Sabaidee Lifestyle & Travel Magazine issue 16 by Sabaidee Magazine

N o te Director's

Greetings readers!

ຂໍຕ້ອນຮັບທ່ານຜູ້ອ່ານ!

We hope you enjoyed Sabaidee Magazine Issue #15 released in April and your New Year is off to a fantastic start.

ພວກເຮົາຫວັງວ່າ ທ່ານຈະເພີດເພີນກັບການອ່ານ ວາລະສານສະບາຍດີ ສະບັບທີ 15 ທີ່ອອກໃນເດືອນເມສາ ແລະມ່ວນຊື່ນກັບປີໃໝ່ທີ່ຜ່ານມານີ້

With the arrival of the wet season, the summer months tend to see the country’s city centres quieten down following the bumper tourist season. This change of pace can be an excellent opportunity to beat the crowds and enjoy your city in a more low-key manner. For a little activity or dining inspiration, check out our Good Guide, which highlights some of the best eats, drinks, sleeps, activities and relaxation spots across Laos.

ລະດູ ຝົນ ທີ່ກຳ�ລັງ ຈະມາ ເດື ອ ນຮ້ອ ນ ອາດເຫັ ນ ກາງຕົວ ເມື ອ ງງຽບສະຫງົບ ລົງ ເຊິ່ງ ຕາມດ້ວ ຍ ລະດູ ທ່ອ ງທ່ຽ ວທີ່ເ ຕັ ມ ໄປດ້ວ ຍຄວາມມ່ວ ນຊື່ນ ການປ່ຽ ນແປງ ໄລຍະນີ້ແມ່ນຖືເປັນໂອກາດດີ ໃນການປຸກລະດົມຝູງຊົນ ແລະເພີດເພີນມ່ວນຊື່ນ ກັບ ຕົວ ເມື ອ ງໃນແບບທຳ�ມະດາ ສຳ�ລັບ ກິ ດ ຈະກຳ�ນ້ອ ຍ ໆ ຫຼື ສະຖານກິ ນ ດື່ມ ກວດເບິ່ງ ທີ ໜ້າ ການແນະນຳ�ທີ່ ດີ Good Guide ຂອງພວກເຮົ າ ໄດ້ ເຊິ່ງເນັ້ນໃສ່ສະຖານທີ່ກິນ ດື່ມ ແລະສະຖານທີ່ພັກຜ່ອນໃນປະເທດເຮົາ.

Also in this issue, our Sabaidee Cover feature has seen us delve into the exciting world of Lao fashion, chatting to a host of local and international design talent about where traditional techniques meet modern flair and the future of this growing and promising industry. We also catch up with a group of enthusiastic young Lao photographers to see how their snaps are helping the disadvantaged, explore fastpaced and vibrant Kuala Lumpur from on the ground and way up high, and treat ourselves to a night of comedic drama in Vientiane with a promising local theatre group. Now that we are a monthly publication – you can find us in your favourite cafes, restaurants, hotels and spas from the 15th of each month – we’d love to hear your feedback about our new direction, so if you have any comments, suggestions, or are a business that would like to be included in ‘The Good Guide’, please feel free to email our editor Kate on editor@sabaidee-magazine.com. Until next month!

Phanhlakhone Syboonheung The Director 4

ໃນສະບັບ ນີ້ ຈຸ ດ ເດັ່ນ ຂອງໜ້າ ປົກ ຂອງພວກເຮົ າ ແມ່ນ ຈະຂຸ ດ ຄົ້ນ ເບິ່ງ ໂລກ ທີ່ຕື່ນ ເຕັ້ນ ຂອງວົງ ການແຟເຊິ ນ ລາວ ລົມ ກັບ ນັກ ອອກແບບພາຍໃນປະເທດ ແລະສາກົນ ທີ່ມີ ພ ອນສະຫວັນ ກ່ຽ ວກັບ ການ ປະສົມ ປະສານ ລະ ຫ່ວ າງ ການອອກແບບພື້ນ ບ້າ ນ ກັບ ການອອກແບບທີ່ທັນ ສະໄໝ ແລະອະນາຄົດ ຂອງອຸດສະຫະກຳ�ແຜ່ນແ ພທີ່ກຳ�ລັງເຕີບໂຕ. ພວກເຮົາຍັງຈະພົບກັບຊ່າງຖ່າຍຮູບໄວໜຸ່ມລາວ ທີ່ຈະມາສະແດງເຕັກນິກການ ຖ່າຍຮູບທີ່ຈະຊ່ວຍໃຫ້ກຳ�ຈັດຂໍ້ດ້ອຍ ຄົ້ນສຳ�ຫຼວດ ກຸງກຸລາລຳ�ເປີ ທີ່ໜ້າຕື່ນເຕັ້ນ ແລະພາໂຕເອງລ່ອ ງລອຍໄປຍັງ ຄ່ຳ�ຄື ນ ຂອງລະຄອນຕະຫຼົກ ໃນວຽງຈັນ ກັບ ກຸ່ມລະຄອນພື້ນບ້ານ. ປະຈຸ ບັນ ພວກເຮົ າ ໄດ້ອ ອກວາລະສານເປັ ນ ລາຍເດື ອ ນ ທ່າ ນສາມາດຈັບ ອ່າ ນ ວ າ ລ ະ ສ າ ນ ຂ ອ ງ ພ ວ ກ ເ ຮົ າ ໄ ດ້ຕ າ ມ ຮ້າ ນ ກ າ ເ ຟ ຮ້າ ນ ອ າ ຫ າ ນ ໂ ຮ ງ ແ ຮ ມ ແ ລ ະ ຮ້າ ນ ສ ະ ປ າ ໃ ນ ທຸ ກ ໆ ວັນ ທີ 1 5 ຂ ອ ງ ແ ຕ່ລ ະ ເ ດື ອ ນ ພ ວ ກ ເ ຮົ າ ຍິ ນ ດີ ທີ່ຈ ະ ໄ ດ້ຮັບ ຄໍາ ຕໍານິ ຕິ ຊົມ ກ່ຽ ວ ກັບ ແ ນ ວ ທ າ ງ ໃ ໝ່ຂ ອ ງ ພວກເຮົ າ ສະນັ້ນ ຖ້າ ທ່າ ນມີ ຄຳ�ຄິ ດ ຄຳ�ເຫັ ນ ຄຳ�ແນະນຳ� ຫຼື ເປັ ນ ທຸ ລ ະກິ ດ ທີ່ຕ້ອງການນຳ�ສະເໜີ ໃ ນສ່ວ ນຂອງ ‘The Good Guide’ ກະລຸ ນາສົ່ງອີ ເ ມວ ຫາບັນນາທິການພວກເຮົາ ທ່ານນາງ ເຄັດ ຕາມອີເມວ editor@sabaideemagazine.com.

ພັນລະຄອນ ສີບຸນເຮືອງ ຜອຳ�ນວຍການ ູ

THIS ISSUE

MAY 2 0 1 4

On the cover From Culture to Couture: The Rise of Lao Fashion

photo courtesy Passa Paa

News & Events 10 14 24

What's On What's New Sabaidee Guest: Triumph on the Green, Lao Golf Challenge 2014 Winner

Travel 28 32

Partner Profile: Lao Skyway - Soaring To New Heights ASEAN Connect: Kuala Lumpur - Colourful Past Meets Vibrant Present in Malaysia’s Capital

Lifestyle 18 20 26 36 43 44

My City: My Vientiane Feature: Photographer’s Playground Spotlight On: Khao Niew - Setting the Stage for the Birth of Lao Theatre Sabaidee Cover: From Culture to Couture - The Rise of Lao Fashion The Good Guide: EAT, DRINK, RELAX, SHOP, SEE & DO, SLEEP listings Sabaidee’s Guide To: Relax and Refresh - Pamper, Stretch or Workout in Luang Prabang

CONTRIBUTORS Phonesavanh Sangsomboun

James Elton-Pym

Connecting and associating with new people from all walks of life has given a chance for journalist Phonesavanh to broaden his experiences and knowledge. Phonesavanh is a visual reporter engaged in multimedia through photo and video journalism. He has travelled to many countries around the world, both in Asia and Europe, to report from these places. He strongly believes media plays a significant role in reflecting societal issues and gives a light to those who do not have it.

On the cusp of finishing his journalism degree in Sydney, Australia, James decided to put off the inevitable and instead move to Laos, despite being too tall to fit through any of the country’s doorways, to work as a subeditor for the Vientiane Times newspaper. James helped with coverage of the 2013 Australian election for News Corporation and was the host of a local current affairs programme on a Sydney community station. He likes to write stories about little individuals that create big changes, especially in the environment.

Michelle Luehman Michelle has spent the last 20 years living and working around the world, and most of that time has been spent around Asia. An avid observer of people and places, she has written extensively about life in Asia, both as a visitor and a resident. She has worked for lifestyle and travel magazines around the globe capturing the essence and flavour of life in each different locality.

Kate Antonas Australian-born journalist turned art gallery manager and creative programmer, Kate relocated to Laos last year. Now living in Vientiane she has fallen for Laos’ exquisite traditional art, laid back lifestyle, street food and beer with ice. Always on the lookout for the cool and interesting she is attempting to uncover the best local eats, drinks and hidden gems.

Ian Lacey

Raised in Wexford, Ireland, Ian now lives in slow-paced Vientiane. After falling into writing by accident, he likes to concentrate on pieces that reflect his two great interests in life – travel and conservation. Ian recently completed a 15 month, 27,000km unsupported bicycle journey from Alaska to Argentina for charity, and since then has formed some alternative thoughts on the nature of travel. You can see blogs and photos on his website www.350South.org.

Hannah McDonald-Moniz

Hannah has been living in Laos and traveling extensively in the region since 2010. She tries to connect with each location she visits through the lens of her camera, and works as a freelance media consultant. Her other passions include language learning and trying new foods. See her blog, photography, and videos on her website www.seethinkexplore.com.

WHERE WE ARE XAYABOURY

Home to the Land of Million Elephants’ highest pachyderm population. Each year in February Laotians and travellers flock here to pay their respects to these magnificent endangered creatures during the annual Elephant Festival.

LUANG PRABANG

Tranquil heritage-listed city boasting exquisite handicrafts, rich cultural sites steeped in history, a cosmopolitan bar scene and oodles of French colonial charm, all where the idyllic Nam Kahn and Mekong rivers meet. The perfect destination for the discerning traveller, the city is dotted with boutique hotels and spas.

SAVANNAKHET

Sitting on the banks of the Mekong, this growing city is the second-largest in Laos. The town centre houses ambient French Colonial architecture and small and friendly eateries are dotted along the riverfront. Just beyond the city you’ll find excellent trekking routes through the nearby Dong Natad Protected Area.

VANG VIENG

One-time party haven turned an outdoor enthusiasts dream, the small town is set to a backdrop of magnificent limestone karsts and lush forest. Nothing beats whiling a day away kayaking down the Nam Song river or taking a dip at the serene blue lagoon – utter relaxation in nature.

VIENTIANE

Increasingly modern bustling capital with a trailblazing dining scene that must be tasted to be believed. Here you’ll find intricately adorned temples sitting alongside Parisian-style boulangeries, glossy developments, a young emerging creative scene, and some of the country’s most lively marketplaces.

THAKHEK

A launching pad for the captivating Thakhek Loop. Throw your kit on a rented motorbike and set off on a 4-day journey to explore the hidden Buddha Cave, secluded water holes, tiny villages and, the main attraction, Kong Lor Cave which houses a snaking river system accessed only by motorboat.

PAKSE

The capital of the southern province of Champassak, Pakse is the gateway to the picturesque Bolaven Plateau which is home to an abundance of scenic waterfalls and motorcycle routes, and is widely regarded as producing some of the highest-quality coffee in the country.

Who's

[ ຄະນະທີປ ່ ກ ຶ ສາ / Consultants ] ພັດທະລະພົງ ຄົງວິຈດ ິ Pattarapong Kongvijit / ວິສດ ິ ເຊົາວະລິດຕານົນ Wisith Chawalitanon / ມານະໄຊ ອິນແກ້ວ Manachai Inkaew / ສົມໃຈ ພິມຜາສຸກ Somjai Pimpasouk [ ຜູອ  ຳນວຍການ / Director ] ພັນລະຄອນ ສີບນ ຸ ເຮືອງ Phanhlakhone Syboonheung [ ບັນນາທິການອຳນວຍການ / Editorial Director ] ເກດ ພິດທະຢາກອນສິນ Gaid Kornsilapa [ ບັນນາທິການບໍລຫ ິ ານ / Editor in Chief ] ຄຳສວນ ຈັນທະລາດ Khamsouan Chanthalat [ ບັນນາທິການ ພາສາອັງກິດ / English Editor ] ເຄັດ ແ ອນໂທນາສ Kate Antonas [ ບັນນາທິການອອນລາຍ / Online Editor ] ຂະນິດຖາ ອັດຕະເມດ Kanittha Attamate [ ຜູອ  ຳນວຍການຝາຍຂາຍ / Sales & Marketing Director ] ຊະຍາດາ ອະລິຍະພົນຈະເລີນ Chayada Ariyaphoncharoen [ ຝ່າຍຂາຍແລະການຕະຫຼາດ / Sales & Marketing ] ສຸກສະຫວັນ ທຸລະຈັນ Souksavanh Thoulachan [ ປະສານງານການຕະຫຼາດ / Marketing Co-ordinator ] ບຸນລອດ ສິດທິພົງ Bounlod Sittiphong [ ທີມງານຂ່າວ / Reporter ] ເທບພະວົງສອນ ບົວພາ Thepphavongsone Bouapha [ ຈັດໜາ ແລະ ອອກແບບ / Layout Design ] ນັດນະລີ ມາທອງ Nutnaree Mathong / ທະນະວັດ ຄົງແສນຄຳ Thanawatt Khongseankhum / ທັນຍະລັດ ສະທອນລັກ Thunyarat Satornlug / ອະພີດຊະຍາ ພຶກສະອາພອນ Aphitchaya Phrueksa-aphon / ວັນວິລາດ ບຸນລັດ Wanvilart Boonyaratana [ ຫອງການວາລະສານສະບາຍດີ / Sabaidee Magazine Sales Office THM Lao Co., Ltd. ] 256 ບ້ານ ໜອງບອນ ເມືອງໄຊເສດຖາ ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ສປປ ລາວ 265 Baan Nongbone, Xayxetha, Vientiane Lao P.D.R [ ໂທ / ແຟັກ: / Tel / Fax ] +856 21 454782 / +856 21 454782 / Mobile: +856 20 5516 2440, +856 20 5884 8376, +66 83 018 4076 (Thai) [ ອີເມລ ບັນນາທິການ / Editor Email ] editor@sabaidee-magazine.com [ ອີເມລ ຝາຍຂາຍ / Sales Email ] chayada@sabaidee-magazine.com [ ເຈົາ້ ຂອງ ແລະ ຜູຈ ້ ດ ັ ພິມ / Owner & Publisher ] ທີ ເອັສ ເອັມ ລາວ THM Lao www.sabaidee-magazine.com [ ພິມທີ່ / Print by ] ໂຮງພິມ ລາວຍູນິພຮິນ ຈຳກັດ Lao Uniprint Press Co., Ltd ONLINE EDITION Also available at:

HM For more information visit www.sabaidee-magazine.com or simply scan the QR code

LAO

All material appearing in Sabaidee Lifestyle & Travel Magazine is strictly copyrighted and all rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without the prior written permission to the copyright holder. All articles and photographs published herein are created by the authors and photographers at their own discretion and do not necessarily represent the view of the publisher of the magazine. Sabaidee Lifestyle & Travel Magazine holds no responsibility or liability arising out of the publication of such articles and photographs.

WHAT'S ON

Free Museum Tours

film.

May 15, May 23, June 13, 3pm Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, Luang Prabang Luang Prabang’s Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre is the country’s only museum dedicated to the ethnic and artisanal heritage of Laos. To educate about Laos’ rich heritage, the Centre hosts free lively and informative tours, led either by trained guides or a Co-Director. The tours introduce participants to the unique characteristics of some of Laos’ least-known ethnic groups, and offer an inside look at the lifestyles of different ethnic groups from the north to the south of Laos. Tours are approximately 3545 minutes, the May 15 tour will be led by TAEC Co-Director, Tara Gujadhur. For more information contact information@taeclaos.org or visit www.taeclaos.org. CULTURE.

ART.

German Cinema

French on Film Saturdays, 2pm and 6pm Institute Français, Vientiane Institut Français du Laos opens its cinema to the public for free each Saturday to promote the exciting, moving and inspiring world of French film. Two films are shown at each session from 2pm and 6pm. Family friendly films on offer, free entry, for the full programme visit www.if-laos.org.

May 27, 7.30pm German Embassy on Rue Sokpalouang, Vientiane Each month, fans of foreign film can enjoy a night of German cinema at the German Embassy in Vientiane. Films range from art house to blockbusters and classics – this month catch ‘Herr Lehmann’, based on the novel of the same name by Sven Regener, the feature film follows the life of a laidback bartender working in West Berlin in the final weeks before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Free entry, all films are shown in German language with English subtitles.

Weaving Demonstration May 17 Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, Luang Prabang

Ceramic Installation Throughout May and June i:cat gallery, Vientiane Australian ceramicist and installation artist Kris Coad will install a semi-permanent artwork at i:cat gallery that will stay in place throughout May and June. Coad’s delicate ceramic designs reflect the spiritual and daily ritual of different cultures and how objects can trigger emotions. She has travelled to Laos several times and the country has influenced her craft in Australia. This is the first time her work will be shown in Laos. Free entry, gallery hours Mon-Fri 1pm-8pm, Sat & Sun 1pm-6pm. For more information visit www.facebook.com/ icatgallery. Pictured: Journey Series #4 (detail), porcelain and cloth, by Kris Coad. 10

The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre will host three generations of Navajo weavers who are visiting Luang Prabang as part of the US Embassy Vientiane’s Art in Embassies Programme. Free weaving demonstrations led by both Navajo and traditional Lao weavers will take place at the Centre’s on-site café, along with a short presentation about the Navajo craft and opportunities for questions from the audience. For event time and more information visit www.facebook.com/taeclaos or contact information@taeclaos.org.

Sketching Ideas May 31 | 6pm-9pm i:cat gallery, Vientiane This one-evening event and exhibition will see a host of local artists who draw, sketch or collage open their sketchbooks to the public. Artists will exhibit pages from their visual journals and other media – seeing established and amateur, and Lao and foreign practitioners shown sideby-side. Free entry. For more information visit www.facebook.com/icatgallery.

WHAT'S ON

Paella Party

FOOD.

May 25, 6pm Pimenton, Vientiane Purveyors of fine Spanish cuisine Pimenton will host their regular Neighbourhood Paella Night on Sunday, May 25 from 6pm. Enjoy delicious paella – freshly whipped up on the mezzanine – paired with the house sangria and delectable tapas. Be sure to catch the flamenco dance performances while you feast. Reservations essential, 275,000 kip per person. Contact 020 5887 3115 or visit www. facebook.com/pimentonrestaurant to book your table.

Lao Rugby Federation Takes On Asian 5 Nations Playoffs May 29, Finals May 31 Vientiane

SPORT.

Lao Rugby will host their division of the Asian 5 Nations annual rugby tournament. The Lao Men’s National 15s squad is hoping that the home advantage will give them a boost against visiting Guam, Indonesia, and China. Catch the Lao Men’s National team in action in this international-calibre rugby union championship and cheer them on—Lao su su! Venue to be announced, visit www.laorugby.com and www.facebook.com/laorugby for updates.

Britany Bash

Auskick for Kids The Lao Elephants Football Club will hold an Auskick workshop at VIS, aimed at introducing children aged between 5 to 12 years old to Australian Rules Football. The fun, free session is open to kids of all nationalities and levels of experience with all equipment provided. Parents and volunteers welcome to attend or join in on the day, contact the Lao Elephants for more details on 020 5505 9116.

Bourbon, Beers, Pies & Footy at Sticky Jock's Weekly, as per scheduled AFL games Sticky Fingers, Vientiane

French Britany Party

TRAOU-MAD

KIR BRETON PATÉ BRETON CH FRENSIC MU

Friday 28st February 2014 from 6pm to 10pm

GALETTES CIDR

MOJITOEBRETON CARAMEL RRE SALÉ

AU BEU ested: ion requ 10 Reservat 020 583464il.co rs@gma m chanmalyflowe

May 30 | 6pm-10pm Chanmaly Café, Vientiane Indulge your inner Francophile with Chanmaly Café’s monthly French Britany Party! Enjoy the finest produce this region has to offer with crepes, cider, calvados, traou mad cakes and paté Breton a plenty – all served long-table dinner style. Reservations essential, contact 020 5834 6410 for more details or visit www.facebook. com/chanmalyrestaurant.

Spanish Fiesta May 16 | 6pm Chanmaly Café, Vientiane TURRON

SPANNISIGH HT TORTA EXTREMEÑA

MANCHEGO

CHISTORRA

w/ LAOLIVE

SERRANO

CHURROS

CAVA

TA BELLO CHORIZO

AR BAIL

Friday 14th March 2014 FREE ENTRY

ion: Reservat346410 gmail.com 020 58alyflowers@ chanm

With the start of the Australian Football League’s 2014 season, Sticky Fingers will show all televised afternoon, evening and weekend AFL games from their upper level bar area – Sticky Jock’s. Enjoy a cold beer and some classic pub fare, including Aussie meat pies, as you cheer on your favourite team. While there’s no games the area will be business as usual, for more information visit www.facebook.com/StickyFingersLaos.

SOIRÉE BRETONNE CREPES

MUSIC A

June 8, 9.30am-10.30am Vientiane International School, Vientiane

Spanish music, wine & tapas all night long! Happy hour 6pm-8pm (2+1), -10% on all cold cuts & cheese 11am-8pm

Join Chanmaly Café for their monthly Spanish Party and indulge on Spanish wines and a special menu of moreish snacks including a special all-day discount on Spanish cold cuts and cheeses. Dance the night away while the in-house DJ spins Latino tunes. Happy hour from 6pm-8pm. Contact 020 5834 6410 to book or for more details or visit www.facebook.com/ chanmalyrestaurant.

SOCIAL.

Good Nights at April 12 May 31, 9pm April 12, Vientiane Bar and restaurant April 12 has launched their G'Night events, which take place on the last Saturday of each month. G’Night is a LGBT-friendly night and will see the first floor bar transformed into a dance floor, complete with cabaret and drag queen performances. For more information visit www.facebook.com/april12.restaurant. 12

Nighttime, Super bright

Screw - Down Crown

Countdown time 60 min

Gas light H3 system

C. Tong Panich 0 2694 1888 / Sakolnalika Khonkaen 0 4322 1650 / Pengnalika Mukdahan 0 4263 3123

www.swissforcewatch.com www.facebook.com/swissforcewatch

WHAT'S NEW

| Photo Burasari Heritage |

The

Take Vang Vieng Challenge

Afternoon Tea at Silk Road

Café

Green Discovery Laos have unveiled their latest adventurous tour offering – The Vang Vieng Challenge. This two-day tour will see participants go for a ‘real’ trek, descend steep mountain slopes using steel cables to safely hold you, rise to the challenge of dare-devil ‘abseiling’ in a 30 metre waterfall, zip-lining and cross the mind-blowing ‘via ferrata’! This adventurous climb will ultimately reward you with incredible views from the top of a limestone mountain. For more information and to book, visit Green Discovery Laos’ new-look website www.greendiscoverylaos.com.

Silk Road Café, located in the tranquil gardens of Ock Pop Tok’s Living Crafts Centre in Luang Prabang, is now offering a delightful afternoon tea experience from its perch on the Mekong river. The café has created a delectable menu of dainty finger sandwiches, biscuits, scones and mousse to enjoy with tea and coffee each day between 3pm-5pm – the perfect match for taking in the pristine river views or to winddown after a weaving or batik workshop at the Centre. Tea for two is 120,000 kip or 77,000 kip for one person. For more information or to make a reservation contact 071 212 597 or lcc@ockpoptok.com.

Cooking

Classes at Burasari Heritage Burasari Heritage introduces Private Cooking Classes in Luang Prabang. Get hands-on and learn how to make your choice of four Lao or Thai dishes in an al-fresco kitchen beautifully set on the Nam Khan river. Cook and feast on your own fish laab, traditional papaya salad, Luang Prabang-style Or Lam or everyone's favourite Tom Yam Gai. The class includes a tour of the local fresh market to learn about the intricacies of home-grown flavours and recipes so you can make these dishes at home for friends and family, from Burasari Heritage’s kitchen to yours. Classes are US$35 per person, to book contact +856 071 213331, +856 071 255031, or inquiry@burasariheritage.com.

Times 20th

Parties at

Private Chanmaly

Vientiane Anniversary

Vientiane café Chanmaly is now opening their space as a venue for private parties and functions. Each event can cater for 20 to 45 people and there are two packages that can be tailored to your needs which include a selection of finger food or tapas, drinks and a DJ who will spin your music genre of choice. Hiring the space is free and the team are happy to work to your budget to accommodate your event. Optional special touches include flowers from the in-house florist, decorations and personalised menus. For more information contact 020 5834 6410 or visit www.facebook. com/chanmalyrestaurant.

Laos' only English-language newspaper V ientiane T imes celebrated its 20th Anniversary in April with a ceremony and function at the ICTC Lao-Japan. At the ceremony, which was attended by Mr Cheuang Sombounkhan, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, and other dignitaries and government officials, the daily newspaper launched a documentary commemorating the past 20 years of circulation. The first issue of the thenweekly Vientiane T imes in April 1994 coincided with the opening of the first Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, back then a handful of handpicked committee members reported the news. In 1996 the newspaper became a bi-weekly publication, then in 2004 Vientiane Times became a daily newspaper employing over 60 people, many of whom are graduates of the National University of Laos with majors in English. Keep up-to-date with the latest social, political, cultural and economic news online at www.vientianetimes.org.la.

Sabaidee Supports Challenge

Golf

Sabaidee Magazine was recognised as a media partner of the recent Lao Golf Challenge 2014, held from March 21-22 at the Long Vien Golf Club in Vientiane. Over the two days a host of Lao golfers took to the green at the event which was endorsed by the Lao National Golf Federation, managed by Target Magazine and presented by Beerlao Gold and Ford, along with various generous sponsors.

WHAT'S NEW

Infinity Studios New Year

Celebrate

Sabaidee Magazine attended a basi ceremony and celebration to mark Pi Mai Lao New Year at the Infinity Studios in Vientiane. Clients, supporters, friends and family were invited to the event which included a traditional basi led by monks, food, drink and entertainment.

Registrations Now Open La Procession

for

Runners, at your marks – the Luang Prabang Half Marathon ‘La Procession’ is now open for registrations. This year’s event will be held on October 12, and only in its second year the race has already raised the bar for destination races in terms of helping the community. Unlike other races where only a small percentage of the race fees goes to charity, the Luang Prabang Half Marathon donates 100% of the participants’ contributions. Last year the event committee, along with 400 runners, raised US$125,000 for Friends International to set up an outreach program for street children in Luang Prabang and a social enterprise training restaurant in the tourist centre of the town. This year organisers will raise funds for Friends Without a Border to help develop, build and operate the Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC) in conjunction with the Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital and the Lao Health Department. Visit www.facebook.com/LuangPrabangHalfMarathon to access registration and for updates. There are 3 distance races to select from at 7 kilometres, 14 kilometres and 21 kilometres. Minimum donation for a place at the starting line for international runners is US$200. For more information visit www.luangprabanghalfmarathon.com.

Relax at Angsana Spa Prabang

in Luang

It’s now even easier to indulge at Angsana Spa; when you purchase a 90-minute or 120-minute body massage session between 10am4pm you’ll receive a 30% discount. Choose from the following massages, designed to soothe the body and release muscle tension leaving you refreshed and rejuvenated: Angsana Signature, Fusion, Siam, Aroma Thai, Javanese or Dream Massage. Nestled in a picturesque garden in the historic Maison Souvannaphoum Hotel, Angsana Spa is an enchanting oasis to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. Book your appointment today on +856 7125 4609 or spa-luangprabang@angsana.com – your sanctuary awaits. Promotion runs from May 15-June 15, 2014. All massage sessions include additional refreshment and relaxation time. All rates subject to 10% service and 10% government tax. Treatment must be completed before 4pm for discount. Promotion cannot be used in conjunction with other promotions, discounts or privileges.

Welcome to Sabaidee Club! This is a space for our readers to take part in our monthly competition with the chance to win a variety of fantastic prizes. To welcome the wet season, we want to know your favourite retreat to keep dry in. It might be a café with a cosy reading nook, restaurant with a view of thundery skies or somewhere a little off the beaten track. Email your answer to editor@sabaidee-magazine.com, or post it on our Facebook page before June 9, 2014. The winner will win

a 250,000 kip voucher to the luxurious Xishaungbanna Hotel in Luang Prabang.

ສະໂມສອນ ສະບາຍດີ!

ຍິນດີຕ້ອນຮັບສູ່ ນີ້ເປັນສະຖານທີ່ສໍາລັບຜູ້ອ່ານ ທີ່ຈະມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມ ໃນການແຂ່ງຂັນປະຈຳ�ເດືອນເພື່ອໂອກາດຊະນະລາງວັນຕ່າງໆ. ຕ້ອນຮັບກັບລະດູຝົນ ພວກເຮົາຕ້ອງການຮູ້ວ່າສະຖານທີ່ພັກຜ່ອນຂອງທ່ານ ເພື່ອບໍ່ໃຫ້ຖືກຝົນ ອາດຈະເປັນ ຮ້ານກາເຟ ທີ່ມີມຸມອ່ານໜັງສື ແບບ ສະບາຍສະບາຍ ຮ້ານອາຫານທີ່ເບິ່ງທ້ອງຟ້າ ຫຼື ບາງສະຖານທີ່ພັກຜ່ອນ ອີເມວຫາພວກເຮົາໄດ້ທີ່ editor@sabaidee-magazine.com ຫຼື ໂພສລົງ Facebook ຂອງ ພວກເຮົາ ກ່ອນວັນທີ 9 ມີຖຸນາ 2014.

ມູນຄ່າ 250,000 ກີບ ເພື່ອເຂົ້າພັກໂຮງແຮມສິບສອງພັນນາ

ຜູ້ຊະນະລາງວັນຈະໄດ້ຮັບບັດ (Xishaungbanna Hotel) ໃນເມືອງຫລວງພະບາງ.

ສົນໃຈເປັນຊະມາຊິກ ວາລະສານ ສະບາຍດີ

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MY CITY

| Lee Vilayphong Phongsavanh |

interview Kate Antonas photos courtesy Lee Vilayphong Phongsavanh What better way to get to know a city than through those who live, work, and play in it? Sabaidee Magazine chats to a resident to get an insider’s guide to their locale.

Lee Vilayphong Phongsavanh is a true multi-tasker. At just 23 the Vientiane native has made a name for himself in local circles as a skilled break-dancer, and an emerging filmmaker, writer and director – his short films have won him multiple awards at the Vientianale International Film Festival. He even dabbles in fashion with his own street wear label Hoppin (www.facebook.com/ HOPPIN.Laos) which specialises in handdyed and printed t-shirts. Here, Lee gives us the low-down on his life in Vientiane.

e n a i t n e i My V

Tell us how you came to dance and make films?

When I was a kid I watched a lot of martial arts movies (I was even named after Bruce Lee), and I used to practice the moves at home. Then I met some friends at school who liked to dance and it started from there, now we’ve been to breakdancing competitions across Southeast Asia. My interest in film stemmed from dance, I saw a few movies about b-boys online and started saving to buy a camera. My first experience was filming b-boys dancing in Luang Prabang and

from there I started to make short films. At the moment I’m writing my first featurelength film which I hope to start shooting in May. How does living in Vientiane influence your creative work?

Daily life here inspires me, it’s a small city so everyone here knows each other. The b-boy and film community are quite small so it’s easy to talk to people and share ideas. How would you describe the current film industry in Laos?

It’s definitely growing, as is the media industry in general, there are more commercial opportunities for making documentaries and television. I hope that in a few years the industry will grow so filmmakers can make a living from their movies – I’d love to be a full-time director. Best place to grab a coffee:

The best Lao coffee comes from a stall outside of BCEL Bank along the Mekong – they make the freshest street coffee in town. Your favourite local eatery:

I like Baan Tonmali Cake on Rue Phonpapao – the food is so cheap and tasty. I usually order a mocha and their Khai Jeow Mou Sup. What, in your opinion, is Vientiane’s best kept secret? | Lee (front) wearing a Hoppin t-shirt. |

I like the drive along the Mekong from Lak 4 restaurant down to Saamyek bar, there’s a long road with lots of quiet spots to relax along the way. Sometimes I just grab my bike for a ride to enjoy the view.

ວຽງຈັນຂອງຂ້ອຍ ລີ ວິໄລພົງ ພົງສະຫວັນ ແມ່ນຜູທີ່ ້ ມຫຼ ີ າຍອາຊີບໜ້າທີ່ຄວາມ ຮັບຜິດຊອບ ພຽງແຕ່ອາຍຸ 23 ປີ ລີເຊິ່ງເປັນຄົນພື້ນຖານ ນະຄອນຫຼວງໄດ້ສ້າງຊື່ໃຫ້ໂຕເອງໃນວົງການເຕັ້ນ breakdance ທີ່ມທ ີ ັກສະ ແລະຜູ້ສ້າງຮບ ູ ເງົາ ມືໃໝ່ທີ່ຊະນະລາງ ວັນ ເປັນນັກແຕ່ງຮູບເງົາ ແລະຍັງເປັນຜູ້ຜະລິດຮູບເງົາ ລາວໄດ້ເ ລີ່ມ ຕົ້ນ ຫຼີ້ນ ໆກັບ ແຟເຊິ ນ ໃນແບບຊຸ ດ ທົ່ວ ໄປ ຕາມຖະໜົນ ແລະ ພິມສະກີນເສື້ອ ສັນຍະລັກ Hoppin ຊື່ງລົງເລິກສະເພາະເສື້ອທີເຊີດທີ່ພມ ີ ແລະເຮັດດ້ວຍມື ໃນທີ່ ນີ້ລໄີ ດ້ ເລົ່າໃຫ້ ພວກເຮົາໄດ້ ຮູ້ ກ່ຽວກັບຊີວດ ິ ໃນຕົວ ເມືອງວຽງຈັນໃຫ້ເຮົາຟັງ: ບອກພວກເຮົາໄດ້ບໍ່ ເຈົ້າໄດ້ກາຍມາເປັນນັກເຕັ້ນ ແລະຜູ້ ກຳ�ກັບຮູບເງົາໄດ້ແນວໃດ? ເມື່ອຂ້ອຍຍັງນ້ອຍ ຂ້ອຍໄດ້ເບິ່ງຮູບເງົາ ກ່ຽວກັບການຕໍ່ສູ້ ແລະ ໄດ້ຝຶກຊ້ອມຫຼີ້ນຢູ່ບ້ານຫຼັງຈາກນັ້ນຂ້ອຍໄດ້ພົບກັບ ໝູ່ເພື່ອນ ຜູ້ທີ່ມັກເຕັ້ນ ແລະດຽວນີ້ ພວກເຮົາໄດ້ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມ ການແຂ່ງຂັນເຕັ້ນ ຢູ່ທົ່ວອາຊີຕາເວັນອອກສ່ຽງໃຕ້ ຄວາມ 18

ສົນ ໃຈໃນການສ້າ ງຮູ ບ ເງົ າ ຂອງຂ້ອ ຍແມ່ນ ມາຈາກ ການເຕັ້ນ ຂ້ອຍເຫັນຮູບເງົາບາງເລື່ອງກ່ຽວກັບ ບີ-ບອຍ ຕາມອິນເຕີເນັດແລະເລີ່ມເກັບເງິນຊື້ກ້ອງຖ່າຍຮູບປະສົບປະ ການຄັ້ງທຳ�ອິດແມ່ນການຖ່າຍທຳ�ການເຕັ້ນຂອງ ບີ-ບອຍ ໃນຫຼວງພະບາງ ແລະຈາກນັ້ນຂ້ອຍໄດ້ເລີ່ມສ້າງຮູບເງົາສັ້ນ ດຽວນີ້ ຂ້ອຍກຳ�ລັງຂຽນຮູບເງົາເລື່ອງຍາວເລື່ອງທຳ�ອິດ ຊື່ງ ຫວັງວ່າຈະເລີ່ມຖ່າຍທຳ�ໃນເດືອນພຶດສະພານີ້. ເຈົ້າຈະອະທິບາຍກ່ຽວກັບອຸດສະຫະກຳ�ຮູບເງົາໃນລາວ ໄດ້ແນວໃດ? ກຳ�ລັງເຕີບໂຕຢ່າງແນ່ນອນ ຄື ອຸດສະຫະກຳ�ດ້ານສື່ ໂດຍ ທົ່ວໄປມີຫຼາຍໆໂອກາດທີ່ຈະກາຍເປັນທຸລະກິດການຄ້າ ສຳ�ລັບ ການຖ່າ ຍທຳ�ສາລະຄະດີ ແ ລະຕາມໂທລະພາບ ຂ້ອຍຫວັງວ່າ ອີກ 2 ຫາ 3 ປີຂ້າງໜ້າ ອຸດສະຫະກຳ� ຈະເຕີບໂຕ ດັ່ງນັ້ນ ຜູ້ສ້າງຮູບເງົາຈະສາມາດສ້າງອາຊີບ ໄດ້ ຈາກຮູບເງົາຂອງພວກເຂົາ ຂ້ອຍຢາກຈະເປັນຜູ້ສ້າງ ຮູບເງົາແທ້ໆ.

ສະຖານທີ່່ດີທີ່ສຸດສຳ�ລັບການຈິບກາຟ: ສະຖານທີ່ດີ ທີ່ສຸ ດ ສຳ�ລັບ ການຈິ ບ ກາເຟແມ່ນ ຮ້າ ນທີ່ ຢູ່ຂ້າງທະນາຄານ BCEL ແຄມຂອງ ມີຄວາມສົດຊື່ນ ທີ່ສຸດໃນເມືອງ. ຮ້ານອາຫານທ້ອງຖິ່ນທີ່ນິຍົມຂອງເຈົ້າ: ຂ້ອຍມັກຮ້ານເຄັກ ບ້ານ ຕົ້ນມາລີ ຖະໜົນໂພນປ່າເປົ້າ ອາຫານຖືກ ແລະແຊບ ຂ້ອຍມັກສັ່ງ ກາເຟໂມຄາ ແລະ ໄຂ່ຈ່ຽວໝູສັບເລື້ອຍໆ ໃນຄວາມຄິດຂອງເຈົ້າ ສະຖານທີ່ໃດທີ່ເປັນສະຖານທີ່ງຽບ ດີທີ່ສດ ຸ ? ຂ້ອຍມັກຂັບລົດໄປຕາມແຄມຂອງຈາກ ຫຼັກ 4 ລົງສາມ ແຍກ ມີຖະໜົນຍາວ ທີ່ມີຫຼາຍຈຸດງຽບສະຫງົບເໝາະແກ່ ການພັກຜ່ອນຕາມທາງ.

FEATURE

words Phonesavanh Sangsomboun

P h o t o g rapher' s

Playground

I Traditional fishing methods in Phatthalung province, Thailand. Photo Vilasak Sengphetmany. I Young and enigmatic Lao photographers abound in the capital, and leading the charge is the Vientiane Photo Club. Sabaidee Magazine finds out what this group is snapping and how they are shaping Laos through the lens. It is nearing dusk at a central Vientiane coffee shop, where a group of energetic local photographers from the Vientiane Photo Club (VPC) are busy discussing their next shoot – a project aimed at bettering conditions at disadvantaged schools outside of the capital. After an hour of avid discussion, the group decides to travel to Kasy district in Vientiane province, where they aim to not only capture the area’s unseen landscape, cultures and lifestyles, but also provide support for regional schools which have limited access to educational equipment. Supporting rural education has recently become part of the group’s project scope after members of the club came across a ramshackle school, a bamboo structure with no flooring, on their first photography excursion to outer Vientiane.

I A weaver at work. Photo Vilasak Sengphetmany. I

Members consist of professional and amateur photographers, many who are self-taught, who come together regularly to share techniques and knowledge, and venture further afield in Laos to capture intimate moments and tangible slices of life in their country. Photos, tips and inspirational images are also shared on the group’s Facebook page – an avenue for the group to showcase their work.

I A waterfall in Pakxong district, Champassak province. Photo Saylakham Khayongek. I There are a few existing photography groups in Laos, but since forming two years ago the VPC has seen positive outcomes not only in the work they are producing, but from their social projects too. Members portray a unique side of Laos through the lens, and have won regional and national awards for their images. The club’s photographs of the condition of this school, along with surrounding daily village life and landscapes, have inspired sponsors and friends to dig deep and provide support for the students. Vientiane Photo Club co-founder, Vilasak Sengphetmany, says although the group is relatively small, they have achieved a lot. "Now, we have 150 members," he says. "More than 200 people have requested to join our Facebook group Vientiane Photo Club, but before we approve new members we try to ensure they are genuinely interested in photography."

I The giant Buddha at That Luang, Vientiane at Buddhist Lent. Photo Phoonsab Thevongsa. I

With a particular emphasis on photographing regional Laos – lately the club has focused on remote areas on the fringe of the capital and recently they traveled to Xayaboury to shoot the province’s Elephant Festival – they have gained recognition particularly in Thailand. This has led to exhibitions in Thailand and Laos, and features in Thai photography publications. Co-founder, Phetsamay Philavanh, recently won first prize in the ‘traditional’ category of the 20th Anniversary of Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge photography competition. Her image captures the colourful glow of a candlelight procession at a Vientiane temple. "Photographs are crucial to promote our country, especially in regards to tourism," she says. Vilasak believes in order to grow Laos’ promising photography culture, Lao photographers need to share more with each other and with photographers from Thailand, who have a lot to offer in terms of professional techniques, ideas and equipment. He says through exhibitions and exchanges with Thai photographers, the club’s members have picked up a lot of new knowledge and skills, with some members turning their hobby into a profession. Thiphakhone Manivone, 25, a self-taught member of the Vientiane Photo Club who byday works in telecommunications in Vientiane, says his photographic skills have improved immensely since he joined the group. "I have received a lot of support and advice from friends in the group about using equipment, lighting and how to capture magic images," he says, adding the best thing about the group is the friendships formed between members.

I Buffalo grazing in Phatthalung province, Thailand. Taken on the Project ASEAN Eye Culture programme, I

hosted by the Cultural Promotion Department of Thailand. Photo Vilasak Sengphetmany.

Thiphakhone now makes money from his commercial photographs and uses social media networks like Facebook to promote his work. He was also awarded first prize in a recent Vientiane photo competition. Another member, Souknilanh Sinthanou, 21, says he has also benefited a lot from the group. He especially enjoys observing the daily lives of people in the countryside, saying itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an honour to meet and share stories with these subjects, along with other local and international photographers.

Children enjoy the Rocket Festival in the countryside. Photo Phetsamay Philavanh.

Over the past few years the Vientiane Photo Club has captured many engaging snapshots of Vientiane and broader Laos â&#x20AC;&#x201C; framing moments, both conventional and historical, in time. Looking to the future, Vilasak and his friends will continue to develop their photographic reputation to collect these instants and showcase them in Laos and beyond its borders.

ມຸມພັກນັກຖ່າຍຮູບ ຢູ່ໃນນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ມີຊ່າງຖ່າຍຮູບໜຸ່ມ ແລະ ມັກຄວາມລຶກລັບຂອງ ລາວ ທີ່ຫຼວງຫຼາຍ. ທາງວາລະສານສະບາຍດີ ໄດ້ໄປຊອກຄົ້ນຫາສະຖານທີ່ທີ່ສະໂມ ສອນຊ່າງຖ່າຍຮູບວຽງຈັນ ໄດ້ໄປພັກຜ່ອນຢ່ອນອາລົມ ແລະ ໄປເບິ່ງວ່າພວກເຂົາ ມີວທ ິ ກ ີ ານຖ່າຍທອດຄວາມເປັນ ລາວ ຜ່ານທາງເລັນກ້ອງຂອງພວກເຂົາແບບໃດ? The Mekong river at dusk, shot on a Vientiane Photo Club excursion to Icapture urban Vientiane. Photo Phoonsab Thevongsa. I

I Phetsamay’s award-winning photo of a candlelight procession at a local temple. Photo Phetsamay Philavanh. I ສະໂມສອນຖ່າຍຮູບວຽງຈັນ ແມ່ນກຸ່ມຊ່າງຖ່າຍຮູບມືອາຊີບ ແລະ ສະໝັກຫຼິ້ນປະມານ 150 ຄົນ ເຊິ່ງສ່ວນຫຼາຍແມ່ນຮຽນຖ່າຍດ້ວຍຕົນເອງ ພວກເຂົາ ໄດ້ມາເຕົ້າໂຮມກັນເປັນປະຈຳ� ເພື່ອແລກ ປ່ຽນເຕັກນິກ ແລະ ຄວາມຮູ້ດ້ານການຖ່າຍຮູບຕ່າງໆ ນອກຈາກນີ້ ພວກເຂົາ ຍັງທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ພະຈົນໄພ ໄປຕາມສະຖານທີ່ຕ່າງໆໃນ ລາວ ເພື່ອຖ່າຍພາບວິຖຊ ີ ວ ີ ດ ິ ຂອງຄົນໃນປະເທດຂອງ ພວກເຂົາ. ເຖິງວ່າຫາກໍຖກ ື ກໍຕັ້ງຂຶ້ນໃນສອງປີທີ່ຜ່ານມາ ແຕ່ວ່າບັນດາສະມາຊິກຂ ອງສະໂມສອນກໍໄດ້ ນຳ�ສະເໜີອີກດ້ານໜຶ່ງທີ່ເປັນເອກະລັກຂອງປະເທດ ລາວ ຜ່ານເລັນກ້ອງຂອງພວກເຂົາ ແລະ ພາບຖ່າຍຂອງພວກເຂົາ ກໍ່ສາມາດຍາດໄດ້ລາງວັນຕ່າງໆ ທັງໃນລະດັບປະເທດ ແລະ ພາກພື້ນຍ້ອນການເນັ້ນໜັກໃສ່ການຖ່າຍພາບຢູ່ໃນເຂດຕ່າງໆຂອງປະເທດ ລາວ ພວກເຂົາ ໄດ້ຮັບການກ່າວຂານເຖິງ ໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນຢູ່ທີ່ປະເທດໄທ ເຊິ່ງເປັນບ່ອນທີ່ພວກເຂົາ ຈັດງານວາງສະແດງ ແລະ ຈັດພິມຮູບພາບ ຂອງພວກເຂົາ. ທ່ານ ວິລະສັກ ແສງເພັດມະນີ ໜຶ່ງໃນຜູ້ກໍ່ຕັ້ງສະໂມສອນຖ່າຍຮູບວຽງຈັນ ກ່າວວ່າ: ເຖິງວ່າ ຈຳ�ນວນສະມາຊິກຂອງພວກເຮົາ ຈະມີໜ້ອຍ ແຕ່ວ່າພວກເຂົາກໍສາມາດຍາດໄດ້ຜົນສຳ�ເລັດ ຫຼາຍອັນ ປະຈຸບັນ ມີຜູ້ມາຂໍເຂົ້າເປັນສະມາຊິກຂອງພວກເຮົາ ຜ່ານທາງເຄືອຄ່າຍ Facebook ຫຼາຍກວ່າ 200 ຄົນ ລາວ ຍັງກ່າວຕື່ມວ່າ ກ່ອນທີ່ກຸ່ມພວກເຮົາ ຈະຮັບສະມາຊິກໃໝ່ນັ້ນ, ພວກເຮົາ ຈະຕ້ອງຮັບ ປະກັນວ່າຜູ້ທີ່ຈະເຂົ້າມາໃໝ່ນັ້ນ ຕ້ອງມີຄວາມສົນໃຈເລື່ອງການຖ່າຍຮູບຢ່າງແທ້ຈງິ .

I Fishermen on the Mekong River in Vientiane. Photo Saylakham I

Khayongek.

ເມຶ່ອບໍ່ດົນມານີ້ ທາງກຸ່ມ ໄດ້ຈັດກິດຈະກຳ�ແຈກອຸປະກອນການສຶກສາໃຫ້ແກ່ບັນດາໂຮງຮຽນ ຢູ່ ເຂດຊົນນະບົດ ທີ່ຂາດເຂີນວັດຖຸອຸປະກອນການສຶກສາ ກິດຈະກຳ�ດັ່ງກ່າວນີ້ ເລີ່ມຕົ້ນຂຶ້ນ ໃນຕອນທີ່ ສະມາຊິກຂອງພວກເຮົາ ໄປຖ່າຍຮູບເຫັນພາບໂຮງຮຽນຢູ່ເຂດນອກຕົວເມືອງວຽງຈັນ ຮູບພາບຂອງສະໂມສອນ ກ່ຽວກັບສະພາບຂອງໂຮງຮຽນດັ່ງກ່າວນີ້ ພ້ອມທັງຮູບພາບຊີວດ ິ ການ ເປັນຢູ່ປະຈຳ�ວັນຂອງຊາວບ້ານເຂດອ້ອມຂ້າງ ແລະ ທິວທັດຕ່າງໆ ໄດ້ເຮັດໃຫ້ຜູ້ອປ ຸ ະຖຳ� ແລະ ບັນດາໝູ່ເພື່ອນ ມີຄວາມຕ້ອງການທີ່ຈະໄປຊ່ວຍເລືອນັກຮຽນເຫຼົ່ານັ້ນ. ທ່ານ ນ. ເພັດສະໄໝ ພິລາວັນ ໜຶ່ງໃນຜູ້ກໍ່ຕັ້ງສະໂມສອນກ່າວວ່າຮູບພາບທິວທັດທ້ອງຖິ່ນ ແມ່ນ ມີຄວາມສຳ�ຄັນຫຼາຍໃນການສົ່ງເສີມປະເທດ ລາວ ໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນຂະແໜງການ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ເມື່ອບໍ່ດົນມານີ້ ທ່ານ ນ. ເພັດສະໄໝ ໄດ້ຮັບລາງວັນທີ່ໜຶ່ງໃນຫົວຂໍ້ ‘ຮູບພາບພື້ນເມືອງ’ ຢູ່ທີ່ ງານແຂ່ງຂັນພາບຖ່າຍ ເນື່ອງໃນໂອກາດສະຫຼອງ 20 ປີຂອງການສ້າງຂົວມິດຕະພາບ ຮູບພາບ ດັ່ງກ່າວ ແມ່ນພາບຂະບວນແຮ່ທຽນຢູ່ທີ່ວັດນະຄອນລວງວຽງຈັນ. ນອກຈາກນີ້ ທາງສະໂມສອນ ຍັງຊ່ວຍຍົກລະດັບຄວາມເປັນມືອາຊີບໃຫ້ແກ່ບັນດາສະມາຊິກ ນຳ�ອີກ. ທ່ານ ທິບພະຄອນ ມະນີວົງ ອາຍຸ 25 ປີ ເປັນຊ່າງຖ່າຍຮູບແບບຮຽນຖ່າຍດ້ວຍຕົນເອງ ເຊິ່ງເຮັດວຽກດ້ານໂທລະຄົມມະນາຄົມ ຢູ່ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ປະຈຸບັນ ແມ່ນສາມາດສ້າງລາຍ ໄດ້ຈາກການຖ່າບຮູບພາບໂຄສະນາ. ລາວ ກ່າວຕື່ມອີກວ່າ ພາຍຫຼັງທີ່ເຂົ້າເປັນສະມາຊິກຂອງສະ ໂມສອນດັ່ງກ່າວນີ້ ເຕັກນິກການຖ່າຍຮູບຂອງຕົນເອງ ໄດ້ຖກ ື ຍົກລະດັບຂຶ້ນ ຍ້ອນການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອ ແລະ ໄດ້ຄຳ�ແນະນຳ�ຈາກໝູ່ເພື່ອນ ແລະ ສະມາຊິກຄົນອື່ນໆ. ເມື່ອເບິ່ງໄປເຖິງອະນາຄົດ ທ່ານ ວິລະສັກ ເຊື່ອໝັ້ນວ່າ ເພື່ອເສີມຂະຫຍາຍວັດທະນະທຳ� ການຖ່າຍຮູບຢູ່ ລາວ ໃຫ້ສງູ ຂຶ້ນນັ້ນ, ຊ່າງຖ່າຍຮູບຄົນ ລາວ ຕ້ອງແລກປ່ຽນບົດຮຽນເຊິ່ງກັນ ແລະ ກັນ ໃຫ້ຫຼ າຍຂຶ້ນ ແລະ ຍັງຕ້ອ ງແລກປ່ຽ ນບົດ ຮຽນກັບ ຊ່າ ງຖ່າ ຍຮູ ບ ຈາກປະເທດໄທ ເຊິ່ງເປັນຜູ້ທີ່ມເີ ຕັກນິກ ແນວຄວາມຄິດ ແລະ ອຸປະກອນຂອງມືອາຊີບ.

Some members of the Vientiane Photo Club. Photo Phetsamay

Philavanh.

ທ່ານ ສຸກນິລັນ ສິນທະນູ, ອາຍຸ 21 ປີ ຊຶ່ງເປັນສະມາຊິກອີກຜູ້ໜຶ່ງ ທີ່ມ່ວນຊື່ນໄປກັບການເຝົ້າເບິ່ງ ການດຳ�ລົງຊີວິດປະຈຳ�ວັນຂອງປະຊາຊົນຊາວຊົນນະບົດ ໄດ້ກ່າວວ່າ ມັນເປັນກຽດຢ່າງສູງ ທີ່ໄດ້ແບ່ງປັນເລື່ອງລາວຕ່າງໆຜ່ານທາງຫົວຂໍ້ເຫຼົ່ານີ້ ຮ່ວມກັບຊ່າງຖ່າຍຮູບຄົນ ລາວ ແລະ ຊາວຕ່າງປະເທດ.

Sabaidee Guest

Triumph

O n T h e Gree n

After winning the Lao Golf Challenge 2014, held at Vientianeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Long Vien Golf Club in March, Axay Luangkhamdeng now has his sights firmly set on the 3rd Lao Open in October. Sabaidee Magazine caught up with the champion Lao National Golf Player to see what this driven young competitor has already achieved and his hopes for the future.

| Axay Luangkhamdeng (centre) at the Lao Golf Challenge in March. |

Today he practices two days a week, mapping his training schedule around working at his family business. Axay says he trains solo and without a coach, as he finds it better to teach himself and improve. He is driven to improve his form and technique and his motto is: “To be the winner is to win ourselves.” “Today, I can play at a good level, but tomorrow I must improve and continue to do better and better… We can’t compare our weak points to the strong points of others, if we do that we can’t keep positive and continue to improve ourselves,” he says.

I Axay accepts his award. I At just 22 years-old Axay Luangkhamdeng has already competed at several national and ASEAN level golf tournaments. With this brand of talent it’s no surprise that he began playing golf at just 13, and last year represented Laos at the SEA Games in Myanmar. Speaking about his recent win at the Lao Golf Challenge 2014, Axay reveals he took his preparation for the event very seriously and had high hopes he’d take out the title. “Finally, my dream has come true – I feel happy and proud to have won this competition. This award takes pride of place amongst my collection of prizes.”

I Axay on the green at Long Vien Golf Club. I Axay started playing golf while undertaking his secondary school studies in Australia. He lived near a golf course and after initially trying his hand at the sport he found it challenging and rewarding – and he started to practice more seriously. After graduating secondary school, he returned Laos with aspirations to be a skillful golfer and wanting to learn more about the techniques. To kick-start this, he attended an intensive six-month golf training course in Thailand’s Robburi province. His dedication to the sport saw him inducted into the Lao National Golf Players in 2011 when he competed in Under 18 tournaments in Thailand and Indonesia.

He says the keys to success in golf are concentration, ambition and a drive to improve yourself. Axay also notes the importance of regular training and general exercise along with a healthy diet. Looking to the future, in 2014 Axay plans to participate in the 3rd Lao Open to be held in Vientiane in October. After winning the title at the Lao Golf Challenge 2014, Axay thanked his parents for their support, the Lao National Golf Federation, Long Vien Golf Club for hosting the competition and Target Magazine for holding the competition. “This competition has given me the chance to build a good reputation for my family as well as the Lao Golf Federation and I commit to continue to play my best,” he says.

ຜູຊ ້ ະນະເລີດສ າຍລາວກ໋ອຟ ຊາເລັນ 2014 ພາຍຫຼັ ງ ສໍ າ ເລັ ດ ການແຂ່ ງ ຂັ ນ ທາງວາລະສານກໍ ໄ ດ້ ສໍາພາດຄວາມຮູ້ສຶກຂອງ Winner Lao Golf Challenge 2014 ທ້າວ ອາໄຊ ຫຼວງຄໍາແດງ ອາຍຸ 22 ປີ ນັ ກ ກິ ລ າກ໋ ອ ຟທີ ມ ຊາດລາວຜູ້ ມີ ປ ະສົ ບ ການຫຼິ້ ນ ກິ ລ າ ກ໋ອຟມາແຕ່ອາຍຸ 13 ປີ ແລະ ມີຜນ ົ ງານເຄີຍໄດ້ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມ ການແຂ່ງຂັນລະດັບປະເທດອາຊຽນມາຫຼາຍຄັ້ງໂດຍ ສະເພາະຄັ້ງຫຼ້າສຸດແມ່ນການແຂ່ງຂັນຊີເກມທີ່ປະເທດ ມຽນມາເມື່ອວັນທີ 17-22 ທັນວາ 2013 . ອາໄຊ ຫຼວງຄໍາແດງ ໄດ້ເປີດໃຈກັບພວກເຮົາວ່າ: ໄດ້ ກຽມຕົວສໍາລັບການແຂ່ງຂັນລາວກ໋ອຟ” ຊາເລັນ 2004 ນີ້ຢາ່ ງເຕັມທີ່ ພ້ອມທັງຕັ້ງຄວາມຫວັງໄວ້ຈະຕ້ອງຍາດເອົາ ຊະນະໃຫ້ໄດ້ ແລະ ຄວາມຕັ້ງໃຈກໍສໍາເລັດຜົນຮູ້ສຶກດີ ໃຈ ແລະ ພູມໃຈຫຼາຍທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບ The winner ໃນເທື່ອນີ້ ຖືເປັນອີກລາງວັນພູມໃຈໜຶ່ງໃນຫຼາຍໆລາງວັນທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບ ຜ່ານມາ. ອາໄຊ ໄດ້ເລົ່າເຖິງປະຫວັດສ່ວນຕົວໂດຍສັງເຂບໃຫ້ຮູ້ ເຖິງຄວາມເປັນມາຂອງການມາຫຼິ້ນກິລາປະເພດນີ້ວ່າ: ຕອນ ຍັງນ້ອຍແມ່ນມັກຫຼີ້ນກິລາຕີດອກຂົນໄກ່ພໍອາຍຸ ໄດ້ 13 ປີ ທາງຄອບຄົວພໍ່ແມ່ໄດ້ສົ່ງໄປຮຽນທີ່ປະເທດ ອົດສະຕາລີ ດ້ວຍເຫດຜົນທີ່ວ່າບ່ອນຢູ່ນັ້ນໃກ້ກັບເດີ່ນ ກ໋ອຟ ຈິ່ງໄດ້ມາລອງຫຼິ້ນກິລາປະເພດນີ້ ແລະ ເຫັນວ່າມັນ ມີ ຄ ວ າ ມ ທ້ າ ທ າ ຍ ດີ ເ ກີ ດ ຄ ວ າ ມ ມັ ກ ຮັ ກ ໃ ນ ກິ ລ າ ກ໋ອຟກໍເລີ່ມຝຶກຊ້ອມນັບແຕ່ນັ້ນມາ ແລະ ພາຍຫຼັງຮຽນ

ຈົບມັດທະຍົມກໍກັບຄືນມາຢູ່ເມືອງລາວ ຍ້ອນ ມີ ຄ ວາມຝັ ນ ຢາກເປັ ນ ນັ ກ ກິ ລ າກ໋ ອ ຟທີ່ ມີ ສື ມື ແລະ ຢາກໄດ້ຄວາມຮູ້ເຕັກນິກທີ່ແນ່ນອນຫຼັງ ຈາກນັ້ນກໍຍັງໄດ້ໄປຝຶກອົບຮົມກິລາກ໋ອຟທີ່ຈັງ ຫວັດຣົບບູລີ ປະເທດໄທ ເປັນເວລາ 6 ເດືອນ. ສໍ າ ລັ ບ ການຝຶ ກ ຊ້ ອ ມ ອາໄຊ ຈະຍາດເວລາ ຈາກການຊ່ວຍວຽກທຸລະກິດກໍ່ສ້າງຂອງພໍ່ໄປ ຝຶກຊ້ອມອາທິດໜຶ່ງ 2 ມື້ ສ່ວນຄູ່ຝຶກນັ້ນ ອາໄຊ ບອກວ່ າ ບໍ່ ມີ ແຕ່ ຈ ະໃຊ້ ບົ ດ ຮຽນຈາກປະສົ ບ ການຕົວຈິງມາພັດທະນາຕົນເອງຈະຖຶຂະຕິທີ່ວ່າ “ຕ້ອງ ເອົາຊະນະຕົນເອງໃຫ້ໄດ້ຄມ ື ນ ື້ ເີ້ ຮົາໄດ້ຊໍ່ານີ້ແຕ່ມອ ື້ ນ ື່ ເຮົາ ຈະຕ້ອງໄດ້ດຂ ີ ນ ຶ້ ໄປອີກເລື້ອຍໆ”... ເຮົາຈະບໍ່ເອົາຈຸດດ້ອຍ ຂອງເຮົາໄປປຽບທຽບກັບຈຸດແຂງຂອງຜູ້ອື່ນເພາະຈະ ເຮັດໃຫ້ເຮົາມີແນວຄິດຖໍ້ຖອຍ ສໍາຄັນເຮົາຕ້ອງມີສະມາ ທິມີຄວາມຕັ້ງໝັ້ນຕ້ອງເອົາຊະນະຕົນເອງໃຫ້ໄດ້ ຕ້ອງ ໜັ່ນໃນການຝຶກຊ້ອມຕ້ອງຮັກສາສຸຂະພາບໃຫ້ແຂງແຮງ ອອກກໍ າ ລັ ງ ກາຍເປັ ນ ປະຈໍ າ ປົ ກ ກະຕິ ກິ ນ ອາຫານທີ່ ມີ ໂປຼຕີນ ໂດຍສະເພາະປະເພດຖົ່ວຈະໃຫ້ພະລັງງານສູງ ແລະ ບໍ່ດື່ມນໍ້າອັດລົມ. ອາໄຊ ໄດ້ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມທີມຊາດລາວໃນປີ 2011ແລະ ໄດ້ເຂົ້າ ຮ່ວມການແຂ່ງຄັ້ງທໍາອິດໃນລຸ້ນອາຍຸຕ່ໍາກວ່າ 18 ປີທ່ີ ປະເທດໄທ ແລະ ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມແຂ່ງທີ່ປະເທດອິນໂດເນເຊຍ, ສໍາລັບປີ 2014 ນີ້ມີໂປຼແກຼມຈະເຂົ້າຮ່ວມແຂ່ງຂັນໃນ

ລາຍການ “ລາວ ໂອເພັນ” ຄັ້ງທີ 3 ທີ່ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງ ຈັນໃນເດືອນຕຸລາທີ່ຈະມາເຖິງນີ້. ໃ ນໂ ອກາ ດນີ້ ໂ ດຍຜ່ າ ນທ າ ງ ວາລ ະສ ານ ທາເກັ ດ ອາໄຊ ໄດ້ ສ ະແດງຄວາມຂອບໃຈເປັ ນ ຢ່ າ ງສູ ງ ຕໍ່ ພໍ່ ແມ່ທີ່ໄດ້ສົ່ງເສີມຊຸກຍູ້ທຸກຢ່າງໃຫ້ມີມື້ນີ້ ແລະ ຂໍຂອບ ໃ ຈ ຜູ້ ໃ ຫ້ ກ າ ນ ອຸ ປ ະ ຖໍ າ ທຸ ກ ທ່ າ ນ ໂ ດ ຍ ສ ະ ເ ພ າ ະ ແ ມ່ ນ ທ າ ງ ສ ະ ຫ ະ ພັ ນ ກິ ລ າ ກ໋ ອ ຟ ແ ຫ່ ງ ຊ າ ດ ລ າ ວ , ສະໜາມກ໋ ອ ຟ ລອງວຽນ ຂອບໃຈທາງວາລະສາ ທາເກັ ດ ທີ່ ຈັ ດ ການແຂ່ ງ ຂັ ນ ຄັ້ ງ ນີ້ ໄດ້ ເ ຮັ ດ ໃຫ້ ຂ້ າ ພະ ເຈົ້ າ ໄດ້ ສ້ າ ງຊື່ ສ ຽງໃຫ້ ກັ ບ ຄອບຄົ ວ ກໍ ຄື ທ າງສະຫະພັ ນ ກ໋ອຟ ແລະ ໃຫ້ຄໍາໝັ້ນສັນຍາວ່າຈະຮັກສາມູນເຊື້ອພ້ອມ ສ້າງຜົນງານໃຫ້ໄດ້ດີຕະຫຼອດໄປ.

Spotlight On

words James Elton-Pym photos Saig Olliver

K ha o N ie w

Setting the Stage for the Birth of Lao Theatre Spoken, acted theatre has never been particularly popular in Laos, where the entertainment scene is saturated with music, dance, circus and ballet. Vientiane theatre group Khao Niew (khaoniew.com) is confident it’s well on the way to changing that. With some recent stage play successes and talk of translating Shakespeare into Lao, is the country on the cusp of a theatre revival?

Vatsana Sayoudom is famous in Laos as a presenter on MV Lao and for her roles in films like ‘At The Horizon’

Kitsana Kinmon, a former scriptwriter for television, plays a drunk fortuneteller in Metamorfoz.

Trained by state-run arts organisation Tukata Theatre, Vannalet Vetdavong was the only professional actor in Metamorfoz.

Bounphaseuth Insisiengmay bursts on to the stage shirtless, waving a stick like a sword and proclaiming himself the deadliest pirate on the Mekong, ‘the Brutal Butterfly’. He’s never been trained as an actor, but Bounphaseuth – nicknamed Sang, the Lao word for elephant, for his curvaceous physique – certainly knows how to make an impressionable entrance. “He has an excellent potential for comedy. He has a certain body, you know,” says Thomas Cloarec, co26

director of Metamorfoz, a comedy stage play about a family living on the banks of a river that ran in late March at the National Circus. Sang isn’t the only one making a bold arrival. The theatre group behind Metamorfoz, Khao Niew, isn’t just blazing a trail into the Lao theatre industry – in some ways, the company is creating it. Khao Niew has grown since its humble beginnings with just three members in 2010 through cooperation with Cloarec’s French company Teatr Piba,

but not a lot. The 10 or so creatives now associated with the group are mostly freelancers flitting in and out. But unlike with Sang, the group’s significance is not in its size. Khao Niew is becoming one of the first Lao troupes to make headway in spoken theatre. “There’s not really a tradition for it. I think what’s exciting… is that we have to invent everything. We have to invent the scale of what we are doing and create the audience,” Cloarec says. “I think Lao people will definitely love theatre. We have started to talk about translating Chekhov pieces into Lao, or even Shakespeare. Why not! I am really sure.” Lattanakone Insisiengmay, the group’s founder and the other co-director of Metamorfoz, says finding good actors can be difficult with the industry only just

waking up. “For now, all potential Lao actors would have been trained watching TV,” Lattanakone says. Cloarec says the actors have risen to the challenge, with their willingness to learn and absence of the “strong ego” he often sees in French artists. Vatsana Sayoudom, a leading actress in Metamorfoz, says her character was easy because she sees elements of herself in the role. Vannalet Vetdavong, meanwhile, is keen to distance himself from the alcoholic ghost he plays onstage. “The character absolutely doesn’t relate to me! I’m not a drunken pirate!” he says. In the future, Khao Niew plans to do away with its handmade 8 x 8 metre rehearsal room and establish an independent academy and theatre of its own, providing a space to train the Lao actors of tomorrow.

Lattanakone's wife Maikham Livong starred in the play.

Directors Thomas Cloarec and Lattanakone Insisiengmay, who is also the founder of Khao Niew. Photo by James Elton-Pym.

ເຂົ້າໜຽວ KhaoNiew: ສ້າງເວທີເກີດຂອງລະຄອນລາວ ກ່າວກັນວ່າ ການສະແດງລະຄອນ ເວົ້າແມ່ນບໍ່ເຄີຍເປັນທີ່ນຍ ິ ົມມາກ່ອນ ໃນປະເທດລາວ ເຊິ່ງພາບງານບັນເທິງແມ່ນມີພຽງແຕ່ ສຽງເພງ ການເຕັ້ນ ການສະແດງລະຄອນສັດ ແລະການຟ້ອນລຳ� ໃນຄວາມສຳ�ເລັດການ ສະແດງຢູ່ເທິ່ງເວທີກ່ອນໜ້ານີ້ ກຸ່ມລະຄອນເຂົ້າໜຽວວຽງຈັນ (www. khaoniew.com)ແມ່ນຍັງບໍ່ທັນໄດ້ປະກາດຕົວເອງເຂົ້າໃນອຸດສະຫະກຳ� ຮູບເງົາຂອງລາວ ເຊິ່ງໃນບາງເລື່ອງ ທີ່ບລ ໍ ສ ິ ັດກຳ�ລັງສ້າງ. ທ່ານ ບຸນປະເສີດ ອິນສີຊ່ຽງໃໝ່ ໄດ້ປະກົດຕົວຂຶ້ນເທິງເວທີທີ່ບໍ່ມີເສື້ອ ປັດແກວ່ງໄມ້ ຄືກັບດາບ ແລະຮ້ອງໂຕເອງວ່າ ເປັນໂຈນສະຫຼັດທີ່ອັນ ຕະລາຍທີ່ສຸດໃນແມ່ຂອງ ‘the Brutal Butterfly’ ທ່ານບໍ່ເຄີຍໄດ້ຮັບ ການຝຶກການສະແດງມາກ່ອນ ລາວຮູ້ວ່າຈະເຮັດແນວໃດໃຫ້ຜູ້ເຂົ້າມາ ຊົມມີຄວາມປະທັບໃຈ. ທ່ານ Thomas Cloarec ຜູ້ອຳ�ນວຍການຮ່ວມຂອງ Metamorfoz ການ ສະແດງເວທີຕະຫຼົກກ່ຽວກັບຊິວດ ິ ຄອບຄົວຕາມຝັ່ງແມ່ນ້ຳ�ຂອງ ທີ່ ໄດ້ ຈັດຂຶ້ນໃນທ້າຍເດືອນມີນາທີ່ ຜ່ານ ມາ ທີ່ ໂຮງກາຍຍະ ສິນ ແຫ່ງຊາດ ໄດ້ກ່າວວ່າ“ລາວມີຄວາມສາມາດທີ່ລໍ້າເລີດໃນການຫຼິ້ນຕະຫຼົກ” ກຸ່ມລະຄອນ ເວທີ ພາຍໃຕ້ Metamorfoz ກຸ່ມເຂົ້າໜຽວໄດ້ເຕີບໂຕ ຕັ້ງແຕ່ການເລີ່ມຕົ້ນມີສະມາຊິກ 3 ຄົນໃນປີ 2010 ໂດຍການຮ່ວມມືກັບ ບໍລິສັດສ້າງຮູບເງົາຝຣັ່ງ Piba ຂອງ Cloarec ເຊິ່ງມີ ສີນລະປິນຜູ້ ສ້າງສັນ 10 ຄົນໃນປະຈຸບັນ ທີ່ກ່ຽວຂ້ອງກັບກຸ່ມດັ່ງກ່າວ. ແຕ່ວ່າຄວາມ ສຳ�ຄັນຂອງກຸ່ມແມ່ນບໍ່ຂຶ້ນກັບຂະໜາດ ກຸ່ມເຂົ້າໜຽວແມ່ນກາຍເປັນໜຶ່ງ ໃນຄະນະລະຄອນທຳ�ອິດຂອງລາວ ທີ່ສ້າງສັນ ຜົນງານລະຄອນເວົ້າ “ຂ້ອຍຄິດວ່າ ຄົນລາວມັກ ເບິ່ງລະຄອນ ພວກເຮົາໄດ້ເລີ່ມປຶກສາ ຫາລື ກັນກ່ຽວກັບການແປ ຜົນງານຂອງ Chekhov ເປັນພາສາລາວ ຫຼື ລວມ ທັງຜົນງານຂອງ Shakespeare ເປັນຫຍັງຈະບໍ່ໄດ້” ທ່ານ Cloarec ກ່າວ. ທ່ານ ລັດຕະນະກອນ ອິນສີຊ່ຽງໃໝ່ ຜູ້ສ້າງຕັ້ງກຸ່ມແລະອຳ�ນວຍການສ້າງ ຮ່ວມຄົນໜຶ່ງ ຂອງ Metamorfoz ໄດ້ກ່າວວ່າການຊອກຫານັກສະແດງທີ່ດີ ແມ່ນມີຄວາມຫຍຸ້ງຍາກ ໃນອຸດສະຫະກຳ�ທີ່ຫາກໍ່ເກີດໃໝ່. Bounphaseuth Insisiengmay, nicknamed 'the Elephant', makes a splash in Metamorfoz's bamboo pool set.

ໃນອະນາຄົດ, ກຸ່ມເຂົ້າ ໜຽວວາງແຜນສ້າ ງສູ ນສຶ ກສາແລະລະຄອນ ເອກະລາດ ເປັນຂອງຕົນເອງ ໂດຍເປັນບ່ອນຝຶກອົບຮົມນັກສະແດງລາວ ໃນອະນາຄົດ. 27

PARTNER PROFILE

words Kate Antonas photos Phoonsab Thevongsa

Lao SkywaySoaring To New Heights Lao Skyway, previously Lao Air, already stands out from their counterparts as the only airline in Laos to offer regular charter and scenic flights. Now with a fresh rebrand, the addition of two new MA60 light aircraft to their fleet, and the launch of several new flight routes, Sabaidee Magazine looks at what’s in store for the carrier and its customers. Lao Skyway launched as Lao Air in 2002 as a national charter and scenic flight operator with a fleet of just two helicopters. Fast-forward to 2014 and the company – now rebranded as Lao Skyway to avoid confusion with Lao Airlines – has a fleet of 13 aircraft including six helicopters, several 19-seat light aircraft, and their latest recruits – two new series MA60 airplanes.

suits their needs. As development projects continue to boom in regional Laos the airline has earned the trust of several corporate clients, and today they are the preferred charter airline for companies including MMG LXML, for whom they operate multiple flights weekly from Savannakhet to the mining company’s Sepon site.

Lao Skyway has a focus on operating domestic passenger, charter, scenic and cargo flights within Laos. As a landlocked and largely mountainous country, the airline recognises the need for increased convenient access to rural Laos – linking Vientiane Capital to regional centres. Managing Director, Mr Bounma Chanthavongsa, says the airline strives to provide easy, safe and low-cost access to these areas for both Lao nationals and tourists to enjoy and experience the country.

Stepping onto each flight, passengers are welcomed warmly by a team of professional flight attendants, and although most flights are quick, staff take care to provide each passenger with complimentary refreshments for their journey. In addition to exceptional service and comfort, the airline is also committed to keeping airfares as low as possible for customer convenience and to promote travel and tourism within Laos.

As a relatively small airline, Lao Skyway prides itself on providing high-quality and personalised customer service, as well as convenience and flexibility in providing charter and corporate customers with a choice of aircraft that best

The two new 56-seat MA60, the largest carriers in Lao Skyway’s fleet, were added in response to increasing customer and corporate demand and growing air travel within the country. The new aircraft have allowed for the addition of several new routes from Vientiane Capital to the

northern provinces of Luang Prabang, Bokeo, Oudomxay and Luang Namtha which launched in March and April. The new destinations join already established flights to Phongsaly, Xayaboury and Huaphan provinces. And the airline also has plans to further expand their flight paths to Xieng Kuang, Pakse and Savannakhet in the near future. All Lao Skyway flight crew and mechanics are trained to world standard and Mr Bounma says the company took almost a year to prepare for the arrival of the new MA60 and additional routes with rigorous aircrew training programmes undergone in China, including a three-month state-of-the-art flight simulator training, ongoing training, and increasing systems capabilities. With the company’s recent fleet and route expansions, it’s clear Lao Skyway are contributing to travel, tourism and trade in Laos, while also increasing their competitive capacity within the ASEAN Economic Community which comes into effect in 2015.

ລາວເດີນອາກາດ

ບິນທະຍານຂຶ້ນສູ່ລະດັບທີ່ສູງ

ລາວເດີນອາກາດ Lao Skyway ຊື່ງຊື່ເດີມວ່າ Lao Air ມີຄວາມແຕກຕ່າງຈາກສາຍການບິນອື່ນ ເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າ ລາວເດີນອາກາດ ເປັນພຽງສາຍການບິນດຽວໃນລາວ ທີ່ໃຫ້ບລ ໍ ກ ິ ານເຊົ່າແບບເໝົາລຳ� ແລະບໍລກ ິ ານບິນຊົມເມືອງປະຈຸບັນດ້ວຍການປັບປຸງໂສມໜ້າໃໝ່ ເຊິ່ງໄດ້ມກ ີ ານເພີ່ມເຮືອບິນ MA60 ໃໝ່ ອີກ 2 ລໍາ ເຂົ້າໃນການ ບໍລກ ິ ານ ແລະ ໄດ້ເປີດເສັ້ນທາງບິນໃໝ່ອກ ີ ຫຼາຍເສັ້ນທາງພາຍໃນປະເທດ ໃນທີ່ນີ້ວາລະສານສະບາຍດີ ໄດ້ຄົ້ນເບິ່ງມີຫຍັງພິເສດແດ່ໃນສາຍການບິນແລະສຳ�ລັບລູກຄ້າ

ລາວເດີນອາກາດ Lao Skyway ຊື່ງຊື່ເດີມວ່າ Lao Air ມີຄວາມແຕກຕ່າງຈາກສາຍການບິນອື່ນ ເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າ ລາວເດີນອາກາດ ເປັນພຽງສາຍການບິນດຽວໃນລາວທີ່ໃຫ້ບໍ ລິການເຊົ່າແບບເໝົາລຳ� ແລະບໍລກ ິ ານບິນຊົມເມືອງ ປະ ຈຸ ບັນດ້ວຍການປັບປຸງໂສມໜ້າໃໝ່ເຊິ່ງໄດ້ມີການເພີ່ມເຮືອ ບິນ MA60 ໃໝ່ ອີກ 2 ລໍາ ເຂົ້າໃນການບໍລກ ິ ານ ແລະ ໄດ້ ເປີດເສັ້ນທາງບິນໃໝ່ອີກຫຼາຍເສັ້ນທາງພາຍໃນປະເທດ ໃນທີ່ນີ້ວາລະສານສະບາຍດີ ໄດ້ຄົ້ນເບິ່ງມີຫຍັງພິເສດແດ່ ໃນສາຍການບິນແລະສຳ�ລັບລູກຄ້າ ລາວເດີນອາກາດ ໄດ້ເລີ່ມທຸລະກິດການບິນ ໃນນາມຊື່ Lao Air ໃນປີ 2002 ເຊິ່ງເປັນຜູ້ໃຫ້ບລ ໍ ກ ິ ານດ້ານການບິນ ແບບບິນທ່ຽວຊົມເມືອງ ແລະແບບເຊົ່າເໝົາລຳ�ແຫ່ງຊາດ ເຊິ່ງມີເຮືອບິນເຮລິຄອບເຕີພຽງແຕ່ 2 ລຳ� ທີ່ໃຫ້ບລ ໍ ກ ິ ານ ມຸ່ງສູ່ປີ 2014 ຢ່າງວ່ອງໄວ ປະຈຸບັນໄດ້ປ່ຽນຊື່ໃໝ່ມາເປັນ Lao Skyway ເພື່ອຫຼີກເວັ້ນຄວາມສັບສົນກັບຊື່ ຂອງ ສາຍການບິນອື່ນ ປະຈຸບັນ ລາວເດີນອາກາດ ມີເຮືອບິນ 13 ລຳ� ເຊິ່ງລວມມີເຮລິຄອບເຕີ 6 ລໍາ ເຮືອບິນ 19 ບ່ອນນັ່ງ ຈໍານວນໜຶ່ງ ແລະ ເຮືອບິນລຸ້ນໃໝ່ສດ ຸ MA60 2 ລໍາ ລາວເດີນອາກາດແມ່ນເນັ້ນໃສ່ການໃຫ້ບລ ໍ ກ ິ ານຮັບໃຊ້ການ ບິນພາຍໃນແບບເຊົ່າເໝົາລຳ� ບິນທ່ອງທ່ຽວຊົມເມືອງ ແລະ ຂົນສົ່ງສິນຄ້າພາຍໃນປະເທດ ເນື່ອງຈາກປະເທດລາວເປັນ ປະເທດບໍ່ມທ ີ າງອອກສູ່ທະເລ ແລະ ມີພມ ູ ສັນຖານທີ່ເປັນ ພູຜາປ່າດົງ ລາວເດີນອາກາດ ຮັບຮູ້ເຖິງຄວາມຕ້ອງການໃນ ການເຂົ້າເຖິງເຂດຫ່າງໄກສອກຫຼີກຂອງລາວໃຫ້ມີຄວາມ ສະດວກສະບາຍຂຶ້ນ ຊຶ່ງເຊື່ອມນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ກັບ ຕົວເມືອງຕ່າງໆພາຍໃນປະເທດຜູອຳ ້ �ນວຍການບໍລສ ິ ັດລາວ ເດີນອາກາດ ທ່ານ ບຸນມາ ຈັນທະວົງສາ ກ່າວວ່າ ລາວເດີນ ອາກາດແມ່ນມຸ່ງໃສ່ການໃຫ້ບໍລິການໃນການເຂົ້າເຖິງພື້ນ

| On board Lao Skyway's new MA60 aircraft |

ທີ່ເຫຼົ່ານີ້ ດ້ວຍຄວາມສະດວກສະບາຍ ປອດໄພ ແລະ ລາຄາຖືກ ສຳ�ລັບຄົນລາວແລະນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ເພື່ອທີ່ຈະ ເພີດເພີນ ແລະ ມີປະສົບການ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວພາຍໃນປະເທດ. ເນື່ອງຈາກ ເປັນສາຍການບິນຂະໜາດນ້ອຍລາວເດີນອາກາດ ມີຄວາມພູມໃຈທີ່ຈະໃຫ້ການບໍລກ ິ ານແກ່ລກ ູ ຄ້າດ້ວຍຄວາມ ເປັນກັນເອງ ແລະຄຸນະພາບສູງ ພ້ອມທັງຄວາມສະດວກ ສະບາຍແລະຜ່ອນຄາຍໃນການໃຫ້ບລ ໍ ກ ິ ານແບບເຊົ່າເໝົາລຳ� ແລະລູກຄ້າທີ່ເປັນບໍລສ ິ ັດດ້ວຍຫຼາກຫຼາຍທາງເລືອກຂອງ ເຮືອບິນທີ່ເໝາະແກ່ຄວາມຕ້ອງການຂອງລູກຄ້າເນື່ອງຈາກ ໂຄງການພັດທະນາ ສຶບຕໍ່ຂະຫຍາຍຕົວໃນປະເທດລາວ ລາວເດີນອາກາດ ໄດ້ຮັບຄວາມເຊື່ອຖືຈາກລູກຄ້າທີ່ເປັນ ບໍລສ ິ ັດຫຼາຍບໍລສ ິ ັດ ແລະ ປະຈຸບັນຫຼາຍບໍລສ ິ ັດແມ່ນມັກ ການເຊົ່າເໝົາລຳ� ຊຶ່ງລູກຄ້າແມ່ນລວມມີ MMG LXML ຊຶ່ງ ໄດ້ໃ ຊ້ບໍ ລິ ກ ານຫຼາຍຖ້ຽ ວບິ ນ ໃນແຕລະອາທິ ດ ຈາກ ແຂວງສະຫວັນນະເຂດຫາເຂດຂຸດຄົ້ນຂອງບໍລສ ິ ັດທີ່ເຊໂປນ ເມື່ອກ້າວສູ່ແຕ່ລະຖ້ຽວບິນ ລູກຄ້າຈະໄດ້ຮັບການຕ້ອນຮັບ ຢ່າງອົບອຸ່ນຈາກທິມງານການບິນທີ່ເປັນມືອາຊີບ ແລະ ການບິນທີ່ຕາມຕາລາງເວລາພະນັກງານໃຫ້ການດູແລແລະ ບໍລກ ິ ານລູກຄ້າທຸກຄົນດ້ວຍຄວາມເບີກບານຈິງໃຈໃນຕະຫຼອດ ເວລາຂອງການເດີນທາງ ນອກເໜືອຈາກການບໍລກ ິ ານທີ່ດີ ແລະສະດວກສະບາຍແລ້ວ ລາວເດີນອາກາດ ກໍ່ຍັງມີຄວາ ມມຸ້ງໝັ້ນທີ່ຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ສາຍການບິນມີລາຄາຖືກເທົ່າທີ່ເປັນ ໄປໄດ້ ເພື່ອຄວາມສະດວກສະບາຍຂອງລູກຄ້າ ແລະເພື່ອ ເປັນການສົ່ງເສີມການທ່ອງທ່ຽວໃນລາວ. ລາວເດີນອາກາດ ໄດ້ເພີ່ມເຮືອບິນໃໝ່ 2 ລຳ� ລຸ້ນ MA60 ຊຶ່ງບັນຈຸຜູ້ໂດຍສານໄດ້ 56 ບ່ອນນັ່ງ ຊຶ່ງເປັນເຮືອບິນ ໃຫຍ່ທີ່ສດ ຸ ໃນບັນດາເຮືອບິນລຳ�ອື່ນຂອງລາວເດີນອາກາດ

ເພື່ອ ຕອບສະໜອງຕໍ່ກັບ ຄວາມຕ້ອ ງການເພີ່ມ ຂື້ນ ຂອງ ລູກຄ້າ ແລະບັນດາບໍລສ ິ ັດ ບວກກັບຄວາມຕ້ອງການເດີນ ທາງພາຍໃນປະເທດທີ່ເ ພີ່ມ ຂຶ້ນ ການເພີ່ມ ເຮື ອ ບິ ນ ໃໝ່ ດັ່ງກ່າວ ໄດ້ເຮັດໃຫ້ມກ ີ ານເພີ່ມເສັ້ນທາງບິນໃໝ່ຫຼາຍເສັ້ນ ຈາກນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ໄປຫາ ບັນດາແຂວງທາງພາກເໜືອ ເຊັ່ນ ແຂວງຫຼວງພະບາງ ບໍ່ແກ້ວ ອຸດົມໃຊ ແລະ ຫຼວງນໍ້າທາ ຊຶ່ງເລີ່ມໃຫ້ບລ ໍ ກ ິ ານ ໃນເດືອນມີນາ ແລະເມສາ. ຈຸດໝາຍປາຍທາງໃໝ່ ໄດ້ລວມກັບເສັ້ນບິນທີ່ມຢ ີ ູ່ແລ້ວ ເຊັ່ນ ແຂວງຜົ້ງສາລີ ໄຊຍະບູລີ ແລະ ຫົວພັນລາວເດີນອາກາດ ຍັງມີແຜນທີ່ຈະຂະຫຍາຍເສັ້ນທາງບິນຂອງພວກເຂົາຕື່ມ ອີກ ເພື່ອໄປສູ່ຊຽງຂວາງ ປາກເຊ ແລະ ສະຫວັນນະເຂດ ໃນອານາຄົດໄກ້ໆນີ້. ລູກເຮືອ ແລະນາຍຊ່າງທັງໝົດ ຂອງລາວເດີນອາກາດ ແມ່ນ ໄດ້ຮັບການຝຶກອົບຮົມທີ່ໄດ້ມາດຕະຖານສາກົນ ແລະ ທ່ານ ບຸນມາໄດ້ກ່າວວ່າບໍລສ ິ ັດໄດ້ໃຊ້ເວລາເປັນປີເພື່ອກຽມພ້ອມ ກັບການມາຂອງເຮືອບິນໃໝ່MA60ແລະການເພີ່ມເສັ້ນບິນ ດ້ວຍໂຄງການຝຶກອົບຮົມລູກເຮືອທີ່ເຂັ້ມຂຸ້ນຢູ່ປະເທດຈີນ ລວມມີການເຝຶກອົບຮົມການບິນທີ່ທັນສະໃໝ 3 ເດືອນ ການເຝຶກອົບຮົມຕໍ່ເນື່ອງ ແລະການເພີ່ມຄວາມອາດສາມາດ ດ້ານລະບົບຕ່າງໆ. ດ້ວຍການຂະຫຍາຍເສັ້ນທາງບິນ ແລະເຮືອບິນໃນມໍ່ໆນີ້ ມັນ ເປັນທີ່ຈະແຈ້ງແລ້ວວ່າລາວເດີນອາກາດແມ່ນໄດ້ປະກອບສ່ວນ ເຂົ້າໃນການເດີນທາງການທ່ອງທ່ຽວແລະການຄ້າໃນລາວພອ້ມ ທັງເພີ່ມຄວາມອາດສາມາດດ້ານການແຂ່ງຂັນໃຫ້ແກ່ບລ ໍ ສ ິ ັດເອງ ແລະກຽມພ້ອມສຳ�ລັບການເຂົ້າສູ່ປະຊາຄົມເສດຖະກິດອາຊຽນ (AEC) ຊຶ່ງຈະມີຜົນສັກສິດໃນປີ 2015 ນີ້.

PARTNER PROFILE

words Kate Antonas photos Phoonsab Thevongsa

Connecting Urban and Regional Laos Specialising in domestic flights, Lao Skyway’s expanded scheduled flight routes make travelling to regional Laos a breeze. With bustling Vientiane Capital as their base, the airline flies multiple times weekly to a range of regional hubs, Sabaidee Magazine takes a look at these exciting destinations. In addition to scheduled flights, Lao Skyway also offer scenic sightseeing flights – perfect for passengers and photographers to take in the sights of Vientiane and the mighty Mekong from the air. Lao Skyway also has plans to further expand their flight paths to Xieng Kuang, Pakse and Savannakhet in the near future.

Luang Prabang: A UNESCO World Heritage Site dotted with charming French Colonial architecture and a host of natural and historical sites. Tourists flock to waterfalls, caves, Vat Xieng Thong temple and the Haw Kham Royal Palace Museum, as well as the buzzing dining scene and handicraft markets. Flights run three times weekly from Vientiane to Luang Prabang on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Adult prices start from 299,000 kip one-way. Bokeo: Home to the Bokeo Nature Reserve,

a protected forest area created to preserve the black crested gibbon. Elephants, bears and tigers have also been spotted here and it houses The Gibbon Experience – a popular eco-tourism activity where participants traverse the forest by zip-line. Flights run twice weekly from Vientiane to Houayxay on Mondays and Fridays. Adult prices start from 399,000 kip one-way.

Oudomxay: The town of Muang La is home

to the important Saymoung Rattana Stupa

which houses a 400-year-old Buddha image. Adventurers will want to explore Chom Ong Cave, it is the longest and largest known cave in Laos at around 18.4km long. Flights run twice weekly from Vientiane to Muang Xay on Wednesdays and Sundays. Adult prices start from 399,000 kip one-way.

Luang Namtha: A wealth of sustainable tourism experiences will entice visitors including jungle treks, kayaking, cooking classes, village visits and homestays. Several tour operators offer guided adventure activities throughout the province. Flights run twice weekly from Vientiane to Luang Namtha on Mondays and Fridays. Adult prices start from 399,000 kip one-way. Phongsaly: Lovers of nature and culture will embrace Phongsaly’s eco-trekking tours to remote ethnically diverse villages, jungles, and the farms of the Akha people. Don’t miss sampling some of the provinces renowned tea – or a visit to the 400-year-old tea plantation. Flights run

twice weekly from Vientiane to Phongsaly on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Adult prices start from 999,000 kip one-way.

Xayaboury: Home to the largest population

of elephants in Laos, Xayaboury hosts the annual Elephant Festival in February. To get up-close to these magnificent creatures, visit the Elephant Conservation Centre which runs a breeding sanctuary and rehabilitates injured pachyderms. Flights run twice weekly from Vientiane to Xayaboury on Mondays and Tuesdays. Adult prices start from 715,000 kip one-way.

Huaphan: History buffs can’t miss the Viengxay caves – an extensive network of caves used by revered Lao revolutionary figures and soldiers in the 1950s and 1960s. The well-preserved caves can be easily accessed by visitors and many have signage about their uses. Flights run three times weekly from Vientiane to Sam Neua on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Adult prices start from 915,000 kip one-way.

ເຊື່ອມໂຍງນະຄອນຫຼວງ ແລະພາກຕ່າງໆໃນລາວ ຊຶ່ງມີຄວາມຊ່ຽວຊານເປັນພິເສດໃນການບິນພາຍໃນປະເທດ ການຂະຫຍາຍຕາລາງເສັ້ນທາງບິນຂອງ Lao Skyway ໄດ້ເຮັດໃຫ້ການເດີນທາງໄປພາກຕ່າງໆ ໃນລາວເພີ່ມຫຼາຍຂຶ້ນ ດ້ວຍການຂະຫຍາຍຕົວຂອງນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນທີ່ເປັນພື້ນຖານ ສາຍການບິນໄດ້ບໍລິການຖ້ຽວບິນຫຼາຍຖ້ຽວພາຍໃນອາທິດ ໄປຫາ ພາກຕ່າງໆທີ່ສຳ�ຄັນຂອງປະເທດ ວາລະສານສະບາຍດີ ໄດ້ສຳ�ຫຼວດເບິ່ງຈຸດໝາຍປາຍທາງທີ່ໜ້າຕື່ນເຕັ້ນນີ້ ນອກຈາກຕາລາງບິນແບບປົກກະຕິແລ້ວ ລາວເດີນອາກາດຍັງໄດ້ໃຫ້ບລ ໍ ກ ິ ານບິນທ່ຽວຊົມເມືອງ ເໝາະສົມທີ່ສດ ຸ ສຳ�ລັບບັນດາຜູ້ໂດຍສານ ແລະນັກຖ່າຍພາບ ທີ່ຕ້ອງ ການເບິ່ງທັດສະນີຍະພາບນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ແລະແມ່ນໍ້າຂອງຈາກມຸມເທິງອາກາດ ແຂວງຫຼວງພະບາງ: ເປັນເມືອງມໍລະດົກໂລກຂອງອົງການຍູເນັສໂກ ທີ່ສະຫຼັບໄປດ້ວຍ ສິນລະປະສະຖາປັດຕະຍະກຳ�ການກໍ່ສ້າງຂອງ ສະໃໝລ່າເມືອງຂຶ້ນຝຣັ່ງ ແລະເປັນເຂດພື້ນຖາທາງດ້ານປະຫວັດ ສາດ ແລະທຳ�ມະຊາດ ນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວຈຳ�ນວນຫຼາຍຫຼັ່ງໄຫຼໄປຊົມ ນໍ້າຕົກຕາດ ຖໍ້າວັດຊຽງທອງ ແລະ ພະລາດຊະວັງຫໍຄຳ� ພ້ອມທັງ ສະຖານທີ່ຮ້ານອາຫານທີ່ເປັນເອກະລັກ ແລະຕະຫຼາດກາງຄືນ ລາວ ເດີນອາກາດໃຫ້ບລ ໍ ກ ິ ານຖ້ຽວບິນ 3 ຄັ້ງຕໍ່ອາທິດ ຈາກນະຄອນ ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ໄປຫາແຂວງພະບາງ ໃນວັນອັງຄານ ວັນພະຫັດ ແລະວັນເສົາ ລາຄາໂດຍສານສຳ�ລັບຜູ້ໃຫ່ຍແມ່ນ ເລີ່ມຕົ້ນຈາກ 299,000 ກີບຕໍ່ຖ້ຽວ. ແຂວງບໍແກ້ວ: ເປັນບ້ານໃນການອະນຸຮັກທຳ�ມະຊາດແຂວງບໍແກ້ວ ເຂດປ່າສະຫງວນ ໄດ້ຖກ ື ສ້າງຂຶ້ນເພື່ອອະນຸຮັກ ຊະນີແກ້ມດຳ� ຊ້າງ ໝີ ແລະເສືອ ກໍ່ຍັງມີໃຫ້ເຫັນເປັນຄັ້ງຄາວຢູ່ທີ່ນີ້ແລະເປັນບ້ານຂອງ ໂຄງການທ່ອງທ່ຽວ The Gibbon Experience ເຊິ່ງເປັນກິດຈະ ກຳ�ການທ່ອງທ່ຽວແບບອະນຸຮັກທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບຄວາມນິຍົມ ຊິຶ່ງນັກທ່ອງ ທ່ຽວໄປມາໃນປ່າດ້ວຍການຂີ່ສະລິງ ລາວເດີນອາກາດໃຫ້ບລ ໍ ກ ິ ານ 2 ຄັ້ງ ຕໍ່ອາທິດ ຈາກນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ຫາຕົວເມືອງ ຫ້ວຍຊາຍ ໃນວັນຈັນ ແລະ ວັນສຸກ ລາຄາໂດຍສານສຳ�ລັບຜູ້ໃຫຍ່ ແມ່ນ ເລີ່ມຕົ້ນຈາກ 399,000 ກີບຕໍ່ຖ້ຽວ. ແຂວງອຸດົມໃຊ: ຕົວເມືອງຂອງເມືອງລາ ແມ່ນບ້ານຂອງພະທາດ ໃຊມວງລັດຕະນາເຊິ່ງເປັນທີ່ເກັບມ້ຽນຂອງພະທີ່ມອ ີ າຍຸເຖິງ 400 ປີ

ນັກປະຈົນໄພອາດຈະມັກສຳ�ຫຼວດຖໍ້າຈອມອົງເຊິ່ງເປັນຖໍ້າທີ່ໃຫຍ່ ທີ່ສດ ຸ ແລະຍາວທີ່ສດ ຸ ໃນປະເທດລາວ ເຊິ່ງມີຄວາມຍາວເຖິງ 18.4 ກມ. ລາວເດີນອາກາດໃຫ້ບລ ໍ ກ ິ ານ 2 ຄັ້ງຕໍ່ອາທິດ ຈາກນະຄອນ ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ຫາ ເມືອງໃຊ ໃນທຸກໆວັນພຸດ ແລະ ວັນອາທິດ ລາຄາ ໂດຍສານສຳ�ລັບຜູ້ໃຫຍ່ແມ່ນເລີ່ມຕົ້ນຈາກ 399,000 ກີບ ຕໍ່ຖ້ຽວ. ແຂວງຫຼວງນໍ້າທາ: ປະສົບການການທ່ອງທ່ຽວແບບຍືນຍົງ/ທີ່ອດ ຸ ົມ ສົມບູນ ຈະດຶງດູດບັນດານັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວໃຫ້ເຂົ້າມາທີ່ແຂວງ ຊິຶ່ງລວມ ມີການຍ່າງປ່າ ຂີ່ເຮືອກາຢັກ ຫ້ອງຮຽນປຸງແຕ່ງອາຫານ ຢ້ຽມຊົມ ໝູ່ບ້ານ ແລະ ພັກຢູ່ບ້ານປະຊາຊົນເພື່ອສຶກສາວິຖຊ ີ ວ ີ ດ ິ ພື້ນບ້ານ ມີບໍລິສັດທ່ອງທ່ຽວຫຼາຍບໍລິສັດທີ່ໃຫ້ຂໍ້ມູນແນະນຳ�ກ່ຽວກັບກິດຈະ ກຳ� ການພະຈົນໄພພາຍ ໃນແຂວງ ລາວເດີນອາກາດໃຫ້ບລ ໍ ກ ິ ານ 2 ຄັ້ງຕໍ່ອາທິດ ຈາກນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ຫາຕົວເມືອງຫຼວງນໍ້າທາ ໃນທຸກໆ ວັນຈັນ ແລະ ວັນສຸກ ລາຄາໂດຍສານສຳ�ລັບຜູ້ໃຫຍ່ ແມ່ນເລີ່ມຕົ້ນຈາກ 399,000 ກີບ ຕໍ່ຖ້ຽວ ແຂວງຜົ້ງສາລີ: ຜູ້ທີ່ຮັກທໍາມະຊາດແລະວັດທະນະທໍາ ຈະຕ້ອງ ຈອງລາຍການທ່ອງທ່ຽວການຍ່າງປ່າແບບອະນຸຮັກ ຂອງແຂວງ ຜົ້ງສາລີເພື່ອໄປຫາໝູ່ບ້ານຊົນເຜົ່າທີ່ມຄ ີ ວາມຫຼາກຫຼາຍແລະຫ່າງໄກ ປ່າດົງຕຶບໜາແລະໄຮ່ນາຮົ້ວສວນຂອງຊົນເຜົ່າອາຄ່າ ສິ່ງທີ່ບໍ່ຄວນ ພາດກໍ່ຄກ ື ານດື່ມຊາທີ່ມຊ ີ ື່ສຽງຂອງແຂວງຜົ້ງສາລີ ຫຼືຢ້ຽມຊົມສວນ ຊາທີ່ມີຕົ້ນຊາເກົ່າແກ່ ທີມີອາຍຸເຖິງ 400 ປີ ລາວເດີນອາກາດ ໃຫ້ບລ ໍ ກ ິ ານ ອາທິດລະ 2 ຄັ້ງ ຈາກ ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ຫາ

ຕົວເມືອງຜົ້ງສາລີ ທຸກໆ ວັນອັງຄານ ແລະ ວັນເສົາ ລາຄາ ໂດຍສານສຳ�ລັບຜູ້ໃຫຍ່ ແມ່ນເລີ່ມຕົ້ນຈາກ 999,000 ກີບ ຕໍ່ຖ້ຽວ. ແຂວງໄຊຍະບູລ:ີ ເປັນສະຖານທີ່ທີ່ມພ ີ ົນລະເມືອງຊ້າງຫຼາຍທີ່ສດ ຸ ໃນລາວ ແຂວງໄຊຍະບູລີເປັນເຈົ້າພາບຈັດງານຊ້າງປະຈຳ�ປີໃນ ເດືອນກຸມພາ ເພື່ອໃກ້ຊດ ິ ກັບສັດຂະໜາດໃຫຍ່ທີ່ມຄ ີ ວາມສຳ�ຄັນນີ້ ພວກເຮົາສາມາດເຂົ້າຢ້ຽມຊົມສູນອະນຸຮັກຊ້າງຊຶ່ງເປັນສະຖານ ທີ່ອະນຸຮັກເພາະພັນ ແລະຟື້ນຟູປິ່ນປົວຊ້າງທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບບາດເຈັບ ລາວເດີນອາກາດaໃຫ້ບລ ໍ ກ ິ ານອາທິດລະ 2 ຄັ້ງ ຈາກນະຄອນ ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ຫາຕົວເມືອງໄຊຍະບູລີ ທຸກໆ ວັນຈັນ ແລະ ວັນ ອັງຄານ ລາຄາໂດຍ ສານສຳ�ລັບຜູ້ໃຫຍ່ ແມ່ນເລີ່ມຕົ້ນຈາກ 715,000 ກີບ ຕໍ່ຖ້ຽວ. ແຂວງຫົວພັນ: ຜູ້ທີ່ມັກໃນປະຫວັດສາດ ຄວນຈະບໍ່ພາດການຢຽ້ມ ຢາມຖໍ້າວຽງໃຊ ເປັນເຄືອຄ່າຍຖໍ້າທີ່ກ້ວາງຂວາງ ຊຶ່ງ ກອງທັບແລະ ບັນດາຜູ້ນຳ�ການປະຕິວັດປະຊາຊົນລາວ ໄດ້ນຳ�ໃຊ້ຖໍ້າແຫ່ງນີ້ເຂົ້າ ໃນການປະຕິວັດ ໃນຊຸມປີ 1950 ແລະ 1960 ຖໍ້າເຫຼົ່ານີ້ ແມ່ນ ໄດ້ຮັບການອະນຸຮັກເປັນຢ່າງດີ ແລະ ບັນດານັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ສາມາດ ເຂົ້າຢ້ຽມຊົມໄດ້ຢ່າງສະດວກສະບາຍ ແລະ ຖໍ້າທັງຫຼາຍແມ່ນມີປ້າ ຍຂໍ້ມນ ູ ບອກກ່ຽວກັບປະຫວັດຂອງແຕ່ລະຖໍ້າລາວເດີນອາກາດໃຫ້ ບໍລກ ິ ານອາທິດລະ 3 ຄັ້ງ ຈາກ ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ຫາຊໍາເໜືອ ທຸກໆ ວັນຈັນ ວັນພຸດ ແລະ ວັນສຸກ ລາຄາໂດຍສານສຳ�ລັບຜູ້ໃຫຍ່ ແມ່ນເລີ່ມຕົ້ນຈາກ 915,000 ກີບ ຕໍ່ຖ້ຽວ.

Fly with Lao Skyway To book a scheduled flight or to enquire about charter or scenic flights contact the Lao Skyway call centre on 1441, Lao Skyway’s Sengthien Hotel office on +856 30 5181488, or Lao Skyway’s Wattay Airport office on +856 21 513007. For in-person ticketing and reservations visit the company’s ticketing office at Sengthien Hotel, ASEAN Road, Sikhodtabong District. For more information about flight schedules and regional ticketing locations visit www.laoskyway.com.

ບິນໄປກັບລາວເດີນອາກາດ ເພື່ອຈອງຕາລາງການບິນ ຫຼື ສອບຖາມຂໍ້ມນ ູ ກ່ຽວກັບການ ເຊົ່າແບບເໝົາລຳ�ຂອງເຮືອບິນ ຫຼື ຕາລາງການບິນຊົມເມືອງ ກະລຸນາຕິດຕໍ່ ສູນສອບຖາມຂອງລາວເດີນອາກາດທີ່ 1441 ຫ້ອງການລາວເດີນອາກາດທີ່ໂຮງແຮມແສງທຽນ ໂທ +856 30 5181488 ຫຼື ຫ້ອງການລາວເດີນອາກາດທີ່ສະໜາມບິນ ສາກົນວັດໄຕ ໂທ: +856 21 513007. ຂໍ້ມນ ູ ເພີ່ມເຕີມກ່ຽວກັບຕາລາງການບິນແລະສະຖານທີ່ຈຳ�ໜ່າຍ ປີ້ຂອງທຸກແຂວງສາມາດເບິ່ງໄດ້ທີ່ www.laoskyway.com

Taking Off:

Looking to the Future With the expansion of their fleet and services, Sabaidee Magazine asked Lao Skyway Managing Director, Mr Bounma Chanthavongsa, what opportunities he sees for the airlines’ future and what customers can look forward to. How is your new company name – Lao Skyway – significant to the airline?

We think of a ‘skyway’ as a bridge linking Vientiane to regional Laos – connecting the country’s urban centre and regional hubs. Lao Skyway aims to provide easy, safe and comfortable access to regional Laos for both Lao nationals and tourists. So far we’ve enjoyed positive feedback from customers and our staff about the change of name.

How does Lao Skyway differ from competitors?

We are the only regular charter flight service in Laos, and our fleet includes helicopters and several light aircraft so we can offer several services like VIP, scenic, cargo, and corporate air travel with a selection of aircraft that best suits the customer or client.

Tell us a little about the new MA60 aircraft and what it offers customers:

The MA60 is a new Chinese-built aircraft which has been modified to include advanced flying

equipment and systems from the United States and a Canadian-built engine. Our captains, who both have several years of experience flying other MA60 aircraft, enjoy flying this model and say that compared to the first series these aircraft are more advanced, with better technology and safety. The MA60 offers comfort, flexibility and convenience, and the addition means we are increasing scheduled flights while retaining the low ticket prices and good quality service which our customers have come to know.

What does the future hold for Lao Skyway?

We have plans to extend Lao Skyway’s routes to Xieng Kuang, Pakse and Savannakhet in the near future. This means we may look to recruit more pilots and aircrew to keep up with demand. We are also currently looking at other business ventures within the travel and hospitality sector that we can combine with the airline to continue to offer low-cost ticket prices including hotels, tourism projects, and restaurants.

ເລີ່ມອອກເດີນທາງ ເບິ່ງໄປໃນອະນາຄົດ Lao Skyway Managing Director, Mr Bounma Chanthavongsa

ດ້ວຍການຂະຫຍາຍເຮືອບິນ ແລະ ການບໍລກ ິ ານ ວາລະສາານສະບາຍດີໄດ້ສອບຖາມ ຜູ້ອຳ�ນວຍການ ຂອງສາຍການບິນ ແລະ ການບໍລກ ິ ານພິເສດຫຍັງແກ່ລກ ູ ຄ້າ. ຊື່ໃໝ່ຂອງບໍລສ ິ ັດ Lao Skyway ມີຄວາມສຳ�ຄັນແນວໃດຕໍ່ສາຍ ການບິນຂອງທ່ານ? ພວກເຮົາຖືວ່າ ‘skyway’ ເປັນດັ່ງຂົວເຊື່ອມຕໍ່ ລະຫ່ວາງນະຄອນ ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ແລະ ພາກຕ່າງໆຂອງປະເທດລາວ ເຊື່ອມຕໍ່ສນ ູ ກ າ ງ ຕົວ ເ ມື ອ ງ ຂ ອ ງ ປ ະ ເ ທ ດ ກັບ ຕົວ ເ ມື ອ ງ ໃ ນ ແ ຕ່ລ ະ ພື້ນ ທີ່ Lao Skyway ມຸ່ງທີ່ຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ການເຂົ້າເຖິງທຸກພື້ນທີ່ຂອງລາວ ມີຄວາມສະດວກສະບາຍ ປອດໄພ ແລະງ່າຍດາຍ ສຳ�ລັບ ທັງຄົນລາວແລະນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ມາເຖິງປະຈຸບັນ ພວກເຮົາໄດ້ຮັບ ການຕອບຮັບ ທີ່ດີຈາກລູກຄ້າ ແລະພະນັກງານຂອງພວກເຮົາ ກ່ຽວກັບການປ່ຽນຊື່ຂອງບໍລສ ິ ັດ. Lao Skyway ມີຄວາມແຕກຕ່າງຈາກບັນດາສາຍການບິນອື່ນ ຄືແນວໃດ? ພວກເຮົາເປັນພຽງບໍລສ ິ ັດດຽວໃນລາວ ທີ່ໃຫ້ການບໍລກ ິ ານແບບເຊົ່າ ເໝົາລຳ� ແລະເຮືອບິນຂອງພວກເຮົາ ຊຶ່ງລວມມີ ເຮລິຄອບເຕີ ແລະ ເຮືອບິນແບບເບົາ ດັ່ງນັ້ນພວກເຮົາສາມາດໃຫ້ບລ ໍ ກ ິ ານໄດ້ຢ່າງຫຼາກ ຫຼາຍ ເຊັ່ນ ແບບພິເສດ (VIP) ທ່ຽວຊົມເມືອງ ຂົນສົ່ງສິນຄ້າ ແລະການ ເດີນທາງທາງອາກາດຂອງບັນດາບໍລສ ິ ັດ ພວກເຮົາມີຫຼາກຫຼາຍເຮືອ ບິນໃຫ້ເລືອກຕາມແຕ່ເໝາະສົມທີ່ສດ ຸ ກັບຄວາມຕ້ອງການລູກຄ້າ. ກະລຸນາໃຫ້ຂໍ້ມູນເພີ່ມເຕີມ ກັບພວກເຮົາກ່ຽວກັບ ເຮືອບິນ MA60 ລຳ�ໃໝ່ ແລະ ການໃຫ້ບໍລິການລູກຄ້າມີຫຍັງແດ່? ເຮືອບິນລຸ້ນ MA60 ແມ່ນເຮືອບິນລຸ້ນໃໝ່ຈາກປະເທດຈີນ ເຊິ່ງໄດ້

ຮັບການພັດທະນາທີ່ມລ ີ ະບົບ ແລະ ເຄື່ອງມືການ ບິນທີ່ທັນສະໃໝ ລໍ້າໜ້າຈາກປະເທດອາເມຣິກາແລະເຄື່ອງຈັກທີ່ຜະລິດຈາກປະເທດ ການາດາ ຫົວໜ້າຂັບເຮືອບິນ ຂອງພວກເຮົາ ເປັນຜູ້ທີ່ມປ ີ ະສົບ ການຫຼາຍປີໃນການຂັບເຮືອບິນລຸ້ນ MA60 ອື່ນໆ ແມ່ນມັກໃນການ ຂັບເຮືອບິນລຸ້ນນີ້ຫຼາຍ ແລະ ກ່າວວ່າຖ້າທຽບໃສ່ລຸ້ນທຳ�ອິດທີ່ຜ່ານ ມາ ເຮືອບິນລຸ້ນນີ້ແມ່ນມີຄວາມກ້າວໜ້າຫຼາຍ ພ້ອມທັງມີລະບົບ ຄວາມປອດໄພ ແລະເທັກໂນໂລຍີທີ່ດກ ີ ່ວາ ເຮືອບິນ MA60 ໄດ້ໃຫ້ຄວາມສະດວກສະບາຍ ຜ່ອນຄາຍ ແລະການເພີ່ມເຮືອບິນນີ້ ເຮັດໃຫ້ພວກເຮົາສາມາດເພີ່ມຕາລາງການບິນພ້ອມທັງຮັກສາລາຄາ ຄ່າໂດຍສານທີ່ຖກ ື ແລະ ມີການບໍລິ ການທີ່ມຄ ີ ນ ຸ ນະພາບ ຊຶ່ງລູກຄ້າ ຂອງພວກເຮົາຕ້ອງໄດ້ມາສໍາຜັດດ້ວຍຕົນເອງ. ອະນາຄົດຂອງ ສາຍການບິນ Lao Skyway ຈະມີຫຍັງແດ່? ພ ວ ກ ເ ຮົ າ ມີ ແ ຜ ນ ກ າ ນ ທີ່ຈ ະ ຂ ະ ຫຍ າ ຍ ເ ສັ້ນ ທ າ ງ ກ າ ນ ບິ ນ ໄປຊຽງຂວາງ ປາກເຊ ແລະ ສະຫວັນນະເຂດ ໃນອານາຄົດໃກ້ໆນີ້ ນີ້ກໝ ໍ າຍຄວາມວ່າພວກເຮົາ ຈະເພີ່ມພະນັກງານຂັບເຮືອບິນ ແລະ ລູກເຮືອຕື່ມເພື່ອໃຫ້ຕອບສະໜອງກັບຄວາມ ຕ້ອງການປະຈຸບັນ ພວກເຮົາກໍຍັງເບິ່ງໂອກາດທາງທຸລະກິດອື່ນໆໃນຂະແໜງການທ່ອງ ທ່ຽວ ແລະການໃຫ້ບລ ໍ ກ ິ ານ ທີ່ ພວກເຮົາສາມາດປະສົມປະສານ ກັບການບໍລກ ິ ານດ້ານການບິນຂອງພວກເຮົາ ເພື່ອສືບຕໍ່ໃຫ້ການບໍ ລິການເຮືອບິນທີ່ຮາຄາຖືກ ລວມທັງໂຮງແຮມ ໂຄງການທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ແລະ ຮ້ານອາຫານ.

ASEAN Connect words Ian Lacey

A living monument to the old and new, Kuala Lumpur – or KL as it’s known to most – is one of Southeast Asia’s rising city destinations. A late bloomer in terms of foundation, KL began as a simple tin-mining town in the mid-1800s. Today however, it’s an international commercial hub and ethnic melting pot to boot. Astounding architecture, abundant green space, mouthwatering cuisine, and some of the region’s best shopping means KL should be on your Southeast Asian bucket list this year.

Kuala Lumpur

Colourful Past Meets Vibrant Present in Malaysia’s Capital

| A local pottery studio Photo Ian Lacey. |

Cultural Charm Finding your bearings in KL can be tough, but Merdeka Square is a handy starting point for exploring the city on foot. The square is of huge importance to Malaysians as it was here in 1957 that the national flag replaced the British Union Jack to officially mark independence. Tudor-inspired buildings overlook the grass which was once a cricket pitch. On the eastern side is the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, a striking Moorish-style structure with a polished copper dome and 40 metre high clock tower. Embracing Malaysia’s rich Hindu culture is the Sri Mahamariammam Temple on Jalan Tun HS Lee, at the edge of Chinatown. Flower vendors crowd the entrance and the waft of incense permeates the streets around Malaysia’s oldest Hindu shrine. If you’re visiting during rainy season and confined to more indoor pursuits, head to the Islamic Arts Museum (iamm.org.my) on Jalan Lembah Perdana. Boasting one of the world’s finest collections of Islamic decorative arts including textiles and a collection of centuries-old Qur’ans, it’s a rare insight into this artistic culture. | Shopping at a night market Photo Ian Lacey |

GET HIGH

EPICUREAN DELIGHTS

KL’s most recognised structures are the Petronas Towers. Until 2004, these 452 metre buildings were the world’s highest and give a bird’s eye view of the entire cityscape. You can’t access the top floor so instead head to the Skybridge, 170 metres above ground. Tickets are limited so book ahead. Admission RM80 per adult, RM30 per child.

KL is bursting at the seams when it comes to multi-ethnic cuisine, which reflects the diverse make-up of the population. Food can loosely be divided into Malaysian, Chinese and Indian varieties, but the palate will argue there’s much more.

For a better view, shoot up the nearby KL Tower. The bulbous top has two 360 degree observation decks and both are over 100 metres higher than the Petronas Skybridge. KL’s extensive greenery interspersed with modern skyscrapers is an impressive sight. Tickets cost RM49 per adult and RM29 per child. The higher deck costs RM99.

Your first port of call should be somewhere serving Malay fare. The most condensed area of kedai kopi (roadside stalls) is around Jalan Masjid India. Here you can delve mouth-first into everything from gulai (curried stew with cassava leaves) to char koay teow (stir-fried noodles). The Chinatown area of KL condenses popular Chinese dishes into three or four lively streets. Jalan Sultan and Jalan Petaling host the cleaner-cut restaurants while surrounding alleys spout thick aromas of fried vegetables, meats and noodles. Try Shang Palace on Jalan Sultan Ismail if you fancy the best Dim Sum in town. Bukit Bintang and the greater Golden Triangle area are geared towards diners with deeper pockets, but some budget eateries can also be found. Passage Thru India on Jalan Tun Razak has delectable Indian food at reasonable prices.

| The Petronas Towers |

SHOPPER’S PARADISE

DAY TRIPPIN’

From determined street hawkers, to artisan bazaars and multi-storey mega-centres, you’ll find it all in KL. No wonder it’s a contender for the region’s best shopping.

If you feel like escaping urbanity for a day, why not try one of these day trips.

Jalan Petaling is bustling with stalls offering up knockoff designer handbags, cheap clothes, electronics and souvenirs. It’s well worth a stroll just to see the Chineseinfluenced arches and hyper atmosphere, even if you’re not buying.

Explore charming Dutch architecture in this UNESCO World Heritage city. Navigable on foot, Melaka is a relaxed getaway from KL known for its exquisite cuisine, European colonial heart and beautiful riverside walks. Buses leave half-hourly from Puduraya bus station and cost RM12.50 one-way.

Close to Merdeka Square on Jalan Hang Kasturi is Central Market. This covered arcade deals largely in handicrafts and locally produced textiles. Pavilion KL and Berjaya Times Square – which includes an indoor theme park – take home gold for brand name stores set over several levels.

Melaka

Fraser’s Hill

Just 100km from KL and over 1500 metres above sea level, Fraser’s Hill’s cool jungle walks through mysterious cloud forest are a welcome break from the city. Animal life teems within this tropical hideout while stunning waterfalls reward the walker. Halfhourly buses leave from Puduraya bus station to Kuala Kubu Bharu. From there, taxis can be hired to the hill for around RM70.

ASEAN Connect words Ian Lacey

ຂຶ້ນສູຕ ່ ກ ຶ ສູງ ໂຄງສ້າ ງທີ່ໜ້າ ຈົດ ຈຳ�ທີ່ສຸ ດ ຂອງ ນະຄອນກຸ ລ າລຳ�ເປີ ແມ່ນຫໍຄອຍ Petronas Towers ມາຮອດປີ 2004 ອາຄານທີ່ມີຄວາມສູງ 452 ແມັດເຫຼົ່ານີ້ແມ່ນເປັນຕຶກ ທີ່ສງູ ທີ່ສດ ຸ ຂອງໂລກ ແລະມີຂົວເຊື່ອມຕໍ່ເທິງອາກາດໃນ ລະດັບສູງ 170 ແມັດ ປີ້ເຂົ້າຊົມມີຈຳ�ກັດ ສະນັ້ນ ຈອງລ່ວງໜ້າ ຄ່າຜ່ານປະຕູ ແມ່ນ 80 RM ສຳ�ລັບຜູ້ໃຫຍ່ ແລະ ພຽງແຕ່ 30 RMສໍາລັບເດັກນ້ອຍ. ສຳ�ລັບວິວທີ່ສວຍງາມກວ່ານີ້ຢ້ຽມຢາມKL Tower ທີ່ຢູ່ໄກ້ຄຽງກັນ ຊື່ງເປັນຕຶກທີ່ມດ ີ າດຟ້າຊົມວວ ິ 360 ອົງສາ ທີ່ມີ ຄວາມສງູ ຫຼາຍກວ່າ 100 ແມັດ ສູງກວ່າ Petronas Skybridge. ປີ້ຜ່ານປະຕູ ແມ່ນ 49 RM ສຳ�ລັບຜູ້ໃຫຍ່ ແລະ 29 RM ສໍາລັບເດັກນ້ອຍ ແລະຄ່າຂຶ້ນດາດຟ້າ ລາຄາ 99 RM. ການນໍາສະເໜີດ້ານອາຫານ ຄວາມຫຼາກຫຼາຍຂອງລາຍການອາຫານ ຈາກຫຼາຍເຊື້ອຊາດໃນນະຄອນກຸລາລຳ�ເປີ ສາມາດແຍກອອກເປັນອາຫານມາເລເຊຍ ຈີນ ແລະອິນເດຍຮ້ານອາຫານແຄມທາງ ແມ່ນຢູ່ອ້ອມຮອບ Jalan Masjid India ໃນທີ່ນີ້ ທ່ານສາມາດແວ່ຊມ ີ ລົດຊາດອາຫານຈາກ gulai (ແກງກະລີ່ ໃສ່ໃບມັນຕົ້ນ) koayteow (ຂົ້ວເຝີ)ໃນ Chinatown ທີ່ມີຊີວດ ິ ຊີວາ ຄົ້ນຫາຮ້ານອາຫານຈີນຍອດນິຍົມຕາມເຂດ Jalan Sultan and JalanPetaling. ເຂດ Bukit Bintang ແລະ Golden Triangle ແມ່ນເປັນແຫຼ່ງລວມຮ້ານອາຫານ ແຕ່ ໃນເຂດ Passage Thru Indiaໃນ JalanTunRazak ແມ່ນມີອາຫານອິນເດຍ ພ້ອມກັບລາຄາສົມເຫດສົມຜົນ. ສະຫວັນຂອງນັກຊື້ເຄື່ອງ ນັບຈາກຮ້ານຂ້າງຖະໜົນໄປເຖິງຕະຫຼາດຂາຍເຄື່ອງສລ ິ ະປະ ແລະຫ້າງຊັບພະສິນຄ້າ ຫຼ າ ຍ ຊັ້ນ ທ່າ ນ ສ າ ມ າ ດ ພົບ ທັງ ໝົດ ນີ້ ໄ ດ້ທີ່ນ ະ ຄ ອ ນ ກຸ ລ າ ລຳ�ເ ປີ J a l a n Petaling ແມ່ນເຕັມໄປ ດ້ວຍຫ້າງຮ້ານນ້ອຍ ທີ່ຂາຍຖົງພາຍ ເສື້ອຜ້າລາຄາຖືກ ເຄື່ອງເອເລັກໂຕຣນິກ ແລະຂອງ ທີ່ລະນຶກ Central Market ແມ່ນຈະມີເຄື່ອງ ຫັດຖະກຳ�ທ້ອງຖິ່ນ ແລະແຜ່ນແພ ໃນເຂດ Pavilion KL ແລະ Berjaya Times Square ຈະມີສວນສະນຸກໃນຮົ່ມ ຊຄຳ ື້ �ຈາກຮ້ານທີ່ມຊ ີ ື່ຍີ່ຫໍ້ຫຼາຍລະດັບກັບບ້ານ.

| The Sultan Abdul Samad Building |

ກຸລາລຳ�ເປີ ອະດີດທີ່ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍສີສັນ ປະສານກັບປະຈຸບັນທີ່ມຊ ີ ວ ີ ດ ິ ຊີວາໃນເມືອງຫຼວງມາເລເຊຍ ພົບ ກັບ ອະນຸ ສ າວະລີ ທີ່ເ ກົ່າ ແລະໃໝ່ ກຸ ລ າລຳ�ເປີ ຫຼື KL ແມ່ນ ຈຸ ດ ໝາຍປາຍທາງ ໃນການທ່ອ ງທ່ຽ ວທີ່ໜ້າ ສົນ ໃຈແຫ່ງ ໜຶ່ງ ຂອງອາຊີ ຕ າເວັ ນ ອອກສ່ຽ ງໃຕ້ຕ ະການ ຕາໄປພ້ອ ມກັບ ສະຖາປັດ ຕະຍະກໍາ ພື້ນ ທີ່ສີ ຂ ຽວອຸ ດົມ ສົມ ບູ ນ ອາຫານລື ຊື່ ແລະ ບໍ່ຄວນພາດກັບສະຖານທີ່ຊື້ເຄື່ອງ ທີ່ດີທີສຸດຂອງນະຄອນກຸລາລຳ�ເປີ

ຄວາມມສ ີ ະເໜທາງດ້ານວັດທະນະທຳ� Merdeka Square ເປັນສະຖານທີ່ປະຫວັດສາດ ຊື່ງເປັນຈດ ຸ ທີ່ດໃີ ນການເລີ່ມຕົ້ນກິດຈະກຳ� ຍ່າງຊົມເມືອງ ນະທີ່ນີ້ໃນປີ 1957 ທຸງຊາດມາເລເຊຍໄດ້ຖກ ື ປ່ຽນແທນທຸງສະຫະພັນອັງກິດ ເພື່ອເປັນເຄື່ອງໝາຍແຫ່ງຄວາມເປັນອິດສະຫຼະ ພາບ ທິດຕາວັນອອກແມ່ນຕຶກ Sultan Abdul Samad ເປັນໂຄງສ້າງຮູບແບບ Moorish ທີ່ໂດດເດັ່ນດ້ວຍຫໍໂມງ ສູງ 40 ແມັດ ໃນບັນດາວັດທະນະທຳ�ຮິນດູ Hindu ທີ່ເກົ່າແກ່ຂອງມາເລເຊຍແມ່ນວັດເກົ່າທີ່ມີ ຊື່ວ່າ ວັດ Sri Mahamariammam ໃນ JalanTun HS Lee ຕໍ່ໄປມຸ່ງໜ້າສູ່ ພພ ິ ທ ິ ະພັນດ້ານວັດທະ ນະທຳ� Islamic ໃນ ເຂດJalanLembahPerdana ຊື່ງເປັນໜຶ່ງໃນບັນດາສິລະປະຕົບແຕ່ງ ແບບອິດສະລາມທີ່ດທ ີ ີ່ສດ ຸ ໃນໂລກ. Getting there: Air Asia flies direct from Vientiane to Kuala Lumpur

four-times weekly.

ໄປທີ່ນັ້ນດ້ວຍວທ ິ ໃີ ດ: ສາຍການບິນແອ ເອເຊຍ Air Asia ໂດຍກົງຈາກ ວຽງຈັນ ສູ່ ນະຄອນກຸລາລຳ�ເປີ 4 ທ້ຽວຕໍ່ອາທິດ.

| A food stall in Chinatown |

Day Trippin’ ຖ້າທ່ານຢາກໜີຈາກເມືອງ ເພື່ອພັກຜ່ອນໃນໄລຍະສັ້ນ ເປັນຫຍັງທ່ານບໍ່ລອງການທ່ອງ ທ່ຽວເຫຼົ່ານີ້? ເມລາກາ Melaka ຊົມສະຖາປັດຕະຍາກຳ� Dutch ໃນເມືອງມໍລະດົກໂລກຂອງອົງການ UNESCO Melaka ແມ່ນສະຖານທີ່ພັກຜ່ອນທີ່ອອກຈາກນະຄອນກຸລາລຳ�ເປີ ຊື່ງເປັນທີ່ຮູ້ຈັກກັນດີ ໃນດ້ ານອາຫານສູນກາງລ່າເມືອງຂື້ນເກົ່າຂອງເອີຣົບ ແລະການພັກຜ່ອນຕາມແຄມແມ່ນ້ຳ� ເດີນທາງດ້ວຍລົດເມ ພຽງແຕ່ຊົວໂມງເຄິ່ງ ຈາກສະຖານີລົດເມ Puduraya ແລະຈ່າຍ ພຽງແຕ່ 12.50 RM ຕໍ່ຖ້ຽວ. ເ ນີນພູ ເຟເຊີ Fraser’s Hill ພຽງແຕ່ 100 ກິ ໂ ລແມັ ດ ຈາກນະຄອນກຸ ລ າລຳ�ເປີ ແລະ ກວ່າ 1,500 ແມັ ດ ສູງຈາກລະດັບນ້ຳ�ທະເລ ການເດີນປ່າທີ່ໜ້າຕື່ນເຕັ້ນ ເທິງເນີນພູ Fraser ແມ່ນເໝາະ ສົມສຳ�ລັບການພັກຜ່ອນ ພ້ອມດ້ວຍການຊົມສັດປ່າ ແລະນ້ຳ�ຕົກທີ່ສວຍງາມອະລັງການ ພຽງແຕ່ ນັ່ງລົດເມ ຊົ່ວໂມງເຄິ່ງ ຈາກ ສະຖານີລົດເມ Puduraya ໄປຫາ ສະຖານີ Kuala KubuBharu.ຈາກນັ້ນ ນັ່ງລົດແທກຊີ ໄປຫາເນີນພູດັ່ງກ່າວ ພຽງແຕ່ 70 RM.

SABAIDEE COVER

words Hannah McDonald-Moniz

From Culture to Couture:

T he R ise of

Lao Fashion Although Lao textiles and handicrafts are common souvenirs, the country has not been known for its modern fashions – until now. Since March’s inaugural Lao Fashion Week, the country has been abuzz with praise for a slew of rising Lao and international designers merging traditional motifs and fabrics with contemporary flair. Sabaidee Magazine examines how homegrown couture is emerging as an inspiring and exciting industry.

ຈາກວັດທະນະທຳ� ສູ່ການອອກແບບເສື້ອຜ້າ

ການປະກົດຕົວຂຶ້ນຂອງແຟເຊິນລາວ

ເຖິງແມ່ນວ່າ ແຜ່ນແພແລະເຄື່ອງຫັດຖະກຳ�ລາວແມ່ນຖືເປັນຂອງທີ່ລະນຶກ ປະເທດລາວຍັງ ບໍ່ທັນເປັນທີ່ຮູ້ຈັກກັນດີໃນເລື່ອງແຟເຊິນທີ່ທັນສະໄໝ ຈົນເຖິງດຽວນີ້ ວາລະສານສະບາຍດີ ໄດ້ລົງສຳ�ຫຼວດເບິ່ງວ່າ ນັກອອກແບບລາວ ແລະນັກອອກແບບຕ່າງປະເທດໄດ້ປະສົມປະສານເຕັກນິກ ພື້ນບ້ານ ພ້ອມທັງໄຫວພິບປະຕິພານແນວໃດ ເພື່ອຂັບເຄື່ອນອຸດສະຫະກຳ�ທີ່ີໜ້າຕື່ນເຕັ້ນເຊັ່ນນັ້ນ.

Phaeng Mai Gallery studio. Photo courtesy Phaeng Mai Gallery.

Loom To Catwalk Laos is a country rich in traditional textiles, with looms still common household items in the countryside, no shortage of beautiful natural dyes, and fascinating designs everywhere from intricate carvings adorning the tops of temples to exquisitely detailed sinh hems. With these roots to draw upon, it’s no wonder that although the fashion scene in Laos is still relatively small, it shows incredible promise. On March 5-7 Vientiane saw its inaugural annual Lao Fashion Week, a showcase of Lao and international designers Tamong Visouthivong, Nithaya Somsanith, Aluonphone Naarden, Viengkham Nanthavongdouangsy, Corry Foppes and Sudiana von Rimscha. The couture on the catwalk ranged from sharp men’s suits to sophisticated evening gowns and chic cocktail frocks. While the collections represented the unique flair of each designer, they all shared a common thread – the juxtaposition of tradition with modern trends. The current group of Lao designers is small, but growing, and tightly knit by their ideals. The Lao and international designers working in the country today share the common inspiration of propelling Lao handicrafts beyond the souvenir stall, and onto an international design stage. All of these artists have a heightened respect for traditional patterns but a desire to spin them into something completely new. Today’s fashion leaders also feel a responsibility to foster a new generation of local talent to ensure that the fashion industry in Laos continues to develop. Many local designers consider it their duty to encourage other young creatives by training weavers, working in conjunction with village groups, and creating funds to seek out and foster new talent. With increasing local purchasing power and rising tourism, local designers have an ever-growing market for their goods. Stitch by stitch, these innovators have the potential to influence both the handicraft and tourism industries with their creativity, as they lead Lao style into the regional and international spotlight.

ຈາກຫູກສູ່ເວທີເດີນແ ບບ ລາວເປັ ນ ປະເທດທີ່ອຸ ດົມ ສົມ ບູ ນ ດ້ວ ຍຜື ນ ຜ້າ ໄໝພື້ນ ບ້າ ນ ຫູ ກ ຍັງ ເປັ ນ ເຄື່ອ ງໃຊ້ປະຈຳ� ບ້າ ນໃນແຖບຊົນ ນະບົດ ສີ ທຳ�ມະຊາດທີ່ສ ວຍງາມ ແລະການອອກແບບທີ່ໜ້າ ຫຼົງ ໄຫຼ ຢູ່ທຸ ກ ດ້າ ນ ຈ າ ກ ຈຸ ດ ສູ ງ ສຸ ດ ຂ ອ ງ ວັດ ວ າ ຫ າ ສ ະ ຖ າ ນ ທີ່ສັກ ສິ ດ ຈົນ ເ ຖິ ງ ຕີ ນ ສີ້ ນ ຈາກພື້ນຖານເຫຼົ່ານີ້, ບໍ່ແປກໃຈເລີຍວ່າ ແຟເຊິນຂອງລາວແມ່ນຍັງຄົງມີຂະໜາດນ້ອຍ ແຕ່ ກໍ່ສະແດງໃຫ້ເຫັນສິ່ງທີ່ໜ້າເຫຼືອເຊື່ອຫຼາຍຢ່າງ. ວັນທີ 5-7 ມີນາ ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນໄດ້ຈັດ ງານອາທິດແຟເຊິນລາວ ປະຈຳ�ປີ Lao Fashion Week ເຊິ່ງໄດ້ສະແດງຜົນງານຂອງນັກອອກແບບທັງລາວ ແລະຕ່າງປະເທດ ເຊັ່ນ ທ່ານນາງຕາມ່ອງ ວິສດ ຸ ທິວົງ ທ່ານນິດຕະຍາ ສົມສະນິດ ທ່ານນາງອາລຸນພອນ ນາອາເດັນ ທ່ານນາງວຽງຄໍາ ນັນທະວົງດວງສີ ທ່ານໂຄລີ ຟອມເປັສ ແລະ ທ່ານສຸເດຍນາ ວົນລິມຊາ ໃນການເດີນແບບແມ່ນເສື້ອຜ້າຫຼາກຫຼາຍນັບຈາກຫ້ອງຊຸດແບບຜູ້ຊາຍ ຈົນເຖິງຊຸດລາຕີ ແລະ ການອອກແບບແມ່ນສະແດງເຖິງ ເອກະລັກສະເພາະຂອງນັກອອກແບບແຕ່ລະຄົນ ພວກເຂົາໄດ້ມາຮ່ວມຕົວກັນ ເພື່ອເຊື່ອມຕໍ່ວັດທະນາທຳ�ສ້າງນະວັດຕະກຳ�ໃໝ່ທີ່ທັນສະໄໝ. ປະຈຸບັນ ນັກອອກແບບຢູ່ໃນລາວແມ່ນໄດ້ຮ່ວມຕົວກັນເພື່ອຈຸດປະສົງຍູ້ດັນຫັດຖະກຳ�ລາວ ໃຫ້ເປັນຫຼ າຍກ່ວາ ເຄື່ອງທີ່ລະນຶກທີ່ວ າງຂາຍຕາມຮ້ານ ແລະ ສ້າງສັນໃຫ້ຂຶ້ນສູ່ລະດັບສະກົນ ນັກ ສິ ນ ລະປິ ນ ເຫຼົ່າ ນີ້ ແມ່ນ ມີ ຄ ວາມເຄົ າ ລົບ ສູ ງ ໃນລັກ ສະນະພື້ນ ບ້າ ນ ແຕ່ມີ ຄ ວາມ ປາດຖະໜາທີ່ຈະດັດປັບໃ ຫ້ເ ປັນນະວັດຕະກຳ�ໃໝ່. ຜູ້ນຳ�ດ້າ ນແຟເຊິ ນ ທຸ ກ ມື້ນີ້ ຮູ້ສຶ ກ ມີ ຄ ວາມຮັບ ຜິ ດ ຊອບໃນການຍູ້ດັນ ໄວໜຸ່ມ ຍຸ ກ ໃໝ່ ເພື່ອ ຮັບ ປະກັນ ອຸ ດ ສະກຳ�ຂອງລາວ ໃຫ້ສື ບ ຕໍ່ພັດ ທະນາ ນັກ ອອກແບບຫຼາຍທ່າ ນໄດ້ ໃຫ້ການອົບຮົບ ນັກຕໍ່າແຜນ ແລະຜູ້ຜະລິດ ຮ່ວມມືກັບກຸ່ມບ້ານ ແລະສ້າງກອງທຶນ ເພື່ອ ຄົ້ນຫາ ແ ລະ ສົ່ງເ ສີມ ພອນສະຫວັນໃໝ່ໆ.

Phaeng Mai Gallery studio. Photo courtesy Phaeng Mai Gallery.

ເ ນື່ອ ງ ຈ າ ກ ຄ ວ າ ມ ສ າ ມ າ ດ ໃ ນ ກ າ ນ ຊື້ຂ ອ ງ ຄົນ ພ າ ຍ ໃ ນ ປ ະ ເ ທ ດ ເ ພີ່ມ ຂຶ້ນ ແ ລ ະ ກ າ ນ ທ່ອ ງ ທ່ຽ ວ ກໍ່ເ ພີ່ມ ຂຶ້ນ ນັກ ອ ອ ກ ແ ບ ບ ພ າ ຍ ໃ ນ ມີ ຕ ະ ຫຼ າ ດ ທີ່ເ ຕີ ບ ໂ ຕ ສຳ�ລັບສິນຄ້າຂອງພວກເຂົາ ໃນແຕ່ລະໄລຍະ ຜູ້ສ້າງສັນສິ່ງໃໝ່ໆເຫຼົ່ານີ້ ສາມາດສົ່ງຜົນ ເຖິງທັງອຸດສະຫະກຳ�ເຄື່ອງຫັດຖະກຳ�ແລະທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ໂດຍໃຊ້ແນວຄວາມຄິດທີ່ສ້າງສັນ ຄື ທີ່ພວກເຂົາໄດ້ນຳ�ເອົາຮູບແບບລັກສະນະລາວໄປສູ່ເວທີພາກພື້ນ ແລະສາກົນ.

SABAIDEE COVER

words Hannah McDonald-Moniz

Who To Wear And Watch

Ministry of Silk at Lao Fashion Week. Photo Mike Phetchareun.

Sabaidee Magazine chats to a host of local designers, and international talent that have made Laos their home, about their creations and the bright future of the Lao fashion industry.

Pany Saignavongs of Ministry of Silk Pany has been working in marketing, PR, media and fashion in Vientiane for many years, and is the driving force behind Lao Fashion Week. She seeks to start trends, and to use the fashion business to make Laos better known on a global stage. Pleased with the success of this year’s small-scale event, she seeks to make 2015’s Fashion Week bigger and better, with international names joining local designers on the catwalk. In addition to running Lao Fashion Week, Pany is the founder of Ministry of Silk boutique (www.ministryofsilk.com) which sells locally-made and imported fashion-forward pieces unified in their simple, chic, and distinctive appeal. With an impressive debut at Lao Fashion Week, Pany is hoping Ministry of Silk will begin to expand regionally in the future. Pany’s goals are not just to expand her own business but also to enlarge the local fashion scene overall. “Laos is known as a supplier of textiles but not for design,” she says, while emphasising the potential to build a globally-recognised Lao label, like Jim Thompson of Thailand, or Artisans d’Angkor from Cambodia. With this in mind, she is seeking to encourage young people to pursue a career in the fashion industry, with plans to create a foundation to generate funds to support talented newcomers to study, beginning with a design contest in the coming year.

ຜູທ ້ ີ່ນຸ່ງ ແ ລະ ຊົມ

ວາລະສານສະບາຍດີ ໄດ້ມີໂອກາດໂອ້ລົມກັບນັກອອກແບບພາຍໃນປະເທດແລະ ນັກອອກແບບສາກົນທີ່ມີພອນສະຫວັນ ທີ່ອາໃສຢູ່ໃນປະເທດລາວກ່ຽວກັບການປະດິດ ສ້າງຂອງພວກເຂົາ ແລະອະນາຄົດອັນສົດໃສຂອງອຸດສະຫະກຳ�ແຟເຊິນໃນລາວ.

ທ່ານນາງ ປານີ ໄຊນາວົງ ຈາກ Ministry of Silk ທ່າ ນນາງ ປານີ ແມ່ນ ໜຶ່ງ ຜູ້ ຢູ່ເ ບື້ອ ງຫຼັງ ງານອາທິ ດ ແຟເຊິ ນ ລາວ ດ້ວ ຍຄວາມພໍ ໃ ຈກັບ ຄວາມ ສຳ�ເລັ ດ ຂອງງານໃນປີ ນີ້ ທ່າ ນ ມີ ແຜນສຶ ບ ຕໍ່ ງານອາທິ ດ ແຟເຊິ ນ ລາວປີ 2015 ໃຫ້ໃ ຫຍ່ກ ວ່າ ນີ້ ແລະດີກວ່ານີ້ ໃນຮູບແບບນັກອອກແບບທີ່ມີຊື່ສຽງຂອງສາກົນ ຮ່ວມກັບນັກອອກແບບພາຍໃນປະເທດ ເທິງເວທີການເດີນແ ບບ. ທ່າ ນຍັງ ເປັ ນ ຜູ້ສ້າ ງຕັ້ງ ຮ້າ ນ Ministry of Silk ຈຳ�ໜ່າ ຍຝ້າ ຍ ທີ່ຂ າຍເຄື່ອ ງຝີ ມື ທັງ ພາຍໃນ ແລະ ນຳ�ເຂົ້າ ວັດ ທະນາທຳ�ແຟເຊິ ນ ທີ ນຳ�ໜ້າ ຈາກຕ່າ ງປະເທດທີ່ໂ ດດເດັ່ນ ໂດຍການສ້າ ງຄວາມປະທັບ ໃຈ ໃນງານອາທິດແຟເຊິນລາວ ທ່ານຫວັງວ່າ Ministry of Silk ຈະຂະຫຍາຍອອກສູ່ພາກພື້ນ ໃນອະນາຄົດ. ເປົ້າ ໝາຍຂອງ ທ່າ ນນາງ ປານີ ແມ່ນ ເພື່ອ ຂະຫຍາຍ ແລະ ສົ່ງ ເສີ ມ ແຟເຊິ ນ ຂອງລາວ ເນັ້ນ ໃສ່ ຄວາມສາມາດໃນການສ້າງຊື່ ທີ່ເປັນຍີ່ຫໍ້ລາວ ໃຫ້ເປັນທີ່ຈົດຈຳ�ໃນລະດັບສາກົນ ຄືກັບ ທ່ານ Jim Thompson ຈາກປະເທດໄທ ທ່ານຍັງໄດ້ສົ່ງເສີມໄວໜຸ່ມ ໃຫ້ສືບຕໍ່ອາຊີບດ້ານແຟເຊິນ ໂດຍມີແຜນຈະສ້າງມູນລະນິທິ ເພື່ອສົ່ງເສີມໄວໜູ່ມທີ່ມ ີພອນສະຫວັນໃຫ້ໄດ້ສຶກສາຮຽນຮູ.້ Pany Saignavongs. Photo Hannah McDonald-Moniz.

Heather Smith of Passa Paa Passa Paa, ‘The Language of Cloth’ (www.passa-paa.com), is the vision of Heather Smith, an English textile designer and graduate of the prestigious Chelsea College of Arts. Heather had been travelling to Laos since 1999 before permanently relocating to Luang Prabang in 2011 after falling in love with the country and its rich textile traditions of dyes and motifs. Along with her sister Joanna and Lao weaver Veo (both co-founders of Luang Prabang’s Ock Pop Tok weaving centre), Heather started Passa Paa by funnelling the wealth of inspiration she had from her new surrounds and traditional Lao handstitch and pattern-making methods into bold textiles, scarves, bags and other accessories. “The challenge was to take these motifs and techniques and find unique ways to incorporate them into an aesthetic that pays homage to the traditional patterns yet can sit perfectly in today’s world,” she explains. One of Heather’s main inspirations is to draw on the patterns of Lao ethnic groups and traditional techniques, such as appliqué stitching and indigo dye. She works to recreate the depth, colors and textures of the landscape, using the historic surroundings of Luang Prabang as her muse. The Passa Paa shop and studio are open to the public, making the creation of these unique pieces an integral part of their story. Heather works closely with the Lao makers at her studio and a group of Hmong women in surrounding villages to create authentic, modern designs. In the future, Heather seeks to grow her team and share Passa Paa’s vision and story with a wider audience. “I’d like us to bring in skills and techniques from other ethnic groups to help preserve their crafts as well as move Lao textiles into the future,” she says.

Passa Paa ແມ່ນວິໃສທັດຂອງ ທ່ານນາງ Heather Smith ນັກອອກແບບຜ້າໄໝຄົນອັງກິດ ທີ່ໄດ້ເດີນທາງມາຢູ່ລາວ ແຕ່ປີ 1999 ກ່ອນຈະຍ້າຍຖິ່ນຖານໄປຢູ່ຫຼວງພະບາງຖາວອນໃນປີ 2011. ໂດຍເດີນຕາມເອື້ອຍຂອງທ່ານ ຊື່ Joanna ແລະນັກຕ່ຳ�ແຜນ ຊື່ທ່ານແວວ ທ່ານນາງ Heather Smithໄດ້ເລີ່ມສ້າງ Passa Paa ໂດຍໄດ້ແຮງບັນດານໃຈ ຈາກສິ່ງໃໝ່ອ້ອມຂ້າງແລະຮູບແບບຜ້າໄໝລາວພື້ນບ້ານ ສ້າງສັນ ໃນຜ້າພັນຄໍ ແລະຖົງທີ່ເປັ ບຮ ູບແບບດັ່ງເດີມ ເຊິ່ງສາມາດເຂົ້າກັນໄດ້ຢ່າງສົມບູນແ ບບໃນໂລກປະຈຸບັນທີ່ທ ັນສ ະໃໝ. ທ່ານໄດ້ເຮັດວຽກຢ່າງໄກ້ຊ ດ ິ ກັບນັກຜະລິດຜ້າໄໝລາວ ຢູ່ທີ່ຫ້ອງສະຕູດໂ ີ ອຂອງລາວ ແລະກຸ່ມຊົນເຜົ່າມົ້ງແມ່ຍງິ ໃນໝູ່ບ້ານ ອ້ອມແອ້ມເພື່ອສ້າງສັນການອອກແບບ ໃນອະນາຄົດ ທ່ານຈະຂະຫຍາຍທີມງານໃຫ້ໃຫຍ່ຂຶ້ນ ແລະເຜີຍແຜ່ວິໃສທັດ ແລະເລື່ອງລາວຂອງທ່ານກັບຜູ້ຊົມຕ ່າງໆ.

One of Passa Paa's printers, Ai. Photo courtesy Passa Paa.

Designs by Passa Paa. Photo courtesy Passa Paa.

SABAIDEE COVER

words Hannah McDonald-Moniz

Nithaya Somsanith. Photo Hannah McDonald-Moniz.

Nithaya Somsanith of Nithaya Somsanith Couture

ທ່ານນິດຕະຍາ ສົມສະນິດ ຈາກຮ້ານອອກແບບ ເສື້ອຜ້າ ນິດຕະຍາ ສົມສະນິດ

Raised and educated in the world’s fashion capital, Paris, Nithaya Somsanith has emerged as a game-changer on the Lao fashion scene. After graduating from fashion school, Nithaya resisted runway trends and began showcasing his designs as art rather than fashion – creating his own style on his own terms. He came to Laos in 2005, and now splits his time between Paris and his Vientiane showroom where he creates custom pieces and fashion lines.

ທ່ານນິດຕະຍາ ສົມສະນິດ ເຕີບໂຕ ແລະສຶກສາໃນເມືອງແຫ່ງແຟເຊິນຂອງໂລກ, ເມືອງປາລີດສ ທ່ານໄດ້ຢນ ື ຢັດໃນອຸ ດສະຫະກຳ�ແຟເຊິນແລະສະແດງຜົນງານການ ອອກແບບຂອງທ່ານໃນລັກສະນະສິນລະປະ ຫຼາຍກວ່າ ແບບແຟເຊິນ,ໂດຍການສ້າ ງແຟເຊິນໃນແບບຂອງຕົວເອງ ທ່ານກັບມາປະເທດລາວໃນປີ 2005 ແລະ ປະຈຸບັນ ແມ່ນເດີນທາງໄປມາລະຫ່ວາງ ນະຄອນປາຣີ ແລະ ຫ້ອງວາງສະແດງຂອງທ່ານທີ່ວຽງ ຈັນ ເຊິ່ງເປັນສະຖານທີ່ທີ່ທ່ານໄດ້ສ້າງສັນຜົນງານ ແລະ ຫຼາກຫຼາຍແຟເຊິນຕ ່າງໆ.

He believes Lao fashion must be born in Laos but should draw also on European style. “Lao fashion is a new way to communicate and promote local silk and textiles,” he says. “We can be respectful but still modernise traditional styles.” He seeks for his pieces to embody a meeting of cultures, often using Western styles and incorporating Lao motifs through fabrics, painting or shapes. His designs are edgy and bold, and it is for this daring that he is celebrated.

ທ່າ ນເຊື່່ອ ວ່າ ແຟເຊິ ນ ລາວຈະຕ້ອ ງເກີ ດ ຂຶ້ນ ໃນປະເທດລາວແຕ່ຄ ວນສະສົມ ປະສານຕາມແບບຊາວເອີ ຣົບ ແຟເຊິ ນ ລາວແມ່ນ ວິ ທີ ທ າງໃໝ່ໃ ນການສື່ສ ານ ແລະສົ່ງ ເສີ ມ ແຜ່ນ ແພ ແລະ ຜ້າ ໄໝທ້ອ ງຖິ່ນ ຂອງລາວ ພວກເຮົ າ ຍັງ ຄົງ ເຄົ າ ລົບ ຕໍ່ວັດ ທະນະທຳ�ແຕ່ຍັງ ຄົງ ເປັ ນ ແຟເຊິ ນ ພື້ນ ບ້າ ນແບບທັນ ສະໄໝ ທ່າ ນຍັງ ສະແຫວງຫາການຮ່ວມມື ເພື່ອຈະຈັດປະຊຸມດ້ານວັດທະນາທຳ�ໂດຍນຳ�ໃຊ້ແຟເຊິນ ຮູບແບບຕາເວັນຕົກ ແລະປະສົມປະສານເອກະລັກສະເພາະຂອງຄວາມເປັນລາວ ໂດຍຜ່ານຮູບຮ່າງ ແລະເນື້ອຜ້າ ການອອກແບບຂອງນາງແມ່ນມີເອກະລັກສະເພາະ ໂດດເດັ່ນ ແລະນີ້ແມ່ນຄວາມກ້າຫານ ທີ່ຄວນຈະໄດ້ຮັບການຍ້ອງຍໍ

As Nithaya becomes more well-known in Laos, his talents have become desired in diverse sectors, from designing costumes for Lao singer Alexandra’s music videos, to custom red carpet wear for the Lao Music Awards, and a line for an upcoming Samsung launch. His non-stop creative energy ensures that Nithaya Somsanith Couture will continue to be a dynamic force in the world of Lao fashion. 40

Nithaya Somsanith Couture at Lao Fashion Week. Photo Mike Phetchareun.

Viengkham Nanthavongdouangsy. Photo courtesy Phaeng Mai Gallery.

Viengkham Nanthavongdouangsy of Phaeng Mai Gallery With roots in Sam Neua, home to some of the nation’s most beautiful textiles, it’s no wonder Viengkham has been a skilled weaver from a young age. She and her sisters grew up using a loom, and weaving remains one of her favorite activities. “It’s like meditation,” she says, “I forget everything when I do it.”

Phaeng Mai Gallery at Lao Fashion Week. Photo Mike Phetchareun.

Phaeng Mai Gallery studio. Photo courtesy Phaeng Mai Gallery.

Viengkham and her sister began a textile business in 1993, and in 2002, started their fashion line. These days she produces clothes, bags, and fabrics, and textiles for export. After studying abroad, she fell in love with Western design, and knew she wanted to combine these two worlds. She felt Lao fabrics were too attractive to be limited to only one use and Phaeng Mai’s fabrics have even found their way onto Japanese kimonos and obis – with the label garnering a following in Japan. In addition to running her boutique, Phaeng Mai Gallery (117 Nongbouathong Tai Village, Sikhottabong District, 021 217341), Viengkham designs new styles whenever inspiration strikes. Her idol is Giorgio Armani, and she seeks to emulate a simple, clean and elegant style. For her Lao Fashion Week line, she focused on a modern and sheer look, playing with the concept of transparency. Through her work, Viengkham is passionate about retaining cultural knowledge. She has been involved teaching weaving techniques and also mentors over 100 young weavers at her studio. With her daughter currently studying design in Singapore, it’s certain we can expect to see more on the runway from Viengkham and her family in the future.

ທ່ານນາງວຽງຄຳ� ນັນທະວົງດວງສີ ຈາກ ຫ້ອງວາງສະແດງແພງໄໝ Phaeng Mai Gallery ໂດຍມີພື້ນຖານມາຈາກຊຳ�ເໜືອ ເປັນບ້ານຂອງແຜ່ນຜ້າໄໝທີ່ສວຍງາມທີ່ສຸດ ຂອງຊາດ ບໍ່ແປກໃຈເລີຍວ່າ ທ່ານນາງວຽງຄຳ� ເປັນນັກຕ່ຳ�ແຜນທີ່ມີທັກສະທີ່ມີ ອາຍຸຍັງນ້ອຍ ຫຼັງຈາກສຶກສາຈາກຕ່າງປະເທດ ທ່ານຮູ້ສກ ຶ ມັກຮັກການອອກແບບ ແ ບ ບ ຕ າ ເ ວັ ນ ຕົກ ແ ລ ະ ຮູ້ວ່າ ທ່າ ນ ຕ້ອ ງ ກ າ ນ ປ ະ ສົມ ປ ະ ສ າ ນ 2 ວັດທະນາທຳ�ນີ້ເຂົ້າກັນ. ທ່າ ນຮູ້ສຶ ກ ວ່າ ຜ້າ ລາວຍັງ ຖື ກ ໃຊ້ພ ຽງແຕ່ຈຸ ດ ປະສົງ ດຽວແລະຜ້າ ຂອງຫ້ອ ງ ວາງສະແດງແພງໄໝ ໄດ້ສ ະແຫວງຫາວິ ທີ ທ າງທີ່ຈ ະປະສົມ ປະສານຜ້າ ໄໝ ເຂົ້າໃນຊຸດກິໂມໂນ kimonos ແລະ obis ຂອງຍີ່ປຸ່ນ ພ້ອມທັງຕິດປ້າຍສັນຍະລັກ ຄືໃນປະເທດຍີ່ປຸ່ນ ໃນສັບປະດາແຟເຊິນລາວທີ່ຜ່ານມາ ທ່ານໄດ້ເນັ້ນໃສ່ແຟຊັນ ເບິ່ງແລ້ວທັນສະໄໝ ມີລະດັບມີລກ ູ ຫຼີ້ນດ້ວຍຜ້າລກ ູ ໄມ້ທີ່ບາງ. ກ່ຽ ວກັບ ວຽກງານ ທ່າ ນນາງ ວຽງຄຳ� ມີ ຄ ວາມຫຼົງ ໄຫຼໃນການຮັກ ສາຄວາມ ຮູ້ດ້າ ນວັດ ທະນະທຳ� ທ່າ ນມີ ສ່ວ ນຮ່ວ ມໃນການສິ ດ ສອນເຕັ ກ ນິ ກ ການຕໍ່າ ແຜ່ນ ແລະເປັນຜູ້ ໃຫ້ຄຳ�ປືກສາແກ່ບັນດານັກຕໍ່າແຜ່ນໄວໜຸ່ມຫຼາຍກວ່າ 100 ຄົນໃນຫ້ອງວາງສະແດງຂອງທ່ານ. 41

SABAIDEE COVER

words Hannah McDonald-Moniz Elégant at Lao Fashion Week. Photo Mike Phetchareun.

Tamong Visouthivong of Elégant Tamong, the custom tailor and designer behind Elégant boutique (www.facebook. com/Elegant.Laos), began her fashion career in Thailand, where she graduated from Uangdoi Design and Dressmaking School in Chiang Mai. Tamong draws her inspiration from the human form, studying body shapes and skin tones to create garments that best complement the wearer like a piece of art. Although she produces off-the-rack lines for her shop, she remains passionate about the art of tailoring. Her appreciation for shape and aesthetic overflows into interior design and she also creates silks, lamps, curtains and pillows. Elégant has also recently expanded into silver jewelry, now occupying two shop spaces in the Namphou area. Tamong adapts traditional touches to contemporary style, always more interested in creating new designs rather than following trends. Her dream for the future is to establish a gallery of textiles from around the world for customers to sample before choosing one for their custom creation. Following positive recognition from her showcase at Lao Fashion Week, she is eager to prepare for next year’s event and to join shows abroad. With this momentum, there are surely exciting creations around the corner. Elégant boutique. Photo Hannah McDonald-Moniz.

Tamong Visouthivong. Photo Hannah McDonald-Moniz.

ທ່ານນາງ ຕາມ່ອງ ວິສຸດທິວົງ ຈາກຮ້ານເສື້ອ Elégant ທ່າ ນນາງ ຕາມ່ອ ງ ຊ່າ ງຕັດ ເສື້ອ ແລະນັກ ອອກແບບ ທີ່ຢູ່ເບື້ອ ງ ຫຼັງ ຂອງ ຮ້າ ນເສື້ອ ຜ້າ Elégant ໄດ້ເ ລີ່ມ ອາຊີ ບ ແຟເຊິ ນ ຂອງທ່າ ນໃນປະເທດໄທ ທຳ�ອິດໄດ້ສຶກສາຈາກໂຮງຮຽນອອກແບບ ແລະ ສອນຕັດເ ສື້ອ Uangdoi ໃນເມືອງຊຽງໄໝ່. ທ່າ ນນາງ ຕາມ່ອ ງມີ ແ ຮງບັນ ດານໃຈຈາກຮູ ບ ຮ່າ ງຂອງຄົນ ເຮົ າ ໄດ້ສຶ ກ ສາຮູ ບ ຮ່າ ງຂອງຄົນ ແລະໂທນສີ ຜິ ວ ເພື່ອ ຕັດ ເສື້ອ ຜ້າ ໃ ຫ້ເ ຂົ້າ ກັບ ຮູ ບ ຮ່າ ງ ຜູ້ສ ວ ມ ໃ ສ່ໃ ຫ້ດີ ທີ່ສຸ ດ ແ ນ ວ ຄ ວ າ ມ ຄິ ດ ສ້າ ງສັນ ນີ້ ໄດ້ຂະຫຍາຍໄປສູ່ການອອກແບບເຄື່ອ ງຕົບ ແຕ່ງ ພາຍໃນ ແລະ ທ່າ ນຍັງ ປະດິ ດ ເຄື່ອ ງໃຊ້ພ າຍໃນເຮື ອ ນ ອີ ກ ຫ້ອ ງເສື້ອ Elégant ຫາກໍ່ຂ ະຫຍາຍເປັ ນ ຮ້າ ນເຄື່ອ ງປະດັບ ແລະດຽວນີ້ກາຍມາເປັນຫ້ອງຂາຍເຄື່ອງ 2 ຫ້ອງ ເ ຂດບໍລິເວນນ້ຳ�ພຸ.

ຈາກການສ້າງຄວາມປະທັບໃຈ ໃນງານອາທິດແຟເຊິນລາວ ທ່ານ ມີຄວາມກະຕືລືລົ້ນໃນການກະກຽມງານປີໜ້າ ແລະເຂົ້າຮ່ວມການວ າງສະແດງໃນຕ່າງປະເທດ ໃນການຂັບເຄື່ອນນີ້ ແນ່ນອນຈະມີການ ສ້າ ງສິ່ງ ໃໝ່ທີ່ໜ້າ ຕື່ນ ເຕັ້ນ ໃນວົງ ການແຟເຊິ ນ ຂອງພວກເຮົ າ ໃນ ອະນາຄົດຂ້າງໜ້ານີ້.

T he

Go o d Gu i de

Sabaidee’s Guide to the best eats, drinks, stays, retail, luxuries and experiences in the nation’s urban centres.

This month we relax and refresh at some of Luang Prabang’s top wellness offerings, grill up a feast at Bamboo House, and kick back with a coffee at Café Nomad – along with scouring the country to bring you the best of the best in our EAT, DRINK, SLEEP, RELAX, SHOP and SEE & DO listings. ການແນະນຳ ຂອງວາລະສານສະບາຍດີ ສູ່ສະຖານທີ່ກິນດື່ມ ພັກເ ຊົາຈັບ ຈ່າຍຊື້ເຄື່ອງ ສະຖານທີ່ຫຼູຫຼາ ແລະປະສົບປະການທີ່ດີທີ່ສຸດໃນສູນໃຈກາງ ຕົວເມືອງ.

| Kiridara spa, Luang Prabang. |

ເດືອນນີ້ ພວກເຮົາມາພັກຜ່ອນແລະ ເພີດເພີນກັບສິ່ງທີ່ດີທີ່ສຸດ ຂອງເມືອງຫຼວງພະບາງ ມ່ວນຊື່ນກັບຮ້ານອາຫານຕົ້ນໄຜ່ Bamboo House ແລະຊີມກາເຟທີ່ ຮ້ານກາເຟໂນມາດ Café Nomad ໄປພ້ອມ ກັບກ ານທ່ອງທ່ຽວພາຍໃນປະເທດ ເ ພື່ອຄ ົ້ນຫ າສິ່ງທີ່ດີທີ່ສຸດໃນການກິນ ດື່ມ ພ ັກເ ຊົາ ຜ່ອນຄາຍ ຈ ັບຈ ່າຍຊື້ເຄື່ອງ ທ ັງລ າຍການ ເ ບິ່ງ ແ ລະ ເ ຮັດ

SABAIDEE'S GUIDE TO

| Luang Prabang Yoga. |

words Michelle Luehman

| Luang Prabang Pilates. |

Relax and Refresh:

Pamp er , St retc h o r W o rko ut

in Luang Prabang Laos’ city of indulgence is extending its array of services to all who enter. Looking to unwind after a day of sightseeing, or perhaps you indulged in one too many riverside cocktails? Whether you want to relax or refresh, Sabaidee Magazine has gathered just a few of the best wellness experiences in Luang Prabang. ພັກຜ່ອນ ສົດຊື່ນ ເພີນເພີນກັບອາຫານ ກິດຈະກຳຜ່ອນຄາຍ ແລະອອກກຳລັງກາຍໃນ ເມືອງຫຼວງພະບາງ

ຈຸດປະສົງເປົ້າໝາຍຂອງເມືອງແມ່ນຂະຫຍາຍການບໍລິການທັງ

ໝົດໃຫ້ທຸກຄົນທີ່ເຂົ້າມາ ບໍ່ວ່າ ທ່ານຈະຕ້ອງການພັກຜ່ອນ ຫຼື

ເພີດເພີນວາລະສານສະບາຍດີ ໄດ້ຮວບຮວມເອົາປະສົບປະການ | Luang Prabang Yoga. |

Bend and Stretch If you’re looking to limber up, wake early and watch the sun rise over the Nam Khan River at a Luang Prabang Yoga class (www.luangprabangyoga. org). Early morning classes are held at Utopia, and sunset sessions are at Ock Pop Tok’s Living Crafts Centre. For a more intensive session venture to one of their weekend retreats at Mandala Ou Resort in Nong Khiaw. If it is something slightly more vigorous you are after, join a Luang Prabang Pilates class (www.luangprabangpilates.com) held three times weekly in air-conditioned comfort. The classes cater for all levels of fitness and experience and the group also offers private Pilates sessions.

ທີ່ດີທີ່ສຸດໃນເມືອງຫຼວງພະບາງມາໃຫ້ແກ່ທ່ານ.

ຜ່ອນຄາຍ ແລະຍືດເສັ້ນຍືດສາຍ ຖ້ າ ທ່ າ ນຊອກຫາ ຄວາມພ້ ອ ມ ຕື່ ນ ແຕ່ ເ ຊົ້ າ ແລະເບິ່ ງ ຕາເວັ ນ ຂຶ້ ນ ຕາມນໍ້າຄານທີ່ ຫ້ອງໂຍຄະຫລວງພະບາງ(www.luangprabangyoga.

org). ໃນຕອນເຊົ້າ ຫ້ອງຮຽນແມ່ນຈະຈັດຂຶ້ນ ທີ່ Utopia ແລະຕອນ

ຍາມແລງ ແ ມ່ ນ ຈັ ດ ທີ່ Ock Pop Tok’s Living Crafts Centre

ສຳລັບການຮຽນເລັ່ງລັດແ ມ່ນຈ ດ ັ ໃ ນທາ້ ຍອາທິດທ ີ່ Mandala Ou Resort ໃນໜອງຂຽວ ຖ້າເປັນແບບຄຶກຄັກເລັກນ້ອຍ ຕ້ອງມາທີ່ ຫ້ອງຮຽນ Luang

Prabang Pilates (www.luangprabangpilates.com) ຈັດຂຶ້ນ 3 ຄັ້ງຕໍ່ອາທິດ ພ້ອມດ້ວຍຫ້ອງປັບອາກາດທີ່ສະດວກສະບາຍ ຫ້ອງຮຽນແມ່ນ

ສຳລັບທຸກລະດັບຂອງການອອກກຳລັງກາຍ ແລະປະສົບການແລະ ຍັງ ມີການຮຽນແບບສ່ວນຕົວສໍາລັບກ ຸ່ມ.

| Kiridara. |

Rejuvenate

| Spa by Burasari. |

ສູຄ ່ ວາມຊດ ົ ຊນ ື່ ຢູ່ທີ່ Kiridara (www.kiridara.com) ທ່ານຕ້ອງບໍ່ພາດການ ນວດບາຫຼີ ແລະສຳລັ ບ ຜູ້ ທີ່ ຊ ອກຫາການອອກກຳລັ ງ ກາຍ ແບບມີ ຫ້ ອ ງຍື ດ ເສັ້ ນ ຍື ດ ສາຍພິ ເ ສດ ເຊິ່ ງ ຈະຊ່ ວ ຍຜ່ ອ ນຄາຍກ້ າ ມເນື້ ອ ແລະຂໍ້ ຕໍ່ ທີ່ ເ ໜື່ ອ ຍລ້ າ

Travellers of every budget can afford to indulge in the royal city, here is a selection of spas offering a full range of massage and facial treatments all in opulent surroundings. At Kiridara (www.kiridara.com) be sure to try the Balinese Massage, and for those seeking gentle exercise there is a special stretch class which eases tired muscles and joints. Burasari Heritage (www.burasariheritage.com) has newly opened its spa and offers everything from standard treatments to full day indulgence packages. While having your massage try the coconut oil hair treatment and body scrub, this moisturising treatment is applied while you soak in a 37 degree bath leaving your skin and hair beautifully soft. The airconditioned and open-air Santi Resort spa (www.villasantihotel.com) has added Indian Ayuredic and Hawaiian Lomi Lomi to their already impressive list of traditional massages. Lomi Lomi is excellent for easing tired muscles and the masseuse uses the forearm and elbows as well as the hands.

Burasari Heritage (www.burasariheritage.com) ແມ່ ນ ຫາກໍ່

| Santi Resort. |

| Spa by Burasari. |

ເປີ ດ ໂຕສະປາໃໝ່ ຊື່ ງ ໃຫ້ ບໍ ລິ ກ ານທຸ ກ ຢ່ າ ງເ ລີ່ ມ ຈາກການບໍ າ ບັ ດ

ທີ່ ໄ ດ້ ມ າດຕະຖານ ໄ ປເ ຖິ ງ ກ ານບໍ ລິ ກ ານແ ບບຄົ ບ ວົ ງ ຈ ອນເ ຕັ ມ ວັ ນ

ສະປາໃນຫ້ອງແອ ຫຼື ສະຖານທິີ່ອາກາດສົດກາງແຈ້ງ ຂອງ Santi Resort (www.villasantihotel.com) ໄດ້ ເ ພີ່ ມ ການນ ວດແ ບບ Hawaiian

LomiLomi ປະທັບໃຈເຂົ້າໃນ ລາຍການ ນວດແບບແຜນພນ ື້ ບ້ານ ຊື່ງເ ໝາະ ສຳລັບກ ານຜ່ອນຄາຍກ້າມເນື້ອ.

Workout

| Santi Resort. |

Le Sen Boutique Hotel (www.lesenhotel.com) has a well-equipped, air-conditioned gym which is open to the public on a pay-as-you-go or membership basis. On quiet days during low season you can use their pool for a refreshing post-workout dip. For a more weight or cross training oriented workout there is a local gym on Manomai Road which is mostly frequented by men. Runners and cyclists have a circuit with a view along the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, but remember – no one runs or cycles along the pathway during the morning alms.

ການອອກກຳລັງກາຍ ໂຮງແຮມ Le Sen Boutique (www.lesenhotel.com) ມີອຸປະກອນ ອອກກໍາລັງກ າຍຄົບຊຸດ

ພ້ ອ ມເຄື່ ອ ງປັ ບ ອາກາດ ເປີ ດ ໃຫ້ ບໍ ລິ ກ ານແກ່ ທ່ າ ນ ແບບຈ່ າ ຍຄ່ າ ທຳນຽມແ ບບເ ປັ ນ ມື້ ຫຼື ແບບເປັນສະມາຊິກ ມື້ງຽບສະຫງົບໃນລະຫວ່າງລະດູແຂກໜ້ອຍ ທ່ານສາມາດໃຊ້ສະລອຍນ້ຳ

ສຳລັ ບ ສ້ າ ງຄວາມສົ ດ ຊື່ ນ ຫຼັ ງ ຈາກອອກກຳລັ ງ ກາຍ ສຳລັ ບ ການອອກກຳລັ ງ ກາຍທີ່ ໜັ ກ ຂຶ້ ນ

ຫຼື ການອອກກຳລັ ງ ກາຍປະສົ ມ ກັ ບ ການຝຶ ກ ມີ ຫ້ ອ ງອ ອກກໍ າ ລັ ງ ກ າຍທີ່ ຖ ະໜົ ນ ມະໂນໃໝ່

ເຊິ່ ງ ສ່ ວ ນໃຫຍ່ ຈ ະມີ ແ ຕ່ ຜູ້ ຊ າຍ ນັ ກ ແລ່ ນ ແລະນັ ກ ຂີ່ ລົ ດ ຖີ ບ ສາມາດຖີ ບ ລົ ດ ພ້ ອ ມຊົ ມ ວິ ວ ຕາມ ແຄມນໍ້ າ ຂອງ ແລະ ແ ຄມນ້ ຳ ຄານ ແຕ່ ຄ ວນຮູ້ ວ່ າ ບໍ່ ມີ ໃ ຜແລ່ ນ ຫຼື ຖີ ບ ລົ ດ ຕາມທາງດັ່ ງ ກ່ າ ວ

| Le Sen Boutique Hotel's gym and pool. |

ໃນລະຫວ່າງຕອນເຊົ້າໃສ່ບາດ.

EAT

Listing

VIENTIANE | Ai Capone |

• Ray’s Grille – American/Mexican.

It’s all about comfort food at Ray’s – home style burgers, legendary Philly cheese steak sandwiches and tasty quesadillas – all fresh and made to order in this homely joint. A selection of local and imported beers are available including a few micro-brewed American craft beers – just the ticket to wash down the tasty diner fare. 17/1 Sihom Road, 020 5896 6866, facebook. com/raysgrilleLaopdr. Open Monday to Friday, Sunday 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm.

• Makphet – Lao.

This restaurant-cum-social enterprise is working to shape lives. Founded by Friends-International, Makphet provides training in hospitality to disadvantaged youth in Laos. If that wasn’t enough reason to dine here the kitchen creates an inspired take on Lao cuisine, blending traditional flavours with modern techniques. Downtown behind Wat Ong Teu, 021 260 587, makphet-restaurant. org. Open Monday to Saturday 11am – 9pm, closed Tuesday and Thursday 2pm – 6pm for student training.

salon setting in downtown Vientiane. The kitchen produces traditional hearty Italian fare including antipasti, homemade pasta and wood fired pizza using the highest quality ingredients. Discerning diners will welcome the extensive wine list which boasts fine imports from Italy. Set lunches are extremely popular on weekdays. 8 Rue Francois Ngin, 021 222 589, ariaorg.com.

• Ai Capone – Italian. The latest offering from Chef Gerardo is Ai Capone, in downtown Vientiane. The contemporary interior is matched with a modern menu offering top Italian dining with a casual flair, boasting simple dishes packing authentic flavours. The menu ranges from pastas and mains to risotto and desserts – but it’s hard to look past the wood-fired pizzas with over 40 combinations straight from Napoli. 8 Rue Francois Ngin, Ban Mixai, 020 5991 0888, facebook.com/ aicaponelaospdr. Open 7 days 11.30am – 10.30pm.

serves up fresh and tasty Asian and Western fare. Choose from a wide range of baguettes, quiches, burgers and noodle and rice dishes – all prepared quickly and served with a smile. The Lao coffee is home roasted and the delicious cakes and sweets are all made in-house. WiFi, family friendly. Rue Setthathirath (above Phimphone), 021 213 334, facebook.com/ benonicafe. Open Monday to Saturday 10am – 5pm.

• Le Silapa Restaurant – French. Le Silapa

is an elegant gastronomic experience housed above the owners more casual establishment I-Beam Bar. Decadent and extensive the menu contains a collection of classic and modern French-inspired delicacies and the wine list includes bottles from France, Italy, Australia and South Africa. Free WiFi. Level 1, 88 Setthathirath Road (above I Beam), 021 219 689, facebook.com/ lesilapavientiane. Open 7 days 11am – 11pm.

• Soul Kitchen – Italian. This laid-back dinner hot spot is a little off the main drag but the pizzas and casual atmosphere – complete with rock and blues tunes – make it worth the trip. The menu includes tasty pasta dishes and salads but it’s the traditional wood fired pizzas that keeps Soul Kitchen’s loyal fans coming back for more. Family friendly. Thadeua Road 143 (KM 0.5), 020 5612 0804, soulkitchen.vientiane@gmail.com. Open Tuesday to Sunday 5.30pm – 10.30pm.

• La Signature – French/Fusion. Set in the stylish Ansara Hotel, this sophisticated restaurant perfectly marries French-Lao fusion with old-world charm. Sample salmon tartare with green apple millefeuille, Burgundy snails and three-flavoured lamb or let the chef guide you with daily specials including Lao-style petit fours. Quai Fa Ngum, Ban Vat Chan Tha, 021 213 514, ansarahotel.com. Open 7 days 6.30am – 10.00am, 11.30am – 2.30pm, 16.30pm – 9.30pm.

• Ban Gai Tex Mex Cantina – American/ Mexican. Once famed purely for their finger-licking

• Osaka Hac Chao

buffalo hot wings, Ban Gai has recently expanded their menu to include a host of authentic Tex Mex classics including nachos, enchiladas and burritos heaped with fresh salsa and gooey cheese. Pair anything from the menu with one of their delicious margaritas and you’re set. Family friendly, delivery. Sokpalaung Road, 020 9825 6654, facebook.com/BanGaiHouseOfChicken. Open Tuesday to Sunday 11am – 9pm.

– Japanese. This cosy eatery is usually buzzing with Japanese customers who come for a taste of home – always a good sign. Simple traditional and not-so-traditional Japanese fare is on offer including generous sushi and sashimi platters, crisp tempura, steaming bowls of ramen and udon noodle soups and a variety of katsu dishes. Nokeokoummane Road (next to Le Banneton).

• Kung’s Café Lao – Lao/Breakfast. Tucked down a residential laneway, this popular breakfast and lunch haunt is a hit with those in-the-know. The breakfast and lunch menu runs all day so try Lao-inspired sweets like sticky rice pancakes with mango or banana French toast and savoury dishes like meatballs in broth with a fresh crunchy baguette or the Pad Lao noodles with pork. On the main street, look for a small hand painted sign pointing the way. Off Rue Simeuang, Piawat Village, 021 219 101, facebook.com/KungsCafeLao. Open 7 days 6am – 3pm. • Lao Kitchen – Lao. A colourful eatery that specialises in authentic Lao dishes. Sisters Noi and Teng run the show while their family help out in the kitchen preparing soups, stews, grilled meats, stir-fry dishes and of course laap (the duck variation is a stand out). The menu is full of helpful explanations for each dish and warns you if something may be a little too piquant for some palates. Rue Hengboun (opposite KP Hotel), 021 254 332, lao-kitchen.com. Open Monday to Sunday 11am – 10pm. • Aria Mixai Italian Culinary Arts – Italian.

Aria presents high-end epicurean Italian cuisine in an elegant

• Vieng Sawan – Vietnamese. Look beyond the décor at this bustling eatery which serves up cheap and delicious Vietnamese dishes to hungry masses. Order a fresh or fried spring roll combination which comes with heaped plates of fresh lettuce, herbs and noodles designed to be eaten together. If you’re feeling lost check out how neighbouring diners are doing things and follow suit. Rue Hengboun (opposite Home Ideal), 021 213 990. • Benoni Café – Asian/Western/Café.

Escape the bustle of downtown Vientiane at Benoni Café, a bright and airy café-cum-restaurant which

• Pimenton – Spanish/Steakhouse/Tapas.

Drawing on Hispanic flavours and flair the emphasis here is on open wood fire quality grilled meats and small bites. Try contemporary tapas like montadito of pork belly, homemade grilled chorizo, garlic prawns and imported jamón ibérico de bellota or look to the grill for succulent tenderloin or lamb chops served with a kicky chimichurri sauce. 5 Rue Nokeoukoumane, 021 215 506, pimentonrestaurant-vte.com. Open Monday to Saturday 11am – 2.30pm, 5pm – 10pm.

Gr illing Up

A F e as t

Eat

HIGHLIGHT

words Kate Antonas photos Nadine Dayag

ປະສົບ ການກິ ນ ອາຫານບາບີ ຄີ ວ ເກົ າ ຫຼີ ອັນ ແຊບຊ້ອ ຍລໍ ຖ້າ ທ່າ ນທີ່ຮ້າ ນຕົ້ນ ໄຜ່ Bamboo House ດ້ວຍຂັ້ນຕອນການປຸງແຕ່່ງທີ່ມີຄຸນນະພາບ ແລະ ມີລົດຊາດ ແຊບ ປະສົມປ ະສານກັບການຕ້ອນຮັບທີ່ຈິງໃຈ. Bamboo Houseແມ່ນໃຫ້ຄວາມຮູ້ສຶກໃນຄວາມທັນສະໄໝ ແລະ ອົບອຸ່ນ - ການ ຕົບ ແຕ່ງພາຍໃນປະສົມ ປະສານກັບ ກີ່ນ ຫອມບາບີ ຄິ ວ ແລະ ມີ ລ ະບົບ ລະບາຍ ອາກາດແບບເກົາຫຼີທີ່ທັນສ ະໃໝ ຕິດຕັ້ງໃ ນທຸກໆໂຕະ. Bamboo House ໃຊ້ພຽງແຕ່ ຊີ້ນທີ່ມີຄຸນນະພາບສູງແລະ ຊີ້ນງົວທີ່ອ່ອນນຸ້ມ ລວມທັງ Australian Bindaree Black Angus ຊຶ່ງ ເຂົ້າ ກັນ ດີ ກັບ Wagu ຂອງຍີ່ປຸ່ນ ເຊິ່ງ ໄດ້ ຮັບ ການຢັ້ງ ຢື ນ ຈາກ ໂດຍ USA cuts ແລະຊີ້ນ ປອດສານພິ ດ ຈາກເກົ າ ຫຼີ ທີ່ສົ່ງ ມາສົດ ໆທາງຍົນ ຊຸ ດ ຊີ້ນ ໝູ ລ ວມ ມີກະເພາະໝູທແ ີ່ ຊບ ແລະ ຊີ້ນ ຈາກບ່າໄຫຼ່ຂອງໝູ ຈາກລາວ. ພະນັກ ງານເສີ ບຂອງພວກເຮົ າ ບໍ ລິ ການ ຊ່ວ ຍປີ້ງ ຊີ້ນ ແລະຜັກ ເທິ ງ ເຕົ າ ປີ້ງຖ່ານໃນແຕ່ລະໂຕະ ໄປຄູ່ກັບເຄື່ອງເສີມເຊັ່ນ ກິມຈິ ຜັກດອງ ແລະໃບງາເກົາຫຼີ ຊຸບຮ້ອນແລະອາຫານທະເລ ເຊັ່ນ ປາເກົາຫລີ, ກຸ້ງກຸລາດຳ� ແລະປູ Hokkaido ກໍ່ມີໄວ້ໃຫ້ບໍລິການທ່ານ. ຮ້າ ນອາຫານໄດ້ໃ ຫ້ລູ ກ ຄ້າ ສຳ�ຜັດ ກັບ ການຮັບ ປະທານອາຫານແບບເກົ າ ຫຼີ ຜູ້ຈັດການ ທ່ານ Sung Hyun Park ໄດ້ກ່າວວ່າ “Bamboo House ບໍ່ ພຽງແຕ່ນຳ�ສະເໜີ ຄຸ ນ ນະພາບອາຫານເກົ າ ຫຼີ ແຕ່ພ ວກເຮົ າ ຍັງ ຕ້ອ ງການ ສະແດງວັດທະນາທຳ�ເກົາຫຼີ ດົນຕ ີ ເບຍ ແລະການຕ້ອນຮັບແບບເກົາຫຼີ Bamboo House ແມ່ນຖືເປັນເຮືອນຂອງທ່ານ ແລະນີ້ກໍ່ແມ່ນຄອບຄົວຂອງທ່ານ.”

An authentic Korean barbecue experience awaits you at Bamboo House, where top-quality produce and taste meets genuine hospitality. Entering Bamboo House, you’ll note the distinctly modern and welcoming feel with a sleek, light wood interior mingling with the tantalising scent of barbecuing steaks, while a state-of-the-art ventilation system – imported from Korea – hovers over every table, ensuring your dinner conversation isn’t had through smoke. With meat being the star of any good barbecue, Bamboo House takes care to provide only the highest-quality of meat for your traditional Korean experience. Tender beef offerings include Bindaree Black Angus imported from Australia, perfectly marbled Japanese Wagu, certified USA cuts, and organic Korean beef delivered fresh by airfreight. The Pork Set includes quality belly and shoulder cuts of rich Lao pork. When you’ve selected your protein, attentive wait staff sear meat and vegetables to perfection over the authentic hot coal grill at each table. Waiters slice each mouth-watering morsel with expert precision, ready for you to pair a multitude of moreish side dishes like kimchi, pickled vegetables, fresh greens and Korean sesame leaf. The extensive menu also includes a selection of warming Korean soups and a substantial seafood range including Korean eel, black tiger shrimp, and decadent steamed Hokkaido King Crab. But the experience at Bamboo House doesn’t stop at the sizzling steaks, the restaurant offers customers an authentic Korean dining experience, from the complimentary cooling towels, to Korean dinner music. As manager Sung Hyun Park says, “Bamboo House is not just offering high-quality Korean cuisine, we also want to showcase Korean culture, music, beer and authentic Korean hospitality. Bamboo House is your house and this is your family.” Bamboo House Open daily, lunch 11am-3pm, dinner 5pm-10pm T: 021 453 668 A: 23 Singha Road, Nongbone Village, Sayettha District, Vientiane

ຮ້ານຕົ້ນໄຜ່ ຖະໜນ 23 ສິງຫາ ບ້ານໜອງບອນ ເມືອງໄຊເສດຖາ ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ໂທ. 856 21 453 668

EAT

L’Adresse de Tinay Restaurant Français

Listing

VIENTIANE • Masa Spoon Café N’ Bistro – Asian/ Western. A bright and cheerful restaurant, split over

two levels Masa pairs minimalist furniture with feature walls of raw timber, cool wall art and vintage china. The menu runs from share-plates of Asian-spiced chicken wings and crunchy onion rings to dishes for one including signature dishes Masa Spoon burger, sticky BBQ spare ribs and tasty pastas. Sweet tooths will love the honey toast – perfect with a cup of tea. Rue Dongpalanthong, Phonesinuan (next to Pizza Company), 021 261 634, facebook.com/MasaSpoonCafeNBistro. Open Monday to Saturday 11am – 11pm.

• L’Adresse de Tinay Restaurant Français – French. Chef Tinay produces some

of Vientiane’s finest and most inventive French cuisine at this chic dining spot. The whole duck breast with homemade foie gras and white truffle oil is a current favourite and Tinay’s signature cassoulet with homemade confit duck is the perfect nod to traditional French comfort food. For dessert the crème brulee is the best in town. Behind Wat Ong Teu, 020 5691 3434, ladressedetinay.com. Open Monday to Friday 11.30am

– 2pm, 6.30pm – 10pm, Saturday 6.30pm – 10pm.

• YuLaLa Café & Restaurant – Japanese/Fusion. Pull up a chair or nestle into

a floor cushion at this cute little joint which puts a Japanese spin on Western ingredients. While the daily specials are ever-changing popular mainstays include sautéed chicken with tofu, soy sauce and mirin and the potato croquettes with mince beef and a tomato-based sauce. Rue Hengboun, 020 5510 4050, facebook.com/pages/YuLaLa-caferestaurant/148520861845706. Open Tuesday to Sunday 11.30am – 2pm, 6pm – 9.30pm.

• Jamil Zahid Restaurant – Indian/ Pakistani. This cheap and cheerful eatery is

affectionately known simply as Jamil’s by the loyal diners that frequent it. Tucked down an alley, Jamil and his team serve up authentic Indian and Pakistani dishes which are full of flavour and light on the hip pocket. Ordering anything that comes from Jamil’s on-site traditional tandoori oven is always a safe bet.

Off Khounboulom Road, Ban Haysok, 020 5650 2455, facebook.com/JamilZahidRestaurantVientiane. Open 7 days 11.00am – 10.30pm.

• Osaka Hac Chao – Japanese. This cosy eatery is usually buzzing with Japanese customers who come for a taste of home – always a good sign. Simple traditional and not-so-traditional Japanese fare is on offer including generous sushi and sashimi platters, crisp tempura, steaming bowls of ramen and udon noodle soups and a variety of katsu dishes. Nokeokoummane Road (next to Le Banneton). • Bistro 22 – French. Chef Philippe presents honest French bistro fare at this cosy, hole-in-the-wall eatery. The food is fresh and flavourful with highlights including the goat’s cheese salad, rabbit terrine and classic steak frites. Popular with the expat crowd, the service is faultless and the desserts, including a delectable chocolate fondant, are not to be missed. 22 Samsenthai Road, Ban Khaonyot, 021 214 129. Open Monday to Friday 11am – 2pm, Monday to Saturday 6pm – 10pm.

Luang Prabang • Restaurant L’Elephant – French/ Lao. L’Elephant is housed in a charming colonial

• Tamarind Restaurant – Lao. Tamarind

• Les 3 Nagas – Lao. Executing both authentic Lao dishes and the chef’s original creations with a touch of French finesse this attractive lunch and dinner spot presents some of the finest food in town. Start your meal with the crisp and tangy Luang Prabang salad and round off with the black sticky rice for dessert. Happy hours 3pm – 6pm. Sakkaline Road, Ban Vat Nong, 071 253 888, 3-nagas.com. Open 7 days 6.30am – 10.30pm.

• Tamnak Lao Restaurant – Lao. A familyrun restaurant which delivers delicious authentic and homely Lao cuisine. The in-house cooking school means the staff know their stuff, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. Try the crispy bamboo shoots stuffed with pork and vegetables or the ubiquitous Luang Prabang sausage, both are done very well here. Sakarinne Road, 071 212 239, tamnaklao.net. Open 7 days breakfast 8.30am – 10.30am, lunch 11am – 3pm, dinner 5pm – 11pm.

building just steps away from the magnificent Mekong River. Specialising in traditional and creative French and Lao cuisine the kitchen places an emphasis on using organic, local produce which is grown in their own gardens a few kilometres out of town. Free WiFi. Kounxoa Road, Ban Vat Nong, 071 252 482, elephantrestau.com. Open 7 days 11.00am – 10pm.

specialises in helping diners explore and learn about Lao cuisine and the traditions associated with it. Enjoy sampling platters or something from the a la carte menu with explanations and demonstrations from helpful staff and the Nam Khan River as a picturesque backdrop. Ban Wat Sene on the banks of the Nam Khan River, 071 213 128, tamarindlaos.com. Open Monday to Saturday 11am – 9pm.

• La Belle Epoque – Lao/Western.

Housed in the grand Luang Say Residence, just outside the city centre, this upscale dining room exudes a warm, heritage ambience. The seasonal, healthy and creative menu changes quarterly and features a tempting selection of regional dishes from Laos and further afield in South East Asia. An on-site fruit and vegetable garden means fresh ingredients are always at the kitchen’s fingertips. 4-5 Ban Phonepheng, 071 260 891, luangsayresidence.com. Open 7 days 6am – 10.30pm.

• Café Toui – Lao/Western. A colourful hole in

the wall on a quiet side street leading to the Mekong River. Chef Toui began his culinary journey as a waiter in Vientiane before working the kitchen at L’Elephant where he developed his passion for cooking. Now head of the kitchen at his own eatery Toui serves up hearty Lao and Western fare using fresh, local ingredients. Sisavangvatthana Road, Ban Xieng Mouane, 020 5657 6763, cafetoui.com. Open 7 days 6.30am – 10.30pm.

• Roots & Leaves – Lao. Fringing a beautiful lotus pond, Roots & Leaves is a culinary and cultural experience in a lush garden setting. The menu is distinctly Lao with signature fish dishes – the grilled varieties served with tasty sauces and fresh salad are standouts. Nightly diners can enjoy live traditional music and dance from ethic groups in traditional garb. Settathilath Road, Luang Prabang 071 254 870 www. rootsinlaos.com Open every day from 7am – 11pm.

Pakse • Le Panorama – Lao/International.

As the name might suggest this leafy rooftop terrace, perched on the top floor of the Hotel Pakse, has the best views in town. Diners can take their pick from a range of cuisines including Lao, Thai and French. No matter what you’re eating the fact remains Le Panorama is the place to sit back, relax and take in a glorious sunset in Pakse, chilled Beerlao in hand optional. Street 5, Bane Watlouang, 031 212 131, hotelpakse.com.

• Nadao – French/Lao. A great find in Pakse, Nadao offers fresh and flavoursome French bistro fare and traditional Lao dishes in a fine dining atmosphere. A little out of the city centre, its location hasn’t stopped locals and visitors alike from flocking to experience some of the best gourmet dining in southern Laos. Near the Japanese Bridge (opposite the Champasak Grand Hotel), 021 213 174.

– Lao. Attached to the Lan Kham Hotel this noodle house is considered famous around these parts. Particularly popular with locals for breakfast, Lan Kham consistently produces huge steaming bowls of noodle soup accompanied by heaped plates of fresh herbs and greens. Street 13, Lakmeaumg Village. Open 7 days 6.30am – 1pm.

• Lan Kham Noodle House

Savannakhet – Japanese/Western. Fun little café housed in a sunshine-yellow building on the main street of Savannakhet. Chai Dee serves up a mix of Japanese favourites including katsudon, sushi, cold noodle salad alongside fresh sandwiches and Thai curries. Cosy into a comfy armchair with a freshly brewed Lao coffee lounge on the sunny terrace with an icy Chai Dee Cooler. Occasional live music in the evenings. Free WiFi, book exchange. 1 Latsavongseuk Road, Lattanalansy Thai Village, 020 5988 6767, cafechaidee.com. Open 7 days 8.30am – 9.00pm.

• Café Chai Dee

– Asian/Café. A friendly tucked away eatery housed in a 1930s building complete with original art-deco tiles. Located in the heart of historic downtown this is the perfect place to while away the afternoon with a fresh Lao coffee and tasty Lao/Vietnamese fare. An upstairs gallery exhibits photographs of old Savannakhet. Free W iFi, tourist information, bicycle rental. Latsaphanit Road, Ban Xaiyaphoum Village, 020 9988 1630, lincafe.netau.net. Open 7 days 8.30am – 8.00pm.

• Lin’s Cafe

| Café Chai Dee |

CAFÉ

Listing

VIENTIANE • Common Grounds Café and Bakery – Café/Mexican. This family friendly café is the perfect

place to kick back in a comfy armchair and refuel with a coffee and homemade cake while the kids enjoy the outdoor playground. Their organic coffee is sourced from Saffron in Luang Prabang which supports farmers to grow coffee instead of opium, so you won’t feel too guilty settling in for a second latte. Free Wi-Fi. Rue Chao Anou, 021 255 057, facebook.com/commongroundslaos. Open Monday to Saturday 7am – 8pm.

• Begonia Café – Café. A cosy new coffee house

in the That Luang area, Begonia serves up delicious Saffron-brand coffee from Luang Prabang. Fans of vintage-chic will love the array of quirky trinkets on display including old typewriters, retro phones and record players – and don’t forget to look up at the colourful umbrellas peppering the ceiling. Don’t miss a slice of Begonia’s signature crepe cake – layer upon layer of delicate crepes sandwiched with a filling of your choice including mango and coconut. Soi 4 off Nongbone Road, 020 5555 5082, facebook.com/pages/BegoniaCafé/124868954261514. Open Monday to Saturday 9am – 5.30pm.

• Joma Bakery Café – Café/Western. A name synonymous with the Vientiane café scene, each of Joma’s three Vientiane shopfronts provides tasty, fresh eats and organic fair trade coffee in a cosy, coffeehouse atmosphere. The friendly staff and speedy service make Joma a popular choice for those on-the-go while others tend to linger

awhile over breakfast, lunch or any of the delicious in-house baked goods. Free Wi-Fi, delivery. Joma Namphou: Th. Setthathilath, Joma Phonthan: Th. Dongpalane, Joma That Luang: cnr Singha Rd/Nongbone Rd, delivery: 021 254 333, joma.biz. Open 7 days 7am – 9pm.

• Café Nomad – Café. A hidden, hip little gem perched on a bustling intersection, Café Nomad is a popular haunt for office workers, embassy staff and those in the know. Their straightforward menu of coffee, juices, paninis and cakes may be small, but it’s all executed extremely well. Free Wi-Fi, public pc/printer/scanner. 1-342 Dongpalanthong, Sisattanak, 020 5434 9977, facebook.com/cafenomad.lao. Open Monday to Friday 8.30am – 7pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am – 6pm.

Lao-sourced Arabica and Robusta beans with some of the best European equipment in-house. Now in their own café, guests can enjoy a brew on the sunny terrace, at the elegant salon-style bar, or pick up a bag of beans to enjoy at home. Setthathirath Road, 020 2255 3552, facebook.com/letriocoffee. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 4pm.

• Naked Espresso – Café. A popular place for a

caffeine hit this light filled café serves up some of the best brew in town. Naked Espresso is all about a combination of fine Arabica beans sourced from Southern Laos and Northern Thailand, well-trained baristas, friendly service and a world-class espresso machine. Free WiFi. Dongpalan Road 021 454 631, nakedespresso.net. nakedespresso.net Open Tuesday to Friday 7am – 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am – 5pm.

• Le Trio Coffee – Café. Le Trio Coffee is the latest addition to Vientiane’s buzzy café scene, with their boutique art deco-inspired shopfront. An artisanal roaster since 2009, Le Trio roasts the finest

| Le Trio Coffee |

Luang Prabang • Le Café Ban Vat Sene – Café. Sitting pretty on the main street of tranquil Luang Prabang this elegant café-cum-restaurant combines the home-grown ingredients and cuisine of sister bistro L’Éléphant Restaurant with lighter café-style fare including a selection of delectable pastries. Free Wi-Fi. Sakarine Road, 071 252 482, elephant-restau.com/ cafebanvatsenefr.html. Open 7 days 7am – 10pm.

Pakse – Café. A Lao legacy, the well-known Sinouk Coffee empire has grown from its humble beginnings as a small plantation in the 1990s to a 50 hectare estate and is turning heads across Asia. Pakse’s Sinouk Coffee and Bakery outpost serves up delicious cups of Sinouk’s signature organic blend which comes direct from the farm in Paksong to the table. Free Wi-Fi. Pakse centre, near the Tourism Office, sinouk-cafe.com.

• Sinouk Coffee and Bakery

• Le Patio Café – Lao/Café. Housed in the grounds of the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre this intimate eatery offers a range of dishes from northern Lao ethnic minorities, making it the perfect stop after immersing yourself in Lao culture next door. Located at the base of Phou Si Hill patrons will enjoy a unique vantage point of this distinctive attraction. Free Wi-Fi. Ban Khamyong, le_patio@elephantrestau.com, elephant-restau.com/lepatiocafe.html. Open 7 days 9am – 5pm.

| Sinouk Coffee and Bakery |

• Silk Road Café – Lao. Bringing an east meets west philosophy to the kitchen the Silk Road Café combines regional flavours, local ingredients and ideas from cuisines the silk road passed through. Set against a backdrop of the Mekong River this open-air café is housed on the grounds of the Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre making it the perfect spot to grab coffee and a bite after an on-site weaving workshop or demonstration. Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre, Ban Saylom, 071 212 597, ockpoptok.com. Open 7 days 8am – 5pm.

Savannakhet • Café Chez Boune – Café/Western. Drawing

crowds for great European fare, impressive décor and charming atmosphere, Café Chez Boune is a popular spot for dining out in Savannakhet. Opt for something light such as a tasty bruschetta or baguette or if you’re looking for something more substantial the seared duck breast or tender imported steaks are a good choice. Chaimeuang Road, Xayaphoum Village, 041 215 190, cafechezboune.com. Open 7 days 7am – 10 pm.

BAR

Listing

VIENTIANE • Chokdee Café & Belgian Beer Bar – Bar/Belgian. This cosy pub, decorated with Tin

Tin paraphernalia, is the place to come if you’ve got a hankering for Hoegaarden or any of the other 79 imported Belgian beers they keep. Huge steaming pots of moules frites attract big crowds every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Free WiFi, beer specials on Thursdays. 32/4 Fa Gnum Quai (along the Mekong River front), 020 5610 3434, chokdeecafe.com. Open 7 days 10am – 11pm.

• Sticky Fingers – Bar/Western/Lao. Sticky’s,

as it’s more affectionately known, is a long-time expat institution drawing big crowds for their legendary happy hour on Wednesday and Friday nights. The bartenders make a mean Tom Yum Martini which, refreshingly piquant, comes complete with a whole chilli garnish. Free WiFi, delivery. 10/3 Rue Francois Nginn, 021 215 972. Open Monday to Friday 5pm – 11pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am – 11pm.

• I-Beam Bar – Wine/Tapas. Modern and casual

this intimate bar combines an excellent drop of red or white with seasonal share plates like dainty croquettes, marinated vegetables and an inventive take on nachos con carne. I-Beam buzzes on Wednesday nights when ladies receive half price wine by the glass. Live jazz on Thursday nights. Free WiFi, lunch buffet daily. 88 Setthathirath Road, 021 254 523, facebook.com/ ibeamvientiane. Open 7 days 11am – 11pm.

• Kong View Restaurant and Bar – Bar/ Asian. A contemporary Lao-style house with a leafy

open air deck jutting right out to the Mekong River. Enjoy a cocktail or a beer at sunset then while away the evening under the stars and colourful lanterns on the terrace nibbling on some of the selection of Lao and

| Chokdee Café | Thai-inspired share plates. 183 Souphanouvong Road, Hom 1 Ban Nongpanay, 021 520 522, kongview.com.

• The Spirit House – Bar/Lao/Western. An

inviting meeting point with a sprawling terrace looking onto the Mekong River. The cocktail list is extensive with quality liquors preferred, perfect for a sundowner paired with tasty Lao bar snacks. It’s located on a quiet stretch of the waterfront which makes for a peaceful breakfast or afternoon drink before it busies up in the evening. Free WiFi. 93/09 Fa Ngum Road, Ban Seetarn Neua, 021 243 795, thespirithouselaos.com, info@thespirithouselaos. com. Open 7 days 7am – 11pm.

• Wine95 – Wine. Whether you’re after a full-bodied red or a dry white Wine95 is the last word in wine service in Vientiane. Upon entry it is evident these guys know their stuff with a slick, fully stocked cellar bar complete with the DiWine Service System guaranteeing a fresh drop in every glass. A staircase leads to an intimate upstairs space with elegant lounges and objects d’art. Setthathirat Road (next to Phimphone), 020 5550 2957, facebook. com/Wine95. Open Monday to Saturday 5pm – 12am. • Bor Pen Nyang – Bar/Western/Lao. This

Jazzy Brick exudes effortless cool. The friendly staff make a mean cocktail and can usually make a recommendation from the extensive menu and the wine list is well-edited. Setthathirat Road (next to Wine95), 021 212 489, facebook.com/jazzybricklao. Open 7 days 6pm – 12am.

• The Highland Restaurant & Bar – Sports bar. Casual and relaxed open-air sports bar

with views of the Mekong River. Drawing huge crowds for rugby, football and soccer matches all broadcast live on big-screen televisions, the menu includes Lao, pizza and pub-style fare – perfect for ravenous sports fans. Khamkhong Road, Ban Khounta, 020 7759 4971, highlandbar.com.

• Kop Chai Deu – Bar/Lao/Western. Kop Chai Deu have hit the nail on the head with their slogan ‘the place where the world meets’, on any given night the oldest and arguably best-located bar in Vientiane brings together locals, expats and travellers with refreshing drinks, good food and nightly live music. Try to nab a spot on the upper level decking to enjoy the sultry Lao evenings. Free WiFi. 54 Setthathirat Road (next to Nam Phu fountain), 021 251 564, facebook.com/KhopChaiDeu.

casual rooftop bar attracts an eclectic crowd of locals, seasoned expats and backpackers all who vie for a prime position along the balcony to watch the sunset over the Mekong River with a Beerlao nam kohn. Once the night comes things tend to kick up a notch with parties hitting the pool tables and beer towers. Fah Ngum Road, Wat Chanh, 020 5580 8281. Open 7 days 11am – 12am.

• Jazzy Brick – Bar.

With its exposed brickwork, moody lighting and distinct vintage-look decor The

| Kop Chai Deu |

Luang Prabang | Tangor |

• Icon Klub

• Hive Bar and Restaurant – Bar/ American. This vibrant garden bar is best known for

• Utopia – Bar/Lao/Western. Hidden on the

Contemporary chic meets colonial charm at this intimate spot on Luang Prabang’s main stretch. Tangor specialises in impeccably crafted cocktails and a generous selection of local and imported beers and ciders. Market produce dictates the everchanging menu of share plates but luckily for us their standout fish ceviche is a mainstay. House 63/6 Rue Susavangvong, 020 9560 7262, resa@letangor.com. Open 7 days 11am – 11pm.

its snappy cocktails, extensive beer and wine list and for serving up home style southern favourites. Grab a beer and try the mahogany smoked BBQ ribs or pulled pork sandwich. Nightly live entertainment includes Ethnik; a live fashion show of ethnic minority costumes and hip hop performed by local b-boys. Bar Street, Ban Aphay, 020 5999 5370, hivebarlaos.com. Open Monday to Saturday 7am – 12am, Sunday 10am – 12am.

– Cocktail. This cosy bohemian haunt attracts a creative crowd who take advantage of the regular live music and open mic poetry nights. Icon’s walls are adorned with vintage posters and film noir stills and punters are most likely to be seen sipping a brilliantly made cocktail (try the Bloody Mary or a dry martini) over a game of chess or retro board game. Free WiFi. Siphouttabath Road, Ban Xiengmouan, 071 254 905, iconklub.com. Open 7 days 5pm – 11.30pm.

• Tangor – Bar/Tapas.

lush banks of the Nam Khan river amongst charming tropical gardens and thatched decking Utopia has perfected laid back paradise. Patrons can languidly sip tropical cocktails on the cushioned terrace watching the river go by, play a board game with neighbours or party into the night in a tiki hut. Ban Aphay, 020 2388 1771, utopialuangprabang.com. Open 7 days 8am – 11.30pm.

Drink

HIGHLIGHT

words & photos Hannah McDonald-Moniz

ເຢັ ນ ສະບາຍ ທີ່ ຮ້າ ນກາເຟ Café Nomad ຮ້ານກາເຟນ້ອຍໆທີ່ຢແ ູ່ ຖວໜ້າຕຶກ ຍ່າງເຂົ້າຮ້ານ Café Nomad ໂດຍການ ເຊື້ອ ເຊີ ນ ຂອງລະບຽງທີ່ຮົ່ມ ເຢັ ນ ແລະ ໃຫ້ຄວາມຮູ້ສຶ ກ ສະດວກສະບາຍ ຂອບໃຈສະຖານທີ່ທີ່ສະດວກສະບາຍ ພ້ອມດວ້ຍບັນຍາກາດທີ່ເປັນກັນເອງ ສະຖານທີ່ແ ຫ່ງ ນີ້ ແມ່ນ ຈຸ ດ ທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບ ຄວາມນິ ຍົມ ຫຼາຍສຳ�ລັບ ອາຫານທ່ຽ ງ ແລະ ອາຫານຫວ່າງ ສຳ�ລັບຄົນທ້ອງຖິ່ນ ແລະ ຕ່າງປະເທດທີ່ອາໃສຢູ່ລາວ.

Cool Comfort at

Cafe Nom ad A hip little café nestled in an unassuming row of storefronts, stepping into Café Nomad through their inviting shaded terrace, reveals a cosy brick hideaway. Thanks to its convenient location and homey atmosphere, this is a favourite stop for lunch and coffee breaks among expats, locals, and visa-runners alike (the Thai Consular is just across the road). Across its two levels, seating is always in high demand. This speaks to the cafés consistent popularity, and ensures you’ll often run into a familiar face or two. The creative lighting fixtures and comfy pillows make Café Nomad an inviting hangout and every touch seems to be chosen with care – from the sugar tins to the distinctive mugs, and the many little horse figures hidden around the shop.

ຮ້ານແມ່ນເປັນສອງຊັ້ນ ບອ່ນນັ່ງເປັນທີ່ຕ້ອງການສູງ ໃນເວລາ ອາຫານທ່ຽງ. ສິ່ງ ນີ້ໄ ດ້ບົ່ງ ບອກເຖິ ງ ຄວາມນິ ຍົມ ຂອງຮ້າ ນ ແລະ ຮັບ ຮອງວ່າ ທ່າ ນຈະ ໄດ້ພົບ ກັບ ຄົນ ຮູ້ຈັກ ຈັກ ຄົນ ສອງຄົນ ຢູ່ທີ່ນີ້. ການຕົບ ແຕ່ງ ໄຟທີ່ສ້າ ງສັນ ແລະ ໝອນທີ່ໃ ຫ້ຄ ວາມຮູ້ສຶ ກ ສະດວກສະບາຍ ເຮັ ດ ໃຫ້ Café Nomad ເປັນສະຖານທີ່ພົບປະກັບໝູ່ເພື່ອນ ແລະ ທຸກການຕົບແຕ່ງເບິ່ງຄືວ່າໄດ້ຮັບ ການເລືອກສັນເປັນຢ່າງດີ. ການເອົ າ ໃຈໃສ່ໃ ນລາຍລະອຽດ ແລະ ຄຸ ນ ນະພາບ ແມ່ນ ຍັງ ສາມາດ ເຫັ ນ ໄດ້ຈ າກ ປຶ້ມ ເມນູ ອ າຫານ, ຈາກການຕົບ ແຕ່ງ ສີ ສັນ ເທິ ງ ຈອກ ກາເຟທີ່ສ ວຍງາມ ຈົນ ໄປເຖິ ງ ແຊນວິ ດ ທີ່ສົດ ໜ້າ ຊີ ມ ເມນູ ກາເຟ ຊາ ນໍ້າໝາກໄມ້ສົດ ແລະ ເຄັ ກ ເຊິ່ງ ອາດຈະນ້ອ ຍ ແຕ່ມີ ລົດ ຊາດທີ່ດີ ເລີດ. ທັງກາເຟຮ້ອນ ແລະ ກາເຟເຢັນ ແມ່ນ ຖືກຊົງຢ່າງກົມກ່ອມ ແລະ ຜູ້ທີ ມັກ ກ າ ເ ຟ ກໍ່ອ າ ດ ຫຼົງ ໄ ຫຼ ກັບ ເ ຄື່ອ ງ ເ ດຶ່ມ ທີ່ໃ ຫ້ຄ ວາມສົດ ຊື່ນ ເຊັ່ນ ນໍ້າຂິງທີ່ເປັນສູດຂອງຮ້ານເອງ. ແຊນວິດທັງໝົດ ແມ່ນມີທັງ ແບບ ເຈ ແລະ ແບບທົ່ວໄປ ແລະ ເສີບພ້ອມ ສະຫຼັດ ເມນູ ທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບ ຄວາມນິ ຍົມ ອີ ກ ຢ່າ ງກໍ່ແມ່ນ Bulgogi Panini ຊຶ່ງ ເປັ ນ ອາຫານ ທີ່ປ ະສົມ ປະສານລະຫວ່າ ງອາຫານເກົ າ ຫຼີ ແລະ ອາຫານຕາເວັນຕົກທີ່ມີລົດຊາດຊວນຊີມ ພ້ອມດ້ວຍ ຊີ້ນ ແລະ ເນີຍທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບ ຄວາມນິຍົມຫຼື ຄຸນຄ່າໂປຣຕີນຂອງຜັກສຳ�ລັບອາຫານເຈ. ຂອບໃຈສຳ�ລັບ ສັນ ຍານ Wi-Fi ທີ່ເ ຊື່ອ ຖື ໄ ດ້, ໂຕະຊຸ ດ ໃນສະຖານ ທີ່ກ້ວ າງຂວາງ ທີ່ຢູ່ຊັ້ນ ເທິ ງ ເໝາະສຳ�ລັບ ເຮັ ດ ວຽກເປັ ນ ກຸ່ມ ແລະ ມີ ເຄື່ອງຈັກປຼິນເອກະສານ ແລະ ສະແກນເນີ ທີ່ບໍ່ຕ້ອງເສຍຄ່າ, Café Nomad ແມ່ນສະຖານທີ່ ທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບຄວາມນິຍົມ ສຳ�ລັບຜູ້ທີ່ຫອບວຽກໜີຈາກຫ້ອງການ ຈັກມື້ໜຶ່ງ, ຈັດປະຊຸມ ຫຼື ພົບປະກັບໝູ່ເພື່ອນ.

The attention to detail and quality doesn’t stop at the décor, but is a clear priority on the menu, from the beautifully decorated mochas, to the crisp, fresh sandwiches. The menu of coffee, tea, juices, paninis, cakes, and new hearty breakfasts may be small, but is reliably excellent. Both the hot and iced coffees are brewed to perfection, and even caffeine lovers may be tempted by refreshing alternatives like the homemade gingerade. All of the paninis have both vegetarian and non-veg options available, and are accompanied by a side salad, with perhaps the best dressing in town. A favorite is the Bulgogi Panini, a mouthwatering combination of Korean and Western cuisines, with cheese and flavourful marinated beef – or vegetable protein for a vegetarian alternative. Thanks to the reliable Wi-Fi, a spacious group work table upstairs, and the availability of a free printer and scanner, Café Nomad is a favourite among those looking to take their work away from the office for a day, set up a meeting, or just catch up with friends. Café Nomad Open Monday-Friday 8.30am-7pm and Saturday-Sunday 9am-6pm T: 020 5435 9977 A: 1-342 Ban Dongpalanthong, Sisattanak District, Vientiane W: www.facebook.com/cafenomad.lao

| Bulgogi Panini |

RELAX

Listing

VIENTIANE • ADINA SPA This experienced spa team provides the ultimate pampering. Unlike many others spas, they provide Japanese traditional massages, Indian massages and a Hot Stone Massage. The facials are amongst the most advanced in the city. Higher-end prices. 170 Phonsaath, Kaysone Road, 021 414138, 9am-10pm, www.adinaspalao.com

• GIRIYA SPA You’ve got to travel to Rashmi’s Hotel,

• CHAMPA SPA & MASSAGE Champa has two locations in town within serene, quiet surroundings. Traditional Lao Massage, Herbal Treatments, Aromatherapy Massage and Body Steams have a range of lengths and prices. There is also a hand and foot spa, and waxing services. Among the best in Vientiane. Corner of Fa Ngum and Pangkham Roads, and Pangkham Road, near Nam Phu, 021 251926, 9am-10pm, www.champaspa.com

• GREEN PARK CHAMPA LAO SPA This hotel-

• DALAH SPA Luxurious Dalah Spa have a mineral milk

bath, anti-stress back and shoulder treatments, the Four Hands Massage and sports massage for those exerting themselves. Located on a quiet lane just off the main road. 140 Khouvieng Road, 021 285125, 9am-9pm

• PAPAYA SPA The setting in an old French colonial

villa is charm enough, but inside the opulence is even greater. They’ve a Swedish oil massage, offer facials, body scrubs, reflexology and saunas. It’s definitely one of the pricier in the capital, but well worth it to relax in a state of pure luxury for a few hours. Phanya Sy Road, 021 216550, 9.30am-7.30pm Tue-Sun, www. papayaspa.com

| Papaya Spa |

3km from the city centre, to reach Giriya, but that’s small sacrifice for the awaiting experience. There’s an Indian atmosphere reflected in the decoration, while Thai masseuses give excellent massages in private rooms. Soon open to membership. Rashmi’s Hotel, Thadeua Road Km3, 021 315088, www.rashmishotel.com

based spa is walled-in with dark woods and has snow white beds with trinkets on lockers and candles burning for soft light. They’ve got traditional massage, body exfoliation and expert facial treatments for guests and visitors. Foot massages take place in comfy recliners with a view to the gardens. Green Park Hotel, 12 Khouvieng Road, 021 263064, 10am-7pm, www.greenparkvientiane.com

• HEALING HANDS MASSAGE & SPA Located within Don Chan Palace Hotel on the Mekong Riverfront. They offer reflexology, natural aromatherapy oil massages and Lao hot herbal compress treatments within a spacious and warmly coloured parlour. Don Chan Palace Hotel, Fa Ngum Road, 021 244288, 10am-7pm, www.donchanpalacelaopdr.com • HERBAL SAUNA This establishment has Lao style herbal saunas for men and women in separate rooms. It also offers different massages including Lao, oil and foot. Entrance fees include a towel for men but women must rent a sarong for a small fee. Located very close to the Mekong in central Vientiane. Chao Anou Road, 020 550 45655, 1pm-9pm

| Dalah Spa | Another one of many in the centre of Vientiane, but definitely among the best. The staff is friendly and there’s a few packages to choose from. Otherwise, the Traditional Lao massage is very popular and the Swedish massage is also well worth a try. Pangkham Road, near Nam Phu, 021 223857, 10am-9.30pm

• MANDARINA BODY & SOUL SPA

• MANEE SPA About 4km from the city centre, Manee Spa offers consistently good massages in a tranquil setting. There are several private rooms with quality tables and a tasteful interior. It’s on the higher price scale but the setting with beautiful gardens is second to none. Sokpaluang Road, past the Myanmar Embassy, 021 353207 • NIKOLAZ MASSAGE This is just a 5-minute walk

from the Mekong in the centre of town and they offer advanced massage and body therapies, as well as the traditional foot and body massages. The owners are very friendly and can further elaborate on options available. 45 Settathirath Road, 9am-11pm

• NIRVANA SPA The head and back massage is particularly good but it’s possible to get a combination of several treatments. The delightful honey body wrap could be combined with aromatic skin massage, followed by a herbal skin polish. Pangkham Rd, facing Lao Plaza Hotel, 021 222936, 10am-9pm, www. nirvana-spa-laos.com • WHITE LOTUS MASSAGE & YOGA White Lotus gives excellent foot massages in relaxing leather recliners. It’s one of the more affordable yet consistent massage businesses in town and has a great aromatherapy massage. Try the signature lotus foot massage or the Cleopatra treatment with gold masque for 200,000kip – heavenly. Also does yoga instruction. Pangkham, close to Nam Phu, 021 217492, 10am-10pm

Luang Prabang • AYU SPA At Xieng Thong Palace Hotel, Ayu Spa is massage and body treatment heaven. Holistic practices performed by experienced therapists are a perfect way to slip into true relaxation. You could spend a half-day sampling the variety of massage and sauna/steam options, while a pedicure or manicure ties a few hours off. Kounxaou Road, Ban Phoneheung, 071 213200, www.xiengthongpalace.com Fully trained and qualified massage therapists mean Dok Champa is an excellent place to relieve stress. They offer sports, aromatic oil, and gel and lotion massage. There are also deep cleansing facials for those looking for complete body rejuvenation. Visounarath Road, Ban Vixoun, 020 777 79966, www.dokchampamassage.com

• DOK CHAMPA MASSAGE

• KIRIDARA SPA Kiridara Spa’s signature treatment

is the Nuat Bouhan Massage, which lasts 90 minutes and fuses ancient Lao traditions with the regional therapies of Japanese Shiatsu, Thai massage and Chinese acupuncture. They’ve got many packages to choose from and the view over Luang Prabang is stunning. 22/13 North Road, Ban Naviengkham, 071 261888, www.snhcollection.com/kiridara

• LAO RED CROSS Set up to help children in poor communities, Lao Red Cross is one of the cheapest in town but with no compromise on quality. Housed in a Lao-French building, try the herbal sauna for 10,000 kip between 4pm-8pm, or go for one of the traditional massages. Bring your own towel or sarong. Wisunarat Road, 071 252856, 9am-9pm This collective runs classes in yoga and meditation for beginner and experienced practitioners. The group alternates their regular classes between several picturesque riverside locations including Utopia and Ock Pop Tok and holds yoga retreats at Mandala Ou Resort in Nong Khiaw. luangprabangyoga.org

• Luang Prabang Yoga

• L’HIBISCUS SPA Across from Wat Sop, L’Hibiscus has been open for several years and rated amongst the best in town. Hot herbal compress, aromatherapy and even eye treatments are on the menu. L’Hibiscus is in a charming old two-storey building and exudes a soothing atmosphere. 45 Sakhaline Road, 030 9235079, Open 10am-10pm

• DHAMMADA OASIS MASSAGE Tucked away beside a beautiful lotus pond and surrounded by coconut trees, Dhammada provides exceptional massages. There are aroma, oriental and foot massages to ease body tensions and bigger packages to spend a few hours. Very friendly and experienced staff makes Dhammada one of the best in town. Luang Prabang Oasis Hotel, Ban Vixoun, 071 212642, www.luangprabangoasis.com • SANCTUARY MASSAGE This is the place to try

a superb Thai herbal compress massage. Sanctuary applies steamed Thai and Chinese herbs to the body in a kneading action to release muscle tension and stiffness. There are also aroma and oriental massages in calming rooms. Sanctuary Hotel, Kitsalat Road, 071 213777, www.sanctuaryluangprabang.com

• THE SPA GARDEN Spread over three locations, The Spa Garden (also known as Aroma Spa) has a deep tissue massage, a Mystic Lao massage and a foot massage with herbal creams amongst its signature treatments. Spa products also available for purchase. Ban Phonheuang, 071 212325, 10am-11pm, www. spagardenlpb.com

SEE & DO

Listing

VIENTIANE | i:cat gallery |

• COPE VISITOR CENTRE – Museum. Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise, or COPE, is a locally run non-profit working with partners to provide rehabilitation services for Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) survivors and other people with disabilities across Laos. The Visitor Centre houses a free exhibition about UXO in Laos, stories from survivors and information on the services provided by COPE. Interactive displays, excellent documentaries and imagery provide a thought-provoking experience to visitors. There is an opportunity to support COPE through the gift shop or a donation. Centre of Medical Rehabilitation, Khouvieng Road, 021 218427, 9am–6pm, 7 days, www.copelaos.org

• HOUEY HONG VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE FOR WOMEN – Class/Craft. The Centre

provides training and employment for disadvantaged Lao women in the areas of natural dyeing, weaving, tailoring and administration. Visitors can tour the facilities and take part in dyeing and weaving classes creating a unique textile to take home, the cost of which includes transfers, lunch and provides direct support to the Centre. The gift shop sells stylish products made on-site by staff and trainees. Lane 19, Houey Hong Village, 021 560006, Mon-Sat 8.30am–12pm, 1.30pm–4.30pm, www.houeyhongcentre.com

– Gallery. A bright and inviting gallery space featuring a revolving programme of engaging exhibitions from local artists working in a range of mediums. A collection of original prints, art books, photography, paintings and handmade cards are permanently for sale in the gallery space and past installations and events have included visual art, music, poetry, film and fashion. 230-231 Thanon Settathirath, Ban Simeuang, 020 7783 9674, Mon-Fri 6pm–8pm, Sat-Sun 1pm-6pm, www.facebook.com/icatgallery

• I:CAT GALLERY | Cope Visitor Centre |

| Lao Experiences Cooking Class and Food Tours |

• LAO BOWLING CENTRE – Activity. A friendly place

for a game of ten pin by day this unassuming venue is an evening hot spot with crowds flocking here once the regular haunts close. Get here in the early evening if you actually plan to get in a few rounds because by eight o’clock this joint is packed with locals having a laugh over Beerlao and interesting bowling techniques. But bor pen nyang, half the fun is kicking back with friends and waiting for a free lane. There are also snooker tables available for hire. Boulevard Khunbulom (near the National Stadium), 9am–late, 7 days | Tuk Tuk Safari |

• LAO DISABLED WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT CENTRE – Tour/Craft. A local non-profit run by

women with disabilities for women with disabilities. In a beautiful setting near the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge the Centre is a hive of activity with training programmes including sewing and needlework, social development and women’s civil rights. Visitors can tour the centre, buy locally-made handicrafts including accessories, fashion items and homewares and learn how they are made. Thadeua Road, Hadsayfong District, 021 812282, 8.30am–5pm, 7 days, www. laodisabledwomen.com

• LAO EXPERIENCES COOKING CLASS AND FOOD TOURS – Class/Tour. Join friendly host Nook as

– Tour. The perfect way to get back to nature while staying close to your base in Vientiane, Green Discovery Laos takes you to the Nam Ngum Resevoir. En route on this guided day-trip participants will get a first-hand look at Hmong village life to meet locals and visit the market before taking in the 11th century archaeological site of Van Xang. At the reservoir you’ll lunch on a floating restaurant and explore fishing villages and small islands by boat before returning to Vientiane. For more information visit greendiscoverylaos.com

• DAY TRIP TO NAM NGUM DAM

she teaches you to cook popular Lao dishes with fresh ingredients and traditional methods. These fun and interactive classes are held in a leafy garden kitchen by the Mekong River, the perfect setting to throw together a tasty laap or mok pa (banana leaf steamed fish) all of which you’ll devour at the end of class. The additional tour of the largest fresh market in Vientiane is great for those new to Lao ingredients. Bookings at The Full Moon Café or via lao-experiences.com, 020 5569 9429. Classes and Food Tours conducted daily

• VIENTIANE BYCYCLE – Tour. Explore Vientiane – Tour. Local tour guides Tuk Tuk Safari specialise in small group educational and interactive tours of Vientiane and surrounds. On this tour patrons will visit the Panyanivej Eco Rice and Fish Farm to have a hand at traditional Lao fishing, rice planting and other farm activities before using fresh farm ingredients to cook a traditional Lao lunch. 020 5433 3089, tours run daytime from Monday to Saturday, www.tuktuksafari.com

• FROM FARM TO MARKET

on two wheels in either a guided half or full-day tour allowing you to uncover a different side to the city. You’ll follow the gentle curve of the Mekong River to explore nearby scenic villages and observe fishermen and local temples. Back in the city centre you’ll pass touristic highlights like glittering temples, the grand Presidential Palace, Patuxai and That Luang while also venturing off the beaten path to capture scenes of Lao daily life in sleepy residential areas. 020 5581 2337, Tours run daily 8am to 5pm, www.vientianebycycle.com

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Luang Prabang – Tour. Get up close to magnificent pachyderms at this tourist destination operated by international specialists and volunteers who aim to rescue, protect and rehabilitate elephants in Laos. There are a myriad of activities on offer for visitors including thrilling elephant rides, bathing elephants in the Nam Kahn River, a basic mahout training course and feedings. You can also stay overnight in on-site accommodation, aptly named the Elephant Lodge. To book and for more information visit elephantvillage-laos. com. Tours run 7 days.

• ELEPHANT VILLAGE

• OCK POP TOK LIVING CRAFTS CENTRE – Class/Craft. Take part in a fun hands-on workshop and learn traditional weaving and dying techniques from skilled Lao artisans at this handicrafts centre set in lush tropical gardens overlooking the Mekong River. A variety of classes suitable for a range of skill levels are on offer or you could visit the weaving centre for a free tour and observe weavers at their craft. Ban Saylom (opposite Phousi Market), 071 212 597, 9am–5pm, 7 days, www.ockpoptok.com • TAMARIND COOKING SCHOOL – Class. This popular cooking class, run by the restaurant of the same name, has been schooling students in the art of laap for years. Participants will first check out ingredients at a local fresh market then head to Tamarind’s lake-side cooking school to cook and, more importantly, eat. The menu consists of a range of Lao classics including jeow spicy dipping sauces and Tamarind’s signature chicken and herb-stuffed lemongrass. To book and for more information visit tamarindlaos.com. Full day classes Mon-Sat 9am–3pm, evening classes Mon-Fri 4pm–8.30pm

| Elephant Village |

| Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre |

| Tamarind Cooking School |

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Pakse • KOFFIE’S COFFEE WORKSHOP PAKSONG – Tour. Explore Southern Laos’ renowned coffee country and see just how beans make it into your morning cup of Joe. You will visit Koffie’s own organic coffee plantation and farm when you’ll see arabica growing, picked, then learn about the husking and drying processes. After lunch you’ll get hands-on in roasting arabica beans yourself and brew yourself a flavourful cup of aromatic java. For more information visit paksong.info/laos_coffee_workshop. php, 020 2276 0439, coffee@paksong.info • SINOUK COFFEE RESORT – Garden. A must-see

if you’re travelling through the Bolaven Plateau, Sinouk is a name synonymous with coffee in Laos. Surrounding the resort are palatial landscaped gardens which include coffee plants, rock gardens, a lake and waterfalls. Visitors can enjoy a signature locally grown cup of coffee from Sinouk’s nearby plantation in the pavilion restaurant or cafe. For more information visit sinoukcoffeeresort.com.

• TREE TOP EXPLORER AT JUNGLE HOTEL PAKSONG – Tour. Green Discovery Laos lead an

unforgettable adventure in an unparalleled South East Asian mountain forest setting of Champassak province. This tour is not for the faint-hearted with zip-lining over gorges and waterfalls and breathtaking views from a canopy walkway leading to great fun in a stunning environment. Retire to the Jungle Hotel Paksong a cluster of private treehouses set amongst the lush forest. The ultimate experience in nature. For more information visit greendiscoverylaos.com.

| Tree Top Explorer |

| Sinouk Coffee Resort |

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VIENTIANE

| Carol Cassidy Textiles |

| Ministry of Silk |

| Saoban Crafts |

• SAOBAN CRAFTS A treasure trove of handmade handicrafts created by over 300 artisans from villages across Laos. In store you’ll find unique woven baskets and textiles, exquisite homewares and contemporary jewellery with most goods crafted from natural dyes, local bamboo and organically grown cotton and proceeds going back to the artist. 97/1 Chao Anou Road, Mon-Sat 9am–8pm, Sun 1pm–8pm, www.saobancrafts.com • LAO FINE ARTS HANDICRAFT JEWELLERY Superbly crafted, resplendent jewellery made from wood, coconut and silver can be bought here. Other contemporary and more traditional items can also be purchased. 550/01 Thatluang Tai Village, Saysettha District, 020 554 26993, 9.30am-5.30pm • NIGHT MARKET Drawing hordes of tourists and locals to the riverside each evening you simply can’t miss the two rows of red-topped marquees along the waterfront mingling with smoky food stalls and mountainous balloon displays. The wares on sale may be aimed predominately towards tourists (think t-shirts, trinkets and Buddhist inspired art) but locals shop here too and there are plenty of bargains to be had. Mekong riverfront, Fa Ngum Rd, Sunset-9pm, 7 days • T’SHOP LAI GALLERY A delightful gallery and crafts store featuring works from local and visiting artists and producing and selling the Les Artisans Lao range of organic skincare and beauty products. The range includes luscious body creams and soaps, all-natural repellents and aromatic oils. Vat Inpeng Street, 021 223178, Mon- Sat 8am–8pm, Sun 10am–6pm, www.artisanslao.com • MINISTRY OF SILK The Ministry of Silk displays a vast array of fine men’s | T'Shop Lai Gallery |

and women’s clothing, fashion accessories, jewellery and handbags. The label is Laos’ first ready-to-wear collection and this flagship is one of the most prestigious stores in Vientiane, serving champagne and wine to customers. 99/01 Nam Phou Square, 021 213776, 9am-9pm, 7 days, www.ministryofsilk.com

• CAROL CASSIDY TEXTILES Intricate traditional Lao textiles are displayed

in this beautiful gallery-workshop whose local weavers have exhibited in US museums. Carol works alongside local weavers to produce some incredibly complex and attractive pieces, specialising in 100% hand-woven silk. Noekummane Rd, Ban Mixay, Mon-Fri 8am-12pm & 2pm-5pm, Sat 8am-12pm, www.laotextiles.com

• FINER THINGS Radiant silks and authentic handicrafts line the walls of

Finer Things. The shop, set over two floors, has a flowing selection of traditional Lao skirts, colourful silks and figurines made from the delicate material. 34/03 Francois Ngin Rd, 9am-6.30pm

• MONUMENT BOOKS Monument Books has good-sized fiction and regional literature sections, as well as children’s travel, arts and history shelves. Travel guidebooks are available and Southeast Asian newspapers and international magazines are just inside the door. Nokeokoummane Rd, 021 243708, Mon-Fri

Luang Prabang • PHOSI MARKET A small distance away from the centre of town lies Phosi Market. This space sees every smell, sound and sight stake a corner as meat, spices, fresh vegetables, and fruits live side by side with those selling phones, watches and house wares. If you’re after a glimpse of local life, don’t miss this. Photisalath Rd, south of Phou Vao Road, 7am-5pm

• L’ETRANGER BOOKS & TEA This quaint book café

• CAMA CRAFTS This is a non-profit self-help project that supports village women by providing a space for them to sell their goods to a wider audience. Handmade products show off traditional patterns and craft techniques and make excellent mementos or gifts. Ounkham Road, Ban Wath Nong, Luang Prabang, +856 71 254594, www.camacrafts.org

• PASSA PAA

• CARUSO LAO All products in here are handmade from

wood or silk and wholly produced in Laos, overseen by the shop’s Canadian owner. There are wooden bowls, bed spreads, Buddha heads and cushions to catch the customer’s eye. Sakkarine Road, 071 254574, 9am-9pm, www.carusolao.com

lies close to the Nam Khan River and sells second-hand books. It’s well-stocked and has novels in many languages that cover the arts, travel, fiction, culture and regional history. Over 70 varieties of tea are for sale upstairs. Phousi Road, Ban Aphay, 071 212880, Mon-Sat 7am-10pm, Sun 10am-10pm

| Passa Paa |

The culmination of British and Lao creative minds, this store is the shopfront for the textile and accessories label of the same name. The label explores the language of desing that has evolved in Laos to re-think, re-interpret, and re-construct patterns, symbols and forms into contemporary bags, scarves, purses and more. 79 Ban Vat Sene, 020 5541 1244, 7 days 8am-8pm, www. passa-paa.com. | Ma Te Sai |

• MA TE SAI A boutique shop with shelves of original souvenirs and handicrafts. The store seeks to help local people by working with them to sell their products and improve their livelihoods. Many of the souvenirs are made from recycled paper, bamboo and other natural materials. Sisangvong Road, Ban Xieng Mouane, 071 260654, 8am-9pm, www.matesai.com • NIGHT MARKET Down the length of Sisavangvong

Rd is the city’s famous Night Market. Weave under awnings to admire handicrafts such as rosewood carvings and silver jewellery, alongside herbal teas, rice paper diaries and beautiful linen dresses. It’s a friendly market and bargains are to be had. Sisangvong Road (to where it meets Settathirath Rd), 5pm-11pm, 7 days (weather dependent)

• OCK POP TOK A shop with a difference. Ock Pop Tok seeks to empower local women by developing their artistic skills and sells their items. Woven textiles, bags and scarves are on offer, while they also run classes for visitors who want to try their hand at production or just admire artisans at work. Sakkarine Road, Ban Vat Sene, 071 253219, 8am-9pm, www.ockpoptok.com • TRADITIONAL ARTS & ETHNOLOGY CENTRE

Although better known as a museum, the centre also supports over 500 handicraft producers from across Laos. They sell beaded necklaces, belts, backpacks, jewellery and lots of other items that showcase the enormous ethnic diversity of Laos. Kitsalat Road, Ban Khamyong, 071 253364, Tue-Sun 9am-6pm, www.taeclaos.org

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VIENTIANE | Settha Palace Hotel |

• Green Park Boutique Hotel – Boutique. Each of the 34 rooms at this exquisite hotel pairs traditional Lao-style orientation with fine contemporary architecture. The elegance of the interiors, both historic and modern, matched with the lush garden setting create a sophisticated blend of style, luxury and relaxing accommodation. Free WiFi, spa, pool, fitness, city shuttle. 12 Khouvieng Road, 021 264 097, greenparkvientiane. com. Open 24 hours. Restaurant open 7 days 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm.

• Phasouk Residence – Mid range. Influenced by traditional Lao architecture Phasouk Residence offers carefully designed and decorated rooms that encapsulate warmth, comfort and relaxation. The specious deluxe suites feature plush king beds, elegant Lao objects and textiles and bay windows opening onto a private balconies. The cosier deluxe rooms offer similar understated elegance with double or twin beds. Free WiFI, spa, transfers. 57/4 Wat Xieng Gneun Road, 021 243 415, phasoukresidence.com. Open 24 hours. • iHouse – Mid-range. Situated behind the iconic Nam

Phou Fountain, a popular gathering place in the heart of Vientiane, iHouse is the perfect option for those who want to stay where the action is without the usual city centre price tag. Tidy, colourful rooms come in a range of configurations from budget to deluxe, all rooms feature comfy queen beds. Free WiFi. 72/6 Pang Kham Street, 021 217 053, ihouse-laos.com. Open 24 hours.

• Mercure Vientiane – Top end. Mercure Vientiane

is a 4 star-hotel that caters to both business and leisure travellers. This charming hotel is positioned conveniently close to Wattay International Airport, the Mekong River waterfront and the town centre with its many restaurants, cafes and bars. Enjoy fantastic service, sumptuous buffet or a la carte dining and a sunny pool terrace bar. Free WiFi, spa, pool, fitness. Unit 10 Samsenthai Road, 021 213 570, accorhotels. com. Open 24 hours. Le Café open 7 days 6am – 10pm, Poolside and Lobby bars open 7 days 7am – 10pm.

• Chanthapanya Hotel – Mid range. Conveniently located in the heart of the city centre you’ll be at the doorstep of Vientiane’s myriad of bars, cafes and restaurants in this family-run hotel. The warm and inviting atmosphere extends to the spotless guest rooms which are decorated with Lao artworks and ornate carved timber furniture. Free WiFi, pool, business, transfers. Rue Nokeokoumane, Ban Mixay, 021 244 284, chanthapanyahotel.com. Open 24 hours.

| Ansara Hotel |

• Ansara Hotel – Boutique. Tucked down a leafy

laneway this boutique destination will delight even the most discerning guests. An elegant hideaway in the bustling city centre the 14 rooms, with private balconies looking onto manicured tropical gardens, exude understated colonial charm. In this location you’ll be surrounded by countless dining options but with excellent in-house restaurant La Signature at hand you won’t need to look far for exquisite epicure. Free WiFi, breakfast included, business. Quai Fa Ngum, Ban Vat Chan Tha, 021 213 514, ansarahotel.com. Open 24 hours.

– Top end. This remarkable hotel is housed in a 1930s mansion which has been restored to its former imperial glory capturing an era of classic elegance, gracious service and French colonial sophistication. Light-filled rooms enjoy high ceilings and elegant touches like four-poster beds with down feather pillows and hardwood floors. Free WiFi, pool, breakfast included, business. 6 Pang Kham Street, 021 217 581, setthapalace.com. Open 24 hours.

• Settha Palace Hotel

– Mid range/ boutique. A hip 1960s house turned hotel, the Mandala Boutique Hotel has operated under many guises but none as cool as this boutique stay. In recent years the villa has been refreshed with colourful modern rooms but the unique spirit of the structure has been retained. Stay in and experience the beautiful grounds at night at the open air Mandala Restaurant. Free WiFi, bicycles to rent, transfers. Baan Phiavat, 021 214 493, mandalahotel. asia. Open 24 hours.

• Mandala Boutique Hotel

Vientiane’s Only Historical Luxury Hotel

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

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VIENTIANE • Salana Boutique Hotel – Top end. The grand façade of the Salana Boutique Hotel embodies sophistication and inside guests can escape the hustle and bustle and experience premier Lao hospitality. Designed to impress even the most discerning guests the ample rooms feature luxurious bedding and are tastefully decorated with Lao objects d’art. Free WiFi, spa, business. 112 Chao Anou Road, 021 254 254, salanaboutique.com. Open 24 hours.

• Auberge Sala Inpeng – Mid range. If you’re looking to get back to nature the nine private bungalows surrounded by tranquil tropical gardens at Auberge Sala Inpeng might just do the trick. Situated in the Inpeng Temple Area of Vientiane you’d never know the riverfront and bustling city are right at your doorstep. The bungalows are designed like traditional timber Lao houses and are completed with comfortable furnishings, air-conditioning and private bathrooms. 63/6 Inpeng Street, Ban Wat Chanh, 021 242 021, salalao.com/Sala_Inpeng/ Content/Inpeng.htm. Open 24 hours.

• Lao Plaza Hotel – Top end. A preferred destination for travellers to Vientiane this is the country’s first five star hotel and is setting new standards in luxury hospitality. Over 130 rooms pair thoughtful Lao-influenced décor with modern conveniences. Opportunities for relaxation abound with a glistening swimming pool and traditional massages available from the spa. An array of cuisines are on offer in-house. Free WiFi, spa, pool, fitness, business. 63 Samsenthai Road, 021 218 800, laoplazahotel.com. Open 24 hours.

• Vientiane Garden Hotel – Mid range. Situated in a peaceful corner of the city this small hotel offers contemporarystyled rooms surrounding a tranquil swimming pool and gardens. A truly modern experience each spacious room is complete with comfy beds, newly renovated bathrooms, LCD televisions and slick decor. The dedicated and professional staff will go out of their way to make your stay in Vientiane a special one. Free WiFi, pool. 56 Sihome Road, Ban Sihome, 021 241 963, vientianegardenhotel.com. Open 24 hours.

– Top end. Perfect for an extended stay Parkview offers wellappointed serviced apartments in studio, one or two bedroom configurations. Situated in downtown Vientiane with easy access to Wattay International Airport Parkview offers modern amenities to the business travelled will a fully equipped meeting room and business centre. Top of the range recreational facilities include immaculate tennis courts, swimming pool, fitness centre, sauna and Jacuzzi. Luang Prabang Road, 021 250 888, parkviewexecutive.com. Open 24 hours.

• Parkview Executive Suites

• Don Chan Palace, Hotel & Convention Centre – Top end. Commanding attention from its location on the edge of the majestic Mekong River, Don Chan Palace offers sweeping views of Vientiane and northern Thailand. Each room, from the Classic to the Presidential Suite has been designed for comfort and convenience with plush beds, luxurious bathtubs and quality amenities. Sporting, leisure and dining facilities are first rate. Free WiFi, spa, pool, fitness, business, shuttle service. Unit 6 Piwat Village, Sisatanak District, 021 244 288, donchanpalacelaopdr.com. Open 24 hours.

| Vientiane Plaza Hotel |

• Vientiane Plaza Hotel – Mid range. A top choice for business traveller and officials the Vientiane Plaza Hotel. For those looking for a business base while in town the convenient on-site office complex has hot desks and private spaces for rent. To unwind the fullyequipped fitness centre, tennis court and massage and spa centre are on hand. Spa, business. Sailom Road, Hatsady Neua Village, 020 2300 0433, vientianeplazalao. com. Open 24 hours. • Rashmi’s Plaza Hotel – Top end. A stylish and modern luxury hotel with easy access to the city centre and cultural and tourist sites. Guest rooms offer a range of accommodation options from cosy to decadent elegance and each room is a unique space specifically crafted to meet the tastes of guests with modern furnishings and stylish finishing touches. Free WiFi, pool, spa, fitness. Thadeua Road, Ban Beungkhayong-Tai, 021 315 088, rashmishotel.com. Open 24 hours.

Luang Prabang | 3 Nagas Hotel | – Boutique. An intimate and charming boutique hotel situated on Luang Prabang’s main street across three heritage UNESCO-protected buildings. Each of the 15 rooms embodies simple and traditional sophistication with exotic hardwood floors, torchis walls and clay roof tiles. A range of configurations offer king and twin beds and you can opt for exclusive airport transfers and city tours in one of two immaculate vintage cars. Free WiFi, breakfast inclusive. Sakkaline Road, Ban Vat Nong, 071 253 888, 3-nagas.com. Open 24 hours.

• 3 Nagas Hotel

• Le Sen Boutique Hotel – Top end. Just a 15

minute stroll from old Luang Prabang but from Le Sen’s lush secluded gardens the city centre will feel a world away. Polished stone and neutral palettes create a slick yet soothing contemporary ambience to the 19 spacious rooms, each of which come with private balconies that overlook a central swimming pool. Free WiFi, pool, fitness, shuttle service to city centre. 113 Manomai Road, Ban Mano, 071 261 668, lesenhotel.com. Open 24 hours.

• Villa Maly Hotel

– Top end. A residence of charm, 33 art deco-inspired rooms are housed in seven low-rise buildings on this sprawling estate, just a short walk from the historic heart of the city. Each room is furnished with a blend of French and British colonial touches including classic adornments like hardwood floors, ornate rugs and old-world armchairs and with pool and garden views has the feel of staying in a private villa. Free WiFi, spa, pool. BP 158, 071 253 902, villa-maly. com. Open 24 hours.

• The Apsara – Boutique. A truly beautiful experience

– Mid range/Boutique. Nestled on the banks of the Mekong River, awardwinning textile centre Ock Tok Pop have created a truly relaxing and unique stay in a tropical paradise. Each of the four rooms combines contemporary design with colourful tribe motifs and the two Mekong facing rooms offer unrivalled views of the river. A free shuttle service will take you into town. Free WiFi, breakfast inclusive. Ban Saylom (opposite Phousi market), 071 212 597, ockpoptok.com. Open 24 hours.

• Satri House – Boutique. Located in the heart of the

• Ock Pop Tok Villa

in Luang Prabang The Apsara cultivates a sense of effortless elegance from the banks of the Nam Khan. Colonial charm meets luxe cool in each of the spacious bedrooms with crisp linens, traditional silks, quirky objects d’art with balconies and terraces overlooking the river. If you’re looking to spend your holiday poolside the equally captivating sister hotel The Apsara Rive Droite is just across the river. Free WiFi, breakfast inclusive. Ban Phanluang, 071 254 252, theapsara.com. Open 24 hours.

city, Satri House was built at the turn of the last century as the residence of Price Soupha-nouvong. It has been restored to its original elegance and is now renowned as one of the most exquisite structures in the city. Superior crafted wood furnishings are an ambient addition to each of the 31 rooms which feature generous balconies that look onto the manicured grounds. Free WiFi, pool, spa. 57 Photisarath Road, Ban Thatluang, 071 253 491, satrihouse.com. Open 24 hours.

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Pakse • Waterfall Resort Ban E-Tu Paksong

– Mid range. A small cluster of charming bungalows on the site of a former coffee and tea plantation just outside of Paksong. A perfect spot for rest and relaxation if you’re travelling through the Bolaven Plateau, the resort offers spotless private villas with helpful staff who can guide you on what to see, do and eat in the area. The restaurant serves traditional Lao fare made from fresh local ingredients. 020 2866 2809, waterfalletupaksong.com.

• Pakse Hotel – Mid range. The first multistorey

building constructed under the supervision of the last King of Southern Laos, this hotel was originally the entertainment hub of Pakse housing a casino and cinema. Now owned and run by a French-Lao couple the hotel blends local influences with French Indochina spirit with cosy rooms and excellent service. Street 5, Ban Watkouang, 031 212 131, hotelpakse.com. Open 24 hours.

• Sinouk Coffee Resort – Mid range. Two chalets

nestled amongst of the famous Sinouk Coffee plantation and manicured gardens. Guests have the choice to stay alongside a bubbling river and small waterfall at Chalet I or closer to the plantation in Chalet II, each bungalow contains spotless private ensuite bedrooms and a shared lounge and living room and terrace but it’s so peaceful here you’d barely know you had any neighbours. Tatheng – Bolaven Plateau, sinouk@laopdr.com, sinoukcoffeeresort.com.

| Sinouk Coffee Resort |

Savannakhet – Mid range. Housed in a renovated 1920s colonial building Sala Savanh sits pretty in the heart of Savannakhet historical centre. Five superior rooms are neat and tidy with high ceilings, vintage-look cane furniture and spacious balconies on the upper floor. Free WiFi. 020 5564 5111, salalao@laotel.com, salalao.com/Salalao/Content/Savanh.htm.

• Sala Savanh

• Leena Guesthouse – Mid range. A friendly option if you’re passing through Savannakhet, Leena’s is a little off the main drag but you can rent a bike for a quick ride. There’s a variety of tidy rooms on offer for different price ranges so ask to take a look at what’s available to find one that’s right for you and your travelling budget, service is super friendly so they will be happy to help. Close to a number of cheap eats, internet cafes and the Mekong River. Free WiFi. Chaokeem Road, 020 9927 4994, leenaguesthouse.blogspot.com.