ່ຍຸດພັກທີ່ບ້ານນາໄຊ, ເຊິ່ງເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍຮ້ານ ຂາຍໝາກພ້າວຕາມສອງຟາກຟັ່ງຫົນທາງ. ໃນຂະນະທີ່ ຕອດພວມຕັ້ງທ່າທີ່ຈະຖ່າຍຮູບເອົາໝາກພ້າວຢູ່ນັ້ນ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າກໍ່ຄິດໃນໃຈວ່າເປັນຫຍັງ ຈຶ່ງມີຮ້ານເປັນຮ້ອຍ ກ່ວາຮ້ານຕັ້ງຢູ່ຄຽງຂ້າງກັນເພື່ອຂ້າຍສິນຄ້າຊະນິດດຽວກັນ. ພານິດ ແລະ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ຍ່າງເຂົ້າໄປໃກ້ສາວໄວລຸ້ນຂາຍ ໝາກພ້າວຄົນໜຶ່ງທີ່ມີທ່າທີເຂີນອາຍແລະກໍ່ໄດ້ສອບຖາມ ນາງ. ບ້ານນາໄຊເປັນເຂດທີ່ອຸດົມສົມບຸນທີ່ໃຫ້ຜົນຜະລິດ ໝາກພ້າວຕໍ່ເຮັກຕາຫຼາຍທີ່ສຸດ ແລະ ຊາວຄ້າຂາຍຈາກ ແຂວງໃກ້ຄຽງກໍ່ນຳເອົາລົດບັນທຸກມາເລາະເກັບຊື້ໄປຂາຍ. ລາຄາໝາກພ້າວອ່ອນໂດຍທົ່ວໄປແມ່ນ 5000 ກີບຕໍ່ໜ່ວຍ ແລະທ່ານສາມາດເລືອກຊື້ໄດ້ຢ່າງຫຼວງຫຼາຍໃນຍາມແລ້ງ. ຜູ້ທີ່ມີຄວາມຮູ້ກ່ຽວໝາກພ້າວມັກເລືອກຊື້ຊະນິດທີ່ມີລາ ຄາແພງກ່ວາລາຄາປົກກະຕິ, ເຊິ່ງເປັນໝາກພ້າວອ່ອນ, ໜ່ວຍສີນ້ຳຕານ. ເຂົາເຈົ້າເຊື່ອກັນວ່າສາມາດຮັກສາອາການ ເມົາຄ້າງໄດ້.

18

Coconut Road We turned to Tad Lo after an aborted attempt to reach mountainous Ta-Oy. The dirt road was rainy-season sloppy, but we came to within 20 km. We cheered on the driver until Mr Bounthom Phomavongsy, Director of the Salavan Provincial Tourism Department said, “We might get there, but if it rains, it could be days before we can return.”

That’s why he’s the boss.

But, Phanith pivoted this let-down into a positive. Mr Phomavongsy graciously bowed out at Salavan Town, and Phanith announced, “We’re going to “Coconut Road”.

We drove 25 km south on Route 20, the nicely paved road to Pakxe, and stopped at Ban Naxai, a stretch of stalls selling coconuts on both shoulders of the road. While Todd pondered the ultimate coconut shot, I mulled over the logic of 100 shops side-by-side hawking the same thing.

Phanith and I approached a shy young saleswoman and began interrogating the poor gal. Naxai tops the charts for coconut yield per hectare, and vendors from nearby provinces haul them away by the truckload. The common green coconuts run 5,000 kip each, and you’ll find the best selection during the dry season. Aficionados often opt for the more expensive, young, brown coconuts. They claim it’s a hangover cure.

ປ່າສະຫງວນເຂດນ້ຳຕົກຕາດເລາະ ພານິດຮູ້ຈັກສະຫະກອນຂະໜາດນ້ອຍທີ່ດຳເນີນທຸລະກິດທ່ອງ ທ່ຽວໃນເຂດນັ້ນແລະພວກເຮົາກໍ່ເຂົ້າພັກທີ່ບ້ານພັກແຄມນ້ຳເຊ ເສັດ ຕັ້ງຢູ່ບໍລິເວັນຂົວຂ້າມເຊເສັດ ເຊິ່ງເຊື່ອມຕໍ່ລະຫວ່າງ ເມືອງ ສາລະວັນແລະ ເມືອງເລົ່າງາມ ແລະ ເປັນຊັ້ນຕ່ຳສຸດຂອງເຂດປ່າ ສະຫງວນນ້ຳຕົກຕາດເລາະ. ໃນຕອນເຊົ້າມື້ຕໍ່ມາ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຍ່າງເລາະຫຼິ້ນເທິງຂົວຄົນດຽວ ເພື່ອເບິ່ງ ນ້ຳຕົກອອກເປັນສາມສາຍທີ່ມີຄວາມກ້ວາງປະມານ 30 ແມັດ ຕົກລົງໃສ່ຖ້ານຫິນເປັນຊັ້ນໆເຮັດໃຫ້ເກີດລະອອງນ້ຳ. ພານິດຍ່າງເຂົ້າມາໃກ້ແລະຂ້າພະເຈົ້າກໍ່ເວົ້າວ່າ, “ຈັ່ງແມ່ນພາບທີ ສົມບູນແບບຫຼາຍເນາະ: ອາກາດສົດແລະສາມາດຊົມທິວທັດຕາດ ເລາະໄດ້ໃນໄລຍະໃກ້ຊິດ” ແຕ່ພານິດຊ້ຳພັດເວົ້າວ່າ:”ນີ້ບໍ່ແມ່ນຕາດເລາະ, ນີ້ແມ່ນຕາດຮາງ. ຕາດເລາະຕັ້ງຢູ່ຫ່າງຈາກນີ້ປະມານ 500 ແມັດ ທາງຕົ້ນນ້ຳ.” ຂ້າ ພະເຈົ້າເລີ່ມອອກເດີນທາງໃນຂະນະທີ່ ພານິດໄປບອກຕອດ, ທີ່ກຳລັງຈັດເກັບອຸປະກອນ ໃຫ້ກຽມພ້ອມອອກເດີນທາງ. ພໍແຕ່ ຍ່າງກາຍຕາດຮາງ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າກໍ່ໄດ້ພົບກັບນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວຊາຍ ຊາວເຍັຍລະມັນສອງຄົນໃນເດີ່ນຫຍ້າຂອງເຮືອນພັກຕາດເລາະ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ຍິນຄຳກ່າວກ່ຽວກັບບັງກາໂລຈຳນວນ 25 ຫຼັງ ຕັ້ງຢູ່ແຄມຕາດຮາງ, ແລະ ຈາກການເດີນທາງມາທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ຂອງພໍ່ລູກຊາວເຍັຍລະມັນກໍ່ສະແດງໃຫ້ເຫັນຄວາມມີຊື່ສຽງ ຂອງສະຖານທີ່ແຫ່ງນີ້: ເຮືອນວິນລາປອດໂປ່ງສະບາຍຕັ້ງ ເທິງເສົາທີ່ມີລະບຽງກ້ວາງຂວາງ, ລອບບີຂະໜາດໃຫ່ຍ ແລະ ຮ້ານອາຫານແຊບຫຼາຍ. ເຊິ່ງສິ່ງນີ້ເຮັດໃຫ້ຊາຍ ຊາວເຍັຍລະມັນເວົ້າຂຶ້ນວ່າ:”ນີ້ແມ່ນຄວາມສະຫງົບສຸກ ທີ່ແທ້ຈິງ, ແມ່ນຫຼືບໍ່?” ແລະ ພໍເມື່ອພານິດ ແລະ ຕອດມາເຖິງ, ພວກເຮົາກໍ່ເລີ່ມ ອອກເດີນທາງລຽບຕາມຮ່ອມຂັ້ນໃດລົງໄປເຖິງແຄມແມ່ນ້ຳ ແລະ ກໍ່ເລີ່ມປາກົດເຫັນວິວຂອງຕາດເລາະ ໂດຍມີຫິນຜາ ຍ້ອຍທີ່ເຮັດໃຫ້ນ້ຳຕົກແຕກອອກເປັນນ້ຳຕົກຂະໜາດ ນ້ອຍອີກຫຼາຍສີບກ່ວາສາຍ. ຫຼັງຈາກນັ້ນ ຕອດໄດ້ຖະ ແຫຼງອຳພາງຕົນເອງໄປໃນຝັ່ງແມ່ນ້ຳທີ່ບໍ່ຄວນໄປ. ພວກ ເຮົາກໍ່ຕັ້ງຄຳຖາມວ່າລາວມີຄວາມຮອບຄອບຊ່ຳໃດ, ແຕ່ ທັນໃດນັ້ນລາວກໍ່ຮ້ອງຂຶ້ນວ່າ:”ຍາກໄດ້ຮູບງາມບໍ່?”

Tad Lo Waterfall Park Phanith knew the tiny Tad Lo tourist enclave, and we pulled into a Xe Set Riverside guesthouse at the Xe Set Bridge, linking Salavan and Laongarm Districts, and ground zero for the Tad Lo Waterfall Park.

Early the next morning, I stood alone on the bridge, staring at a 30-meter-wide, tree-lined waterfall foaming over rocky steps.

Phanith approached, and I said, “What a perfect scene: clean air and Tad Lo Waterfall right at your door.”

“That’s not Tad Lo,” Phanith said. “That’s Tad Hang. Tad Lo is about 500 meters upriver.” I took the path while Phanith collected Todd, who was organizing his equipment. Just past Tad Hang, I stumbled into a pair of German gentlemen on the lawn of Tadlo Lodge.

I had only heard sterling reviews about the 25 Lao-style bungalows straddling the Tad Hang, and the visiting father-son team bolstered its reputation: airy villas on stilts with spacious balconies, massive lobby, and a tasty restaurant. “This is really peaceful, yeah?” the older man said.

Phanith appeared with Todd, and we trampled along the trail. Stairs descended to the river shore and a view of Tad Lo’s drop-off, with boulders breaking the tumble into a dozen narrow falls.

Then Todd disappeared down the treacherous bank. We questioned his discretion, but he shouted, “You want a really good shot?”

19

TOURISM

Tad Soung Waterfall Circuit

ທ່ຽວຊົມນ້ຳຕົກຕາດສູງ ຈີມໄດ້ພັດທະນາກິດຈະກຳທ່ອງທ່ຽວພາຍໃຕ້ກອບໂຄງການ STDPLaos ເຊິ່ງປະກອບມີການຢ້ຽມຢາມໝູ່ບ້ານ, ພັກເຊົາກັບປະຊາຊົນ ແລະ ການຍ່າງປ່າຫຼາຍວັນໃນພູພຽງບໍລິເວນໃກ້ກັບເຂດປ່າສະຫງວນ ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດເລາະ. ແຕ່ເຖິງຢ່າງໃດກໍ່ຕາມ, ລາວໄດ້ແນະນຳຂອບເຂດ ທີ່ເຂົ້າເຖິງໄດ້ງ່າຍຕາມກອບເວລາຂອງພວກເຮົາ. ແທນທີ່ຈະຍ່າງຈາກ ສູນຂໍ້ມູນນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວຕາດເລາະ, ພວກເຮົາຂີ່ລົດໄປ ບ້ານສະເນີມໃນ ແລະ ຫຼັງຈາກນັ້ນກໍ່ໃຊ້ເວລາຍ່າງປະມານ1ກິໂລແມັດຕາມປ່າໄປຫາ ຂັ້ນໄດທຳມະຊາດລົງໄປເຖິງນ້ຳຕົກຕາດສູງ. ເສັ້ນທາງທີ່ນຳພາໄປສູ່ຈຸດທີ່ນ້ຳເໜືອແລະໃຕ້ຂອງເຊເສັດໄຫຼມາບັນ ຈົບກັນແລ້ວຕົກລົງຈາກຜາຫີນຂອງພູພຽງບໍລະເວນທີ່ມີຄວາມສູງເຖິງ 90 ແມັດ. “ໜ້າຕື່ນເຕັ້ນ” ຄຳເວົ້າເພື່ອເຮັດໃຫ້ປະສົບການນີ້ມີຄວາມ ຍ້ານກົວໜ້ອຍລົງ. ມັນເປັນສິ່ງທ້າທາຍຕົນເອງໃນຂະນະທີ່ຢືນຢູ່ໃກ້ ຂອບນ້ຳຕົກ ແລະ ຍື່ນຫົວໄປດ້ານໜ້າເພື່ອເບິ່ງທິວທັດດ້ວຍຄວາມ ກ້າຫານ. ມາເຖິງຕອນນີ້, ຮາວກັ້ນເພື່ອປ້ອງກັນຄວາມປອດໄພໄດ້ປ່ຽນ ແທນການສ່ຽງຕາຍ, ແຕ່ໃນການເດີນທາງຂອງພວກເຮົາ, ຕອດໄດ້ ມັດເຊືອກໃສ່ແອວຂອງລາວ ແລະເວົ້າວ່າ:”ຈັບໃຫ້ແໜ້ນເດີ. ນີ້ຕ້ອງເປັນພາບທີ່ສວຍງາມຫຼາຍ.”

Jim had developed a few STDP-Laos village visits, homestays, and multi-day Bolaven treks around the Tad Lo Waterfall Park. However, he fingered easily accessible highlights to meet our schedule. Rather than walk from the Tad Lo Visitor Information Center, we drove to Saneum Nai and a 1-km forest walk to a set of natural stairs descending to Tad Soung.

The path led to a ledge where the south-north flowing Xe Set River launches off a 90-meter Bolaven Plateau cliff. “Exhilarating” soft-sells the experience. It’s a self-dare in which you inch to the brink and lean forward for a gutsy look. Now, a safety rail has replaced the death wish, but on our visit, Todd tied a rope around his waist, and said, “Hold tight. This’ll be a great shot.”

Next up, Ban Houay Houn, an ethnic Souay village known for mat mee weaving, which employs back-strap looms held taut by the feet. While I attempted to decipher how they spaced the dyed sections to whip up intricate designs, Panith was on the phone promoting a gig.

Todd’s penchant for classical Lao music hit the mother lode.

Villagers at Ban Saneum Nai and nearby Katou and Lao Loum communities are seasoned musicians. Panith’s call summoned musicians with their khaens (a long wind instrument), saws (a small string-and-bow instrument), drums, and a ranyaht (wooden xylophone).

ລາຍການຕໍ່ໄປກໍ່ຄືບ້ານຫ້ວຍຫຸນ ເຊິ່ງເປັນບ້ານຊົນເຜົ່າສ່ວຍມີຊື່ສຽງ ສຳລັບການຕ່ຳຜ້າມັດມີ່ໂດຍໃຊ້ຮ່າງກາຍຄົນແທນກີ່ - ໂດຍການ Todd was in heaven, and after a few rounds of lao khao whisນຳໃຊ້ແຜ່ນຫຼັງ ແລະ ຕິນຂອງຜູ້ຕ່ຳເປັນໂຕຍຶດເພື່ອຕ່ຳແຜ່ນແພ. ky, he started videoing local folk music like “Lam Salavan” ໃນຄະນະທີ່ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າພະຍາຍາມເຂົ້າໃຈວ່າເຂົາເຈົ້າແຍກສີສ່ວນ and “Lam Kaleuy”, before switching to rock-n-roll. My Rolling ຕ່າງໆໄດ້ຄືແນວໃດຈົນເຮັດໃຫ້ກາຍມາເປັນການອອກແບບທີ່ສະ Stones medley baffled the band…and me. ຫຼັບຊັບຊ້ອນ, ພານິດກໍ່ໃຊ້ກ້ອງຖ່າຍຮູບຖ່າຍເອົາຍິງຊົນເຜົ່າທີ່ພວມ ຕ່ຳແຜ່ນແພຢູ່ນັ້ນ. ຍ້ອນຄວາມມັກຂອງ ຕອດທີ່ມີຕໍ່ດົນຕີລາວເດີມກໍ່ເຮັດໃຫ້ລາວມາເຖິງແຫຼ່ງກຳເນີດທີ່ແທ້ຈງິ , ເຊິ່ງປະຊາຊົນບ້ານສາເນີມໄນ ແລະ ບ້ານກະລູ ທີ່ຢູ່ໃກ້ຄຽງກັນນັ້ນແລະຊຸມຊົນໆເຜົ່າລາວລຸ່ມລ້ວນແຕ່ແມ່ນນັກດົນຕີຜູ້ມີປະສົບການ. ພານິດຂໍໃຫ້ເຂົາເຈົ້າທົດລອງຫຼິ້ນເຄື່ອງດົນຕີຂອງຕົນ ເຊິ່ງປະກອບມີ: ແຄນ, ຊໍ, ກອງ ແລະ ລະນາດ. ຕອດຮູ້ສຶກຄ້າຍຄືກັບຂຶ້ນສະຫວັນຫຼັງຈາກທີ່ມີການແຈກເຫຼົ້າຂາວສອງສາມຮອບ, ລາວເລີ່ມຖ່າຍວີດີໂອເອົາການຫຼິ້ນເພງລາວເດີມທ້ອງຖິ່ນເຊັ່ນ: “ລຳສາລະວັນ” ແລະ“ລຳກະເລີ” ກ່ອນທີ່ຈະປ່ຽນເປັນເພງຣ໋ອກ. ເພັງຣ໋ອກແບບຕໍ່ເນື່ອງຂອງວົງ Rolling Stones ໄດ້ເຮັດໃຫ້ສະມາຊິກວົງດົນ ຕີລາວເດີມ ແລະ ຮວມທັງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າເອງກໍ່ຮູ້ສຶກມືນງົງໄປຕາມໆກັນ.

20

For more information, go to “Visitor Information” at www.stdplaos.com’s Web-based Knowledge Centre.

To book a tour, contact the Tad Lo Visitor Information Center.

ທ່ອງທ່ຽວຕາມເສັ້ນທາງພູຕາກເຂົ້າ ເປົ້າໝາຍຕໍ່ໄປຂອງພວກເຮົາກໍ່ຄື ການເດີນທາງໄປຊົມເຂດປ່າກະ ສິກຳ, ໜອງເພາະພັນປາຂອງສູນ “Green Earth Centre” ແລະ ບ້ານທົ່ງຄາມ, ເຊິ່ງເປັນຈຸດເລີ່ມຕົ້ນຂອງການທ່ອງທຽ່ວຕາມສາຍ ພູຕາກເຂົ້າໄລຍະສອງວັນ ທີ່ນຳສະເໜີໂດຍໂຄງການພັດທະນາ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວແບບຍືນຍົງຂອງລາວ. ພຽງແຕ່ໃຊ້ເວລາຍ່າງປິນພູ20ນາທີຈາກບ້ານທົ່ງຄາມ ກໍ່ຂຶ້ນໄປເຖິງ ຈຸດຊົມວິວຂອງພູຕາກເຂົ້າ, ແລະທິວທັດຂອງພູພຽງບໍລະເວນ ໂດຍ ມີພາບເບື້ອງຫຼັງເປັນພູເຂົາ ແລະ ເຈີ້ຍພູເຊິ່ງປົກຫຸ້ມດ້ວຍປ່າໄມ້. ຈາກຈຸດດັ່ງກ່າວແມ່ນບໍ່ສາມາດແນມເຫັນໝູ່ບ້ານຄົນໄດ້, ມີພຽງແຕ່ ທົ່ງນາຂຽວສົດຊື່ນສຸດສາຍຕາປາກົດຄ້າຍກັບສະໜາມກອບ 9 ຂຸມ. ແຕ່ເຖິງຢ່າງໃດກໍ່ຕາມ, ມີແຕ່9ຂຸມນີ້ເທົ່ານັ້ນທີ່ເປັນທາງເຂົ້າຫາຖ້ຳເຊິ່ງ ຕັ້ງຢູ່ບໍ່ໄກພໍປານໃດ ແຕ່ທາງເຂົ້າເຖິງຊ້ຳພັດມີຄວາມຫຍຸ້ງຍາກໂດຍ ຕ້ອງໄດ້ປິນຂັ້ນໃດໄມ້ທີ່ສູງຊັນຂຶ້ນໄປ. ພໍເມື່ອສິ້ນສຸດກິດຈະກຳແລ້ວ ກໍ່ເຖິງເວລາກັບໄປເມືອງປາກເຊ. ພວກ ເຮົາໄດ້ກວດສອບເບິ່ງວ່າໄດ້ໄປທ່ຽວຊົມທຸກສະຖານທີ່ແລ້ວ ແຕ່ຊຳພັດ ຍັງອີກຈຸດໜຶ່ງທີ່ໜ້າສົນໃຈທີ່ ຈີມແນະນຳ ແລະຫຼັງຈາກນັ້ນກໍ່ຮູ້ສຶກວ່າ ຢາກປວດເບົາໂດຍທັນທີ. ພວກເຮົາຍ່າງລົງໄປກາງທົ່ງທີ່ປົກຫຸ້ມໄປ ດ້ວຍສຸມພຶດທີ່ມີໃບໜ້ອຍ. ທັນໃດນັ້ນ ພານິດ ກໍ່ເວົ້າວ່າ:”ນີ້ແຫຼະຕົ້ນ ໝາກແໜ່ງ”. ນີ້ແຫຼະຈຶ່ງຄ່ອຍເອີ້ນວ່າການເດີນທາງທີ່ປະສົບຜົນສຳເລັດ.

Phou Tak Khao Mountain Trail Next, we journeyed to the Green Earth Center’s agro-forestry and fish breeding ponds and Ban Thongkharm, a stop on the STDP-Laos’ two-day Phou Tak Khao Mountain Trail.

A 20-minute climb from Ban Thongkharm reached Phou Tak Khao Viewpoint, and a Bolaven Plateau vista of a mountainbacked, forested valley. There was hardly a village in sight, but a green rice field appeared as a nine-hole golf course.

However, the only nine holes were entries to a nearby cave complex accessed by a steep set of wooden stairs.

The day was done; time to return to Pakxe. We had checked off all but one of Jim’s attractions, and then nature called. We wandered into a field crowded with narrow-leafed shrubs.

“There’s your cardamom,” Phanith said. Call it a win.

3I’cI,fvo9aorkg]f

VIENTIANE

Don Chan Palace Hotel & Convention

Located strategically on the New Promenade of the Mekong River adjacent to the King Anouvong’s park, Don Chan Palace, Hotel & Convention is the official 5-star hotel in Laos. Enjoy panoramic views of the Mekong River and Vientiane city from the tallest building in Laos while staying with us. All rooms are inclusive of complimentary unlimited high speed internet access with plush necessities and our new au-natural amenities for the discerning guests.

Our Lao Traditional Hospitality Makes us Different…

Room and Accommodation - 237 rooms - Cable television - Indvidually air conditioning controlled room - Safe deposit box - Complimentary Coffee/ tea facility - In room fax machine ( on request ) - Mini bar - Hair dryer - High speed internet access in room ( Free access) Nearby attractions - King Anouvong Recreational Park - Mekong River Promenade - Presidential Palace - King Sisavangvong Statue - Wat Si Muang Temple

Facilities and Services - 24 Hrs room service - Airline booking and informaiton - Concierge service - Foreign exchange - Doctor on call 24 Hrs - Laundry service - Airport transfer - Tour and travel agency - Free car parking - Business center - Car rental service - 24 Hrs security -13 private massage rooms with professional masseurs

- Swimming Pool on 3rd floor - Jacuzzi - Steam room - Airline booking and information - Foreign currency exchange - 2000 pax capacity ballroom (1792sqm) - Dimsum Buffet - Monthly F&B Promotion - Free wifi on lobby and executive floors

Food and Beverage and entertainment - 24 Hrs Coffee House - Lobby Lounge with Cake Counter and Pastry counter - Outside Catering Service - Chinese Restaurant - 14 Floors Sky Lounge - Lunar 36-Outdoor Bar, Discotheque, and Private Karaoke Rooms Meeting and Convention - 2000 Fax capacity Ballroom - 20 Modern Function rooms - Free Wifi at meeting rooms Wellness and Relaxation - Swimming Pool - Private Massage Rooms - Outdoor Gym - Sauna

Three years consecutive winner of Best business hotel year 2009,2010, 2011 by the tourism alliance awards.

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: info@donchanpalacelaopdr.com www.donchanpalacelaopdr.com

TOURISM

ຂີ່ລົດຖີບຊອກຮູ້ມໍລະດົກອັນເຊື່ອງຊ້ອນຂອງລາວ

Discovering Laos’ Hidden Heritage by Bicycle David Lempert, on behalf of a new project in Laos and the region

ໃນເມື ອ ງລາວສະໄໝເກົ່ າ , ການຂົນສົ່ງສ່ວນໃຫ່ຍແມ່ນ ອາໄສການຂີ່ ເ ຮື ອ ຂຶ້ ນ ລ່ ອ ງ ຕາມແມ່ນ້ຳ, ຊ້າງ, ມ້າ, ຫຼື ບາງທີ່ ກໍ່ ອ າດຕ້ ອ ງໃຊ້ ກ ານ ຍ່າງ. ໃນປັດຈຸບັນ, ບັນດາ ທ່ານທີ່ປາຖະໜາຢາກຜ່ານ ປະສົ ບ ການກ່ ຽ ວກັ ບ ວິ ຖີ ຊີ ວິດຂອງຄົນລາວໃນຈັ່ງຫວະ ທີ່ ເ ປັ ນ ຂອງລາວແທ້ ໆ ນັ້ ນ ແລະໃຫ້ກົມກຽວກັບສະພາບ ແວດລ້ ອ ມທາງທຳມະຊາດ ແລະ ວັດທະນະນະທຳທີ່ກຳ ລັງຖືກຄຸກຄາມ, ມັນບໍ່ມີວິທີ ໃດທີ່ຈະດີໄປກ່ວາການເດີນ ທາງໃນລາວໂດຍການຂີ່ລົດ ຖີບທ່ອງທ່ຽວ. ເດີນທາງທ່ອງທ່ຽວດ້ວຍລົດ ຖີ ບ ໃນລາວກໍ່ ປ ຽບເໝື ອ ນ ການເດີ ນ ທາງຢ້ ອ ນເວລາ ເພື່ອຊອກຮູ້ບັນດາປະຫວັດ ສາດແລະວັ ດ ທະນະທຳທີ່ ຖື ກ ເຊື່ ອ ງຊ້ ອ ນແລະພວມຢູ່ ໃນຖານະໃກ້ ຈ ະສູ ນ ຫາຍ ຈຳນວນຫຼວງຫຼາຍ. ໃນຫຼາຍ ເຂດລຽບຕາມແຄມແມ່ ນ້ ຳ ຂອງໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນບັນ ດາແຂວງທີ່ ມີ ປ ະຊາກອນ ໜາແໜ້ນ, ການຂີ່ລົດຖີບ ແມ່ນມີຄວາມສະດວກແລະ ກໍ່ ເ ຮັ ດ ໃຫ້ ທ່ າ ນຮູ້ ສຶ ກ ໃກ້ ຊິ ດ ກັບມໍລະດົກທີ່ກ່ຳລັງຈະສູນ ຫາຍໄດ້ຫຼາຍຂຶ້ນ ແລະກໍ່ເປັນ ສິ່ ງ ທີ່ ກ າ ນ ເ ດີ ນ ທ າ ງ ດ້ ວ ຍ ຍວດຍານພາຫານະທັນສະ ໄໝບໍ່ສາມາດສະໜອງໃຫ້ໄດ້. ໃນລາວທ່ານສາມາດຊື້ລົດຖີບໃໝ່ຫຼືວ່າຄັນທີ່ຖືກໃຊ້ແລ້ວໄດ້ງ່າຍກ່ວາ ຫາເຊົ່າລົດ. ແລະ ທຸກຖ້ຽວບິນຂອງການບິນລາວກໍ່ອະນຸຍາດໃຫ້ເອົາລົດ ຖີບຂຶ້ນໄດ້, ເຊິ່ງເຮັດໃຫ້ນັກຂັບຂີ່ລົດຖີບສາມາດເດີນທາງໄປທຸກສະ ຖານທີ່ພາຍໃນປະເທດໄດ້ຢ່າງສະບາຍ. ລົດຖີບທີ່ແຂງແກ່ງພຽງພໍ ເໜາະສຳລັບການເດີນທາງໄລຍະໄກໃນເສັ້ນທາງໃນລາວຕ້ອງມີນຳ້ ໜັກປະມານ13ກິໂລ, ນອກນີ້ຍັງເຫຼືອນ້ຳໜັກອີກ7ກິໂລສຳລັບກະເປົາ ເຄື່ ອ ງໃຊ້ ທີ່ ອ ະນຸ ຍ າດໃຫ້ ເ ອົ າ ຂຶ້ ນ ທຸ ກ ຖ້ ຽ ວບິ ນ ພາຍໃນປະເທດຂອງ ທຸກໆເສັ້ນທາງບິນຂອງສາຍການບິນລາວ. ພວກເຮົາຂໍແນະນຳໃຫ້ທ່ານເອົາຄີມແລະກຸນແຈສ້ອມແປງທີ່ມີນ້ຳໜັກ ເບົາຈຳນວນໜຶ່ງຕິດໂຕໄປນຳ. ເວລາທີ່ຈະເອົາລົດຂຶ້ນເຮືອບິນກໍ່ໃຫ້ ແຍກສ່ວນປະກອບອອກໃຫ້ໄດ້ຫຼາຍທີ່ສຸດ ຮວມທັງການປ່ອຍລົມຢາງ ໃນເວລາເຊັກອີນ. ຕາມປົກກະຕິແລ້ວ, ພະນັກງານພາກພື້ນດິນຂອງ ສາຍການບິນສາມາດຮັບປະກັນວ່າລົດຂອງທ່ານຈະໄດ້ຮັບການປ້ອງ ກັ ນ ແລະຫຸ້ ມ ຮໍ່ ເ ປັ ນ ຢ່ າ ງດີ ດ້ ວ ຍເຈ້ ຍ ແຂງແລະຜ້ າ ເທັ ບ ໂດຍມີ ຄ່ າ ບໍ ລິ ການພຽງ 30000 ກີບ.

In ancient Laos, most transport was by boat up rivers and streams, by elephant, horse, or on foot. Today, for those looking to experience Lao life at its own pace and in harmony with its threatened natural environment and culture, there’s no better way to travel in Laos than by bicycle.

Traveling in Laos by bicycle makes it easy to imagine traveling back in time while discovering much of the country’s hidden and endangered history and culture. In most areas along the Mekong, particularly in the more densely populated provinces, cycling is easy and allows you to feel closer to Laos’ disappearing heritage in ways other means of transportation simply can’t provide .

It’s easier to buy a new or used bike in Laos than to rent one. And any Lao Airlines flight can carry them, making just about anywhere in the country accessible to cyclists. A bike solid enough to withstand long-distance travel along the Lao road network typically weighs around 13 kilos, allowing you 7 kilos for your luggage on any domestic Lao Airlines route.

We recommend you carry a few lightweight tools, including some small wrenches. When flying with your bike, dismantle as much as you can at check-in and deflate your tires. Airport ground staff can usually ensure your bike is properly protected with tape and cardboard for around 30,000 kip.

Traveling with bikes by bus can sometimes be difficult as not all buses have rooftop racks or large luggage compartments.

When they do, it is customary to tip the driver up to 25% of the normal fare. Hitching can be a good alternative, although never entirely safe or reliable.

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HOT TOURISM DISHES ແຕ່ ໃ ນບາງຄັ້ ງ ການເດີ ນ ທາງດ້ ວ ຍລົ ດ ເມໂດຍມີ ລົ ດ ຖີ ບ ໄປນຳກໍ່ ມີ ຄວາມລຳບາກບໍ່ ນ້ ອ ຍເນື່ ອ ງຈາກວ່ າ ລົ ດ ເມບາງຄັ ນ ກໍ່ ບໍ່ ມີ ຖ້ າ ນຫຼັ ງ ຄາຫຼືສະຖານທີ່ເກັບມ້ຽນກະເປົາຂະໜາດໃຫ່ຍເພື່ອເກັບມ້ຽນລົດຖີບ. ແຕ່ໃນກໍລະນີທີ່ມີບ່ອນເກັບມ້ຽນ, ຕາມປະເພນີແລ້ວກໍ່ຕ້ອງໄດ້ຈ່າຍທີບ ໃຫ້ຄົນຂັບລົດອາດສູງເຖິງ 25% ຂອງລາຄາປົກກະຕິ. ການໂບກລົດ ທຽວທາງເພື່ອຂໍໂດຍສານລົດກໍ່ເປັນທາງອອກທີ່ດີອັນໜຶ່ງເຖິງແມ່ນວ່າ ຈະບໍ່ຄ່ອຍປອດໄພຫຼືເຊື່ອຖືໄດ້ສະເໝີ.

In a new project accredited by the Lao government through the National University of Laos’ Academy of Social Sciences, with the help of Lao historian Dr. Chanthaphilith Chiemsisouraj, and recently approved for expansion as a cross border project with Thailand under the umbrella of the United Nations (U.N. Habitat) we are documenting the least known historical and cultural sites of Laos.

ໃນໂຄງການໃໝ່ທີ່ຖືກຮັບຮອງໂດຍລັດຖະບານລາວໂດຍຜ່ານສະຖາ ບັນວິທະຍາສາດສັງຄົມຂອງມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລແຫ່ງຊາດລາວ, ໂດຍການ ຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອຂອງນັກປະຫວັດສາດລາວ ດຣ. ຈັນທະພິລິດ ຈຽມສີສຸລາດ ແລະວ່ າ ງບໍ່ ດົ ນ ມານີ້ ກໍ່ ໄ ດ້ ຮັ ບ ການຕົ ກ ລົ ງ ໃຫ້ ມີ ກ ານຂະຫຍາຍຂອບ ເຂດກາຍມາເປັນໂຄງການຂ້າມຊາຍແດນຮ່ວມກັບໄທ ພາຍໃຕ້ການຊີ້ ນຳຈັ ດ ຕັ້ ງ ປະຕິ ບັ ດ ຂອງອົ ງ ການສະຫະປະຊາຊາດເພື່ ອ ບ່ ອ ນຢູ່ ອາໄສ (UN Habitat). ພວກເຮົາພວມເກັບກຳຂໍ້ມູນບັນດາສະຖານທີ່ ທາງປະຫວັດສາດ ແລະ ວັດຖະນະທຳທີ່ມີຄົນຮູ້ຈັກໜ້ອຍໃນລາວ.

Part of the motivation for the project is that much of Laos’ tourism today is focused on a handful of well-known spots.

In Vientiane or Luang Prabang, you can amble from temple to temple until eventually they begin to look the same. We think there’s a much better way to appreciate Laos’ rich cultural heritage.

ເຫດຜົນສ່ວນໜຶ່ງໂຄງການພວກເຮົາເກີດຂຶ້ນໄດ້ຍ້ອນວ່າ ໃນປັດຈຸບັນ ການທ່ອງທ່ຽວສ່ວນໃຫ່ຍຂອງລາວແມ່ນສຸມໃສ່ແຕ່ສະຖານທີ່ທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ທີ່ມີສື່ສຽງຈຳນວນບໍ່ພໍທໍ່ໃດ. ໃນນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ແລະ ຫຼວງພະ ບາງ, ທ່ານສາມາດຍ່າງທ່ອງທ່ຽວຊົມຈາກວັດໜຶ່ງໄປຫາອີກວັດໃໝ່ຈົນ ເຮັດໃຫ້ຮູ້ສຶກວ່າແຕ່ລະວັດນັ້ນມັນຄ້າຍຄືກັນ. ພວກເຮົາຄິດວ່າ, ມີວິທີ ທີ່ດີກ່ວານີ້ຫຼາຍສຳລັບການຊື່ນຊົມມໍລະດົກທາງວັດທະນະທຳອັນຮັ່ງມີ ຂອງລາວ. ຜູ້ທີ່ມີຄວາມກະຕືລືລົ້ນໃນທຳມະຊາດ ແລະ ມັກການຂີ່ລົດຖີບ ມັກຈະ ເລືອກເດີນທາງຕາມເສັ້ນທາງຫຼັກແລະກໍ່ຖີບລົດດ້ວຍຄວາມໄວຜ່ານ ທິວທັດທຳມະຊາດໂດຍເລືອກຍຸດທ່ອງທ່ຽວຊົມບາງຈຸດເທົ່ານັ້ນ; ຫຼື ອາດ ເວົ້າໄດ້ວ່າຂີ່ລົດຖີບທ່ອງທ່ຽວແຕ່ບໍ່ເຫັນຫຍັງ. ພວກເຮົາຂໍແນະນຳໃຫ້ ນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວໃຊ້ເວລາສຶກສາວັດທະນະທຳທ້ອງຖິ່ນ ແລະ ຄວາມສຳ ຄັນສະພາບແວດລ້ອມທາງວັດທະນະທຳ, ວັດທະນະທຳແລະປະຫວັດ ສາດຂອງປະເທດທີ່ຕົກຢູ່ໃນສະພາຍໃກ້ສູນຫາຍໃຫ້ຫຼາຍຂຶ້ນ. ເປົ້ າ ໝາຍຂອງພວກເຮົ າ ແມ່ ນ ການສ້ າ ງລາຍການຂີ່ ລົ ດ ຖີ ບ ແບບພິ ເສດ “ເສັ້ນທາງມໍລະດົກ” ໃນແຜນທີ່ແລະປຶ້ມແບບຮຽນຂອງເດັກ ໄປຄຽງ ຄູ່ກັບ ການສ້າງປ້າຍສະຖານທີ່ໆມີຄວາມສ່ຽງ, ພິພິດຕະພັນ ແລະ ການປຶກສາຫາລືລະຫວ່າງຊາຍແດນ ແລະ ນາໆຊາດກ່ຽວກັບຂໍ້ຂັດແຍ່ງ ທີ່ຍັງບໍ່ທັນໄດ້ແກ້ໄຂ. ພວກເຮົາເລັງເປົ້າໝາຍທີ່ຈະສ້າງແຜນທີ່ມີຫົວຂໍ້ ສະເພາະຂອງແຕ່ລະສະໄໝປະຫວັດສາດ, ກຸ່ມຊົນເຜົ່າທີ່ແຕກຕ່າງກັນ ແລະ ຮິດຄອງປະເພນີ, ຫັດຖະກຳ ແລະ ອາຊີບ. ພວກເຮົາຫວັງວ່າໂດຍ ການສື່ອອກທາງແຜນທີ່ ນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວສາມາດຊອກຮູ້ສິ່ງມະຫັດສະຈັນ ທີ່ເຊື່ອງຊ້ອນທີ່ພວມຕົກຢູ່ໃນສະພາບໃກ້ສູນຫາຍຫຼາຍສະຖານທີ່ໆບໍ່ ໄດ້ຖກ ື ນຳສະເໜີໃນປຶ້ມນຳທ່ຽວ ແລະ ຈາກແຫຼ່ງຂໍ້ມນ ູ ປົກກະຕິຂອງລາວ. ສິ່ ງ ທີ່ ພ ວກເຮົ າ ເຮັ ດ ກໍ່ ຄື ກ ານມະໂນພາບຄື ນ ແຕ່ ລ ະພູ ມ ມິ ປ ະເທດຫຼື ແຕ່ລະຊົນເຜົ່າທີ່ເຄີຍມີມາກ່ອນໜ້ານີ້, ຮວມທັງສິ່ງທີ່ຍັງຄົງຫຼົງເຫຼືອໃຫ້ ເຫັນໃນປັດຈຸບັນ. ຕົວຢ່າງເຊັ່ນ: ໃນນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ, ຖ້າຫາກ ວ່າທ່ານຂຸດໜ້າດິນ, ທ່ານຍັງສາມາດຄົ້ນພົບໄດ້ການອອກແບບຕົວ ເມືອງຕາມແບບສະໄໝຕົ້ນມອນຂະແມ, ໂດຍມີຫີນແກະສະຫຼັກອາຍຸ 1000ປີ ແລະ ພະທາດປະດິດສະຖານພະຍານາກ, ຮວມທັງພະພຸດທະ ຣູບແກະສະຫຼັກ. ເຊັ່ນດຽວກັນນີ້ ທ່ານຍັງສາມາດຄົ້ນພົບພູມມີປະເທດ ຂອງຕົວເມືອງຂະເໝນສະໄໝເກົ່າ, ໂດຍມີພະທາດຕັ້ງຢູ່ໃຈກາງເມືອງ ເຊິ່ງປະຈຸບັນແມ່ນພະທາດຫຼວງ ແລະ ອ່າງນ້ຳເຊິ່ງປະຈຸບັນແມ່ນໜອງ ຈັນ ໄປຄຽງຄູກັບວັດຂະເໝນເກົ່າແກ່ວັດສີເມືອງ. ນອກນີ້ຍັງມີສິ່ງເສດ ເຫຼື ອ ຂອງຄູ ເ ມື ອ ງເກົ່ າ ແລະກຳແພງເມື ອ ງສະໄໝນະຄອນຫຼ ວ ງລ້ າ ນ ຊ້າງຂອງພະເຈົ້າຊີວິດໄຊເຊດຖາແຕ່ປີ 1560 ທີ່ຢູໃນສະຖານະໃກ້ສູນ ຫາຍ. ຖ້າວ່າທ່ານຂຸດໜ້າດີນອີກ, ທ່ານກໍ່ຈະຄົ້ນພົບເມືອງຝຣັ່ງ, ເມືອງ ອາເມລິກາ, ອິດທິພົນອັນສູງສົ່ງຈາກລັດເຊຍ ຮວມທັງເຂດເມືອງເກົ່າ ຂອງຊາວອົບພະຍົບຈີນ ແລະ ຫວຽດນາມ.

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Nature and cycling enthusiasts often pick a major road and whiz past scenery with just a few selected stops; biking but not really seeing. We suggest visitors take time to learn more about the local culture and the importance of the country’s threatened natural environment, culture and history.

Our goal is to create special biking “Heritage Trails” in maps and children’s books, along with plaques for endangered sites, museums and cross-border disputes yet to be resolved.

We aim to create themed maps of periods in history, different ethnic groups, traditional customs, crafts and professions. We hope that through them, visitors can discover the many hidden and endangered wonders missing from guidebooks and other common representations of Laos.

What we do is imagine each landscape or ethnic group as it once was, including the remains that are still visible today. In Vientiane for example, if you scratch the surface, you can still find the early Mon-Dvaravati (Khmu) design for the city, with its 1,000 year old stone carvings and towers on the nests of legendary nagas (serpents), as well as carved Buddhas. Similarly, you can find the ancient Khmer landscaping of the city, with its “Mt Meru” (today’s That Luang) and “baray” reservoir (today’s Nong Chan) in a line with the ancient Khmer Wat Si Muang. There are also the endangered remains of the ancient moats and walls of King Setthatirat’s Lan Xang capital from 1560. Scratch the surface again and you can find the French city, the American city, a strong Russian influence, as well as the old immigrant quarter created by migrants from China and Vietnam.

We aim to produce a “Chick-a-Dee” Biking books series, published in multiple languages. We hope these books will popularize and protect the many historical, cultural and natural treasures of Laos before they disappear, mostly due to a lack of foreign understanding. We welcome help and support in ensuring the best of this unique country is preserved.

ພວກເຮົາມີເປົ້າໝາຍທີ່ຈະຜະລິດປຶ້ມຮູບພາບເລົ່າເລື່ອງການຂີ່ລົດຖີບຫຼາຍຕອນ, ຈັດພີມເປັນຫຼາຍພາສາ. ພວກເຮົາຫວັງວ່າປຶ້ມນີ້ຈະໄດ້ຮັບ ຄວາມນິຍົມ ແລະ ປົກປ້ອງຫຼາຍສະຖານທີ່ໆເປັນມໍລະດົກທາງປະຫວັດສາດ, ວັດທະນະທຳ ແລະ ສະພາບແວດລ້ອມຂອງລາວ ກ່ອນທີ່ສະຖານທີ່ ເລົ່ານັ້ນຈະສູນຫາຍ, ໂດຍສ່ວນໃຫ່ຍແລ້ວແມ່ນຍ້ອນການຂາດຄວາມເຂົ້າໃຈຂອງຊາວຕ່າງຊາດ. ພວກເຮົາຍິນດີຕ້ອນຮັບການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອ ແລະ ການ ສະໜັບສະໜຸນເພື່ອຮັບປະກັນວ່າສິ່ງທີ່ດີທີ່ສຸດຂອງປະເທດທີ່ມີເອກະລັກນີ້ໄດ້ຮັບການປົກປັກຮັກສາ.

ພະທາດທີ່ເກົ່າແກ່ທີ່ຖືກເຊື່ອງຊ້ອນ ທີ່ວັດພະທາດຝຸ່ນ: ພະພຸດທະຮູບເກົ່າແກ່ທີ່ວັດທາດຝຸ່ນ ຖືກເຊື່ອງ ຊ້ອນຢູ່ຫຼັງກະຊວງພະລັງງານແລະບໍ່ແຮ່ໃນຖະໜົນໜອງບອນໃນໃຈກາງເມືອງວຽງຈັນບໍ່ໄດ້ຢູ່ໃນແຜນທີ່ ການທ່ອງທ່ຽວ (ເຖິງວ່າຈະເປີດໃຫ້ບໍລິການ). ສະຖານທີ່ນີ້ອາດເປັນໃຈກາງຂອງຕົວເມືອງວຽງຈັນເກົ່າ ຫຼາຍກ່ວາ1000ປີກ່ອນໜ້ານີ້ ໃນສະໄໝທີ່ຊາວຄະມູມອນດີວາລາວະຕີປົກຄອງເຂດນີ້. ຫຼັງຈາກນັ້ນກໍ່ ກາຍມາເປັນສຸສານຄົນຈີນ, ຫວຽດນາມ ແລະ ຝຣັ່ງ ແລະ ຫຼັງຈາກນັ້ນກໍ່ໄດ້ຖືກຢ້າຍອອກ.

A Hidden Ancient Tower at Vat Foun Pra That: This ancient Buddha tower at That Foun, hidden behind the Ministry of Mining on Nong Bone Street in the center of Vientiane is not on tourist maps (though open to visitors). It may have been the center of ancient Vientiane more than 1,000 years ago, when the Khmu Mon-Dvaravati people ruled the area. It later became part of the Chinese, Vietnamese and French cemetery that has since been relocated.

Photos by Hue Nhu Nguyen “ວັງອົງຊາຍ?” ສະຖານທີ່ແຫ່ງນີ້ເຄີຍເປັນພະຣາຊະສະວັງແລະສວນຕົ້ນໄມ້ຂອງອົງຊາຍລາວ ອົງໜຶ່ງ ແລະ ຫຼັງຈາກນັ້ນກໍ່ເປັນນາຍົກລັດຖະມົນຕີ ສະເດັດເຈົ້າ ສຸວັນນະພູມມາ ໃນຊຸມປີ1950. ເຖິງຈະເປັນສະຖານທີ່ໆໂດດເດັ່ນ, ແຕ່ກໍ່ຍັງບໍ່ທັນໄດ້ຢູ່ໃນແຜນທີ່ນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວ. ປະຈຸບັນເປັນພຽງດີນ ຮາບພຽງທີຖືກນຳໃຊ້ເຂົ້າໃນເປົ້າໝາຍພັດທະນາໂດຍລວມ. ທ່ານສາມາດຂີລົດຖີບໄປເຖິງສະຖານທີ່ ນີ້ໄດ້ຕາມແຄມຂອງຈາກວຽງຈັນ.

‘Home for a Prince?’ This was once the country home and botanical gardens of a Lao Prince and later, Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma in the 1950s. Yet remarkably, it is not on tourist maps. Today, it is a little more than a dumping ground serving global development objectives. You can bike to it along the Mekong from Vientiane.

ສະຫວັນໃນດອນທີ່ຢູ່ໃນພະວະສ່ຽງຕໍ່ການຖືກທຳລາຍ: ຢູ່ໃນໄລຍະທີ່ສາມາດຂີ່ລົດຖີບໄປໄດ້ ຈາກຕົວເມືອງວຽງຈັນ, ດອນຊິງຊູ້ທີ່ເກົ່າແກ່ໃນໃຈກາງແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງເປັນບ່ອນປະດິດສະຖານ ວັດທີ່ເກົ່າທີ່ສຸດຂອງປະເທດ ແລະ ອາດເວົ້າໄດ້ວ່າເປັນຫາດຊາຍພຽງແຫ່ງດຽວທີ່ຍັງບໍ່ທັນຖືກ ຄຸກຄາມໃນລາວ.

Endangered Island Paradise: Within easy biking distance from downtown Vientiane, the ancient “island” of Xieng Xou in the Mekong is home to the country’s oldest temples and perhaps the only unspoiled public beach left in Laos.

David Lempert represents Laos for the Global Village Foundation. Donors looking to support the project can contact him at: superlemp@yahoo.com. Keep up to date with the latest developments at: www.champamag.com

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Lao Plaza Hotel

This five star hotel boasts 142 tastefully furnished rooms where the utmost luxury is guaranteed. Guests can also take advantage of the great spa, swimming pool and fitness centre. www.laoplazahotel.com

Le Leela Hotel

Le Leela’s sophisticated rooms are homely and comfortable. The ideal setting for couples, friends and family holidays. www. leleela.com

Ansara Hotel

Home to 12 rooms and 2 suites, these elegantly put together rooms offer a funky fusion of traditional Lao and Asian contemporary designs. www.ansarahotel.com

Luang Prabang

Le Bel Air Hotel

This boutique resort is perfect for a comfortable stay while getting a taste of the laid-back life and tranquility of rural Laos. Newly opened, the hotel offers ten guest-rooms with beautiful river views, decorated using local wood, natural silk and traditional Lao ornaments. www.lebelairhotels.com

Hotel de la Paix

Hotel de la Paix offers spacious and luxurious suites featuring elegant wooden furnishings, beautiful bathrooms, sun-kissed courtyards, shimmering pools and fragrant frangipani gardens. www.hoteldelapaixlp.com

Luang Prabang

Where to stay this Summer?

Vientiane

ACCOMMODATIONTOURISM ADVISOR

La RĂŠsidence Phou Vao

Being the only hotel located on top of Phou Vao (the Hill of Kites), this luxurious property redefines standards for those looking to unwind. Enjoying breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, the hotel oozes sheer tranquility. www.residencephouvao.com

Satri House Hotel

This beautiful refurbished property is one of the most exquisite in the historic old-city. The whole building has clearly been inspired by Lao style and culture. www.satrihouse.com

Vang Vieng Riverside Boutique Resort

Riverside Boutique Resort is a luxury resort located on the banks of the Nam Song River with stunning views over the limestone mountains of Vang Vieng.

The property is set within a tropical garden and organized around a central swimming pool. Despite its location in the quietest part of town, this hotel is within easy reach of the center and provided as a perfect departure point for excursions in the countryside www.riversidevangvieng.com

Inthira Vang Vieng

All of Inthira Villa’s boutique guestrooms are designed with modern fittings and come with roof-top terraces offering spectacular views of the famous limestone mountains and Nam Song River. To top its list of facilities, access to the swimming pool of Ban Sabai Bungalow is just 100 meters away. www.inthirahotels.com

Villa Vang Vieng Riverside

A luxurious hotel right on the shore of the Nam Song River. From your room and from the pool you can enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. www.villavangvieng.com

Nam Lik Eco-village

For 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 harmony with nature, as well as various community development projects in nearby Ban That Wang Monh. www.namlik.com

North Nong Khiaw Riverside

Large 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. www.nongkiau.com

Auberge Phouphadend, Phonsavan

A delightful hilltop resort in beautiful countryside close to Phonsavan, Auberge Phouphadend makes an ideal base for exploring the famous Plain of Jars. Fifteen comfortable wooden bungalows have been built in-amongst a forest of pine and fern trees.

Charming Lao Hotel, Oudomxai

Close 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. www.charminglaohotel.com

The Boat Landing, Ban Kone, Luang Namtha This premier eco-lodge is a great jump off point for those looking to explore the Nam Ha Protected Area. All the bungalows have been built using local materials and in a local style, while guaranteeing a comfortable stay. A great choice. www.theboatlanding.com

South Residence Sisouk, Pakse

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 Pagoda, it’s also a great place to experience local life.

Rooms are clean and comfortable. www.residence-sisouk.com

Kingfisher Ecolodge

A great little retreat in Champassak Province. The area around the lodge is one of the most beautiful in the country and great for those that love the great outdoors. The nearby Xe Pian National Protected Area is a haven for rare flora and fauna.

Tadlo Lodge

Tadlo Lodge is located in an area of spectacular natural beauty and in a prime spot that spans both sides of the Sexet River at Tad Lo village.

The dazzling beauty of the area provides the perfect ambiance for you to relax in comfort. www.tadlolodge.com

The River Resort , Champassak Province This newly opened riverside resort offers 20 comfortable rooms; all with stunning riverside terraces offering panoramic views of the Mekong. There’s a great swimming pool overlooking the river and traditional Lao massage. Staff are friendly and accommodating. The perfect retreat. www.theriverresortlaos.com

* Look more hotels suggestion in our website www.champamag.com

OUTSIDE DISTINATION

ທ່ອງທ່ຽວທາງນຳ້ທີ່ບາງກອກ

BANGKOK by river Fab World

ເ​ ມື່ອເດີນທາງໄປທ່ອງທ່ຽວບາງກອກ, ສິ່ງທີ່ຄວນຫຼີກລ້ຽງກໍ່ຄື ການເສຍເວລາຍ້ອນບັນຫາລົດແອອັດ. ເຖິງແມ່ນວ່າຈະມີຄວັນ ພິດ ແລະ ຄວາມວຸ້ນວາຍຫຼາຍ, ນະຄອນຫຼວງ ຂອງປະເທດໄທກໍ່ ແມ່ນໜຶ່ງໃນບັນດາຕົວເມືອງທີ່ຄືກຄື້ນ ແລະ ມີສະເໜ່ທີ່ສຸດໃນ ພາກພື້ນ. ສະນັ້ນຈະມີເຄັດລັບແນວໃດ ເພື່ອທີ່ຈະໃຊ້ເວລາໃຫ້ ຄຸ້ມຄ່າທີ່ສຸດໃນຕົວເມືອງທີ່ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍສີສັນ ແລະ ຄວາມບັນ ເທິງທີ່ຫຼາກຫຼາຍແຫ່ງນີ້? ຄຳຕອບກໍ່ຄືແມ່ນ້ຳເຈົ້າພະຍາ, ເສັ້ນທາງນ້ຳທີ່ເປັນສາຍເລືອດ ຫຼັກຂອງສັງຄົມໄທມາຫຼາຍພັນປີແລ້ວ. ແມ່ນ້ຳແຫ່ງນີ້ໄດ້ສະທ້ອນ ໃຫ້ເຫັນມໍລະດົກອັນຍາວນານ ຂອງຄວາມສີວິໄລທີ່ມີອິດທິພົນ ສູງ. ເມື່ອນະຄອນຫຼວງຂອງໄທໄດ້ຖືກຍ້າຍມາບາງກອກ ໃນປີ 1782 ( ຈຸດເລີ່ມຕົ້ນຂອງສະໄໝລັດຕະນະໂກສິນ ), ນະຄອນ ຫຼວງມີຄອງນ້ຳຈຳນວນຫຼວງຫຼາຍ ໂອບອ້ອມຈົນໄດ້ຮັບສາຍນາມ ຈາກນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວຊາວເອີຣົບວ່າເປັນເມືອງ “ ເວນິສຂອງໂລກຕາ ເວັນອອກ”.

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When in Bangkok, don’t make the common mistake of spending most of your visit stuck in traffic. Despite the smog and the bustle, the Thai capital is in fact one of the most exciting and romantic cities in the region. So what’s the secret to getting the most out of the ‘City of Angels?

The answer lies in the Chao Phraya River, a waterway that has been the bloodline of Thai society over thousands of years. The river reflects the long legacy of what has long been a powerful civilization. When the capital of Thailand was moved to Bangkok in 1782 (the beginning of the Rattanakosin period), the capital was laced with canals or Klongs, causing it to be known as the “VENICE OF THE EAST” by many European visitors.

ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຕັດສິນໃຈທີ່ຈະພັກເຊົາ ຢູ່ໂຮງແຮມ ພຣະຍາ ປາລາ ໂຊ, ເຊິ່ງເປັນສິ່ງປຸກສ້າງຕາມແບບເອີຣົບທີ່ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍ ຄວາມ ສະຫງ່າງາມສ້າງຂຶ້ນເທິງແຄມຝັ່ງແມ່ນ້ຳໃນປີ 1923. ການທ່ອງ ທ່ຽວ ຕາມແມ່ນ້ຳເຈົ້າພຣະຍາບໍ່ພຽງເປັນການເພີ່ມບັນຍາກາດ ໃຫ້ ແກ່ຕົວເມືອງໃຫ່ຍແຫ່ງນີ້, ແຕ່ມັນຫາກຍັງເປັນການເດີນທາງທ່ອງ ທ່ຽວທີ່ດີເລີດ, ໂດຍເປັນການເພີ່ມເຕີມກິດຈະກຳທ່ອງທ່ຽວນອກ ເໜືອຈາກສະຖານທີ່ທອ ່ ງທ່ຽວຕົ້ນຕໍອນ ື່ ໆ. ເດີນທາງໄປຍັງຈຸດ ຈອດ ເຮືອ ແລະ ໃຊ້ບໍລິການເຮືອດ່ວນຕາມ ລຳນ້ຳເຈົ້າ ພຣະຍາ (ອາດເວົ້າ ໄດ້ວ່າບໍລິການລົດເມເທິງໜ້ານ້ຳ ), ເຊິ່ງໃຫ້ບໍ ລິການຂົນສົ່ງຜູ້ໂດຍ ສານທາງເຮືອຂຶ້ນແລະລ່ອງແມ່ນ້ຳຕະຫຼອດເວລາ. ມັນເປັນການ ເດີນທາງທີ່ໜ້າປະທັບໃຈ, ມີສີສັນ ແລະ ບໍ່ໜ້າເຊື່ອວ່າຄ່າບໍລິການ ຖືກຫຼາຍ. ຖ້າຫາກວ່າມີພຽງສອງສະຖານທີ່ໆນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວຕ້ອງໄປເບິ່ງໃນ ບາງກອກ, ແນ່ນອນມັນຕ້ອງແມ່ນພະຣາຊະວັງ ແລະ ວັດໂພ, ເຊິ່ງເປັນແຫຼ່ງທ່ອງທ່ຽວອັນດັບຕົ້ນໆ ຖ້າບໍ່ເຫັນກໍ່ປຽບເໝືອນບໍ່ໄດ້

I decided to stay in Praya Palazzo, a breathtaking Paladio Mansion built on the river in 1923. Traveling on the Chao Phraya River not only adds some atmosphere to this enormous metropolis; it’s also a great way to get around, while adding some perspective to your exploration of the city’s top attractions.

Head to one of the piers and catch a Chao Praya River Express (sort of a bus on water), which operates a regular boat service up and down the river. It’s pleasant, scenic and incredibly cheap.

If there are just two must-see sights in Bangkok, they are undoubtedly the Grand Palace and Wat Po, attractions without which no trip to the Thai capital would be complete. Both can be accessed easily by river.

ໄປນະຄອນຫຼວງຂອງໄທ. ທັງສອງສະຖານທີ່ນີ້ສາມາດເດີນທາງໄປ ທາງນ້ຳໄດ້ໄປ​ນະຄອນຫຼວງ​ຂອງ​ໄທ. ທັງສ ​ ອງ​ສະຖານ​ທີ່​ນີ້​ສາມາດ​​ ເດີນທາ​ງ​ໄປ​ທາງ​ນ້ຳ​ໄດ້. ຕະຫຼາດປາກຄອງ (ຕະຫຼາດດອກໄມ້) ເປັນສະຖານທີ່ດຶງດູດຈິດໃຈ ທີ່ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍສີສັນ ແລະ ອາຍຫອມໄປທົ່ວ, ໂດຍມີສະຖານທີ່ອັນ ກວ້າງຂວາງສຳລັບຂາຍດອກໄມ້ສົດ, ຜັກ, ໝາກໄມ້ ແລະ ໝາກ ເຜັດ. ແລະ ຖ້າ ຫາກວ່າທ່ານຍັງຮູ້ສຶກບໍ່ເຕັມອີ່ມ, ຫາຍໃຈເລີກໆ ແລະ ກໍ່ເດີນທາງຕໍ່ໄປທີ່ຊາຍນາທາວ ເຊິ່ງສາມາດເດີນທາງໆນ້ຳ ບໍ່ໄກພໍປານໃດ. ເຂດນີ້ແອອັດໄປດ້ວຍຮ້ານອາຫານ, ຮ້ານຍາຈີນ, ແລະ ຮ້ານອື່ນໆ ຈຳນວນຫຼາຍທີ່ຂາຍທຸກຢ່າງທີ່ຄົນເຮົາຮູ້ລວມທັງ ຮ້ານຂາຍສົ່ງເກີບ, ຜະລິດຕະພັນອາຫານສົດ ແລະ ໄໝໄທ. ຖ້າທ່ານ ສາມາດທົນໄດ້ກັບຄວາມແອອັດຂອງຄົນຈຳນວນຫຼາຍ, ອາກາດ ຮ້ອນ ແລະ ຄວາມສັບສົນ, ນີ້ແມ່ນໜຶ່ງໃນສະຖານທີ່ໆດີທີ່ສຸດໃນ ພາກພື້ນສຳລັບການຈັບຈ່າຍຊື້ສິນຄ້າຄຸນນະພາບສູງໂດຍໃນລາ ຄາດີພໍສົມຄວນ

The Talat Pak Khlong (flower market) is a sensual assault of colors and aromas, with its huge array of fresh flowers, vegetables, fruit and spices. And if you still haven’t experienced total sensory overload, take a deep breath and head to Chinatown, a short boatride away. Packed with endless street-side eateries, Chinese medicine stores and shops selling just about everything known to man, including wholesale shoes, fresh food products and Thai silk. If you can handle the crowds, heat and confusion, this is one of the best places in the region to shop for quality products that won’t break the bank.

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OUTSIDE DISTINATION For those looking to escape the noise, pollution and crowds, avoid the typical river boat tours and take a trip with veteran Photo-Journalist Thuan, who over more than twenty years, has created liveontheklongs, a small NGO that aims to to help disadvantaged citizens repair their boats and reinstate them as the principal means of transportation. All proceeds of Thuan’s boat trips go to support this inspiring cause, while visitors are invited to sit back and discover the true spirit of this unique and exciting waterworld.

ສຳລັບບັນດາທ່ານທີ່ຕ້ອງການຢູ່ຫ່າງຈາກສຽງຟົດນັນ, ຄວັນພິດ ແລະ ຝຸງຊົນ, ຫຼິກລຽ່ງບໍລິການໂດຍສານທາງນ້ຳ, ສາມາດນຳ ໃຊ້ບໍລິການໂດຍສານຂອງອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງທາງສັງຄົມທີ່ມີຊື່ງວ່າ ”ໃຊ້ ຊີວິດໃນຄອງນ້ຳ” ສ້າງຕັ້ງຂຶ້ນມາເປັນເວລາຫຼາຍກ່ວາ 20 ປີໂດຍນັກຂ່າວພາບຖ່າຍ ທ່ວນ ເຊິ່ງມີຈຸດປະສົງທີ່ຈະຊ່ວຍ ເຫຼື່ອກຸ່ມຄົນຜູ້ດ້ອຍໂອກາດໃນການບຸລະນະສ້ອມແປງເຮືອຂອງ ເຂົາເຈົ້າເພື່ອໃຫ້ສາມາດ ແລ່ນບໍລິການໂດຍສານໄດ້. ລາຍຮັບ ຈາກຄ່ າ ບໍ ລິ ກ ານແມ່ ນ ຖື ກ ນຳໃຊ້ ເ ຂົ້ າ ໃນກິ ດ ຈະກຳຂອງໂຄງ ການ, ໃນຂະນະທີ່ນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວສາມາດນັ່ງທ່ຽວຊົມທິວທັດເພື່ອ ຊອກຮູ້ເຖິງຈິດວິນຍານທີ່ແທ້ຈິງຂອງເສັ້ນທາງນ້ຳທີ່ມີເອກະລັກ ສະເພາະ ແລະ ໜ້າຕື່ນເຕັ້ນ.ໂດຍການທ່ອງທ່ຽວໂດຍສານ ຕາມຄອງນ້ຳທີ່ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍມົນສະເໜ່ອັນໜ້າປະທັບໃຈ ໃນຂະ ນະທີ່ພວມເບິ່ງໂລກກ່ຳລັງຂັບເຄື່ອນຢູ່ນັ້ນ, ມັນເປັນການຍາກ ທີ່ຈະເຊື່ອວ່າ ທ່ານກ່ຳລັງຢູ່ໃນຕົວເມືອງທີ່ຖືກຮັບຮູ້ຢ່າງບໍ່ຍຸດຕິ ທຳສະເໝີມາວ່າ ເປັນເມືອງໃຫ່ຍທີ່ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍຄວາມໜ້າຕື່ນ ເຕັ້ນ, ສັບສົນ, ວຸນ ້ ວາຍ ທີ່ເໜາະສຳລັບການເດີນທາງຜ່ານເທົ່ານັ້ນ. ເມື່ອຍາມອາທິດອັດສະດົງຫຍັບໃກ້ເຂົ້າມາ, ກໍ່ເດີນທາງກັບໄປ ທີ່ແຄມແມ່ນ້ຳບໍລິເວັນທ່າຕຽນເພື່ອທີ່ຈະນັ່ງດື່ມເບຍຊົມຕາເວັນ ຕົກຜ່ານວັດອາລຸນ.

ສຳລັບບັນດາທ່ານທີ່ມີຄວາມປາຖະໜາຈະຊົມທິວທັດທີ່ໜ້າປະທັບ ໃຈທີ່ສຸດຂອງຕົວເມືອງທ່ານສາມາດໃຊ້ບໍລິການຮ້ານອາຫານຂອງ ໂຮງແຮມຮິວຕັນຕັ້ງຢູ່ຊັ້ນ 32 (ແຕ່ເຖິງຢ່າງໃດກໍ່ຕາມພວກເຮົາຂໍ ເຕືອນກ່ອນວ່າຄ່າບໍລິການຂ້ອນຂ້າງແພງ). ຫຼືວ່າທ່ານອາດໃຊ້ບໍ ລິການໜຶ່ງໃນຮ້ານອາຫານແຄມນ້ຳທີ່ດີສຸດໃກ້ກັບທ່າທຽບເຮືອກຸງ ທົນ ແລະ ເທເວດ, ເຊິ່ງທ່ານສາມາດຊົມວິວອັນສວຍງາມຂອງຂອບ ຟ້ານະຄອນບາງກອກໄດ້ເຊັ່ນກັນ. ພິເສດທີ່ຄວນກ່າວເຖິງແມ່ນ ຮ້ານອາຫານ ສຸພັດຕາຣີເວີເຮົ້າ ເຊິ່ງຕັ້ງຢູ່ເຮືອນສອງຊັ້ນຊົງໄທບູ ຮານທີ່ສວຍງາມ ແລະ ຖືກປ່ຽນໃຫ້ກາຍເປັນຮ້ານອາຫານຊັ້ນໜຶ່ງ, ທີ່ແຂກສາມາດຜ່ອນຄາຍ ແລະ ຮັບປະທານອາຫານໄທທີ່ດີສຸດ.

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Chugging steadily along this enchanting maze of waterways while watching the world go by, it’s hard to believe that you are still in a city that is often unfairly thought of as a phrenetic metropolis that’s only worthy of passing through.

As the evening approaches, head back to the Tha Tien pier and grab a class of ice-cold beer as the sun sets over the majestic Wat Arun temple.

For those looking for some of the most impressive views in the city, ascend to the dizzying highs of the Millennium Hilton’s 32nd floor (although we should warn you: they don’t come cheap!). Otherwise, head to one of the excellent riverside restaurants around the Krung Thon and Thewet piers, which also offer great views of the Bangkok skyline. Particularly worthy of note is the Supatra River House, a beautiful two-story traditional Thai house converted into a first-class restaurant, where guests can relax and enjoy the best of Thai cuisine.

To join one of Thuan’s River Tours in aid of Live on the Klogs e-mail them at: live. on.the.klongs@gmail.com : live.on.the.klongs@gmail.com Supatra River House Restaurant: www.supatrariverhouse.net

ໂຮງແຮມພຣະຍາ ປາລາໂຊ, ສະຖານທີ່ປຸກສ້າງທີ່ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍປະຫວັດສາດຕັ້ງຢູ່ບໍ່ໄກ ຈາກໃຈກາງ ນະຄອນຫຼວງບາງກອກ Praya Palazzo. A Mansion full of history just a stone’s throw from downtown Bangkok.

Peacefull and charming, this little gem is ideally located on the Chao Pray riverside, with all the city’s main attractions within easy reach.

The rooms are magnificent. The decor, without being pretentious, is perfectly in keeping with the old-age tradition and grandeur of last century.

Enjoy the swimming pool anytime you want to relax and embrace the breathtaking river views.

Located on the ground floor, Praya Dining offers you a delightful gastronomic experience.

Kings and Queens, you have found your place.

Praya Palazzo Bangkok Boutique Hotel www.prayapalazzo.com

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A short guide to Lao Drinks and Drinking Benjamin Blech

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coho l A n o N

Juices and Shakes For those with a sweet tooth, pressed sugarcane juice (nam awy) on ice is a popular way to stay cool. Look out for a hand-cranked press at any local market.

With such a wide variety of wonderful fresh fruit, there’s always plenty of choice when it comes to fresh juices (nam mak mai) and fruit-shakes (nam pan), a blend of fresh fruit, crushed ice and sugar syrup.

Coffee

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Alcoholic Drin

One aspect of Laos’ colonial past everyone is willing to remember is the rich, full-bodied aroma of Lao Mountain Coffee.

Since the early 20th century, most of Laos’ coffee has been grown on the Bolaven Plateau in the southern province of Champasak, thanks to its cooler temperatures, abundant rainfall and rich volcanic soil.

Laos’ predominantly Robusta variety of coffee beans produce a syrupy black, famously strong brew, by far the most famous of which is produced in the hills surrounding Paksong, widely known as as Cafe Paksong (Paksong Coffee).

For an authentic Lao coffee experience, leave Luang Prabang’s tourist trappings in search of one of the city’s dedicated local coffee shops, where visitors are reminded of Laos’ enchanting array of contrasts; the seamless harmony between the quiet, uncomplicated rhythm of local life, with one of Europe’s most widely embraced cultural rituals; enjoying a cup of coffee as the busy world trundles by.

In locally inspired establishments, coffee beans are freshly ground and pushed through a bag-like filter. It is then served hot or cold in a tall glass with a spoonful of condensed milk. To freshen the pallet, a coffee is sometimes followed with a chaser of weak tea or water.

Beer

Considering that it barely existed in Laos less that thirty years ago, the popularity of beer is nothing less than remarkable. It’s no exaggeration to say that the country’s most iconic brand, Beer Lao, has become a symbol of huge national pride, as well as the country’s growing appeal to the outside world.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, Beer Lao was remodelled in the style of a Czech Pilsner, producing the smooth, wonderfully light, slightly sweet taste of Laos’ most popular beer.

Local rice also replaced expensive barley imported from Germany, making the brand accessible to all sections of Lao society.

In larger towns and cities, the days where beer drinkers had only a limited choice are long gone. The excellent Beer NamKhong, Singaporean-Malay champion Tiger and Thai brands Singha and Chang, are also wildly available. What’s more, Beer is also cheap by international standards (around K8,000 or $1 for a large bottle). Thai and European brands tend to be slightly more expensive but certainly won’t break the bank!

Lao people usually drink beer with ice, giving it a light refreshing taste ideally suited to a hot humid climate. It’s also a wonderful accompaniment to Laos’ fragrant, spicy cuisine.

Beer drinking is a particularly social pastime in Laos. Several large bottles and a bucket of ice are typically shared between friends.

Drinking Etiquette in Laos 1 The Lao equivalent of ‘cheers’ is ‘tam chok’ . As in most countries, the sound of glasses chinking together is a timeless expression of good-will and friendship. In Laos, the raising of glasses is repeated over and over again and is certainly never confined to the first sip.

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Always ensure everyone has a full glass before filling your own.

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Drinking directly from a bottle is considered impolite.

4 During festive periods, it is common for a group of friends to share a single glass, signifying friendship and solidarity. It’s polite to accept at least once. The glass is then returned to the host for refilling.

5

In Laos, it is customary to offer a drink to anyone present (frequently including passing strangers). As a visitor, it’s polite to accept the first glass but perfectly acceptable to decline a second (coy bo dum, kop jai).

6 If invited to someone’s home, guests are not normally expected to bring a contribution.

When drinking out, generally whoever made the invitation pays the bill, particularly if it’s their birthday.

Lao Lao (Rice Whisky) If there’s a drink that can be considered a true Lao classic it’s Lao Lao, a satisfying (but often lethal) rice whisky that has been produced in Laos for centuries.

Lao Lao is made entirely from fermented sticky rice. The absence of harmful additives makes it healthier than most spirits. It’s also incredibly inexpensive, with a large bottle selling for as little as K6,000 (around $0.75).

To make Lao Lao, a mixture of steamed sticky rice and natural yeast is left to ferment for several days. It is then distilled in a sealed copper kettle, separating the alcohol from the other ingredients. The end result is a fiery transparent spirit with a sweet flavour. A popular variation is pink in colour and produced using naturally purple rice.

Across Laos’ tourist trail, bottles of Lao Lao are on sale containing snakes, scorpions and insects, many of which are believed to offer doubtful medical properties. Bare in mind that such purchases hasten the extinction of Laos’ ever growing list of endangered species. Technically speaking, leaving with any wildlife product is also illegal and punishable by a lengthily prison term and/or heavy fine.

Lao Hai (Jar Alcohol).

Lao Hai is a sweet rice wine traditionally produced by the Khmu hill-tribe for Pimai Laos and other festivals. It has a fantastically smooth, naturally sweet flavour similar to Japanese Sake.

Lao Hai’s sweet flavour comes from fermented sticky rice, which is steamed before being mixed with crushed rice husk. It is then placed in traditional earthen jars known as hai, sealed with mud or ash and left for six months to a year.

Generally, the longer the mixture is left the sweeter the wine becomes.

For visitors, drinking Lao Hai is an unmissable experience.

Traditionally, it’s drunk communally (and often competitively) through thin, hollow river reeds. As the wine is drunk, water is added to maintain an even balance of water and alcohol.

For the most authentic Lao Hai experience, book a trekking tour through a certified echo-tourism operator in the Nam Ha National Park, many of which include an overnight stay in a local Khmu village.

Restaurant

ຮ້ານອາຫານຝຣັ່ງ ລາແດຣຊ ຕີໃນ

L’adresse de Tinay, ທີ່ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ Vientiane

ພາຍຫຼັງເປີດໃຫ້ບໍລິການທີ່ ໂຮງແຮມ ລາວປາຣີ ດ້ວຍຄວາມຫວັງ ອັນແຮງກ້າ ໃນເດືອນກໍລະກົດປີ 2011, ຮ້ານອາຫານ ລາແດຣຊ ຕີໃນ ໄດ້ຢ້າຍມາຕັ້ງຢູ່ເຮືອນສອງຊັ້ນທີ່ສວຍງາມ ໃນຖະໜົນທີ່ງຽບ ສະຫງົບໃກ້ກັບແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງ. ສະຖານທີ່ໃໝ່ກໍ່ສ້າງໃຫ້ມີແນວຄິດໃໝ່ ແລະ ກໍ່ບໍ່ໄດ້ໃຊ້ເວລາດົນເທົ່າໃດທີ່ຄູ່ຜົວເມຍຊາວລາວ-ຝຣັ່ງ ຕິໄນ ແລະ ແດນຟິນ ກາຍເປັນບຸກຄົນທີ່ມີຊື່ສຽງໃນແວດວົງອາຫານຂອງ ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ. ຍ້ອນມີຕັ່ງນັ່ງທີ່ສະດວກສະບາຍ, ການຕົກແຕ່ງທີ່ທັນສະໄໝສວຍ ງາມ, ບັນຍາກາດແບບດັ້ງເດີມ ແລະ ການຕ້ອນຮັບທີ່ອົບອຸ່ນ, ເຖິງ ຈະເປັນຜູ້ທີ່ຊ່ຽວຊານດ້ານອາຫານກໍ່ຕ້ອງຮູ້ສຶກປະທັບໃຈ.

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ພໍ່ຄົວຜູ້ມີພອນສະຫວັນ ທ່ານ ຕິໄນ່ ໄດ້ເຮັດວຽກ ແລະ ພັດທະນາຕົນ ເອງຢ່າງຕໍ່ເນື່ອງໃນໂລກຂອງອາຫານ, ໂດຍເຮັດທຸກໆໜ້າວຽກໃນ ເຮືອນຄົວເປັນເວລາຫຼາຍກວ່າ 14 ປີ, ເຊິ່ງເຮັດໃຫ້ລາວກາຍເປັນ ພໍ່ຄົວທີ່ມີຈິນຕະນາການ ແລະ ແນວຄິດສ້າງສັນດັ່ງທີ່ລາວເປັນເຊັ່ນ ທຸກວັນນີ້.

A

fter a promising start at the Lao Paris Hotel, L’Adresse de Tinay Restaurant moved in July 2011 to a beautiful two story house, in a quiet street close to the Mekong River behind Ong Teu temple. With the new location came a new concept and it wasn’t long before Lao French couple Tinay and Delphine, became a big name on Vientiane’s gourmet dining scene.

With comfy chairs, modern chic décor, a laid-back atmosphere and a warm welcome, even the most seasoned connoisseurs are sure to be impressed.

Accomplished Chef Tinay has worked his way up in the food world, working in every kitchen job imaginable over 14 years in France, making him the imaginative and creative chef he is today.

ບັນດາລາຍການອາຫານທີ່ທ່ານຕິໄນ່ປຸງແຕ່ງຍັງເປັນຈຸດດຶງດູດທີ່ ສຳຄັນຂອງຮ້ານມີບໍລິການດ້ານອາຫານຫຼາກຫຼາຍຢ່າງ, ລົດຊາດທີ່ ເປັນເລີດ ແລະ ຄວາມຫຼູຫຼາທີ່ການເສີບ. ລາຍການອາຫານປະກອບ ດ້ວຍຫຼາກຫຼາຍລົດຊາດທີ່ມີລະດັບ ໂດຍມີການເນັ້ນໃສ່ອາຫານ ພື້ນບ້ານຂອງຊາວຝຣັ່ງ ເຊັ່ນ: ອາຫານທີ່ເຮັດດ້ວຍເປັດທີ່ມີຊື່ສຽງ Confit Duck Cassoulet (ຄ້າຍຄືກັບອົບເປັດ) ລາຍການອາຫານຂອງພວກເຮົາສັ່ງເລີ່ມຈາກ ເນີຍແກະ ຫຼື ປິ້ງ ຫອຍ, ຕິດຕາມດ້ວຍ ລາຍການອາຫານປະເພດຊິ້ນ ຫຼື ປາ ທີ່ປຸງແຕ່ງ ໂດຍເນັ້ນໃສ່ຄວາມສົມບູນແບບ. ປະເພດຂອງຫວານກໍ່ຊວນໃຫ້ຫຼົງ ໄຫຼເຊັ່ນກັນ: ເຂົ້າໝົມຄີມວະນິລາ ຫຼື ເຂົ້າໝົມເຄັກຊອກໂກລາ. ນອກນີ້ ຍັງມີເຫຼົາແວງຊັ້ນຍອດໄວ້ໃຫ້ທ່ານເລືອກດຶ່ມ. ການບໍລິການ ແມ່ນມີການເອົາໃຈໃສ່ສູງ ແລະ ມີປະສິດທິພາບ. ເໜືອສິ່ງອື່ນໃດ ແລ້ວອາດເວົ້າໄດ້ວ່າ ຮ້ານອາຫານ ລາແດຣຊ ຕີໃນ ແມ່ນປະສົບການດ້ານການກິນ ອາຫານທີ່ຫາຈຸດຕຳນິໄດ້ຍາກ. ດ້ວຍລາຄາເຊັດອາຫານສວຍ 65,000 ກີບ ຫຼື ອາຫານຄ່ຳຕາມສັ່ງປະມານ 200,000 ກີບ, ຮ້ານອາຫານ ລາແດຣຊ ຕີໃນ ສະໜອງປະສົບການ ດ້ານການກິນອາຫານທີ່ຊວນໃຫ້ຫຼົງ ໄຫຼ ໃນບັນຍາກາດທີ່ຜ່ອນຄາຍ ແລະ ລາຄາສົມເຫດສົມຜົນ.

Despite the wonderful setting, the incredible flavours and supreme elegance of Tinay’s dishes are the main attraction.

The menu offers a range of graceful flavours and a refreshing take on traditional French dishes, such as their famous homemade Confit Duck Cassoulet.

Our fabulous gastronomy experience started with goats cheese rolls and snails on bruschette. Fish and meat was cooked to perfection with a signature home-made sauce.

Followed by a wonderfully rich vanilla crème brulee. And for chocolate-lovers, an unforgettable hot moelleux chocolate cake. The first class wine selection goes perfectly with dishes.

Attentive and efficient, the service supervised by Delphine is flawless.

With a set lunch for 65,000 Kip or an a la carte dinner menu for around 200,000 Kip, L’Adresse de Tinay offers a fantastic dining experience in a casual environment and at a reasonable price.

L’Adresse de Ti

nay Vat Ongteu (b ehind the tem ple) Parallel to Sett hathirath Road Phone : (00856 ) 20-56913434 www.ladresse detinay.com

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',47# - %5;-3.),!-# /47 /$7 /(8:+ 1*;2#;/&" 9%%,(-& 4,#6&04

Full Moon Restaurant: Dongnasok Village (near Donpasak traffic light) Tel: 021-520828, Mobile: 02055554341, 020 22225732

ENTERTAINMENT

ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງນອກຈາກຈັງຫວະອັນຮ້ອນແຮງ ຂອງການເຕັ້ນຊານຊາເພື່ອເຕີມເຕັມຄ່ຳ ຄືນຂອງທ່ານ. ທ່ານສາມາດມາຮ່ວມມ່ວນ ຊື່ນໄດ້ທີ່ບາມາຕີນີທຸກໆຄືນວັນພະຫັດ ແຕ່ເວລາ 9.00 ຫາ 10.00 ໂມງ ໂດຍທ່ານສາມາດຮຽນການເຕັ້ນຊານຊາ ຂັ້ນພື້ນຖານ ໃນວິທີທີ່ງ່າຍ ແລະ ໄດ້ຜົນໄວ.

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There is nothing like hot salsa rhythm to spice up your evening. So come and join in the fun at Martini Bar every Thursday evening from 9pm to 10pm, where you can learn the basics of Salsa in a way that is simple and effective.

ຄູສອນທີ່ມີອັດທະຍາໄສອັນເປັນເລີດສອນ​ເຕັ້ນດ້ວຍຈັງຫວະລີລາເຮັດ ໃຫ້ມ່ວນຊື່ນ ແລະ ງ່າຍໃນການຮຽນຮູ້ທຸກຂັ້ນຕອນ ແລະ ເພືອນຮ່ວມ ເຕັ້ນໃຫ່ມໆ. ສະນັ້ນທ່ານຈະສາມາດເຕັ້ນດ້ວຍຄວາມໝັ້ນໃຈ ແລະ ຕາມຈັ່ງຫວະໃນບັນຍາກາດທີ່ເ​ ຕັມໄ​ ປ​ດ້ວຍຄວາມເປັນມິດ ແລະ ພົບ ປະສັງສັນ. ຖ້າຫາກວ່າທ່ານບໍ່ເຄີຍເຕັ້ນມາກ່ອນ ກໍ່ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ: ທຸກລະດັບແມ່ນສາມາດຮຽນໄດ້. ຫຼັງຈາກ 10.00ໂມງ ບັນດານັກເຕັ້ນຮຽນໃໝ່ ແລະ ມີປະສົບການແລ້ວສາມາດເຕັ້ນຮ່ວມກັນໃນເວທີເຕັ້ນ ໃນງານລ້ຽງເຕັ້ນຊານຊາຕາມແບບສະເພາະຂອງຕົນ ເຊິ່ງເປັນໂອກາດທີ່ຈະທົດລອງປະຕິບັດສິ່ງທີ່ໄດ້ຮຽນ ມາ ແລະ ມ່ວນຊື່ນເຖີງທຽ່ງຄືນ. ມີເຄື່ອງດື່ມຄອກແທວແບບສ້າງສັນແລະປຸງແຕ່ງ ຕາມແບບລາຕິນທີ່ຫຼາກຫຼາຍເພື່ອສະໜອງຄ່ຽງ ຄູກັບຈັງຫວະຊານຊາ. ທ່ານສິລໍຊ້າເຮັດຫຍັງ, ມາຮ່ວມເຕັ້ນ, ດື່ມແລະພົບປະໝູ່ໃໝ່ກັບພວກເຮົາ.

ຄາ່ ບໍລິການ ານຊາ ສອນເຕັ້ນຊ 20,000 ກີບ ໜຶ່ງຊົ່ວໂມງ our The one h salsa class 00 Kip costs 20, 0

Martini Bar: Rue Nokeokoummane, Vientiane Facebook : Salsa Laos Group

The friendly down to earth instructors break down fancy moves into fun, easy to learn steps. So you will soon be dancing with confidence and style in a welcoming and social atmosphere. Don’t worry if you have never danced before: all levels are welcome.

From 10pm, new and experienced dancers can hit the dance floor for a freestyle salsa party- an opportunity to put into practice what you have learnt and have some fun.

There’s a range of creative, latin inspired cocktails to accompany the salsa rhythm. So get moving, have a drink and meet lots of new people.

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SHOPPING

ອານາ​ຄາ ຮ້ານ​ນ້ອຍ​ແຕ່ທ ​ ັນສ ​ ະ​ໄໝຕັ້ງຢ ​ ູ່​ໃຈ​ການ​ເມືອງ​ຫຼວງ​ພະ​ບາງ​ໃນ​ ເຮືອນ​ສອງ​ຊັ້ນສ ​ ະ​ໄໝ​ເມືອງ​ຂຶ້ນ ​ເລີ່​ມ​ເປີດບ ​ ໍລິການ​​ໃນ ເດືອນ​ກັນຍາ ປີ 2011 ​ເປັນຕ ​ ົ້ນມ ​ າ. ຮ້ານ​ເລີ່​ມ​ເປັນທ ​ ີ່​ຮັບ​ຮູ້​ຢ່າງ​ວ່ອງ​ໄວ​ເນື່ອງ​ຈາກ​ການ​ ສະໜອງ​ຜະລິດຕ ​ ະພັນເ​ ຄື່ອງນຸ່ງຫ ​ ົ່ມຄ ​ ຸນນະພາບສູງ ທີ່ຖືກອ ​ ອກ​ແບບຢ່າງ ທັນສ ​ ະ​ໄໝ ​ແລະ​ສວຍ​ສົດງ​ ົດງ​ າມ​. ນັກອ ​ ອກ​ແບບ​ທີ່​ມີນາ​ມວ່າ ​ເວ​ໂລ​ນິກ ​ໂກດ​ເຕີ​ໂລ-ປຣາ​ແວງ ​ໄດ້​ສ້າງສັນ ຜົນງານ​ເຄື່ອງນຸ່ງ​ ຮົ່ມ​ສຸພາບ​ສະຕີ ​ທີ່​ມລ ີ​ ະດັບ, ​ໂດຍ​ໄດ້​ຮັບ​ແຮງ​ບັນດານ​ໃຈ​ຈາກ​ລວດລາຍ​ແລະ​ວັດ​ສະດຸທ ​ ີ່​ ຫາ​ໄດ້​ໃນ​ທ້ອງ​ຖິ່ນ; ການ​ປະສົມປ ​ ະສານ​ທີ່​ລະອຽດ​ອ່ອນ​ຂອງ​ໄໝ​ຄຸນນ ​ ະພາ​ບສູງ, ລີເ​ ນັນ​ ແລະ​ຝ້າຍ. ບັນດາ​ຜະລິດຕ ​ ະພັນຕ ​ ່າງໆ​ທີ່ມຄ ີ​ ວາມ​ຫຼູຫຼາ​ເລົ່າ​ນີ້​ລ້ວນ​ແລ້ວ​ແຕ່ໄ​ ດ້​ຮັບ​ການ​ ສ້າງສັນໃ ​ ຫ້ສ ​ ຳ​ເລັດຢ ​ ່າງ​ມລ ີ​ ົດນ ​ ິຍົມໂດຍ​ ​​ ທ່ານ ສອງ ນັກອອກ​ແບບ​ຊາວ​ຫວຽດນາມ. ວິຖີ​ດັ້ງເ​ ດີມບ ​ ວກ​ກັບລົດນ ​ ິຍົມທ ​ ັນສ ​ ະ​ໄໝ​ສ້າງສັນກ ​ າຍ​ມາ​ເປັນຜ ​ ົນງານ​ການ​ອອກ​ແບບ​ ເຄື່ອງນຸ່ງຮ ​ ົ່ມທ ​ ີ່​ເຮັດ​ດ້ວຍ​ຜ້າລ ​ ີ​ເນັ້ນທ ​ ີ່​​ມີ​ເອກະລັກແ ​ ລະ​ທັນສ ​ ະ​ໄໝ. ນອກຈາກ​ນທ ີ້​ ່ານ​ ສາມາດ​ເລືອກ​ຊື້​ຜະລິດຕ ​ ະພັນອ ​ ື່ນໆ​ອີກຫຼ ​ າຍ​ຢ່າງ​ທີ່​ມລ ີ​ ັກສະນະ​ພິ​ເສດ​ເຊັ່ນ: ຜະລິດ​ ຕະພັນທ ​ ີ່​ໃຊ້ສ ​ ຳລັບຕ ​ ົກແ ​ ຕ່ງບ່ອນ​ນອນ​ທມ ີ່​ ລ ີ​ ະດັບ, ນ້ຳ​ຫ້ອມ​ທີ່​ໜ້າ​ສົນໃຈ, ນ້ຳມັນຫ ​ ອມ ​ພິ​ເສດ, ​ເຄື່ອງ​ປະດັບແ ​ ລະ​ເຄື່ອງຫັດຖະກຳ​ທ້ອງ​ຖິ່ນທ ​ ີ່​ເຮັດ​ດ້ວຍ​ມື. ຍາມ​ໃດ​ທີ່​ກ້າວ​ຂາ​ ເຂົ້າ​ຮ້ານ ອານາ​ຄາ ກໍ່ເ​ ຮັດ​ໃຫ້ຮ ​ ູ້ສຶກ​ມີ​​ແຕ່ຄວາມສຸກ​ ແລະ ​ຫຼົງໄ​ ຫຼ​ທີ່​ຫາ​ບ່ອນ​ປຽບ​ບໄໍ່​ ດ້. ຜະ​ລິດຕ ​ ະພັນໃ ​ ໝ່​ ຂອງ​ຮ້ານ ອານາ​ຄາ ທີ່ຈ ​ ະ​ວາງ​ຂາຍ​ໃນ​​ອະນາຄົດອ ​ ັນໃກ້ ​​ ປະກອບ​ ມີຜະລິດຕ ​ ະພັນເ​ ກີບຝ ​ ້າຍ​ລາວ ທີ່ທ ​ ຸກຄ ​ ົນລ ​ ໍຄອຍ​ດ້ວຍ​ຄວາມ​ຕື່ນເ​ ຕັ້ນ ​ແລະ ​ສາຍ​ຜະ​ລິດ​ ຕະພັນເ​ ຄື່ອງນຸ່ງຫ ​ ົ່ມໃ ​ ໝ່ຍ ​ ິ່ງໃ ​ ຫ່ຍກ່ວາ​ເດີມສ ​ ຳ​ລັບທ ​ ່ານ​ສຸພາບ​ບຸລຸດ.

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9, Rue Sakkarine, Ban Vat Sene, Luang Prabang anakhalao@gmail.com

Fabrics and Scents of Indochina O

pened in September 2011, Anakha is a sophisticated little shop in the heart of Luang Prabang. Housed in a two-story colonial house, it is rapidly making a name for itself with its range of high quality and beautifully designed fashion products.

Designer Veronique Cottereau-Pravin has created an elegant line of women’s clothing, inspired by local styles and materials; a subtle blend of high quality silk, linen and cotton. This luxury collection is tastefully completed by Vietnamese designer, Song.

Traditional style and elegance come together in a stylish, classic collection of linen designs. You can also discover an exceptional range of luxury bedding, as well as some interesting perfumes, essential oils, fashion accessories and handmade local crafts. Each and every visit to Anakha is filled with treasures and temptations of all kinds.

Coming soon to Anakha: an exciting collection of Lao cotton shoes and a great new clothing line for men.

Colonial Charm,Luxurious Elegance www.setthapalace.com

E-mail: reservations@setthapalace.com 6 Pang Kham Street, Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 21-217581/2 • Fax: (856) 21-217583 A Belmont International Hotel

MAKING TRACK

MAKING TRACK

Leaving the world

behind in Champasak

When I arrived at the River Laos Resort in Champasak Province, “...beauty, luxury, peace and pleasure”, a verse from Charles Baudelaire’s ‘Invitation to the Voyage’, immediately came to mind.

The setting of the resort is sublime, perched on the banks of the Mekong with amazing 180 degree views of the river, creating an atmosphere of total seclusion and serenity.

Here begins a perfect getaway in unspoiled surroundings, while enjoying top-of-theline luxury in harmony with mother nature and her kaleidoscope of colors and images.

You can’t help but feel deeply privileged staying in one of River Laos Resort’s well designed two-story villas with panoramic views over the river, nested in a dreamlike tropical garden. All rooms are tastefully decorated in a lovely contemporary Asian style. I really loved taking in the open air shower in the company of bird-song and fragrant frangipani.

There’s nothing quite like relaxing beside the infinity pool or just daydreaming in the comfortable lounge. But as well as a get-away for rest and relaxation, River Laos Resort is a great base for exploring Champasak Province- Wat Phou, the famous 4,000 islands and the refreshing cool, Bolaven Plateau. Excursions can be arrange by the resort. Staff can also provide kayaks or bicycles so you can discover the beautiful surroundings independently.

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ອີກມູມໜື່ງຂອງໂລກທີ່ແຂວງຈຳປາສັກ

ປ່ອຍວາງໂລກໄວ້ເບື້ອງຫຼັງໃນຈຳປາສັກພໍເມື່ອຂ້າພະເຈົ້າມາຮອດລີສອດ River Laos ໃນແຂວງຈຳປາສັກ, “…ຄວາມສວຍງາມ, ຫຼູຫຼາ, ສະຫງົບສຸກແລະຄວາມປະທັບໃຈ”, ກໍ່ເຮັດໃຫ້ຄິດເຖິງບົດກາວີຂອງ ທ່ານ ຊາກເລີ ໂບດເດີແລກ “ເຊີນເດີນທາງທ່ອງທ່ຽວ” ໂດຍທັນທີ. ຈຸດທີ່ຕັ້ງຂອງລີສອດແມ່ນເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍຄວາມສະຫງ່າງາມ, ເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າຕັ້ງເລື່ອມອອກໄປຫາແມ່ນນ້ຳຂອງຈົນເຮັດໃຫ້ສາມາດຊົມທິວ ທັດອັນໜ້າອັດສະຈັນໃຈຂອງແມ່ນ້ຳໄດ້ເຖິງ180ອົງສາ, ເຊິ່ງໄດ້ສ້າງບັນຍາກາດທີ່ເຕັມປ່ຽມໄປດ້ວຍຄວາມເປັນສ່ວນຕົວແລະງຽບສະຫງົບ. ນີ້ແມ່ນຈຸດເລີ່ມຕົ້ນຂອງການເດີນທາງທ່ອງທ່ຽວທີ່ສົມບູນແບບໃນສະພາບແວດລ້ອມທີ່ຍັງສົມບູນ, ທ່ານຈະສາມາດຊື່ນຊົມຄວາມ ຫຼູຫຼາສຸດຍອດທີ່ກົມກຽວກັບທຳມະຊາດອັນສົມບູບແບບທີ່ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍຫຼາກຫຼາຍສີສັນອັນເປັນຕາໜ້າອັດສະຈັນໃຈ. ແນ່ນອນທ່ານບໍ່ຕ້ອງໄດ້ເຮັດຫຍັງ ມີພຽງແຕ່ຮູ້ສຶກເປັນກຽດຢ່າງສູງສົ່ງ ໃນຂະນະທີ່ພັກເຊົາຢູ່ໃນ River Laos Resort ເຊິ່ງເປັນວິນລາສອງຊັ້ນຖືກອອກແບບຢ່າງດີເພື່ອໃຫ້ສາມາດຊົມ ທິວທັດທຳມະຊາດທີ່ແທ້ຈິງຂອງແມ່ນ້ຳ ແລະ ຫຸ້ມອ້ອມໄປດ້ວຍສວນພຶດພັນເຂດຮ້ອນ ອັນສວຍສົດງົດງາມ. ຫ້ອງນອນຖືກຕົກແຕ່ງຢ່າງມີລົດນິຍົມຕາມແບບອາຊີທີ່ທັນສະໄໜ ແລະ ສວຍງາມ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າປະທັບໃຈການອາບນ້ຳກາງແຈ້ງໄປພ້ອມກັບຟັງສຽງນົກຮ້ອງ ແລະ ຊົມດອກຈຳປາທີ່ພວມເບັ່ງບານ.

ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງທີ່ຈະປຽບໄດ້ເທົ່າກັບການພັກຜ່ອນຢູ່ຂ້າງສະລອຍນ້ຳທີ່ບໍ່ມີຈຸດສິ້ນສຸດ ຫຼື ວ່າອາດນັ່ງຫຼັບພ່ອນຄາຍໃນຫ້ອງຕ້ອນ ຮັບທີ່ມີແຕ່ຄວາມສະດວກສະບາຍ. ແຕ່ເຖິງຢ່າງໃດກໍ່ດີ, ນອກຈາກການເດີນທາງໄປພັກຜ່ອນແລະຜ່ອນຄາຍແລ້ວ, ລີສອດ River Laos Resort ຍັງສາມາດເປັນບ່ອນພັກເຊົາຊັ້ນຍອດສຳລັບການທ່ອງທ່ຽວໃນແຂວງຈຳປາສັກ, ວັດພູ, ສີ່ພັນດອນທີ່ ມີສື່ສຽງແລະເຂດພູພຽງບໍລະເວນທີ່ຍັນສົດຊື່ນ. ລີສອດສາມາດຈັດໃຫ້ບໍລິການຂີ່ເຮືອນຳທ່ຽວ. ນອກນີ້ພະນັກງານຍັງສາມາດ ສະໜອງເຮືອກາຍັກຫຼືລົດຖີບເພື່ອໃຫ້ທ່ານທ່ຽວຊົມທຳມະຊາດໃກ້ຄຽງໄດ້ດ້ວຍຕົວທ່ານເອງ.

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“ ຕາເວັນຂຶ້ນຟາກຟ້າ ປະກາຍແສງທົ່ວທ້ອງທົ່ງ ປົກຫຸ້ມດ້ວຍດອກໄມ້ ແລະ ພຶດພັນສຸກເຫຼືອງທອງ ຊວນໃຫ້ຜ່ອນຄາຍໃນຍາມ ແສງຕາເວັນຮ້ອນອົບເອົ້າ” ບົດກາວີຂອງທ່ານ ຊາກເລີ ໂບດເດີແລກ “ເຊີນເດີນທາງທ່ອງທ່ຽວ”

ໃນຕອນຄ່ຳ, ສິ່ງມະຫັດສະຈັນຍັງດຳເນີນຕໍ່ໄປໂດຍການເດີນທາງໄປດອນເຕົ້າ ເຊິ່ງເປັນສະ ຖານທີ່ໆທ່ານສາມາດມ່ວນຊື່ນໄປກັບງານລ້ຽງໃນຂະນະທີແສງໄຟອັນເຈີດຈະຫຼັດເລີ່ມສາດ ສ່ອງຕາມແຄມຝັ່ງແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງ. ມັນຊ່າງເປັນພາບທີ່ໜ້າອັດສະຈັນໃຈແທ້. ຮ້ານອາຫານໃນລີສອດກໍ່ສະໜອງລາຍການອາຫານທີ່ຊວນໃຫ້ຫຼົງໄຫຼເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍອາຫານ ອັນແຊບຊ້ອຍ. ລາຍການອາຫານແຊບແນະນຳລ້ວນແລ້ວແຕ່ແມ່ນອາຫານທ້ອງຖີ່ນປຸງແຕ່ງ ໂດຍພໍ່ຄົວ ເດວິດ ໂດຍນຳໃຊ້ເຄື່ອງປຸງຈາກທ້ອງຖິ່ນໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນຈາກສວນອີນຊີ ຂອງລາວເອງ. ພວກເຮົາປະທັບໃຈປາປິ້ງແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງເປັນໂຕ ຫຼືເອີ້ນງ່າຍໆ ວ່າປາປິ້ງໝາກ ນາວ ບໍລກ ິ ານໃນສະຖານທີ່ອນ ັ ງຽບສະຫງົບທ່າມກາງທ້ອງຟ້າສີຄາມໃນຍາມຕາເວັນຄ້ອຍຄ່ຳ.

In the evening, the magic continues with organised trips to Turtle Island, where you can enjoy a cocktail as a brilliant array of lights spring to life along the Mekong.

The in-house restaurant offers an enchanting menu of gourmet delights. Delicious takes on local dishes are prepared

by Australian chef David using local ingredients from his own organic garden. We loved the grilled whole Mekong fish in lime juice, served in a peaceful setting and accompanied by a soft light of twilight blue.

“The setting suns Adorn the fields...

With hyacinth and gold; The world falls asleep In a warm glow of light.”

Charles Baudelaire, ‘Invitation to the Voyage’ (L’invitation au Voyage)

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www. theriverresortlaos.com

ພິເສດ

‘’ຂໍຂອບໃຈ ບໍລິສັດ ຢູໂຣບຄາ ທີ່ໄດ້ພາພວກເຮົາໄປຮອດ ດ້ວຍຄວາມປອດໄພ ແລະ ການບໍລິການທີ່ເປັນກັນເອງ”

Special thanks to Europcar for getting us there safely

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Save 10% on your vehicle rental upon presentation of your boarding pass* Visit our station and discover the inner beauty of Laos by car.

Asia Vehicle Rental Co,Ltd (Europcar Laos) Samsenthai Road, Vientiane Lao PDR Tel: 021 223 867, Email: avr@loxinfo.co.th

*Offer limited to 15 days after boarder pass departure date

Lao Airlines News

Lao Airlines Goes Green

ການບິນລາວຈັດກິດຈະກຳສຳຄັນທີ່ຫຼວງພຣະບາງ ໂດຍໄດ້ຮັບການສະໜັບສະໜູນຈາກບໍລິສັດ ຜູ້ຜະລິດເຮືອບິນ Airbus, ATR, ບໍລິສັດ CIT

ລາວ ແລະ ບໍລິສັດ PT Air Cargo ຈາກປະເທດໄທ. ເມື່ອຕົ້ນເດືອນມິຖຸນາຜ່ານມາ ບໍລິສັດການ

ບິນລາວໄດ້ຈັດຕັ້ງພິທີປູກຕົ້ນໄມ້ເນື່ອງໃນໂອກາດວັນປູກຕົ້ນໄມ້ແຫ່ງຊາດ ວັນທີ 1 ເດືອນ 6 ແລະ

ທຳການແຂ່ງຂັນກິລາກອຟ ມິດຕະພາບຂຶ້ນທີ່ສະໜາມກອຟແຂວງຫຼວງພຣະບາງ ເພື່ອຊິງຂັນ

ພະນະທ່ານ ຮອງນາຍົກລັດຖະມົນຕີ ສົມສະຫວາດ ເລັ່ງສະຫວັດ ແລະ ເພື່ອຊົມເຊີຍຜົນສຳເລັດໃນ

ການຈັດຊື້ເຮືອບິນ A320 ແລະ ການເຊັນສັນຍາຈັດຊື້ເຮືອບິນ ATR 72 – 600 ໃໝ່ຈຳນວນ 2 ລຳ.

ຕາມຂ່າວໃຫ້ຮູ້ວ່າ ເຮືອບິນລໍາທໍາອິດຈະສົ່ງມອບໃນທ້າຍປີ 2012 ນີ້ ສ່ວນອີກ ລໍາທີ 2 ຈະທໍາການ

ມອບໃນກາງປີຕໍ່ໄປ. ພ້ອມດຽວກັນ ໂດຍຖືເອົາໂອກາດແຫ່ງລືກງາມຍາມດີດັ່ງກ່າວ ບໍລິສັດຍັງໄດ້ມີ ການແນະນຳກິດຈະການໃໝ່ ‘’ໂຮງແຮມ ເມືອງທອງ’’ ໂຮງແຮມໃນເຄືອຂອງບໍລິສັດການບິນລາວ ເຊິ່ງໄດ້ທຳການບໍລິການມາໄລຍະໜຶ່ງແລ້ວ ແລະ ກຽມພ້ອມໃນການຕ້ອນຮັບ ແຂກຄົນທີ່ໄປທ່ຽວ ແຂວງຫຼວງພຣະບາງ ດ້ວຍການຈອງປີ້ ແລະ ສາມາດແຈ້ງປີ້ເດີນທາງໄດ້ກັບໂຮງແຮມເລີຍ.

In June this year, a tree planting day supported by companies producing Airbus and ATR aircrafts, CIT Lao and Thai PT Air Cargo Co to mark the National Arbor Day in Luang Prabang Province.

A Golf Tournament hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Somsavath Lengsavath’s was also held to celebrate the acquisition of the Airbus 320 series aircraft and two ATR 72-600 aircraft.

The first aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2012, followed by a further two next year, according to Lao Airlines officials.

The all-new Lao Airlines Hotel Lao Airlines took the opportunity to introduce its latest ventures in hospitality with the official opening of the Muangthong Hotel in Luang Prabang. The new business will expand Lao Airline’s operations by providing full travel packages for tourists visiting Luang Prabang, as well as offering the facility to check-in for any Lao airlines flight from inside the hotel.

Laos and Singapore say the future is bright thanks to strong business cooperation Lao Airlines will increase the number of flights on its Vientiane-Singapore route next year, from three to four times a week, in a bid to provide a better service between Laos and Singapore.

Vice President of Lao Airlines Mr Sengpaseuth Mathouchanh told that a meeting between Lao Airlines officials, senior staff at Singapore’s Changi Airport and tour operators in Vientiane had been held to reinforce the already strong business cooperation between the two countries.

“We have shared crucial information on the major tourist destinations in each country” said Mr. Sengpaseuth.

“We discussed places of interest for visitors to Vientiane, especially historic sites that are major attractions for visitors, such as That Luang, Patouxay and Vat Sisaket”.

The Vice President also added that Singaporean authorities had made it easier than ever for Lao Airlines aircraft to land at Changi Airport.

During their visit to Laos, the staff of Singapore’s Changi Airport and local tour operators went to Luang Prabang to explore Laos’ first UNESCO World Heritage Site, rich in natural beauty, ancient temples, Lao traditions and culture.

“Through this meeting we have a great opportunity to spread the word about our country, by providing information to tour operators who, in turn, will pass it on to potential visitors so that they can get to know more about Laos,” Mr Sengpaseuth added.

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In January, Changi Airport handled over 6,300 scheduled flights each week. More than 100 airlines now connect Singapore to 210 cities in 60 countries around the world, including all nine of its Asean neighbors.

ມອບໃບຮັບຮອງຄຸນນະພາບຕາມມາດຕາຖານ ສາກົນ ISO ແກ່ການບິນລາວ ເພື່ອຫັນເປັນມາດຖານສາກົນທາງດ້ານບໍລິການ ISO ແລະ ຄວາມປອດໄພ ການປະຕິບັດການບິນ IOSA, ນັບແຕ່ປີ 2006 ເປັນຕົ້ນມາ ລັດວິສາຫະກິດ ການບິນລາວໄດ້ວາງແຜນປັບປຸງໂຄງສ້າງຢ່າງຮອບດ້ານ

ໂດຍເລິ່ມຫັນເປັນມາດຖານສາກົນເທື່ອລະກ້າວທາງດ້ານ ຂາຍປີ້ - ຈອງບ່ອນດ້ວຍການຝຶກອົບຮົມກໍ່ສ້າງ

ບຸກຄະລາກອນລະດັບຕ່າງໆໃຫ້ມີຄວາມຮູ້ຄວາມສາມາດ ເພື່ອຮອງຮັບວຽກງານດັ່ງກ່າວສະເພາະຢ່າງຍິ່ງ

ເປັນການບຸກທະລຸດ້ານຈິນຕະນາການ ແລະ ແບບແຜນວິທີເຮັດວຽກແບບເກົ່າ ມາສູ່ລະບົບມາດຖານສາກົນ ໂດຍຕັ້ງຄຳຂວັນໄວ້ວ່າ: ‘’ ບໍລິການດ້ວຍຄຸນນະພາບ, ມາດຖານສາກົນ, ລູກຄ້່າເພິ່ງພໍໃຈ ແລະ ພັດທະນາ ຢ່າງຕໍ່ເນື່ອງ ‘’.

ຜ່ານຂັ້ນຕອນການດຳເນີນງານຢ່າງຕໍ່ເນື່ອງ ແລະ ມີການກວດກາຢ່າງເຂັ້ມຂຸ້ນຕາມມາດຕະຖານສາ ກົນ ISO 9001:2008 ຈາກອົງການ ISO ທີ່ປະເທດອັງກິດ ( UKAS ) ແລະ ການປະເມີນຜົນຈາກ

ບໍລິສັດ SGS ແຫ່ງປະເທດໄທ ລະບົບການບໍລິການຂາຍປີ້ ແລະ ຈອງບ່ອນຕາມມາດຖານສາກົນໃຫ້

ແກ່ລັດວິສາຫະກິດການບິນລາວ ເຊິ່ງເປັນກຽດສັກສີ ຄວາມມຸ່ງຫວັງຕັ້ງໜ້າຂອງຄະນະນຳຕະຫຼອດເຖິງ ພະນັກງານທຸກຄົນຕໍ່ການພັດທະນາໃນບໍລິສັດດັ່ງກ່າວໄປຂ້າງໜ້າຢ່າງບໍ່ຢຸດຢັ້ງ. ໃນການມອບຮັບໃບ ຢັ້ງຢືນ ມາດຕະຖານສາກົນ ISO 9001:2008 ນີ້ ໄດ້ມີທ່ານ ສົມມາດ ພົນເສນາລັດຖະມົນຕີວ່າການ

ກະຊວງໂຍທາທິການ ແລະ ຂົນສົ່ງ, ທ່ານ ມົນຕີຕັ້ງເຕີມ ສິລິກຸນ ຕາງໜ້າບໍລິສັດ SGS , ທ່ານ ສົມພອນ

ດວງດາລາ ອໍານວຍການໃຫ່ຍບໍລສ ິ ດ ັ ການບິນລາວ ແລະ ແຂກຜູມ ້ ກ ີ ຽດທີ່ມສ ີ ວ ່ ນກ່ຽວຂ້ອງຈຳນວນໜຶ່ງເຂົ້າຮ່ວມ.

Lao Airlines receives ISO certification Following an inspection from the Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS), Lao Airlines has received International Organization for Standardization Certification (ISO 9001:2008) for ticket sales and booking services from the United Kingdom’s Accreditation Service (UKAS).

The board and management of Lao Airlines have always been committed to operating air services that provide the highest standards of service. Consequently, the airline has been working towards ISO certification for ticket sales and booking since 2006, including full reform aimed at bringing the company in line with international standards through the modernisation of online booking and ticketing, as well as enhanced training for staff at all levels. This is designed to ensure far-reaching policy that will allows to fulfil its objectives: “Quality service, international standards, loyal customers and continued development.”

Delegates from Lao Airlines say that the ISO 9001:2008 reflects the real pride and inspiration that exists throughout the airline and that it represents a key step towards the company’s continued advancement.

The ISO 9001:2008 award ceremony was attended by H.E. Mr Sommad Pholsena, Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mr Montrytang Teumsirikoun, SGS Representative and Mr Somphone Duangdara, General Director of Lao Airlines and many others.

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ການເດີນທາງມາດຕະຖານລະດັບ ໂລກສຳຄັນແກ່ການທ່ອງທ່ຽວລາວ ເດຶອນເມສາຜ່ານມາ, ທ່ານ ສົມພອນ ດວງດາລາ ປະທານບໍລິສັດ ການບິນລາວໄດ້ເຊີນ ທ່ານ ວິທະຍາ ເພັດຊົມພູ ແລະ ທ່ານ ວັນປະກາຍ ສາຍທອງ ຜູ້ອຳນວຍການຮ່ວມບໍລິສັດ “Laos Mood Travel” ໄປຫ້ອງການໃຫ່ຍບໍລິສັດການບິນລາວທີ່ນະຄອນຫຼວງ ວຽງຈັນ ເພື່ອມອບຮັບໃບຍ້ອງຍໍການປະຕິບັດງານດີ ເດັ່ນ ເນື່ອງ ຈາກເປັນບໍລິສັດບໍລິການທ່ອງທ່ຽວແຫ່ງທຳອິດທີ່ສາມາດເຊົ່າ ເໝົາລຳຖ້ຽວບິນໄປກັບບາງກອກ ຫຼວງພະບາງ ໂດຍນຳໃຊ້ເຮືອ ບິນລຳໃໝ່ ແອບັດ A320 ຂອງບໍລິສັດການບິນລາວ. ທ່ານ ປະທານໄດ້ກ່າວວ່າເພີ່ນມີຄວາມປະທັບໃຈຫຼາຍທີ່ບໍລິສັດ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວທີ່ມີສຳນັກງານໃນນະຄອນຫຼວງ ວຽງຈັນສາມາດເຊົ່າ ເໝົາລຳຖ້ຽວບິນບາງກອກຫຼວງພະບາງໄດ້.ທ່ານກ່າວຕື່ມວ່າ: “ໃນປີທ່ອງທ່ຽວລາວ ປີ2012ນີ້, ພວກເຮົາ ຮູ້ສຶກດີໃຈທີ່ບໍລິສັດ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວຄື Laos Mood Travel ສາມາດປະກອບສ່ວນຢ່າງຫ້າວ ຫັນ ໂດຍການສົ່ງເສີມ ໃຫ້ກຸ່ມນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວເດີນທາງມາລາວເຊິ່ງ ຈະເປັນສ່ວນໜຶ່ງໃນການຜັກດັນໃຫ້ລາວ ເປັນທີ່ຮັບຮູ້ໃນເວທີການ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວສາກົນ.” ຕາງໜ້າໃຫ້ບໍລິສັດທ່ອງທ່ຽວ Laos Mood Travel, ທ່ານ ສາຍ ທອງ ໄດ້ແຈ້ງໃຫ້ຊາບວ່າຫວ່າງບໍ່ດົນມານີ້ ບໍລິສັດຂອງເພີ່ນ ໄດ້ສະ ໜອງບໍລິການທ່ອງທ່ຽວໄປຫຼວງພະບາງແກ່ນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວຈຳນວນ 92ທ່ານເຊິ່ງເປັນ ພະນັກງານບໍລິສັດບໍ່ແຮ່ໃນຝຣັ່ງ ເຊິ່ງໃນນີ້ມີ12 ສັນຊາດ. ລາຍການທ່ອງທ່ຽວໃນຄັ້ງນີ້ປະກອບມີ 6ວັນ5ຄືນໂດຍ ເນັ້ນໃສ່ການທ່ອງທ່ຽວໃນຕົວເມືອງຫຼວງພະບາງແລະເຂດໃກ້ຄຽງ. ນອກນີ້ທ່ານຍັງໄດ້ເນັ້ນວ່າ ຄວາມມຸ້ງໝັ້ນຂອງບໍລິສັດການສະ ໜອງກິດຈະກຳເພື່ອເຮັດໃຫ້ເຂົາເຈົ້າເຂົ້າໃຈຢ່າງເລີກເຊິ່ງຕໍ່ກັບວິຖີ ຊີວິດ ແລະ ວັດທະນະທຳຂອງລາວ. ທ່ານ ເພັດຊົມພູ ໄດ້ກ່າວອີກຕື່ມວ່າ: “ພວກເຮົາໄດ້ກະກຽມວຽກ ເກືອບໜຶ່ງປີເພື່ອເຮັດໃຫ້ການທ່ອງທ່ຽວທີ່ໜ້າປະທັບໃຈນີ້ເກີດຂຶ້ນ ໄດ້. ສິ່ງທ້າທາຍໜຶ່ງທີ່ພວກເຮົາປະເຊີນໃນຫຼວງພະບາງກໍ່ຄືການ ເຮັດໃຫ້ນັກເດີນທາງເປັນກຸ່ມໃຫ່ຍຢູ່ຮ່ວມກັນເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າລູກຄ້າບໍ່ ຕ້ອງການທີ່ຈະແຍກກຸ່ມ, ສະນັ້ນດ້ວຍການປະສານງານແລະເຮັດ ວຽກຢ່າງໃກ້ຊິດກັບບໍລິສັດການບິນລາວ ພວກເຮົາສາມາດຈັດ ຖ້ຽວບິນເຊົ່າເໝົາລຳໄປກັບສະເພາະເຂົາເຈົ້າ. ລູກຄ້າຂອງພວກ ເຮົາຮູ້ສຶກປະທັບໃຈສຳລັບການບໍລິການມາດຕະຖານທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບຕະ ຫຼອດໄລຍະການບິນ ຮວມທັງການປະຕິບັດເວລາແລະຄຸນນະພາບ ໂດຍລວມຂອງເຮືອບິນລຳໃໝ່ແອບັດ A320s ຂອງບໍລິສັດການ ບິນລາວ. ພວກເຮົາຂໍສະແດງຄວາມຂອບໃຈມາຍັງບໍລິສັດການບິນ ລາວທີ່ໃຫ້ໂອກາດພວກເຮົາສ້າງຄວາມປະທັບໃຈໃຫ້ກັບລູກຄ້າ ທີ່ກັບໄປເອີຣົບດ້ວຍຄວາມຮູ້ສຶກປະທັບໃຈ ແລະ ພາບລັກທີ່ເປັນ ບວກຕໍ່ລາວ” ຜູ້ຕາງໜ້າບໍລິສັດການບິນລາວໄດ້ກ່າວສະຫຼຸບວ່າທາງບໍລິສັດມີ ເປົ້າໝາຍໃນການເປີດເສັ້ນທາງບິນໃໝ່ໃນພາກພື້ນ, ເພື່ອເປັນ ການປັບປຸງການເຊື່ອມຕໍ່ກັບຖ້ຽວບິນໄລຍະໄກໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນ ຖ້ຽວບິນຈາກເອີຣົບ, ອາຊີເໜືອ ແລະ ອົດສະຕາລີໂດຍຜ່ານບາງ ກອກ, ສິງກະໂປ ແລະ ຮາໂນຍ, ເຊິ່ງເປັນເສັ້ນທາງທີ່ສາຍການບິນ ຂອງພວກເຮົາໃຫ້ບໍລິການຢູ່ແລ້ວ.

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World-Class Air Travel Essential to Lao Tourism Say Award Winning Tour Operator On Wednesday 11th of April, Lao Airlines’ President, Mr. Somphone Souangdara invited co-directors of Laos Mood Travel, Mr. Vithaya Phetsoumphou and Mr. Vanhpakai Saythong to the airline’s head-quarters in Vientiane, where he awarded them a Certificate of Achievement for being “the first Lao tour company to charter a return flight to Bangkok from Luang Prabang, using their brand new Airbus A320 aircraft.

The President said he was pleased that a Vientiane-based tour company was able to secure return charter flights between Bangkok and Luang Prabang. “In this Visit Laos Year 2012, we are delighted that a tour company like Laos Mood Travel can actively promotes high profile group tours that will brings Laos into the spotlights within the international travel scene” he said.

On behalf of Laos Mood Travel, Mr. Saythong announced that the company had recently organised a trip to Luang Prabang for 92 visitors for a mining company based in France, with 12 nationalities represented.

The holiday consisted of 6 days and 5 nights exploring Luang Prabang and the surrounding area. He also stressed the companies commitment to offering guests activities that provide them with a deeper understanding of Lao life and culture.

Mr. Phetsoumphou added: “We have worked for almost a year to make this beautiful trip happen. One of the challenges we faced in Luang Prabang was getting such a large group there together. The client did not want to split the group, so working closely with Lao Airlines, we arranged return charter flights exclusively for them. Our clients were very impressed by the high standard of service they received during their flights, as well as the punctuality and overall quality of the airline’s brand new Airbus A320s. We are very thankful to Lao Airlines for giving us the opportunity to impress a demanding clientele, who returned to Europe with an extremely positive image of Laos”.

Representatives from Lao Airlines ended by announcing their intention to open up new routes in the region, improving connectivity with long haul flights, particularly from Europe, Northern Asia and Australia via Bangkok, Singapore and Hanoi, where the national carrier is already operating.

INTERNATIONAL ROUTE Please contact Lao Airlines office for confrimation FLT No

Day

Routing

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ບາງກອກ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV414 Daily VTE BKK QV415 247 VTE BKK QV415 1356 VTE BKK QV4571 Daily VTE BKK QV4575 Daily VTE BKK QV424 Daily BKK VTE QV425 247 BKK VTE QV425 1356 BKK VTE QV4570 Daily BKK VTE QV4574 Daily BKK VTE ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຮາ່ ໂນຍ ້ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV312 Daily VTE HAN QV920 Daily VTE HAN QV322 Daily HAN VTE QV921 Daily HAN VTE ວຽງຈ ັນ - ພະນ ົມເປັນ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV921 Daily VTE PNH QV920 Daily PNH VTE ວຽງຈ ັນ - ສຽມຣຽບ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV512 Daily VTE REP QV522 Daily REP VTE ວຽງຈ ັນ - ສິງກະໂປ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV535 247 VTE SIN QV545 247 SIN VTE ວຽງຈ ັນ - ໂຮຈ ິ ນ ິ - ວຽງຈ ັນ ່ ມ QV515 1356 VTE SGN QV525 1356 SGN VTE ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຄຸນມິງ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV817 Daily VTE KMG QV827 Daily KMG VTE ຫລວງພະບາງ - ຊຽງໃໝ່ - ຫລວງພະບາງ QV635 Daily LPQ CNX QV645 Daily CNX LPQ ຫລວງພະບາງ - ຈິ່ ງຫ ົງ - ຫລວງພະບາງ QV818 247 LPQ JHG QV828 247 JHG LPQ ຫລວງພະບາງ - ບາງກອກ - ຫລວງພະບາງ QV633 Daily LPQ BKK QV643 Daily BKK LPQ ຫລວງພະບາງ - ສຽມຣຽບ - ຫລວງພະບາງ QV513 1356 LPQ REP QV513 247 LPQ REP QV931 Daily LPQ REP QV523 1356 REP LPQ QV523 247 REP LPQ QV930 Daily REP LPQ ຫລວງພະບາງ - ຮາ່ ໂນຍ ້ - ຫລວງພະບາງ QV930 Daily LPQ HAN QV343 247 LPQ HAN QV313 Daily LPQ HAN QV931 Daily HAN LPQ QV353 247 HAN LPQ QV323 Daily HAN LPQ ປາກເຊ - ສຽມຣຽບ - ປາກເຊ QV512 Daily PKZ REP QV513 1356 PKZ REP QV513 247 PKZ REP QV522 DaIly REP PKZ QV523 1356 REP PKZ QV523 247 REP PKZ ສະຫວ ັນນະເຂດ - ສຽມຣຽບ - ສະຫວ ັນນະເຂດ QV213 Daily ZVK BKK QV223 Daily BKK ZVK ປາກເຊ - ໂຮຈ ິ ນ ິ - ປາກເຊ ່ ມ QV515 1356 PKZ SGN QV525 1356 SGN PKZ ປາກເຊ - ບາງກອກ - ປາກເຊ QV213 Daily PKZ BKK QV223 Daily BKK PKZ

56

Dep

Arr

AC

STP

VIENTIANE - BANGKOK - VIENTIANE 07:30 08:35 320 0 16:15 17:50 AT7 0 16:40 17:50 320 0 13:50 14:55 734 0 21:50 22:55 734 0 09:35 10:45 320 0 18:55 20:40 AT7 0 18:55 20:05 320 0 11:45 12:55 734 0 19:55 21:05 734 0 VIENTIANE - HANOI - VIENTIANE 15:15 16:25 320 0 19:35 20:35 320 0 17:25 18:35 320 0 09:40 10:45 320 0 VIENTIANE - PHNOMPENH - VIENTIANE 11:30 13:00 320 0 17:30 18:50 320 0 VIENTIANE - SIEMREAP - VIENTIANE 06:30 09:25 AT7 PKZ 10:05 13:00 AT7 PKZ VIENTIANE - SINGAPORE - VIENTIANE 15:40 19:40 320 0 20:40 22:40 320 0 VIENTIANE - HOCHIMINH - VIENTIANE 07:45 11:15 AT7 PKZ 12:15 15:50 AT7 PKZ VIENTIANE - KUNMING - VIENTIANE 07:20 09:50 320 0 10:50 11:20 320 0 LUANG PRABANG - CHIENG MAI - LUANG PRABANG 13:10 14:10 AT7 0 15:05 16:05 AT7 0 LUANG PRABANG - JINGHONG - LUANG PRABANG 11:20 12:20 AT7 0 13:00 14:00 AT7 0 LUANG PRABANG - BANGKOK - LUANG PRABANG 07:30 09:10 AT7 0 10:20 12:00 AT7 0 LUANG PRABANG - SIEMREAP - LUANG PRABANG 10:55 14:20 AT7 PKZ 10:55 14:20 MA6 PKZ 10:20 11:40 F70 0 15:00 18:10 AT7 PKZ 15:00 18:10 MA6 PKZ 12:20 13:40 F70 0 LUANG PRABANG - HANOI - LUANG PRABANG 14:25 15:15 F70 0 14:40 15:40 AT7 0 17:10 18:10 AT7 0 08:35 09:35 F70 0 16:20 17:20 AT7 0 18:50 19:50 AT7 0 PAKSE - SIEMREAP - PAKSE 08:25 09:25 AT7 0 13:20 14:20 AT7 0 13:20 14:20 MA6 0 10:05 11:05 AT7 0 15:00 16:00 AT7 0 15:00 16:00 MA6 0 SAVANNAKHET - BANGKOK - SAVANNAKHET 10:30 12:00 MA6 0 13:05 14:35 MA6 0 PAKSE - HOCHIMINH - PAKSE 09:40 11:15 AT7 0 12:15 13:50 AT7 0 PAKSE - BANGKOK - PAKSE 09:25 12:00 MA6 ZVK 13:05 15:35 MA6 ZVK

DOMESTIC ROUTE Please contact Lao Airlines office for confrimation FLT No

Days

Routing

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຫລວງພະບາງ - ວຽງຈ ັນ

QV111 QV109 QV101 QV103 QV112 QV102 QV104 QV110

Daily 247 Daily Daily Daily Daily Daily 247

VTE LPQ VTE LPQ VTE LPQ VTE LPQ LPQ VTE LPQ VTE LPQ VTE LPQ VTE

QV513 QV513 QV523 QV523

1356 247 1356 247

LPQ PKZ LPQ PKZ PKZ LPQ PKZ LPQ

QV501 QV502

246 246

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ປາກເຊ - ຫລວງພະບາງ

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ອຸດ ົມໄຊ - ວຽງຈ ັນ

VTE ODY ODY VTE ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຫວ ້ ຍຊາຍ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV901 1356 VTE HOE QV902 1356 HOE VTE

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຫລວງນຳ້ ທາ - ວຽງຈ ັນ

QV601 QV602

135 135

VTE LXG LXG VTE

QV401 QV401 QV402 QV402

247 1356 247 1356

VTE XKH VTE XKH XKH VTE XKH VTE

QV512 QV515 QV201 QV522 QV525 QV202

Daily 1356 Daily Daily 1356 Daily

VTE PKZ VTE PKZ VTE PKZ PKZ VTE PKZ VTE PKZ VTE

QV201 QV202

Daily Daily

VTE ZVK ZVK VTE

QV201 QV202

Daily Daily

PKZ ZVK ZVK PKZ

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຊຽງຂວາງ - ວຽງຈ ັນ

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ປາກເຊ - ວຽງຈ ັນ

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ສະຫວ ັນນະເຂດ - ວຽງຈ ັນ

ປາກເຊ - ສະຫວ ັນນະເຂດ - ປາກເຊ

Remarks: All times are local times

1: Monday

2: Tuesday

3: Wednesday

4: Thursday

5: Friday

6: Saturday

7: Sunday

Dep

Arr

Ac

STP

VIENTIANE - LUANGPRABANG - VIENTIANE 09:15 10:10 AT7 0 09:30 10:25 MA6 0 11:45 12:30 320 0 16:30 17:25 AT7 0 07:50 08:45 AT7 0 13:30 14:15 320 0 17:55 18:50 AT7 0 18:40 19:35 MA6 0 LUANGPRABANG - PAKSE - LUANGPRABANG 10:55 12:35 AT7 0 10:55 12:35 MA6 0 16:30 18:10 AT7 0 16:30 18:10 MA6 0 VIENTIANE -OUDOMXAY - VIENTIANE 10:30 11:20 MA6 0 12:00 12:50 MA6 0 VIENTIANE- HOUEISAY - VIENTIANE 11:00 11:55 MA6 0 12:35 13:30 MA6 0 VIENTIANE - LUANGNAMTHA-VIENTIANE 14:00 15:00 MA6 0 15:30 16:30 MA6 0 VIENTIANE - XIENGKHUANG-VIENTIANE 13:40 14:10 AT7 0 13:40 14:10 MA6 0 14:40 15:10 AT7 0 14:40 15:10 MA6 0 VIENTIANE- PAKSE - VIENTIANE 06:30 07:45 AT7 0 07:45 09:00 AT7 0 07:40 08:55 MA6 0 11:45 13:00 AT7 0 14:30 15:45 AT7 0 16:05 17:20 MA6 0 VIENTIANE - SAVANNAKHET-VIENTIANE 07:40 09:55 MA6 PKZ 15:07 17:20 MA6 PKZ PAKSE - SAVANNAKHET - PAKSE 09:25 9:55 MA6 0 15:05 15:35 MA6 0

* QV4570/ QV4571/ QV4574/ QV4575 Operated by THAI AIRWAYS * QV920/ QV921/ QV930/ QV931 Operated by VIETNAM AIRLINES 02 Pangkham Rd, P.O. Box 6441 Vientiane , Lao P.D.R For more information please contact Lao Airlines Tel: +856 21 212016, 212051-54 Fax: +856 21 212056, 212058

www.laoairlines.com 57

LAO AIRLINES OFFICES

Vientiane (Head Office)

02 Pangkham Street, P.O. Box 6441 Tel: (856-21) 212057, Fax : ( 856-21) 212065 Ticket & Reservation

Tel: ( 856-21 ) 212051-54, Fax : (856-21) 212056 Email: reservation@laoairlines.com ticketing@laoairlines.com Tour Dept (Champa holidays)

Tel : (856-21) 219932, Fax : (856-21) 212058 Email : info@laoairlines.com, tour@laoairlines.com

Wattay Airport Office

Tel: (856-21) 512028 ( International Airport ) Tel: (856-21) 512 000, 512 004 ( Domestic Airport ) Branch offices (Domestic)

Branch offices (Abroad)

Luangprabang (Lpq) Town Office Tel: (856-71) 212172 Fax: (856-71) 212406 Email: lpq@laoairlines.com Airport Office Tel: (856-71) 212173 Fax: (856-71) 252264 Email: lpqairport@laoairlines.com

THAILAND Bangkok - (Town office) 491/17 ground Fl, Silom plaza Silom road, Bangkok 10500 Tel: (66-2) 236 9822, 2369823,

237 8044 Fax: (66-2) 236 9821 Email: bkkrrqv@ksc.th.com SITA: BKKRRQV

Xiengkhuang (Xkh) Tel: (856-61) 312027 Fax: (856-61) 312487 Email: xiengkhouang@laoairlines.com Tel: (856-61) 312177 (Airport)

Bangkok - (Airport office) 3RD Floor Room No. T3-072C, Passenger building Suvarnabhumi Airport Tel: (662) 134 2006 to 2008 Fax: (662) 134 2009 Booth (or Counter service) No. 7/10 (Opposite of Check-in row “R”) Tel: (662) 134 2010 Fax: (662) 134 2011

Luangnamtha (Lxg) Tel: (856-86) 212072 FaX: (856-86) 212073 Email: lxg@laoairlines.com Tel: (856-86) 312180, 312053

(Airport) Oudomxay (Ody) Tel: (856-81) 312047, 312146 Fax: (856-81) 212229 Email: ody@laoairlines.com Houeisay (Hoe) Tel: (856-84) 211026 Fax: (856-84) 211471 Email: hoe@laoairlines.com Tel: (856-84) 211494 (Airport) Savannakhet (Zvk) Tel: (856-41) 212140, Fax: (856-41) 251060 Email : zvk@laoairlines.com Pakse (Pkz) Tel: (856-31) 212252 Fax (856-31) 212751 Email: pkz@laoairlines.com Airport Tel: (856-31) 251921, Fax: (856-31) 410130 E-mail: pkzspl@laoairlines.com

pkzapqv@laoairlines.com

Chiangmai 2/107 Rajchapuak, Huaykew Road Amper muang Chaiangmai 50300 Tel: (66-53) 223 401 Fax: (66-53) 223 400 Email: qvcnx@loxinfo.co.th SITA: CNXRRQ CARGO c/o P.T. Air Cargo Co.,Ltd. 294/46 Romklao Road Kwang Klong Sam Pravej, Latkrabang, BANGKOK 10520 Tel: +(66)2 184 9600(AUTO) Fax: +(66)2 184 9607-8 Email: info@ptcargo.com

CAMBODIA Phnompenh 111 sihanouk st, no274, Phnompenh CAMBODIA Tel: (855-23) 222956, Tel/Fax: (855-23) 216 563 Email: pnhqv@laoairlines.com SITA: PNHRRQV Siem Reap 114 Sala Khanseng Village, road no 6 Svay Dongkhom Commune, Siem Reap District, Siem Reap Province Tel: (855-63) 963283 Fax: (855-63) 965160 Email: qvrep@laoairlines.com VIETNAM Hanoi 03 Lieu Giai Road, Badinh District, Hanoi Capital, Vietnam.

Tel: (84-4)3942 5362 Fax: (84-4)3942 5363 Email: laoairlines.han@fpt.vn SITA: HANTOQV Hochiminh City 11A Songda Street, Ward 2, Tan Binh Dist, Hochiminh City, Vietnam tel: 84-8 3547 4033 fax: 84-8 3547 4032 email: qvsgn@laoairlines.com CHINA Kunming N.96 East Dong Feng Road Camellia Hotel , Kunming, Yunnan, China 650041 Tel: (86 871) 3163000 ext 5166 Tel/Fax: (86 871) 312 5748 Email: kunming@laoairlines.com Jinghong 1st floor Kingland Hotel, 6Jingde Rd, Jinghong, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China Tel/Fax: (86) 691 2199 Email: qvjhg@laoairlines.com

SINGAPORE Airport office New House 60, Airport Boulevard Unit B16-011 Changi Airport Terminal2 Singapore 819643 Tel: (+65) 6214 8829, Fax: (+65) 6214 8816 Email: sitthideth@laoairlines.com Town office c/o GSA-Maple Aviation Pte Ltd 133 NewBridge Road #14-07 Chinatown Point Singapore 059413 Tel: (+65) 6538 2192 , Fax: (+65) 6535 9901

GSA/SALES AGENT UNITED KINGDOM (UK) Lao Airlines GSA Axis House, 242 Bath Road Heathrow Middlesex UB3 5AY United Kingdom Tel : +44(0)844 482 2318 Fax : +44(0)844 482 1668 E-mail: laoairlines@apg-ga.co.uk FRANCE Lao Airlines c/o APG 66 avenue des Champs Elysées-75008 Paris Tel: (33) 1 53 77 13 13 Fax: (33) 1 53 77 13 05 E-mail: laoairlines@apg.fr SPAIN Gran Via Corts Catalanes 617 08009 BARCELONA Tel: (34) 933188443 Fax: (34) 934813833 E-mail: laoairlines@bcnair.com SWEDEN Lao Airlines Europe Box 22308 Kungsholmsgatan 10 104 22 Stockholm, Sweden Tel: (46) 8 545 91 668 Fax: (46) 8 612 05 92 E-mail: sales.europe@lao-airlines.com GERMANY Lao Airlines Leonhardstraße 22, 61169 Friedberg Tel: (49) 6031 737630 Fax: (49) 6031 725081 E-mail: laoairlines@gpgermany.com ISRAEL Euromart 29 Ben Yehuda ST, Tel Aviv Israel P.O.Box - 3254 Tel Aviv Israel, Tel: (972)-3-7952127, 5279256 Fax: 972-3-6005919 E-mail: euromart@netvision.net.il SITA: TLVGANZ

JAPAN ATB., Ltd 6F Wanami Bldg, 1-4-5 Nihombashi Kayaba-Cho, Chuo-Ku, Tokyo, Japan 105-0025 Tel: (81-3) 5623 3858 Fax: (81-3) 5623 3859 E-mail: qv@lao-airlines.jp

res@laoairlines.jp KOREA C/O Global Air System Rm 902, Kwang Hwa Mun Bldg, 211, Sejongro, Chongro-Gu, seoul, Korea Tel: (822) 3708 8561 Fax: (822) 3708 8569 E-mail : kashar@globalair21.com MALAYSIA C/O Maple Aviation Pte, Ltd CP57 Suite 1705 17th floor Central Plaza Jalan Sultan Ismail 50250 Kuala Lumpur Tel: (60) 321443101 / 3077 Fax: (60) 321429392 E-mail: maple_kl@tm.net.my SITA: KULTOOA TAIWAN Taiwan Orchid Express Inc 11F, No25, Chang An E Rd, Sec 1, Taipei, Taiwan Tel: (886)-2 25682121 Fax: (886)-2 2521-3991 E-mail: info@toe.com.tw

USA (SALES AGENT) Good Luck Tour And Travel 2021 The Alanmeda Suit 199 San Jose CA 95126 Tel: 408-243 7628 Fax: 408-243 8168 Email: nancy@goodlucktour.com EXCEL TRAVEL 4885E, Kings canyon, Fresno CA 93727, USA Tel: (559) 455 19159 Fex: (559) 455 1965 Email: exceltravelus@yahoo.com UNIVERSAL TRAVEL 4400 47TH AVE SACRAMENTO CA 95824 Tel: 916-429-2711 Fax: 916-429-1910 Email: reservations@universaltravel.com USA GATEWAY TRAVEL 4100 Spring Valley Rd, Suite 202, Dallas, TX 75244 Tel: 972-503-7888 Fax: 972-934-4612 Email: gttdfw@gtttravel.com USA GATEWAY TRAVEL (GTT Internationa) 1300 Godward St, N.E.Suite 3120 Mineapolis, MN 55413 Tel: 612-872-4931 Fax: 612-872-4932 Email: hanna.msp@gtttravel.com

HUNGARY AVIATION GSA Co. 1065 Budapest VI., Nagymezo utca 47.

Tel: (361) 302-2484,

(361) 354-1849 Fax: (361) 354-1848 Mobil: (36) 30-397-7353 E-mail: aviationgsa@t-online.hu

59

LA

Vientiane Capital of Lao PDR

OS

Vientiane

Vientiane is Southeast Asia’s most laid-back capital. This city boasts outstanding French colonial architecture and low level buildings spread throughout the city, exuding its rich cultural heritage and relaxed atmosphere. Life in this pleasant capital is slow-paced. We explore this small, peaceful capital at a leisurely pace, visiting some of the finest and most important historical sites in Laos.

How to get to Vientiane on Lao Airlines?

From Bangkok, there are two daily flights. There are daily flights from Hanoi / Kunming / Siem Reap. From Ho Chi Minh, three flights a week (Tue, Thu & Sat).

Vientiane Free & Easy Stay-3 days Day 1: Arrival in Vientiane (B) Code: CPH71 Enjoy the Free & Easy Stay package to Vientiane Capital, which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommodation at a hotel of your choice with breakfast, round trip airport transfer and a half day tour.

Vientiane Stop-Over-3 days Code: CPH72 Vientiane Stop-Over tour includes a round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, transportation in private car, hotel accommodation in a twin shared room with breakfast, English speaking guide, admission fee to indicated sights, Government tax and service charge and tour program are below:

Opon arrival in Vientiane, you will be met and transferred to a centrally located hotel. Vientiane is a charming and fascinating capital, with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and American influences. After a short rest, we begin visiting the major sights of the capital, including Vat Sisaket, the oldest temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Vat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha.

Enroute to Lao’s national icon, the precious and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.

We’ll end the day by the Mekong riverside for a relaxing stroll and admire the sunset.

Overnight in Vientiane (B)

Day 2: Vientiane – Nam Ngum Lake

After breakfast, we head out of the city to make our way to Nam Ngum, a huge reservoir created by the damming of the Nam Ngum River. On the way to Nam Ngum Lake, we’ll stop at Ban Keun, which is famous for its salt extraction plant and a village that distills the local Lao whiskey.

On arrival at Nam Ngum Lake, we embark on a long tail boat to visit fishing villages in the various islets. We take a short walk to explore the lifestyle of the local fishermen. After that we’ll have lunch. On the return drive to Vientiane, [if time permits], perhaps you might want to experience gambling at the Lao casino located in the valley where you can also enjoy a beautiful view of the lake. We return to Vientiane by late evening. Overnight in Vientiane (B)

Day 3: Vientiane-Departure After breakfast, we visit the Morning Market which has a range of Lao made products, from silk, handicrafts, silver jewelry, clothing, etc. (if time permits). The tour ends after you’re transfer to the airport for departure. (B)

For more information please contact Champa holidays tour or Lao Airlines offices Tel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, Fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile: 22413161, 22224884 Email: info@laoairlines.com, sales@champaholidays.com, www.champaholidays.com

Pakse City (Champasak) Pakse Stop-Over-3 Days Code: Champa 3.2

Day1: Arrival-Pakse to Don Khone On arrival at Pakse, drive out towards Khong Island. On the way we make a short detour to visit Pha Suam Vaterfall and to explore the Lao Teung ethnic minority villages. We continue our journey by motorboat to Don Khong, the largest island in the southern part of the Mekong river region known as the 4,000 islands, one of the most scenic areas in Laos. Overnight in Don Khong. (L/D)

Day 3: Pakse - Departure after breakfast, at your leisure or shopping, then transfer to airport. (B)

Package includes: - Roundtrip on Lao Airlines air ticket - Two nights accommodation in hotel in a twin sharing room; daily breakfast - Transportation in private car - English speaking guide - Admission fee to indicated sights

Day 2: Khong Island to Done Khone Pakse Free & Easy Stay-3 Days to Pakse Following breakfast, we enjoy a visit to the surrounding countryside, and embark on a longtail boat tour of the Don Khone area, which takes you to visit the remains of the French colonial period and Liphi Vaterfall or “the Corridor of the Devil”. We return to the mainland at the fishing village of Ban Nakasang and drive further south to visit Khone Phapheng. Khone Phapheng is considered the largest Vaterfall by volume in South east Asia; this is an impressive attraction near the Lao-Cambodian border, set within an area which is teeming with wildlife, making it one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos. Afterwards we drive back to Pakse.

Overnight in Pakse. (B/L/D)

Code : Champa 3.1

Enjoy the Free & Easy Stay package in Pakse, the southern city of Laos. You can make a connection flight on Lao Airlines flight from Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Luang Prabang and Vientiane.

Day 1: Meet at Pakse airport and transfer to hotel for check-in and relaxation.

Day 2: Enjoy breakfast at hotel and free time or you may contact hotel counter for city tour yourself.

Package includes: - Roundtrip Lao Airlines air ticket - Two nights accommodation at hotel Daily breakfast - Round trip airport transfer

Pakse Splendid We explore the beautiful region of Pakse, located in the southern part of Laos, also home to the famous Ancient Khmer ruins of Vat Phou from the 5th Century and the aweinspiring Khone Phapheng Vaterfall, the biggest in Southeast Asia! The surrounding forests teem with flourishing vegetation and you will be greeted by the friendly locals as we visit a few villages. You will take a trip to the Bolaven Plateau, which will provide you with a refreshing break from the heat and allow you to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea and other crops.

On Pakse on Lao Airlines flights from Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Siem Reap, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh. Direct flights are available from Ho Chi Minh to Pakse as follows: Tue, Thu, Sat – Depart at 11:45 and arrive at 13:45. Pakse to Ho Chi Minh: Tue, Thu, Sat– Depart at 09:15 and arrive at 10:45.

Day 3: After breakfast, free time and transfer to airport for check in and fly back to your next destination.

For more information please contact Champa holidays tour or Lao Airlines offices Tel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, Fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile: 22413161, 22224884 Email: info@laoairlines.com, sales@champaholidays.com, www.champaholidays.com

Luang Prabang World Heritage City Luang Prabang has a beautiful and tranquil dream-like setting with a fusion of foreign influences and splendid landscape and scenery, making this an idyllic, unspoiled and charming destination for visitors. It is no wonder this amazing 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.

Day 1: Arrival-Luang Prabang Luang Prabang Free & Easy Stay-3 Days Code: CPH11 Enjoy the Free & Easy Stay package in the World Heritage City of Laos which includes 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, transportation 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:

Arrival at Luang Prabang airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. After 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 local people from the surrounding area of Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 2: Luang Prabang-Pak Ou Cave On 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, representing 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 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 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 famous for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)

Day3: Luang Prabang-Departure Visit the National Museum (closed Tuesdays) at the former Royal Palace. It displays 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 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)

For more information please contact Champa Holidays Tour or Lao Airlines offices Tel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, Fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile: 22413161, 22224884 Email: info@laoairlines.com, sales@champaholidays.com, www.champaholidays.com

Luang Prabang World Heritage City Luang Prabang Wonder-4 Days

Day 2: Luang Prabang-Pak Ou Cave

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 indicated sights, government taxes and service charges. The tour program is as follows:

Day 1: Arrival-Luang Prabang Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred 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 Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)

Enjoy a short-guided tour to see the city’s oldest temple of Vat Sene and the magnificent Vat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, representing classical 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 in Luang Prabang. (B)

Day 3: Luang Prabang-Khouangsi Vaterfall An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (often 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 hilltribe 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 villages. 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 Xangkhong, a village well known for its silk weavings and for its Saa (jute) Papermaking. We return to the city by late evening to admire the sunset at Vat Siphouthabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)

Day 4: Luang Prabang-Departure Visit the National Museum (closed Tuesdays) at the former Royal Palace. It displays 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 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)

For more information please contact Champa Holidays Tour or Lao Airlines offices Tel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, Fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile: 22413161, 22224884 Email: info@laoairlines.com, sales@champaholidays.com, www.champaholidays.com

Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam Formerly 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 accommodation in a twin sharing room, daily breakfast and one lunch at the hotel, 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.

sightseeing and observing the daily activities 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 shopping 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 Airlines, 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 follows:

Day 1:

Arrive Ho Chi Minh – CITY TOUR (L,D)

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta – Ho Arrive Ho Chi Minh by QV515 at 10:45.

Chi Minh (Meals: B/L)

After breakfast, depart at 8:00 am, driving to the Mekong Delta, nicknamed the large rice basket of Vietnam. This day includes visiting Vinh Trang pagoda, cruising on the Mekong river to an island for

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, Reunification 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 shopping. 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 famous tourist spot. Free for swimming and sea bathing at Mariana Club. Set lunch at the local seafood restaurant. Visit memorial 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 dinner on a Saigon floating restaurant. Transfer 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 - Cambodia How 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 Stay3 Days, 2 Nights Code: CPH41 Enjoy the Free & Easy Stay package in Siem Reap city which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommodation in a three/four star hotel with daily breakfast and round trip airport transfer.

Amazing Angkor Vat Full Package - 3 Days, 2 Nights Code: CPH42 Visit the Amazing Angkor city on a 3 days and 2 nights package with Champa Holidays which includes roundtrip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommodation 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, dinner and back to hotel.

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

Angkor Vat - Phnom Penh Sihanoukville Full Package - 6 Days, 5 Nights Code: CPH42 Day 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 checkin to a three star hotel and have dinner at the Tonle Basac restaurant.

Day 3: City tour Phnom Penh – Sihanoukville (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 restaurant and at 1:00 pm depart by van to Sihanoukville and check-in to Hotel Golden Sand, then have dinner at the Beach Restaurant.

Day 4: Sihanoukville At 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 restaurant.

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 Restaurant.

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

Jinghong-China Visit Jinghong , Xishuang Banna Located in the south of Yunnan Province, Jinghong is the political, economic and cultural center of Xishuang Banna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, which is a supernatural oasis in southwest China, while Jinghong is a bright pearl in the oasis.

Attractions in Xishuang Banna Known for its tropical flowers, plants, and garden, attractions in Xishuang Banna include the Meng Tropical Botanical Garden, tropical rain forest valley, Mengle great Buddhist monastery, Mengle cultural park, Manting park, Dai ethnic garden, wild elephant ravine, south medicinal plants garden, the virgin forest park and Mengjinglai village and more.

How to get to Jinghong?

Travel with Lao Airlines direct flight from Luang Prabang on Friday and Sunday or on a connecting flight from Vientiane.

Jinghong Free & Easy Stay3 Days, 2 Nights Code: CPH51 Enjoy and relax with the Free & Easy Stay package in Jinghong Xishuang Banna which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommodation in a four star hotel with daily breakfast and airport transfer.

Jinghong Stop-Over3 Days, 2 Nights Code: CPH52 Spend your holidays with the Jinghong Stop-Over – 3 days, 2 nights which includes roundtrip air ticket of Lao Airlines,

2 nights accommodation in a three star hotel with a twin sharing room, full meals (Chinese food), transportation (car, van or bus), entrance fees to tourist sites, Lao/ English speaking guide and tour program as follows:

Day 1: Take Lao Airlines flight QV818 to Jinghong , guide will meet you at the airport, go straight to visit Bage Temple (Head Temple in Xishuangbanna), then transfer to hotel check-in and dinner.

Overnight at Jinghong.

Day 2: After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Virgin Forest Park, lunch, then to Ganlanba and sightseeing in the local bazaar and the villages of Dai people and visit the Dai Garden, take part in the Vater splashing, and have dinner during a singing and dancing show. Overnight at Jinghong.

Day 3: Breakfast & check-out from hotel, tour the Flower Garden. After lunch, transfer to the airport to fly back to Luang Prabang or Vientiane.

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ນ້ຳງຶ່ມສາຍນ້ຳແຫ່ງຕຳນານ The Nam Ngum River ສູ່ພາກຕາເວັນອອກສຽ່ງເໜືອດ້ວຍລົດຈັກ

Northeast Laos by Motobike

Lao Airlines receives ISO certification

ອີກມູມໜື່ງຂອງໂລກທີ່ແຂວງຈຳປາສັກ w w w. c h a m pa m a g . c o m

Leaving the world behind in Champasak

ທ່ອງທ່ຽວທາງນຳ້ທີ່ບາງກອກ

Bangkok by river ທ່ອງທ່ຽວຊົມຕາດເລາະ

Behold Tad Lo

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