Champa Holidays Magazine

Lao airlines in-flight Magazine Issue 16 April - May

V o l 0 3 i s s u e 1 6 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

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Golden Triangle Circuit xtlq[dkogmuj'gInvo8Qow,h

The Gibbon Experience w w w. c h a m pa m a g . c o m

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Luang Prabang Hightlights wxmPj;75o,u'xtgmf9uo

The City of Eternal Spring ,qoltg\jmk'glf4tdyf0v'xkdc,joE0v'

The Mekong Delta’s Economic Charm 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 ໃນໂອກາດປີໃໝ່ລາວນີ້ ລັດວິສາຫະກິດການບິນລາວ ຂໍເຊີນບັນດາທ່ານທ່ອງທ່ຽວໄປກັບ ການບິນລາວ ບິນ ລັດຟ້າໄປຍັງເມືອງກວາງເຈົາ - ຊາງຊ່າ ປະເທດຈີນ ໃນວັນທີ່ 11 ແລະ 16 ແລະ ດານັງ-ຫອຍອັນພູເຂົາບານາ ສສ ຫວຽດນາມ ໃນ ລາຄາພິເສດ ໃນວັນທີ່ 16 ແລະ 18. ພາຄອບຄົວພັກຜ່ອນເນື່ອງ ໃນໂອກາດ ປີໃໝ່ຊງຶ່ ເປັນມື້ພກ ັ ຍາວນັບແຕ່ວນ ັ ທີ

13-17

ເມສາ

(ວັນພຸດ ຊຶ່ງເປັນມື້ພກ ັ ຊົດເຊີຍວັນທີ 14) ເຮັດໃຫ້ ເໝາ ະສົມຫຼາຍທີ່ຈະໄດ້ເດີນທາງໄປທຽ່ວບ່ອນທີ່ຍາກ ໄປແລ້ວທ້ອນໂຮມເອົາປະສົບການໃຫ່ມ

ໄປ,

ຄືນກຳໄລ

ໃຫ້ກບ ັ ຊີວດ ິ . ການບິນລາວໄດ້ສະໜອງຄວາມສະດວກ ສະບາຍໃຫ້ແກ່ທາ່ ນ ທຸກຖ້ຽວບິນດ້ວຍເຮືອບິນ A320 ລຳໃໝ່ລາ້ ສຸດ (ລຳທີ 4) ຊຶ່ງຫາກໍ່ມາຢູໃ່ ນຝູງບິນຂອງ ລັດວິສາຫະກິດການບິນລາວໝາດໆ

ພ້ອມທີ່ຈະພາ

ທ່ານເດີນທາງດ້ວຍຄວາມສະດວກສະບາຍ ດ້ວຍຄວາມ ໝັ້ນໃຈ. ເນື່ອງໃນໂອກາດປີໃໝ່ລາວປີນີ້

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

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

Best wishes from Lao Airlines,

(ປີມະເສງງູນ້ອຍ)

ລັດວິສາຫະກິດການບິນລາວ ຂໍອ່ວຍພອນໄຊໃຫ້ທ່ານ ຈົ່ງປະສົບແຕ່ຄວາມສຸກສົມຫວັງທຸກປະການປາດຖະ ໜາສິ່ງໃດຂໍໃຫ້ໄດ້ຕາມຄວາມປະສົງ ແລະ ມຸ່ງມາດ ປາດຖະໜາ. ອ່ວຍພອນໃຫ້ທ່ານເດີນທາງດ້ວຍຄວາມ ສະດວກສະບາຍພ້ອມດ້ວຍການບໍລິການຂອງພວກ ເຮົາເທິງເຮືອບິນ A320 ຕະຫຼອດທຸກຖ້ຽວບິນ.

Dr.Somphone DOUANGDARA President of Lao Airlines

Editor’s Note ສະບາຍດີທ່ານຜູ້ອ່ານທັງຫຼາຍ

Sabaidee readers,

This issue of Champa Holidays magazine has been published in time for when Lao people observe the “Water Festival” or Lao New Year, a cultural tradition celebrated since ancient times.

The coming New Year holiday will take place on 14, 15, and 16 April 2013, however the year will not change from 2555 to 2556 B.E. until 25 May.

ຈຳປາຮໍລິເດ ສະບັບນີ້ ພໍດີຖືກກົງກັບເທດສະການສົງການປີໃໝ່

ລາວ. ບຸນປະເພນີທີ່ປະຊາຊົນລາວ ໄດ້ປະຕິບັດມາຕັ້ງແຕ່ບູຮານນະການກົງ ກັບວັນທີ 14, 15 ແລະ 16 ເມສາ 2013. ສຳລັບການປ່ຽນ ພ.ສ. ຈາກ 2555 ເປັນ 2556 ແມ່ນແຮມຄ່ຳ 1 ເດືອນ 6 ກົງກັບວັນທີ 25 ພຶດສະພາ 2013.

ໃນສະບັບນີ້ພວກເຮົາ ພາທ່ານໜີຈາກຄວາມວຸ້ນວາຍໄປທຽ່ວທຳ

ມະຊາດແຂວງບໍແກ້ວ. ໄປເຮາະເຫີນທາງອາກາດກັບກິດຈະກຳເບີ່ງທະນີ ຫລື

ເອີ້ນອີກຢ່າງກີມໂບນໃນພາສາອັງກິດ ແລະ ພາທ່ານແວະຫລີ້ນຫ້ວຍຊາຍ

ຕາມເສັ້ນທາງສາມລຽມຄຳ. ກ່ອນພາທ່ານໄປຮຽນຮູ້ສິລະປະລະຫວ່າງຫັດຖະ ກຳພື້ນເມືອງ ແລະ ໂລກແຫ່ງສິລະປະຈາກນັກສິນລະປະປະເທດໄທ ແລະ

ເອື້ອຍນ້ອງເຜົ່າມົ້ງ ທີ່ໂປເຈັກສະເປດ ແຂວງຫລວງພະບາງ ແລະ ໃນລະຫວ່າງ

ເດືອນເມສາ ທ່ານຈະມ່ວນຊືນກັບ ຄວາມຍິ່ງໃຫ່ຍຂອງປະເພນີແຫ່ນາງສັງ ຂານກັບເທດສະການປີໃຫ່ມລາວ. ທີ່ທກ ຸ ປີແມ່ນອັງອໍດວ ້ ຍນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວທັງພາຍ

ໃນ ແລະ ຕ່າງປະເທດ. ປະເພນີນີ້ໄດ້ປະຕິບັດພ້ອມໆກັນໃນທົ່ວ ສປປ ລາວ

ແລະ ຢູ່ອ້ອມແອມລາວເຮົາກໍ່ມີຫລາຍປະເທດໄດ້ສະເຫຼີມສະຫຼອງປີໃໝ່

ເໝືອນກັບລາວເຮົາຕາມປະຕິທິນ ‘’ຈັນທະຣະຄະຕິ’’ ກໍມີ ເຂດປົກຄອງຕົນເອງ ສິບສອງພັນນາ ສປຈີນ, ມຽນມ້າ, ປະເທດໄທ, ຣາຊະອານາຈັກກຳປູເຈຍ.

ໃນໂອກາດປີໃໝ່ລາວນີ້ ຈຳປາຮໍລິເດ ຂໍອ່ວຍ ພອນໄຊແກ່ຜອ ູ້ າ່ ນທັງ

ຫຼາຍຈົ່ງມີຄວາມສຸກກາຍສຸກໃຈປາດຖະໜາສິ່ ງ ໃດຂໍ ໃ ຫ້ ໄ ດ້ ຕ າມທີ່ ຕັ້ ງ ອະທິ ຖານຈິດໄວ້.

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

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

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

Soukhee 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 | JOURNALIST: Marion Le Roux 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

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

ສາລະບານ

Contents

16 28

12

24

43 ຕາມເສັ້ນທາງສາມລ່ຽມຄຳ ປະສົບການທະນີ: ຕື່ນເຕັ້ນດ້ວຍການຫ້ອຍໂຫນ ຫຼວງພະບາງຜ່ານສາຍຕາຈຳປາໂຮລິເດ

12 Old Meets New on the Golden Triangle Circuit 16 The Gibbon Experience 21 Luang Prabang Five Highlights

ໂຮງແຮມພະລາດຊະວັງ ຊຽງທອງ

24 Xiengthong Palace Hotel

ຕົວເມືອງແຫ່ງລະດູບານໃໝ່ຊົ່ວນິລັນ

28 The City of Eternal Spring

ໂລກແຫ່ງຫັດຖະກຳພື້ນເມືອງ ແລະໂລກແຫ່ງສີລະປະ

34 Luang Prabang Project Space

ໜັງສາລະຄະດີເລື້ອງ “ຊ້າງ”

38 “Chang” Thunders through Vientiane

ມົນສະເໜ່ທາງເສດຖະກິດຂອງປາກແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງ

43 The Mekong Delta’s Economic Charm

ສ້າງຝັນປັນນ້ຳໃຈ

47 Dream Building and Heartfelt Sharing

okeo Province INSIDE LAOS

Mekong River ãÓŠÌŸÁÜÃ

Ban Nam Nyu įœŁĮĮłœĩňœ

Ł

t ha Na m łœ LuangļģĺňŒĻŊĹĦĮ To ŁĦļ

ĭ

Meung District À´õ É

Įĭ Ōĺŀœ

Ban To Lae įœŁĮīŗŒōĸ

Nam Kan NPA

İŒŁĺĿĻĦĹĮōĻŒĦĨŁĪ ĮłœģŁĮ

Dok Ngiew Casino ģŁĨńŎĮĪļģĦŃœĹ

Nam Fa Hotsprings įŗŒĮłœĽœļĮįœŁĮĮłœĴœŁ

Tonpheung District

The Gibbon Experience ŎĥĦģŁĮļŁĮŇĸŀģĨńĹĿĮŁőijŀĮ

ŌĵņļĦīʼnœĮŌıŃœĦ

Ban Nam Keung įœŁĮĮłœŌģŃŒĦ

Ban Don Chai įœŁĮĪļĮŐħ

Nam Nyorn Waterfall īŁĪĮłœĩļĮ

Don Sao Island

Houay Xay District À´õ £

Ban Pak Ngao

ĪļĮĨŁĹ

İŁģĦŁĹ

Souvannakhomkham ŌĵņļĦįňĽŁĮĺŇĹŀĮĮĿŎĥĵĥł

Houay Xay

Pha Oudom District

ĻœĹĩĨŁĩ

À´õ Ω´ ö

Ban Py Bounthong įœŁĮijŃįŇĮĭʼnĦ

Namtha River

Ban Nam Chang

D HA I L A N To T ĪŐĭ ĭŁĦļļģĺ ŀœ ŌĺĮ

įœŁĮĮłœħœŁĦ

ňŒ ĿŌĭ İ

By Marion Le Roux

12

Paktha District À´õ |Ã

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

ເດີນທາງທ່ອງທ່ຽວຕາມເສັ້ນທາງສາມລຽ່ມຄຳໂດຍການຂີ່ລົດຈັກ ຕາມຄຳແນະ ນຳຂອງອົງການທ່ອງທ່ຽວ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າສາມາດຮູ້ສຶກໄດ້ເຖິງ ປະຫວັດສາດເກົ່າແກ່ ແລະ ປະຫວັດຂອງການສ້າງສາພັດທະນາ: ເຊິ່ງເປັນຈຸດບັນຈົບຂອງຈີນ, ໄທ ແລະ ພະມ້າ, ແຂວງບໍ່ແກ້ວມີສະຖານທີ່ເກົ່າແກ່ ແລະ ຄວາມທັນສະໄໝທີ່ຄຸ້ມຄ່າກັບປະສົບການເດີນທາງ. ຂີ່ລົດຈັກໄປທາງພາກຕາເວັນຕົກສຽງເໜືອ ຈາກຫວ້ຍຊາຍຕາມ ເສັ້ນທາງແຄມນ້ຳຂອງໄລຍະ 50 ກິໂລແມັດ ຈົນເຖິງສຸວັນນະໂຄມຄຳ, ພູເຂົາທີ່ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍຄວາມຂຽວສົດຊື່ນ ເຮັດໃຫ້ເສັ້ນທາງຄົດຄ້ຽວ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຮູ້ສຶກວ່າກຳລັງເດີນ ທາງໄປຍັງໃຈກາງຂອງອານາຈັກທີ່ເກົ່າແກ່ເຊິ່ງເປັນດອນທີ່ມີຄວາມກວ້າງ 10,000 ເຮັກຕາ ອາໄສຢູ່ໂດຍເຜົ່າໄຕ 1,000 ປີ ກ່ອນໜ້ານີ້ ໃນປະຈຸບັນກໍ່ສາມາດເຫັນຮ່ອງຮອຍເສດເຫຼືອຂອງອານາຈັກລ້ານຊ້າງໃນສັດຕະວັດທີ 16 (ສະໄໝລ້ານນາ). ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຍາກເຫັນ ພະພຸດທະຮູບທີ່ເຮັດດ້ວຍຫີນສູງ 7 ແມັດທີ່ສ້າງຂຶ້ນໃນສະໄໝນັ້ນ.

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

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

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

INSIDE LAOS

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

ຕາມເສັ້ນທາງໄປສູ່ ສັດຕະວັດທີ 16, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າອອກຈາກເສັ້ນທາງລຽບແຄມ ແມ່ນ້ຳແລ້ວລ້ຽວໄປທາງບ້ານດອນທາດເຊິ່ງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ພົບເຫັນບັນ ດາແມ່ຍິງພວມເກັບເກສອນດອກງິ້ວເພື່ອເຮັດເປັນຍາປົວພະຍາດ ແລະ ລົດຂົນໝາກໄມ້ຂອງຈີນ. ແຕ່ພໍໄປເຖິງບ້ານດອນທາດກັບພົບຄວາມເປັນ ຈິງຂອງສັດຕະວັດທີ່ 21 ແລະ ກໍ່ບໍ່ທັນເຫັນຮ່ອງຮອຍຂອງ ພະພຸດທະຮູບ ຈາກຄຳແນະນຳຂອງຊາວບ້ານ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າກໍ່ໄດ້ຂີ່ລົດຕໍ່ໄປຕາມທາງດິນ ແດງຈົນໃນທີ່ສຸດກໍ່ໄດ້ເຫັນ ພະພຸດທະຮູບອົງດັ່ງກ່າວ ແລະ ກໍ່ຮູ້ສຶກວ່າບໍ່ ຄ່ອຍມີຫຍັງລົບກວນ ແລະ ກໍ່ບໍ່ມີຄົນເດີນທາງໄປທ່ຽວຊົມ.

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

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

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

ກ່ອນຈະເດີນທາງກັບ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ຖືກແນະນຳໃຫ້ໄປທ່ຽວຊົມກາຊີ ໂນສາມລຽ່ມຄຳ ຕັ້ງຢູ່ຫ່າງຈາກບ້ານປະມານ 30 ກິໂລແມັດ ໄປທາງ ບ້ານຕົ້ນເຜີ້ງ. ນີ້ບໍ່ແມ່ນສິ່ງທີ່ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຍາກເຫັນໃນເບື້ອງຕົ້ນ ແຕ່ຍ້ອນ ຄວາມຍາກຮູ້ຍາກເຫັນກໍ່ອົດໃຈບໍ່ໄຫວ ເຊິ່ງສະຖານທີ່ແຫ່ງນີ້ບໍ່ມີປ້າຍລະບຸ ມີພຽງສິ່ງປຸກສ້າງທີ່ທາສີຄຳ, ຖະໜົນໃໝ່, ສະອາດ ແລະ ລໍ້ມ້າທຽວຮັບສົ່ງ ລູກຄ້າທີ່ມາຈາກຊາຍແດນ. ນີ້ແມ່ນອີກໂລກໜຶ່ງ. ກັບມາຍັງຫ້ວຍຊາຍ ແລະ ກ່ອນທີ່ຈະເດີນໄປສຸວັນນາໂຄມຄຳໃນເຊົ້າວັນ ໃໝ່, ປິນຂັ້ນໄດໄປຊົມ ວັດຈອມເຂົາມະນີລັດ ທີ່ຫຍິ່ງໃຫ່ຍຕັ້ງຢູ່ເທິງຖະໜົນ ສາຍຫຼັກ. ນະຈຸດດັ່ງກ່າວທ່ານສາມາດຊົມທັດສະນີຍະພາບຕົວເມືອງ ແລະ ວິວເມືອງຊຽງຂອງຂ້າມແມ່ນ້ຳໄປຍັງຝັ່ງໄທ ແລະ ໃນເທິງພູດັ່ງກ່າວ ຍັງມີຄ້າຍ ທະຫານຝຣັ່ງຄ້າຍກາກໂນເຊິ່ງເປີດແຕ່ຕອນເຊົ້າເທົ່ານັ້ນ. ຄ້າຍ ດັ່ງກ່າວ ສ້າງຂຶ້ນໃນປີ 1900, ຄ້າຍດັ່ງກ່າວຖືວ່າເປັນຄ້າຍທີ່ໝັ້ນສຳຄັນ ທີ່ສຸດຂອງສະໄໝເມືອງຂຶ້ນຝຣັ່ງໃນອິນໂດຈິນ; ເຖິງວ່າປະຈຸບັນພວມໄດ້ ຮັບການບູລະ ນະ, ຄ້າຍກາກໂນກໍ່ແມ່ນໜຶ່ງໃນບັນດາຄ້າຍທະຫານຝຣັ່ງ ສະໄໝເມືອງຂຶ້ນທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບການປົກປັກຮັກສາດີທີ່ສຸດໃນລາວ.

Souvannakhomkham ancient city

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

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INSIDE LAOS

inside Laos  The Gibbon Experience: Zip-line Fun for Forest Conservation

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By Marion Le Roux

ພຽງແຕ່ບໍ່ພໍທໍ່ໃດເຫດການທີ່ເກີດຂຶ້ນກໍ່ອາດເຮັດໃຫ້ທ່ານປະຫຼາດໃຈໄດ້ເພາະພໍເຖິງເວລາ6ໂມງເຊົ້າກໍ່ມີຜູ້ມາຢ້ຽມຢາມ ຈາກເຮືອນຫຼັງໜຶ່ງໄປອີກເຮືອນຫຼັງໃໝ່. ເບິ່ງແລ້ວກໍ່ເຮັດໃຫ້ອົດຄຶດບໍ່ໄດ້ວ່າທຸກສິ່ງບໍ່ແມ່ນຄວາມຈິງ. ເນື່ອງຈາກເມື່ອຍລ້າ ຍ້ອນການຍ່າງປ່າຕະຫຼອດວັນ, ຈຶ່ງຫຼັບຕານອນແຕ່ຫົວຄ່ຳພ້ອມກັບທຸກສຽງຮ້ອງນັນມາຈາກທຸກສາລະທິດຂອງປ່າ ແລະ ໜຶ່ງໃນນັ້ນກໍ່ແມ່ນສຽງຮ້ອງຂອງທະນີທີ່ພະຍາຍາມຢົ້ວຢວນໃຫ້ທ່ານຫຼົງໄຫຼແລະຕິດຕາມຕົ້ນສຽງນັ້ນໄປ.

There are only a few circumstances in which I’d feel at ease welcoming strangers into my dwelling at 06:00 on a damp morning, and this was one. Then again, nothing seemed real. The forest sounds and a hard day’s trek had coaxed me to sleep, and now gibbons were singing in the golden mist below, as if teasing us to find them…or maybe not.

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

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“Tree House” By Guilhem

inside Laos  The Gibbon Experience: Zip-line Fun for Forest Conservation

6ໂມງເຊົ້າ: ປະເຊີນໜ້າກັບທຸກສິ່ງໃນປ່າ ຕະຫຼອດຄ່ຳຄືນອັນອົບອວນເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍກີ່ນອາຍແຫ່ງທຳ ມະຊາດທີ່ເຕັມປ່ຽມ, ພວກເຮົາອາໄສໃນເຮືອນເທິງຕົ້ນໄມ້ ສູ ງ ຫ່ າ ງຈາກໜ້ າ ດິ ນ 100ກ່ ວ າແມັ ດ ແລະຜູ້ ຢ້ ຽ ມຢາມໃນ ຕອນເຊົ້ າ ກໍ່ ສົ່ ງ ສັ ນ ຍານການມາເຖິ ງ ຂອງຕົ ນ ດ້ ວ ຍການ ຫ້ ອ ຍໂຫນຈາກຕົ້ ນ ໄມ້ ມ າເຖິ ງ ເຮື ອ ນໄມ້ ທີ່ ພ ວກເຮົ າ ພັ ກ ຄ້າງຄືນ. ແລະ ສິ່ງນັ້ນກໍ່ຄືວິຖີທີ່ທຸກຄົນຈະຕ້ອງໄດ້ນຳໃຊ້ ເພື່ອອອກພະຈົນໄພທ່ຽວຊົມທຳມະຊາດ, ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດ ແລະ ທະນີ ເຖິງວ່າບາງຄົນຈະຢ້ານຄວາມສູງແຕໍ່ກໍ່ຕ້ອງກັດ ແຂ້ ວ ຍີ້ ມ ແລ້ ວ ກໍ່ ຫ້ ອ ຍໂຫນຕົ ນ ເອງໄປຕາມເສັ້ ນ ເຊື ອ ກ ເໜືອນດັ່ງທະນີ. ທັງສອງປະສົບການນີ້ຕ້ອງໄດ້ໃຊ້ເວລາສອງວັນແລະສອງ ຄືນໃນປ່າແລະສາມາດນຳໃຊ້ເຄືອຂ່າຍສາຍສະລິງທີ່ແລ່ນ ຜ່ານປ່າທຸກລະດັບຈົນໄປເຖິງເຂດສະຫງວນໃນປ່າເລິກ. ອາດໃຊ້ເວລາເຖິງ2-3ຊົ່ວໂມງຕໍ່ວັນຫ້ອຍໂຫນຕາມລ່ອງ ນ້ ຳ ງາແລະທ່ າ ນອາດເລື ອ ກວ່ າ ຄື ນ ທຳອິ ດ ຫຼື ຄື ນ ທີ ສ ອງທີ່ ຈະໄປພັ ກ ເທິ ງ ເຮື ອ ນຕົ້ ນ ໄມ້ ໃ ກ້ ກັ ບ ນ້ ຳ ຕົ ກ ຕາດພ້ ອ ມໆ ກັບອາບນ້ຳເຢັນສົດຊື່ນຢູ່ກ້ອງເຮືອນ. ແນ່ນອນທ່ານສາ ມາດເລືອກເອງໄດ້ວ່າຈະໃຊ້ບໍລິການປະເພດໃດ ແຕ່ສິ່ງພິ ເສດກໍ່ຄືໂອກາດໃນການຊົມຕາເວັນຕົກແລະຕາເວັນຂຶ້ນ ຜ່ານຜ່າປາຍໄມ້. ເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າເລືອກເອົາບໍລິການທີ່ດີຈຶ່ງ ມີຄວາມສະດວກ ສະບາຍ ແລະ ຫຼູຫຼາໃນການນອນ, ແຕ່ໃນສະຖານທີ່ດັ່ງ ກ່ າ ວຖ້ າ ສະບາຍຫຼ າ ຍກໍ່ ອ າດເຮັ ດ ໃຫ້ ຮູ້ ສຶ ກ ວ່ າ ບໍ່ ມີ ຄ ວາມ ເປັນທຳມະຊາດ. ພາຍຫຼັງທີ່ໝອກກ້ອງເຮືອນເລີ່ມເຈືອຈາງ ພວກເຮົາກໍ່ສງັ ເກດເຫັນຄອບຄົວຝູງທະນີ ແລະ ກໍ່ໄດ້ພາກັນ ເບິ່ງພວກມັນຫ້ອຍໂຫນ ຈົນສຸດຊົ່ວສາຍຕາ ແລະ ນີ້ຄືສິ່ງ ເຕີມເຕັມພະລັງສຳລັບກິດຈະກຳພະຈົນໄພໃນມື້ທີສອງໃນ ປ່າອຸດົມສົມບູນແຫ່ງນີ້.

The thought of apish sirens amused me, but seemed natural in this environment.

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

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

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

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

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

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INSIDE LAOS

ປະສົບການໂຫນໂຕດ້ວຍເຊືອກສະລິງ… ການຫ້ອຍໂຫນໂຕດ້ວຍເຊືອກສະລິງເປັນກິດຈະກຳທີ່ສ້າງຄວາມເບີກບານ ມ່ວນຊື່ນໄດ້ສູງໂດຍບໍ່ຕ້ອງມີທັກສະຫຍັງຫຼາຍເປັນພິເສດ. ເຖິງວ່າບາງຄົນ ຈະຮູ້ສຶກຕື່ນເຕັ້ນ, ສັ່ນ ແລະ ຍ້ານຄວາມສູງ ແຕ່ມັນກໍ່ຄຸ້ມຄ່າ ເນື່ອງຈາກ ວ່ າ ປະສົ ບ ການນີ້ ຈ ະເຮັ ດ ໃຫ້ ທ່ າ ນຮູ້ ສຶ ກ ເໝື ອ ນການບິ ນ ປີ ນ ປ່ າ ຍເທິ ງ ທຸ ກ ລະດັ ບ ຂອງປ່ າ ຕຶ ບ ດົ ງ ໜາທີ່ ເ ຕັ ມ ໄປດ້ ວ ຍຄວາມອຸ ດົ ມ ທາງທຳມະຊາດ. ເມື່ອການເດີນທາງຮອດຈຸດ 500 ແມັດ ທ່ານກໍ່ຈະໄດ້ພັກຜ່ອນດູດດື່ມຄວາມ ມີເອກະລັກສະເພາະຂອງປະສົບການນີ້. ທ່ າ ນອາດຮູ້ ສຶ ກ ປະທັ ບ ໃຈຖ້ າ ຮັ ບ ຮູ້ ວ່ າ ປະສົ ບ ການທ່ ຽ ວຊົ ມ ທະນີ ແ ມ່ ນ ມີ ຫຼາຍຢ່າງໜ້າປະທັບໃຈເໜືອກ່ວາການສ້າງຄວາມມ່ວນຊື່ນ… ຜູ້ທີ່ລິເລີ່ມໂຄງການດີໆດັ່ງກ່າວເຊິ່ງແມ່ນນັກເສດຖະສາດໄດ້ປຽບກິດຈະ ກຳລິເລີ່ມນີ້ວ່າ “ກິດຈະກຳມ່ວນຊື່ນແບບເລັກນ້ອຍແຕ່ມີເປົ້າໝາຍທີ່ຍິ່ງ ໃຫ່ຍ”. ໂຄງການນີ້ມີເປົ້າໝາຍໃນການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອຄົນທອ້ງຖິ່ນໂດຍການຫັນ ປ່ຽນການສ້າງເສດຖະກິດຈາກການທຳລາຍປ່າມາເປັນການສ້າງເສດຖະ ກິດຈາກການອະນຸລັກປ່າໄມ້. ທຸລະກິດຄ້າໄມ້, ກະສິກຳປູກພຶດຊະນິດດຽວ ແບບນາຍທຶນ, ການຖາງປ່າເຮັດໄຮ່ເກີນຂອບເຂດເປັນສາເຫດຕົ້ນຕໍໃນ ການທຳລາຍປ່າເຂດຮ້ອນ. ໂຄງການປະສົບການທະນີໄດ້ຖືກມອບໝາຍ ໃຫ້ຄິດໃນມຸມມອງທີ່ແຕກຕ່າງ ແລະ ຈັດຕັ້ງປະຕິບັດ. ແຕ່ປີ 1996 ເປັນຕົ້ນມາ, ທີມງານໂຄງການໄດ້ສຸມໃສ່ ແລະ ຈັດຕັ້ງປະຕິ ບັດກິດຈະກຳປົກປັກຮັກສາປ່າດຳເນີນໂດຍຊາວບ້ານ ແລະ ອຳນາດການ ປົກຄອງທ້ອງຖິ່ນ. ໃນປີ 2004, ເຈົ້າໜ້າທີ່ປ່າໄມ້ຮ່ວມກັບບໍລິສັດອານີໂມ ໄດ້ສ້າງເຂດສະຫງວນທາງທຳມະຊາດຂອງແຂວງບໍ່ແກ້ວ ໂດຍມີການຮວບ ຮວມກິດຈະກຳເຊືອກສະລິງ ແລະ ເຮືອນຕົ້ນໄມ້ 15 ຫຼັງເຂົ້າກັນ ແລະ ໄດ້ມອບ ໝາຍໃຫ້ບໍລິສັດອານີໂມເປັນຜູ້ໃຫ້ບໍລິການປະສົບການທະນີ ເພື່ອເປັນ ການປົກປັກຮັກສາຊັບສິນອັນລ້ຳຄ່າຂອງທາງພາກເໜືອຂອງລາວເຊິ່ງມີ ຊາຍແດນຕິດກັບເຂດປ່າສະຫງວນນ້ຳທາ. ເຂດດັ່ງກ່າວມີເນື້ອທີ່ທັງໝົດ 123,000 ເຮັກຕາໂດຍມີການປະສົມປະສານລະຫວ່າງເຂດຮາບພຽງ ແລະ ພູຜາທີ່ມິລະດັບສູງແຕ່ 500 ແມັດເຖິງ 1500 ແມັດ.

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

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

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

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

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

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

ປະຈຸ ບັ ນ ໂຄງການດັ່ ງ ກ່ າ ວສາມາດສ້ າ ງ ການຈ້າງງານໄດ້ເຖິງ 120 ຕຳແໜ່ງ ແລະ 40 ຄົ ນ ກໍ່ ເ ຮັ ດ ວຽກປະຈຳປະກອບມີ ທັ ງ ລາວສູ ງ ລາວເທິງ ແລະ ລາວລຸ່ມ ແລະ ມີທັງໝົດ 12 ບ້ານທີ່ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມກິດຈະກຳທີ່ຫນ ັ ປ່ຽນຈາກການ ທຳລາຍມາເປັນການປົກປັກຮັກສາປ່າໄມ້. ສິ່ງທີ່ແຕກຕ່າງຈາກຜູ້ໃຫ້ບໍລິການທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ທົ່ວໄປ ໂຄງການປະສົບການທະນີເນັ້ນໃສ່ ການສະໜອງບໍລິການທີ່ມີຈັນຍາບັນໂດຍມີ ການເຮັດວຽກຮ່ວມກັບຊົນເຜົ່າຕ່າງໆບົນພື້ນ ຖານການມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມ, ນັບຖື ແລະ ມີຜົນປະ ໂຫຍດຮ່ວມກັນ. ອີ ກ ໜຶ່ ງ ໃນບັ ນ ດາກິ ດ ຈະກຳດີ ໆ ຂອງໂຄງ ການກໍ່ຄືກ ານຫັ ນ ປ່ ຽ ນການຖາງປ່ າ ເຮັ ດ ໄຮ່ ມາເປັ ນ ການເຮັ ດ ນາຄົ ງ ທີ່ ໂ ດຍການນຳ ໃຊ້ລະບົບຊົນລະປະທານ; ຈັດຕັ້ງໜ່ວຍ ຮັ ກ ສາປ່ າ ໂດຍມີ ກ ານໃຫ້ ເ ງິ ນ ເດື ອ ນຈາກ ໂ ຄ ງ ກ າ ນ ປ ະ ສົ ບ ກ າ ນ ທ ະ ນີ , ສ້ າ ງ ເ ຂ ດ ສະຫງວນໃນເນື້ອທີ່ 25% ຂອງເຂດສະ ຫງວນ ເພື່ອປູກຕົ້ນໄມ້ 100,000ຕົ້ນ ໃນແຕ່ ລະປີ ເ ພື່ ອ ສ້ າ ງເປັ ນ ເຂດສະຫງວນພິ ເ ສດ ໂ ດ ຍ ບໍ່ ມີ ກ າ ນ ອ ະ ນຸ ຍ າ ດ ໃ ຫ້ ຕັ ດ ໄ ມ້ ເ ພື່ ອ ເປົ້າໝາຍທາງການຄ້າ. ສະນັ້ນຈຶ່ງຂໍເຊີນ ຊວນທ່ານເດີນທາງມາທ່ຽວຊົມ ແລະ ມ່ວນ ຊື່ນກັບກິດຈະກຳທີ່ຫຼາກຫຼາຍ ເພື່ອເປັນສ່ວນ ໜຶ່ງຂອງໂຄງການ!

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

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

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

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

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

- Take the VIP bus from Vientiane to Luang Prabang (10 hours) and then to Houei Xai (12 hours). Vientiane-to-Luang Prabang VIP buses via Vang Vieng depart everyday from the Northern Bus Terminal at 08:00, 09:00, and 20:00 for LAK 120 000. You can buy a ticket at the bus station on the same day as you plan to leave or book passage at a Vientiane travel agency, which adds a fee for transportation to the bus station from the city centre.

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

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Hightlights

5

inside Laos  Five highlights in Luang Prabang

ຈຸດໜ້າສົນໃຈຂອງຫຼວງພະບາງຜ່ານສາຍຕາຈຳປາໂຮລິເດ

Champa Holidays: Five Highlights in

Luang Prabang

photos by Xiengthong Palace

ຫວ່າງບໍ່ດົນມານີ້ວາລາສານຈຳປາໂຮລິເດມີໂອກາດກັບ ຄືນໄປເມືອງຫຼວງພະບາງ ແລະ ທ່ານ ເບີນີ ໂລເຊັນບູມ ກໍ່ໄດ້ອອກຄົ້ນຫາເຖິງສິ່ງໃໝ່ໆແລະໜ້າສົນໃຈ. ເພີ່ນໄດ້ ພົບພໍ້ເຄື່ອງຫັດຖະກຳທີ່ຕິດສະຫຼາກ”ເຄື່ອງຜະລິດດ້ວຍ ມືໃນຫຼວງພະບາງ”, ຂີ່ຊ້າງພະຈົນໄພເພື່ອພັກແຮມໃນ ເຕັນທີ່ຫຼູຫຼາ, ຂີ່ລົດຖີບຊົມທັດສະນີຍະພາບພຽງແຕ່ໄລ ຍະ 15 ນາທີຈາກຕົວເມືອງ, ຄ້າຍຄຸມຂັງໃນສະໄໝ ເມືອງຂຶ້ນຖືກຫັນມາເປັນໂຮງແຮມລະດັບ 5 ດາວ ແລະ ເຄື່ອງດື່ມປະເພດຄ໋ອກເທວ Blood Marys ທີ່ດີທີສຸດຂອງລາວ.

Champa Magazine recently returned to Luang Prabang, and Bernie Rosenbloom sought out what was new and cool. He found handicrafts labelled “Handmade in Luang Prabang”, an elephant adventure with a night in a luxury tent, a postcard scene just 15 minutes by cycle from town, a colonial prison turned into a 5-star hotel, and Laos’ best Blood Marys.

21

Hightlights

inside Laos  Five highlights in Luang Prabang

1. ຍີ່ຫໍ້ຫລວງພະບາງ

2. ຢ້ອນເວລາຄືນ

1. Branded

2. Step Back in Time

ສະຫຼາກແລະເຄື່ອງໝາຍສິນຄ້າບອກໃຫ້ຮູ້ຫຼາຍໆຢ່າງກ່ຽວກັບຄົນທີ່ນຳໃຊ້ ຜະລິດຕະພັນນັ້ນ. ຕົວຢ່າງ, ຄອມພິວເຕີແລັບທອບທີ່ມີຮູບໜາກແອບເປີ້ນ ຖືກກັດທີ່ຕິດທາງດ້ານຫຼັງຂອງໜ້າຈໍໝາຍເຖິງວ່າບຸກຄົນທີ່ເປັນເຈົ້າຂອງມີ ເງິນຫຼາຍ, ແຕ່ວ່າສະຫຼາກຜະລິດຕະພັນທີ່ເຮັດດ້ວຍເຈ້ຍ, ເຄື່ອງປັ້ນດິນ ເຜົາ, ເຄື່ອງໄມ້ເອ້ຍ້ອງ, ກະຕ່າ, ເຄື່ອງປະດັບ, ແຜ່ນແພ ແລະ ໄມ້ແກະສະ ຫຼັກ ທີ່ສະມາຄົມຫັດຖະກຳຫຼວງພະບາງນຳສະເໜີອອກໃໝ່ອ່ານວ່າ “ເຮັດ ດ້ວຍມືໃນຫຼວງພະບາງ” ບອກໃຫ້ພວກເຮົາຮູ້ຫຍັງແດ່? ມັນສາມາດບອກ ໃຫ້ຮູ້ວ່າທ່ານປາຖະໜາທີ່ຈະສະໜັບສະໜູນເສດຖະກິດທ້ອງຖິ່ນດ້ວຍ ການຊື້ເຄື່ອງຫັດຖະກຳທີ່ມີສະຫຼາກເພື່ອເປັນທີ່ລະນຶກຫຼືຂອງຂັວນ. ຊອກຊື້ເຄື່ອງທີ່ມີສະຫຼາກ, ໄດ້ທີ່ຕະຫຼາດກາງຄືນ, ຮ້ານຄ້າໃນຕົວເມືອງ ແລະ ໃນບັນດາບ້ານທີ່ເປັນຕົ້ນກຳເນີດຂອງຜະລິດຕະພັນເລົ່ານັ້ນ.

Labels and logos say plenty about the person using the product. For example, a laptop with a bitten apple on the monitor’s back means that person has more money than me.

But, what do paper products, pottery, lacquerware, baskets, jewellery, textiles, and wooden carvings boasting the Luang Prabang Handicraft Association’s new “Handmade in Luang Prabang” labels say? They say you’re someone who wants to support the local economy by purchasing an authentic handcrafted souvenir or gift. You can find “Handmade in Luang Prabang” products at the Night Market, shops around town, and in the villages of origin.

ທ່ານຍັງຊົງຈຳຄວາມໜ້າຕື່ນເຕັ້ນໃນໄວເຍົາທີ່ໄດ້ຮວ ່ ມເດີນທາງກັບຂະບວນ ຊ້າງໃນສັດຕະວັດທີ19 ໄປຍັງດິນແດນທີ່ລຶກລັບ? Shangri Lao ສາມາດ ເຮັດໃຫ້ຄວາມຝັນນີ້ກາຍເປັນການພະຈົນໄພໃນຍາມຄ່ຳຄືນທີ່ມີເອກະ ລັກຍ່າງບໍ່ເປັນຕາໜ້າເຊື່ອ. ທ່ານທີ່ຢາກເປັນນັກສຳຫຼວດຈະຕ້ອງໄດ້ພັກ ຄ້າງຄືນໃນເຕັນທີ່ຫຼູຫຼາຂອງຂະບວນຊ້າງໂດຍມີການຕົກແຕ່ງດ້ວຍເຟີນີ ເຈີເຄື່ອງຫັດຖະກຳສະໄໝເກົ່າເທິງພື້ນທີ່ເຮັດດ້ວຍໄມ້ ແລະ ເດີນທາງ ພະຈົນໄພພາຍໃຕ້ຫົວຂໍ້ ທີ່ຄ້າຍຄືກັບບົດຄວາມຂອງ ທ່ານ ດຣ ພີ ເນັດສ ໃນໄລຍະການເດີນທາງໃນຊຸມປີ1980’ ຂອງເພີ່ນ. ທ່ານຈະໄດ້ເດີນຕາມ ຮອຍຂອງເພີ່ນໂດຍມີການເດີນທາງຜ່ານປ່າໄມ້ເທິງຫຼັງຊ້າງ ຢຸດຊົມ ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດໂດຍທ່ານສາມາດເລືອກລະຫວ່າງການຂີ່ຊ້າງ, ລ່ອງນ້ຳທີ່ ໂອບອ້ອມດ້ວຍໄມ້ໄຜ່ຫຼືການຍ່າງປ່າ.

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

3. ຂີ່ລົດຖີບຊົມທັດສະນີຍະພາບ

ເຊົ່າລົດຖີບ ແລະ ຂີ່ໄປທາງຕອນໃຕ້ຂອງເມືອງຫຼວງພະບາງປະມານ15ນາທີ (3.5ກິໂລແມັດ) ຈົນກ່ວາຈະ ເຖິງຂົວນ້ຳດົງ. ຕະຫຼອດໄລຍະທາງກໍ່ຈະມັກເຫັນລົດຕູ້ ແລະ ລົດເມພວມມຸ່ງໜ້າໄປຕາດກວາງຊີ, ທິວທັດຢູ່ ເທິງຂົວບ້ານຄ້ອຍສາມາດຊົມທັດສະນີຍະພາບຫຼາຍຢ່າງ ບໍ່ວ່າຈະເປັນຮ່ອງຮອຍສິ່ງປຸກສ້າງສະໄໝເມືອງ ຂຶ້ນຝຣັ່ງ. ໃນໄລຍະຍາມນ້ຳມາກ, ກໍ່ຈະເຫັນເຮືອມາຈອດຢູ່ແຄມຝັ່ງນ້ຳດົງຢ່າງຫຼວງຫຼາຍແຕ່ພໍນ້ຳລົດກໍ່ຈະ ເຫັນໄທບ້ານພາກັນສັບຊ່າວດີນເພື່ອປຸກພຶດພັນທັນຍາຫານໃສ່ຝືນດີນອັນເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍຄວາມອຸດົມສົມບູນ ບວກກັບວິວຂົວອູ່ຂ້າມແມ່ນ້ຳທີ່ຖືວ່າເປັນ ສາກຫຼັງກໍ່ຍິ່ງໄດ້ອັດທະລົດ. ທ່ານສາມາດຍຸດພັກຕາມຮ້ານເຝີ ຫຼື ຮ້ານອາຫານແຄມທາງ ແລະ ຖ່າຍຮູບໄດ້.

3. Pedal to a Postcard

Rent a bicycle and pedal south of Luang Prabang Town for about 15 minutes (3.5 km), until you reach the Nam Dong River Bridge and Lanith’s soon-to-open Balcony Bar & Restaurant. Often whizzed over by vans and busses heading to the Kuangsi Waterfalls, the bridge scene at Ban Khoy offers plenty, including remnants of a French colonial span.

During high waters, boats ply the Nam Dong. When the river runs low, you can watch farmers tending to vegetable gardens on the reclaimed fertile banks, with a wooden suspension bridge crossing the river behind them. Stop at the roadside noodle shop or restaurant and take a snapshot. www.tourismluangprabang.org

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INSIDE LAOS

4. ປຽ່ນຄ້າຍຄຸມຂັງມາເປັນໂຮງແຮມ ຖ້າຫາກວ່າທ່ານເຮັດວຽກໃນອຸດສະຫະກຳການເງິນ ແລະ ອາດສົງໄສ ວ່າຊີວິດໃນກຳແພງເປັນຄືແນວໃດ ທ່ານຄວນໄປພັກທີ່ໂຮງແຮມ Hotel de la Paix, ເຊິ່ງເຄີຍເປັນຄ້າຍຄຸມຂັງສະໄໝເມືອງຂຶ້ນຝຣັ່ງມີອາຍຸ100 ກວ່າປີທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບການບູລະນະໃໝ່ ທ່ານ Warden Kevin M O’Hagan ໃຊ້ເວລາພຽງສອງປີເພື່ອປ່ຽນຄ້າຍຄຸມຂັງດັ່ງກ່າວໃຫ້ກາຍມາເປັນໂຮງ ແຮມລະດັບ5ດາວທີ່ຫຼູຫຼາ, ມີອ່າງອາບນ້ຳ ແລະ ຫ້ອງອາບສ່ວນຕົວຂະ ໜາດໃຫ່ຍ. ດ້ານນອກກໍ່ມີສະລອຍນ້ຳ ແລະ ສວນ ທີ່ເຄີຍເປັນບ່ອນອອກ ກຳລັງກາຍຂອງນັກໂທດ. ນອກນີ້ທາງໂຮງແຮມຍັງບໍລິການດ້ານສະປາ ແລະ ອາຫານຊັ້ນຍອດຂອງລາວ ແລະ ຕາເວັນຕົກຄຽງຄູ່ກັບບໍລິການຮັກ ສາຄວາມປອດໄພຄຸນນະພາບສູງ.

4. Go Directly to Jail

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

inside Laos  Five highlights in Luang Prabang

5. ເຄື່ອງດືມຄ໋ອກເທວ Bloody Mary ທີ່ດີທີ່ສຸດຂອງລາວ

ເຄື່ອງດື່ມຄ໋ອກເທວ Bloody Mary ທີ່ບາ ແລະ ຮ້ານອາຫານ Sammy Lavorel ແມ່ນເຄື່ອງດຶ່ມປະເພດຄ໋ອກເທວທີ່ດີທີ່ສຸດຂອງລາວ. ຜົນງານດັ່ງ ກ່າວແມ່ນເປັນຂອງພະນັກງານປຸງເຫຼົ້າທີ່ສາມາດສ້າງສັນປຸງແຕ່ຄ໋ອກເທວ ໄດ້ເຖິງ 50 ກ່ວາຊະນິດແຕກຕ່າງກັນ. ເຖິງປ້າຍຈະຂຽນບອກວ່າເຄື່ອງປະ ກອບອາຫານທຸກຢ່າງມາຈາກລາວເພື່ອເຮັດຫນ້າຜິດຊ້າ, ປາສຕາ, ເບີເກີ້ ແລະ ເທັກເມັກ, ແຕ່ພະນັກງານເສີບຊ້ຳພັດເວົ້າວ່າຊູຊີເປັນອາຫານຍອດນິ ຍົມຂອງຮ້ານ. ໃນຮ້ານມີການຕົກແຕ່ງຕາມແບບຫິບຫ໋ອບ ແລະ ມີການບັນ ເລັງເພງແຈສໃນຍາມຄ່ຳຄືນດ້ວຍຄ່າບໍລິການທີ່ສົມເຫດສົມຜົນ. ອອ

5. Laos’ Best Bloody Mary

I’m not sure if it is the spices or vodka that beats the morning-after beast and kick-starts the day, but the Bloody Marys at Sammy Lavorel’s S Bar & Restaurant are among the best.

The credit goes to the bartenders, who know how to concoct more than 50 different cocktails. They even mix “Mocktails” for teetotallers. Though the menu displays everything from Lao Tapas to pizza, pasta, burgers, and Tex-Mex, the waiter said the fusion sushi was the most popular dish, with patrons raving about the wasabi. And in spite of the hip decor with jazz that switches to a night-time DJ, the price is right. www.facebook.com/Sbarlaos

www.hoteldelapaixlp.com

photos by Xiengthong Palace

Vientiane-based travel writer, Bernie Rosenbloom, has covered Southeast Asia for more than 15 years. He has authored several Lao provincial guidebooks, and alongside his role as English editor for Champa Holidays, he contributes travel articles to various publications and websites. Bernie is also the public relations consultant for Lanith (Lao National Institute for Tourism and Hospitality) and the New Zealand-Laos CBT-SED project.

E: bernie.rosenbloom@gmail.com.

W: www.bernco-laos .com.

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INSIDE LAOS

ໂຮງແຮມພະລາດຊະວັງຊຽງທອງ “ຄວາມສະຫງົບທ່າມກາງຄວາມຫຼູຫຼາ”

Xiengthong Palace Hotel Tranquillity amidst Luxury ໃນຕົວເມືອງທີ່ມີຊື່ສຽງໃນການທຳລາຍສະຖິຕິດ້ານຈຳນວນນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວ, ມັນຫາຍາກທີ່ຈະພົບສະຖານທີ່ໆ ສາມາດຕອບສະໜອງໄດ້ທັງສອງຢ່າງ ໃນເວລາດຽວກັນ: ຄວາມສະຫງົບສຸກ ແລະ ຄວາມໜ້າຕື່ນເຕັ້ນ ເຖິງແມ່ນ ວ່າສະຖານທີ່ນີ້ຈະຕັ້ງຢູ່ໃກ້ກັບວັດຊຽງທອງ, ເຊິ່ງເປັນວັດທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບການສັກ ກາລະບູຊາສູງສຸດ ໃນຫຼວງພະບາງ ແລະ ຕັ້ງແຄມຢູ່ແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງ, ໂຮງແຮມ ພະລາກຊະວັງຊຽງທອງ ສາມາດເສກສັນ ທຸກສິ່ງໄດ້. ນະສະຖານທີ່ ດັ່ ງ ກ່ າ ວທ່ າ ນກ່ ຳ ລັ ງ ຢູ່ ໃ ນຈຸ ດ ໃຈກາງຂອງສິ່ ງ ທີ່ ກ ຳລັ ງ ເກີ ດ ຂຶ້ນໃນຫຼວງພະບາງ ແລະ ມັນກໍ່ຖກ ື ຕ້ອງແລ້ວເມື່ອກ້າວບາດຍ່າງອອກຈາກ ໂຮງແຮມຕາມທາງຍ່າງທີ່ມີເງົາຮົ່ມເຢັນ ແລະ ສະຫງົບສຸກໂອບອ້ອມໄປ ດ້ວຍຕົ້ນດອກເຈ້ຍ, ດອກຈຳປາພວມເບັ່ງບານ ແລະ ຮ້ານຄ້າຂອງນາຍຊ່າງ ຫັດຖະກຳຕາມສອງແຄມທາງ, ທ່ານສາມາດຜ່ອນຄາຍໄປກັບຄວາມຮູ້ສຶກ ແປກໆງ່າຍໆໃນຕົວເມືອງ ແລະ ກໍ່ຢູ່ໃກ້ກັບສະຖານທີ່ທ່ອງທ່ຽວທີ່ໜ້າສົນ ໃຈທີ່ສຸດຂອງຕົວເມືອງ, ປາສະຈາກຄວາມກັງວົນໃຈໃດໆທັງໝົດ.

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I

n a city with soaring visitor numbers, tourists find it difficult, if not impossible, to relish in both tranquillity and excitement, but Luang Prabang’s Xiengthong Palace Hotel, once the residence of Lao kings, has succeeded in providing this atmosphere at its property facing the Mekong River next to the revered Wat Xiengthong Temple.

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

inside Laos  accomodation  XiengThong Palace

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

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

ໂຮງແຮມແຫ່ງນີ້ເລີ່ມໃຫ້ບໍລິການໃນທ້າຍປີ 2011 ມີ 26 ຫ້ອງນອນ ທີ່ສົດຊື່ນ ແລະ ກ້ວາງຂວາງທຸກໆຫ້ອງໄດ້ຮັບການຕົກແຕ່ງດ້ວຍລົດນິ ຍົມທີ່ລະອຽດອ່ອນ. ເຊິ່ງໄດ້ມີການໃສ່ໃຈລົງລາຍລະອຽດ ແລະ ການ ບໍລິການທີ່ເໝາະກັບຄວາມຕ້ອງການຂອງລູກຄ້າ, ໂດຍມີການເອ້ຢ້ອງ ດ້ວຍພາບແຕ້ມສີລະປະສະໄໝໃໝ່ ແລະ ມີການສອດແຊກອອກແບບ ຢ່າງມີລັກສະນະວັດທະນະທຳ, ອັນເຮັດໃຫ້ທຸກຫ້ອງມີລັກສະນະພິເສດ ແລະ ຮູ້ສຶກອົບອຸ່ນ. ສິ່ງປຸກສ້າງແຫ່ງນີ້ເຄີຍເປັນພະລາຊະວັງເກົ່າໃນສະໄໝລາຊະອານາ ຈັກ ລ້ານຊ້າງ ແລະ ກໍ່ເຄີຍຖືກນຳໃຊ້ໂດຍ ເຈົ້າອານຸວົງ ໃນສັດຕະວັດທີ 19 ເຊິ່ງ ຕໍ່ມາກໍ່ໄດ້ຖືກຮັກສາໄວ້ ແລະ ຮັບການບູລະນະ.

25

INSIDE LAOS

ຮັບປະທານອາຫານທີ່ ໂຮງແຮມຊຽງທອງພາເລັດ ກໍ່ເປັນອີກປະສົບການ ໜຶ່ ງ ທີ່ ບໍ່ ຄ ວນພາດເນື່ ອ ງຈາກວ່ າ ສະຖານທີ່ ດັ່ ງ ກ່ າ ວສະໜອງບໍ ລິ ກ ານອາ ຫານທີ່ມີລັກສະນະສາກົນຄຸນນະພາບສູງ ບວກກັບເຫຼົ້າແວງຊັ້ນຍອດມີໄວ້ ຫຼາກຫຼາຍເພື່ອໃຫ້ທ່ານເລືອກທີ່ ຮ້ານອາຫານຄົວແຄມຂອງ. ນອກນີ້ທາງໂຮງແຮມຍັງມີບໍລິການນວດແຜນໂບຮານເພື່ອເຮັດໃຫ້ທ່ານຮູ້ ສຶກດີ ແລະ ຜ່ອນຄາຍຫຼັງຈາກເດີນທາງທ່ອງທ່ຽວຕະຫຼອດວັນ ແລະ ບໍລກ ິ ານ ຮົມຢາເພື່ອເປັນການບຳບັດຮັກສາສຸຂະພາບໃນຫ້ອງທີ່ເປັນສ່ວນຕົວ. ແນ່ນອນທ່ານທີ່ມາພັກເຊົາໃນ ໂຮງແຮມຊຽງທອງພາເລັດ ແຫ່ງນີ້ ຄວາມ ຄາດຫວັງຂອງທ່ານຈະຖືກຕອບສະໜອງຕາມຄຳຂັວນຂອງໂຮງແຮມທີ່ວ່າ: “ຄວາມສະຫງົບທ່າມກາງຄວາມຫຼູຫຼາ “ແຕ່ຕາມຄວາມຈິງແລ້ວໂຮງແຮມ ແຫ່ງນີ້ຊຳພັດສະໜອງຍິ່ງກົ່ວ ຄວາມສະຫງົບ ແລະ ຄວາມຫຼູຫຼາ ເນື່ອງຈາກ ວ່າຄວາມໜ້າຕື່ນເຕັ້ນຂອງຕົວເມືອງກໍ່ຢູ່ໃກ້ກວ່າທີ່ທ່ານຄິດ.

26

inside Laos  accomodation XiengThong Palace

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

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

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

27

Outside Destination

outside destination  The City of Eternal Spring

photos by Sergey Kahn

ຕົວເມືອງແຫ່ງລະດູບານໃໝ່ຊວ ົ່ ນິລນ ັ The City of Eternal Spring

By Bernie Rosenbloom

ພໍ່ຄ້າຕາມເສັ້ນທາງສາຍໄໝທີ່ເດີນທາງໄປທົ່ວຈີນສອງພັນປີທີ່ຜ່ານໄດ້ໃຫ້ ສົມຍານາມເມືອງຄຸນມິງຢ່າງດີເລີດວ່າເປັນ ‘’ເມືອງແຫ່ງລະດູບານໃໝ່ຊົ່ວ ນິລັນ” ຍ້ອນຫຍັງຈຶ່ງເອີ້ນຊື່ນີ້? ພໍ່ຄ້າຊາວຫັ້ນກຸ່ມນີ້ໄດ້ສັງເກດເຫັນວ່າບໍລິ ເວນສ່ວນໃຫ່ຍໃນຈີນແມ່ນລະດູຮ້ອນ, ແຕ່ຄຸນມິງຊ້ຳພັດມີອາກາດເຢັນ.ໃນ ຍາມໜາວທາງພາກເໜືອອາກາດໜາວຈົນເປັນນ້ຳກ້ອນ, ດອກໄມ້ຊຳພັດ ເບັ່ງບານໃນເມືອງລະດູບານໃໝ່ຊົ່ວນິລັນ. ລະຫວ່າງເດືອນມີນາ ຫາ ຕຸລາ, ອາກາດໃນເມືອງຄຸນມິງ-ນະຄອນຫຼວງ ທາງຕອນໃຕ້ຂ ້ ອງຈີນມີອາກາດເຢັນສະບາຍປະມານ 10 ອົງສາໂດຍສະເລ່ຍ, ແຕ່ເດືອນມິຖຸນາ ຫາ ກັນຍາແມ່ນມີຝົນຕົກ ສ່ວນເດືອນພະຈິກ ຫາ ກຸມພາ ຈະແມ່ນລະດູໜາວເຊິ່ງຕອນເຊົ້າອາດມີຫິມະຕົກ. ຄຸນມິງເຊິ່ງເຄີຍຖືກເອີ້ນວ່າ ຕຸໂອດົງ ຕັ້ງຢູ່ບໍລິເວນໜອງດຽນຈິ ແລະ ຖືວ່າ ເປັນບ່ອນບັນຈົບຂອງຍຸກທອງແດງເຊິ່ງມີເສັ້ນທາງເຊື່ອມຕໍ່ໄປເຖິງອິນເດຍ ແລະ ອາຊີຕາເວັນອອກສ່ຽງໃຕ້ ແລະ ບັນດາຫົວເມືອງໃຫ່ຍໃນທົ່ວຈີນ. ໃນອະດິດຄຸນມິງຕົກຢູ່ພາຍໃຕ້ການຄວມຄຸມຈາກຫຼາຍຊົນເຜົ່າ ແລະ ຣາຊະ ອານາຈັກພາຍໃນປະເທດ ແລະ ຈົນເຖິງສັດຕະວັດທີ19, ປະເທດລ່າ ເມືອງຂຶ້ນອັງກິດ ແລະ ຝຣັ່ງໄດ້ເຂົ້າມາຍັງດິນແດນດັ່ງກ່າວ ແລະ ປ່ຽນຊື່ ຈາກຕຸໂອດົງມາເປັນຄຸນມິງ ແລະ ເມືອງດັ່ງກ່າວໄດ້ຮັບການພັດທະນາ ກາຍມາເປັນສູນກາງການຜະລິດອຸດສະຫະກຳໃນໄລຍະສົງຄາມໂລກຄັ້ງ ທີ II. ສຳລັບການຄົ້ນຄ້ວາລົງເລີກກ່ຽວກັບປະຫວັດສາດອັນໜ້າຫຼົງໄຫຼ ຂອງຂົງເຂດດັ່ງກ່າວ ທ່ານສາມາດເຂົ້າໄປທ່ຽວຊົມ ແລະ ສຶກສາຄົ້ນຄ້ວາໄດ້ ທີ່ຫໍພິພິດຕະພັນແຂວງຢູນານ ແລະ ການວາງສະແດງສິ່ງຂອງຫຼາຍກ່ວາ 100,000 ຢ່າງ.

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

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

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

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

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

outside destination  The City of Eternal Spring

ສຳຫຼວດເມືອງຄຸນມິງ

ນອກເໜືອຈາກຄວາມໜ້າຫຼົງໄຫຼທາງປະຫັວດສາດແລ້ວ, ໄມ້ດອກ, ຕົ້ນໄມ້, ປ່າໄມ້ ແລະ ຄວາມຂຽວສົດຊື່ນອື່ນໆຂອງຕົວເມືອງເຮັດໃຫ້ຕົວເມືອງດັ່ງ ກ່າວນອນໃນແຜນທີ່ການທ່ອງທ່ຽວ. ເມືອງແຫ່ງລະດູບານໃໝ່ຊົ່ວນິລັນໃນ ປະຈຸບນ ັ ແມ່ນເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍສິ່ງປຸກສ້າງເພື່ອສຳລັບງານວາງສະແດງພືດສວນ ໂລກໃນປີ 1999. ຕຶກສູງທາງດ້ານຂວາຖືກສ້າງຂຶ້ນຢ່າງໂດດເດັ່ນສະຫງ່າ. ແລະ ການລົງທຶນດັ່ງກ່າວກໍ່ຄຸ້ມຄ່າ. ຕາມການລາຍງານຂອງຜູ້ອຳນວຍການ ຕະຫຼາດບໍລິສັດທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ທ່ານ ລັບ ຊາງ, ໃຫ້ຮູ້ວ່ານັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວຕ່າງປະ ເທດຈຳນວນຫຼາຍຍັງມີຄວາມປາດຖະໜາທີ່ຈະເດີນທາງໄປທ່ຽວຊົມ 34 ສວນທີ່ວາງສະແດງໃນງານພືດສວນໂລກ. ສວນທີ່ຖືກຈັດວາງສະແດງນັ້ນ ແມ່ ນ ມີ ຄ ວາມສຳຄັ ນ ຫຼ າ ຍຕໍ່ ນັ ກ ທ່ ອ ງທ່ ຽ ວເນື່ ອ ງຈາກວ່ າ ເຂົ າ ເຈົ້ າ ໄດ້ ຮ ຽນ ຮູ້ກ່ຽວກັບພັນພືດຕ່າງໆຂອງໂລກ ແລະ ກໍ່ຮູ້ວ່າພືດດັ່ງກ່າວຊ່ວຍປົກປ້ອງ ໂລກແນວໃດ. ສະຖານທີ່ທີ່ຊວນໃຫ້ຫຼົງໄຫຼທີ່ສຸດໃນຕົວເມືອງປະກອບມີປ່າຫີນ , ເຊິ່ງໃນນີ້ ແມ່ນປະກອບມີພິພິດຕະພັນຖ້ຳຫີນ ແລະ ເຂດທິວທັດຈີອູຊຽງລ້ວນແຕ່ມີຊື່ ສຽງອັນໜ້າປະທັບໃຈໃນບັນດານັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າ: ມີຖ້ຳ, ພູເຂົາ ແມ່ນ້ຳ, ຜາສູງຊັນ ແລະ ຮິດຄອງວັດທະນະທຳຊົນເຜົ່າອັນຊົງຄຸນຄ່າ. ນອກນີ້, ບໍລິສັດທ່ອງທ່ຽວຍັງແນະນຳໃຫ້ທ່ານໄປທ່ຽວຊົມບ້ານຊົນເຜົ່າແບບ ຢ່າງຂອງຢູນານເຊິ່ງທ່ານສາມາດທ່ຽວຊົມຊົງເຮືອນແບບຢ່າງຂອງ26 ຊົນ ເຜົ່າ. ນອກຈາກສະຖານທີ່ດັ່ງກ່າວແລ້ວຍັງມີສວນສາທາລະນະແຄມໜອງ ນ້ຳທີ່ໃຫ່ຍທີ່ສດ ຸ ໃນເມືອງ ແລະ ວັດຍວນທົງທີ່ມອ ີ າຍຸເຖິງ 1200 ປີຕງັ້ ຢູເ່ ທິງຈອມພູ.

Explore Kunming As intriguing as Kunming’s history is, the city’s flowers, trees, shrubs, and other greenery are what placed the city on the tourism map. Today’s City of Eternal Spring is rooted in a construction spree that prepped it for the 1999 World Horticultural Exposition.

Towers, motorways, and bridges cropped up among the parks, lakes, rivers, and wooden shops.

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

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

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

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

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Outside Destination

ສຳລັບນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວທີ່ມໂ ີ ອກາດເດີນທາງໄປໃນໄລຍະທ້າຍເດືອນເມສາ ຫາ ຕົ້ນເດືອນພຶດສະພາ, ເທດສະການວັດທະນະທຳ ແລະ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວສາກົນ ເມືອງຄຸນໝິງນຳສະເໜີການສະແດງດົນຕີ, ເຕັ້ນ, ສີລະປະ ແລະ ຫັດຖະ ກຳທ້ອງຖິ່ນ ແລະ ຫັດຖະກຳຊົນເຜົ່າກໍ່ມີການວາງສະແດງຕະຫຼອດໄລຍະ ສະເຫຼີມສະຫຼອງ 3 ອາທິດ. ສຳລັ ບ ທ່ າ ນທີ່ ຄິ ດ ເຖິ ງ ຂອງຝາກຂອງທີ ລ ະນຶ ກ ກໍ່ ສ າມາດຊອກຊື້ ໄ ດ້ ທີ່ ຕ ະ ຫຼາດດອກໄມ້ ແລະ ນົກໃນເຂດເມືອງເກົ່າຄຸນມິງເຊິ່ງທ່ານສາມາດຊອກຊື້ ເຄື່ອງປະດັບ ແລະ ສິນຄ້າປະເພດຕ່າງໄດ້. ສຳລັບທ່ານທີ່ຕ້ອງການສ້າງຄວາມສົດຊື່ນ, ໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນຜູ້ທີ່ມັກດຶ່ມ ຊາກໍ່ມີຫຼາຍຮ້ານທີ່ບໍລິການຕົ້ນຕຳຫຼັບຜູ້ເອີທີ່ເປັນປະໂຫຍດແກ່ສຸຂະພາບ, ຫຼືວ່າທ່ານອາດລີ້ມລອງລົດຊາດໝີ່ທີ່ມີຊື່ສຽງຂອງເມືອງເຊິ່ງສາມາດເລືອກ ໝີ່ສະໜິດຕ່າງໄດ້ຫຼືເຂົ້າປຽກເຂົ້າກໍ່ມີຊື່ສຽງເຊັ່ນກັນແຕ່ສິ່ງທີ່ບໍ່ຄວນພາດກໍ່ ແມ່ນໄກ່ຕຸ໋ນຄຸນໝິງທີ່ມີຊື່ສຽງ. ຜູທ ້ ມ ີ່ ກ ັ ຢາສູບກໍ່ມໃ ີ ຫ້ບລ ໍ ກ ິ ານຢ່າງຫຼາກຫຼາຍເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າຢາສູບຈາກເມືອງ ນີ້ມີຊື່ສຽງຍ້ອນມີສານເຄມີໜ້ອຍເຊິ່ງຜູ້ຊື້ສາມາດຊອກຊື້ຢາສູບທີ່ມີລາຄາ ປະມານຖືກປະມານຕຸດລະ 40$ -50$ແລ້ວແຕ່ສະພາບເສດຖະກິດຂອງໃຜລາວ. ສຳລັ ບນັກຕີກ໋ອບກໍ່ມີສະໜາມທີ່ ມີ ມາດຕະຖານການແຂ່ ງຂັ ນລະດັບສາ ກົນໄວ້ບໍລິການ. ເນື່ອງຈາກສະພາບພູມມີປະເທດເອື້ອອຳນວຍຈຶ່ງເຮັດ ໃຫ້ການອອກແບບສະໜາມກ໋ອບໃນຄຸນໜິງມີຄວາມສວຍງາມເປັນພິເສດ ເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າມີພູເຂົາ ແລະ ໜອງນ້ຳທຳມະຊາດທີ່ຫຼວງຫຼາຍ.

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

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

According to Mr Zhou, “Kunming offers wax prints, Sani handbags, and Dai brocade, and most can be found at Jinma Biji Archway at Jinbi Road. The Flower and Bird Market at Old Kunming Quarter has numerous stands selling jewellery and other curios.”

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

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

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

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photos by Sergey Kahn

outside destination  The City of Eternal Spring

ສະຖານທີ່ພັກເຊົາ

ເມືອງແຫ່ງລະດູບານໃໝ່ຊົ່ວນິລັນ ມີໂຮງແຮມລະດັບ 5 ດາວຫຼາຍກ່ວາ 100 ແຫ່ງ ເພື່ອຕອບສະໜອງຄວາມຕ້ອງ ການຂອງນັ ກ ເດີ ນ ທາງແຕ່ ລ ະປະເພດບໍ່ ວ່ າ ຈະເປັ ນ ນັ ກ ເດີນທາງແບບຄອບຄົວຫຼືນັກທຸລະກິດເດີນທາງເຂົ້າຮ່ວມ ກອງປະຊຸມຕ່າງໆ. ສະຖານທີ່ພັກເຊົາສ່ວນໃຫ່ຍແມ່ນຢູ່ ໃກ້ກັບສະໜາມບິນ ແລະ ເສັ້ນທາງຫຼັກຂອງຕົວເມືອງ. ນັ ກ ທຸ ລ ະກິ ດ ຫຼື ຊ າວຄ້ າ ຂາຍທີ່ ມີ ຖ ານະດີ ມັ ກ ຈະພັ ກ ໃນ ໂຮງແຮມຊາກູຣະຄຸນໝິງ. ນອກນີ້ຍັງມີໂຮງແຮມລະດັບ 4 ດາວ ໂຮງແຮມເສດຖະກິດ ແລະ ການຄ້າຢູນານທີ່ມີຊື່ສຽງ ໃນການໃຊ້ເປັນບ່ອນຈັດກອງປະຊຸມໃຫ່ຍ, ຄົນໃນວົງ ການບັນເທິງ ແລະ ເຈົ້າໜ້າທີ່ພາກລັດກໍ່ມັກຈະໃຊ້ບໍລິ ການ. ໂຮງແຮມນີ້ມີຊື່ສຽງຍ້ອນສະໜອງລາຍການອາ ຫານເຖິງ 1,188 ລາຍການທີ່ຖືກບັນທຶກໃນປຶ້ມກິນເນັດ ບຸກ. ນອກນີ້ຍັງມີໂຮງແຮມອື່ນອີກຈຳນວນໜຶ່ງທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບ ຄວາມນິຍົມ ແລະ ຕັ້ງຢູ່ຈຸດໃຈກາງດ້ານເສດຖະກິດຄຸນ ໝິງຈີນຈຽງ. ເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າມີຫຼາຍສິ່ງໃຫ້ຊົມ ແລະ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ແລະ ທາງເລືອກບ່ອນພັກເຊົາທີ່ຫຼາກຫຼາຍ ນອກນີ້ຍັງມີຖ້ຽວບິນ ຕົງຈາກວຽງຈັນ, ເມືອງລະດູບານໃໝ່ຊົ່ວນິລັນຈຶ່ງເປັນອີກ ທາງເລືອກໜຶ່ງສຳລັບການເດີນທາງທ່ອງທ່ຽວໃນປະເທດ ໃກ້ຄຽງ.

Accommodation photos by Sergey Kahn

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

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

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

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

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

31 photos by Sergey Kahn

S O A L e r o Expl y a w O A L thecause you care!

Be

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

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INSIDE LAOS

ເວທີ

inside Laos  art Luang Prabang Project Space

ຫຼວງພຣະບາງ

ລະຫວ່າງໂລກແຫ່ງຫັດຖະກຳພື້ນເມືອງ ແລະໂລກແຫ່ງສີລະປະ

Project Space

Luang Prabang

Where traditional handicrafts meet the world of art

By Marion Le Roux

If you don’t know about it, you might miss the modest building shouldered by appliance and hardware shops on Kitsalat Road, and that would be a shame, as the three-storey, 1970s Vietnamese-style house at the uphill path to the Luang Prabang Ethnic Museum holds Project Space, a cutting-edge art gallery, studio, and rooftop terrace where traditional handicrafts meet the art world in the cultural capital of Laos.

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ຖ້າວ່າທ່ານບໍ່ຮູ້ຈັກກັບສະຖານທີ່ແຫ່ງນີ້ ທ່ານອາດບໍ່ໄດ້ ໃສ່ໃຈກັບອາຄານ ທີ່ມີລັກສະນະທຳມະດາຕັ້ງຢູ່ລະ ຫວ່າງຮ້ານຂາຍເຄື່ອງໃຊ້ໃນເຮືອນ ແລະ ຮ້ານອຸປະ ກອນຄອມພິວເຕີເທິງຖະໜົນກິດສະຣາຊເຊິ່ງໜ້າກັບ ທາງຄ້ອຍ ຂຶ້ນໄປຫໍພິພິທະຕະພັນຊົນເຜົ່າຫຼວງພຣະ ບາງ ແລະ ມັນຄົງເປັນຕາໜ້າເສຍ ດາຍບໍ່ໜ້ອຍ. ອາ ຄານສາມຊັ້ນຊົງເຮືອນຫວຽດນາມຊຸມປີ 70 ຕັ້ງຢູ່ໃຈ ການເມືອງຫຼວງພຣະບາງຖືກຮັບຮູ້ກັນໃນນາມເວທີວາງ ສະແດງຫຼວງພະບາງ ແລະ ເປັນບ່ອນສະແດງຜົນງານ ດ້ານສີລະປະອັນໜ້າຕື່ນຕາຕືນໃຈຂອງ ເມືອງຫຼວງ ທາງດ້ານວັດທະນະທຳຂອງລາວແຫ່ງນີ້. ເມື່ອທ່ານຍ່າງເຂົ້າໄປໃນ 4 ຫ້ອງວາງສະແດງທີ່ແຕກຕ່າງກັນໃນສະຖານທີ່ ດັ່ງກ່າວ ທ່ານຈະຮູ້ສຶກໄດ້ເຖິງສອງຢ່າງ - ຫັດຖະກຳທີ່ເປັນຮິດຄອງປະເພນີ ແລະ ສີລະປະຂອງໂລກ. ມັນເຮັດໃຫ້ຮູ້ສຶກວ່າກຳລັງຍ່າງໃນເສັ້ນທາງບັນ ຈົບກັນລະຫວ່າງລາວກັບອາຊີຕາເວັນອອກສຽ່ງໃຕ້, ສິ່ງຕອບແທນອັນຊົງ ຄຸນຄ່ານີ້ອາດບໍ່ປະກົດໃນແຫ່ງອື່ນ ແລະ ກໍ່ບໍ່ຄ່ອຍເປັນທີ່ຮັບຮູ້ ແຕ່ຊ້ຳພັດ ຖືກເລົ່າຂານຍ່າງບັນຈົງໂດຍຮູບຊົງ ແລະ ສີສັນ. ແຕ່ມື້ເປີດໃຫ້ບໍລິການໃນເດືອນທັນວາ 2010, ເວທີຫຼວງພະບາງໄດ້ເຊື້ອ ເຊີນນັກສີລະປະສ່ວນໃຫ່ຍຈາກລາວ ແລະ ຄົນຕ່າງປະເທດທີ່ດຳລົງຊີວິດ ໃນລາວ ແລະ ນັກສີລະປະຈາກໄທເພື່ອວາງສະແດງຜົນງານຂອງເຂົາເຈົ້າ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ມີໂອກາດໄປຍ້ຽມຍາມຫ້ອງວາງສະແດງນີ້ໃນເດືອນກຸມພາ ທີ່ຜ່ານມາ ແລະ ຫຼົງໄຫຼກັບພາບແຕ້ມ ແລະ ແກະສະຫຼັກ ຂອງທ່ານ ປະເສີດ ຍອດຂຽວ ນັກສີລະປະໄທທີ່ໄດ້ສະແດງໃຫ້ເຫັນຂໍ້ ຈຳກັດລະ ຫວ່າງ “ວິທະຍາສາດ ແລະ ຄວາມເຊື່ອ”. ການປະສົມ ປະສານ ວິທະຍາສາດຕາເວັນຕົກ ແລະ ວິທີການແຕ້ມລວດ ລາຍຕາມອົງປະກອບ ທີ່ພເິ ສດ ແລະ ການຕົກແຕ່ງລາຍລະອຽດຕາມແບບຂອງໄທໄດ້ສະແດງ ໃຫ້ ເ ຫັ ນ ຄວາມແຕກຕ່ າ ງທາງດ້ າ ນວັ ດ ທະນະທຳທີ່ ຫຼ ວ ງຫຼ າ ຍເຊິ່ ງ ມີ ອົ ງ ປະກອບດ້ານເວລາ ແລະ ສະຖານທີ່ໆບໍ່ກົງກັນລະຫວ່າງຄວາມເກົ່າ ແລະ ຄວາມໃໝ່, ທ້ອງຖີ່ນ ແລະ ສາກົນ. ຖ້າທ່ານເດີນທາງໄປຫຼວງພຣະບາງລະຫວ່າງວັນທີ 30 ມີນາ ເຖິງ 30 ເມສາ, ທ່ານບໍ່ຄວນພາດການວາງສະແດງ ພາບຖ່າຍຂອງທ່ານ Bryce Eriksen ເຊິ່ງຕະຫຼອດໄລຍະສາມປີທີ່ດຳລົງ ຊີວິດໃນລາວ ເພີ່ນໄດ້ຖ່າຍ ຮູບສະໜອງໃຫ້ແກ່ອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງທາງສັງຄົມ ແລະ ພາກທຸລະກິດ ເຊິ່ງແມ່ນ ຮູບຖ່າຍໄລຍະໃກ້ຊິດ ແລະ ພາບທີ່ມີລັກສະນະທຳມະຊາດຂອງຄົນລາວ ຕາມເອກະລັກສະເພາະຂອງເພີ່ນ. “ຈິດວີນຍານເບື້ອງຫຼັງມິດຕັດ”, ການວາງສະແດງຜ້າປັກແສວແຂວນຝາ ໂດຍ ນາງ ຈືຊຽງ ເຊິ່ງເປັນການວາງສະແດງຫຼັກໃນເວທີຫຼວງພະບາງຈົນ ເຖິງວັນທີ 30 ເມສາ. ຜ້າດັ່ງກ່າວມີຄວາມປານິດຢ່າງບັນຈົງ, ເປັນຜົນງານ ທີ່ມີສີສັນຈາກຜ້າຝ້າຍປະກອບກັບລວດລາຍຮູບພາບຈາກຈີນຕະນາການ ຂອງນາງ, ຜ້າແຂວນຝາໄດ້ສະແດງເຖິງຄວາມປານິດມີສມ ີ ຂ ື ອງບັນດາເອື້ອຍ ນ້ອງເພດຍິງເຜົ່າມົ້ງທີ່ວາງຂາຍໃນຮ້ານຂ້າງທາງ ແລະ ຕະຫຼາດກາງຄືນ, ເຊິ່ງມີການບັນຈົງລົງສີສັນຢ່າງແປກປະຫຼາດ ແລະ ເລື່ອງເລົ່າທີ່ລຶກລັບທີ່ມີ ຕົວລະຄອນຫຼາກຫຼາຍທີ່ກົມກຽວກັນ. ນາງ ຈື ຊຽງ ແຕ່ງງານກັບຄົນຊົງທີ່ສາ ມາດສື່ສານກັບວິນຍານໄດ້ສະນັ້ນຜົນງານຂອງລາວຈຶ່ງມີອງົ ປະກອບດ້ານຈິດ ວີນຍານຜີສາງຢ່າງກະຈ່າງແຈ້ງ. ທ່ານ ມີແຊນ ບາດ ສະໂຕຣແບນ ທີ່ມີໂອກາດ

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

Since it opened in December 2010, Project Space has invited mostly Lao artists to exhibit their work, though Thais and a few foreign residents also present their art. It has also served as a visitor centre during the last two years’ Luang Prabang Film Festival, with screenings of the short movie programme, exhibitions and panel discussions taking place on the 2nd floor.

When I visited the gallery in February, Prasert Yodkaew’s drawings and sculptures illustrating the thematic constraint, “Science and Faith”, mesmerized me. “In an age defined by technology, where does one find room for dreams, myths, or lyrical fantasies?” the Thai artist asks. As an answer, he confronts his audience with sketches of designs of unfathomable devices like a detailed catalogue of otherworldly creatures in motion.

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

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

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INSIDE LAOS

inside Laos  art  Luang Prabang Project Space

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

Tcheu Siong is married to a shaman, and all the detailed characters in her work have names of well-known spirits in her husband’s world. She said these characters come from distant dreams and visions, and her cut-out figures embody the zone between consciousness and dreaming.

Michèle Baj Strobel, who stayed with Tcheu Siong and explored the world of her work in detail, said, “The art of Tcheu Siong sends one back to a world where the lines blur between the living and the spirits, and make an echo...Scattered across the fabric, the collage is like a kind of language, a voice coming from the inner self, intimately associated with the artist, who is totally focused on the work in progress. Beside her, the words of the shaman (her husband) are an invisible material flowing in a discontinuous stream.” ໄດ້ຢູ່ໃກ້ຊິດກັບນາງ ຈື ຊຽງ ແລະ ສຶກ ສ າ ຜົ ນ ງ າ ນ ຂ ອ ງ ນ າ ງ ກ່ າ ວ ວ່ າ : ”ສີລະປະຂອງ ນາງ ຈືຊຽງເຮັດໃຫ້ ທ່ານຮູ້ສຶກວ່າ ເດີນທາງກັບຄືນໄປຍັງ ໂລກທີ່ ມີ ເ ສັ້ ນ ເປັ ນ ເງົ າ ແບ່ ງ ແຍກ ລະຫວ່າງໂລກມະນຸດ ແລະ ຈິດວີນ ຍານ ແລະ ສະແດງສິ່ງດັ່ງກ່າວອອກ ຜ່ າ ນຜົ ນ ງານປັ ກ ແສ່ ວ ເປັ ນ ພາສາ ສື່ສານຈິດວີນຍານຂອງການມະໂນ ພາບຈາກຄວາມກ່ ຽ ວພັ ນ ລະຫວ່ າ ງ ນັກສີລະປິນ ແລະ ຄົນຊົງ (ໝໍຜີ)”

ເວທີຫຼວງພະບາງ ແມ່ນແນວຄິດ ລິເລີ່ມຂອງທ່ານ ຊອງປີແອກ ໂດວາ, ນັກສະຖາປະນິກ ແລະ ອອກແບບພາຍໃນ, ແລະ ທ່ານ ຣິກ ກາແດລາ, ນັກຈັດພີມ ແລະ ຜູ້ສ້າງຜົນງານດ້ານສີລະປະຕ່າງໆ ເຊັ່ນ: ຮູບພາບປາຣີ, ວິຖີຊີວິດ ຂອງຄົນ ແລະ ສວນພຶກສາຊາດ ຜາຕາດແຄຫຼວງພະບາງ. ສະຖານທີ່ດັ່ງຊົງຄຸນຄ່າແກ່ ການທ່ຽວຊົມພ້ອມໆກັບ ຫໍພິພິດທະຕະພັນຊົນ ເຜົ່າຫຼວງພະບາງ.

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Project Space • Luang Prabang was initiated by interior architect and designer, JeanPierre Dovat, and Rik Gadella, publisher and creator of Paris Photo, Parcours des Mondes and Luang Prabang’s Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden currently under construction. Be sure to stop by during your visit to the Luang Prabang Ethnic Museum. www.projectspace-luangprabang.com contact@projectspace-luangprabang.com

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ໜັງສາລະຄະດີເລື່ອງ

inside Laos  Movie  Chang Movie

“ຊ້າງ”

ສ້າງຄວາມຄືກຄັກໃນນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ

ຈາກປະກາຍແສງອັນມຶດມົວທີ່ສອດສ່ອງໄປຍັງຈໍຍັກ ທີ່ທ່ານ ອິວ ແບັກນາກ ຈາກອົງການ ຊີເນມາ ຕຸກໆ ໄດ້ຈັດການສາຍໜັງກາງແປນລອບພິເສດ ເຂດຄູວຽງໃນນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ບັນດາທ່ານຜູຊ ້ ມ ົ ທີ່ມາເບິ່ງຮູບເງົາຈາກ ຄ້າຍສ້າງໜັງຂະໜາດໃຫ່ຍ ຊື່ເລື່ອງ “ຊ້າງ” ພາກສຽງອີສານ ໃນວັນທີ 25 ມັງກອນທີ່ຜ່ານມາ ໄດ້ຖືກນຳພາເຂົາສູ່ການເດີນທ່າງທີ່ໜ້າຢ້ານກົວ ແລະ ບໍ່ເປັນຕາໜ້າເຊື່ອ ທ່າມກາງຜູ້ຄົນພວມປິນຕົ້ນໄມ້ໜີຕາຍຈາກການ ໄລ່ລ້າຂອງເສືອປ່າທີ່ຊົງພະລັງ, ເຮືອນຊົງລາວຖືກຝູງຊ້າງຢຽບຢ່າງຮາບ ຄາບ ແລະ ແລ້ວ “ຄວາມສະຫຼາດກໍ່ສາມາດເອົາຊະນະຄວາມແຂງແຮງ” - ເສືອດຳ ແລະ ສັດປາອີກຈຳນວນໜຶ່ງຖືກຍິງຕາຍເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າພວກມັນ ເຂົ້າໄປລັກກິນແບ້ເຖິງຄອກ. ທີ່ນນ ັ້ ແມ່ນປ່າດົງເລີກ ແລະ ສຽງດົນຕີທບ ີ່ ນ ັ ເລັງ ໂດຍວົງດົນຕີປະສານສຽງແຫ່ງຊາດຂອງລາວກໍ່ກົມກຽວດີກັບພາບທີສາຍ ອອກມານັ້ນ, ຈົນເຮັດໃຫ້ທ່ານຜູ້ຊົມບໍ່ຮູ້ສຶກວ່າຕົນກຳລັງໄດ້ຍິນການຫຼິ້ນດົນ ຕີສົດຈາກນັກດົນຕີ12ທ່ານ. ທ່ານ ອິວ ເບີນາດ ເປັນຜູ້ກໍ່ຕັ້ງການສາຍຮູບເງົາ ເຊິ່ງມີຖານຢູ່ແຂວງຈຳປາສັກ ແລະ ກໍ່ໄດ້ນຳເອົາການສາຍຮູບເງົາເຄື່ອນ ທີ່ “ຊີເນມາຕຸກໆ” ໄປສາຍໃນທົ່ວລາວຕະຫຼອດໄລຍະ 7 ປີທີ່ຜ່ານມາ ໂດຍໄດ້ສາຍຮູບເງົາເລື່ອງ “ຊ້າງ” ແລະ ຮູບເງົາອີກຫຼາຍເລື່ອງທີ່ຜະລິດໂດຍ ບັສເຕີ ຄິຕັນ ແລະ ຊາລີ ຊັບປີນ ເປັນຕົ້ນ. ທ່ານ ອິວ ຮູ້ຈັກຮູບເງົາເລື່ອງ “ຊ້າງ” ຜ່ານ ອົງການ ຊ້າງອາຊີ ຂອງຝຣັ່ງ ທີ່ເຮັດວຽກໃນການປົກປັກຮັກສາສັດ ທີ່ໃກ້ສູນພັນໃນລາວແຕ່ປີ 2001. ຈາກວັນນັ້ນຈົນເຖິງປະຈຸບັນ, ອົງການ ຊ້າງອາຊີມີຄວາມຍີນດີທີ່ຈະນຳສະເໜີຮູບເງົາທີ່ຂອ້ນຂ້າງເປັນປະເດັນຖົກ ຖຽງສູ່ມະຫາຊົນເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າຮູບເງົາເລື່ອງນີ້ມີພາບເກົ່າສະແດງໃຫ້ເຫັນ ຊ້າງຈຳນວນໜຶ່ງຢ່າງໜ້າອັດສະຈັນໃຈ ແລະ ກໍ່ເປັນໜ້າສົງສານໃນປ່າ. ຜູ້ ຊົ ມ ຈຳນວນໜຶ່ ງ ກໍ່ ມີ ຄ ວາມຕົ ກ ໃຈຈົ ນ ບໍ່ ກ້ າ ເບິ່ ງ ຮູ ບ ເງົ າ ຈົ ນ ຈົ ບ ເລື່ ອ ງ. ໃນເວລາ ແລະ ສະຖານທີ່ໆ ສຸມໃສ່ການປົກປ້ອງສັດໃກ້ສູນພັນ, ຮູບເງົາ ເລື່ອງດັ່ງກ່າວໄດ້ສ້າງຄວາມສັບສົນເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າມີການນຳສະເໜີພາບ ຄວາມຄວາມຮຸນແຮງເຊັ່ນການຂ້າສັດປ່າໂດຍໃຊ້ອາວຸດປຶນຍິງ.

38

ແຕ່ເຖິງຢ່າງໃດກໍ່ຕາມຜູ້ທີ່ຢູ່ຊົມຈົນຈົບກໍ່ຮູ້ສຶກປະທັບໃຈກັບຄວາມພະຍາ ຍາມອັນກ້າຫານຂອງຜູສ ້ າ້ ງຮູບເງົາເລື່ອງນີ້ ຄື ທ່ານ ມາລຽນ ຊີ ກູບເປີ (Merion C. Cooper) ແລະ ທ່ານ ເອີນເນັສ ບີ ໂຊດສັກ (Ernest B. Schoedsack) ເຊິ່ງເພີ່ນໄດ້ໃຊ້ເວລາຖ່າຍທຳເຖິງສອງປີໃນປ່າເລີກທາງຕອນເໜືອ ຂອງສະຫຍາມ ເຊິ່ງປະຈຸບັນແມ່ນເຂດແຂວງໄຊຍະບູລີແຕ່ປີ 1925 ຫາ 1927 ເຊິ່ງໃນທີ່ສຸດເພີ່ນກໍ່ສາມາດສ້າງຮູບເງົາທີ່ສະຫຍອງຂັວນນີ້ສຳເລັດ ເຊິ່ງຖືໄດ້ວ່າເປັນຮູບເງົາເລື່ອງທຳອິດທີ່ສາມາດປະສົມປະສານພາບຈາກ ສາລະຄະດີສັດປ່າກັບຂັ້ນຕອນການຖ່າຍທຳໜັງທີ່ສາມາດສ້າງຄວາມສົນ ໃຈທີ່ເໜືອຄວາມເປັນຂອງມະນຸດໄດ້. ແຕ່ຖ້າຫາກເບິ່ງຍ້ອນຄືນປະຫວັດໄລ ຍະສອງປີທີ່ໃຊ້ເວລາໃນປ່າເລີກ ເພື່ອຖ່າຍທຳສັດປ່າທີ່ມີຄວາມດຸຮ້າຍ ແລະ ບວກກັບເຄື່ອງມືກໍ່ຍັງບໍ່ທັນສະໄໝ ແລະ ບໍ່ສາມາດຊູມໄລຍະໄກໄດ້ ຍິ່ງໄປ ກ່ວານັ້ນກໍ່ມີພະນັກງານໃນກອງຖ່າຍທຳເຖິງ 400 ກ່ວາຊີວິດເພື່ອຂົນຟີມ ຫຼາຍຮ້ອຍມ່ວນຕະຫຼອດໄລຍະຖ່າຍທຳ, ຄົງຈະມີເລື່ອງພະຈົນໄພ ແລະ ເລື່ອງເລົ່າຕະຫຼົກທີ່ຫຼາກຫຼາຍເພາະຈຳຕ້ອງໄດ້ທຳການຖ່າຍທຳແບບໄກ້ ຊິດສັດປ່າ ແລະ ຮູບເງົາເລື່ອງດັ່ງກ່າວກໍ່ໄດ້ຮບ ັ ຄວາມຊົມເຊີຍຈາກນັກວິຈານໜັງ. ສຳລັບຮູບເງົາເລື່ອງຊ້າງ ທີ່ໄດ້ສ່ອງແສງເຖິງທຸກເລ່ກົນ ແລະ ການປະເຊີນ ໜ້າອັນໜ້າຕື່ນເຕັ້ນລະຫວ່າງຄົນ ແລະ ສັດນັ້ນໄດ້ກາຍເປັນການສ້າງພື້ນ ຖານໃນການສ້າງຮູບເງົາທີ່ມີສື່ສຽງໂດງດັງເລື່ອງ “ຄິງຄອງ” ເຊິ່ງໄດ້ຮັບ ການຖ່າຍທຳ 5 ປີ ຫຼັງຈາກນັ້ນ ໂດຍກຸ່ມນັກສ້າງໜັງທີ່ມັກຮັກໃນການ ພະຈົນໄພກຸມ ່ ດຽວກັນ ແລະ ກໍ່ມຄ ີ ວາມສະຫຍອງຂັວນບໍ່ນອ ້ ຍກ່ວາເລື່ອງ “ ຊ້າງ ”. ໃນການສາຍຮູບເງົາຮອບປະຖົມມະເລີກຮູບເງົາເລື່ອງຄິງຄອງ ທີ່ ຊານເບີນາດີໂນ ເມືອງຄາລິພໍເນັຍ ເດືອນມັງກອນປີ 1933, ຜູ້ຊົມຮ້ອງ ຕົກໃຈກັບສາກທີ່ເປັນຕາໜ້າຢ້ານກົວ, ບາງຄົນອອກຈາກໂຮງສາຍເພາະ ບໍ່ສາມາດທົນເບິ່ງໄດ້ ບາງຄົນກໍ່ວິພາກວິຈານເຖິງຄວາມຮຸນແຮງ ແລະ ໜ້າຍ້ານກົວຂອງສາກຕ່າງໆ. ແຕ່ເຖິງຢ່າງໃດກໍ່ຕາມໜັງເລື່ອງດັ່ງກ່າວກໍ່ ສາມາດນຳອອກສາຍໄດ້ພາຍຫຼັງທີ່ຜູ້ສ້າງໄດ້ມີການດັດແກ້ເນື້ອຫາ ແລະ ຕັດຕອນທີ່ມີຄວາມຮຸນແຮງສະຫຍອງຂັວນອອກ.

inside Laos  Movie  Chang Movie

“Chang”

Thunders through Vientiane

By Marion Le Roux

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

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

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

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

However, those who stayed were amazed at the bold endeavour by filmmakers Merion C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack.

From 1925 to 1927, they lived in northern Siam’s jungle, which is present-day Sayabouly Province, to create this jaw-dropping film, the first to combine wildlife documentary footage with staged sequences of melodramatic human interest.

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

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

In the early 20th century, many artists and intellectuals “despised” cinema, viewing it as a low-brow form of mass entertainment.

However, one reviewer in a “Close Up” article published in October 1927 argues, “the hours or days or weeks of waiting that must have gone to secure some of the close-ups of jungle beasts...One was made to be aware of the whole jungle, not of mere episodes from the jungle...and that moment when the curtains roll back, and suddenly the whole end of the theatre is one seething mass of stampeding elephants and destruction, is the answer of cinematography to those who profess to despise it.”

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

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

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

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

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Business  The Mekong Delta’s Economic Charm

ມົນສະເໜ່ທາງເສດຖະກິດຂອງປາກແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງ

The Mekong Delta’s Economic Charm ໂດຍ: ດອກຊ້ອນ ດອນໂຂງ / By Dokson Donkhong

ປາກແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງ ຫຼື ເມກົງແດນຕາ ມີທັງໝົດ 9 ປາກຊາວຫວຽດ ນາມ ຮ້ອງວ່າມັງກອນ 9 ຫົວ. ຍ້ອນວ່າສາຍນ້ຳໄດ້ໄຫຼມາດິນ ແດນຫວຽດນາມແລ້ວແຕກອອກເປັນຫລາຍສາຂາຫຼັງຈາກນັ້ນກໍ ໄຫຼລົງໃສ່ທະເລຈີນໃຕ້ ຢູ່ໃນພາກໃຕ້ສຸດຂອງ ປະເທດຫວຽດ ນາມ. ບໍລິເວນເນື້ອທີ່ເອີ້ນວ່າປາກ ແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງມີທັງໝົດ 40,000 ກິໂລແມັດມົນທົນ ກວມເອົາ 13 ແຂວງ ທີ່ມີ ພົນລະເມືອງເຖິງ 17 ລ້ານຄົນເປັນເຂດດິນດຳນ້ຳຊຸ່ມອູ່ເຂົ້າອູ່ປາ ແລະ ພືດ ພັນທັນຍາຫານ. ຢູ່ຂົງເຂດປາກແມ່ນ້ຳນີ້ຍັງໄດ້ຮັບຜົນສະທ້ອນໂດຍກົງຈາກສະພາບດິນຟ້າອາກາດ ໂດຍສະເພາະອິດທິພົນຈາກມໍລະສຸມເຂດຮ້ອນ ເຊິ່ງລະດູຝົນ ເລີ່ມແຕ່ ເດືອນພຶດສະ ພາເຖິງຕຸລາ ລະດູແລ້ງເລີ່ມແຕ່ເດືອນພະຈິກເຖິງ ເດືອນເມສາ, ອຸນຫະພູມໂດຍ ສະເລ່ຍປະມານແຕ່ 26°C– 27°C ການປ່ຽນແປງຂອງລະດັບນ້ຳຂອງບໍລິເວນນີ້ຈຶ່ງ ຂຶ້ນກັບສະພາບດິນຟ້າອາກາດສ່ວນໃຫ່ຍແມ່ນມາຈາກອິດທິພົນ ແລະ ຄວາມແຮງ ຂອງພາຍຸນັ້ນເອງ.

T

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

Interview

ປາກແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງເປັນເຂດພັດທະນາເສດຖະກິດຂະໜາດໃຫ່ຍ ເອີ້ນວ່າລະດັບຕົ້ນໆຂອງປະເທດຫວຽດນາມກໍໄດ້ເຊັ່ນ ການຜະລິດເຂົ້າ ຜັກ, ໝາກໄມ້ ປະມົງ ອຸດສາຫະກຳ ການທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ແລະ ອື່ນໆ ໃນເນື້ອທີ່ປູກເຂົ້າມີ 2,6 ລ້ານເຮັກຕາ ເທົ່າກັບໜຶ່ງສ່ວນສີ່ຂອງເນື້ອທີ່ປູກເຂົ້າໃນທົ່ວປະເທດ ຜົນເກັບກ່ຽວເມື່ອປີ 2011 ສາມາດສົ່ງເຂົ້າອອກຂາຍຕ່າງປະເທດ 23 ລ້ານ ໂຕນເທົ່າກັບ 55% ຂອງການສົ່ງໃນທົ່ວປະເທດ ແຂວງທີ່ນຳໜ້າຂອງ ການປູກເຂົ້າ ກໍມີແຂວງກັນໂຖ ແຂວງຫໍຕຽນ ແຂວງກາເມົາ... ການປະມົງ ເປັນທ່າແຮງໜຶ່ງທີ່ສຳຄັນຂອງປາກນ້ຳ ໂດຍສາມາດຫາປາໄດ້ 3,168 ໂຕນຕໍ່ປີເທົ່າກັບ 58% ຂອງການສົ່ງອອກໃນທົ່ວປະເທດ. ເວົ້າສະເພາະຈຸດພິເສດແຂວງວິນລອງ ແມ່ນຕັ້ງຢູ່ລະຫວ່າງກາງຂອງສອງ ແມ່ນ້ຳສາຂາ ຄືນ້ຳໂຫ ແລະ ນ້ຳຕຽນເຊິ່ງໄຫຼມາຈາກນະຄອນໂຮຈີມິນມີ ລວງຍາວປະມານ 130 ກິໂລແມັດ. ແຂວງດັ່ງກ່າວຍັງຢູ່ໃຈກາງຂອງບັນດາ ແຂວງປາກນ້ຳ ຄ້າຍຄືວ່າເປັນເປັນໂລກໜຶ່ງພິເສດທີ່ຫຸ້ມລ້ອມດ້ວຍທຳ ມະຊາດສີຂຽວເປັນຕົວແບບທີ່ມັກສ້າງກິດຈະກຳຂຶ້ນເລື້ອຍໆ. ນອກຈາກນີ້ແຂວງວິນລອງຍັງເປັນແຂວງຟູນ້ຳຄືຖືກຫຸ້ມລ້ອມດ້ວຍສາຍນ້ຳ ແລະ ມີການປູກດອກໄມ້ເປັນສິນຄ້າຢ່າງຫຼວງຫຼາຍຄຽງຄູ່ກັບພືດພັນທັນ ຍາຫານຊະນິດອື່ນໆດັ່ງນັ້ນຢູ່ຕາມຕະຫຼາດຕາມແຄມທາງຈຶ່ງພົບວ່າມີ ສິນຄ້າທີ່ເປັນໝາກໄມ້ ດອກໄມ້ຫຼາຍຊະນິດຫຼາຍສີສັນເຕັມໄປໝົດພໍປານ ມີການແຕ້ມແຕ່ງຈາກຈິດຕະກອນຜູ້ມີສີມື ເມື່ອເບິ່ງພາບເລົ່ານີ້ໂດຍມີສາຍນ້ຳຂອງຢູສ ່ າກເບື້ອງຫຼັງທີ່ປະກອບດ້ວຍການເຄື່ອນໄຫວຂອງຊີວດ ິ ຕົວຈິ່ງ ຂອງຜູຄ ້ ນ ົ ທີ່ກຳລັງຂັບເຮືອ, ແຈ້ວເຮືອ, ພາຍເຮືອ ເພື່ອຊື້ຂາຍຜົນຜະລິດປະສົມປະສານກັບເຮືອທ່ອງທ່ຽວປະເພດຕ່າງໆ ສ້າງໃຫ້ຄາ້ ຍຄືວາ່ ວິນລອງເປັນນະ ຄອນດອກໄມ້ໝາກໄມ້ທີ່ບໍ່ມີຍາມຫຼັບໄຫຼເປັນຕະຫຼາດນ້ຳ ແລະ ນະຄອນແຫ່ງການທ່ອງທ່ຽວທາງນ້ຳ ເພື່ອຊົມສວນ ແລະ ພັກແຮມຄືນຕາມໝູ່ບ້ານ ຊາວກະສິກອນໃນເກະດອນຕ່າງໆ. ສ່ວນແຂວງອື່ນໆ ທີ່ຕັ້ງຢູ່ປາກນ້ຳຂອງ ກໍມີທ່າແຮງທາງເສດຖະກິດຄ້າຍຄືກັນເຄື່ອນໄຫວເໝືອນກັນສ້າງພາບພົດທີ່ຈັບໃຈແກ່ຜູ້ພົບເຫັນກາຍເປັນ ຄວາມຊົງຈຳ ແລະ ມົນສະເໜ່ໃຫ້ກັບຜູ້ຄົນທີ່ໄດ້ມາທ່ອງທ່ຽວຢ້ຽມຢາມ ແລະ ຊອກຫາຜົນປະໂຫຍດຈາກແຫຼ່ງການຜະລິດແຫ່ງນີ້ຢ່າງບໍ່ເວັ້ນແຕ່ລະວັນ.

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

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

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

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Business  The Mekong Delta’s Economic Charm

3,200 tonnes from the Nine Dragons, a whopping 58 per cent of Vietnam’s finned-seafood exports.

The best spot for landing a good catch is in Vinh Long Province between the Hoh and Tiang Rivers, which flow 130 km from Ho Chi Minh City.

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

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

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

45

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

Youth Project

Youth Project  Dream Building and Heartfelt Sharing

ສ້າງຝັນປັນນ້ຳໃຈ

Dream Building and Heartfelt Sharing

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

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

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

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

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

ຫຼາຍທ່ານອາດຈະໄດ້ຍິນ ແລະ ຮູ້ຈັກພໍສົມຄວນກ່ຽວກັບໂຄງການຊາວ ໜຸ່ມເດີນທະເລອາຊຽນ-ຍີປຸ່ນຫຼື (Ship for South East Asian Youth Program) ທີ່ລັດຖະບານຍີ່ປຸ່ນ ແລະ ພາຍໃຕ້ການຮ່ວມມືຂອງບັນດາປະ ເທດສະມາຊິກໄດ້ໃຫ້ການຊ່ວຍເຫລືອມາກວ່າ 40 ປີ ແລະ ໃນໂອກາດທີ່ ປະເທດລາວໄດ້ເປັນເຈົ້າພາບໃນການຈັດງານພົບປະອະດີດຊາວໜຸ່ມເດີນ ທະເລຄັ້ງທີ່ 25 ໃນທ້າຍເດືອນເມສາ 24-27, 2013 (SIGA) ທີ່ນະຄອນ ຫລວງວຽງຈັນ, ຜູ້ຂຽນຈະຂໍພາທ່ານມາຮູ້ຈັກກັບອີກມຸມໜຶ່ງທີ່ຫລາຍທ່ານ ອາດບໍ່ຮູ້.

ໃນແຕ່ລະປີຈະມີຊາວໜຸ່ມ 11 ປະເທດ, ປະເທດລະ 29 ຊີວິດ ພາກັນອອກ ເດີ ນ ທາງໄປຫລາຍກວ່ າ ຫົ ກ ປະເທດເພື່ ອ ແລກປ່ ຽ ນວັ ດ ທະນາທຳຮຽນຮູ້ ເຊິ່ງກັນ ແລະ ກັນ, ແລະ ການຝຶກທັກສະໃນການເປັນຜູ້ນຳຊື່ງຖືໄດ້ວ່າ ເປັນຄວາມຮູ້ທາງລັດຊະນິດໜຶ່ງ. ການເດີນທາງທະເລເປັນໄລຍະ 53 ວັນ ເປັນການເດີນທາງຍາວນານພໍສົມຄວນ ໃນປີທີ່ຜ່ານມາຄະນະດັ່ງກ່າວກໍ ໄດ້ເດີນທາງໄປຢ້ຽມຢາມກວ່າ 6 ປະເທດໄດ້ແກ່ ຢີ່ປຸ່ນ, ຫວຽດນາມ, ໄທ, ສິງກະໂປ, ອິນໂດເນເຊຍ, ແລະ ບຣູໄນ. ພ້ອມກັນນັ້ນ, ກໍໄດ້ມີການຜັດປ່ຽນ ເດີນທາງໄປຢ້ຽມຢາມ ປະເທດ ມຽນມ້າ, ກຳປູເຈຍ ແລະ ລາວ ໂດຍບັນດາຫົວໜ້າຂອງແຕ່ລະປະເທດ.

47

Youth Project

ການເດີນທາງທີ່ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍຄວາມປະທັບໃຈພວກເຂົາໄດ້ພົບພໍ້ປະສົບ ການທີ່ທ້າທາຍ, ແລະ ກໍ່ໃຫ້ເກີດມີແຮງບັນດານໃຈທີ່ຈະນຳເອົາປະສົບ ການທີ່ໄດ້ຮຽນຮູ້ມານັ້ນ ມານຳໃຊ້ໃຫ້ເກີດປະ ໂຫຍດສູງສຸດແກ່ສັງຄົມດ້ວຍ. ການສ້າງໂຄງການໃດໜຶ່ງ ເຊັ່ນໂຄງການ ແບ່ງປັນນ້ຳໃຈຊາວໜຸ່ມກໍ ເປັນໂຄງການໜຶ່ງຂອງຄະນະຊາວໜຸ່ມປີ 2012. ເຊິ່ງເປັນໂຄງການສ້າງ ໂຮງຮຽນແບບຢ່າງທີ່ໄດ້ເລີ່ມຈາກໂຮງຮຽນປະຖົມ ສົມບູນໜອງບົວທອງ, ເມືອງປາກງື່ມ, ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ. ເພື່ອທີ່ຈະເຮັດ ໃຫ້ໂຮງຮຽນກາຍ ເປັນບ້ານຫຼັງທີ່ສອງຂອງນ້ອງນັກຮຽນທີ່ມີຄວາມສະອາດ, ສວຍງາມ ແລະ ດຶງດູດໃຈກໍ່ໃຫ້ເກີດຄວາມກະຕືລືລົ້ນໃນການຢາກໄປຮຽນຫຼາຍຂຶ້ນ. ນໍ້າໃຈທຳອິດທີ່ສຳເລັດໃນທ້າຍເດືອນກັນຍາ ທີ 29 ປີ 2012 ກໍແມ່ນກິດຈະກຳ ບູລະນະສ້ອມແປງໂຮງຮຽນ ໂດຍການທາສີໂຮງຮຽນພາຍໃຕ້ການສົມທົບ ຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອທາງດ້ານແຮງງານຈາກຊາວໜຸ່ມບ້ານ ແລະ ທ້າຍເດືອນກຸມພາ ທີ 24 ປີ 2013 ຜ່ານມາ ຄະນະຊາວໜຸມ ່ ລາວເດີນທະເລ ກໍໄດ້ດຳເນີນການມອບ ຄວາມຮູ້ດ້ານສຸຂະອະນາໄມ, ໂພຊະນາການ ແລະ ກໍ່ສ້າງອ່າງລ້າງມືໃຫ້ກັບ ນ້ອງນ້ອຍຢູ່ໂຮງຮຽນດັ່ງກ່າວ. ນອກນັ້ນ ບັນດາຊາວໜຸ່ມລາວເດີນທະເລ ຄັ້ງທີ 39 ນີ້ ຍັງສືບຕໍ່ກິດຈະກຳສົ່ງເສີມການຮັກສາສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມໂດຍໃຫ້ ນ້ອງນ້ອຍຮູ້ຈັກການໄຈ້ແຍກ, ຖິ້ມຂີ້ເຫຍື້ອເພື່ອສາມາດນຳເອົາຂີ້ເຫຍື້ອ ມາໝູນໃຊ້ຄືນ ແລະ ດຳເນີນການປູກຕົ້ນໄມ້ເພື່ອຊ່ວຍກັນຫລຸດຜ່ອນພາວະ ໂລກຮ້ອນ ແລະ ສ້າງໂຮງຮຽນໃຫ້ກາຍເປັນໂຮງຮຽນສີຂຽວ ໃນເດືອນມິຖຸນາ ທີ່ຈະມາຮອດນີ້. ພ້ອມກັນນັ້ນ, ກໍຈະມີການບໍລິຈາກອຸປະກອນກິລາ, ອຸປະ ກອນການສຶກສາ ແລະ ການຫຼິ້ນກິລາ ເພື່ອຊຸກຍູ້ສົ່ງເສີມໃຫ້ໄວໜຸ່ມຫັນມາ ໃສ່ໃຈກັບສຸຂະພາບຂອງຕົນຫຼາຍຂຶ້ນ. ຫລີກເວັ້ນການສ້າງປະກົດການຍໍ້ທໍ້ ໃນສັງຄົມ.

48

Youth Project  Dream Building and Heartfelt Sharing

ເປັນຫຍັງຈຶ່ງເລືອກໂຮງຮຽນນີ້?

ການເລືອກໂຮງຮຽນດັ່ງກ່າວແມ່ນ ໄດ້ຮບ ັ ການຮ່ວມມືປະສານງານຈາກ ໜ່ ວ ຍງານຫ້ ອ ງການການປົ ກ ຄອງເມື ອ ງທີ່ ແ ຈ້ ງ ໃຫ້ ພ ວກເຮົ າ ໄດ້ ຮັ ບ ຮູ້ ເຖິ ງ ໂຮງຮຽນທີ່ ຍັ ງ ຕົ ກ ຢູ່ ໃ ນທ່ າ ຮັ ບ ມີ ຄ ວາມຮຽກຮ້ ອ ງຕ້ ອ ງການໃຫ້ ມີ ການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອໃນເມືອງດັ່ງກ່າວ. ແຕ່ໃນຄວາມເປັນຈິງ ພວກເຮົາກໍ ຍັ ງ ມີ ເ ປົ້າ ໝາຍທີ່ຈ ະດຳເນີ ນ ເຄື່ອ ນໄຫວກິ ດ ຈະກຳຢູ່ໃ ນໂຮງຮຽນແຫ່ ງ ອື່ນທີ່ເຫັນວ່າຍັງມີຄວາມຂາດແຄນອຸປະກອນການສຶກສາ ຫຼື ສຸຂະ ອະນາໄມ ແລະ ຕ້ອງການຄວາມຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອ.” ວິດາລັດ ວົງນະໄລແສນ ໜຶ່ງໃນສະມາຊິກເດີນທະເລຄັ້ງທີ 39, ປີ 2012

ນອ້ງຮັບຜິດຊອບຫນ້າທີ່ຫຍັງ? “ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ເປັນຜູຮ ້ ບ ັ ຜິດຊອບໃນການສ້າງກິດຈະ

ກຳນຳພານ້ອງນັກຮຽນ ຮຽນຮູ,້ ສ້າງກິດຈະກຳທີ່ເປັນກ ານສ້າງທັກສະຄວາມສາມາດໃຫ້ເດັກທີ່ນອກຈາກຮຽນ ໃນຫ້ອງຮຽນພ້ອມນັ້ນກໍ່ສງົ່ ເສີມໃຫ້ເດັກມີຄວາມສາມາ ດ, ມີຄວາມ ກ້າຄິດກ້າສະແດງອອກຫຼາຍຂຶ້ນ” ສຸລວ ິ ງົ ແສງສຸໄລ (DJ ເປີດ ໃຈໄວໝຸມ ່ ແລະ Sharing Radio) ຫນຶ່ງໃນສະມາຊິກເດີນທະເລຄັ້ງທີ 39, ປີ 2012 ຜູ້ທີ່ມັກແບ່ງປັນໃນການມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມກໍສາມາດປັນນ້ຳໃຈ ຜ່ານທາງພວກ ເຮົາ ແລະ ພວກເຮົາຍິນດີທີ່ຈະເປັນສື່ກາງ. ສາມາດຕິດຕໍ່ຜ່ານ Email: heartoflaosyouth@gmail.com or Tel: +856 20 22464321

The SSEAYP programme allows participants to return home with the experience they gained by facing challenges and absorbing knowledge, which they can use to benefit their respective communities. For example, 2012 SSEAYP representatives from Laos launched a group initiative, “Heartfelt Sharing”, with the aim of creating a model primary school as a second home for students.

They selected Nongbuathong Primary School in Pakgneum District Vientiane for this pilot project to bring a cosy, eye-catching, personable environment to inspire young students to learn.

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

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

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

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

For those wishing to contribute to this charitable cause, your heartfelt donations are welcome. For more information, Email: heartoflaosyouth@gmail.com or Tel: +856 20 22464321

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News & EventS

news & events  Toyota news

ງານປະກວດແຕ້ມຮູບຍົນຕະກຳແຫ່ງອະນາ ຄົດລົດໂຕໂຍຕາໃນຝັນຂອງຂ້ອຍຄັ້ງທີ 3 ວັນທີ09 ມີນາ 2013 ທີ່ຜ່ານມາ, ບໍລິສັດໂຕໂຍຕາໄດ້ຈັດງານປະກວດ ແຕ້ມຮູບ “ຍົນຕະກຳແຫ່ງອານາຄົດລົດໂຕໂຍຕາໃນຝັນຂອງຂ້ອຍ” ຄັ້ງທີ 3 ຂື້ນທີ​ີ່ ຫໍວັດທະນະທຳແຫ່ງຊາດ, ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນຈຸດປະສົງຂອງງານ ນີ້ແມ່ນເພື່ອສົ່ງເສີມກິດຈະກຳຍາມວາງ, ເສີມຂະຫຍາຍຄວາມຄິດສ້າງສັນ ດ້ານຈິນຕະນາລົງໃນງານສິລະປະ ແລະ ພັດທະນາຂີດຄວາມສາມາດຂອງ ເດັກນ້ອຍລາວສູ່ເວທີສາກົນໃນອະນາຄົດ. ພິເສດງານນີ້ແຕກຕ່າງຈາກປີທີ່ຜ່ານມາເພາະເປັນປີທຳອິດທີ່ໄດ້ຈັດການ ປະກວດຢູ່ 4 ແຂວງຄື: ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ, ຫຼວງພະບາງ, ສະຫວັນນະເຂດ ແລະ ຈຳປາສັກ ເຊິ່ງໄດ້ຮັບຄວາມສົນໃຈຈາກນ້ອງນ້ອຍເຍົາວະຊົນທັງໝົດ 800 ຄົນ ໃນນັ້ນຈາກແຂວງສະຫວັນນະເຂດ 137 ຄົນ, ແຂວງຈຳປາສັກ 135 ຄົນ, ຫຼວງພະບາງ 120 ຄົນ ແລະ ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ 408 ຄົນ. ການປະກວດແຕ້ມຮູບທີ່ທາງໂຕໂຍຕາຈັດຂື້ນນີ້ໄດ້ແບ່ງອອກເປັນ 3 ປະ ເພດຄື: 13-15 ປີ, 10-12 ປີ ແລະ ຕ່ຳ ກວ່າ 10 ປີ ເຊິ່ງລາງວັນຊະນະ ເລີດຈະໄດ້ຮັບເງິນສົດ 5,300,000 ກີບ. ນອກຈາກເງິນສົດແລ້ວ ຜູ້ໄດ້ຮັບຊະ ນະເລີດລະດັບປະເທດຈະຖືກສົ່ງເຂົ້າປະກວດການແຕ້ມຮູບລ ະດັບ ສາກົນທີ່ຢີ່ປຸ່ນ ຖ້າຫາກຕິດອັນດັບ 1 ໃນ 3 ຈະໄດ້ຮັບລາງວັນໄປທັດສະ ນະສຶກສາທີ່ປະເທດຢີ່ປຸ່ນໃນເດືອນສິງຫາ 2013 ນີ້ອີກດ້ວຍຖືວ່າເປັນ ກິ ດ ຈະກຳດີ ໆ ທີ່ ບໍ ລິ ສັ ດ ໂຕໂຍຕາໄດ້ ຈັ ດ ຂື້ ນ ເພື່ ອ ນ້ ອ ງນ້ ອ ຍແລະພໍ່ ແ ມ່ ປະຊາຊົນຕາມຄຳຂວັນຂອງເພິ່ນທີ່ວ່າ: “ໂຕໂຍຕາພູມໃຈທີ່ໄດ້ເຕີບໂຕຮ່ວມ ກັບສັງຄົມລາວ” ຜູ້ຊະນະເລີດ ຍວັດ ີ ຮຮ ມສ ເພ ຸ 13-15 ປີ ົງ ອາຍຸ 15ປ ວ ີ ປະເພດອາຍ ະນ ງມ ສ ນປະເສີດ ແ ປີ 1. ທ້າວ ພອ ລີນ ອາຍຸ 14 ະນາ ສຸກຈະເ ຕ ດ ັ ລ າງ າຍຸ 15ປີ 2. ນ ອ ງ ພ ແ ມ ົ ະມິດ ໄຊສ 3. ທ້າວ ນິລ ້ອຍ ຸ 10-12ປີ ະຖົມ ຊ້າງນ ຸ 11ປີ ຮຮ ປ ປະເພດອາຍ ທະຍົມ ສຸວັນ ອາຍ ງ ົ ດ ັ ຫ ມ ຮ າ ຮ ີ ດ ີ ປ ປ ຸ ຸ 12 1. ນາງ ສ ະເດດ ອາຍ ົນ ສິດວັນນ າງ 2. ທ້າວ ອານ ະບ ງພ ວ ຕ ແຂວງຫຼ າຍຸ 11ປິ ປະຊາທິປະໄ ງນະພາ ອ ດາວັນ ແສ ນ ັ ເບ າງ ນ 3. ປີິ ້ອຍ ຸຕຳ່ກວ່າ 10 ປະຖົມ ຊ້າງນ ປະເພດອາຍ ອາຍຸ 9ປີ ຮຮ ນ ັ ວ ຸ ສ ມ ົ ງ ົ ຫ ະຖ ິຕາ ຸ 9ປີ ຮຮ ປ 1. ນາງ ສຸນ ລີນສຸກ ອາຍ ມບອນ ຈະເ 5. ທ້າວ ເກ ຈັນ ັນ ຮ ປະຖົມວຽງ ຫ້ອມສະຫວ ອາຍຸ 8ປີ ຮ ພວງມາລາ ນ ັ າວ ດ 6. ນາງ ພັດທະນາ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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ສູນທີ່ ປຶ ກສາ ແທັກໂດ TACDO Consulting Center

ໃຫບ ້ ໍລິການຝຶກອບົ ຮ ົມ ແລະ ໃຫຄ ້ ໍາປຶ ກສາ: ດາ້ ນບໍລິຫານ ແລະ ຈ ັດການ ການພັດທະນາຊຸມຊ ົນ ການເງິນຈຸລະພາກ ສິ່ ງແວດລອ ້ ມ

Consulting and Training Services in: Leadership and Management Community Development Microfinance Environment

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

AcComModation Advisor

Luang Prabang

Where to stay

More favourite accommodation choices, visit: www.champamag.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 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 Muangthong Luang Prabang With a boutique feel the Muangthong Hotel is an impressive complex of 4 two storey buildings, built around a central courtyard and swimming pool. The buildings, with large wooden pillars are of modern Lao design with a French colonial flavour and traditional Lao roofs.

A great little retreat in Champassak Province Kingfisher Ecolodge.

A Oupalathkhamboua Rd., Ban Thatluang W www.muangthonglpb.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

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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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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)

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.

Day 3: Luang Prabang-Khouangsi Vaterfall

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)

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.

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

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.

Lao airlines in-flight Magazine Issue 16 April - May

V o l 0 3 i s s u e 1 6 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

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Luang Prabang Hightlights wxmPj;75o,u'xtgmf9uo

The City of Eternal Spring ,qoltg\jmk'glf4tdyf0v'xkdc,joE0v'

The Mekong Delta’s Economic Charm 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