Posted by Luangprabang2day on Sep 2, 2009 in
Laos 
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.
More detail Tags: Luang Prabang
Posted by Luangprabang2day on Sep 2, 2009 in
Laos 
Transportation and travel from the central to northern parts of Laos will be shorter once a new bypass road linking Vientiane province to Luang Prabang is completed.
The 68km-long Kasy-Nan Road , seven metres in width, will link Kasy district in Vientiane province to Nan district in Luang Prabang province.
The proposed route is about 79 km shorter than the existing 13 North Road .
“In addition, the new road will have fewer curves and drop-offs than the existing one, which means travelling on the Kasy-Nan Road will be safer and less time-consuming,” project director Mr Inpong Soukkhavong said.
Surveying work began in 2006.
The state-funded road is valued at more than US$60 million (more than 509 billion kip). It is approximately 26 percent complete and expected to be finished by 2013.
Once the new road is complete, it is expected that it will boost economic growth through transport service.
While the new road is expected to be more popular among road users, Mr Inpong said the existing 13 North Road would still play an important role for travellers, especially for tourism purposes.
“Once the road is complete and opened for use, it will be the main transport and travel channel, as it is safer, saves time and cuts transport costs,” Mr Inpong told Vientiane Times.
However, major work on the new road construction has been temporarily stopped during rainy season.
According to Office Head of the road construction company, Mr Phouvanh Kongkeo, the road does not cut through Phoukhoun ( Khoun Mountain ) like the 13 North Road , avoiding the resulting dangerous curves and high cliffs.
He said the route of the new road was flatter, including through Thongphachia, rather than the more mountainous areas of the present road.
“Due to its shorter distance with fewer curves, traveling along the new road will be faster,” Mr Phouvanh said
It is and it'sexpected to take only about two hours from Kasy to Luang Prabang instead of about four hours as on the existing 13 North Road,” he said.
Mr Phouvanh believes that the new road will reduce the number of accidents among travelers to the north.
Construction of the new road is also seen as a means of improving transport links to an important tourist attraction, the historical Khounlang cave in Kasy district.
Major work on the new road construction has been temporarily stopped for the rainy season.
By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
----------------------
from Vientianetimes
via samakomlao's Web Board
Posted by Luangprabang2day on Jul 9, 2009 in
Laos 
(KPL) A meeting was held on 7 July in the northern province of Luang Prabang to mark the 100th birth anniversary of beloved late President Souphanouvong ( 13 July 1909 – 13 July, 2009 ).
Attending at the meeting was Vice President Bounnhang Vorachit, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, ministers, deputy ministers, provincial governors from northern provinces, military officers , students and local people, totaling 2,000.
Addressing the meeting, Mr. Bounheaung Douangprachanh, Governor of Luan Prabang g expressed the Lao people’s and armed forces’ gratitude and respect for late President Souphanounvong who was a model leader of the Lao People ‘s Revolutionary Party and the Lao nation. He also said that President Souphanouvong was a senior leader who always paid attention to increasing the strength and influence of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.More Photos
Through his life, he was committed to solidarity and unity under the guidelines and policies of the party.In the morning session, the ceremonies to open the President Souphanouvong Monument, park and photo exhibition was also held with the participation of party and government leaders from central and local level.
Speaking at the ceremonies, Mr. Bounheuang Doungprachanh said that these would become a symbol of solidarity and unity amongst the Lao people of all ethnicities and will become a significant place for Lao people and a historical place foe new generations to study the revolutionary principles of President Souphanouvong.
Tags: Souphanouvong
