http://www.orientaltrips.net Asia travel guide Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:23:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.orientaltrips.net/luang-prabang-among-top-ten-of-the-world%e2%80%99s-best-cities/ http://www.orientaltrips.net/luang-prabang-among-top-ten-of-the-world%e2%80%99s-best-cities/#comments Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:46:00 +0000 Luangprabang2day
Luang Prabang, a UNESCO-listed world heritage town in northern Laos, has been ranked as a top-ten of the world's best cities, according to the latest survey of Travel + Leisure magazine. Completing the top 10 list of best cities behind Udaipur this year were Cape Town, South Africa; Bangkok, Thailand; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Luang Prabang, Laos; New York, the US; Rome, Italy and San Francisco, the US. Based on the 14th annual World's Best Awards given by the magazine www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2009/, Luang Prabang, the ancient royal capital of Laos and the jewel of tourism of Laos and the region, is ranked the seventh.
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Luang Prabang, a UNESCO-listed world heritage town in northern Laos, has been ranked as a top-ten of the world's best cities, according to the latest survey of Travel + Leisure magazine. Completing the top 10 list of best cities behind Udaipur this year were Cape Town, South Africa; Bangkok, Thailand; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Luang Prabang, Laos; New York, the US; Rome, Italy and San Francisco, the US. Based on the 14th annual World's Best Awards given by the magazine www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2009/, Luang Prabang, the ancient royal capital of Laos and the jewel of tourism of Laos and the region, is ranked the seventh.
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]]> http://www.orientaltrips.net/luang-prabang-among-top-ten-of-the-world%e2%80%99s-best-cities/feed/ 0 http://www.orientaltrips.net/100-buddha-statues-steal-away-in-luang-prabang/ http://www.orientaltrips.net/100-buddha-statues-steal-away-in-luang-prabang/#comments Mon, 11 May 2009 02:23:00 +0000 Luangprabang2day
Some 100 statutes of Buddha have been stolen or lost in Luang Prabang province over the past five years, according to a 2009 investigation report by the province's Heritage Department.

That Luang temple and Vat Si Phouttabath have suffered the largest losses.

The report stated about 16 statues had also gone missing from Vat Xiengthong, one of the oldest temples in the province.

Luang Prabang Provincial Heritage Department Deputy Director, Mr Bounkhoung Khouthao, said most of the statues were stolen in 2006, with most thought to have been crafted in the 14th century...

The stolen pieces were made of wood or bronze and were taken from 42 temples in the town of Luang Prabang .

“Unfortunately the thefts are continuing,” Mr Bounkhoung said.

The most recently reported theft took place last month at Vat Phousi in the heart of Luang Prabang.

Most people agree the scale of the thefts is reason for officials from the relevant sectors to cooperate more closely and take more steps to tackle the problem.

Some officials fear the mounting thefts could affect the overall image of the World Heritage Site and even the tourism industry.

High market demand for valuable artefacts is increasing the likelihood Buddha images will be stolen. Mr Bounkhoung said an old statue could fetch 200,000 to 300,000 baht (48 million to 72 million kip).

He said novices living in Luang Prabang temples had been assigned to sleep close to the rooms in which Buddha statues were housed, but this would only solve the problem in the short term.

What was needed, he said, was for village authorities and temple guards to take more responsibility in preventing the theft of the statues.

Mr Bounkhoung said very few stolen Buddha images had been recovered even though most of them were registered in the province.

He congratulated one British man who brought four Buddha images back to Luang Prabang in 2007 after buying them from traders.

Two of the four images were found in Chiang Mai , Thailand , one in France and another in the UK .

There are known to be at least 20,000 Buddha images in Luang Prabang province, most of them in the main town.

Officials say there are ongoing thefts of Buddha images from Ting Cave , none of which have been registered by authorities.

Officials have met on several occasions to discuss the problem but the thefts continue.

From January to March this year, more than 200 Buddha images were stolen from four temples in Savannakhet province.

Most of them were less than 100 years old, were made of bronze and weighed 100 to 300 grammes.

By Somsack Pongkhao
Vientianetimes

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Some 100 statutes of Buddha have been stolen or lost in Luang Prabang province over the past five years, according to a 2009 investigation report by the province's Heritage Department.

That Luang temple and Vat Si Phouttabath have suffered the largest losses.

The report stated about 16 statues had also gone missing from Vat Xiengthong, one of the oldest temples in the province.

Luang Prabang Provincial Heritage Department Deputy Director, Mr Bounkhoung Khouthao, said most of the statues were stolen in 2006, with most thought to have been crafted in the 14th century...

The stolen pieces were made of wood or bronze and were taken from 42 temples in the town of Luang Prabang .

“Unfortunately the thefts are continuing,” Mr Bounkhoung said.

The most recently reported theft took place last month at Vat Phousi in the heart of Luang Prabang.

Most people agree the scale of the thefts is reason for officials from the relevant sectors to cooperate more closely and take more steps to tackle the problem.

Some officials fear the mounting thefts could affect the overall image of the World Heritage Site and even the tourism industry.

High market demand for valuable artefacts is increasing the likelihood Buddha images will be stolen. Mr Bounkhoung said an old statue could fetch 200,000 to 300,000 baht (48 million to 72 million kip).

He said novices living in Luang Prabang temples had been assigned to sleep close to the rooms in which Buddha statues were housed, but this would only solve the problem in the short term.

What was needed, he said, was for village authorities and temple guards to take more responsibility in preventing the theft of the statues.

Mr Bounkhoung said very few stolen Buddha images had been recovered even though most of them were registered in the province.

He congratulated one British man who brought four Buddha images back to Luang Prabang in 2007 after buying them from traders.

Two of the four images were found in Chiang Mai , Thailand , one in France and another in the UK .

There are known to be at least 20,000 Buddha images in Luang Prabang province, most of them in the main town.

Officials say there are ongoing thefts of Buddha images from Ting Cave , none of which have been registered by authorities.

Officials have met on several occasions to discuss the problem but the thefts continue.

From January to March this year, more than 200 Buddha images were stolen from four temples in Savannakhet province.

Most of them were less than 100 years old, were made of bronze and weighed 100 to 300 grammes.

By Somsack Pongkhao
Vientianetimes

]]> http://www.orientaltrips.net/100-buddha-statues-steal-away-in-luang-prabang/feed/ 0 http://www.orientaltrips.net/a-economics-student-crown-nang-sangkane-2552/ http://www.orientaltrips.net/a-economics-student-crown-nang-sangkane-2552/#comments Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:27:00 +0000 Luangprabang2day

Nang Sangkane 2552, the Luang Prabang traditional beauty pageant came to the conclusion last night, and this year a student at Soupanouvong University, faculty of economics, majoring in economics of information technology was crowned the title holder.

Noy, Alouny Manyvong, she's 19 year old, representing Naluang village become the new Nang Sangkane LuangPrabang. More photos

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Nang Sangkane 2552, the Luang Prabang traditional beauty pageant came to the conclusion last night, and this year a student at Soupanouvong University, faculty of economics, majoring in economics of information technology was crowned the title holder.

Noy, Alouny Manyvong, she's 19 year old, representing Naluang village become the new Nang Sangkane LuangPrabang. More photos

]]> http://www.orientaltrips.net/a-economics-student-crown-nang-sangkane-2552/feed/ 0 http://www.orientaltrips.net/good-bye-miss-sangkane-2008/ http://www.orientaltrips.net/good-bye-miss-sangkane-2008/#comments Sat, 11 Apr 2009 05:45:00 +0000 Luangprabang2day
Pavenaphone Boupha was crowned Miss Sangkane on April 12, 2008. A student at Lao-American college came back from Vientiane in early April to participate in the events.

At the conclusion of the competition, She was crowned Miss Sangkane 2008, becoming the third person in her family to crowned the title of Miss Sangkane.
At Miss Sangkane in the past 34 and 29 years, in 1975 and 1980, her mother and mother's sister was crowed the title.

Click here to

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Pavenaphone Boupha was crowned Miss Sangkane on April 12, 2008. A student at Lao-American college came back from Vientiane in early April to participate in the events.

At the conclusion of the competition, She was crowned Miss Sangkane 2008, becoming the third person in her family to crowned the title of Miss Sangkane.
At Miss Sangkane in the past 34 and 29 years, in 1975 and 1980, her mother and mother's sister was crowed the title.

Click here to

]]> http://www.orientaltrips.net/good-bye-miss-sangkane-2008/feed/ 0 http://www.orientaltrips.net/are-you-ready-for-lao-new-year-2009/ http://www.orientaltrips.net/are-you-ready-for-lao-new-year-2009/#comments Sat, 11 Apr 2009 05:13:00 +0000 Luangprabang2day
When the weather gets hot, the cicadas chirp, shrubs come into bloom and the air is filled with the scent of frangipani, it is a sure sign that Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year) is just around the corner.

The New Year water festival is a special festival for the people of Laos and neighbouring countries, where it is celebrated nationwide. This year the festival in Laos takes place from April 14-16.

Champassak Tourism De partment Deputy Director, Sivon Vangkonvilay, said they would hold similar activities to the ones they had last year and that are organised by other provinces - a Nang Sangkhan (Miss Lao New Year 2009) beauty contest and other activities that visitors will enjoy.

This year, however, we are designating a special area for the celebrations by closing the road along the Mekong riverbank. People will be able to have fun down by the river and on the sandbanks, and it will also be easier for the police to manage the crowd and reduce road accidents, Sivon said.

Other plans in Champassak include a larger Miss Lao New Year parade, with decorated floats and more performers and people to be involved. The parade starts in the city centre and will follow a 1km route to Luang temple.

Food and drink stalls will also be set up for visitors in popular tourist destinations such as Khone Phapheng, Vat Phou, Tad Fan, and Pha Suam.

Savannakhet province is preparing for the festival by decorating the city with flowering shrubs and clearing a road to a new tourist site, Nong Lom, which is just outside the city centre. There will be food, local produce and water stalls available. Last year the province attracted 120,000 visitors and this year is hoping to attract as many tourists as possible.

An added attraction in Savannakhet province over the New Year is Tanghang Stupa, where visitors and devotees will gather to pour water on each other and trickle scented water over the ancient Buddha image. The highlight of Lao New Year celebrations in Khammuan province will take on a different face this year as authorities have allocated a specific area for activities in a bid to reduce road accidents. The 1km square area in central Thakhek district is close to the riverside and the provincial stadium.

For those who don't want to travel out of Vientiane , there is plenty to do here. This year's celebrations will be similar to those in Luang Prabang, with a Nang Sangkhan (Miss Lao New Year) parade. The organisers are currently in the process of selecting the most beautiful young women to sit atop the floats.

Another option for those wanting to celebrate Lao New Year is to take a trip to Viengvieng, where you can be sure of a good time. The limestone mountains, river kayaking, mountain climbing and trekking will get you out of the city. Vangvieng district, in Vientiane province, is a 3-4 hour drive north of the capital.

But if you want a taste of the original spirit of Lao New Year, you should go to Luang Prabang province where you can see the traditional customs on display, as they have been practised for many years.

Director of the Luang Prabang Tourism Department, Mr Khamphuay Phommavong, said this year's activities would be the same as usual, except for a trade fair organised by the Department of Export Promotion of Thailand's Ministry of Commerce.

The trade fair will take place at the That Luang Stupa (the old stadium) on April 10, and will be followed by performances such as magic tricks and songs and dances performed by artists from the Information and Culture Department.

There will also be acts from local recording companies, including The Cells, Overdance, A'pact, Touly, Hip Hop Banna, Black 5, Big T and some Thai artists.

The Nang Sangkhan beauty contest will take place over two days, April 12-13, on the same stage as the concert.

"The Hotel and Guesthouse Association is expecting a large increase in visitors to the province and 90 percent of hotels and guesthouses have already been booked. To accommodate everyone we are working with local residents to provide home-stays ranging in price from 100,000 -150,000 kip. Anyone who's interested can contact us directly," Mr Khamphuay said.

"This year we are working with traffic police and residents in the area of Phousy Stupa to ease traffic congestion and facilitate transportation to and from events by providing car parks. Last year we had a problem with traffic jams due to the large number of visitors all wanting to be in the same place at the same time."

On April 14 everyone can gather to make sand stupas on the riverbank in Chomphet district.

On April 15 there will be a textile exhibition in Phanom village along with traditional dancing by local ethnic groups. There'll also be a baci ceremony followed by the Nang Sangkhan parade in the afternoon, which goes from Thatnoi temple to Xiengthong temple.

On April 16 there will be an almsgiving ceremony at Phousy, followed by a spirit worship ceremony in the evening.

Vientianetimes

]]>
When the weather gets hot, the cicadas chirp, shrubs come into bloom and the air is filled with the scent of frangipani, it is a sure sign that Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year) is just around the corner.

The New Year water festival is a special festival for the people of Laos and neighbouring countries, where it is celebrated nationwide. This year the festival in Laos takes place from April 14-16.

Champassak Tourism De partment Deputy Director, Sivon Vangkonvilay, said they would hold similar activities to the ones they had last year and that are organised by other provinces - a Nang Sangkhan (Miss Lao New Year 2009) beauty contest and other activities that visitors will enjoy.

This year, however, we are designating a special area for the celebrations by closing the road along the Mekong riverbank. People will be able to have fun down by the river and on the sandbanks, and it will also be easier for the police to manage the crowd and reduce road accidents, Sivon said.

Other plans in Champassak include a larger Miss Lao New Year parade, with decorated floats and more performers and people to be involved. The parade starts in the city centre and will follow a 1km route to Luang temple.

Food and drink stalls will also be set up for visitors in popular tourist destinations such as Khone Phapheng, Vat Phou, Tad Fan, and Pha Suam.

Savannakhet province is preparing for the festival by decorating the city with flowering shrubs and clearing a road to a new tourist site, Nong Lom, which is just outside the city centre. There will be food, local produce and water stalls available. Last year the province attracted 120,000 visitors and this year is hoping to attract as many tourists as possible.

An added attraction in Savannakhet province over the New Year is Tanghang Stupa, where visitors and devotees will gather to pour water on each other and trickle scented water over the ancient Buddha image. The highlight of Lao New Year celebrations in Khammuan province will take on a different face this year as authorities have allocated a specific area for activities in a bid to reduce road accidents. The 1km square area in central Thakhek district is close to the riverside and the provincial stadium.

For those who don't want to travel out of Vientiane , there is plenty to do here. This year's celebrations will be similar to those in Luang Prabang, with a Nang Sangkhan (Miss Lao New Year) parade. The organisers are currently in the process of selecting the most beautiful young women to sit atop the floats.

Another option for those wanting to celebrate Lao New Year is to take a trip to Viengvieng, where you can be sure of a good time. The limestone mountains, river kayaking, mountain climbing and trekking will get you out of the city. Vangvieng district, in Vientiane province, is a 3-4 hour drive north of the capital.

But if you want a taste of the original spirit of Lao New Year, you should go to Luang Prabang province where you can see the traditional customs on display, as they have been practised for many years.

Director of the Luang Prabang Tourism Department, Mr Khamphuay Phommavong, said this year's activities would be the same as usual, except for a trade fair organised by the Department of Export Promotion of Thailand's Ministry of Commerce.

The trade fair will take place at the That Luang Stupa (the old stadium) on April 10, and will be followed by performances such as magic tricks and songs and dances performed by artists from the Information and Culture Department.

There will also be acts from local recording companies, including The Cells, Overdance, A'pact, Touly, Hip Hop Banna, Black 5, Big T and some Thai artists.

The Nang Sangkhan beauty contest will take place over two days, April 12-13, on the same stage as the concert.

"The Hotel and Guesthouse Association is expecting a large increase in visitors to the province and 90 percent of hotels and guesthouses have already been booked. To accommodate everyone we are working with local residents to provide home-stays ranging in price from 100,000 -150,000 kip. Anyone who's interested can contact us directly," Mr Khamphuay said.

"This year we are working with traffic police and residents in the area of Phousy Stupa to ease traffic congestion and facilitate transportation to and from events by providing car parks. Last year we had a problem with traffic jams due to the large number of visitors all wanting to be in the same place at the same time."

On April 14 everyone can gather to make sand stupas on the riverbank in Chomphet district.

On April 15 there will be a textile exhibition in Phanom village along with traditional dancing by local ethnic groups. There'll also be a baci ceremony followed by the Nang Sangkhan parade in the afternoon, which goes from Thatnoi temple to Xiengthong temple.

On April 16 there will be an almsgiving ceremony at Phousy, followed by a spirit worship ceremony in the evening.

Vientianetimes

]]> http://www.orientaltrips.net/are-you-ready-for-lao-new-year-2009/feed/ 0 http://www.orientaltrips.net/lao-traditional-calendar-2552/ http://www.orientaltrips.net/lao-traditional-calendar-2552/#comments Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:35:00 +0000 Luangprabang2day

Clcik here to...

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Clcik here to...

]]> http://www.orientaltrips.net/lao-traditional-calendar-2552/feed/ 0 http://www.orientaltrips.net/the-new-domain-name-wwwluangprabangtodaycom/ http://www.orientaltrips.net/the-new-domain-name-wwwluangprabangtodaycom/#comments Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:34:00 +0000 Luangprabang2day

Dear visitors !

From now on, you can visit this site at www.luangprabangtoday.com

Thanks for visiting.

]]>

Dear visitors !

From now on, you can visit this site at www.luangprabangtoday.com

Thanks for visiting.

]]> http://www.orientaltrips.net/the-new-domain-name-wwwluangprabangtodaycom/feed/ 0 http://www.orientaltrips.net/luang-prabang-girls-join-miss-aponelao-2008/ http://www.orientaltrips.net/luang-prabang-girls-join-miss-aponelao-2008/#comments Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:03:00 +0000 Luangprabang2day

The 3rd Miss Aponelao or Miss Aponelao 2008 will take place at the National Culture Hall in Vientiane on Saturday 20th of Decamber 2008.

Miss Aponelao 2008 will air live form Vientiane on LNTV1 and Laostar Channel.
This year there are three Luang Prabang girls pass to 18 finalist, two of them girls was crowned the second runner up Nang Sangkane 2007 and five runner up Nang Sangkane 2008.

Please you vote for them to win Miss Aponelao Popular vote 2008 via Tigo mobile network, Click at here for how to vote !

More photos...

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The 3rd Miss Aponelao or Miss Aponelao 2008 will take place at the National Culture Hall in Vientiane on Saturday 20th of Decamber 2008.

Miss Aponelao 2008 will air live form Vientiane on LNTV1 and Laostar Channel.
This year there are three Luang Prabang girls pass to 18 finalist, two of them girls was crowned the second runner up Nang Sangkane 2007 and five runner up Nang Sangkane 2008.

Please you vote for them to win Miss Aponelao Popular vote 2008 via Tigo mobile network, Click at here for how to vote !

More photos...

]]> http://www.orientaltrips.net/luang-prabang-girls-join-miss-aponelao-2008/feed/ 0 http://www.orientaltrips.net/investors-propose-us2-billion-project-in-luang-prabang/ http://www.orientaltrips.net/investors-propose-us2-billion-project-in-luang-prabang/#comments Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:00:00 +0000 Luangprabang2day

Lao and Korean investors are considering spending US$2 billion to develop a 3000 hectare site near the World Heritage listed town of Luang Prabang .

If it proceeds the project, known as Diamond City , will be located in Chomphet district of Luang Prabang province and will include tourism, financial and recreational services.

The prospective investors are four Lao companies, represented by Nakornluang New Century Company, and 10 Korean companies, represented by KPL Development Company.

They signed a memorandum of understanding in Luang Prabang this week to outline their own cooperation, and will now prepare documents seeking government approval to be presented to the Planning and Investment Ministry next week.

Nakornluang New Century Company Managing Director, Mr Thongphanh Rattanasamay, said pending government approval, the site would be developed to include a five-star hotel, apartments, resorts, banking services, a trade centre, agricultural facilities and other businesses.

To complete the project the investors will establish utilities such as electricity, water and telecommunications, in addition to building a public park and a road from Chomphet district to Hongsa district in Xayabouly province.

They will also build a bridge across the Mekong River from Luang Prabang town to Xiengman village in Chompet district.

Mr Thongphanh said the proposed site was state-owned land which was outside the World Heritage listed area and was not occupied by many houses.

The investors will seek a land concession period of 50 years with the option of extending this period by an additional 20 years before ownership is transferred to the Lao government.

Mr Thongphanh said if the project went ahead it would create a new city in Luang Prabang.

“The Lao companies will be responsible for coordinating activities and documents in Laos , while the Korean companies will provide funding to the project,” he said.

“It is very big project and a huge investment, which the investors hope to recoup through income generated by the facilities to be built, such as hotels, bridge fees and other services.”

Luang Prabang Planning and Investment Department Director, Mr Bounnhang Phongphichit, said the project was still in the very early stages.

“We will have more discussions with those companies before any progress can be made,” he said.

The Korean companies expressed an interest in investing in Laos after reading a Lao government website which listed Chomphet district as a district the government wanted to develop.

By Panyasith Thammavongsa
--------------------------
From Samakomlao, Thanks...

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Lao and Korean investors are considering spending US$2 billion to develop a 3000 hectare site near the World Heritage listed town of Luang Prabang .

If it proceeds the project, known as Diamond City , will be located in Chomphet district of Luang Prabang province and will include tourism, financial and recreational services.

The prospective investors are four Lao companies, represented by Nakornluang New Century Company, and 10 Korean companies, represented by KPL Development Company.

They signed a memorandum of understanding in Luang Prabang this week to outline their own cooperation, and will now prepare documents seeking government approval to be presented to the Planning and Investment Ministry next week.

Nakornluang New Century Company Managing Director, Mr Thongphanh Rattanasamay, said pending government approval, the site would be developed to include a five-star hotel, apartments, resorts, banking services, a trade centre, agricultural facilities and other businesses.

To complete the project the investors will establish utilities such as electricity, water and telecommunications, in addition to building a public park and a road from Chomphet district to Hongsa district in Xayabouly province.

They will also build a bridge across the Mekong River from Luang Prabang town to Xiengman village in Chompet district.

Mr Thongphanh said the proposed site was state-owned land which was outside the World Heritage listed area and was not occupied by many houses.

The investors will seek a land concession period of 50 years with the option of extending this period by an additional 20 years before ownership is transferred to the Lao government.

Mr Thongphanh said if the project went ahead it would create a new city in Luang Prabang.

“The Lao companies will be responsible for coordinating activities and documents in Laos , while the Korean companies will provide funding to the project,” he said.

“It is very big project and a huge investment, which the investors hope to recoup through income generated by the facilities to be built, such as hotels, bridge fees and other services.”

Luang Prabang Planning and Investment Department Director, Mr Bounnhang Phongphichit, said the project was still in the very early stages.

“We will have more discussions with those companies before any progress can be made,” he said.

The Korean companies expressed an interest in investing in Laos after reading a Lao government website which listed Chomphet district as a district the government wanted to develop.

By Panyasith Thammavongsa
--------------------------
From Samakomlao, Thanks...

]]> http://www.orientaltrips.net/investors-propose-us2-billion-project-in-luang-prabang/feed/ 0 http://www.orientaltrips.net/the-street-along-mekong-and-khan-river-under-water/ http://www.orientaltrips.net/the-street-along-mekong-and-khan-river-under-water/#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:17:00 +0000 Luangprabang2day Click to..

]]> Click to..

]]> http://www.orientaltrips.net/the-street-along-mekong-and-khan-river-under-water/feed/ 0