Champa Holidays #15

Issue 15 FEBRUARY - MARCH

V o l 0 3 i s s u e 1 5 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

Lao airlines in-flight Magazine

ທ່ອງທຽ່ວໄປກັບອາຊຽນ

ASEAN Hightlights ງານມະຫາກຳບຸນຊ້າງ 2013

The Lao Elephant Festival 2013 ໂສມໜ້າໃໝ່ຂອງແຂວງບໍລິຄຳໄຊ

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

Bolikhamxay Rediscovered ອີກຄັ້ງນື່ງທີ່ຮ່າໂນ້ຍ

Hanoi Stopover ກັບຕັນແຫວນທອງ ສຸລິວົງ

Captain Vanthong Soulivong 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

Welcome on Board ວາລະຕ້ອນຮັບປີໃຫ່ມ 2013 ລັດວິສາຫະກິດການ ບິນລາວ ຍິນດີຕອ ້ ນຮັບທ່ານໃນເສັ້ນທາງບິນເຊິ່ງໄດ້ ເປີດໃຫ້ການບໍລກ ິ ານ ແລະ ກຳລັງຈະເປີດໃຫ້ບລ ໍ ກ ິ ານ ໃຫ້ແກ່ນກ ັ ທຸລະກິດ, ນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວໄປຍັງຈຸດໝາຍປາຍ ທາງໂດຍການເຊື່ອມຕໍ່ຈາກສະໜາມບິນໃຫ່ຍເຊັ່ນ:

On the occasion of welcoming New Year 2013, Lao Airlines is pleased to introduce four new regional routes due to rising demand, and service which is already available for businesspeople and tourists.

We have launched a Pakse-Danang-Pakse route with three flights per week (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday) as well as a Pakse-Bangkok-Pakse via Saປາກເຊ ໄປກັບ ດານັງ 3 ຖ້ຽວຕໍ່ອາທິດ (ອັງຄານ, vannakhet routing with five weekly flights (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday). These ພະຫັດ, ອາທິດ) flights incorporate direct access between Savanປາກເຊ ໄປກັບ ບາງກອກ ຜ່ານສະຫວັນນະເຂດ 5 nakhet and Bangkok. Lao Airlines has also opened ຖ້ຽວຕໍ່ອາທິດ (ຈັນ, ພຸດ, ສຸກ, ເສົາ, ອາທິດ) three flights per week (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday) ສະຫວັນນະເຂດ ໄປກັບ ບາງກອກ 5 ຖ້ຽວຕໍ່ອາທິດ between Savannakhet and Danang.

(ຈັນ, ພຸດ, ສຸກ, ເສົາ, ອາທິດ) The New Year will also see a fourth new Airbus ສະຫວັນນະເຂດ ໄປກັບ ດານັງ 3 ຖ້ຽວບິນຕໍ່ອາທິດ A320 and an ATR 72-600 join Lao Airlines growing fleet as part of our new business development (ອັງຄານ, ພະຫັດ, ອາທິດ)

plan to better serve passengers. The aircrafts are expected to arrive in Vientiane within months, at ຂ່າວດີອກ ີ ອັນໜຶ່ງກໍຄໃື ນໄວໆນີ້ເຮືອບິນ Airbus 320 which time a handover ceremony will take place ລຳທີ 4 ແລະ ເຮືອບິນ ATR 72-600 ກໍຈະໄດ້ເດີນ with the contracting company.

ທາງມາເຖິງວຽງຈັນ ແລະ ຮັບມອບກັນລະຫວ່າງບໍສດ ັ ລັດວິສາຫະກິດການບິນລາວ ເຮືອບິນທັງສອງລຳຈະ ໄດ້ມາບິນໃຫ້ບໍລິການຕາມແຜນພັດທະນາຂອງການ ບໍລກ ິ ານລູກຄ້າ, ນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ແລະ ຜູໂ້ ດຍສານທັງ ຫລາຍ.

On behalf of all Lao Airlines’ staff, I would like to thank you for choosing our carrier, wish you a safe journey, and hope you select us for your next flight.

Dr.Somphone DOUANGDARA President of Lao Airlines

Editor’s Note

ສະບາຍດີທາ່ ນຜູອ ່ າ່ ນທັງຫຼາຍ

Sabaidee readers,

ຍິນດີຕອ ້ ນຮັບສູວ ່ າລະສານຈຳປາຮໍລເິ ດສະບັບທີ 15 ປະຈຳເດືອນກຸມພາ/ມີນາ 2013, ວາລະສານແນະນຳ ການທ່ອງທ່ຽວທີ່ດທ ີ ສ ີ່ ດ ຸ ຢູໃ່ ນລາວໂດຍຜ່ານບົດຂຽນ ກ່ຽວກັບຂໍ້ມນ ູ ການທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ແລະ ຮູບພາບທີ່ເປັນແຮງ ບັນດານໃຈຈາກທີມງານທີ່ຊ່ຽວຊານດ້ານການທ່ອງ ທ່ຽວນຳມາສະເໜີທາ່ ນ.

ໃນສະບັບນີ້ ເບີນີ ໄດ້ນຳສະເໜີແຫລ່ງທ່ອງ ທຽ່ວຂອງ 10 ປະເທດອາຊຽນທີ່ທກ ຸ ຄົນຄວນໄດ້ໄປ ແລະ ຄົ້ນພົບແຫຼ່ງທ່ອງທຽ່ວບ່ອນໃຫ່ມຂອງແຂວງບໍລິ ຄຳໄຊ. ແລະ ຄວາມຕື່ນເຕັ້ນຫຍີ່ງໃຫ່ຍຂອງບຸນຊ້າງທີ່ ແຂວງໄຊຍະບູລຊ ີ ງື່ ໄດ້ກາຍມາເປັນປະເພນີ ແລະ ເອ ກະລັກຂອງແຂວງ. ເຊັ່ນ: ປະເພນີ ສູຂ ່ ວັນຊ້າງ, ພິທແ ີ ຫ່ ແລະ ເຕົ້າໂຮມຊ້າງພາຍໃນແຂວງ ນອກນັ້ນກໍ່ຍງັ ມີ ກິດຈະກຳສະແດງວິທຝ ີ ກ ຶ ຊ້າງ, ການອະນຸລກ ັ ຊ້າງ. ໄຊຍະບູລີ ແມ່ນໜຶ່ງໃນແຂວງທີ່ມຊ ີ າ້ ງລ້ຽງຫຼາຍທີ່ສດ ຸ ຂອງ ສປປ ລາວ. ຈາກແຫຼ່ງທ່ອງທ່ຽວແລ້ວບັນດາ ໂຮງແຮມທີ່ມລ ີ ະດັບບໍ່ວາ່ ພາຍໃນ ແລະ ຕ່າງປະເທດ ຮ່າໂນ້ຍ. ກໍໄດ້ຖກ ື ແນະນຳໃຫ້ທາ່ ນລະອຽດພໍສມ ົ ຄວນ ຊຶ່ງ ທ່ າ ນສາມາດເລື ອ ກເຟັ້ນ ໄດ້ ຕ າມອັ ດ ທະຍາໄສ. ນ ອ ກ ນັ້ ນ ສີ່ ງ ທີ່ ແ ປ ກ ໃ ຫ່ ມ ກໍ ແ ມ່ ນ ຄໍ ລ ຳ ສ ຳ ພ າ ດ ຊື່ງ ຂໍເປີດສັກກະລາດດ້ວຍ ກັບຕັນ ແຫວນທອງ ສຸລິວົງ ກັບຕັນແອບັສ ມືນງື່ ຂອງສາຍການບີນລາວ ທີ່ຫລາຍ ຄົນໃຫ້ຄວາມສົນໃຈ.

Welcome to the 15th edition of Champa Holidays magazine, Laos best travel magazine, and filled with insightful tourism articles written by inspired travel experts and highlighted with excellent photos.

In the February-March 2013 edition, Bernie Rosenbloom heads to the Asean Tourism Forum to uncover the latest attractions and activities at Lao Airline’s regional destinations. Back in Laos, Sayabouly Province’s annual Elephant Festival is coming up in February. Pachyderms from throughout the province will gather for the iconic cultural event, that includes the crowning of “The Elephant of the Year”, processions, ceremonies, performances, markets, and activities to raise awareness in this endangered species. Sayabouly, known as the “Land of the Elephants”, has the largest elephant population in Laos.

This issue also gives readers a tourist view of neighboring Hanoi, with its historical and cultural attractions, a dining hotspot, and an overnight stay at the venerable Sofitel Legend Metropole. We also take you to relatively unexplored Bolikhamxay Province, easily accessed from Vientiane Capital, host of the “Vientianale” Film Festival from 26 February to 2 March.

Until we meet again in the next issue, the Champa Holidays team and I wish you a very pleasant and safe journey. ຂໍອວ ່ ຍພອນໄຊໃຫ້ທາ່ ນເດີນທາງດ້ວຍຄວາມສະຫວັດດີພາບ.

Soukhee Norasilp Editor-in-Chief

Lao AIrlines In-Flight Magazine EXECUTIVE ADVISERS: 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. Bernie Rosenbloom Executive Editor: MS. PHITSMAI CHANTHABOURY

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

Owner & Publisher: Inter Media Lao Co.ltd Tel/Fax: (856-21) 480947 intermedia_laos@gmail.com under license of Lao Airlines

info@champamag.com

info@laoairlines.com | www.laoairlines.com

www.champamag.com | www.insmai.com

Lao Airlines Head Office: Wattay International Airport Souphanouvong Avenue Vientiane Capital, Lao P.D.R P.O Box: 6441 Tel: (856-21) 513 150 Fax: (856 -21) 512 004

ສາລະບານ

Contents

43 11 14

18 26

28

32 43 50 52

ທ່ອງທຽ່ວໄປກັບອາຊຽນ

ASEAN Hightlights

ງານມະຫາກຳບຸນຊ້າງ 2013

The Lao Elephant Festival 2013

ໂສມໜ້າໃໝ່ຂອງແຂວງບໍລິຄຳໄຊ

28

Bolikhamxay Rediscovered

ໂຮງແຮມອັບສະຣາ

Apsara: A Peaceful Pair

ອອກພົບຕົກ: ຫັນປ່ຽນວັດທະນະທຳ ໃຫ້ກາຍເປັນເສດຖະກິດ

Ock Pop Tok: Where East Meets West in Style

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ອີກຄັ້ງນື່ງທີ່ຮ່າໂນ້ຍ

Hanoi Stopover

ກັບຕັນແຫວນທອງ

Meet Pilot Vanthong Silivong

ມະຫະກຳຮູບເງົາສາກົນ ວຽງຈັນນານ

Vientianale 3 ຈຳປາພາທົວ ສະຫວັນ - ດານັ່ງ

Champa Tour in Danang

14

26

Hightlights

Ecotourism Laos

Five Highlights in ASEAN Laos hosted the ASEAN Tourism Forum in January, and the event starred TRAVEX, a trade show featuring the latest regional hot spots. For this issue, Bernie Rosenbloom visited Travex to find five new regional highlights, and discovered LEGOLAND in Malaysia, Bai Dinh Pagoda in Vietnam, Bikes in Bangkok, Cambodia’s Yeak Laom Volcano Lake, and Ban Yang Kheua in Laos.

1. Lego Comes Alive…Almost

2. Vietnam’s Sacred Walk

If you’re looking for a full day of family fun while in Malaysia, LEGOLAND tops the charts. Located on 76 acres, Asia’s first LEGOLAND, in the country’s southernmost Jahor Bahru and a jump from the Singapore causeway, features more than 40 rides, shows and interactive attractions in seven themed areas for all ages: The Beginning, LEGO® Technic, LEGO Kingdoms, Imagination, LEGO City, Land of Adventure, and MINILAND. MINILAND, the park’s centrepiece, recreated Asian landmarks in 1:20 scale using more than 30 million LEGO bricks. From LEGO experiment centres to roller coasters, LEGOLAND presents a day-long voyage of discovery for everyone.

Visit Vietnam’s largest pagoda complex about 95 kilometres south of Hanoi, but before you reach Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh Province, expect to see plenty more. First, you’ll enter the 700 ha site through the country’s largest gate of its kind: 550 tonnes of iron wood. Then stroll down a 1-km corridor lined with 500 white-stone Arhat statues to a tower with its 36-ton bronze bell and the Kwan Yin Sanctum with its massive statue.

The Phap Chu Sanctum comes next with the heaviest bronze Buddha image in the country. A climb to Tam The Sanctum and a 2-km walk through nature leads to 200 steps to the ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda.

www.legoland.com.my

www.vietnamtourism.com

11

Airport Airport

Town Town Mukdahan Welcome Center Mukdahan Welcome Thailand Center Thailand

Mekong River Mekong River

Hightlights

3. Bikes in Bangkok

Beating Bangkok traffic has taken a new twist. First, the BTS skytrain smoothened commutes, and then the MRT underground entered the picture. Now, it’s bicycles. In November 2012, the City of Angels embarked on a programme to make moving around the city even easier by renting out 100 cycles at the MRT’s Sam Yan station and the BTS’ Siam stop. Now it’s expanding the project to 50 stations and 500 bicycles early this year, and peddlers can purchase a registration card, which includes an insurance package. So for those wanting to really beat Bangkok’s stifling traffic to see the sites…saddle up.

4. Super Round, Super Clear

Adventure travellers that want a new natural experience can head to Cambodia’s far northeast to Ratanakiri Province and Yeak Laom Volcano Lake. Close to town, this perfectly round crater, 750 metres in diameter, presents a 48-metre-deep, crystal clear lake, perfect for a swim, picnic, or hike around the crater rim of the old volcano. You’ll also find a small informative local museum. This area represents Cambodia’s finest attempt at preserving a natural site, and features a wood deck for jumping into cool waters. Nearby, park rangers erected examples of traditional bride and groom homes on stilts.

www.tourismthailand.org

www.tourismcambodia.com

5. Laos Latest Natural Treat

Try trekking alongside rapids to a swimming hole, natural waterslide, and boat ride at Ban Yang Kheua. Located near Vientiane, you’ll hit the turn at Km 99 on Route 13 South to the ethnic Meui village, a charming relaxing riverside community. Along with its temple and shrine, the village, known for basket weaving, offers a new lodge for overnight visitors, the opportunity for a traditional massage, and the base for this authentic cultural and natural adventure. The trail follows the Yong River’s rapids to wide, short falls and a clear pool for a swim. From here, a boat takes you back to the new landing at Ban Yang Kheua.

ter, Vientiane-based travel wri ered cov has m, loo enb Ros Bernie than 15 Southeast Asia for more eral sev ed hor aut has years. He s, and Lao provincial guidebook ys, has lida Ho a mp Cha h along wit ries about recently contributed sto asdee Laos to Thai Airway’s Saw and s, pas Com A PAT , ine magaz rently cur is nie Ber . iew Rev Travel ant for a public relations consult rism Tou e abl tain Sus s the Lao ith (Lao Development Project, Lan rism National Institute for Tou New the and ty), tali spi and Ho ject. pro D -SE CBT aos d-L gmail.com Zealan E bernie.rosenbloom@ m W www.bernco-laos.co

For more information on the 2013, ASEAN Tourism Forum in Laos, visit www.atflaos.com

13

INSIDE LAOS

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14

inside Laos  making track  elephant festival

ພະແນກຖະແຫຼງຂ່າວ, ວັດຖະນະທຳ ແລະ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວແຂວງໄຊຍະບູລີຈະ ເປັນເຈົ້າພາບຈັດມະຫະກຳບຸນຊ້າງປະຈຳປີຄັ້ງທີ 6 ຂອງລາວຂຶ້ນໃນວັນທີ 17-19 ເດືອນກຸມພາ ຂອງທຸກປີ ທີ່ເມືອງໄຊຍະບູລີເພື່ອເປັນການສະເຫຼີມ ສະຫຼອງສາຍສຳພັນທີ່ມີມາແຕ່ດົນນານລະຫວ່າງຄົນ ແລະ ສັດທີ່ແສນ ຮູ້ນີ້. ໃນເບື້ອງຕົ້ນງານບຸນດັ່ງກ່າວຖືກສ້າງຕັ້ງຂຶ້ນ ແລະ ຊີ້ນຳໂດຍອົງການ ຈັດຕັ້ງທີ່ບໍ່ຫວັງຜົນກຳ່ໄລ “ອົງການຊ້າງອາຊີ” ຫຼື (ElefantAsia) ແລະ ບຸນດັ່ງກ່າວກໍ່ເຄີຍຖືກໝູນວຽນຈັດໂດຍຕົວເມືອງຕ່າງໆຂອງແຂວງ, ແຕ່ ສຳລັບການເລືອກສະຖານທີ່ຈັດບຸນໃນປີ 2013 ຍັງແມ່ນເມືອງໄຊຍະບູລີ ເຊິ່ງຖືກເລືອກສາມປີຊ້ອນແລ້ວ. ຊ້າງຈຳນວນກ່ວາ 60 ໂຕຈະໄດ້ແຂ່ງຂັນກັນຊີງລາງວັນອັນຊົງຄຸນ ຄ່າ “ລາງວັນຊ້າງແຫ່ງປີ” ແລະ ກໍ່ຄາດວ່າຈະມີການແຫ່ຂະບວນຊ້າງ, ການອາບນ້ຳຊ້າງ, ການສະແດງຂອງຄັວນຊ້າງ, ພິທີບາສີຊູ່ຂັວນຊ້າງ ແລະ ພິທີສູດໃຫ້ພອນຊ້າງທີ່ມີສີສັນ ຄຽງຄູ່ກັບການສະແດງສົດຂອງ ນັກສິລະປິນຈາກພາຍໃນ ແລະ ຕ່າງປະເທດ, ຕະຫຼາດກາງຄືນ, ການຄົບ ງັນມ່ວນຊື່ນ ແລະ ອີກຫຼາຍໆຢ່າງທີ່ໜາ້ ສົນໃຈ. ບຸນຊ້າງທີ່ມີສືສຽງນີ້ໄດ້ດຶງດູດຜູ້ທີ່ເດີນທາງມາທ່ຽວຊົມນັບແຕ່ໄດ້ຖືກຈັດ ຂຶ້ນເປັນຄັ້ງທຳອິດໃນປີ2008 ເກືອບເຖິງ 100,000ຄົນແລະ ກໍ່ໄດ້ຕ້ອນ ຮັບຜູ້ທີ່ຮັກຊ້າງທຸກເພດໄວ ເພື່ອເຂົ້າຮ່ວມສະເຫຼີມສະຫຼອງງານປະເພນີ ວັດທະນະທຳທີ່ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍໄມຕີຈິດ, ຄວາມເບີກບານມ່ວນຊື່ນ ແລະ ຈັດຂຶ້ນໃນບັນຍາກາດຂອງຊົນນະບົດ. ນອກນີ້ງານບຸນດັ່ງກ່າວຍັງເປັນກາລະໂອກາດອັນດີທີ່ຈະຍົກສູງຄວາມ ເຂົ້າໃຈກ່ຽວກັບສະພາບຂອງຊ້າງອາຊີໃນລາວ ແລະ ກ່ຽວກັບສິ່ງທີ່ຄວນ ໄດ້ ຮັ ບ ການຈັ ດ ຕັ້ ງ ປະຕິ ບັ ດ ທີ່ ຈ ຳເປັ ນ ໃນການປ້ ອ ງກັ ນ ບໍ່ ໃ ຫ້ ສ າຍສຳ ພັນສັດອັນງົດງາມນີ້ສູນພັນ. ແຂວງໄຊຍະບູລີເຊິ່ງຖືກຮັບຮູ້ກັນໃນນາມ “ດີນແດນເມືອງຊ້າງ” 75% ເປັນບ່ອນອາໄສຂອງປະຊາກອນຊ້າງ, ບ້ານ ຈຳນວນຫຼາຍກ່ວາ 500ໂຕຂອງລາວ ແລະ ຊ້າງປ່າປະມານ100-150ໂຕ.

The Sayabouly Provincial Tourism Department is hosting the 6th annual Lao Elephant Festival from 17-19 February in Sayabouly Town to celebrate the age-old relationship between humans and this incredible animal. Originally established and supervised by the non-profit organisation, ElefantAsia, and once rotated among districts, the 2013 venue choice makes it three years in a row for Sayabouly.

No less than 60 elephants will be competing for the prestigious title of “Elephant of the Year”. Expect to see colourful processions, elephant bathing, mahout demonstrations, elephant baci ceremonies, and traditional Monk blessings, along with live performances by Lao and foreign artists, night markets, fun fairs, and more.

The popular Lao Elephant Festival has been attracting close to 100,000 visitors since it first took place in 2008, and it welcomes elephant lovers of all ages to the friendly, joyful, and rural setting for this celebration of cultural tradition.

The festival also presents an occasion to raise awareness on the plight of the Asian elephant in Laos, and on how action needs to be taken now to stop this beautiful species from becoming extinct. Known as “The Land of the Elephants”, Sayabouly is home to 75% of Laos’ 500-plus domesticated pachyderm population, and between 100-150 wild elephants.

ການເດີນທາງ:

ຈາກວຽງຈັນ > ເດີນທາງດ້ວຍລົດເມ/ລົດຕູ້: ຂຶ້ນລົດເມຕອນເຊົ້າ (8:00ໂມງເຊົ້ົາ) ຫຼື ລົດເມຖ້ຽວ ກາງຄືນ (16:00ໂມງແລງ) ຈາກສະຖານີລົດເມສາຍເໝືອໃໝ່, ຄ່າບໍລິການ110,000ກີບ.

ເດີນທາງດ້ວຍລົດສ່ວນຕົວ: ການເດີນທາງດ້ວຍລົດສ່ວນຕົວແມ່ນໄວກ່ວາ ແລະ ຈະກິນເວລາ

ພຽງ 8 ຊົ່ວໂມງໂດຍທ່ານສາມາດນຳໃຊ້ເສັ້ນທາງໃໝ່ຈາກສາມແຍກສີໄຄທີ່ແລ່ນລຽບແຄມຂອງ ໄປຫາປາກລາຍ ແລະ ແລ່ນຕາມເສັ້ນທາງເລກສີ່ໄປຫາເມືອງໄຊຍະບູລີ ຫລື ທ່ານສາມາດໃຊ້ບໍ

ລິການຂອງການເຊົ່າລົດ ເອີລົບຄາທີ່ສາມາດ ນຳພາທ່ານໄປດ້ວຍປອດໄພ ພ້ອມຄົນຂັບລົດທີ່ຊຳນານ.

ດ້ວຍເຮືອບິນແມ່ນສາມາດ ບິນໄປຫລວງພະບາງ ເພື່ອນັ່ງລົດຈາກຫລວງພະບາງ ໄປແຂວງໄຊຍະບູລີກໍຖືວ່າສະດວກເຊັ່ນກັນ. ຫລືໃນລະຫວາ່ງມື້ງານກໍມີການຈັດຖຽ້ວບີນສະເພາະຖ່ານສາມາດເບີ່ງລາຍລະອຽດທີ່gເວັບໄຊ້

ຈາກແຂວງຫຼວງພະບາງ > ໂດຍລົດເມ/ລົດສ່ວນຕົວ: ລົດເມອອກສອງຖ້ຽວຕໍ່ມື້ຈາກສະຖານີລົດເມຫຼວງພະບາງ (8:00ເຊົ້າ ແລະ 14:00ໂມງ)ໃຊ້ເວລາປະມານ 4 ຊົ່ວໂມງເຖິງແຂວງໄຊຍະບູລີ. ການເດີນທາງດ້ວຍລົດສ່ວນຕົວຈະໄວກ່ວາເລັກນ້ອຍ.

P

+856-30-518 0095

W www.sayaboulytourism.com

15

INSIDE LAOS

ແນະນຳທີ່ພັກເຊົາ

Where to stay...

Santiphap Guesthouse Ban Simoungkoun, Muang Sayabouly T: 074 211184

Meky Guesthouse Ban Simoungkhoun, Muang Sayabouly T: 074 213105

Nokinsi Guesthouse Ban Simeuang, Sayabouly Province T: 074 211017

Sayananh Guesthouse Ban Simeuang, Sayabouly Province T : 074 211116

Loungthong Resort Ban Thana, Muang Sayabouly T: 020 55979999

16

inside Laos  making track  elephant festival

Getting there...

From Vientiane

BY BUS/MINIVAN >Catch a day bus (departing 08:00) or night

bus (departing 16:00) from the new Southern Bus Terminal for LAK110 000.

BY CAR > Travel time is faster by car, about eight hours, as the road has been considerably improved over the past few years.

Two kilometres past Wattay Airport, you will reach a junction. Rather than take Route 13 North to Luang Prabang, continue straight on the road along the Mekong River which leads to Paklay, and then head north on Route 4 to Sayabouly Town.

From Luang Prabang Bus/Car: Two busses depart every day from the Luang Prabang bus station (departing 08:00 and 14:00) for the four-hour ride to Sayabouly. The trip is slightly faster by car.

P

+856-30-518 0095

W www.sayaboulytourism.com

INSIDE LAOS

ໂສມໜ້າໃໝ່ຂອງແຂວງບໍລິຄຳໄຊ

18

inside Laos  nature travel  Bolikhamxay rediscovered

ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄປບໍລຄ ິ ຳໄຊຄັ້ງທຳອິດໃນປີ1999 ແລະ ກໍ່ເຄີຍກັບໄປ ແຂວງດັ່ງກ່າວອີກຢ່າງນ້ອຍ10ຄັ້ງນັບແຕ່ນນ ັ້ ມາ. ທຸກຄົນທີ່ຂາ້ ພະ ເຈົ້າຮູຈ ້ ກ ັ ຍາມເດີນທາງໄປທ່ອງທ່ຽວທ່າແຂກແລະແຂວງພາກໃຕ້ ບໍ່ເຄີຍຢຸດທ່ອງທ່ຽວຊົມແຂວງນີ້ຈກ ັ ຄົນ. ນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວສ່ວນໃຫ່ຍທີ່ ເຄີຍໄປປ່າສະຫງວນແຫ່ງຊາດພູເຂົາຄວາຍກໍ່ປະຫຼາດໃຈທີ່ຮບ ັ ຮູ້ ວ່າເຂດດັງ່ ກ່າວບໍໄ່ ດ້ຂນ ້ ຶ ສະເພາະແຕ່ກບ ັ ແຂວງວຽງຈັນແຕ່ບາງ ສ່ວນແມ່ນຂຶ້ນກັບແຂວງບໍລຄ ິ ຳໄຊ. ຫຼັງຈາກນັ້ນຂ້າພະເຈົ້າກໍ່ໄດ້ຮັບຮູ້ຈາກ ທ່ານ ດູກຣັສ ເຮັນສຟອດ ຈາກໂຄງການພັດທະນາເສດຖະກິດ-ສັງຄົມດ້ວຍການທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ໃນຊຸມຊົນ ຂອງນິວຊີແລນ ໃຫ້ຮູ້ວ່າເສັ້ນທາງປູຢາງຈາກປາກຊັນ ຫາ ໂພນສະຫວັນແຂວງຊຽງຂວາງເກືອບສຳເລັດແລ້ວ ແລະ ໂຄງ ການຂອງນິ ວ ຊີ ແ ລນກໍ່ ຊ່ ວ ຍແຂວງບໍ ລິ ຄ ຳໄຊໃນການພັ ດ ທະນາ ແຫຼ່ງທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ແລະ ລາວກໍ່ຊັກຊວນໃຫ້ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າເດີນທາງກັບໄປ ສຳຫຼວດແຫຼ່ງທ່ອງທ່ຽວໃນແຂວງນີ້ອີກ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຄິດວ່າ ເຖິງເວລາ ແລ້ວທີ່ທຸກທ່ານຕ້ອງຢາກຮູ້ກ່ຽວກັບບ່ອນທີ່ພວກເຮົາໄດ້ໄປພົບພໍ້:

ອາຫານເຊົ້າທີ່ຫຼັກຊາວ

ຫຼັ ກ ຊາວເປັ ນ ຈຸ ດ ສູ ນ ກາງຂອງເມື ອ ງຄຳເກີ ດ ທາງພາກຕາເວັ ນ ອອກຂອງແຂວງບໍລິຄຳໄຊ ເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າເປັນເມືອງຊາຍແດນ ຂ້າ ພະເຈົ້ າ ຖື ກ ເຊີ ນ ໃຫ້ ລ ອງຮັ ບ ປະທານອາຫານເຊົ້ າ ທີ່ ຮ້ າ ນຫວຽດ ນາມເຊິ່ ງ ຂ້ າ ພະເຈົ້ າ ຮູ້ ສຶ ກ ວ່ າ ເປັ ນ ອາຫານຄ່ ຳ ຫຼ າ ຍກ່ ວ າເພາະ ມີອາຫານຫຼາຍຢ່າງລວມທັງເຫຼົ້າຂາວ ທີ່ເສີບໄດ້ເປັນອາຫານເຊົ້າ.

ຈຸດທີ1:

ການຄົ້ນພົບພຣະພຸດທະຮູບ

ພາຍຫຼັ ງ ການທ່ ຽ ວຊົ ມ ບໍ່ ນ້ ຳ ຮ້ ອ ນທີ່ ຕັ້ ງ ຢູ່ ທ າງພາກຕາເວັ ນ ອອກ ຂອງຖະໜົນເລກ 8 ຫ່າງຈາກຕົວເມືອງ14Km, ພວກເຮົາກໍ່ເດີນ ທາງກັບໄປຫຼັກຊາວ ແລະ ກໍ່ອອກເດີນທາງໄປບ້ານນ້ຳເຢີງ ເຊິ່ງ ເປັນຈຸດທີ່ມີການຄົ້ນພົບພຣະພຸດທະຮູບຈຳນວນ 39 ອົງ ຢູ່ກ້ອງໂງ່ ນຫີນໃນແມ່ນ້ຳເຢີງໃນເດືອນມັງກອນປີ 2012 ໂດຍທ່ານ ໄສ. ພຣະພຸດທະຮູບທີ່ຖືກຄົ້ນພົບດັ່ງກ່າວຖືກເກັບໄວ້ພາຍໃນບ້ານ ແລະ ກໍ່ບໍ່ເຄີຍມີນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວຕ່າງປະເທດເຄີຍໄປທ່ຽວຊົມ ມີພຽງຄົນຈຳ ນວນໜ້ອຍດຽວເທົ່ານັ້ນທີ່ໄດ້ຮູ້ ເຊີ່ງເຮັດໃຫ້ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າແປກໃຈ.

I first tapped into Bolikhamxay in 1999, and have returned to explore what I once considered my personal province at least 10 times since. No one I knew had ever stopped there on the way to Thakhek and points south.

Most who had visited Phou Khao Khouay National Protected Area (NPA) were astonished to learn that it was not mostly in Vientiane Province, but ra-ther the tip of Bolikhamxay’s green iceberg.

Then, Douglas Hainsworth from the New Zealand CBT-SED project (Community-based Tourism-Social & Economic Development) pushed me back a step. He said the new 100-km paved Route 1D between Phonsavanh and Pakxan was almost done. I didn’t know it had begun. He added that the Kiwi project was assisting Bolikhamxay in developing its tourist attractions. It was time to share.

Breakfast in Lak Xao

In early 2012, the Bolikhamxay Provincial Tourism Department (PTD) invited me to explore its new sites and facilities.

We met in the province’s easternmost Khamkeut District center, Lak Xao Town, as I was following “The Loop” circling much of Khammouane Province and sharing Route 8 with Bolikhamxay.

The PTD got the ball rolling by convincing a Vietnamese dinner restaurant to open for breakfast. Greeting us at the door stood eight giant glass jars, brimming with lao khao rice alcohol soaking a choice of eggs, tubers, herbs, and what appeared to be starfish.

Four shot glasses met my simple query: egg for my bones, the starfish from Vietnam for strength, a tuber for back pain, and the herb mix…I forgot, though I remember chasing the lot with a hot glass of Lao coffee carrying a good centimeter coating of cream at the bottom. The meal, basically dinner dishes, included fried frogs. I love this place.

Discovery No. 1:

Found Buddhas

After visiting hot springs 14km east on Route 8, we returned to Lak Xao and headed north on a bumpy road to the Nam Yeung Dam. After about 5 km, we reached Sop Kham Village and a house holding a birthday baci ceremony. An older man greeted us with the key to one of Bolikhamxay’s latest discoveries…39 Buddha statuettes found under a Nam Yeung River rock in January 2012 by a man named Sai. The gatekeeper opened a small wooden shed in the corner of the yard. Inside stood a wooden cabinet he unlocked with a second key. And there they were, standing on shelves covered with an elegant white cloth. After admiring the find and giving time to the PTD team for praying, the doors closed, and I saw Lao newspaper clippings with pictures of the find on the wall. I asked if any foreign tourists had seen these yet. “No,” he said, only locals have come.

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INSIDE LAOS

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INSIDE LAOS

inside Laos  nature travel  Bolikhamxay rediscovered

Discovery No. 2:

Bombshell Fishing Boats

We continued along the rough dirt road following the Nam Yeung, as it wound between steep mountaintops. The river ended at a noodle shop overlooking an impromptu landing for canoes and longboats used for fishing in the dam’s reservoir. A few boat captains sat in a shelter drinking lao khao.

“Here we go again,” I winced while gazing at boats made from bombshells. Some were ferrying folks from the surrounding steep hills, which were once mountain peaks above a flooded valley. Even dirt roads disappeared into the lake.

ຈຸດທີ2:

ເຮືອຫາປາທີ່ເຮັດຈາກສິ່ງເສດເຫຼືອ ຈາກລູກລະເບີດໃນສະໄໝສົງຄາມ

ພວກເຮົ າ ສື ບ ຕໍ່ ເ ດີ ນ ທາງໃນຖະໜົ ນ ດີ ນ ແດງຕາມແຄມແມ່ ນ້ ຳ ເຢີງເຊິ່ງແລ່ນຜ່າກາງພູເຂົາສູງຊັນ ແລະ ພວກເຮົາກໍ່ເດີນທາງ ມາເຖິງໜ້າເຂື່ອນເຊິ່ງມີເຮືອຫາງຍາວທີ່ໃຊ້ຫາປາຈອດຢູ່ຈຳນວນ ຫຼາຍ, ໃນນັ້ນຂ້າພະເຈົ້າກໍ່ສັງເກດເຫັນວ່າມີເຮືອຈຳນວນໜຶ່ງເຮັດ ດ້ວຍສິ່ງເສດເຫຼືອຈາກລູກລະເບີດສະໄໜສົງຄາມ. ບາງລຳກໍ່ພວມ ຕ່າງຄົນມາຈາກດອນໃກ້ຄຽງເຊິ່ງເມືອກ່ອນເຄີຍເປັນຈອມພູ ແຕ່ພໍມີ ເຂື່ອນນ້ຳກໍ່ຖ້ວມເຮັດໃຫ້ຈອມພູກາຍເປັນເກາະດອນ ແລະ ຫົນທາງ ກໍ່ຫາຍໄປໃນອ່າງນ້ຳ. ສະຖານທີ່ດັ່ງກ່າວເໝາະສຳລັບການກິດຈະກຳກິລາທາງນ້ຳ ຫຼື ຂີ່ ເຮືອເຮັດດ້ວຍສິ່ງເສດເຫຼືອຈາກລູກລະເບີດສະໄໝສົງຄາມທ່ຽວຊົມ ທິວທັດປາຍຕົ້ນໄມ້ ແລະ ເກາະດອນຈອມພູ. ຄົນຂັບເຮືອຜູ້ໜຶ່ງບອກ ໃຫ້ຮູ້ວ່າສະຖານທີ່ແຫ່ງນີ້ບໍ່ມີນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວມີແຕ່ປະຊາຊົນອາໄສກາ ນຫາປາຂາຍເພື່ອຊື້ເຂົ້າກີນ.

ຈຸດທີ3:

ລ່ອງແກ້ງທີ່ບໍ່ມີບ່ອນສີ້ນສຸດ

ໃນມື້ຕໍ່ມາພາຍຫຼັງຮັບປະທານອາຫານເຊົ້າ ພວກເຮົາກໍ່ເດີນທາງ ຕາມເສັ້ນທາງດີນແດງ15ນາທີໃນເຂດພູເຂົາຄວາຍ ຫຼື “PKK” ຕາມແບບທີ່ຊາວບ້ານມັກເອີ້ນກັນ ຈົນເຖິງເປົ້າໝາຍຂອງພວກເຮົາ ຢູ່ບ້ານຢ້າງຂົວແລະ ແກ້ງຍົງ, ເຊິ່ງເປັນບ່ອນທີ່ໂຄງການຂອງນິວຊີ ແລນໄດ້ ພັ ດ ທະນາໃຫ້ ປ ະຊາຊົ ນ ບໍ ລິ ກ ານເຮື ອ ນເປັ ນ ບ່ ອ ນນອນ ແຮມ, ການຍ່າງປ່າ ແລະ ຂີ່ເຮືອລ່ອງແກ້ງ. ພຽງແຕ່ຂີ່ລົດໄຖນາອີກ 7km ກໍ່ຈະໄປເຖິງນ້ຳລອກເຊິ່ງເປັນຈຸດຂີ່ເຮືອລ່ອງແກ້ງທີ່ບມ ໍ່ ຈ ີ ດ ຸ ສິ້ນສຸດ.

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This lao khao’s herb was supposed to cure all my ills, and I thought, “What a good reason to drink.” Then it was time to paddle onto the calm lake sprouting treetops and small hilltop islands. The glass-like surface cried for water skiers, or at least some bombshell-fishing tours. “We don’t get tourists yet,” said the captain. “The people here just sell their fish for rice.”

Discovery No. 3:

Endless Rapids

After breakfast the next morning, we rumbled along a dirt road for 15 minutes in Phou Khao Khouay, or PKK as some locals prefer, until we reached the next target, Yang Kheua Village and the Yong Rapids, where the NZ project is developing a new homestay, trek, and boat ride.

A small dog appeared as we piled into a tractor cart, and he followed us on the shakiest 7-km ride of my life to the Nam Lok. Rock-slab mattresses covered the wide river bed, and the dry season water level allowed us to easily traverse the flow as it calmly dropped from stone step to stone step. We inspected the symmetrical craters housing tiny fish in some of the slabs and washed our faces in the endless rapids.

The troops finally reached a broad set of falls and natural pool, but logistics prevented us from continuing by boat. So, we returned, dog in tow, but our crew wasn’t leaving without leaves. I learned over lunch that the medicinal foliage aided the liver, kidneys, bladder, and everything else, a sober value-added feature to this new experience less than two hours from Vientiane.

inside Laos  nature travel  Bolikhamxay rediscovered

ຈຸດທີ4:

ການຄົ້ນພົບພຣະພຸດທະຮູບ ອີກຈຸດໜຶ່ງໃນແຂວງ

ນອກຈາກສະຖານທີ່ຕ່າງໆທີ່ກ່າວມານັ້ນ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຍັງ ໄດ້ ຮັ ບ ຂ່ າ ວວ່ າ ຫວ່ າ ງບໍ່ ດົ ນ ມານີ້ ມີ ກ ານຄົ້ ນ ພົ ບ ພຣະພຸ ດ ທະຮູບຈຳນວນຫຼາຍກ່ວາ 30 ອົງເຊິ່ງບາງອົງເຮັດດ້ວຍຄຳ ໃນເຂດຫ້ວຍປາຝາ ທີ່ຕັ້ງຢູ່ແຄມທາງເລກ13. ໃນປະຈຸບັນ ພຣະພຸດທະຮູບຈຳນວນດັ່ງກ່າວຖືກປະດິດສະຖານໄວ້ໃນ ວັດບ້ານທວຍ ແລະ ຊາວບ້ານກໍ່ກ່າວກັນວ່າການຄົ້ນພົບ ດັ່ງກ່າວຈະນຳແຕ່ໂຊກລາບມາສູ່ໝູ່ບ້ານຂອງເຂົາເຈົ້າ.

Discovery No. 4:

More Found Buddhas

Also during lunch, I learned about another recent discovery, and a short drive north on Route 13 to Ban Thoua unveiled it. On 9 March 2012, exactly three weeks before our visit, Mr Mai was looking for a fishing hole along the Hua Pa Fa River. He claims a crow landed near a riverside cave, and at that spot, he noticed a small Buddha image protruding from under a stone slab.

Mr Mai returned to his village, and told six friends, who helped him move the rocky lid. Bingo! More than 30 old Buddha images, including three made of gold. They brought them to Mr Siengsy, who oversees Vat Thoua Beng in Ban Thoua, so locals can make merit to this religious windfall.

And there stood the Buddhas on elaborately decorated shelving in the temple’s corner. Mr Siengsy said he thinks the discovery is important for the village as it brought happiness, and could bestow good luck. Then he read my fortune; I would be rich like a king. I figured if Lao experiences like this counted as money, I already was.

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interview  pilot

INSIDE LAOS

inside Laos  accomodation  Apsara hotels

Apsara: A Peaceful Pair

P

icture a pair of elegant boutique hotels decked out in modern Lao-style décor, and that straddle the Nam Khan River in the peaceful part of Luang Prabang Town, yet close to UNESCO World Heritage attractions.

You’re looking at a canvas painted with The Apsara and The Apsara Rive Droite.

The Apsara, among Luang Prabang’s first upscale boutique hotels, places guests in a renovated rice warehouse on the Nam Khan bank and within walking or cycling distance of most heritage sites.

Described by the Washington Post as “an inch beyond decadence”, The Apsara features traditional Lao atmosphere with all the comforts and quality service expected by discerning guests.

The two-storey hotel oozes with a distinct Lao style and character through its high ceilings, silk fabrics, and traditional furniture. Contemporary simplicity reigns, with elegant touches and attention to the finest details adding to its distinct charm from the lobby and restaurant to the rooms.

All accommodation present balconies facing the river, and opening their doors floods the space with natural light. The large upstairs superior rooms offer soothing beds on wooden floors. The equally sizeable downstairs superior rooms feature double beds and daybeds, as well as spacious bathrooms with deep tubs. The slightly smaller standard rooms hold similar creature comforts, with some delivering large rain showers.

The Apsara’s restaurant has earned a reputation as one of the city’s best. The menu tantalizes palates with innovative fusion dishes, Lao cuisine, international selections, and delightful desserts, accompanied by an impressive wine list. Just outside, the river terrace presents a relaxing evening spot with spectacular views, perfect for an afternoon or pre-dinner drink.

Directly across the Nam Khan and nestled in nature, The Apsara Rive Droite offers nine large, airy rooms, all with their own verandas or terraces overlooking the river and swimming pool with views of Luang Prabang’s temples and mountains.

Interiors feature wooden floors, king-size double beds with a choice of pillows, and oversize bathrooms.

The hotel offers a casual restaurant and bar, though many guests prefer the fine dining offered at The Apsara. For the cross-river transfer, whether for meals or touring the town, the Apsarian Queen, a handmade boat built by a resident British craftsman, is on call all day until late at night.

For those seeking a lodging experience that exceeds expectations, Apsara’s peaceful pair presents a perfect choice.

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inside Laos  accomodation  Apsara hotels

ໂຮງແຮມອັບສະຣາ ໄປຫລວງພຣະບາງຫລາຍຄັ້ງ ແຕ່ກໍຍັງມີຫລາຍຢ່າງແປກໃຈ. ຫລວງພຣະບາງຍັງມີມົນສະເໜ່ຫລາຍຢ່າງທີ່ຄົນລາວເຮົາເອງຄວນຫາໂອກາດໄປສຳພັດດ້ວຍໂຕເອງ. ແນ່ນອນການໄປທຽ່ວຫລວງພຣະ ບາງໃຫ້ປະທັບໃຈແມ່ນຕ້ອງໄດ້ໃຊ້ຈ່າຍແດ່ຈັກໝ່ອຍ, ແຕ່ມັນກໍເປັນການກຸ້ມຄ່າເມືອເຮົາໄປທຽ່ວປະເທດຂອງເຮົາເອງ, ເງີນຕາກໍຈະໄຫລວຽນບໍ່ໄປໃສໄກ. ໂຮງແຮມອັບສະຣາ ທີ່ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຂໍແນະນຳ ໃຫ້ໄປສຳພັດແມ່ນຖືກອອກແບບທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບແຮງບັນດານໃຈ ຈາກວັດທະນະທຳລາວ ແລະການບໍ ລິການແບບສຸດຍອດຂອງຄວາມສະດວກສະບາຍທັນສະໄໝໃນເວລາດຽວກັນ. ພາຍໃນໂຮງແຮມຖືກຕົກແຕ່ງແບບລຽບງ່າຍແຕ່ມີລະດັບ, ເຂົ້າເຖິງລາຍລະອຽດເປັນຕົ້ນມີ ພື້ນໄມ້, ເຄື່ອງໄໝ ແລະ ເພີນີເຈີໄມ້ແບບດັ້ງເດີມ. ຫ້ອງນອນຖືກຕົກແຕ່ງຢ່າງມີລົດນິຍົມທີ່ມີປະຕູເຊື່ອມຕໍ່ ຫາລະບຽງປິ່ນໜ້າໄປທາງແມ່ນ້ຳຄານເຊິ່ງທ່ານສາມາດຜ່ອນຄາຍຢ່າງເປັນສ່ວນໂຕໂດຍການແນມເບິ່ງວິຖີຊີວິດຂອງຄົນທ້ອງຖິ່ນ.ຢູ່ອີກຝັ່ງ ໜຶ່ງຂອງແມ່ນ້ຳໂຮງແຮມອັບສະຣາຝັ່ງຂວາກໍ່ມີຫ້ອງນອນທີ່ມີວິວແມ່ນ້ຳພ້ອມທັງເດີ່ນກວ້າງຂວາງໄວ້ເພື່ອສະໜອງບໍລິການທ່ານໂດຍ ທ່ານສາມາດເດີນທາງມາຕົວເມືອງໄດ້ດ້ວຍເຮືອຂອງໂຮງແຮມ.

ການຄັດສັນເມນູອາຫານລາວ ແບບມີສະໄຕ ແລະ ສ້າງສັນມີ ໄວ້ເພື່ອບໍລິການທ່ານ. ຍ້ອນມີການບໍລິການທີ່ເປັນເລີດ, ການພັກຜ່ອນຂອງທ່ານໃນ ໂຮງແຮມອັບສະຣາຈະເຕັມ ໄປດ້ວຍຄວາມສຸກ.

The Apsara Hotel:

T +856.71.254.670

W www.theapsara.com

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INSIDE LAOS

inside Laos  shopping  Ock Pop Tok

Ock Pop Tok: Where East Meets West in Style

Walk into a fascinating world where Lao textiles come alive at Ock Pop Tok’s Living Crafts Centre (LCC). Set in lush tropical gardens on the banks of the Mekong just 2 km south of Luang Prabang Town, LCC is turning culture into cash, while presenting the perfect place to learn more about Laos’ distinct textile art.

Established in 2000 by a local weaver and UK photographer, Ock Pop Tok means “East meets West”. It maintains a vision of empowering women through their traditional skills, allowing them to successfully promote the beauty of Lao textiles across the globe. This vision becomes reality at LCC. The centre treats visitors to free guided tours, during which you will meet weavers and artisans from various ethnic groups, and watch the process from spinning and dyeing threads to women working looms. Even silkworms are part of the show.

LCC also offers a wide range of half-to-three-day weaving and dyeing classes, all of which deliver an unforgettable cultural experience, and have received rave reviews.

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Nestled in LCC’s gardens, the Ock Pop Tok Villa’s four cosy rooms with balconies, all with Mekong River views, are decorated with the textiles from different ethnic groups. Guests can immerse themselves in culturally themed accommodation decked out in traditional designs in the Hmong, Katu, Tai, or Northern Hill Tribes rooms. The villa and restaurant make a perfect base for relaxing in nature, watching weavers, or taking a class to learn the art.

Along with LCC, Ock Pop Tok operates a pair of shops in Luang Prabang Town, which feature scarves, bags, home-decor, clothing, and artwork in contemporary and traditional designs. Each handmade product uses traditional skills passed down through the generations, and all make excellent souvenirs and gifts.

W www.ockpoptok.com

inside Laos  shopping  Ock Pop Tok

ອອກພົບຕົກ: ຫັນປ່ຽນວັດທະນະທຳໃຫ້ກາຍເປັນເສດຖະກິດ

ເມື່ອທ່ານຍ່າງຊົມໂລກທີ່ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍຄວາມໜ້າຫຼົງໄຫຼ, ທ່ານຈະ ພົ ບ ກັ ບ ຜະລິ ດ ຕະພັ ນ ແຜ່ ນ ແພລາວທີ່ ມີ ສີ ສັ ນ ຢູ່ ຮ້ າ ນອອກພົ ບ ຕົ ກ ຂອງສູນຫັດຖະກຳແຫ່ງຊີວິດ, ເຊິ່ງຕັ້ງຢູ່ໃນສວນປ່າໄມ້ເຂດຮ້ອນ ເທິງແຄມຝັ່ງແມ່ນຳ້ຂອງທີ່ເມືອງຫຼວງພະບາງ ຊຶ່ງຕັ້ງບໍ່ໄກ ພຽງແຕ່ 2 ກິໂລແມັດ. ທີ່ສູນຫັດຖະກຳນີ້ສີ່ງພວກເຮົາສົນໃຈກໍຄືການໄດ້ຫັນ ປ່ຽນວັດທະນະທຳທ້ອງຖິ່ນໃຫ້ກາຍມາເປັນເສດຖະກິດ ທີ່ດຳເນີນ ໄດ້ດີ ແລະ ຄວນສົ່ງເສີມ, ຖືວ່າທີ່ຕັ້ງສູນກໍມີບັນຍາກາດດີ ແຄມແມ່ ນຳ້, ເປັນບ່ອນຮຽນຮູ້ ສົ່ງເສີມ ການສ້າງສີລະປະແຜ່ນແພທີ່ມີເອກະ ລັກສະເພາະຂອງລາວໃຫ້ໄດ້ດີຂຶ້ນກ່ວາເກົ່າ. ຮ້ານອອກພົບຕົກ ເປີດຂື້ນມາ ສີບກວ່າປີແລ້ວໂດຍນັກຕ່ຳແຜ່ນແພ ຄົນທ້ອງຖີ່ນ ແລະ ຊ່າງຖ່າຍຮູບຊາວອັງກິດໂດຍມີວິໄສທັດໃນການ ຍົກສູງບົດບາດຄວາມສາມາດຂອງເພດຍິງຜ່ານການສະແດງອອກ ດ້ານທັກສະຮິດຄອງວັດທະນະທຳຂອງລາວເຮົາ ເປັນບ່ອນນຳສະ ເໜີຄວາມງາມແບບປານິດຂອງແຜ່ນແພລາວອອກສູ່ສາຍຕາຊາວ ໂລກໄດ້ຢ່າງສົມບູນແບບ.

ໃນສູນຫັດຖະກຳ, ທ່ານສາມາດພົບປະກັບນາຍຊ່າງຕ່ຳແຜ່ນແພ ແລະ ຫັດຖະກຳຈາກຊົນເຜົ່າຕ່າງໆແລະ ຊົມຂະບວນການຜະລິດ ນັບແຕ່ການປັ່ນຝ້າຍຈົນເຖິງການຍ້ອມສີ ລວມເຖິງການລ້ຽງມ້ອນ ເພື່ອສາວໄໝກໍ່ສາມາດຊົມໄດ້ໂດຍມີຄົນແນະນຳອະທິບາຍໂດຍບໍ່ ຕ້ອງເສຍຄ່າໃຊ້ຈ່າຍ ຊື່ງນັບມື້ຫາໄດ້ຍາກ. ແຕ່ຜູ້ທີ່ສົນໃຈໃນການ ຮຽນຕ່ຳແຜ່ນ ແລະ ຍ້ອມສີຜ້າ ກໍສາມາດເຮັດໄດ້. ນອກນັ້ນເພີ່ນຍັງ ມີຫ້ອງພັກທີ່ຖືກອອກແບບຕາມຮູບຊົງເຮືອນຂອງຊົນເຜົ່າທ້ອງຖິ່ນ ຕ່າງໆ ໄວ້ໃຫ້ຜູ້ທີ່ຕ້ອງການມາພັກເຊົາ ເພື່ອສຳຜັດກິ່ນອາຍຂອງທຳ ມະຊາດ ແລະ ຊີວິດນັກຕຳແຜ່ນແພ ເພື່ອຕື່ມເຕັມການພັກຜ່ອນ ຂອງທ່ານໃຫ້ສົມບູນແບບທີ່ສຸດ. ນອກຈາກສູນຫັດຖະກຳແລ້ວ, ເພີ່ນກໍມີຮ້ານຂາຍເຄື່ອງທີ່ຕັ້ງຢູ່ໃຈ ກາງເມືອງຫລວງພະບາງ ເພື່ອໃຫ້ທ່ານສາມາດຈັບຈ່າຍຊອກຫາຊື້ ເຄື່ ອ ງຫັ ດ ຖະກຳທີ່ ເ ຮັ ດ ດ້ ວ ຍມື ປ ະເພດຕ່ າ ງໆເພື່ ອ ເປັ ນ ຂອງຂັ ວ ນ ຂອງທີ່ລະນຶກທີ່ມີຄຸນຄ່າ ເພາະເປັນຂອງພາຍໃນເຮົາເອງ.

W www.ockpoptok.com

29

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Will Be There.....Where We Meet Lao Convenience Store

Outside Destination

ແວະຮ່າໂນ້ຍ

Hanoi Stopover

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outside destination  Hanoi  Vietnam museum

outside destination  Hanoi  Vietnam museum

H

anoi has grown into a major international travel hub over the past decades, and though Vietnam’s “River City” overflows with cultural and historical sites, many tourists simply spend the night before they move on. However, a brief stopover offers first-time and frequent visitors a taste of the town they can experience in less than one day.

A handful of Hanoi’s 600-plus temples and pagodas stand as reminders of the original, eleventh-century capital, and two of the city’s premiere cultural monuments date from this time. The Temple of Literature opened in 1076 as a Confucian university to educate the royal family, and in the 1450s, it began accepting outside scholars. Visitors can view each graduate’s name engraved on stelae in the temple’s main square.

The One Pillar Pagoda, also from this era, rises from a small garden pond. Next door, the colonial-style Presidential Palace, built in 1901, once served as the home of French Indochina’s Governor General.

In sharp contrast, Ho Chi Minh’s simple stilt house, built after Vietnam gained independence in 1954, stands behind the palace.

The humble abode holds a ground-level meeting area equipped with a desk, telephones, and table used by Ho, while the upstairs study and bedroom remain as he left them.

When “Uncle Ho” died in 1969, his body was taken to the Soviet Union and embalmed, while the Vietnamese built a mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square. They completed the grey structure in 1975, perhaps the most popular attraction in Hanoi, and brought the hero there to lie in state until this day.

A Hanoi stopover also presents the chance to take in the famed Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. A small group plays music with two singers explaining the story, while colourful animal, dragon, and human marionettes act out age-old folk stories on a pond serving as centre stage.

Another stopover option places tourists in electric trams to discover the Old Quarter’s narrow streets that twist around Hoan Kiem Lake, the “soul of Hanoi”. On these bustling lanes, shoppers can find silk clothes, gems, wood carvings, ceramics, and just about anything else, including a good meal.

Repeat visitors may want to use their brief stopover to take in experiences they’ve always wanted to try, but never took the time.

Below are three key items on stopover checklists covering culture, dining, and a night’s stay.

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Outside Destination

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic minorities define the country’s culture, but visiting them all is impossible. Or, is it? The modern, twostorey Vietnam Museum of Ethnology leads visitors to 54 displays exhibiting some 700 carefully selected artefacts and 280 photographs from its vast collection that best reflect each group.

Culture hounds will find categorised displays – clothing, jewellery, agricultural tools, fishing instruments, weapons, household utensils, and musical instruments – with items like knives, baskets, garments, flutes, pipes, and mats. Interpretive panels explain the customs, traditions, and lifestyles of the various groups in the rather small, but welldesigned contemporary museum.

Shaded paths and a meandering stream, crossed by small bridges, zigzag through the outdoor exhibition, which presents an Ede longhouse, Tay stilt house; Yao house that is half on stilts and half on earth; a Hmong house with a pomu wood roof; the Viet house; and the Giarai tomb.

The museum is located in the Cau Giay District, about 20 minutes by taxi from the city centre, and is open daily (except Mondays and Vietnam New Year) from 08:30 to 17:30.

W www.vme.org.vn F

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Daily Flight Vientiane - Hanoi - Vientiane Luang Prabang - Hanoi - Luang Pravang Read more on page 58

ຢຽ້ມຊົມພິພິທະພັນເຜົ່າ ຖືໄດ້ວ່າເປັນພິພິທະພັນທັນສະໄໝທີ່ດີສຸດໃນ ຫວຽດນາມ ເປັນສະຖານທີ່ໆຕ້ອງໄດ້ໄປທ່ຽວຊົມ ສຳລັບນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວທີ່ເດີນທາງໄປຮາໂນຍ, ໂດຍ ການນຳສະເໜີລົງເລີກກ່ຽວກັບວັດທະນະທຳ ແລະ ວິຖີຊີວິດປະຈຳວັນຂອງ 54ເຜົ່າທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບ ການຮັບຮອງໃນຫວຽດນາມ. ພິພິທະພັນແຫ່ງນີ້ນອກຈາກໃຊ້ເປັນສູນກາງຄົ້ນ ຄວ້າແລ້ວຍັງເກັບຮວບຮວມວັດຖຸຈຳນວນຫຼາຍ ກ່ວາ25,000ອັນຈາກປະຊາຊົນບັນດາເຜົ່າທົ່ວ ຫວຽດນາມ. ສິ່ງທີ່ຖືກວາງສະແດງລວມມີເຄື່ອງ ນຸ່ງຫົ່ມເຜົ່າທີ່ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍຄວາມປານິດ ແລະ ສີສັນສວຍງາມ, ການອອກແບບ ແຜ່ນແພຕໍ່າດ້ວຍມື, ເຄື່ອງດົນຕີ, ອຸປະກອນ ຫາປາ, ເຄື່ອງມືເຮັດວຽກແລະເຄື່ອງໃຊ້ອື່ນໆ. ນອກນີ້ພິພິທະພັນຍັງປະສົບຜົນສຳເລັດໃນການ ສ້າງຄວາມບັນເທິງປະຈຳວັນໂດຍການຈັດພິທີ ກຳທາງສາສະໜາ ແລະຈຳລອງເທດສະການ ຕ່າງໆຂອງແຕ່ລະເຜົ່າໃນຫວຽດນາມ. ຢູ່ນອກ ພິພິດຕະພັນຍັງເປັນບ່ອນວາງສະແດງຊົງເຮືອນ ຂອງແຕ່ລະເຜົ່າເຊັ່ນ: ເຜົ່າໄຕ, ເຜົ່າຍ້າວ ແລະ ເຜົ່າມົ້ງອີກດ້ວຍ.

F

ທ່ານສາມາດເດີນທາງດ້ວຍຖ້ຽວບິນຊື່ງອອກທຸກວັນຈາກ

ວຽງຈັນ - ຮ່າໂນ້ຍ - ວຽງຈັນ

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ຮ່າໂນ້ຍ - ຫລວງພະບາງ

35

Outside Destination

Sofitel Legend Metropole Lying in the heart of Hanoi, near Hoan Kiem Lake and the famous Opera House, the Sofitel Legend Metropole’s 364 rooms and suites present the ultimate in luxury for an unforgettable stopover sleep in this French colonial icon.

The exclusive Sofitel Legend Metropole, built in 1901, has earned the reputation as a timeless classic and one of the world’s top hotels. French classical architecture inspired The Metropole Wing, while the hotel renovated the Opera Wing in 2007, with a neo-classical design.

Filled with a rich history, the legendary hotel prides itself in a century-long tradition of welcoming ambassadors, famous wri-ters, heads of state such as Bill Clinton, and entertainers including Jane Fonda and Angelina Jolie. Imagine spending the night in the Graham Green or Charlie Chaplin suite.

F

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Daily Flight Vientiane - Hanoi - Vientiane Luang Prabang - Hanoi - Luang Pravang Read more on page 58

outside destination  Hanoi  Sofitel Legend Metropole

outside destination  Hanoi  Sofitel Legend Metropole

ໂຊຟີແທວ ລີເຈີນ ເມໂທຣໂປນ Of course the hotel’s dining options, quality Vietnamese service, and exquisite cuisine exceed expectations.

Angelina’s, Hanoi’s most avant garde Italian restaurant, presents an excellent menu of European fare. The Spice Garden delivers delicious Vietnamese delicacies, while the Sofitel Metropole’s Parisian sidewalk café, La Terrasse, allows guests to sit and watch the city stroll by while enjoying a steaming cup of fresh coffee. Topping off this oasis of charm, guests will find three bars, a pool, gym, and the lavish Le Spa du Metropole.

ໂຮງແຮມໂຊຟີແທວ ລີເຈີນ ເມໂທຣໂປນຕັ້ງຢູ່ຈຸດສູນກາງນະຄອນຫຼວງຮ່າໂນຍໃກ້ກັບ ໜອງຮວນກຽມ ແລະ ໂຮງລະຄອນທີ່ສວຍງາມ ເປັນສະຖານທີ່ພັກເຊົາທີ່ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍຄວາມ ຫຼູຫຼາສູງສຸດເຊິ່ງຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ປະສົບການຂອງທ່ານໃນນະຄອນຫຼວງແຫ່ງສະຫັດສະວັດມີ ລັກສະນະພິເສດ ແລະ ຝັງໃຈ.

Stopover accommodation doesn’t get any better than this.

ນອກຈາກນີ້ຍັງມີຮ້ານອາຫານເອີຣົບແລະຫວຽດນາມທີ່ມີຊື່ສຽງຈຳນວນຫຼວງຫຼາຍຕັ້ງຢູ່ໃກ້ ຄຽງ ພ້ອມກັນນີ້ໂຮງແຮມຍັງມີຮ້ານກາເຟແຄມທາງຍ່າງຕາມແບບຊາວປາຣີເພື່ອໃຫ້ທ່ານສາ ມາດນັ່ງຊົມວິຖີຊີວິດໄປຄຽງຄູ່ກັບການດຶ່ມກາເຟສົດ.

For more information, visit: www.sofitel.com

ໂຮງແຮມນີ້ ຖືໄດ້ວ່າເປັນເອກະລັກທາງປະຫວັດສາດຫຼາຍທີ່ສຸດຂອງຫວຽດນາມແມ່ນໂຮງ ແຮມລະດັບ5ດາວສ້າງຂຶ້ນໃນປີ1901ຕາມແບບສະໄໝເມືອງຂຶ້ນຝຣັ່ງ. ສະຖານທີ່ດັ່ງກ່າວ ແມ່ນມີປະຫວັດຄວາມເປັນມາທີ່ຫຼາກຫຼາຍແລະມີມູນເຊື້ອອັນຍາວນານໃນການຕ້ອນຮັບ ແຂກບ້ານແຂກເມືອງລະດັບສູງນັບແຕ່ນັກການທູດ, ນັກຂຽນ, ຫົວໜ້າລັດຖະບານ ແລະ ບຸກ ຄົນສຳຄັນໃນວົງການບັນເທິງເຊັ່ນ: ເຈັນ ຟອນດາ, ບິວ ຄລີນຕັນ, ແອນເຈລີນາ ໂຈອີ໋. ຫ້ອງນອນແລະຫ້ອງສູດ364ຫ້ອງໄດ້ຮັບການບຸລະນະໃນປີ2007ໂດຍໄດ້ຮັບແຮງບັນດານ ໃຈຈາກສະຖາປານິກສະໄໜດັ້ງເດີມຂອງຝຣັ່ງ ເໍຊີ່ງມີການອອກແບບປະສົມປະສານກັບ ຄວາມທັນສະໄໜໄດ້ຢ່າງລົງຕົວ.

ຖືໄດ້ວ່າໂຮງແຮມດັ່ງກ່າວເປັນມົນສະເນ່ໃນໃຈກາງນະຄອນຫຼວງຮ່າໂນຍ ໂດຍການປະສົມ ປະສານການບໍລິການທີ່ເປັນຕຳນານຂອງຊາວຫວຽດນາມ ແລະ ຝຣັ່ງ.

F

ທ່ານສາມາດເດີນທາງດ້ວຍຖ້ຽວບິນຊື່ງອອກທຸກວັນຈາກ

ວຽງຈັນ - ຮ່າໂນ້ຍ - ວຽງຈັນ

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ຮ່າໂນ້ຍ - ຫລວງພະບາງ

ອ່ານເພີ້ມຫນ້າ 58

37

Outside Destination

outside destination  Hanoi  Nha Hang Ngon

Nha Hang Ngon Restaurant

Whether you have plenty of experience dining on Vietnamese food or simply want to try local dishes, Nha Hang Ngon Restaurant has something for everyone.

The colonial-style restaurant is quite airy, with wide rooms, which are needed, as the eatery is loaded with locals and tourists in a chaotic atmosphere filled with bantering patrons and shouting waiters backed by a cacophony of clanging pots and pans.

Nha Hang Ngon presents a one-stop restaurant for various types of Vietnamese street food from every region, and cooks around the perimeter prepare the dishes, which are hustled straight to your table. The most popular selections are Banh Cuon (rice flour pancakes with mushrooms and minced pork), Muc Xien Nuong (fresh grilled squid skewers), Bun Bo Thit Nuong (grilled pork on bun bon nam bo), and Salat Xoai Xang Hai San (seafood and green mango salad).

With its well-priced dishes, spacious colonial villa setting, and extensive menu, Nha Hang Ngon is a Hanoi treat not to be missed.

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Location: 26 Tran Hung Dao, Hoàn Kiếm Tel: 043 9336133

F

Daily Flight Vientiane - Hanoi - Vientiane Luang Prabang - Hanoi - Luang Pravang Read more on page 58

outside destination  Hanoi  Nha Hang Ngon

ລົດຊາດຕາມແບບສະບັບຫວຽດນາມ ສຳລັບຜູ້ທີ່ບໍ່ມີປະສົບການຫຼືຊຽ່ວຊານດ້ານອາຫານຫວຽດນາມ, ນີ້ແມ່ນການ ສະເໜີສະຖານທີ່ດີເລີດທີ່ຄວນທົດລອງ. ຮ້ານອາຫານຫຍາ ຮັງ ງອນຕັ້ງຢູ່ໃນ ສິ່ງປຸກສ້າງຍົກສູງຫຼາຍລະດັບຕາມແບບເມືອງຂຶ້ນທີ່ສວຍງາມແລະເຮັດໃຫ້ຮູ້ ສຶກອົມອຸ່ນເມືອທ່ານເຂົ້າໄປຄັ້ງທຳອິດເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າມີຫ້ອງກ້ວາງ, ສະນ້ຳ ແລະ ການຕົກແຕ່ງທີ່ກົມກືນຢ່າງລົງຕົວ. ຮ້ານດັ່ງກ່າວເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍລູກຄ້າຊາວທ້ອງຖິ່ນແລະນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວ, ບັນຍາກາດບໍລິເວນນີ້ຄືກຄັກ: ສະຫຼັບໄປດ້ວຍສຽງຫົວ, ສຽງລົມກັນ, ສຽງຮ້ອງຂອງພະນັກງານເສີບປະສົມປະສານກັບສຽງເຄາະຂອງພໍ່ຄົວແມ່ຄົວແຕ່ງກິນ. ແນວຄວາມຄິດຂອງຮ້ານອາຫານ ຫຍາ ຮັງ ງ່ອນແມ່ນການບໍລິການອາຫານຫວຽດນາມຈາກທຸກພາກຂອງປະເທດທີ່ມີ ຄວາມຫຼາກຫຼາຍ. ອາຫານຖືກປຸງແຕ່ງຈາກທຸກມູມຂອງຮ້ານ. ທົດລອງຊີມຫຼາຍເທົ່າທີ່ທ່ານເຮັດໄດ້ໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນລາຍການອາຫານອັນລືຊື່ຂອງຮ້ານ. ເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າລາຄາຍ່ອມເຍົາ, ທີ່ຕັ້ງໃນ ເຮືອນວິນລາສະໄໝເມືອງຂຶ້ນທີ່ມີອາກາດປອດໂປ່ງແລະສວຍງາມແລະແນວຄວາມຄິດທີ່ເປັນເລີດ ການເດີນທາງໄປໄຊງ່ອນຂອງທ່ານ ຈະບໍ່ສົມບູນຖ້າວ່າທ່ານບໍ່ໄດ້ກິນອາຫານໃນສະຖານທີ່ແຫ່ງນີ້.

39

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

Interview

interview  pilot

ກັບຕັນ ແຫວນທອງ ສຸລິວົງ

ຄວາມຮັບຜິດຊອບ ແລະ ໜ້າທີ່ ຄືຫົວໃຈຫຼັກຂອງການເປັນກັບຕັນ, ອາຊີບທີ່ລູກຜູ້ຊາຍຫລາຍ ຄົນຝັນຢາກເປັນ.

Meet Pilot VANTHONG SOULIVONG Responsibility and Duty: Key for Lao Airlines Pilots 43

Interview

ກັບຕັນ ແຫວນທອງ ສຸລິວົງ Captain VANTHONG SOULIVONG

44

interview  pilot

interview  pilot

ມື້ນີ້ທີມງານພວກເຮົາໄດ້ມີໂອກາດນັດສຳພາດກັບຕັນເຮືອບິນມືໜຶ່ງ ຂອງສາຍການບິນລາວ. ຫລາຍຄົນບອກເຮົາວ່າການຈະໄດ້ນັດພົບ ເພິ່ນນີ້ແມ່ນຍາກຫຼາຍ ເພາະວຽກກັບຕັນແມ່ນວຽກທ່ີໜັກໃນປະເທດ ລາວ . ດັ່ງນັ້ນບໍ່ລໍຊ້າທ່ີຈະໄປຮູ້ຈັກກັບເພິ່ນແບບໃກ້ຊິດ. ກັບຕັນ ແຫວນທອງ ສຸລິວົງ, ເກີດເມື່ອວັນທ່ີ 28 ພະຈິກ 1968 ເກີດທີ່ເມືອງແປກ ແຂວງຊຽງຂວາງ ເພິ່ນ ແລະ ພັນລະຍາໄດ້ໃຊ້ ຊີວິດຄູ່ນຳກັນສິບກວ່າປີແລ້ວ. ບໍ່ໜ້າເຊື່ອວ່າຊີວິດຂອງການ ເປັນກັບຕັນ ແລະ ຫົວໜ້າຄອບຄົວຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ເພິ່ນມີຄວາມສຸກ ປານນີ້ ຕາມທ່ີນັ່ງລົມກັນກັບເພິ່ນໄປໄລຍະນຶ່ງ, ເພິ່ນເປັນຄົນ ທຮຽບງ່າຍບໍ່ຕ້ອງມີພີທີຮີ່ນຕອງຫຍັງຫຼາຍເປັນຄົນກັນເອງ, ອາດເບິ່ງຂີ້ອາຍແດ່ຈັກໜ້ອຍ ແຕ່ກໍ່ເປັນສະເໜ່ອັນນຶ່ງຂອງເພີ່ນ. ເກືອບ 20 ກ່ວາປີທ່ີໄດ້ນັ່ງຫົວເຮືອບິນ ເພື່ອພາແຂກຜູ້ໂດຍສານ ເດີນທາງຢ່າງປອດໄພຂອງສາຍການບິນລາວ. ຄວາມພາກພູມໃຈ ແລະ ຄວາມເປັນປິຕິແມ່ນສະແດງອອກໃຫ້ພວກເຮົາເຫັນ ຈາກ ແວວຕາ ແລະ ຄວາມເອົາໃຈໃສ່ກັບການເຮັດວຽກຂອງເພິ່ນມັນ ເຮັດໃຫ້ພວກເຮົາຢາກຮູ້ແທ້ໆວ່າກ່ອນເພິ່ນຈະໄດ້ເປັນມືໜຶ່ງໃນ ການຂັບເຮືອບິນນັ້ນແມ່ນເພິ່ນຜ່ານຫຍັງມາແດ່?

6 ປີທ່ີລັດເຊຍ, 4 ປີທ່ີຈີນ ແລະ ອີກ 2 ປີທ່ີຝຣັ່ງ

ການໄປຮຽນທ່ີລັດເຊຍເປັນສາກທຳອິດທ່ີເພິ່ນໄດ້ສຶກສາກ່ຽວກັບ ການຂັບເຮືອບິນຊຶ່ງໄດ້ສຶກສາຢ່າງໜັກ ແລະ ສອງປີທ່ີປະເທດຈີນ ໄດ້ຮຽນຂັບເຮືອບິນ Y12 ຫຼັງຈາກນັ້ນກໍ່ໄດ້ມາເຮັດວຽກໃຫ້ສາຍ ການບິນລາວໄລຍະນຶ່ງຈຶ່ງໄດ້ມີໂອກາດໄປຮຽນຂັບເຮືອບິນ Y7 ເປັນເຮືອບິນ 50 ບ່ອນນັ່ງ ອີກສອງປີທ່ີປະເທດຈີນ ແລະ ໃນ ປີ 1999 ທີ່ປະເທດຝຣັ່ງ ກໍໄດ້ໄປຮຽນຂັບເຮືອບິນອາເຕແອ ເຮືອບິນ 70 ບອ່ນນັ່ງ ຊຶ່ງມີ 2 ລຸ້ນຄື: ລຸ້ນ 72-500 ແລະ 72-200 ຈົນຮອດ ທ້າຍປີ 2011 ແມ່ນໄດ້ໄປຮຽນຂັບເຮືອບິນແອບັສ ທ່ີປະເທດຝຣັ່ງ ອີກຄັ້ງ ແລະ ກ່ອນໜ້ານັ້ນເພິ່ນກໍ່ຍັງໄດ້ມີໂອກາດໄປຮຽນຂັບເຮືອ ບິນ MA 60 ທ່ີປະເທດຈີນ ແລະ ເປັນນັກບິນທົດສອບ ແລະ ໄດ້ ເປັນອາຈານສອນ ການຂັບ (Instructor Pilot) ເຮືອບິນທ່ີ່ປະເທດ ຟິລິປິນ.

ແອບັສ

ຄັ້ງທຳອິດໃນການປ່ອຍເປັນນັກບິນແມ່ນມີຄວາມຮູ້ສຶກທ່ີເໜືອບັນ ຍາຍ ເປັນຄວາມຮູ້ສຶກທ່ີປະທັບໃຈ ແລະ ເປັນປະສົບການທ່ີໜ້າ ຈົດຈຳ, ກັບຕັນແຫວນທອງຍັງກ່າວຂອບໃຈຕໍ່ອາຈານຜູ້ມອບ ຄວາມໄວ້ເນື້ອເຊື່ອໃຈໃຫ້ເພິ່ນໃນການໂບຍບິນທົ່ວທ້ອງຟ້າ. ເຮືອ ບິນແອບັສ ເປັນເຮືອບິນອາຍພົ່ນທ່ີມີຄວາມໄວ ແລະ ບັນຊາດ້ວຍ ລະບົບຄອມພິວເຕີ ສາມາດລົງຈອດໄດ້ດ້ວຍລະບົບອັດຕະໂນມັດ ຢ່າງນຸ້ມນວນ ແລະ ສາມາດບັນຈຸຜູ້ໂດຍສານໄດ້ຫຼາຍ 155ບ່ອນນັ່ງ ຄວາມແຕກຕ່າງໃນການຂັບເຮືອບິນແຕ່ລະລຳເຮັດໃຫ້ເພິ່ນທ້ອນ ໂຮມເອົາປະສົບຢ່າງຫຼວງຫຼາຍ ດັ່ງນັ້ນ ເມື່ອທຸກຄັ້ງທີ່ມີການປະກາດ ວ່າ “ຍີນດີຕ້ອນຮັບສູ່ຖຽ້ວບິນ QV...ໂດຍກັບຕັນແຫວນທອງ... ໂດຍເຮືອບິນແອບັສ 320 ຈາກວຽງຈັນ..” ພວກເຮົາຈະໄດ້ຍິນສຽງ ຊູບຊິບຈາກຜູ້ໂດຍສານເລື້ອຍໆວ່າ ອຸ່ນໃຈ ແລະ ໜັ້ນໃຈ ແລ້ວ ດ້ວຍການລົງທີ່ນີ້ມນວນຂອງເພີ່ນ.

Champa Holidays magazine sought the opportunity to interview Lao Airlines most experienced pilot, Vanthong Soulivong, and discovered this was no easy task. A pilot’s hectic schedule places him in the air most of the day, plus Pilot Vanthong is a family man, which made us more enthusiastic to get to intimately know him.

Pilot Vanthong, born on 28 November 1968 in Xieng Khouang Province’s Peak District, has been married for more than 10 years. For a flyer, who as logged close to 18,000 hours, he is a very successful family man and enjoys a very happy life, and when we met him, we found an easy-going, charming person on the verge of timid.

Over the past 20 years, he has safely flown thousands of Lao Airlines’ passengers to their destinations. His eyes reflect pride, a high level of calm, and dedication to his job. What better reason to get inside Lao Airlines’ No. 1 pilot.

Experience Leads to Excellence Pilot Vanthong started his piloting career in Russia, where he studied the flying trade, before heading to China. Here, he entered a M60 pilot training course and went on to become an instructor pilot in the Philippines. He spent another two years in China for training to pilot Y7 aircraft with a capacity of 50 seats. In 1999, Lao Airlines sent him to France to train in flying ATR 72-500 and 72-200 aircraft, which made up the bulk of Laos’ fleet. As the airline stretched its wings to regional jets, Pilot Vanthong again travelled to France to learn how to fly an Airbus.

45

Interview

ຖ້າຈະກ່າວເຖິງຄວາມປະທັບໃຈອີກອັນນື່ງກໍ່ ຄົງຈະເປັນການເດີນທາງໃນຍາມກາງຄືນໃນ ພາບທ່ີເດືອນເຕັມດວງສ່ອງແສງແວວວາວ ເຮັດໃຫ້ເຫັນລາຍລະອຽດຂອງຂີ້ເຝື້ອ ແລະ ດວງເດືອນທີ່ມີຮູບລັກສະນະຄືມີຫຍັງຢູ່ທ່ີນັ້ນ ເຮັດໃຫ້ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າສະເໝີເໝືອນຢູໃ ່ ນສະຫວັນ ຫຼື ເວົ້າອີກຢ່າງນຶ່ງກໍ່ຄືຢູ່ໃນຄວາມຝັນນັ້ນເອງ. ນອກນັ້ນກັບຕັນແຫວນທອງ ຍັງໄດ້ໃຫ້ຄຳເຫັນ ຕໍ່ຜູ້ທ່ີສົນໃຈໃນວຽກຂອງການເປັນກັບຕັນ ຫຼື ວຽກອັນໃດກໍ່ຕາມທີ່ທ່ານກຳລັງເຮັດຢູ່ “ທ່ານ ຕ້ອງມີຄວາມມັກໃນຫນ້າວຽກນັ້ນກ່ອນ ມັນຈື່ງ ຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ເຮົາສາມາດຝຶກຝົນຫຼໍ່ຫຼອມຕົນເອງ, ຮັກໃນອາຊີບນັ້ນ ແລະ ຈະເຮັດມັນໄດ້ດີ” ອີກຄຳຖາມນຶ່ງທ່ີຫຼາຍຄົນຢາກຮູ້ນັ້ນກໍ ຄືຊົ່ວໂມງບິນຂອງກັບຕັນ ແຫວນທອງ ແມ່ນເທົ່າໃດແລ້ວ, ຕອບແບບອົມຍີ້ມວ່າ 17,799 ຊົ່ວໂມງແລ້ວ.

interview  pilot

Flying the Airbus 320 “The first time being allowed in the cockpit as the main pilot of an A320 is beyond words; it was certainly a moment of pride and an unforgettable experience,” said Pilot Vanthong, who thanked all his instructors for giving him knowledge and their trust to solo in a major aircraft.

The 155-seat Airbus A320 is among the most modern and comprehensive aircraft produced by the France-based constructer, and incorporates computer controlled systems that offer an automatic, comfortable landing. Pilot Vanthong’s experience in piloting various aircrafts during his career with Lao Airlines and his training abroad adds confidence among passengers passenger, who fly in an A320 floun by Pilot.

Pilot Vanthong concludes by saying his most satisfying moments as a pilot are flying on full moon nights, when fog appears as animals and other creatures. “It’s almost like being in heaven or in a sweet dream,” he said. And for those considering a career as a pilot or any job path, Pilot Vanthong suggests they give their full love to their jobs and then they will be able to do it well.

47

News & EventS

news & events  Vientianale

ມະຫະກຳຮູບເງົາສາກົນ ວຽງຈັນນານ ຄັ້ງທີ 3 ການສຳມະນາກ່ຽວກັບການສ້າງຮູບເງົາ, ການແຂ່ງຂັນ ຮູບເງົາສັ້ນ ແມ່ນເນື້ອໃນຂອງວຽງຈັນນານໃນປີນີ້ຢູ່ ພາຍໃຕ້ຫົວຂໍ້ຂອງງານແມ່ນ “ຄວາມຝັນ” ແລະ ການສາຍຮູບເງົາສາກົນກາງແຈ້ງທີ່ຫລາຍຄົນໃຫ້ຄວາມ ສົນໃຈເພາະມັນເປັນບ່ອນດຽວທີ່ວັດແທກເຖິງຄວາມຈະ ເລີນຂອງວົງການຮູບເງົາ. ແນ່ນອນຄົນຄິດທີ່ຈະສ້າງຮູບເງົາລໍຖ້າໂອກາດນີ້ມາເປັນປີ ແລະ ຜູ້ທີ່ມັກເບີ່ງຮູບເງົາກໍບໍຄວນພາດ ໂອກາດນີ້ ວຽງຈັນນານຄັ້ງທີ 3 ຈະໄດ້ຈັດຂຶ້ນເປັນເວລາຫ້າວັນ ແຕ່ວັນທີ 26 ກຸມພາ ຫາ ວັນທີ 2 ມີນາ 2013 ເຊິ່ງມະຫະກຳຄັ້ງນີ້ປະກອບມີຫຼາຍກິດຈະກຳທີ່ທ່ານ ສາມາດມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມໄດ້ໂດຍບໍ່ມີຄ່າໃຊ້ຈ່າຍຫຍັງທັງໝົດ ໂດຍມີຈຸດ ປະສົງຈະສາຍຮູບເງົາອັນເປັນຜົນງານຂອງຜູ້ຜະລິດຄົນລາວ ແລະ ຕ່າງປະເທດເທິງຈໍຍັກ. ຖືໄດ້ວ່າເປັນໂອກາດອັນດີທີ່ຫລາຍຄົນຈະໄດ້ເບີ່ງຮູບເງົາຂອງປະ ເທດລາວແລ້ວຍັງຈະມີການສາຍຮູບເງົາສາກົນທີ່ເຄີຍຖືກສາຍໃນ ງານມະຫະກຳຮູບເງົາສາກົນທີ່ເມືອງຄານ. ພາຍຫຼັງທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບການຕອບຮັບເປັນຢ່າງດີໃນມະຫະກຳຄັ້ງທີ 1 ແລະ 2, ທີມງານມະຫະກຳວຽງຈັນນານຂໍເຊີນບັນດານັກສ້າງຮູບ ເງົາໃນລາວເຂົ້າຮ່ວມແຂ່ງຂັນການສ້າງຮູບເງົາສັ້ນພາຍໃຕ້ຫົວຂໍ້ “ຄວາມຝັນ” ເຊິ່ງຮູບເງົາທີ່ສົ່ງເຂົ້າແຂ່ງຂັນອາດເປັນສາລະຄະດີ, ນະວະນິຍາຍ ແລະ ອື່ນໆ. ສຳລັບການມອບລາງວັນແມ່ນຜູ້ຊົມຈະ ເປັນຜູ້ຕັດສິນໃຈວ່າຮູບເງົາເລື່ອງໃດທີ່ເຂົາເຈົ້າມັກທີ່ສຸດ. ຮູບເງົາທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບລາງວັນໃນການແຂ່ງຂັນສອງຄັ້ງທີ່ຜ່ານມາ ແມ່ນໄດ້ຖືກນຳໄປສາຍຕໍ່ໃນມະຫະກຳຮູບເງົາທີ່ເອີຣົບ ແລະ ມະຫະກຳຮູບເງົາສາກົນແຫ່ງຕ່າງໆ ເຊິ່ງສິ່ງດັ່ງກ່າວໄດ້ເຮັດໃຫ້ມະ ຫະກຳຮູບເງົາສາກົນວຽງຈັນນານເປັນເວທີໃນການສ້າງ ແລະ ຍົກ ສູງທັກສະຂອງນັກສ້າງຮູບເງົາລາວ. ນອກຈາກການສາຍຮູບເງົາ ແລະ ແຂ່ງຂັນຮູບເງົາສັ້ນແລ້ວ ບັນດາ ທ່ານທີ່ສົນໃຈຍັງສາມາດເຂົ້າຮ່ວມສຳມະນາເທັກນິກໃນການສ້າງ ໜັງປະເພດຕ່າງໆໂດຍນັກສ້າງໜັງທີ່ມີສື່ສຽງຈາກຕ່າງປະເທດ ໃນ ໄລຍະສອງວັນໂດຍບໍ່ມີຄ່າໃຊ້ຈ່າຍຫຍັງທັງໝົດ.

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W www.vientianale.org

FB www.facebook.com/Vientianale

news & events  Vientianale

Free cinema workshops, short-film competition, local and international film screenings in an open-air cinema setting... Laos is ready for the 3rd Vientianale!

“Dreams” in the Air for Third Vientiane Film Festival Good news for film lovers. The Vientiane Film Festival is on again in 2013, with five full days of outdoor cinema fun from 26 February to 2 March. The free event, aims to bring together the work of both Lao and foreign filmmakers based in Laos onto the big screen.

This cinematic celebration offers a rare opportunity for a diverse audience of film-lovers to enjoy a wide range of movies, from locally-produced Lao films to international-awarded films…

Following the overwhelming success of the festival’s two previous editions in May of 2009 and 2011, “Vientianale” will again invite both well-established and upcoming local filmmakers to participate in a short-film competition based on the theme, “Dreams”.

The competition is free and open to anyone residing in Laos. The Organizing Committee noted the jump in the number of entries from 2009 and 2011, along with higher quality and greater variety of submitted short films. It is seeking more creativity for this year. Films have ranged from documentaries to fiction to stop-motion animated films. During the Awards Ceremony, the audience can vote for their favourite film.

A few films among past short-film competitors – under the themes “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” and “Happy Laos” – have been selected and screened at European and other international film festivals, making the Vientiane International Film Festival a platform for creation and skill-building for Lao filmmakers.

Take Singaporean filmmaker K.m LO, whose workshop at the second Vientianale thrilled young cinema enthusiasts. He went on to participate in Lao New Wave Company’s “At the Horizon”, the first thriller ever made in the country. This year’s festival will offer two pre-event workshops, the results of which will be screened at the closing ceremony. Interested filmmakers may want to join one of these free sessions to learn about special effects used in horror movies and “junk animation”.

The Swiss Development Corporation is also providing valuable support at the 3rd Vientianale by offering the opportunity for the three competition winners along with three selected filmmakers, including women, to produce 12 short films in Laos’ provinces under the theme, “Women in leadership roles”.

The Vientianale festival has been held since 2009 with the strong support of Mr Bounchao Phichit, Director of the Cinema Department at the Ministry of Information and Culture.

The Vientianale Organizing Committee wishes to thank the Embassies of Germany, France, the USA, and Switzerland, as well as the Franco-Lao Bank (BFL) for their continued support for the event, and is happy to welcome new donors: the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) and Swiss Embassy in Bangkok, the Japanese Embassy and Lobster Films.

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News & Event

news & event  Lao Airlines

Champa Holidays Famtrip to

Danang

Champa Holidays held a three-day famtrip to Danang, Vietnam, from 8-10 January to launch Lao Airlines’ new Savannakhet- Danang route. Participants first visited Hoi An to experience the Pottery Museum, Tan Ky old house, Cantonese congregation, and Silk Street, along with ancient town’s temple’s and Chinese pagoda’s. The second day focussed on Bana Hill and a cable car ride offering unrivalled views, with old French villas, an old suspension bridge, and Nui Chua Mountain Peak (1,287 metre) en route. The trip then moved to the Vong Nguyet Villa’s wine cellar and Linh Ung Pagoda. The tour ended at the Cham Museum and its display of around 300 sculptures, some made of terra cotta, dating to the 5th and 15th centuries, before the group relaxed at My Khe Beach.

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ໃນຕົ້ ນ ເດື ອ ນມັ ງ ກ່ ອ ນທີ່ ຜ່ າ ນມາໄດ້ ມີ ກ ານເປີ ດ ບິນເສັ້ນທາງໃໝ່ ຈາກວຽງຈນັ - ສະຫວນັ ນະເຂດ ປາກເຊ ຫາ ນະຄອນດານັງສສ ຫວຽດນາມ. ທອ່ງ ທຽ່ວຈຳປາໂຮລິເດກໍໄດ້ຖືເປີດໂອກາດຈັດໂປແກມ ທົວ 3 ມື້ ໂດຍໄດ້ພາກິນພາທຽ່ວແບບຈຸໃຈ.ທັງໄດ້ ໄປທຽ່ວຊົມເມືອງມໍລະດົກໂລກທີ່ມີສື່ສຽງ ເມືອງ ເຫວ້, ໄປທຽ່ວຊົມພູເຂົາ ທະເລມອກໂດຍຂີ່ກະ ເຊົ້າລອຍຟ້າທີ່ຊັນ ແລະ ຍາວທີ່ສຸດໃນໂລກ ແລະ ຫລີ້ ນ ນຳ້ ທ ະເລຍ່ າ ງແລະຫລີ້ ນ ຫາດຊາຍທີ່ ສ ວຍ ງາມ ແລະ ຍັງໄດ້ໄປທຽ່ວຊົມຫໍພິພິທະພັນຈາມສະ ໄໝສັດຕະວັດທີ່ຫ້າ. ຊື່ງທ່ານຜູ້ໃດຍັງບໍທັນມີໂອ ກາດໄປທຽ່ວແບບນີ້ແລ້ວ ທ່ານກໍສາມາດຫາເວ ລາເດີນທາງໄປໄດ້ເຊັ່ນກັນ. ຊື່ງສາຍການບິນລາວ ກໍໄດ້ເປີດບິນສາມຄັ້ງຕໍ່ອາທິດ (ວັນຄານ, ພະຫັດ ແລະ ອາທິດ) ຊື່ງຈະມີສອງຖ້ຽວ 12:55 ແລະ 15:55 ສາມາດອ່ານຕໍ່ທີ່ຫນ້າ 58 ຂອງຕາຕະລາງການບິນ.

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news & event  Lao Airlines

Lao Airlines Outlines Future at ATF Lao Airlines Vice President Sengpraseuth Mathouchanh outlined the future of the national carrier during a videotaped interview with Asia Travel Tips at the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Vientiane on 24 January. Mr Mathouchanh said the airline was proud to participate at ATF as it gave them the opportunity to become better known among the buyers and sellers.

He noted the carrier’s fleet now stands at 14, including ATR 72-500s, ATR 72-600s and three Airbus A320s, with a fourth due in March. He said Lao Airlines is looking into Myanmar flights, adding that the three busiest routes are between Vientiane and Bangkok, Kunming, and Hanoi.

Mr Mathouchanh added that two ATR 72-600s will be delivered in 2014-2015. Also on order are an A321 scheduled to enter operation in 2015, and a long-range A330 by 2020, which is expected to fly to India and the Middle East. Three weekly flights to France are also in the pipeline.

ການບິນລາວໄດ້ໃຫ້ສຳພາດແກ່ສື່ສາກົນ ໃນກອງປະຊຸມທ່ອງທຽ່ວອາຊຽນ 2013

ຮອງອໍານວຍການໃຫ່ຍທ່ານ ແສງປະເສີດ ມາຕຸຈັນ ໄດ້ໃຫ້ສໍາພາດແກ່ ສໍານັກຂ່າວ ທຸລະກີດທ່ອງທຽ່ວອາຊີ-ປາສິຝິກ (Bsiness Traveller Asia-Pacific) ໃນກອງປະຊຸມທ່ອງທຽ່ວອາຊຽນທີ່ໄດ້ຈັດຂື້ນທີ່ນະຄອນ ຫລວງວຽງຈັນໃນວັນທີ່ 24 ມັງກອນວ່າ: ສາຍການບິນລາວມີຄວາມພູມໃຈທີ່ ມີໂອກາດເປັນສ່ວນຮ່ວມ ຜູ້ຊື່ແລະ ຜູ້ຂາຍໃນການຈັດງານຄັ້ງນີ້ິ້. ປະຈຸບັນພວກເຮົາໄດ້ຈັດສາຍການບິນ ບິນໄປຫລາຍປະເທດ ຊື່ງໄດ້ນໍາ ໃຊ້ຍົນ ATR 72-500s, ATR 72-600s ແລະ ແອບັສ A320 ທີ່ສາມາດ ບັນຈຸຜູ້ໂດຍສານ 155 ບ່ອນນັ່ງ ຈຳນວນສາມລຳ ແລະ ລໍາທີ່ 4ຈໍາຖືກ ມອບສົ່ງໃນເດືອນ ມີນາທີ່ຈະໄດ້ມາຮອດນີ້, ຊື່ງຖ້ຽວບິນທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບຄວາມ ນິຍົມ ແມ່ນ ກຸງເທບ, ຂຸນມີງ ແລະ ຮ່າໂນ້ຍ. ນອກນັ້ນເພີ່ນຍັງໄດ້ກ່າວ ວ່າໃນແຜ່ນອານາຄົດພວກເຮົາກໍາລງເບີ່ງຄວາມ ເປັນໄປໄດ້ໃນການເປີດຖຽ້ວບິນໄປປະເທດພະມ້າອີກດ້ວຍ. ນອກນັ້ນທ່າ ນຍັງໄດ້ກ່າວຕື່ມອີກວ່າ: ໃນປີ2014-2015 ທີ່ໃກ້ຈະມາຮອດນີ້ແມ່ນພວກ ເຮົາຍັງຈະໄດ້ຮັບເຮືອບິນ ATR 72-600s ເຂົ້າມາຮັບໃຊ້ຕື່ມອີກສອງລໍາ, ການວາງແຜ່ນສັ່ງຊື້ເຮືອບິນ A321 ເຊີ່ງມີກໍານົດການດໍາເນີນໃນປີ 2015 ແລະ ໃນປີ 2020 ກໍຍັງຄາດວ່າຈະ ເປີດບິນຍາວໄປຫລາຍປະເທດ ເຊັ່ນ: ອິນເດຍ ແລະເຂດຕາເວັນອອກກາງ ແລະ ຖຽ້ວບິນໄປຝຣັ່ງສາມ ຄັ້ງຕໍ່ອາທິດ.

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AcComModation Advisor

Luang Prabang

Where to stay

More favourite accommodation choices, visit: www.champamag.com

The BelleRive Boutique Hotel The BelleRive Boutique Hotel offers luxury accommodation and tranquillity for upscale, independent travellers in the historical centre of the peninsula, and close to Vat Nong and Vat Sensai temples.

A 99 Baan Phonhueang W www.thebellerive.com Kiridara Set on a hillside surrounded by teak forests, this 24-room boutique hotel offers panoramic views of Mount Phou Si, with easy access to Luang Prabang Town and its international airport.

A 22/13 North Road, Ban Naviengkham W kiridara.com Lotus Villa Laos Ideally located one block from the Mekong River, and a two-minute walk to the UNESCO World heritage-listed temples Vat Nong and Vat Xieng Thong as well as many good eateries, Lotus Villa Laos offers clean rooms in a traditional French-Lao style house.

A great little retreat in Champassak Province Kingfisher Ecolodge.

A Ban Phoneheuang, Unit 3, Kounxoa Rd W www.lotusvillalaos.com Nong Khiaw Riverside, Muang Ngoy 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.

A Ban Sop Houn, Muang Ngoy W www.nongkiau.com

Vang Vieng

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

A W www.dreamtime-laos.com Lao Orchid Hotel Situated close to the Mekong River in front of Vat Chanh, Vientiane’s well-known Lao Orchid Hotel provides perfect accommodation for businesspeople and travellers.

A W

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

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

A W

Sihome Road, VTE vientianegardenhotel.com

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

A Fa Ngum Road, Ban Seetarn Neua W www.hbrm.com

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

A W

Riverside Boutique Resort The Riverside Boutique Resort consists of thirty four luxury rooms and suites surrounded by tropical gardens and centred around a swimming pool.

A Ban Viengkeo, VangVieng W www.riversidevangvieng.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.

A

54

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

Nam Lik River Bank, Ban That, VangVieng

Xiengkhouang

Luang Namtha

Champasak

Auberge Phouphadeng 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.

The Boat Landing, Ban Kone 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.

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

A Xieng Khouang City Center, Xieng Khouang

A Ban Kone, Luang Namtha W www.theboatlanding.com

A Ban Vat Amard, Champasak District W www.inthira.com

Oudomxai

Savannakhet

Charming Lao Hotel 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.

DaoSavanh Resort Rooms offer unique views of the Sedone River, as it flows into the Mekong. Close to a market and Wat Luang, Pakse’s most celebrated Buddhist Pagoda, it’s also a great place to experience local life.

Rooms are clean and comfortable.

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

A W

Vanghai Village, Xay District, Oudomxay www.charminglaohotel.com

A Ban Thahea, Kaisone Phomvihan, Savannakhet W www.daosavanhhtl.com

A Sunset Side, Don Det W littleedenguesthouse-dondet.com Arawan Riverside Hotel, Pakse The only all in one 5 stars hotel in Pakse, Champasak Province, LAO PDR. The hotel located along the Mekong River and in the central city of Pakse A W

Salakiew srteet, Pakse www.arawanhotelpakse.com

Experience the beauty of historical Laos

Experience the wealth of our cultural heritage

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

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

12 Khouvieng Rd, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR Phone: +856 21 26 4097. Fax: +856 21 26 3064 Email : info@greenparkvientiane.com www.greenparkvientiane.com

Ban Viengkeo, Vang Vieng, Vientiane Province, Lao PDR Phone: +856 (0)23 511 726-8. Fax: +856 (0)23 511 729 Email: info@riversidevangvieng.com www.riversidevangvieng.com

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Tel: (856 21) 212 051-54 www.laoairlines.com

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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.

Issue 15 FEBRUARY - MARCH

V o l 0 3 i s s u e 1 5 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

Lao airlines in-flight Magazine

ທ່ອງທຽ່ວໄປກັບອາຊຽນ

ASEAN Hightlights ງານມະຫາກຳບຸນຊ້າງ 2013

The Lao Elephant Festival 2013 ໂສມໜ້າໃໝ່ຂອງແຂວງບໍລິຄຳໄຊ

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

Bolikhamxay Rediscovered ອີກຄັ້ງນື່ງທີ່ຮ່າໂນ້ຍ

Hanoi Stopover ກັບຕັນແຫວນທອງ ສຸລິວົງ

Captain Vanthong Soulivong 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