Issue 09 Feb - March 2012

www.laoairlines.com www.champaholiday.com

ທຽວບນວ�ດພຈ�ປາສ�ກ

ຜະຈ�ນໄ�ໃ�ໄ�ຍະບລ

ຈ�ປາໂ�ລເ� ພາທຽວ ສງກະໂ�

Vat Phou Festival

ແ�ງທອງທຽວທຈະເ�ດໃ�ທານປະາດA Surprise Attraction

Adventures in Sayabouly

A Tour of Singapore

ໄ�ທຽວພະນ�ມເ�ນDestination Phnom Penh

ຂລ�ດຈ�ກຂນເ�ອ ສງທຕອງລອງNorthern Laos by Motorbike

VOL 02 ISSU

E 09 CH

AM

PA H

OLID

AYS TOU

RS AN

D G

UID

E IN LA

OS

Champa Holiday Issue 09 Cover.indd 1 1/17/12 10:46:39 AM

Champa Holiday Issue 09 Cover.indd 2 1/17/12 10:46:45 AM

ດວງໜງໄຂກບອາ

ຊຊແວວວາວໃສ

ບານທວດນແດນຊາງ

ຕດແຈບໃຈຊາດເຊອ

ຈຳປາທນເທດໄທ

ສາວນຳແປງປນປະດບ

ຍາມທຍແຂນຟອນ

ງາມນາງຍຍກພວ

ຄງໜງຮຽມຫາງບານ

ນອນຝນເຫນຈຳປາ

ເຫລອໃຈຄະນງໂອ

ຈຳປາແດນລານຊາງ

ຫລາຍຂອບປກາຍມາ

ຄາວເມອມລະສມຮາຍ

ຈຳປາເຫລອງລາເສາ

ສດໃສດວງດອກດວ

ຟາໃໝຮງເຮອງສ

ອາຍກນບດສະບາກວ

ບານຢກາງເວຫາ

ຫອມບເຫຍຫາງບານ

ຫອມກນຈຳປາ(ເນອງໃນໂອກາດ Champa holidays 1 ປ)

ໂດຍ:ດອກຊອນ ດອນໂຂງ

ເຫລອງອອນອມຂາວ

ກນບເຫຍຫາຍສນ

ຫອມຫວນສະໜດແນບ

ຕະກນກາແກນລາວ

ຖວາຍທອດບຊາທຳ

ທດລຳລຽນເກາ

ລາວແພນໂອນແອນ

ຈຳປາດວງດອກດວ ເຫນຮວຍກບງາມ

ແສນໂສກອາໄລຫາ

ແນບອລານວນເນອ

ນອນຝນບານເພນ

ຄຽງຄປາລະມ

ກນຂະຈອນຫອມກມ

ໄພມານຄມຄອບ

ເພາະເງາຮາຍເຫລອມງຳ

ບານທວປດຖະພ

ລບຮອຍອະສນຮາຍ

ໂຮຍໄກຫອມກນ

ທວດນແດນລານຊາງ

ພງເຊອຊາດລາວ ຄກເດ.

Champa Holiday Issue 09 Cover.indd 2 1/17/12 10:46:45 AM

While the government is proactively implementing the Resolu-tion of the 9th Party Congress, Lao Airlines, the national airline, is proud to announce that a second Airbus aircraft arrived in Vien-tiane in early December 2011, and will serve passengers on new routes such as Vientiane – Singapore, three flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, departing Vientiane at 15:10 and arriving in Singapore at 17:20 (QV535), and Singapore -Vien-tiane at 18:30, arriving in Vientiane at 20:40 (QV545). Other routes include Vientiane – Bangkok, Vientiane – Hanoi, Vientiane – Kun-ming, Vientiane – Pakse – Ho Chi Minh and Vientiane – Luang Pra-bang.

The new A320 series aircraft can carry 142 passengers, 16 seats for business class (J Class) and 126 seats for economy class. New routes include Vientiane – Guanzhou and Vientiane – Seoul (South Korea). Therefore, we are pleased to inform all clients, locals and foreigners, domestically and abroad, to be prepare for a modern, safe and impressive travel experience.

On behalf of the staff and board members of Lao Airlines, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all clients who choose to use our services and wish everyone happiness, health and suc-cess in the year ahead.

I hope everyone has an enjoyable celebration of the 36th anniver-sary of the establishment of Lao PDR, and wish everyone a happy New Year.

ສານຂອງທານ ດຣ. ສມພອນ ດວງດາຣາຜອຳນວຍການໃຫຍລດວສາຫະກດການບນລາວMessage from Dr.Somphone DOUANGDARAPresident of Lao Airlines

ໃນທາມກາງບນຍາກາດທທວພກ ທວລດ ແລະ ປວງຊນລາວທງຊາດພວມພາກນ ຫາວຫນຜນຂະຫຍາຍມະຕ 9 ຂອງພກເຮາຢ. ລດວສາຫະກດການບນລາວ, ສາຍການບນແຫງຊາດມຄວາມພມໃຈແຈງຂາວດໃຫແກບນດາພແມພນອງປະຊາຊນລາວທງຫລາຍຊາບວາ. ລດວສາຫະກດການບນລາວໄດນຳເອາເຮອບນຊະນດ ໃໝລະບບອາຍພນທທນສະໄໝເຂາມາປະຈຳຝງບນຂອງ ບລສດການບນລາວເປນ ທຮຽບຮອຍແລວ ໃນຈຳນວນສອງ (2) ລຳ ຊງລຳທສອງກໄດມາຮອດໃນຕນ ເດອນທນວາຜານມາ ເພອໃຫການບລການມຄວາມສະດວກ ຮບໃຊເສນ ທາງບນໃໝເຊນ: ວຽງຈນ - ສງກະໂປ ອາທດໜງສາມຖຽວບນຄ: ວນຄານ, ພະຫດ ແລະ ວນອາທດ ອອກຈາກວຽງຈນເວລາ 15:10ມ ເຖງສງກະໂປ 17:20ມ (ຖຽວບນ QV 535) ຂາກບເວລາ 18:30ມ ເຖງວຽງຈນ 20:40ມ (ຖຽວບນ QV 545). ເຮອບນຊະນດດງກາວຜະລດໂດຍ ບລສດ ແອຣບາສ (Airbus) ຊະນດ A320 ບນຈຜໂດຍສານໄດ 142 ຄນ ຊນທລະກດ (J Class) 16 ບອນນງ ແລະ ຊນທຳມະດາ 126 ບອນນງ ເສນບນອນໆຈະປະກອບດວຍ ວຽງຈນ - ບາງກອກ, ວຽງຈນ - ຮາໂນຍ, ວຽງຈນ - ຄນມງ, ວຽງຈນ - ປາກເຊ - ໂຮຈມນ ແລະ ວຽງຈນຫລວງພະບາງ. ພອມນກມແຜນ ໄຂເສນທາງບນໃໝເຊນ: ວຽງຈນ, ກວາງໂຈ, ວຽງຈນ - ນະຄອນເຊອນ (ສ.ເກາຫລ) ອກດວຍ.

ດງນນຈງແຈງຂາວດມາຍງພນອງລາວຢທງພາຍໃນ ແລະ ຕາງປະເທດພອມທງ ຊາວຕາງປະເທດຈງກຽມຕວເພອໃຊບລການຂອງ ການບນລາວ ໄດໃນເວລາມໆນ ດວຍເຮອບນຊະນດໃໝ ແລະ ທນສະໄໝ, ປອດໄພ ແລະ ປະທບໃຈ.

ສດທາຍນຂາພະເຈາຂຕາງໜາໃຫພະນກງານແລະກຳມະກອນຂອງລດວສາຫະກດຂອງ ການບນລາວຂສະແດງຄວາມຮບນຄນມາຍງທກທານທເລອກໃຊການບລການ ຂອງພວກເຮາ ຂາພະເຈາຂອວຍພອນໄຊອນປະເສດມາຍງບນດາທານຈງມແຕ ຄວາມສກ, ສຂະພາບເຂມແຂງ, ປະສບຜນສຳເລດໃນໜາທການງານ ແລະ ສມ ຫວງໃນທກ ສງທທານປາດຖະໜານດວຍເທນ.

ໃນສງທຊອບທມ. ຂໃຫເບກບານມວນຊນສະຫອງວນສະຖາປະນາ ສປປ ລາວ

ຄບຮອບ 36 ປ ແລະ ປໃໝສາກນ 2012 ທປຽມລນໄປດວຍສກ ແລະ ຄວາມຫວງ

ໃໝດວຍເທນ.

42 Wedding Traditions of Laos at the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre

46 Phnom Penh

50 A Tour of Singapore

52 1 Year Celebration of Champa Holidays Magazine

54 Lao Bank receives bank of the year award

56 Lao Airlines welcomes second A320 aircraft

ConTEnTSສາລະບານ

8 Vat Phou Festival

12 Salad; the Lao concept

16 northern Laos by Motorbike

31 Holiday in Vang Vieng

40 Shadow Festival

ທຽວບນວດພຈຳປາສກ

ຂລດຈກຂນເໜອສງທຕອງລອງ

ໄປທຽວວງວຽງ

ເທດສະການລະຄອນຫນເງາ

ປະເພນແຕງດອງຂອງລາວ

10

22

ທສນສລະປະພນເມອງແລະຊນເຜາວທະຍາ

36

ພະນມເປນກບປະຫວດສາດອນຮງມ

ຈຳປາໂຮລເດພາທວສງກະໂປ

ວາລະສານຈຳປາສະຫອງ1ປ

announces nationwide tour

ທະນາຄານການຄາໄດຮບວນທະນາຄານດເດນ

ຕອນຮບວຊາການ&ເຮອບນແອບດສລຳທສອງ

VIENTIANE

Don Chan PalaceHotel & Convention

3I’cI,fvo9aorkg]f

Located strategically on the New Promenade of the Mekong River adjacent to the King Anouvong’s park, Don Chan Palace, Hotel & Convention is the official 5-star hotel in Laos. Enjoy panoramic views of the Mekong River and Vientiane city from the tallest building in Laos while staying with us. All rooms are inclusive of complimentary unlimited high

speed internet access with plush necessities and our new au-natural amenities for the discerning guests. Our Lao Traditional Hospitality Makes us Different…

Room and Accommodation- 237 rooms- Cable television- Indvidually air conditioning controlled room- Safe deposit box- Complimentary Coffee/ tea facility- In room fax machine ( on request )- Mini bar- Hair dryer- High speed internet access in room ( Free access)

Meeting and Convention- 2000 Fax capacity Ballroom- 20 Modern Function rooms- Free Wifi at meeting rooms

Food and Beverage and entertainment- 24 Hrs Coffee House- Lobby Lounge with Cake Counter and Pastry counter- Outside Catering Service- Chinese Restaurant- 14 Floors Sky Lounge- Lunar 36-Outdoor Bar, Discotheque, and Private Karaoke Rooms

Wellness and Relaxation- Swimming Pool- Private Massage Rooms- Outdoor Gym- Sauna

- 24 Hrs room service- Airline booking and informaiton- Concierge service- Foreign exchange- Doctor on call 24 Hrs- Laundry service- Airport transfer- Tour and travel agency- Free car parking- Business center- Car rental service- 24 Hrs security-13 private massage rooms with professional masseurs

- Swimming Pool on 3rd floor- Jacuzzi- Steam room- Airline booking and information- Foreign currency exchange- 2000 pax capacity ballroom (1792sqm)- Dimsum Buffet- Monthly F&B Promotion- Free wifi on lobby and executive floors

Facilities and Services

Three years consecutive winner of Best business hotel year 2009,2010, 2011 by the tourism alliance awards.

Don Chan Palace Hotel & Convention, Unit 6 Piawat Village, Sisattanak District, Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel: (856-21) 244 288 Fax: (856-21) 244 111-2

Email: info@donchanpalacelaopdr.comwww.donchanpalacelaopdr.com

Nearby attractions- King Anouvong Recreational Park- Mekong River Promenade- Presidential Palace - King Sisavangvong Statue- Wat Si Muang Temple

Lao AIrlines In-Flight Magazine

EXECUTIVE ADVISERS:MR. SOMPHONG MONGKHONVILAY

MR. SOUKASEUM PHOTHISANEDR. SOMPHONE DOUANGDARA

MR. SOMSANOUK MIXAY MR. CHANTHY DEUANSAVANH

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:

MR. SOUKHEE NORASILP

PROOF EDITOR:MR. SOMSOUK SOUKSAVATH

EXECUTIVE EDITOR:INSMAI CREATIVE COMMUNICATION

ENGLISH EDITOR:MR. BENJAMIN BLECH

GRAPHIC DESIGNER:INSMAI CREATIVE COMMUNICATION

TRANSALATION:MS. VONGLATDA OMANY

PHOTOGRAPHER:FAB WORLD

ACCOUNT-FINANCE:MS. KHOUNKHAM CHANTHABOURY

MARKETING & CREATION BY:INSMAI CREATIVE COMMUNICATION

TEL/FAX: (856-21) 223590info@insmai.com | www.insmai.com

www.champaholiday.com

OWNER & PUBLISHER:INTER MEDIA LAO CO.LTDTEL/FAX: (856-21) 480947

intermedia_laos@gmail.comunder license of Lao Airlines

LAO AIRLINES HEAD OFFICE:02 PANGKHAM RD,

XIENG GNUNE VILLAGE, CHANTHABOURY DISTRICT,

VIENTIANE, LAO PDRTEL : (856-21) 212051-54, 212016

FAX: (856-21) 212056, 212058info@laoairlines.comwww.laoairlines.com

Dear readers,

We hope you had an enjoyable New Year celebration and would like to wish you the very best for 2012. You are holding the 9th issue of Champa Holidays Magazine, which coincides with a number of important events within Laos’ tourism calendar, including Makhaboucha day on February 7, Sikhottabong Festival in Khammuane, Wat Phou Festival in Cham-pasack and International Women’s day on 8th March.

A second Airbus A320 series aircraft has arrived at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, to serve Lao Airline’s passengers on a range of new and existing air routes, as part of an ongoing development plan.

This issue includes many interesting ar-ticles on Khammuane’s colorful tourist des-tinations, the Xayabuly Elephant Festival, a journey to the north of Laos, a tour of Sin-gapore and many others.

Whatever you are looking for on your visit to Laos, we hope you will find the informa-tion in this magazine useful and enjoyable.

Best wishes for me, Soukee Norasilp, and everyone and Champa Holidays Magazine. We look forward to seeing you in the next issue.

EditorSoukhee Norasilp

ສະບາຍດ ທານ ຜ ອານ ທງຫາຍ

ປ ໃໝ 2012 ທ ຜານ ມາ ຫວງ ວາ ທານ ຜ ອານ ທງຫາຍຄງ ຈະ ມວນ ຊນສກ ສມ ຫວງ ດງ ປະຕ ທານ ທ ຕງ ໄວ. ‘’ຈຳປາ ຮ ລ ເດ’’ ທ ທານ ກຳລງ ຖ ຢ ໃນ ມ ສະບບ ນ ແມນ ສະບບ ທ 9 ປະຈຳເດອນ ກມພາ/ມນາ ທ ມ ເຫດການ ສຳຄນ ທ ຈະ ເກດ ຂນ ຕາມ ປະຕທນ ທອງ ທຽວ ເຊນ: ວນ ທ 7 ກມພາ ເປນ ວນ ມາຄະ ບຊາ, ບນ ນະມດສະການ ພຣະທາດ ສ ໂຄດ ຕະບອງ ແຂວງ ຄຳ ມວນ ແລະ ບນ ວດ ພ ຈຳປາ ສກ, ວນ ທ 8 ມ ນາ ກ ແມນ ວນ ແມຍງ ສາກນ.

ເຮອບນ A320 ລຳ ທ ສອງ ຂອງ ບລສດ ການບນ ລາວ ໄດ ເຫ ນຟາ ມາ ລງ ສະໜາມບນ ວດ ໄຕ ເປນ ທ ຮຽບຮອຍ ແລວ ເພອ ບລການ ຜ ໂດຍສານ ຕາມ ແຜນ ຂະຫຍາຍ ແລະ ພດທະນາ ເສນທາງ ບນ ໃໝຂອງ ບລສດ.

ໃນ ສະບບ ທ 9 ນ ສງ ທໜາຕດຕາມ ອານ ເຊນ: ສສນ ແຫງການທອງທຽວຂອງ ແຂວງ ຄຳ ມວນ, ງານ ບນ ຊາງ ທ ໄຊ ຍະ ບຣ, ການ ເດນທາງ ສ ພາກ ເໜອຂອງ ລາວ, ຈຳປາ ຮ ລ ເດ ທວ ໄປ ສງກະ ໂປ ແລະ ອນໆ.

ທງໝດນ ຄະນະ ຈດ ທຳ ວາລະສານ ຈຳປາ ຮ ລ ເດ ໄດ ຈດ ສນ ມາ ໃຫ ທາ ນ ເພອ ເປນ ຂ ມນ ເພອ ການທອງທຽວ ແລະ ຄງ ຄວາມ ຮ ຂອງ ທານ ຜ ອານ ທງຫາຍຊງ ຄະນະ ຈດ ທຳ ຫວງ ຢາງ ຍງ ວາ ຈະ ເກດ ຜນ ປະ ໂຫຍ ດ ແລະ ຄວາມ ບນ ເທງ ໃຫ ແກ ທານ ພ ສມ ຄວນ.

ສະບາຍດ ພບ ກນ ໃໝ ສະບບໜາບ ກສຂ ນຣະສລປ

Editor’s Note

VIENTIANE

Don Chan PalaceHotel & Convention

3I’cI,fvo9aorkg]f

Located strategically on the New Promenade of the Mekong River adjacent to the King Anouvong’s park, Don Chan Palace, Hotel & Convention is the official 5-star hotel in Laos. Enjoy panoramic views of the Mekong River and Vientiane city from the tallest building in Laos while staying with us. All rooms are inclusive of complimentary unlimited high

speed internet access with plush necessities and our new au-natural amenities for the discerning guests. Our Lao Traditional Hospitality Makes us Different…

Room and Accommodation- 237 rooms- Cable television- Indvidually air conditioning controlled room- Safe deposit box- Complimentary Coffee/ tea facility- In room fax machine ( on request )- Mini bar- Hair dryer- High speed internet access in room ( Free access)

Meeting and Convention- 2000 Fax capacity Ballroom- 20 Modern Function rooms- Free Wifi at meeting rooms

Food and Beverage and entertainment- 24 Hrs Coffee House- Lobby Lounge with Cake Counter and Pastry counter- Outside Catering Service- Chinese Restaurant- 14 Floors Sky Lounge- Lunar 36-Outdoor Bar, Discotheque, and Private Karaoke Rooms

Wellness and Relaxation- Swimming Pool- Private Massage Rooms- Outdoor Gym- Sauna

- 24 Hrs room service- Airline booking and informaiton- Concierge service- Foreign exchange- Doctor on call 24 Hrs- Laundry service- Airport transfer- Tour and travel agency- Free car parking- Business center- Car rental service- 24 Hrs security-13 private massage rooms with professional masseurs

- Swimming Pool on 3rd floor- Jacuzzi- Steam room- Airline booking and information- Foreign currency exchange- 2000 pax capacity ballroom (1792sqm)- Dimsum Buffet- Monthly F&B Promotion- Free wifi on lobby and executive floors

Facilities and Services

Three years consecutive winner of Best business hotel year 2009,2010, 2011 by the tourism alliance awards.

Don Chan Palace Hotel & Convention, Unit 6 Piawat Village, Sisattanak District, Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel: (856-21) 244 288 Fax: (856-21) 244 111-2

Email: info@donchanpalacelaopdr.comwww.donchanpalacelaopdr.com

Nearby attractions- King Anouvong Recreational Park- Mekong River Promenade- Presidential Palace - King Sisavangvong Statue- Wat Si Muang Temple

10

ທຽວບນວດພຈຳປາສກVat Phou Festival

EVENT & FESTIVAL

Vat Phou Champasak is the most famous Hindu temple complex built in Laos under the Khmer Empire, which dominated much of Southeast Asia from the 10th to 14th century.

Ancient stone inscriptions found at the complex, describe how it was first built in the 5th century, and how by the

6th century, its gradually began to fall into ruins, before it was finally restored to its former glory in the early 11th century. The temple was further expanded in the 12th and 13th century, with the addition of a new sec-

tion designed to support the east-west axis, which runs from the foot of a dramatic hillside known as Mount Phou Nak, to the impressive Pathan Palace.

The complex is enormous and in-cludes several large reflection pools and statues of various ruling kings. All these figures are designed to reflect the ethos of goodness and strength behind the Khmer Em-pire.

ວດ ພ ຈຳປາ ສກ ແມນ ກມ ເທວະສະຖານ ແລະ ສະຖາປດຕະຍະກຳ ແຫງ ສາດສະໜາອນດ ສະ ໄໝຍກ ຂອມ ຕງ ຢ ເປນພ ນາກ ຊງ ເປນ ພາກສວນ ໜງຂອງ ພ ເກາ ທ ມ ທວ ທດ ສວຍ ງາມ.

ຫກຖານ ທາງ ສ ລາ ຈາລກ ເວາ ວາ ກມ ເທວະສະຖານ ແຫງ ນ ສາງ ເມອ ສະຕະວດ ທ V ແລະ VI ຕມາ ຖກ ເພພງ ໄປ ຕາມ ການ ເວລາ ຈນ ເຖງ ຕນ ສະຕະວດ ທ XI ຜ ຄອງ ເມອງ ຈງ ເລມ ມ ການກສາງ ໃໝ ໃສ ເທງ ສະຖານ ທ ເກາ ແລະ ມ ການ ສາງຕ ເຕມ ເມອ ສະຕະວດ ທ XII ແລະ XIII ດວຍ ການ ອອກ ແບບ ແຜນຜງຕາມ ຫກການຍດ ເສນ ແກນ ຕາ ເວນ ອອກ-ຕາ ເວນ ຕກ ເປນຫກ ຖ ເອາ ການ ເລ ມຕນ ຈາກ ທງພຽງ ເນງ ຂນ ໄປ ຕາມ ເປນພ ຈນ ໄປ ເຖງ ຖານ ສດ ທາຍ ອນ ເປນ ທ ຕງ ຂອງ ຜາສາດ ປະທານ.

ສະຖາປດຕະຍະກຳ ທ ຕງ ຢ ທງ ສອງ ຟາກ ທາງ ຂນ ນບ ແຕ ໜອງສະ ເສາ ເສ ໂຮງ ຊາວ ຫ ໂຮງ ທາວ ໂຮງ ນາງ ໂຮງ ງວ ອສພະຣາດ ຫ ງວ ນນ ທນ ຮບຫພະຍາ ກຳ ມະ ທາ ໄປ ຈນ ເຖງ ຜາ ສາດ ປະທານ ຖາ ນສງ ສດ ລວນ ແຕ ມ ສ ຄວາມໝາຍທາງ ດານ ຄວາມ ເປນ ສລ ມງຄນ ຄວາມ ມ ພະລງ ແຂງ ແກນ ຂອງ ອານາຈກ ຂອມ ຍກ ນນ.

ເມອ ສນສດຍກ ຂອມ ສາດສະໜາພດ ເກດ ມາ ມ ອດ ທພນ ກມ ເທວະສະ ຖານ ດງກາວ ຖກ ຮກສາ ໄວ ໃຫ ເໝອນ ເດມ ແຕ ກມ ບາງ ຢາງ ຖກ ດດ ແປງ ມາ ຮບ ໃຊ ສາສະໜາພດ ແລະ ສບຕສາງ ບາງ ຢາງ ເສມ ເຂາ ໄປ ໂດຍ ສະ ເພາະ ທດ ແທນ ໃນ ສງ ເປ ເພ.

11

Shortly after the collapse of Khmer power, Bud-dhism became the dominant religion in most of Southeast Asia- yet remarkably, the temple re-mained largely unchanged. Only a few alterations were commissioned to better serve Buddhist prac-tices, as well as the restoration of several ruined structures.

Five years ago, Vat Phou was certified as a world herit-age site by the United Nations. In recent years, with the help of many international organisations and neigh-bouring countries, the complex has seen almost con-tinuous renovation projects aimed at keeping what is left of the existing structure from collapsing. Ever since Buddhism recognised Vat Phou as a site of huge religious and cultural importance, local au-thorities, together with several other organisa-tions and local people, have organised Boun Vat Phou (Vat Phou Festival) on 15th day of the 3rd month of Lao lunar calendar, designed to com-memorate all those who have contributed to this wonder of ancient architecture. Based on traditional Buddhist practices, the festival is held for either three days and three nights or seven days and seven nights. It hosts displays of traditional music, dance, sports and a variety of local produce. Most importantly of all, on the final day, senior dignitaries and religious figures from around the country, come to take part in a traditional Taak Baat (alms ceremony). The festival also includes a parade of elephant or horses, a crafts fair and demonstrations of ancient traditions passed down by generations of people living off the sur-rounding land.

ວດ ພ ຈຳປາ ສກ ຖກ ຮບຮອງ ຈາກ ອງການ ຢ ແນ ສ ໂກ ໃຫ ເປນ ມລະດກ ໂລກ ແຫງ ທ 2 ໄປ ແລວ ເມອ 5 ປ ກອນ ປດຈບນ ວດ ພ ຍງ ສບຕປບປງ ບລະນະ ໃຫ ຄ ໂຄງ ສາງ ເດມ ທ ເພພງ ໃນ ເມອ ກອນ ໂດຍ ນຳ ເອາ ກອນ ຫນ ທ ຫກ ພງ ລງ ມາ ໃສ ຄນ ບອນ ເກາ ຊງ ມຫາຍ ໂຄງການ ຈາກ ສາກນ ແລະ ປະ ເທດ ເພອນ ມດ ໃຫການ ຊວຍ ເຫອ.

ນບ ແຕ ສາດສະໜາພດ ໄດ ເຂາ ມາ ມ ບດບາດ ໃນ ເທວະສະຖານ ແຫງ ນ ອງການ ປກຄອງ ທອງ ຖນ ພອມ ດວຍ ອງການ ຈດ ຕງ ຕາງໆ ແລະ ປະຊາ ຊນ ລາວ ບນດາ ເຜາ ທວ ແຂວງ ຈຳປາ ສກ ພາກ ໃຕ ຂອງ ລາວ ກ ໄດ ຈດ ຕງ ເທດສະການ ບນ ວດ ພ ຈຳປາ ສກ ຂນ ໂດຍ ຖ ເອາ ວນ ເພງ 15 ຄຳ ເດອນ 3 ລາວ ມ ສະຫອງສດ ທາຍ ເພອລະນກ ແລະ ອທດ ສວນ ກສນ ໄປ ຍງ ບນພະ ບລດ ຜ ອອກ ແຮງ ງານ ເຈາ ກຳ ນາຍ ເວນ ທ ມ ສວນ ກສາງ ສະຖາປດຕະຍະກຳ ທ ສວຍ ງາມ ແຫງ ນ. ງານ ບນ ມ ຄວາມ ຄກຄກ ຄກຄນ ຕາມ ປະ ເພນ ທ ເຄຍ ທຳ ມາ ບາງ ຄງ ເພນ ຈດ 3 ມ 3 ຄນ ຫ 7 ມ 7 ຄນ ໂດຍ ມ ລາຍການ ທາງ ສາດສະໜາ ( ໄຫ ວພະ ຮບ ສນ ທຳບນ ຕກ ບາດ) ລາຍ ການ ຕາມ ປະ ເພນ (ຄບງນ ຂບ ລຳ ສລະ ປະ ວນນະຄະດ ກລາກາຍ ຍະ ກຳ ການບນ ເທງ) ແລະ ລາຍການ ວາງສະ ແດງ ສນຄາ ຕາມ ທາ ແຮງ ຂອງ ແຂວງ ຫ ຕາມ ທ ປະຊາຊນ ໃນ ທອງ ຖນ ຜະລດ ໄດ. ແຕ ສຳຄນ ແມນ ມ ສດ ທາຍ ທ ມ ການ ຕກບາດ ຫວງ ໂດຍ ການ ນຳ ຂນ ເທງ ເຂາ ຮວມ ພອມ ດວຍ ພດທະ ສາ ກະນຊາ ຊນ ໃນ ທອງ ຖນ ຫ ຈາກ ທອງ ຖນ ອນ.

ໃນ ພທ ດງກາວ ຍງ ມ ການ ແຫ ຊາງ ແຫ ມາ ມ ການ ເຂາ ຮວມ ວາງສະ ແດງ ສາງ ກດຈະກຳ ຂອງ ອາຍ ກກ ຜ ທ ເຄຍ ສາງ ດຳລງ ຊວດ ແລະ ຮວມ ທກ ຮວມ ສກ ໃນ ດນ ແດນ ແຫງ ນ ອກ ດວຍ.

12

Ecotourism Laos

1. Beauty in the DarkCruise in a long-tail boat through a natural tunnel of total darkness as the Nam Hinboun River drills 7.5 km through a mountain at Kon-glor Cave. The river runs about 30 metres wide with a limestone ceil-ing up to 100 metres high, and it flows by sandy beaches and rock formations named for their shapes: “Buddha”, “frog”, “owl”, “soft-shell turtle”, and “fish trap”. According to local lore, five Konglor villagers first navigated the tunnel to Ban Natan in the 17th century. Today, the villages offer boat excursions through the cave, overnight lodge stays, and trek-king options inside protected areas, including a hike to the 70-metre-high Nam Sanam Waterfall.

Ecotourism LaosFive Highlights in Khammouane Province

Bernie Rosenbloom drives you six hours south of Vientiane to Khammouane Province and five of its top attractions. A 7.5-km boat ride through Konglor Cave with an overnight village stay flashes bright on the province’s marquee, as does a one-day tour to the recently discovered Nong Pa Fa Cave and its 600-year-old Bud-dha images. Another new entry is the easy-to-spot bald bulbul bird, which was just declared a species in 2009.

A one-day tour around the provincial capital, Thakaek, reveals several historical gems including the 1,500-year-old Sikhottabong Stupa and ancient “Great Wall”, while the hearty can trek in a national protected area with an overnight stay in a village lodge.

2. Buddha CaveClimb a 20-metre ladder to the up-per Nong Pa Fa Cave, where 229 bronze and gold-plated Buddha im-ages have been sitting on naturally formed, terraced rock rims for up to 600 years. The cave and its treasure had been hidden for centuries until a local made the surprising discov-ery in 2004. Easy to access by road from Thakaek or on a one-day com-munity-based trek, “Buddha Cave” also houses palm-leaf pages writ-ten in ancient scripts, and petrified eggs laid on the cave’s ceiling many years ago by an unknown type of lizard. Nong Pa Fa (soft-shell tur-tle lake) sits at the entrance to the lower cave, which can be explored by boat.

13

Vientiane-based travel writer, Bernie Rosenbloom, has covered South-east Asia for more than 15 years. He has authored several Lao pro-vincial guidebooks, and along with Champa Holidays, has recently contributed stories about Laos to Thai Airway’s Sawasdee magazine,

PATA Compass, and Travel Review. Bernie is currently a public relations consul-tant for the Laos Sustainable Tourism Development Project, Lanith (Lao Nation-al Institute for Tourism and Hospitality), and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office. Email: bernie.rosenbloom@gmail.com..

For a complete description and to book these programs, visit the Khammouane Visitor Information Centre in Thakaek. Phone: (+856 051) 212 512. Major Lao tour companies also of-fer Khammouane tour packages.

For more information, visit www.ecotourismlaos.com or www.stdplaos.com (web-based knowledge centre).

3. Historic “Guest Landing”Take a tour around Thakaek (Guest Landing), Khammouane’s provincial capital on the Mekong, and see the historical sites dotting the environs of this old trading post. Observe French provincial architecture in the centre of the old town, before heading north to examine the 16-metre-high “Kamphang Nyak” (Great Wall), built in the 8th century. The 29-metre-high, golden-tipped Sikhottabong Stupa, one of Laos’ most sacred sites, stands just south of town. Originally built in the 6th cen-tury to keep relics of Lord Buddha, the Khmer Empire renovat-ed the stupa in Hindu style soon after. During the 1500s, the Lane Xang Kingdom refurbished the icon to its present form.

4. Spot the Bald BulbulBe among the first to check the bald bulbul on their bird-watching list, as the species was just recognized in 2009, after being spotted in Khammouane. According to Mr Singphet, owner of the Phamaan View Guesthouse in Ban Nahin Town, “The bulbul can be found on the roadside (Route 8), and tour-ists can see this bird almost every time they visit.” He said the best months for viewing are from October to May, and added, “In the Nahin area there are approximately 180 species of birds, and the bulbul is the most popular one.” Phamaan View provides a free map that shows where to spot the various spe-cies including the bald bulbul. Email: singphet@gmail.com.

5. Pristine Phou Hin Poun Explore the pristine natural beauty of the Phou Hin Poun Na-tional Protected Area (NPA) with local guides and get a real taste of village life on a two-day, community-based trek. The NPA’s limestone karst landscape hides crystal clear lakes, caves and cliffs, and the forest home of rare wildlife. Phontong Vil-lage offers a simple lodge and hospitality delivered by a local family, as well as a welcome Baci ceremony and traditional Lao dinner on the evening of the first day. The next day’s challeng-ing trek leads to Nakeu Village and on to the bright turquoise Kuhn Kong Leng Lake for a swim before a motorized oxcart ride to Kon Keo rapids.

Lao Food

Salad; the Lao conceptby Benjamin Blech

‘Mango in a salad; are you serious?’ That was my initial reaction as a westerner, when informed that Lao cooking commonly incorporated fruit into traditional sal-ads known as ‘tam’. Yet I will never forget my first; what a phenomenal array of fla-vours; the slight acidity of a sour fruit, the salty richness of fish sauce (nam pa), the freshness of lime juice, the slight sweetness of palm sugar and the firry warmth of freshly pounded chillies.

Tam

The huge popularity of Tam, literally meaning pounded, is likely to have spread to the rest of Southeast Asia from Laos, as a cheap meal from home for poor Lao migrants. The ingredients are typically eaten raw and pounded together using a traditional wooden mortar and pestle.

Tam Mak Hoong (Green Papaya Salad) If Lao has a true signature dish, it’s the Tam Mak Hoong, sometimes known simply as ‘tam’, or by its more foreigner-friendly Thai name, Som Tam.

A good Tam Mak Hoong should offer sweet, sour, salty and spicy flavours, although how to achieve the perfect balance is as hotly debated in the night markets of Vientiane as the perfect tomato sauce is in the back-streets of Rome. Some like it sweet (more sugar, less fish sauce). Some like salty (lots of fish sauce or fermented fish paste). Others like it sour (hearty squeeze of lime, less sugar). Some also add chopped tomatoes, crushed peanuts or shallots- just about anything goes.

For an authentic Tam Mak Hoong, peel and shred a fistful of green papaya per person and pound together with all the basic tam ingredients; fresh chillies, palm sugar, fish sauce (nam pa) and lime juice. You could also add a small clove of garlic, and if you can overlook its un-pleasant smell, some fermented fish paste (pa deak).

Tam Mak Tour (Long Bean Salad)For a crunchier variation on Tam Mak Teng, uncooked long-beans (green or black) pounded together with the basic tam ingredients (Tam Mak Tour) can be a real delight to the senses. Again, the fermented fish paste can be omitted- although there are no set rules. Why not ex-periment and see what works for you?

Tam Mak Teng (Cucumber Salad) In the height of summer, when the rains are eagerly awaited and the air is thick, there’s nothing quite like the clean, crunchy freshness of cucumber (mak teng) combined with the classic flavours of an all-Lao tam. It’s great with a glass of ice-cold beer or fresh lemon-grass juice (nam hoor see kai).

For an authentic Tam Mak Teng, peel and shred the cucumber, gradually adding the essential tam ingredi-ents. Because of the subtle flavour of cucumber, the rich flavour of fermented fish paste is best left out. For the same reason, half a clove of garlic and a few drops of fish sauce are usually enough. For some extra crunch, the slightly Thai addition of crushed peanuts can be forgiven.

photos by Khcopchaideu Restaurant

Lao Food

Nyam

A Nyam is the closest equivalent to a western style salad. The obvious similar-ity is that it consists of a number of raw or cooked ingredients served cold on a single plate. This most commonly ingredients are one or more vegetables, limejuice, garlic, fish sauce, toasted sesame seeds and smashed chillies. The addition of meat is also common but not essential.

In the centre of Luang Prabang, there’s a dish known as a Luang Prabang Salad, a tasty amalgamation of eggs, lettuce, lime juice, tomatoes, chopped nuts, sugar and sometimes chicken, served with a sweet lemon dressing. While this fusion of the western salad-concept with Lao flavours has become popular, it isn’t a true Nyam, not least because sweet flavours are generally regarded as undesirable in Lao culture, as expressed by the popular saying, ‘van pen lom; com pen ya’ (sweet makes you sick, bitter makes you healthy’).photos by Khcopchaideu Restaurant

Nyam Nor Mai (Bamboo Salad)For those looking to experience a bite of rural Laos, look no further than the nutty crunch of lightly fried bamboo (nor mai), toasted sesame seeds and of course, sun-dried chillies.

Bamboo shoots are cheap and widely available throughout Laos and can be found at most local markets fresh, dried or pickled, although for an unforgettable Nyam Nor Mai, they are best picked and cooked the same day.

Fresh bamboo shoots are hard and bitter and sometimes contain harmful chemical that are removed once cooked. First, remove the hard outer skin and base. Cut the shoots into several vertical sections and boil them until soft. If they are still sour, discard the water and boil them again to remove any extra acid.

Once cooked, the bamboo can be shredded easily. Add a pinch of salt, some lightly toasted sesame seeds, a generous splash of fish sauce, finely chopped garlic and some pounded fresh chillies. Mix to-gether then fry until golden brown.

Nyam Mak Pii (Banana Flower Salad)One of the things I love most about Lao cooking is that nothing goes to waste. Once the banana season has finished, a beautiful red pod-like flower is left behind. This can be chopped into a crunchy and highly distinctive salad known as Nyam Mak Pii.

Mak Pii (banana flower) has a mild but unique flavour. A mixture between the nutty crunch of bamboo and a flavour unlike anything else I have ever tasted. The texture resembles a very fine steamed cabbage.

To prepare Mak Pii, chop the flower into thin strips. They can then be fried but are commonly eaten raw. Add some pounded dry chil-lies, a generous splash or fish sauce and a few spoonfuls of toasted sesame seeds. Finish with fresh chillies and sticky rice.

Where to eat an authentic Lao saladMost visitors looking to experience Lao salads will have no trouble finding something wonderful just about anywhere in Laos. To eat them like a local, head to one of the many night markets.

18

BIKE ADVENTURE

As someone with a taste for travel, I have always liked to study maps. As soon I found Phongsaly on a map of Laos, the prov-ince attracted my curiosity. On the border of China, remote and difficult to access, the area draws a growing number of travellers looking for adventure; a place far removed from the outside world.

Phongsaly hosts huge ethnic diversity, as an area shared by Phoi Noi (a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group), Akkha and the de-cedents of immigrants from Yunnan in southern China. This has created a fascinating contrast of architecture and homes that are radically different from anything found in villages fur-ther south.

I began by trip north at the friendly Jewel Travel agency in Lu-ang Prabang, where I rented an excellent Kawasaki 250cc mo-torbike, which would take me to the isolated extreme north.

northern Laos by Motorbikeຂາພະເຈາມກລດຊາດຂອງການທອງທຽວ ແລະ ກອນຈະເດນທາງຂາພະເຈາມກກວດສອບເບງແຜນທກອນສະເໝ. ແລະ ເມອຂາພະເຈາໄດສກສາແຜນທຂອງປະເທດລາວ, ແຂວງຜງສາລເປນແຂວງທໜາຮຽນຮຫາຍ. ຢຕດກບຊາຍແດນປະເທດຈນ, ຫາງໄກສອກຫກ ແລະ ຫຍງຍາກໃນການເຂາເຖງ, ແຂວງນດງດດເອານກທອງທຽວທ ຊ ອ ກ ຫ າ ກ າ ນ ຜ ະ ຈ ນ ໄ ພ ຢ ສ ະ ຖ າ ນ ທ ນ ອ ກ ກ າ ນ ເ ວ ລ າ ນບມນບຫາຍຂນ. ແຂວງ ແລະ ເມອງທມຊອນດຽວກນ ປະກອບ ດວຍຊນເຜາສວນນອຍທຫາກຫາຍ ເນອງຈາກວາຊາວ “ພນອຍ” (ຊນເຜາທເບດ-ພະມາ) ອາໄສຢເຂດແດນຮວມກບເຜາອາຄາ ແລະ ຈນຍນານ. ພວກຂາພະເຈາເຫນອດທພນໂດຍສະເພາະແມນຈນໃນ ສະຖາປດຕະຍາກຳຂອງບານເຮອນ ແລະອປະກອນເຄອງໃຊສະໄໝ ໃໝຂອງຊາວຜອບພະຍກເລານ, ເຊງກງກນຂາມກບຄວາມເປນຈງ ຂອງຄອບຄວຄນລາວແບບດງເດມ.

ຢຫວງພະບາງ ຂາພະເຈາໄປຫາບລສດທອງທຽວເຈເວທຣາໂວ ລາວ ທບລຫານໂດຍໄພວນ ຜທໃຫຂາພະເຈາເຊາລດຈກຄາວາສະກ 250ຊຊ ສະພາບດ ແລະ ເດນທາງໄປສຳຫວດພາກເໜອຂອງປະເທດລາວ.

ເສນທາງທສວຍງາມລະຫວາງຫວງພະບາງ ແລະ ປາກມອງ, ຂງເຂດ ທສວຍສດຫງດງາມບອນທຄວາມງາມຂອງຕອນເຊາເປນແນວສນ ພຕກແຕງດວຍຜາພນຄຂອງໝອກປາກດມາຈາກໂຕພມພາສາຈນ. ເສນທາງແຄບຄດຄຽວໄປມາຄງ ໄປຕາມນາອ.

ຂລດຈກຂນເໜອສງທຕອງລອງ

19

VientianeDon Chan Palace hotelDon Chan Palace is the first ever international five star hotel in the capital of Laos. It is strategically located along the infamous Mekong River and within easy reach to the major cultural sites and ancient temples.www.donchanpalacelaopdr.com

Settha palace hotelBuilt in the early part of the last century, circa 1932, and painstakingly restored to its former imperial glory, the Settha Palace Hotel serves as a testament to the long lost era of classical elegance, gracious service and French colonial charm. www.setthapalace.com

Salana Boutique HotelDesigned to impress even the most discerning guests, this charming boutique hotel is offering a wide selection of rooms, ranging from Superior to Salana Suite, all the guestrooms are tastefully designed to provide utmost comfort to all guests.

Rashmi’s Plaza HotelGuests will find all of the finest amenities in each of the 54 rooms in this popular 5-star hotel. Each room includes non smoking rooms, television LCD/plasma screen, ironing board, bathrobes.

Luang PrabangSatri House HotelThis beautiful, refurbished prop-erty is the most exquisite places in this ancient city. Located in the heart of the city, the whole interior is designed with a style inspired by Lao culture, set in a serene ambience.www.satrihouse.com

My Dream Boutique Resort & SpaSurrounded by a peaceful gar-den which also captures the stunning views of the Nam Khan River, My Dream Boutique Resort & Spa is an oasis of tran-quility just minutes from Luang Prabang’s bustling town centre.www.mydreamresort.com

Shangri LaoThe first camp in Laos to offer uncompromising luxury accommodation in a charming blend of canvas ambiance. All spacious tents, furnished with selected hand-craft 19th century style furniture.www.shangri-lao.com/

Vang ViengVilla Vang Vieng RiversideA luxurious hotel located directly at the shore of the Nam Song River in Vang Vieng. From your room and from the pool you can enjoy a spectacular view at the breathtaking mountains.www.villavangvieng.com

HOTEL ADVISOR

The road between Luang Prabang and Pakmong is stunning. The rugged splendour of dramatic mountain ridges shrouded in morning mist, seem to depict a world long ago, as though lifted from an improbable postcard. The road weaves through a narrow corridor like a enormous slumbering snake, stopping to rest a while on the banks of the Nam Ou River.

After Pakmong, road conditions deteriorate somewhat but it was still a pleasant drive. The impossibly green valleys are a hive of activity, colours and friendly “Sabaidee” (the most common Lao greeting) from children exited to see an unfamiliar face.

An afternoon in Udomxai has few promises of excitement but is a welcome break on the road north. The climb to the Phu That temple provides excellent views of the city. Udomxai Province is also a good location for visiting Hmong and Khmu Hilltribe vil-lages, while being practically sure of being the only tourist there. It is also known for the natural hot spring at Muang La, as well as some spectacular waterfalls, most of which are still undeveloped.

ຫງຈາກປາກມອງ, ສະພາບເສນທາງເຊອມໂຊມເລກນອຍ ແຕກຍງຂ ໄດດ. ຮອມພສຂຽວເຕມໄປດວຍກດຈະກຳ, ສສນ ແລະ ຄວາມສກ “ສະບາຍດ” ສຽງຖາມຈາກເດກນອຍທໃບໜາມຮອຍຍມ. ມາຮອດອດມໄຊຕອນທຽງ. ເມອງບມຫຍງໜາສນໃຈຫາຍ, ມນເປນ ພຽງແຕກາວໜງຕາມເສນທາງໄປຜງສາລ. ປນຂນໄປວດພທາດ ເປນ ບອນເບງວວທວທດທດເລດຂອງຕວເມອງ. ແຂວງອດມໄຊເປນສະຖານ ທດສຳລບການໄປທຽວຊມໝບານເຜາມງ ແລະ ຂະມ ໃນຂະນະທຂອນ ຂາງແນໃຈວາຈະເປນນກທຽວກມດຽວຢທແຫງນນ. ນອກຈາກນມນຍງ ເປນທຮຈກສຳລບນາພຮອນຢເມອງຫາ ແລະ ນາຕກທສວຍງາມບາງບອນ ເຊງສວນຫາຍຍງບທນໄດຖກແຕະຕອງ ແລະໄດຮບການພດທະນາ.

ມຕມາ ຂາພະເຈາເດນທາງອອກຈາກອດມໄຊ ຕາມເສນທາງຍາວລາດ ຢາງໝາກຕອຍໄປຕາມລຳແມນາ. ວວສຂຽວຕດກບສເຫອງຂອງທງໄຮທງ ນາທຫາກເກບກຽວ. ໝບານນອຍໆທສວຍງາມ, ບາງບອນກຢອງຢຕາມ ເນນພແນມເຫນແມນາ. ໄປຕາມທາງໄດຢດພກຢເມອງຫາ, ເປນເມອງ ທໜາຮກແຫງໜງ. ສວນຜກສຂຽວ ແລະເຮອນຊານເຮດດວຍໄມໃຜຢ ເຊງໜາກນໂດຍມແມນາສອງສາຍໄຫຜານ: ນາພາກ ແລະນາຫາ. ນອກ ຈາກຄວາມງາມທວໄປ ແລະວດວາອາຮາມອນເກາແກທໜາດງດດ, ເຫດ ຜນຕນຕທນກທອງທຽວມາຢຽມຢາມເມອງແຫງນແມນນາພຮອນ.

ຫງຈາກສນໄຊ, ຂາພະເຈາຂລດເປນຮອຍໆກໂລແມດຈນຂມແຂງ,ຕຈາກ ນນຈງພຖະໜນສະພາບດຈນເຖງຜງສາລ. ມນໜາວ ແລະ ໜາວຂນ ເລອຍໆແລະມໝອກ. ຂາພະເຈາຕອງໄດຢດພກເຊາຝງໄຟກບຊາວບານ ຫາຍຄງເພອໃຫຮາງກາຍອບອນ.

20

BIKE ADVENTURE

ຂງເຂດດງກາວມຄວາມອາດສາມາດເປນສະຫວນສາລບການເດນ ປາ. ຖະໜນຫລບໂນນສອງສາມສາຍ ແຕມຫາຍເສນທາງໃນປາ, ປາປກ ຫມຍງເປນສງສຳຄນທງໆທມການທຳລາຍປາໄມ ແລະ ການຖາງ ປາເຮດໄຮ, ແລະມຊນເຜາສວນນອຍຈຳນວນຫາຍ.

ເມອຂາພະເຈາມາຮອດ ກໄດພວພນກບຫອງການທອງທຽວໃຫຈດ ລາຍການເດນປາສອງມໂດຍມຜນຳທຽວທອງຖນໄປນຳ. ເປນການ ເດນທາງສອງວນທມວນຫາຍໃນເປນພທປກຫມໄປດວຍຕນໄມຂຽວ ອມຊມແລະວວທວທດທຍອດຢຽມ. ນອນຄາງຄນໃນໝບານເຜາອາ ຄາພໂຊ. ການເດນທາງທອງທຽວຊວຍສາງຄວາມຍນຍງ ແລະເຜຍແຜ ການທອງທຽວແບບມຄວາມຮບຜດຊອບ ໃນຂະນະທກະຈາຍຜນປະ ໂຫຍດທເປນທຳໃຫແກຊມຊນທອງຖນ, ຂຂອບໃຈສຳລບການປະ ກອບສວນຂອງທານເຂາໃນກອງທນໝບານ, ໃນຂະນະທສງເສມການອະນລກທຳມະຊາດໄປພອມກນ.

ກບມາຜງສາລ, ຂາພະເຈາໄດໄປຕະຫາດ, ເປນໂອກາດທຂາພະເຈາ ຈະໄດຊຊາຂຽວ ແລະ ຊາດຳປກໃນພນທ. ອາກາດເປນໃຈ, ປນພຟາ ເພອເບງວວທວທດຂອງຕວເມອງ ແລະ ເປນພ.

ມຕມາ ຂາພະເຈາຕດສນໃຈໄປເມອງຂວາດວຍເຮອ. ຢທຫາດສາ, 20 ກໂລແມດຈາກຜງສາລ, ຂາພະເຈາເອາລດຈກຂນເຮອລອງໄປຕາມນາອປະມານ 5 ຊວໂມງ. ການລອງເຮອທຍອດຢຽມ, ມວນອຫ, ທຳມະຊາດທສວຍງາມທຖກເຊອງຊອນ. ເປນປະສບການທດຫາຍ. ມາຮອດເມອງຂວາ, ທາເຮອນອຍໆແຫງໜງ, ເຊງກເປນທາງຜານ ໄປດຽນບຽນຟ ປະເທດຫວຽດນາມ. ໝບານນອຍໆແຫງນອອມຮອບ ດວຍພເຂາ ເໝາະສມກບການເດນປາ. ຈງໃດກໃຫກວດສອບເບງກບຫອງການທອງທຽວ.

ຫງຈາກນນກເດນທາງກບຫວງພະບາງ ດວຍເສນທາງດແຫງໜງ ໄປຕາມແມນາທມວວທວທດທສວຍສດງດງາມ, ໃນຫວເຕມໄປດວຍ ພາບຄວາມຊງຈຳ ແລະອາລມຄວາມຮສກຂອງການເດນທາງທລມບໄດ.

The next day I left Udomxai via a long windy road, surrounded by a landscape of spectacular contrasts; beautiful lush green hillsides against the brilliant yellow of freshly harvested rice fields, and a scattering of tiny villages clinging to the hills.

My first stop was the picturesque town of Muang La, where the endless expanse of green vegetation finally meets a larger settlement of traditional houses made entirely of wood and bamboo. Aside of its stunning beauty and ancient temple, the only real attraction is the nearby hot spring.

Despite my aching wrists after Sin Xai, I pushed on for anoth-er hundred kilometres along bumpy mountain track, finally reaching a smoother road, which would take me all the way to Phongsaly. You know you are getting closer as it becomes increasingly cold and misty as you head north. So I made a few stops to warm up and share camp-fire stories with local people.

The region has the potential to become a paradise for trek-king. Rugged and with few roads, the province has endless forest-covered trails, despite being constantly ravaged by de-forestation, mostly at the hands of illegal logging and slash and burn agriculture.

Inthira VangViengBeautiful Lao style villa in the heart of Vang Vieng. offering 28 clean, comfortable and well appointed rooms. www.inthirahotels.com

The Elephant Crossing HotelLocated in Vang Vieng this hotel is conveniently close to many of the city’s most historic and famous Buddhist temples. The hotel of-fers 40 comfortable guest rooms with modern amenities. www.theelephantcrossinghotel.com

NorthNong Khiaw RiversideLarge and comfortable wood-en bungalows on stilts with breathtaking river view. Warm welcome by Eskil the Danish owner and his friendly team. Excellent home made food. The place to stay.www.nongkiau.com

Auberge Phouphadend-PhonsavanA delightful little resort on a hilltop in the countryside near Phonsavan, the base for exploring the famous ‘Plain of Jars’. Fifteen comfortable wooden bungalows are spread through the forest cover of pine and fern trees.

Charming Lao HotelThe Charming Lao Hotel is perfectly located for both business and leisure guests to Oudomxai. All rooms and suites are fully equipped with modern facilities. Best choice in town.www.charminglaohotel.com

The boat landing The premier ecotourism lodge in Luang Namtha with access to the Nam Ha Protected Area. The bungalows are constructed with local materials in a local Lao style adapted for your comfort and pleasure. www.theboatlanding.com

SouthTad Fane ResortThe resort has a total of 14 comfortable rooms in bunga-low-style houses. Go to sleep to the sound of chirping cica-des and the distant thunder of the huge Tad Fane Falls. Wake up, refreshed, by the sound of singing birds!www.tadfane.com

Inthira ChampasakLocated only 8 km form the World Heritage Site of Wat Phu, the bou-tique hotel offers 14 comfortable rooms.www.inthirahotels.com

Kingfisher Ecolodge-Champassak provinceIs a great little retreat in Champasak Province. The area around the lodge is one of the most beautiful in the country and great for those that love the outdoors. The lodge is situated close to the Xe Pian Natural Protected Area, a haven for flora and faunawww.kingfisherecolodge.com

La Folie Laos-Done DaengLocated on Dong Daeng Island, on the banks of the Mekong River in southern Laos, where exceptional natural beauty and unspoilt charm combine with areas of significant cultural interest, La Folie Lodge sits on a secluded beach facing the ruined Khmer temples of Wat Phou. www.lafolie-laos.com

Sala HinbounSala Hinboun, the Lao traditional residence built entirely in local timber, carefully decorated to match the way of life, set on the Hin-boun River bank surrounded lime stone cliffs, near by the famous Kong Lor cave. www.salalao.com

HOTEL ADVISOR

When I arrived in Phongsaly, I headed to the tourist information office to organise some trekking with a local guide, settling on a wonderful two day hike through wooded valleys with magnificent views, as well as a night in an Akha Puxo village. In Phongsaly you can really see how when properly managed, trekking can help encourage a more sustainable model for tourism, by embracing an area’s natural beauty and distributing the benefits fairly within local communities.

Back in Phongsaly, I headed to the local market, an opportunity to purchase some of the excellent green and black tea grown in the area. Weather permitting, Mount Phu Fa offers a superb pan-orama of the town and surrounding valley.

The next morning, I decided to take a five hour cruise up the Nam Ou River to Muang Khua, boarding with my bike at Hat Sa, 20km upriver from Phongsaly. This was a great experience and really provided an opportunity to be out in middle of one of Laos’ most spectacular natural wonders; mile after mile of green rolling hill-sides, against infinite blue skies, all mirrored in the murky depths of the river.

The small village of Muang Khua acts as a small river port and the main jump-off point for passage to Vietnam. It also offers numer-ous opportunities for trekking. Check local tourist information when you arrive.

When I finally returned to Luang Prabang, it took several days for my incredible journey to fully sink in. Phongsaly was an unforget-table experience.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TRAVELLING IN PHONGSALY CONTACT:Udomxai Provincial Tourism OfficeUdomxai Town, Xay District, Udomxai ProvinceEmail: ptdoudomxay@yahoo.comPhone: +856 (0) 81 212 483 www.oudomxay.info

Phongsaly Provincial Tourism OfficePhongsaly (just outside the central market),Tel: +856 (0)88 210 098Email: info@phongsali.netwww.phongsaly.net

HOTEL ADVISOR

24

TOURISM

My kids love an authentic adventure. Their school year had ended; it was time to explore.

This meant stopping at the Sustainable Tourism Development Project (STDP) office at the Lao National Tourism Administra-tion (LNTA), my key to the not-yet-known.

Rik Ponne and Jim Johnston lead the LNTA - Asian Develop-ment Bank (ADB) initiative, and Sayabouly blinked on their radar screens that cover “really off the beaten path”.

The map showed the Mekong, mountains, and no major roads isolated the “Land of the Elephants” from Vientiane, so I told my girls, “We’ll do a loop.”

They followed my finger up Highway 13 to Vang Vieng, then to Luang Prabang. “From here we cruise up the Mekong to Tha Xoung in Sayabouly. That’s where the adventure begins.”

Innocent Adventures in Sayabouly ການຜະຈນໄພທໄຮດຽງສາໃນໄຊຍະບລBy Bernie Rosenbloom

ລກ ຂອງ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ຮກ ການ ຜະຈນ ໄພ ທ ແທ ຈງ. ເມອ ໂຮງຮຽນຂອງ ພວກ ເຂາ ໄດປດ ພາກຮຽນ ; ກ ເຖງ ເວລາ ຜະຈນ ໄພ ກນ ແລວ.

ນ ໝາຍ ຄວາມ ວາ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ຈະ ຕອງ ໄດ ແວເບງ ຂ ມນ ຢ ທ ໂຄງການ ພດທະນາ ການທອງທຽວ ແບບ ຍນ ຍງ (STDP) ຂອງ ອງການ ທອງ ທຽວ ແຫງ ຊາດ, ເຊງ ເປນ ກນ ແຈ ສຳຄນ ຂອງ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ໄປ ບອນ ທ ບຮຈກ.

ຣກ ພນ (Rik Ponne) ແລະ ຈ ມ ຈອນ ຊນ (Jim Johnston) ເຮດ ວຽກກບ ອງການ ທອງ ທຽວ ແຫງ ຊາດ - ໂຄງການ ຂອງ ADB, ແລະ ໄຊ ຍະ ບລ ໄດກາຍ ເປນ ເປາໝາຍ ໃນ ຈເຣ ດາຂອງ ພວກ ເຂາ ເຊງກວມ ເອາ ທງ “ບອນ ທ ທ ນຍມ ອຫ”.

ໃນແຜນ ທມ ແມ ນາຂອງ, ພ ເຂາ ແລະ ບມ ຖະໜນ ໃຫຍຕດ ຜານ ເຊງໂດດ ດຽວ “ດນ ແດນ ແຫງ ລານ ຊາງ” ອອກ ຈາກ ວຽງຈນ, ດງ ນນ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ຈງ ບອກ ລກວາ, “ພວກ ເຮາ ຈະ ໄປຜະຈນ ໄພ ກນ.”

ພວກ ເຂາ ເດນທາງ ໄປ ຕາມ ຄາ ຊ ແນະ ຂອງ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ຂນ ໄປ ຕາມ ເສນທາງ ເລກທ 13 ເໜອ ໄປ ວງ ວຽງ ຈນ ເຖງຫວງພະ ບາງ. “ຈາກ ທ ນນ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ຂ ເຮອ ຂນ ໄປ ຕາມ ລຳ ແມ ນາຂອງ ຈນ ເຖງ ທາ ຊວງ ແຂວງ ໄຊ ຍະ ບລ. ທ ນ ເອງ ທ ການ ຜະຈນ ໄພ ໄດ ເລ ມຕນ ຂນ.”

25

Crafting CottonThe old wooden river boat left Luang Prabang’s pier just after 07:00, and lazily churned up the river. No phone signal here, just a lonely boat dwarfed by towering trees scaling grey cliffs.

We arrived at Tha Xoung in mid-afternoon, where a “sawng taew” (pickup truck with benches) shuttled passengers on the

hour-long drive to Hongsa Town.

Hongsa’s Visitor Information Centre suggested a two-day itinerary spotlighting organic cotton and an elephant ride.

Rik and Jim had mentioned STDP’s support for Tai Lue weavers in Hongsa’s Ban Vieng Keo in crafting quality products. For an introduction, we drove 44 km to Ngeun District’s Ban Bi Mi, where women transformed local cotton into fabric.

Here we met Nuancy Ratanasithy, Director of the Sayabouly Cotton Group, who orchestrated a show.

An upland Khmu woman sat on a stool at a simple ginning machine, hand-cranked its rollers, and de-seeded cotton buds.

Nearby, an older woman used a stick to vigorously at-tack cotton in an overturned basket. “Secret softening process.”

She handed a clump of what looked like Santa’s beard to another woman, who firmly rolled a long rod over the fluffy mass until it became a long, narrow cotton tube.

ຫດຖະກຳຜາຝາຍ ເຮອ ໄມ ເກາໆ ອອກ ຈາກທາ ເຮອຫວງພະ ບາງຫງຈາກ ເວລາ 07:00 ໂມ ງຕອນ ເຊາ, ແລະ ຂ ໄປ ຊາໆ ຂນ ໄປຕາມ ລຳ ແມ ນາ. ຢ ບອນ ນບມ ສນຍານ ໂທລະ ສບ, ມ ພຽງ ເຮອ ທ ໂດດດຽວ ເບງ ຄ ນອຍໆ ຖາ ທຽບ ໃສບນດາ ຕນ ໄມ ໃຫຍສງ ລຽບ ໄປ ຕາມ ໜາຜາ.

ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ມາ ຮອດ ທາ ຊວງ ຕອນ ທຽງ, ບອນ ທ ມລດ ໂດຍສານ ສອງ ແຖວ ມາ ຮບ ຜ ໂດຍສານ ໄປ ເມອງ ຫງ ສາ ເຊງ ໃຊ ເວລາ ປະມານ ສ ຊວ ໂມງ.

ສນ ຂ ມນ ຂາວທອງ ທຽວຂອງ ເມອງ ຫງ ສາ ໄດ ແນະ ນາ ແຜນ ທອງ ທຽວ ສອງ ມລວມມ ການທຽວຊມສວນ ຝາຍ ອນ ຊ ແລະ ການ ຂ ຊາງ .

ຣກ ແລະ ຈ ມ ເຄຍ ໄດ ເວາ ຮອດ ການ ຊວຍ ເຫອຂອງ ໂຄງການ STDP ສຳລບ ຊາວ ຜ ຕາຫກໄຕ ລ ໃນ ເມອງ ຫງ ສາ ບານ ວຽງ ແກວ ທ ຜະລດ ເຄອງ ຫດຖະ ກຳ ມ ຄນ ນະພາ ບ. ເພອ ເປນ ການ ເລມ ຕນ, ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ໄດ ຂ ລດ ອອກ ໄປ ປະມານ 44 ກ ໂລ ແມດ ຈນ ຮອດ ເມອງ ເງນ ບານບ ໝ ບອນ ທ ປະຊາຊນ ເຮດ ການ ແປ ຮບ ຝາຍ ທອງ ຖ ນ ເປນ ແຜນ ແພ.

ຢ ທ ນ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ໄດ ພບ ກບ ນວນ ສ ລດຕະນະ ສດ ທ, ຜ ອຳນວຍ ການ ກມ ຜາ ຝາຍ ໄຊ ຍະ ບລ, ຜ ທ ຈະໄດອະ ທ ບາຍ ວທການ ແປ ຮບ ດງກາວ ໃຫ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ .

ແມ ຍງ ຂະ ມຄນ ໜງນງ ຢ ເທງຕງ ມາ ຂາງ ເຄອງ ແຍກ ແກນ ຝາຍ ແບບ ງາຍດາຍ, ດາມ ມຈບ ໝນ ອວ ແລະ ແຍກ ເອາ ແກນ ຝາຍ ອອກ ມາ.

ຢ ໃກໆ, ມ ແມ ຍງ ຜ ເຖາ ຄນ ໜງ ໃຊ ໄມ ຈບ ຝາຍຢາງ ແຂງ ຂນ ໃນ ກະ ຕາ ຂວມ ອນ ໜງ. “ຂນ ຕອນຄວາມ ລບ ເພອ ເຮດ ໃຫ ຜາຝາຍມ ຄວາມ ນມ (ລຝາຍ).”

ລາວ ໄດ ຍນ ກອນຝາຍ ທ ເບງ ແລວ ຄາຍຄ ໜວດ ຂອງ ແຊນ ຕາ ໃຫ ອກ ແມ ຍງ ຄນ ໜງທ ເຂນ ຝາຍ ຟອອກ ມາ ໃຫ ເປນ ເສນ ຍາວ ແລວ ກາຍ ເປນ ເສນ ດາຍ.

26

The “spinner” fastened the tube on a spinning wheel, deftly plucked a strand, wrapped it around a spool on the wheel’s axel, and started spinning, guiding the fibre with her toe.

Mrs Nuancy walked me across the street to 20 spools whirling on a rack as women braided the threads on a 10-metre walk to wind them on wall-mounted pegs.

While describing the indigo dyeing process, in which they brewed a mix of bark, plants, leaves, and ants, Mrs Nuancy noted that mothers passed the vats down to their daughters.

“Daughters!?” I raced across the street to find nine-year-old Hannah working a loom under a master’s tutelage. Little feet tapped pedals while tiny hands tightened threads on a grow-ing sheet. Andrea, the elder, took her turn, absorbing every authentic moment.

After lunch, we stopped at the 16th century Golden Flea Stupa covering a legendary sinkhole, in which a silver-skinned el-ephant fell and was swarmed by golden fleas.

Nearby, Vat Si Boun Yeun dates to 1736, and houses a large Buddha image and tiny booth that once served as a vice-roy’s office. Toung (flags) – steps across the “River of Death” – hang from the rafters.

To cap the day, we trekked through rice fields and up a trail to see the Earth Pillars, a handful of towering soil spikes, labelled “oddities of ero-sion”, and backed by a valley view.

ເຄອງ ຫລາ ດງ ເສນ ດາຍປນ ອອມ ລ ໝນ, ດງ ເສນ ໄຍ ຢາງ ມ ທກ ສະ, ໝນ ມນ ອອມຫອດດາຍຢ ເທງ ເພາ ຂອງ ລ, ແລະ ເລມ ປນ, ໂດຍ ໃຊ ນວຕນ ຂອງ ລາວນຳທາງ ເສນ ໄຍ.

ທານນາງ ນວນ ສ ໄດ ພາພວກຂາພະ ເຈາ ຍາງ ຂາມ ຫນທາງ ໄປ ເບງ ການ ໝນ ກດາຍ 20 ອນ ຢ ເທງ ຮາວ ເຝອ ຕອນ ແມຍງ ສາວ ເສນດາຍ ໂດຍ ຍາງ ເປນ 10 ແມດ ເພອ ເກາະ ເສນ ຝາຍ ໃສ ເທງຮາວ ແຂວ ເຝອ.

ໃນ ຂະນະ ທ ກຳລງ ອະທບາຍ ຂນ ຕອນ ການ ຍອມ ສ ນາ ເງນ ເຂມ ເຊງ ເຂາ ເຈາ ໄດ ໝກນາ ຍອມ ປະສມ ລະ ຫວາງ ເປອກ ໄມ, ໃບ ໄມ ແລະ ມດ, ທານ ນາງ ນວນ ສ ໄດ ບອກ ວາຜ ເປນ ແມ ໄດ ປະ ໝ ຍອມ ໄວ ໃຫ ຜ ເປນ ລກ ສາວ ເພອ ສບທອດ.

“ລກ ສາວ!?” ຂາພະ ເຈາ ຂຽວຟາວ ແລນ ຂາມ ທາງ ໄປ ຊອກ ຫາ ລກ ສາວ ອາຍ ເກາ ປ ຮນ ນາ (Hannah) ກຳລງ ຕາຜາ ຢ ເທງ ກ ຕາຫກ ໂດຍ ມອາຈານ ເປນ ຜ ແນະ ນຳ ຢ. ຕນ ນອຍໆ ຢຽບ ໄມ ໃນ ຂະນະ ທ ມ ນອຍໆກດງ ດາຍຢ ເທງ ແຜນ ຜາ. ແອນ ເດຣຍ (Andrea), ຜ ເປນ ເອອຍ, ປຽນຜຽນກບ ຜ ນອຍ, ພະຍາຍາມ ຊມຊບເອາ ທກ ໄລຍະ ເວລາ ເທາ ທ ມ.

ຫງອາຫານ ທຽງ, ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ໄດ ພາກນ ຢດ ເຊາ ຢ ທພະທາດ ເຕາ ທອງ ທ ສາງ ຂນ ໃນ ສດຕະ ວດ ທ 16 ເພອ ປກຫມ ຂມທ ເປນ ຕຳນານ ເຊງມ ລກສະນະ ເປນ ຄ ຜວ ຊາງ ສ ເງນ ແລະ ຖກຫມ ຕອມ ດວຍ ແມງ ເຕາ ທອງ.

ໃກ ກນນນ ມ ວດ ສ ບນ ຍນ ທ ສາງ ຂນ ໃນ ປ 1736, ແລະ ເປນ ທ ປະດດສະຖານ ພະພດທະ ຮບ ຂະໜາດ ໃຫຍ ແລະ ມ ຮານ ນອຍໆ ທ ຄງ ໜງ ໃຊ ເປນຫອງການ ຂອງ ອປະຮາ ຊ. ທງ – ເພອ ໃຊ ເປນ ທາ ແພ ຂາມ “ ແມ ນາ ມລະນະ” – ແຂວນ ອອກ ມາ ຈາກ ຄນ ຂ ເຮອ ແພ.

ເພອ ສະຫບການທອງທຽວ ໃນ ມ ນ, ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ໄດ ພາກນ ຍາງ ຜານທງ ນາ ແລະ ຍາງ ຂນ ໄປ ເບງ ເສນຂອບ ຟາ, ມ ເນນ ສງຢ ທາງ ໜາ, ໝາຍ ໄວ ວາ “ການ ກດ ເຊາະ ຂອງ ໜາດນ ທບຄ ໃຜ”, ແລະມ ສາກຫງ ເປນ ວວທວ ທດ ຂອງ ເປນພ.

TOURISM

27

Elephant AdventureJust outside Hongsa Town, an arched bamboo gate welcomes visitors to Ban Vieng Keo, where a 22-year-old tusker, Poo Noot, eased up to us, giving the girls time to ponder nature’s amusement park ride.

Meanwhile, a village elder explained that Sayabouly is home to 75 per cent of Laos’ 500-some domesti-cated elephants, and a wild pachyderm population approaching 150. Ban Vieng Keo’s 30 mahouts over-see 15 elephants, most of which drag logs.

The muddy trail cut through farmland and into a pro-tected forest. We followed a stream, and stopped at a pond to refill Poo Noot, who also ripped out mas-sive shrubs for snacks during our two-hour jaunt.

That was adventurous enough for us, but thanks to STDP’s efforts, Ban Vieng Keo also offers overnight homestays and high-quality woven wares.

Upon our return, women at looms, tucked under-neath stilted houses, were weaving designs for sin skirts, prayer flags, scarves, table cloths, and fabric for jackets, handbags, and hats.

The village store sold their finished products, and my girls scored handbags and a sin for their mom.

ການຜະຈນໄພກບຊາງຢນອກ ເມອງ ຫງ ຫາ, ມ ປະຕ ຊມໄມ ໄຜຕອນ ຮບ ນກ ທອງ ທຽວ ເຂາ ໄປ ບານ ວຽງ ແກວ, ເຊງມຊາງ ນຳ ທຽວອາຍ 22 ປ ມ ຊວາ ປນດ (Poo Noot) ມາ ຫາ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ, ເພອ ໃຫ ລກໆ ຂອງ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ມ ເວລາ ຊມ ສວນ ສະນກ ທຳ ມະ ຊາດ.

ໃນ ຂະນະ ດຽວກນ, ຜ ເຖາ ໃນ ບານ ໄດ ອະທບາຍ ວາ ໄຊຍະ ບລ ມ ຊາງ ບານ 75 ສວນ ຮອຍ ໃນຊາງບານ ຂອງ ປະ ເທດລາວ ທງ ໝດຈຳນວນ 500 ເຊອກ ແລະຊາງ ປາ ອກ ເກອບ 150 ເຊອກ. ບານ ວຽງ ແກວ ມ ຄວານ ຊາງ 30ຄນ (ຄນ ເບງ ຊາງ) 15 ເຊອກ, ເຊງສວນຫາຍ ແມນ ໃຊ ໄວ ລາກ ທອນ ໄມ.

ທາງ ຂຕມ ຕດ ຜານດນ ນາ ແລະ ເຂາ ສ ປາ ອະນລກ. ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ໄປ ຕາມ ເສນທາງ ແລະ ຢດ ຢ ທ ໜອງ ແຫງ ໜງ ເພອ ເຕມ ແຮງ ໃຫ ປ ນດ, ເຊງ ໄປ ຕາມ ທາງ ກ ໄດ ກນ ໃບ ໄມ ໃບ ຫຍາ ຈຳນວນຫາຍ ເພອ ເປນ ຂອງ ວາງຕະຫອດການ ເດນທາງ ສອງ ຊວ ໂມງ.

ນນ ກຖ ວາ ພ ແລວ ສຳລບ ການ ຜະຈນ ໄພສຳລບ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ, ແຕ ກຂ ຂອບ ໃຈຄວາມ ພະຍາ ຍາມ ຂອງ ໂຄງການ STDP, ບານ ວຽງ ແກວ ທຍງ ໄດ ໃຫ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ນອນ ພກ ຄາງ ຄນ ຢ ນຳ ແລະສຳລບ ເຄອງ ຕາ ຄນນະພາ ບສງ.

ຕາມ ທາງ ກບ, ແມ ຍງ ຢ ກ ຕາຫກ ຢ ກອງ ເຮອນ ກຳລງ ຕາສນ, ທງຊາດ, ຜາພນ ຄ, ຜາ ປ ໂຕະ, ແລະ ຜາ ສຳລບ ເຮດ ເສອ ຄມ, ກະ ເປາ ແລະ ໝວກ.

ຮານ ຄາ ໝ ບານ ຂາຍ ຜະລດ ຕະພນ ທ ສຳ ເລດ ແລວ, ແລະ ລກ ສາວຂອງ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ໄດ ຊ ຖງພາຍ ແລະ ສນ ເປນ ຂອງຝາກ ໃຫ ແມ ຂອງ ພວກ ເຂາ.

TOURISM

28

South to SayaboulyOn the 2.5-hour drive south to Sayabouly District, host of this year’s Elephant Festival (17-19 February), we passed a group of Phrai, a matriarchal society that lives in clans.

The following day, DED German Development Services’ Ines Seiler, an advisor to the Provincial Tourism Department (PTD), led our tour.

We started near Tha Deua pier, and followed a path to a small hermit cave and shrine overlooking a brook, whose healing waters once attracted Lane Xang royalty.

A Lao Leum woman was collecting river weed in the stream just before it leapt 20 metres off a cliff as the Tad Jao Water-fall, landing in the Mekong, where two men were panning for gold.

Moving to Vat Natornoy v, “Heaven’s Tower” grabbed our eyes. During Lao New Years, villagers pour perfumed water into its troughs that zigzag down to a small hut and the hands of a Buddha image.

ທາງໃຕຂອງໄຊຍະບລຂ ລດ ປະມານ 2.5 ຊວ ໂມງ ໄປ ທາງ ໃຕ ຂອງ ເມອງ ໄຊ ຍະ ບລ, ເປນ ບອນ ຈດ ງານ ເທດສະການບນ ຊາງປະ ຈຳປ (17-19 ກມພາ), ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ໄດ ຂ ລດຜານບານ ຂອງຊນ ເຜາ ໄພຣ, ເຊງ ເປນ ສງຄມ ທ ມ ແມ ຍງ ເປນ ຜ ນຳ ຄອບຄວ ອາ ໄສ ຢ ເປນ ກກ ເປນ ເລາ.

ມຕມາ, ອ ເນສ ເຊ ເລ ທ ປກສາ ພະ ແນກທອງທຽວ ແຂວງ (PTD), ຂອງອງ| ການ ພດທະນາ ເຢຍລະ ມນ DED, ໄດ ພາ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາທອງ ທຽວ.

ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ເລມ ຈາກທາ ເຮອ ທາ ເດອ, ແລະ ຕຈາກ ນນກ ໄປ ຕາມ ທາງ ເພອ ໄປ ເບງ ຖາພະ ລ ສ ແລະສານ ເຈາ ທຫຽວໜາ ໄປທາງແມ ນາ, ເຊງທ ນນ ມ ນາ ສກ ສດ ປນປວ ພະຍາດ ໄດທຄງ ໜງ ເຄຍ ດງ ດດຄອບ ຄວເຈາ ຊວດລານ ຊາງ ໃຫ ມາສະຖານທ ນ.

ມ ແມ ຍງລາວ ລມ ຄນ ໜງ ກຳລງ ເກບ ໄຄ ຢ ໃນ ສາຍ ນາ ຫາງ ຈາກໜາຜາ ນາຕກຕາດ ເຈາ 20 ແມດ ເທາ ນນ, ສາຍ ນາ ນ ຊອດ ໄປ ຮອດ ແມ ນາຂອງ ບອນ ທ ມ ຄນ ຮອນ ຄຳ.

ຫງຈາກ ນນ ກ ໄປ ວດ ນາ ຕ ມອຍ, “ຫຄອຍ ຂອງ ສະຫວນ” ເພອ ເປດ ຫ ເປດຕາ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ. ເປນ ເວລາ ສນໃນ ລະ ຫວາງ ປ ໃໝ ລາວ, ຊາວບານ ໄດ ພາກນ ມາ ສງ ພະ ໂດຍ ຫດ ນາ ໃສ ຮາງ ນາ ທຄອຍໆ ໄຫ ລງ ມາໃສຕບນອຍ ແລະ ໃສ ມຂອງ ພະພດທະ ຮບ.

ກະ ຕາ ຫອຍ ຢ ຂາງ ໃນ ຂອງ ວດ ນາ ຕ ນອຍ ເພອ ອທດ ໃຫ ແກ ວນ ຍານ ຂອງ ພະ ລາຊາ ພະ ເຫວ ດສນ ດອນທ ເປນ ຕຳນານ ຂອງ ໄຊ ຍະ ບລ, ແລະ ໃນ ແຕລະ ປ ກາງ ເດອນ ມນາທາງ ແຂວງ ຈະ ອທດສວນ ບນ ສວນກສນ ໃຫ ແກ ພະ ລາຊາ ໂດຍ ການ ເຮດບນ ພະ ເຫວ ດ.

ບນ ຈດ ຂນ ເປນ ເວລາ ສາມ ມ – ມໜາ ກາກ ໄມ ຂະໜາດ ໃຫຍ ແລະ ມ ສສນ ເປນ ສນຍາ ລກ – ເລມ ຕນ ດວຍ ຂະ ບວນວນ ຍານ ພ ດຜ ແລະ ພໝ ນຳ ຂະ ບວນ ແຫຈາກ ວດ ສ ບນ ເຮອນ, ເຊງ ເປນ ບອນ ທ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ກຳລງ ຈະ ໄປ.

ວດດງກາວ ນ ໄດ ເລ ມສາງຂນ ທຳ ອດ ໃນ ປ 1456 ເຊງສາມາດ ແນມ ເຫນ ແມ ນາ ຮງ, ແລະ ເປນ ວດ ທ ເກາ ແກ ທ ສດ ໃນ ໄຊ ຍະ ບລ ເຊງປະດດສະ ຖານ ພະພດທະ ໄສຍາດ(ນອນ)ຄາ ທ ໃຫຍທ ສດ ໃນ ແຂວງ ມ ຄວາມ ສງເຖງ 7 ແມດ

ເຖງ ຢາງ ໃດ ກຕາມ, ວດ ສສະ ຫວາງ ວງ ທ ມ ຮາວ ບນ ໄດ ພະຍາ ນາກ ຍາວ ຢ ໃນ ໃຈກາງ ຂອງ ມ ອງ, ກ ເປນ ໜງ ໃນ ສາມ ວດ ຂນສງ ໃນ ລາວ. ຍອນ ແນວ ນ ຈງ ເປນ ແຮງ ບນດານ ໃຈ ໃຫ ພະສງຮສກ ເປນກຽດທ ໄດ ມາ ສກສາ ຮາ ຮຽນ, ນງ ສະມາທ ແລະ ໄດ ຮບ ການ ອປະສມບດໃນ ວດ ແຫງ ນ.

Baskets hang inside Vat Natornoy for the spirit of legendary Sayabouly King Phavet, and each year in mid-March the province pays tribute by celebrating Boun Phavet.

The three-day festival – marked by large, colourful, wooden masks – begins with spirit ghosts and medicine men leading a parade from Vat Sibounheuang, our next stop.

Originally built in 1456, Sayabouly’s oldest temple houses the province’s largest golden reclining Buddha at 7 metres.

However, Vat Sisavangvong, with its long decorative Naga banisters in the town cen-tre, is just one of three Lao temples holding the highest rank. Aspiring monks consider it an honour to study, meditate, and be or-dained at this vat.

29

Jungle Spa & ElephantsInes then took us to the Houay Namsai Medicinal Plants Pre-serve and Herbal Spa in the jun-gle about 19 km south of town. “It’s the first one of this kind in all Laos,” she said.

The Preserve’s Spiritual Journey headlines the PTD’s one-day Lao Traditions Journey, during which visitors follow gravel pathways in a botanical garden with signs pinpointing almost 100 medici-nal plants.

Ines recently told me Mr Chanthi, the traditional medicine practitioner from nearby Ban Houay Kaeng, guides tours during which, “visitors can learn about the remedies, recipes, and healing powers of traditional Lao medicine.”

ສະປາໃນປາແລະຊາງອ ເນສ ພາ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ໄປ ສນ ອະນລກພດສະ ໝນ ໄພຫວຍ ນາ ໃສ ແລະ ສະ ປາ ສະ ໝນ ໄພ ຢ ໃນ ປາ ປະມານ 19 ກ ໂລ ແມດ

ອອກ ໄປ ທາງ ໃຕ ຈາກຕວ ເມອງ. “ມນ ເປນ ບອນ ທຳ ອດ

ທາ ອຢ ໃນ ປະ ເທດ ລາວ,” ລາວ ໄດ ບອກ ພວກ ຂາພະ

ເຈາ, ແລະຫງຈາກ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ໄປ ມນ ກ ໄດ ເປດ ໃຫ ບລການ ເປນ ເວລາ ສນໆ.

ການ ເດນທາງ ເພອ ການ ອະນ ລກ ໄດ ນຳສະ ເໜ ການ ເດນທາງ ແບບ ພນ ເມອງ ລາວ ຂອງ PTD, ເຊງໜງ ໃນ ນນນກ ທອງ ທຽວຈະ ມ ໂອກາດ ໄປ ທຽວຊມສວນພກສາຊາດ ທ ມ ປາຍ ບອກພດ ສະ ໝນ ໄພ ເກອບ 100 ຊະ ນດ.

ວາງ ບດນ ນ ອ ເນສ ໄດ ບອກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ວາ ມ ໝຜ ຊາຍ ຄນໜງນຳ ທຽວ ເຊງ ໃນ ລະ ຫວາງ ການທຽວນນ, “ນກ ທອງ ທຽວສາມາດ ຮຽນຮ ກຽວກບ ວທ ບຳບດ ຮກສາ, ສດ ຢາ ຕາງໆ, ແລະ ຜງ ຢາ ປນປວ ພນ ເມອງ ຕາງໆ ຂອງ ລາວ.” ລາວ ໄດ ກາວ ຕມ ອກ ວາ, “ການ ຮມ ຢາ ແລະ ນວດ ສະ ໜນ ໄພ ໃນ ປະຈ ບນແມນ ມ ໃຫ ບລການ ແລວ,” ແລະການຮມ ແລະ ບອນ ອາບ ນາ ຢ ແມ ນາ ທຳ ມະ ຊາດ ທ ສາມາດ ປນປວ ພະຍາດ ໄດ ກຳລງ ມ ການກສາງ ຢ.

PTD ກຳລງ ນຳ ສະ ເໜ ການ ລອງ ເຮອ ສອງ ມ ຈາກ ນາ ຮງ ຫາ ແມ ນາຂອງ ແລະ ຈາກ ແມ ນາຂອງ ຫາ ນາ ປຍ ໃນ ຕນ ປ 2012, ທຈະພາ ທຽວຊມ ອອມຮອບ ສນ ອະນລກ ແລະ ລວມທງ ການ ຄາງ ຄນ ຢ ໃນ ໝ ບານ.

ເມອກບ ເຂາ ມາ ໃນ ເມອງ, ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ໄດ ໄປ ຮບ ປະທານ ອາຫານ ຢ ທຮານ ອາຫານ ແຫງ ໜງ ທ ແນມ ເຫນ ສນ ອະນລກ ຊາງຂອງອາຊ ຢ ເທງ ແຫມອາງ ເກບ ນາຕຽນ, ແຕ ກອກ ຄງ ໜງ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ຫາກຂ ເຮອ ມາ.

ການ ເຮດ ວຽກຂອງ ສນ ດງກາວ ໃນ ປະຈ ບນ ແມນ ຮວມ ເອາ ການ ເບງ ແຍງ ຊາງ ກບ ການທອງທຽວ ແບບ ອະນລກ ຫ ອ ໂຄ ທວຣ ຊມ. ສນ ດງກາວ ໄດປນປວ ຊາງ ມາ ແລວ ເປນ ຮອຍ ຄງ ແລະ ລຽງຊາງ 10 ເຊອກ ລວມມ ສາມ ແມ ແລະ ລກ.

“ປະຊາຊນ ມກ ມາ ເບງລກ ຊາງຕອນ ຫາກ ເກດ ໃໝ,” ຜ ອຳນວຍ ການ ຮວມ ເຊ ບບດ ສຕຽນ ດ ຟລ ໂອ, ສນອານລກຊາງອາຊ ປະ ຈຳ ປະ ເທດ ລາວ ໄດບອກ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ.

ນອກຈາກ ນທາງສນ ຍງ ໃຫ ບລການ ບານ ພກ ເປນ ຕບເກາຫງ ເຊງມ ຫອງ ເປນ ແບບບານ ຂອງ ໄຕ ລພນ ເມອງ, ມ ຮານ ອາຫານ, ໂຮງໝ ປນປວ ຊາງ, ແລະລາຍການ ກດຈະ ກຳທຫາກຫາຍ.

ເຊບ ໄດ ເວາ ວາ ການ ອາບ ນາໃນ ຕອນ ທຽງ ແມນເປນທ ນຍມ. “ມ ແສງ ແດດກຳລງ ດ ແລະ ນກ ທອງ ທຽວສາມາດ ໄປ ກບຄວານ ລຽງຊາງແລະ ຊາງ ເພອ ໄປ ບອນ ກນ ຫຍາ.”

ຕ ໄປ ຍງ ຈະ ມ ການ ໃຊ ຊວດ ກບສນ ຊມ ຊນ ຄວານຊາງ, ຜ ນຳ ທຽວຂອງ ສນ ຂ ມນ ຂາວສານ ກຽວກບ ຊາງ ແລະ ໂຮງໝ, ເດນ ປາ ພອມ ກບ ຊາງ ແລະ ຂ ເຮອ ເທງ ນາຕຽນ.

The spa’s steam rooms use a “shotgun mix” of around eight herbs harvested in the area’s forest for use as antiseptics and muscle relaxants or to improve circulation and relieve arthritis. These are wrapped in cloth and steeped in a boiling vat, with the vapours wafting into the steam rooms.

She added, “The traditional massage is also available,” and a natural riverside bath with healing waters is being built.

The PTD is also launching a two-day Nam Houng-Mekong-Nampouy River Cruise in early 2012, which explores the Pre-serve and includes a village homestay.

Back in town, we dined at a restaurant overlooking Elefant-Asia’s Elephant Conservation Centre on a Nam Tien Reservoir peninsula, but again we had just beaten the boat.

Now up and running, the Centre merges elephant care with

ecotourism. It has performed hundreds of veterinarian checks and houses 10 elephants including three mothers with calves.

“People love to observe the baby elephants at the nursery,” said ElefantAsia Laos Co-director Sebastien Duffillot.

The Centre offers nine bungalows and rooms in a traditional Tai Lue house, a restaurant, elephant hospital, and growing list of activities.

Seb said the afternoon elephant bath is popular. “The light is great, and visitors can accompany the mahout and elephant to the grazing area.”

Also on the slate are living with the Centre’s mahout com-munity, guided tours of the Elephant Information Centre and hospital, trekking alongside the elephants, and boating on the Nam Tien.

TOURISM

30

ສຳລບ ຂ ມນ ເພມ ເຕມ:

For more information: www.stdplaos.com

(ສນ ຄວາມ ຮ ທາງ ເວບ ໄຊ “ຂ ມນ ຂອງ ສຳລບ ນກ ທອງ ທຽວ”)

(Web-based Knowledge Center’s “Visitor Information”)

www.ecotourismlaos.com

www.sayaboulytourism.com

www.elephantconservationcenter.com

Completing the LoopThe five-hour drive south to Paklai twisted over rough and muddy roads, as bulldozers cleared the way for an ADB-fund-ed highway and three Mekong bridges tying Sayabouly to the STDP-backed Northern Heritage Route: Vientiane-Luang Prabang-Xieng Huang-Houaphanh.

Paklai provided a respite from the abdominally challenging ride. Ten colonial-era houses and the 120-year-old royal family home dot the town, and Paklai’s Vat Sisavangvong, like Saya-bouly’s, is highly revered.

Boats quit plying the Mekong to Vientiane years ago, so we booked passage in a minivan and five more bumpy hours. The girls suffered like champs.

Late last year, I interrupted Rik and Jim at the STDP office, and asked a non-rhetorical, “What’s new?”

“Sayabouly’s Nam Thang 1,000 Caves Area with Ban Keo homestays,” Rik advised. “Ask Jim. He’s blazing that trail.”

Jim lit up. “The best parts are the old men in Ban Keo get-ting out their cross-bows and holding archery competitions. You can even take part! And, the cave floors are soft, not like cobblestones, and natural stairs lead to portholes to the out-side. When you climb through, it’s like stepping into another world.”

He described the Tham Loub – Mountain Circuit’s large cav-ern exiting to a mountaintop ridge. The half-day Tham Lot – Tham Chia Khiu Trail starts with an easy walk, crosses the Nam Thang stream, and embarks on the 350-metre path to Tham Chia Khiu cave.

“You exit Chia Khiu cave into a forest, and follow the stream into Tham Lot cave, which is really a 500-metre tunnel through which the stream flows, and is only for adventurous souls pre-pared to get wet to the waist.”

Jim added that another new program exits Tham Loub through a small hole into the “secret forest” before entering Tham Chia Khieu from behind.

Back home, the girls jumped at the chance for a second au-thentic Sayabouly adventure. In spite of new developments, the province remains as innocent as my two kids.

ສນສດການເດນທາງຂບ ລດ ຫາ ຊວ ໂມງ ໄປ ທາງ ໃຕ ຜານ ຖະໜນ ເປນ ຂມ ແລະ ຂຕມເພອ ໄປ ປາກ ລາຍ, ເພາະ ລດດດ ໄດ ເປດ ທາງ ເພອ ສາງ ຖະໜນທ ໃຫ ທນໂດຍ ADB ແລະ ຂວ ຂາມ ແມ ນາຂອງ ສາມ ແຫງ ເຊອມ ຕ ໄຊ ຍະ ບລ ກບ ເສນທາງ ມລະດກ ໃນ ພາກ ເໜອ ທ ໄດ ຮບ ການ ສະ ໜບສະ ໜ ນ ໂດຍ ໂຄງການ STDP: ວຽງຈນ-ຫວງພະ ບາງ-ຊຽງຂວາງ-ຫວພນ.

ປາກ ລາຍ ເປນ ບອນພກຫງຈາກ ການ ຂ ລດມາ ດນ. ທ ນນ ມ ບານ ສະ ໄໝ ຫວ ເມອງ ຂນ ຢ ສບຫງ ແລະ ບານ ຂອງ ຄອບຄວ ເຈາ ຊວດ ມ ອາຍ 120 ປຕງ ຢ ໃນ ເມອງ, ແລະ ວດ ສສະ ຫວາງ ວງ ຂອງ ປາກ ລາຍ ຄ ກນ ກບ ຂອງ ໄຊ ຍະ ບລ ທປະຊາຊນ ໃຫການເຄາລບ ນບຖເປນ ຢາງ ສງ.

ມ ເຮອ ປະ ຈຳ ທາງ ຕາມ ລຳ ແມ ນາຂອງ ໄປ ວຽງຈນ ເມອຫາຍປ ກອນພນ, ດງ ນນ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ຈງ ໄດ ຈອງ ບອນ ນງນຳ ລດ ຕ ແລະ ຕອງ ໃຊ ເວລາ ອກ ຫາ ຊວ ໂມງ ຢ ເທງ ຖະໜນທ ເປນ ຂມ ເປນ ບວກ. ລກ ສາວ ຂອງ ຂາພະ ເຈາພາກນ ອດທນ ເປນ ຢາງ ດ.

ປ ກາຍ ນ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ໄດ ໄປ ລບ ກວນ ຣກ ແລ ະ ຈ ມ ຢ ຫອງການ ໂຄງການ STDP, ແລະ ຖາມ ເຂາ ເຈາວາ, “ມ ຫຍງ ໃໝ ບ?”

“ນາ ທາງ ຢ ໄຊ ຍະ ບລ ມ ຖາ ເປນ 1,000 ແຫງ ແລະນອນ ຄາງ ຄນ ຢ ບານ ແກວ,” ຣກ ໄດ ແນະ ນຳ. “ຖາມ ຈ ມ. ລາວ ເກງ ທາງ ນ.”

ຈ ມ ເວາ ຂນ ວາ. “ສວນ ທ ດ ທ ສດ ຂອງ ພນ ຖາ ແມນ ມນ ນມ, ບຄ ກອນ ຫນ ຂະໜາດ ໃຫຍ, ແລະ ມ ຂນ ໄດ ທຳ ມະ ຊາດ ຂນ ໄປ ຫາ ປອງ ອອກ ໄປ ທາງ ນອກ. ເມອ ທານ ປນ ຜານ, ມນ ເປນ ຄ ການ ຍາງ ກາວ ອອກ ໄປ ອກ ໂລກໆ ໜງ.”

ລາວ ໄດ ອະທບາຍ ກຽວກບ ຖາ ລບ – ການຍາງ ອອມອ ໂມງ ພ ເຂາ ທ ໜາ ຕນ ເຕນຈນ ໄປຂອບ ສນ ຂອງພ ເຂາ. ການທຽວຖາ ລອດ ເຄງມ – ເສນທາງ ໄປ ຖາ ເຈຍ ຄວ ເລ ມຈາກ ການ ຍາງ ແບບ ງາຍໆ, ຂາມ ສາຍນາທາງ, ແລະ ລງ ເຮອ ໄປ ອກ 350 ແມດ ເພອ ໄປ ຖາ ເຈຍ ຄວ.

“ທານ ອອກ ຈາກ ຖາ ເຈຍ ຄວ ເຂາ ໄປ ໃນ ປາ, ແລະ ໄປ ຕາມ ສາຍ ນາ ຈນ ຮອດ ຖາ ລອດ, ເຊງທ ນນມ ອ ໂມງ ຍາວ 500 ແມດ. ທານ ເກອບ ວາ ຢ ໃນນາຕະຫອດ ເວລາ.”

ຕອນ ກບ ບານ, ລກ ສາວ ຂອງ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ບລ ລ ທ ຈະ ຜະຈນ ໄພ ອກ ຄງ ທ ສອງ ຖາ ມ ໂອກາດ. ແຂວງ ນຍງ ໃໝຄກນ ກບ ລກ ສອງ ຄນ ຂອງ ຂາພະ ເຈາ.

31

www.setthapalace.comE-mail: reservations@setthapalace.com

6 Pang Kham Street, Vientiane, Lao PDR

Tel: (856) 21-217581/2 • Fax: (856) 21-217583

A Belmont International Hotel

Colonial Charm, Luxurious Elegance

32

33

MAKING TRACK

photos by Green Discovery Laos

With the Lao National Day approaching, some friends and I decided to spend three days in Vang Vieng. Just a short drive from Vientiane, it proved the perfect

place to relax and enjoy some of Laos’ most spectacular scen-ery, as well as an exiting range of outdoor activities.

150 km of bumpy and sometimes precarious mountain road separate Vientiane from Vang Vieng. So we decided to enlist the help of a driver courtesy of Europcar. Shared between four of us, this was surprisingly affordable and allowed us to sit back and enjoy the journey.

Vang Vieng is truly exceptional. Surrounded by impossibly steep rock faces which seem to go on forever, as if majestically rising from the depths of the Nam Song River, it offers some of the most spectacular natural wonders found anywhere in South-East Asia. Early in the morning, when the surround-ing mountains are draped in morning mist, they provide an incredible backdrop. Nowhere else does the glory of nature meet the desires of man in such spectacular fashion.

ວນຊາດ ຂອງ ລາວ ຫຍບ ໃກ ເຂາ ມາ, ຂາພະ ເຈາ ແລະ ໝ ຈຳນວນ ໜງ ຕດສນ ໃຈ ໄປ ຫນວງ ວຽງສາມ ມ. ຂບ ລດ ບດນ ຈາກ ວຽງຈນ, ໄປ ຫາ ສະຖານ ທ ພກ ຜອນ ທ ສມບນ ແບບ ແລະ ມວນ ຊນ ໄປ

ກບ ວວທວ ທດ ທ ງດ ງາມ ທ ສດ ໃນ ປະ ເທດ ລາວ, ລວມທງ ກດຈະ ກຳ ກາງ ແຈງ ທ ໜາ ຕນ ເຕນ ອກຫາກຫາຍ.

ຖະໜນ ຖກ ພະຍ ທຳລາຍເປນ ຂມ ແລະ ບາງ ເທອ ກຄດ ໂຄງ ມ ຄວາມ ຍາວ 150 ກ ໂລ ແມດ ຈາກວຽງຈນ ເຖງ ວງ ວຽງ. ດງນນ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາຈງ ຕດສນ ໃຈຂ ຄວາມ ຊວຍ ເຫອຈາກຄນ ຂບ ລດ ຂອງ ຍ ໂຣຄາ (Europcar). ອອກ ເງນ ກນ ລະ ຫວາງ ໝ ສ ຄນ, ລາຄາບ ແພງ ຢາງ ໜາ ແປກ ໃຈ ແລະ ເຮດ ໃຫ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ສາມາດນງ ເອນຫງ ໄດ ຢາງ ສະບາຍ ແລະ ມວນ ຊນ ກບ ການ ເດນທາງ.

ວງ ວຽງມຄວາມ ພ ເສດ ຢາງ ແທ ຈງ. ອອມ ຮອບ ດວຍ ໜາຜາ ຫນ ສງ ຊນ ລຽງລາຍ ກນ ໄປ ແບບ ບ ສນ ສດ, ເບງ ຄ ເກດ ຂນ ມາ ຈາກ ຄວາມ ເລກ ຂອງ ແມ ນາ ຊອງ, ມນ ເຮດ ໃຫ ເກດ ມ ສງ ມະຫດສະຈນ ທາງທຳ ມະ ຊາດ ທ ໜາ ຕນ ຕາ ຕນ ໃຈຫາຍທ ສດທ ໄດ ພບ ໃນ ອາຊ ຕາ ເວນ ອອກສຽງ ໃຕ. ຕອນ

ເຊາໆ, ເມອ ພ ເຂາ ອອມ ແອມ ປກ ຫມ ໄປ ດວຍ ໝອກ , ມນ ເຮດ ໃຫ ເກດ ມ ສາກຫງທ ມະຫດສະຈນ. ບມ ທຳ ມະ ຊາດບອນ ໃດ ອກ

ແລວຕອບ ສະ ໜອງ ໄດ ເຖງ ຄວາມ ຕອງການ ຂອງ ຄນ ໃນ ລກສະນະ ທໜາ ຕນ ຕາ ຕນ ໃຈ ຄ ແນວ ນ.

ໄປທຽວວງວຽງ

MAKING TRACK

34

ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ເຂາ ພກ ໃນ ວລາ ວງ ວຽງຣເວ ໄຊທ, ຕງ ຢ ກາ ຂວາ ຂອງ ຝງ ແມ ນາ. ຫອງ ພກ ສະອາດ ສະ ອາ ນ ແລະ ສະດວກ ສະບາຍ ແລະ ກບ ໄກຈາກ ສະ ລອຍ ນາ, ເປນ ຈດ ທ ສມບນ ແບບ ໃນ ການ ເບງ ວວທວ ທດ.

ພາຍຫງອາຫານ ທຽງ, ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ໄປ ກຮນ ດ ສ ໂຄ ເວຣ (Green Discovery) ເພອ ພບ ກບ ຜ ນຳ ທຽວ ທ ຈະ ພາ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ໄປ ຂ ເຮອ ຄາ ຢກ ເຄງມ. ເຖງ ວາ ຈະຫາກຮຽນຮ ເຕກນກ ພນຖານ ຂອງ ການ ຂ ເຮອ ຄາ ຢກ, ນາ ຊອງມ ບາງບອນ ນາ ໄຫລ ບ ແຮງ ເໝາະ ສຳລບ ຜ ເລ ມຕນ ເພອ ໃຫ ມວນ ຊນ.

ບອນ ຢດ ທຳ ອດ ຂອງ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ແມນ ຖາ ລມ ເພອ ໂດດ ນາ ຫນ. ຕຈາກ ນນ ໄປ ຖາ ນອນ ລງ ໄປ ລມ ແມ ນາ, ໜງ ໃນ ຖາ ທ ໃຫຍທ ສດ ໃນ ວງ ວຽງ ເຊງກອນ ໜາ ນ ເຄຍ ໃຊ ເປນ ບອນ ພກ ເຊາ ໃຫ ຊາວບານ ໃນ ລະ ຫວາງສງຄາມ ອນ ໂດ ຈນ. ໃນ ປະຈ ບນ ເປນ ບານ ຂອງ ເຈຍ ແລະ ‘ຫນ ມະຫດສະຈນ ຂອງ ວງ ວຽງ’. ທາຍ ສດ ກກບ ໄປ ວງ ວຽງ ພດ ທນ ເບງ ຕາ ເວນ ຕກ ດນ ທ ພ ເສດຢ ໃນ ລາວ.

35

We checked into a lovely room at the Villa Vang Vieng River-side, perched right on the banks of the river. The room was clean and comfortable and not far from a great swimming pool, the perfect spot to enjoy the views.

After lunch, we went to Green Discovery to meet our guide, who would take us on a half-day kayaking tour. Having only just mastered the basics of kayaking, the Nam Song offered some small rapids, ideal for beginners to have some fun.

Our first stop was the Tham Lom (Winding Cave) for a swing jump. Then onwards to Tham None (Sleeping Cave) further downstream, one of the biggest caves in Vang Vieng, used as a shelter for villagers during the Second Indochina War. Today, it’s home to a bat colony and ‘The Magic Stone of Vang Vieng’. Finally, back to Vang Vieng, in time to catch one of those spe-cial Lao sunsets.

MAKING TRACK

36

With dozens of caves, lagoons and villages all easily accessible from a loop of dirt tracks, hiring your own wheels is a great way to get around. So on our second day we decided to rent some dirt bikes to explore the area. This made for an intensive day out, but the stunning views quickly lulled us into the re-laxed rhythm of local life.

Unfortunately, we missed out on the opportunity of a hot-air balloon flight, which were already fully booked. The ‘Travel With Your Eyes’ tour company takes to the skies twice a day, with one flight early early in the morning and one at 5pm. For $60 you spend a thrilling half and hour over Vang Vieng. All flights must be booked in advance.

Much of the town has been swamped by a range of noisy bars and restaurants. By day two we wanted to escape the restau-rant-cum-TV-bars, not to mention the endless advertising of spaghetti and hamburgers. So we went to the Organic Farm Café, where fresh produce has been put together into a de-licious, healthy menu. The traditional Lao harvest curry, ex-cellent goat cheese and a great selection of wonderful fruit shakes are not to be missed.

Whatever your taste, Vang Vieng will have something for you. Rock climbing, trekking or tubing are all on offer throughout the town. For our last day, we decided to just relax and enjoy the views, before facing another Monday morning; a day at work, which after three days in Vang Vieng, seemed like an entirely different world.

ເນອງ ຈາກ ມ ຖາຫາຍ ແຫງ, ບນດາວງນຳ ແລະ ໝ ບານ ເຊງລວນ ແລວ ແຕ ເຂາ ໄປ ໄດ ງາຍ ຈາກ ລດ ສອງ ແຖວ ເປອນຝນ, ເຊາ ລດ ໄປ ເອງ ກ ເປນອກ ທາງ ເລອກ ໜງ ທ ດ. ດງ ນນ ໃນ ມ ທ ສອງ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ຕດສນ ໃຈ ເຊາ ລດຖບ ເພອ ໄປ ເລາະ ເບງ ທອງ ຖ ນ. ນ ໃຊ ເວລາ ເຖງ ໜງ ມ ເຕມໆ, ແຕ ວາ ວວທວ ທດທ ຕນ ຕາ ຕນ ໃຈ ກເຮດ ໃຫ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ຮສກ ຜອນຄາຍ ກບ ຊວດ ທອງ ຖ ນ.

ໂຊກ ບດ, ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ພາດ ໂອກາດ ຂນ ບອນ ລນ ເຊງບອນ ນງຖກ ຈອງໝດ ແລວ. ‘ທອງ ທຽວດວຍ ສາຍຕາ ຂອງ ທານ’ ບລສດ ນຳ ທຽວພາ ຂນ ເທງ ຟາ ມ ລະ ສອງ ຖຽວ, ຖຽວທຳ ອດ ຂນ ຕອນ ເຊາ ແລະ ອກ ຖຽວໜງ ຕອນ 5 ໂມງ ແລງ. ເສຍ ເງນ 60 ໂດ ລາ ສະຫະລດ ເພອ ເບງ ທດສະນ ຍະ ພາບ ຢ ເທງ ວງ ວຽງ. ທກ ໆ ຖຽວຕອງ ໄດ ຈອງ ກອນ ລວງ ໜາ.

ໃນ ຕວ ເມອງ ສວນຫາຍ ແມນ ລນ ໄປ ດວຍ ບາ ກນ ດມບນ ແຊວຫາຍປະ ເພດ ລວມທງ ຮານ ອາຫານ. ຮອດ ມ ທ ສອງ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ຕອງການ ຫລບ ໜ ບນດາ ຮານ ອາຫານ ທສວນ ໜງ ເປນບາ ເບງ ໂທລະພາບ ໄປ ນຳ, ບລວມທງ ປາຍ ໂຄສະນາ ຂາຍ ສະ ປາ ເກດ ຕ ແລະ ແຮມ ເບ ເກ. ດງ ນນ ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາຈງ ໄດພາກນ ໄປ ສວນ ກາ ເຟອນ ຊ ບອນ ທ ເຂາ ເຈາ ເອາ ຜນ ຜະລດ ທ ສດ ໃໝ ມາ ເຮດ ລາຍການ ອາຫານ ທ ແຊບ ແລະ ດ ຕສຂະພາບ. ນອກຈາກ ນ ກບຄວນ ພາດ ໂອກາດ ຊມ ແກງ ກະລ ແບບ ພນ ເມອງ ລາວ, ຊ ສ ແບ ທ ດ ເລດ ແລະ ນາ ປນຫາຍປະ ເພດ ກມ ໄວ ໃຫ ເລອກ.

ບວາ ທານ ຈະ ມ ລດ ນຍມ ແນວ ໃດ, ວງ ວຽງຈະ ມ ບາງ ສງ ບາງ ຢາງ ທ ທານ ມກ. ປນ ພ ເຂາ, ການ ເດນ ປາ ຫ ລອງ ນາ ດວຍກງ ເບງ ມ ໃຫ ບລການ ຢ ທວ ທກ ບອນ ໃນ ເມອງ. ສຳລບ ມ ສດ ທາຍ, ພວກ ຂາພະ ເຈາ ຕດສນ ໃຈ ພກ ຜອນ ແລະ ຊມ ວວທວ ທດຊໆ, ກອນ ຈະ ປະ ເຊນ ໜາ ກບອກ ເຊາວນ ຈນ ເພອ ເຮດ ວຽກ, ຫງຈາກ ກບແຕວງ ວຽງ, ເບງ ຄ ເປນ ອກ ໂລກ ໜງ ໄປ ເລຍ.

38

ACCOMMODATION

ປກກະຕ ແລວກລາ ທາງ ນາບ ແມນ ສງ ທ ນກ ທອງ ທຽວຄດ ຮອດ ກຽວກບ ລາວ. ແຕ ສງ ນນ ອາດ ຈະ ບຄ ເກາ ແລວ ດວຍ ສະຖານ ທ ທອງ ທຽວ ແຫງ ໃໝ ພຽງ ແຕ 3 ຊວ ໂມງ ຈາກ ວຽງຈນ ເທາ ນນ. ບລ ລາ ກນລ ສອດ (Blue Lagoon Resort) ໃຫ ບລການ ກດຈະ ກຳ ທາງ ນາຫລາຍປະ ເພດ ເທງ ແຄມ ອາງນາ ງມ ແລະ ທ ດ ໄປກວາ ນນ ແມນ ບມ ຊາຍ ຫາດ ທ ຄບຄາ ໜາ ແໜນ ໃຫ ເຫນ.

ລ ສອດ ມ ບນຍາກາດສະຫງບ ງຽບ ແລະ ເປນ ກນ ເອງ ຕງ ຢ ບານ ທາ ເຮອ, ປະມານ 20 ກມ ຈາກ ສນ ລວມນກ ທອງ ທຽວຂອງ ວງ ວຽງ. ອອມ ຮອບ ດວຍ ເກາະດອນ ທ ຍງ ບຖກ ເຕາະ ຕອງ ແລະ ປາ ທ ຂຽວອມ ທມ, ມນ ເປນ ການ ພກ ຜອນທ ສມບນ ແບບ ສຳລບຜ ທ ຊອກ ຫາ ການພກ ຜອນ ທ ປະສມ ປະສານ ກນ ລະ ຫວາງ ການ ຜອນຄາຍ ແລະ ຄວາມ ມວນ ຊນ ເທງ ນາ. ບວາ ທານ ຄດ ເຮດ ຫຍງ, ຫນວນ ເຊບ ເຮອບາ ນານາ (banana boating), ເວກ ໂບດ ດງ (wake boarding), ເຈດ ສກ (jet skiing), ຫ ຍາງ ຫນນຳ ຢາງ ສະຫງບ ງຽບຈາກ ດອນ ໜງ ໄປ ຫາ ອກ ດອນ ໜງ ດວຍ ເຮອ ແຄນ ນທ ເຮດ ດວຍ ໄມ ຫ ເຮອຄາ ຍກ, ບລ ເລກ ອນມ ໃຫ ບລການ ທງ ໝດ ນ. Water sports are not normally something visi-

tors associate with Laos. But that may be about to change with a new surprise attraction just 3

hours from Vientiane. Blue Lagoon Resort offers a wide range of aquatically orientated activities on the banks of the Nam Ngum Reservoir and best of all, there’s not a crowded beach in sight.

The resort has a low-key, intimate feel, ideally located in the village of Tha Heua, about 20km from the busy tour-ist centre of Vang Vieng. Surrounded by unspoilt islands and lush forest, it’s the perfect getaway for those looking to combine a relaxing break with some fun on the water. Whatever you feel like doing, whether its windsurfing, banana boating, wake boarding, jet skiing, or paddling peacefully from island to island in a pirogue or kayak, Blue Lagoon has it all.

lt4komujmjv'mjP;muj|hkxts^kf.9A surprise attraction

39

Everything you need can be rented from half an hour to several hours, giving you the opportunity to explore the reservoir, stop for lunch on one of the beautiful islands and just take some time to relax. And there’s no need to be an expert, as a friendly team of instructors is always around to show you how it’s done.

The best thing about Blue Lagoon Resort is its stunning natural surroundings. To get the most out of them, strike up a BBQ or camp out on one of the islands, a great ro-mantic getaway for couples looking for something a little different. While your there, don’t forget to do your bit to preserve Laos’ natural beauty, by staying mindful of your impact on the environment.

40

ACCOMMODATION

The resort offers some great accommodation, including lovely bungalows overlooking the water. Prices range from 100,000 to 300,000 kip per night. There is also a waterside restaurant and bar, the perfect place to sit back and enjoy one of those special Lao sunsets. To go with it, a delicious range of Lao and Western food is on offer, as well as a good selection of drinks at reasonable prices. Be sure to stop by and chat to friendly owners Christophe, Laurent and Medi, to find out what else is planned for this stunning location.

Blue Lagoon Resort is located 120 km north of Vientiane. Visi-tors can catch a bus or drive along Route 13 heading north, un-til they reach Tha Heua Village in Vang Vieng district. Fol-low signs for 800 metres to reach the resort. For those who would prefer to hire a dirt bike from Vientiane, you can leave the city behind and be on the water in just two and half hours. Laos is a coun-try that’s full of surprises- and there’s another for you. Enjoy.

ທກ ສງ ທ ທານ ຕອງການ ສາມາດ ເຊາ ໄດ ເລ ມ ຈາກ ເຄງ ຊວ ໂມງຈນ ເຖງຫາຍຊວ ໂມງ ເຊງ ເຮດ ໃຫ ທານ ມ ໂອກາດ ສຳຫວດອາງ ນາ, ຢດ ຮບ ປະທານ ອາຫານ ທຽງຢ ເທງ ດອນ ທ ສວຍ ສດ ງດ ງາມ ແລະ ໃຊ ເວລາ ເພອ ຜອນຄາຍ. ແລະທານ ບຈຳ ເປນ ຕອງ ເປນ ຜ ຊຽວຊານ ເພາະວາ ພວກ ເຮາ ມ ທ ມງານ ຜ ສອນ ທ ເປນ ກນ ເອງ ຈະ ຢ ກບ ທານ ຕະຫອດ ເວລາ ເພອ ໃຫ ຄຳ ແນະ ນຳ.

ສງ ທ ດ ທ ສດ ກຽວກບ ບລ ລາ ກນລ ສອດ ແມນ ທຳ ມະ ຊາດ ອອມ ຮອບທ ໜາ ຕນຕາ ຕນ ໃຈ. ເພອ ດດ ດມ ເອາ ບນຍາກາດ ເລາ ນນ, ຈດ ງານ ລຽງບາ ບ ຄວ ຫ ຕງ ແຄມຢ ເທງ ດອນ ໃດ ດອນ ໜງ, ເປນ ການ ພກ ຜອນທ ດດ ດມ ທ ສດ ຂອງ ຄ ຮກ ທ ຊອກ ຫາ ສງ ທ ແຕກ ຕາງ. ໃນ ຂະນະ ທ ທານ ຢ ທ ນນ, ຢາ ລມ ປກ ປກ ຮກສາ ຄວາມ ງາມ ຂອງ ທຳ ມະ ຊາດ ທ ມະຫດສະຈນ ຂອງ ປະ ເທດ ລາວ ໂດຍ ລະມດລະວງ ສະ ເໝຕຜນ ກະທບ ທ ອາດ ມ ຕສງ ແວດ ລອມ ຂອງ ທານ.

ລ ສອດ ຍງ ໃຫ ບລການ ທ ພກ ທ ສະ ດວກ ສະບາຍ ເຊງລວມມ ເຮອນ ພກ ແບບບງ ກະ ໂລ ທ ແນມ ເຫນ ແມ ນາ. ລາຄາ ແມນ ເລ ມຕນ ຈາກ 100,000 ຫາ 300,000 ກບ ຕຄນ. ນອກຈາກ ນ ຍງ ມ ຮານ ອາຫານ ແລະ ບາ ແຄມ ນາ, ເປນ ສະຖານ ທໆ ສມບນ ແບບ ເພອ ນງ ພກ ຜອນ ແລະ ມ ຄວາມສກ ກບ ໜງ ໃນ ບນຍາກາດ ຕາ ເວນ ຕກ ດນ ທ ພ ເສດ ທ ສດ ໃນ ລາວ. ເພອ ໃຫ ເຂາ ກບ ບນຍາກາດ ໃນ ຮານ ອາຫານກມທງ ອາຫານລາວ ແລະ ຕາ ເວນ ຕກຫາຍ ປະ ເພດ ເພອ ໃຫບລການ ເຊນ ດຽວກນ ກບ ເຄອງ ດມ ທ ມ ການຄດ ເລອກມາ ເປນ ຢາງດດວຍລາຄາ ທ ສມ ເຫດ ສມ ຜນ. ຢາ ລມ ແວະ ທຽວຊມ ແລະ ໂອ ລມ ກບ ເຈາ ຂອງ ທ ເປນ ກນ ເອງ Christophe, Laurent ແລະ Medi, ເພອ ຊອກ ຮ ວາສະຖານ ທໆ ໜາ ຕນຕາ ຕນ ໃຈ ແຫງ ນ ມ ກດຈະ ກຳຫຍງ ອກ ແດທ ໄດ ກຽມ ໄວ.

ບລ ລາ ກນລ ສອດ ຕງ ຢ ກ ໂລ ແມດທ 120 ໄປ ທາງ ເໜອ ຂອງ ວຽງຈນ. ນກ ທອງ ທຽວສາມາດ ຂນ ລດ ເມ ຫ ຂບ ລດ ໄປ ຕາມ ຖະໜນ ເລກທ 13 ເໜອ, ຈນ ເຖງ ບານ ທາ ເຮອ ເມອງ ວງ ວຽງ. ໄປ ຕາມ ປາຍ ປະມານ 800 ແມດ ຮອດ ລ ສອດ. ສຳລບ ທານ ໃດ ທ ຕອງການ ຂ ລດຖບ ມາ ຈາກ ວຽງຈນ, ທານ ສາມາດ ຖມ ຊວດ ໃນ ເມອງ ໄວ ທາງຫງ ແລະມ ຄວາມສກ ຢ ເທງ ນາ ໃນ ເວລາ ພຽງສອງ ຊວ ໂມງ ເຄງ. ປະ ເທດ ລາວ ແມນ ປະ ເທດ ໜງ ທ ເຕມ ໄປ ດວຍ ຄວາມ ປະຫາດ ໃຈ - ແລະ ກຍງ ມ ອກຫາຍສງຫາຍຢາງ ໃຫ ທານຄນ ຫາ. ຂ ໃຫ ມ ຄວາມ ສກ.

ເປນເວລາຫາຍກວາສາມສບປຫງຈາກການຫາຍສາບສນ, ສລະປະ ການສະແດງລະຄອນ ຫນເງາໄດກບຄນມາສພາກໃຕຂອງລາວໃນ ປ 2009, ໂດຍການເປດ ‘ໂຮງລະຄອນຫນເງາ’ ໃໝຂນຢແຂວງຈຳ ປາສກ ເຊງໄດຮບການຊວຍເຫອຈາກມນນທ ພຣາຍອຣຕ ຊບພອດ ຟາວເດເຊນ (FSP).

ເຊນດຽວກນກບໂຮງລະຄອນ, ໂຄງການປະກອບດວຍ “ໂຮງຮບເງາ ຕກຕກ”, ເຊງເປນໂຮງ ລະຄອນເຄອນທສະແດງຮບເງາບມສຽງກກນຳສະແດງໂດຍ ຊາລ ຊບປລນ (Charlie Chaplin), ບສເຕ ເຄຕນ (Buster Keaton) ແລະນກສະແດງຮບເງາບມສຽງອນໆ.

ໃນປ 2012, ເປນປທສາມຂອງໂຮງລະຄອນ, ເທດສະການເດນທາງ ທກອນ ໜານຈຳ ກດການສະແດງຢແຕໃນໝບານໃນຈຳປາສກ ຈະ ອອກເດນທາງໄປສະແດງຢທວປະເທດ, ຈາກສພນດອນ ຢພາກໃຕ ສດ, ສວຽງຈນ, ຫວງພະບາງ ແລະອກຫາຍໝບານທາງພາກ ເໜອ, ຢດຢລະຫວາງທາງເພອສະແດງພເສດຢງານບນຊາງທໄຊຍະບລ.

ເທດສະການເດນທາງຈະຈາງນກດນຕຫາຍກວາສບຫາຄນ, ລວມ ທງນກຮອງ, ນກສະແດງ, ຫນສະແດງ ແລະຊາງເຕກນກ. ໃນລະຫວາງ ການກວດກາສະຖານທໆໄດຄດເລອກໄວ, ຈະມການສະແດງຂອງນກຫນເປຍໂນທມຊສຽງຈາກຝຮງ.

ກອງທນປຣນສ ຄລາວຟນ (ໄດຮບການສະໜບສະໜນໂດຍກະຊວງການຕາງປະເທດຂອງເນ ເທແລນ), ສະຖານທດຝຣງ ແລະ FSP, ໄດຮວມມກນຊວຍສາງອງກອນທບຫວງ ຜນກຳ ໄລເພອຊວຍກນຈດຕງ ແລະບລຫານ ບລສດໂຮງລະຄອນຫນເງາໃນລາວທກຳລງມການພດ ທະນາຢ.

ມາຮອດປດຈບນ, ບລສດໂຮງລະຄອນຫນເງາໄດມອບປະສບປະ ການໃຫບນດາໝບານເຂດ ຫາງໄກສອກຫກໃນຈຳປາສກ ໃຫມໂອ ກາດຊມຮບເງາເລອງທຳອດຂອງພວກເຂາ ແລະກຖ ວາມນໄດຮບ ຜນສຳເລດ! ປະຊາຊນຫາຍກວາ 2000 ຄນໄດເຂາມາຊມຮບເງາ

42

ENTERTAINMENT

More than thirty years after its disappearance, the art of shadow puppetry returned to southern Laos in 2009, with the opening of a new ‘Theatre of Shadows” in Champasak prov-ince, set up with the help of the Priority Support Foundation (FSP).

As well as a theatre, the project includes a “cinema tuktuk”, a mobile theatre showing silent films by Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and other renowned silent movie stars.

In 2012, the theatre’s third year, a travelling festival previously confined to the villages of the Champasak will be on tour throughout the country, from Four Thousand Islands in the extreme south, to Vientiane, Luang Prabang and many north-ern villages, stopping on route for a special appearance at the Sayaboury Elephant Festival.

The travelling festival will employ over fifteen musicians, sing-ers, actors, puppeteers and technicians. In between screen-ings at selected venues, there will also be a performance from a well-known French pianist.

The Prince Claus Fund (supported by The Netherlands’ Min-istry of Foreign Affairs), the Embassy of France and the FSP, have joined force to help create a non-profit organisation to help organise and manage the ongoing development of the Shadow Theatre Company in Laos.

ເທດສະການລະຄອນຫນເງາປະກາດອອກສະແດງທວປະເທດ Shadow Festival announces nationwide tour

ຂາວດຳທຖາຍ ທຳໃນຊມປ1920 ແລະ 30, ໂດຍສະເພາະຮບ ເງາເກາແກເລອງ “ຄງຄອງ”, ເຊງໄດຖາຍ ທຳຢໃຈກາງປາຂອງລາວ, ໃນບນຍາກາດການ ດຳລງຊວດປະຈຳວນຂອງປະຊາຊນລາວສະ ໄໝກອນເກອບໜງສດຕະວດຜານມາ. ນະວະນຍາຍດງກາວນເຮດ ໃຫພວກເຮາເບງເຫນວວ ທວທດອນສວຍງາມຂອງປາໄມທໄດຫາຍໄປ; ປະເທດທຍງບທນຖກແຕະຕອງ ຈາກໂລກພາຍນອກ, ປະເທດ ຊາດຈະເລນຮງເຮອງທງໆທມ ຄວາມຮນແຮງຂອງທຳມະຊາດ, ບອນທສດສາວາສງ ແລະມະນດອາ ໄສຢຮວມກນຢາງສະງບສກ. ບາງຄນອາດຈະຮສກໄດໃນ ຂະນະທກຳ ລງເບງຮບເງາເລອງນຢວາເປນຫຍງປະ ເທດລາວຄງໜງຈງຖກຮຽກ ວາລານຊາງ; ອານາຈກລານຊາງ. ປະຊາຊນລາວທກໆຮນຄນຮກ ‘ຄງຄອງ’ ເພາະ ວາຮບ ເງາເລອງນໄດນຳສະເໜພາບ ແຫງຄວາມເປນເອກະລກສະ ເພາະ ແລະວດທະນະທຳທມພະລງ, ເຊງກເປນທໜາເສາໃຈ ສງເລາ ນກາລງສນຫາຍໄປໃນອງມຂອງການພດທະນາເສດຖະກດຢາງ ວອງໄວ.

ໜງໃນເປາໝາຍຕນຕຂອງເທດສະການລະຄອນຫນເງາແມນເພອປກ ຈດສຳນກຂອງທງປະ ຊາຊນທອງຖນ ແລະນກທອງທຽວ, ໃນຄວາມຈຳ ເປນທຕອງປກປກຮກສາລະບບນເວດທ ອອນແອຂອງປະເທດລາວ ລວມທງມລະດກທາງວດທະນະທຳ; ສງທາທາຍທບເຄຍສຳຄນ ຕອະນາຄດຂອງປະເທດທມສະເໜແຫງນ.

ເທດສະການລະຄອນຫນເງາຄາດວາຈະເລມຕນໃນວນທ 1 ກມພາ 2012, ແລະຈະສນສດ ການເດນທາງອອມປະເທດຢທສພນດອນ ໃນ ອາທດທຳອດຂອງເດອນມນາ.

43

To date, the Shadow Theatre Company has provided many re-mote villages in Champasak their first-ever movie experience- and what a success it has been! More than 2000 people have turned out to watch black and white films shot in the 1920s and 30s, particularly classics such as ‘King Kong’, which filmed in the heart of the Lao jungle, provides a glimpse of the daily lives of Lao people almost a century ago. This surreal work of fiction offers a view of a beautiful lost wilderness; a country still untouched by the outside world, a nation thriving despite the harshness of nature, where animals and humans lived in perfect harmony. One can also realise while watching this film, why Laos was once known as Lang Xang; the kingdom of a million elephants. Lao people of all generations love ‘King Kong’ because it offers a powerful portrayal of their distinct identity and culture, which sadly, is disappearing at the hands of increasingly rapid (and often shortsighted) economic de-velopment.

One of the fundamental aims of the shadow festival is to raise awareness among both locals and visitors, of the need to pre-serve Laos’ fragile echo-systems and cultural heritage; a chal-lenge that has never been so important to the future of this enchanting country.

The shadow festival is expected to commence on 1st Febru-ary 2012, ending its journey around the country at the Four Thousand Islands in the first week of March

For more information, please contact Yves Bernard on: (+856) 020 550 81 109. Email: ciam.laos@gmail.com

44

Lao Art s

ປະ ເທດ ລາວ ເປນໜງ ໃນ ປະ ເທດ ທ ມ ຄວາມຫາກຫາຍທາງ ດານ ຊນ ເຜາ ຢ ໃນ ພາກ ພນ ອາຊ ຕາ ເວນ ອອກສຽງ ໃຕ, ປະກອບ ດວຍ 49 ຊນ ເຜາ ທ ຮບ ຮ ຢາງ ເປນ ທາງ ການ ແລະ ອກ ຊນ ເຜາ ສວນ ນອຍກມຍອຍ ອກຈຳນວນຫາຍ. ຊນ ເຜາ ສວນ ນອຍ ກວມ ເອາ ເຄງໜງ ຂອງ ປະຊາກອນ ທງ ໝດ, ເຊງສວນຫາຍອາ ໄສ ຢ ແຂວງ ທາງພາກ ເໜອ ແລະ ໃຕ ລວມ ທງ ເຂດ ຊນນະບດ ແລະ ຕວ ເມອງ. ເຖງ ວາຫາຍໆຮດຄອງປະ ເພນ ຂອງ ຊມ ຊນ ເລາ ນ ຈະ ໄດ ຮບ ອດ ທພນ ຈາກ ການ ພດທະນາ ເສດຖະກດ ຢາງ ໄວວາ, ແຕງານ ແຕງງານກຍງ ສບຕ ເປນ ສງ ທ ສະ ແດງ ເຖງ ສາຍ ສຳພນ ອນ ດ ງາມ ຂອງ ຄອບຄວ, ຄວາມ ເຊອ ພນ ເມອງ ແລະ ອດມ ໄປ ດວຍ ມລະດກ ທາງ ວດທະນະ ທຳ. ໃນ ເດອນ ກນຍາ 2011, ໄດ ມ ງານ ວາງສະ ແດງ ທ ເອນວາ ‘ຈາກການ ກຽວພາລາ ສ ສຄວາມ ເປນຍາດຕ ພນອງ: ການສະ ເຫມສະຫອງການ ແຕງງານ ຂອງ ຂອງ ບນດາ ຊນ ເຜາ ຂອງ ລາວ’, ທ ສນ ສນລະປະ ພນ ເມອງ ແລະ ຊນ ເຜາ ວທະຍາ ຢຫວງພະ ບາງ. ງານ ວາງສະ ແດງ ດງກາວ ນ ໄດ ໃຫ ພວກ ເຮາ ຮ ເລກ ເຊງ ເຖງປະ ເພນ ການ ແຕງງານ ຂອງ ປະຊາຊນ ລາວ ທ ມຫາຍ ຊນ ເຜາ ສວນ ນອຍ. ຜ ທຽວຊມສາມາດ ຮຽນຮ ກຽວກບພທການ ກຽວພາລາ ສ ທຫາກຫາຍ, ຄວາມ ສຳຄນ ຂອງ ແຜນ ແພ ໃນ ການສະ ເຫມສະຫອງງານ ແຕງງານ ເຊນ ດຽວກນ ກບ ປະ ເພນການ ໃຫ ສນ ສອດ ທອງ ໝນ. ໃນ ງານ ດງກາວ ຍງ ໄດ ວາງສະ ແດງ ເຄອງ ເກາ ຂອງ ແກ ທ ຫາ ຍາກ ຈຳນວນ ໜງ, ເຊນ “ມງກດ ທອງຟາ” ຂອງ ຊນເຜາ ຢາວ ມນ, ທ ເຮດ ດວຍ ເງນ ບລສດ ແລະ ເສນ ຜມ ມະນດ. ຜ ທຽວຊມ ຍງ ສາມາດ ເບງ ຊດ ໄໝ ພນ ເມອງ ຂອງ ຊນເຜາ ໄຕ ລາວ, ເຊງມ ການ ປກ ແສວ ດວຍ ຄຳ ທ ສວຍ ສດ ງດ ງາມ ເຊນ ດຽວກນ ກບ ປ ທ ເຮດ ດວຍ ທອງ ເຫອງ ແລະ ໄມ ໄຜ ຂອງ ເຜາ ມງ. ນອກຈາກ ນ ກຍງ ມ ຮບ ພາບ ປະກອບ ຂ ມນ ແລະ ການ ອະ ທ ບາຍ ກຽວກບປະ ເພນ ການ ແຕງງານ ຕາງໆ.

Laos is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Southeast Asia, with 49 officially recognised ethnic groups and numerous sub-groups. Ethnic minorities equate to almost half the popula-tion, most of whom live in northern and southern provinces, in both rural and urban areas. Although many of the cultural prac-tices of these communities have been influenced by rapid eco-nomic development, weddings continue to put on a wonderful display of family ties, traditional beliefs and rich cultural herit-age.

In September 2011, a new exhibition called ‘From Courtship to Kinship: Wedding Celebrations of Laos’ Ethnic Groups’, opened at the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre in Luang Prabang. The exhibition provides a rare insight into the wedding customs of Lao people, including several ethnic minorities. Visi-tors can learn about the variety of courtship rituals, the impor-tance of textiles in wedding celebrations, as well as the tradition of bride wealth.

The exhibition features some unusual artefacts, such as the “ce-lestial crown” of the Yao Mun hill tribe, made of pure silver and human hair. Visitors can also see the traditional silk dress of a Tai Lao bride, with its beautiful gold embroidery, as well as a Hmong brass and bamboo mouth harp. The exhibit also includes some informative photography, as well as explanations of various wed-ding customs.

The display offers a fascinating insight into the traditional ritu-als of courtship in Laos. In the past, girls and boys would begin seeking a partner in their early teens, often as young as 13 or 14. Formal courtship was mostly seasonal, coinciding with breaks in the farming cycle. Harvest festivals and New Year celebrations provided opportunities to meet new people from other villages. Courtship games, such as the Tai Dam lin mak khone and the Hmong pov pob, allowed boys and girls to interact playfully and get to know each another in an informal, relaxed setting.

Wedding Traditions of Laosat the Traditional Arts and Ethnology CentreBy Tara Gujadhur, Co-Director of the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre.

ປະເພນແຕງດອງຂອງລາວທສນສລະປະພນເມອງແລະຊນເຜາວທະຍາ

© TAEC

45

ການວາງສະ ແດງ ຍງ ໄດ ນຳ ສະ ເໜຂ ມນ ເລກ ເຊງທ ໜາ ສນ ໃຈກຽວກບ ພທການ ກຽວພາລາ ສ ໃນ ປະ ເທດ ລາວ. ໃນ ອະດ ດ, ຜ ສາວ ແລະ ຜ ບາວ ຈະ ເລ ມຊອກ ຫາ ຄ ແຕ ເລ ມ ເປນ ໄວ ໜມ ແຕ ອາຍ ປະມານ 13 ຫລ 14 ປ. ການ ກຽວພາລາ ສ ທ ເປນທາງການ ສວນ ໃຫຍຈະ ເປນ ລະດ ການ, ກງ ກບ ໄລຍະພກ ຂອງ ຮອບ ວຽນການ ເຮດ ໄຮ ເຮດ ນາ. ເທດສະການ ເກບ ກຽວ ແລະ ງານ ສະ ເຫມສະຫອງບນປ ໃໝ ເປນ ໂອກາດ ທດ ໃນ ການ ພບ ປະ ກບ ຜ ຄນ ໃໝໆ ຈາກ ໝ ບານ ອນໆ. ການ ຫນກຽວພາລາ ສ ເຊນ ການ ເຫນໝາກ ຄອນ ຂອງ ຊາວ ມງໂປ ບປອບ (pov pob) ຂອງ ໄຕ ດຳ ແລະ, ເຊງ ໃຫ ຜ ບາວ ແລະ ຜ ສາວ ໂຕ ຕອບ ກນ ໂດຍ ອາ ໄສ ການ ຫນຢາງ ມວນ ຊນ ແລະ ທຳ ຄວາມ ຮຈກ ກນ ແບບ ບ ເປນ ທາງ ການ, ໃນ ບນຍາກາດ ຜອນຄາຍ.

ກຄ ກນ ກບ ຮບ ແບບ ການ ດຳລງ ຊວດ ຂອງ ຄນ ລາວຫາຍຢາງ, ກດ ເກນ ຂອງ ພທການ ສະ ເຫມສະຫອງການ ແຕງງານ ແລະ ການ ກຽວພາລາ ສ ກຳລງ ມ ການ ປຽນ ແປງ ຢາງ ໄວວາ. ທກ ມ ນ ພ ແມ ຈະ ບຄອຍ ເຂາ ໄປ ຫຍງ ກຽວກບ ຊວດ ຄ ຂອງ ຄນ ໜມ ສາວ ແລະ ຜຍງຫາຍຄນ ກຈບ ການ ສກສາກອນ ເລ ມຕນ ມ ຄອບ ມ ຄວ. ມນ ໄດ ກາຍ ເປນ ເລອງ ປກກະຕ

Like many aspects of Lao life, the norms of wedding celebra-tions and courtship are changing rapidly. Today, parents are less likely to chaperone young couples and many women finish their education before starting a family. It has also be-come increasingly common for couples to have a relationship for several years before deciding to marry. What’s more, inter-marriage is now common between ethnic groups, something which was once a taboo.

While a great deal has changed with regards to the norms of weddings and courtship in Laos, the ties of kinship are still of great importance to people of all ethnic groups. After mar-riage, most couples do not set up their own home- a new groom or bride will join his or her spouse’s household, becom-ing part of the family or clan. Usually, three generations live together, with grandparents helping to raise their grandchil-dren and contributing to the housework.

ສາລບ ຄ ບາວ ສາວ ທ ຈະ ຄບ ຫາ ກນ ເປນ ເວລາ ຫາຍປ ກອນ ຕດສນ ໃຈ ແຕງງານ. ຍງ ໄປ ກວາ ນນ, ການ ແຕງງານ ລະ ຫວາງ ຊນ ເຜາ ໃນ ປະຈ ບນ ໄດ ກາຍ ເປນ ເລອງ ປກກະຕ ແລວ ເຊງ ໃນ ອະດດ ເປນ ສງ ຕອງ ຫາມ ທາງ ວດທະນະ ທຳ. ໃນ ຂະນະ ທ ມຫາຍສງຫາຍຢາງ ກຽວກບ ພທການ ແຕງງານ ແລະ ການ ກຽວພາລາ ສ ໃນ ປະ ເທດ ລາວ ໄດ ມ ການ ປຽນ ແປງ, ສາຍ ສຳພນ ລະ ຫວາງ ຍາດຕ ພ ນອງ ຍງ ຄງ ເປນ ສງ ສຳຄນ ສຳລບ ປະຊາຊນ ເຜາ ຕາງໆ. ພາຍຫງການ ແຕງງານ, ຄ ແຕງງານ ສວນຫາຍບ ໄດສາງ ເຮອນ ເປນ ຂອງ ຕນ ເອງ - ເຈາ ບາວ ຫ ເຈາ ສາວ ໃໝ ຈະ ຍາຍ ມາ ຢ ກບ ຄອບຄວ ຂອງ ຝາຍ ຊາຍ ຫ ຝາຍຍງ ກາຍ ເປນ ສວນ ໜງ ຂອງ ຄອບຄວ ຫ ວງ ຕະກນ. ໂດຍ ທວ ໄປ ແລວ ຄນ ສາມ ລນຈະ ອາ ໄສ ຢ ນຳ ກນ ເຊງມ ພຕ ແມຕ ຫ ພ ເຖາ ແມ ເຖາ ຊວຍ ລຽງຫານ ແລະ ສບຕຊວຍວຽກ ເຮອນ ວຽກຊານ.

ສນ ສນລະປະ ພນ ເມອງ ແລະ ຊນ ເຜາ ວ ທຍາ ແມນ ຫພພທະພນ ແລະ ອງການ ທາງ ດານ ວດທະນະ ທຳ ຢຫວງພະ ບາງ. ເປາ ໝາຍ ແມນ ເພອ ສງ ເສມຄນຄາຂອງ ຄວາມຫາກຫາຍທາງ ດານ ຊນ ຊາດ ຊນ ເຜາ ຂອງ ປະ ເທດ ລາວ ໂດຍ ຜານ ການ ສກສາ, ການວາງສະ ແດງ, ການ ຄນ ຄວາ ແລະ ການ ພດທະນາ ຊມ ຊນ. ງານ ວາງສະ ແດງ ‘ຈາກ ການ ກຽວພາລາ ສ ສຄວາມ ເປນ ຍາດຕ ພ ນອງ’ ຈະ ເລ ມ ເປດ ໃຫ ປະຊາຊນ ທວ ໄປ ເຂາ ຊມ ໄດ ຈນ ເຖງ ເດອນກນຍາ 2012.

ຮານ ຄາພພ ທະພນ ຂອງສນ ສລະປະ ພນ ເມອງ ແລະ ຊນ ເຜາ ວ ທຍາ ຈຳໜາຍ ເຄອງ ຫດຖະ ກຳຈາກ ຫາຍກວາ 500 ໝ ບານສລະປະ. ເລ ປາ ຕ ໂອ ຄາ ເຟ (Le Patio Café) ຍງ ໃຫ ບລການ ອາຫານ ພນ ເມອງ ຂອງ ຊນ ເຜາ ສວນ ນອຍ, ເຄອງ ດມ ແລະ ເຄກ. ເຊນ ບນດາ ທານ ເຂາ ມາ ທຽວຊມ ແລະ ຢຽມຢາມ ຫພພດ ທະພນ ແລະ ຮຽນຮ ເພມ ເຕມ ກຽວກບ ວດທະນະ ທຳ ທຫາກຫາຍ ແລະ ມະຫດສະຈນ ຂອງ ລາວ!

The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre is a museum and cultural organisation in Luang Prabang. It aims to promote an appreciation of the rich ethnic diversity of Laos, through edu-cation, exhibitions, research and community development. The ‘From Courtship to Kingship’ exhibition will be open to the public until September 2013.

TAEC’s museum shop sells fair-trade handicrafts from over 500 village artists. Le Patio Café also serves ethnic minority food, drinks and cakes. Come and visit the museum and learn more about Laos’ incredible diversity of cultures!

Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre Ban Khamyong, LuangPrabangOpen: 9.00am – 6.00pm, Tuesday – Sunday (closed Mon-days). Entry: 20,000 Kip, free for Lao citizens. Phone: + 856 71 253 364E-mail: information@taeclaos.org Web: www.taeclaos.org www.facebook.com/taeclaos

© Kees Sprengers © Kees Sprengers © Gabriel Shaya

DOS & DON’TS

IN LAOSWELCOME TO LAOS! WE HOPE YOUR VISIT IS ENJOYABLE AND REQUEST THAT YOU RESPECT THE LAO LAW, CUL-TURE AND CUSTOMS.PLEASE READ ON TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE DO’S AND DON’TS FOR CULTURALLY SEN-SITIVE TRAVEL IN THE LAO PDR.

The Lao word for Hello is “Sabai dee”, usually said with a smile.Touching or showing affectionn in public will embarrass your hosts.

Lao people traditionally greet each other by pressing their palms together to ‘NOP’, although it is acceptable for men to shake hands.

Remember, your head is ‘high’, your feet ’low’, it is polite to gently crouch down when passing someone who is seated. Never, ever step over

someone in your path.

Kissing and hugging in public is impolite. Please be discrete.

created by insmai.com

46

In Laos your head is ‘High’, your feet ‘Low’. Using your feet for anything other than walking or playing sport is generally considered rude.

Lao people speak softly and avoid confrontation. Please do not shout or raise your voice. Before you take a photo of someone ask if it is ok.

More cartoon please visit: www.champaholiday.com

48

OUTSIDE DISTINATION

With its rich history, an abundance of open space and relentless energy, Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, is one of South-East Asia’s most pleasant cities. Situated at the confluence of two rivers, the city is spread over a huge green space, with its many rows of traditional villas and beautiful gardens. The wide tree-lined avenues are great for a leisurely stroll and some time to reflect on your travels. Once you are settled in, be sure to stop off at the The National Museum, The Royal Palace, Wat Phnom and the chilling Tuol Sleng detention centre, locally known by its Pol Pot era name, S21. For lunch, a spot of shopping, or just to experience its energy, don’t miss the bustling Central Market.

Take a cruise along the Tonle Sap at sunset, to witness the city’s skyline in spectacular shades of orange and its many golden temples, shimmering in the evening light, alongside symbols of the new Cambodia. Then brace yourself for Norodom Boulevard, the heart of the action and a reminder that Phnom Penh is a city on the move.

Cambodia’s cuisine is not as well-known as that of neighbouring Thailand or Vietnam, but for food lovers, Phnom Penh certainly won’t disappoint. There’s an excellent selection of dining venues, ranging from fine Khmer and French restaurants to American style diners, as well as inexpensive local street stalls selling a variety of local dishes. The emphasis is of course, on finding that authentic Khmer cuisine. The good news is; your in the right place. Cambodian food shares many similarities with many of its Southeast Asian counterparts, including offerings such as curries, barbecue and some exquisite fish dishes. Generally, Khmer cooking is less spicy than other regional cuisines. The ‘must-try’ dish for visitors is Amok - a yellow coconut curry, traditionally cooked and served in a fresh coconut cream.

ກບ ປະຫວດສາດ ອນ ຮງ ມ, ຄວາມ ອດມສມບນ ຂອງ ຜນ ແຜນ ດນ ອນ ກວາງ ຂວາງ ແລ ະ ພະ ລງງານ ທ ບຈບ ສນ, ພະນມ ເປນ ເມອງຫວງຂອງ ປະ ເທດ ກຳປ ເຈຍ ແມນໜງ ໃນ ເມອງຫວງທ ສວຍ ງາມ ທ ສດ ຢອາຊຕາ ເວນ ອອກສຽງ ໃຕ. ຕງ ຢທາມ ກາງ ແມ ນາ ສອງ ສາຍ ທ ມາ ບນຈບ ກນ, ເມອງຫວງ ແຫງ ນ ຢງຢາຍຢ ຕາມພນ ທ ສຂຽວອນກວາງຂວາງ ເຊງປະກອບ ມ ຖນ ແຖວ ບານ ແບບ ບຮານຫາກຫາຍພອມ ດວຍ ສວນ ທ ສວຍ ງາມ. ຕນ ໄມ ໃຫຍລຽນກນ ເປນ ສາຍຕາ ມຖະໜນ ໃຫຍ ເບງແລວ ແມນ ເໝາະຫາຍສຳລບ ການ ຍາງ ຫນພກ ຜອນ ແລະ ບາງ ຄງ ກສະ ແດງ ເຖງ ການ ເດນທາງ ຂອງ ທານ. ເມອ ທານ ຄນ ເຄຍ ກບ ສະຖານ ທ ແລວ, ຢາ ລມ ຫາ ໂອກາດ ໄປ ທຽວຊມ ຫພພທະ ຕະພນ ແຫງ ຊາດ, ພະ ລາຊະ ວງ ເຈາ ຊວດ, ວດ ພະນມ ແລະ ສນ ກກ ກນ ໂຕນສະ ເລງ (Tuol Sleng detention centre), ຮ ກນ ໃນ ທອງ ຖ ນ ໃນ ສະ ໄໝ ຍກ ຂອງ ພອນ ພດ ເອນວາ ເອສ21 (S21). ສຳລບ ອາຫານ ທຽງ, ອາດ ຈະ ໄປ ຊ ເຄອງຊຂອງ ຢ ບອນ ໃດບອນ ໜງ, ຫ ໄປ ສຳ ພດ ກບ ຄວາມ ຄກຄກ ຢ ບອນ ນນ, ຢາ ລມ ໄປແວທຽວຊມຕະຫາດ ເຊນ ທຣນມາ ເກດ (Central Market) ທ ອງ ອ ດວຍ ຜ ຄນ.

ຂ ເຮອ ທອງ ທຽວ ໄປ ຕາມ ທະ ເລ ສາບ ຕງ ເລ ສາບ (Tonle Sap) ຕອນ ຕາ ເວນ ຕກ ດນ, ເພອ ເບງ ຂອບ ຟາ ຂອງ ເມອງ ໃນ ເວລາ ເປນ ສ ນຳໝາກກຽງ ແລະ ແສງ ໄຟ ສະທອນລະ ຍບລະ ຍບ ຈາກວດວາອາ ຮາມ ສ ທອງຫາຍ ແຫງຢ ໃນ ເມອງຕອນ ແລງ, ສງ ນ ເປນ ສນຍາ ລກ ຂອງ ປະ ເທດ ກຳປ ເຈຍ ຍກ ໃໝ. ຕຈາກ ນນ ໄປ ທ ຖະໜນ ໂນ ໂຣ ດມ (Norodom Boulevard), ເຊງ ແມນສນ ກາງ ຄວາມ ຈະ ເລ ນ ແລະ ເປນ ສງ ຢາ ເຕອນ ວາ ພະນມ ເປນ ເປນ ເມອງ ໜງ ທ ກຳລງມ ການ ພດທະນາ.

ອາຫານ ກຳປ ເຈຍ ບຄອຍ ມ ຊສຽງຄ ກນ ກບ ອາຫານ ຂອງ ປະ ເທດ ເພອນ ບານຄ ໄທ ຫ ຫວຽດນາມ, ແຕ ສຳລບ ຜ ຮກ ອາຫານ, ພະນມ ເປນ ຈະ ບ ເຮດ ໃຫ ທານ ຜດ ຫວງ ຢາງ ແນນອນ. ມ ສະຖານ ທ ຮບ ປະທານ ອາຫານ ທ ດ ເລດ ໃຫ ເລອກ ຊມຫາຍ ແຫງ, ນບ ແຕ ຮານ ອາຫານ ຂະ ເໝນ ແລະ ຝຣງ ຈນ ເຖງ ອາຫານ ແບບ ອາ ເມ ລ ກາ, ພອ ມກບ ບນດາ ອາຫານ ຂາງ ຖະນນ ທຫາກຫາຍລາຄາ ບ ແພງ. ແນນອນ ສງ ທ ຢາກ ເນນ ຢາກຄ ການ ຊອກ ຫາອາຫານ ຂະ ເໝນທ ແທ ຈງ. ຂາວ ດກຄ ທານ ຢ ບອນ ທ ຖກ ຕອງ ແລວ.

ພະນມເປນກບປະຫວດສາດອນຮງມDestination Phnom Penh

49

ອາຫານ ກາປ ເຈຍ ມ ຄວາມ ຄາຍ ຄກນ ກບ ອາຫານ ຂອງຫາຍປະ ເທດ ຢ ເຂດ ອາຊ ຕາ ເວນ ອອກສຽງ ໃຕ ເຊນ ແກງ ກະລ, ບງບາ ບ ຄວ ແລະ ອາຫານ ປະ ເພດ ປາ ທ ມ ລດ ຊາດ ແຊບ ຊອຍ. ໂດຍ ທວ ໄປ ແລວ ການ ປງ ແຕງອາຫານຂະ ເໝນ ແມນ ບ ເຜດ ຄ ກນ ກບອາຫານປະ ເທ ດ ອນໆ . ອາຫານ ທ ຕອງ ຊມ ສຳລບ ນກ ທອງ ທຽວ ແມນ ອາ ມກ (Amok) - ແກງ ກະລ ໃສ ກະທ ສ ເຫອງ, ປງ ແຕງ ແບບ ບຮານ ແລະ ເສ ບກບ ກະທ ສດ.

ແຫງທອງທຽວທຂແນະນຳ|oUR PICKSຮບປະທານອາຫານຮານ ອາຫານ ມາລ ສ (Malis Restaurant)ຖະໜນ ໂນ ໂຣ ດມ ທ 136 ເປນ ປະສບ ການ ຮບ ປະທານ ອາຫານ ທ ດ ທ ສດ ໃນ ພະນມ ເປນ. ອາຫານ ໄດ ຖກ ກະກຽມຢາງ ມ ສລະປະ ແບບ ຮວມ ສະ ໄໝ ແລະ ແບບ ດງ ເດມ ຈາກ ພຄວ ສມ ດ ຊາວ ກຳປ ເຈຍ ລ ແມງ (Luu Meng), ອາຫານ ທກ ຢາງ ບລການ ໃຫ ທາມກາງ ບນຍາກາດທ ທນ ສະ ໄໝ ຂອງສະ ລອຍ ນາ ທ ໄດ ແຮງ ບນດານ ໃຈ ຈາກອງ ກ, ລວມທງສວນ ແລະ ຮບ ແບບ ສະຖາປດຕະຍະ ກຳ. ນອກຈາກ ນ ຍງ ມ ບາ ເຄອງ ດມ ຄອກ ເທວ ທຫລ ຫລາ ແລະ ຕ ແຊ ເຫາວາຍ ທ ກວາງ ຂວາງ. ສວນ ລະບຽງທ ໜາ ຮກ ເໝາະ ສຳລບ ການ ຮບ ປະທານ ອາຫານ ທ ໂລ ແມນ ຕກ.

DiningMalis restaurant 136 Boulevard NorodomPhnom Penh’s best Cambodian dining experience. Artfully prepared contemporary and traditional Khmer cuisine from the kitchen of renowned Cambodian chef Luu Meng, all served in the stylish surroundings of Angkorian-inspired pools, gardens and architecture. There’s also an elegant cocktails bar and extensive wine celler. The lovely terraced garden is perfect for a romantic diner.

ສະຖານທພກຜອນວນ ລາ ປາຣາດ ໂຊ (Villa Paradiso)www.thevillaparadiso.com ເປນ ສະຖານ ທ ພກ ຜອນ ຢອນ ໃຈ ທ ໜາ ຮກ ແຫງ ໜງ ຕງ ຢ ໃຈກາງ ຂອງ ພະນມ ເປ ນ, ເຊງບລຫານ ແລະ ເປນ ເຈາ ຂອງ ໂດຍ ສອງຜວ ເມຍ ສານ ດຣາ (Sandra) ແລະ ຟນລບ (Philipp). ອາຄານ ຂອງ ວນ ລາ ເຄຍ ເປນ ເຮອນ ພກ ຂອງ ເຈາ ໜາ ທ ກຳປ ເຈຍ. ຫອງ ໄດ ຮບ ການ ຕກ ແຕງ ຢາງ ມ ລດ ນຍມ ດວຍ ຄວາມ ເປນ ເອກະລກ ສະ ເພາະ ຂອງ ຕນ. ນອກຈາກ ນ ກຍງ ມ ສະ ລອຍ ນາ ແລະ ພນ ທ ຮານ ອາຫານ, ອາຫານ ທ ແຊບ ຊອຍພອມ ກບ ເຄອງ ດມ ລດ ເລດ ແລະ ບອນ ນວດ ຜອນຄາຍສະດວກ ສະບາຍ. SleepingThe Villa Paradisowww.thevillaparadiso.comA lovely oasis of calm in the heart of Phnom Penh, owned and managed by friendly and welcoming couple Sandra and Philipp. The building was the former mansion of a Cambodian official. The rooms have been tastefully decorated with their own unique theme. There’s a great pool and restaurant area, delicious food & drink and a lovely spa.

ການທອງທຽວກາງຄນ ເຄຣຊ 88 ຄລບນງດມເຫາ ເລກທ 7, ກຣາລາ ຮມ ກງ ໄນ ຄລບຫລ ແລະ ບອນນງດມເຫາ ສຳລບ ຜ ທ ກຳລງ ຊອກ ຫາ ງານ ລຽງ ຫ ພຽງ ແຕ ຕອງການຜອນຄາຍ ກບ ບນຍາກາດ ເທາ ນນ. ມ ເຄອງ ດມ ໃຫ ເລອກຫາກ ຫາຍ, ບນຍາກາດດ ແລະ ແອເຢນໆ, ຊງຕງ ຢ ຂາງ ແມ ນາ ຢໃຈກາງ ຕວ ເມອງ.

Going outCrazy 88 Club & LoungeNo.7, Krala Hom KongThis chic, upmarket nightclub and lounge is ideal for those looking to party or just enjoy a relaxing atmosphere. There’s a wide selection of drinks, carpets and full air-conditioning, all conveniently located beside the river in the heart of the city.

50

OUTSIDE DISTINATION

ດອນໂກດດ(KohDachisland),ຄວາມລບທຖກເຊອງຊອນໄວຂອງພະນມເປນຢ ໃຈກາງ ແມ ນາຂອງ, ມ ດອນ ນອຍ ແຫງ ໜງ ເອນວາເກາະດກ ທ ມ ຮບ ແບບ ການ ດຳ ເນນ ຊວດ ທສະທອນ ເຖງ ວດທະນະ ທຳທ ແທ ຈງຂອງ ກຳ ປ ເຈຍ. ແມຍງ ທ ມ ສມ ຕາ ຜາ ໄໝ ທ ລະອຽດອອນ, ໃນ ຂະນະ ທ ຕາມ ເສນທາງ ຍາງ ລງ ຈາກ ດອນທ ຄບ ແຄບ ມຄບາ ຄມຜາສະບງສ ເຫອງສດ ໃສ ຍາງ ບນທະບາດ ໃນ ຍາມ ເຊາ. ການ ດຳລງ ຊວດ ຂອງ ປະຊາຊນ ຢ ທ ນ ເປນ ແບບຢາ ງການ ດຳລງ ຊວດ ທ ລຽບງາຍສວຍ ງາມ.

ດອນໂກ ດດ ມ ໄລຍະ ທາງປະມານ 15 ກມ ຈາກ ພະນມ ເປນ. ທານ ສາມາດ ເດນທາງ ໄປ ທ ນນ ດວຍ ເຮອ ນກ ທອງ ທຽວ ອອກ ຈາກທະ ເລ ສາບ ຕງ ເລ ສາບ ຫ ໄປ ດວຍ ເຮອ ສຳລານ ແມ ຂອງ ລຳ ໃດ ລຳ ໜງ ເຊງດອນ ແຫງ ນກຖກລວມຢ ໃນ ຈດ ພກ ເຊາຂອງ ແຜນ ການເດນທາງຂອງ ເຂາ ເຈາ. ອກ ທາງ ເລອກ ໜງ ທານ ສາມາດ ເຊາ ລດຖບ ຫ ລດຈກຈາກ ທອງ ຖ ນ ເດນທາງ ໄປ ດວຍ ຕວເອງ ກມວນ ດ (ຖາ ຫນທາງ ມ ຂມ ໜອຍ ໜງ) ເປນ ການ ແນະ ນຳ ໃຫ ຮຈກ ກບ ການ ດຳລງ ຊວດ ໃນ ເຂດ ຊນນະບດ ຂອງ ກຳປ ເຈຍ.

Koh Dach island, Phnom Penh best kept secretIn middle of the Mekong River, the small picturesque island of Koh Dach offers a laid-back display of authentic Cambodian culture. Women hand-weave delicate silks, while a short distance down the island’s narrow paths, monks in brilliant saffron robes collect morning alms. Life here exemplifies a wonderful simplicity.

Koh Dach is about 15km north of Phnom Penh. To get there, you can catch a tourist boat heading north along the Tonle Sap or one of the many Mekong pleasure cruises, which include it as a stop on their itinerary. Alternatively, take the short trip like a local, by hiring a bicycle or motorbike- a fun (if a little bumpy) introduction to rural Cambodian life.

51

v

52

Champa Holiday s News

ຫາຍຄນ ຄງ ຈະ ຄດ ໄປ ທຽວປະ ເທດ ສງກະ ໂປ ດວຍ ຕນ ເອງ. ເພາະ ເປນ ປະ ເທດໜງທ ມ ຄວາມ ທນ ສະ ໄໝ ແລະ ມ ລະບບ ການຂນ ສງ ສາທາລະນະ ທ ມ ຄວາມ ສະດວກ, ດງ ນນ ການ ທ ຈະ ເດນທາງ ໄປ ຫາ ແຕ ລະ ບອນ ທອງ ທຽວ ແມນ ໃຊ ເວລາ ພຽງ 5 ນາທ ຫ 10 ນາທ ແລະ ແຕລະ ຈດ ກມ ປາຍ ບອກ ເປນ ພາສາ ອງກດ ໃຫ ລະອຽດ. ແຕ ສຳລບ ໃຜ ທ ບ ເຄຍ ເດນທາງ ດວຍ ຕນ ເອງ, ພວກ ເຮາ ກບກາຂ ແນະນຳ ເພາະ ມນ ກ ເປນ ການ ທ ຈະ ໃຫ ທານຫງທາງ ໄດງາຍໆ ແລະ ອາດ ເສຍ ເງນ ເພອ ຈາງ ແທກ ຊ ກບ ທ ພກ. ປະ ເທດ ສງກະ ໂປ ແມນ ເປນ ປະ ເທດ ທ ຄນ ລາວ ເຮາ ຄວນ ໄດ ໄປ ທຽວຊມ ໃນ ຊວດ, ເຊງປະ ເທດນຄວນ ເອາ ແບບຢາງ ໃນ ເລອງ ການ ພດທະນາ ທາງ ດານ ການຈດ ສນ, ຄວາມ ເປນ ລະບຽບ ແລະ ທ ສຳຄນ ຄວາມ ສະອາດ. ດງ ນນ ທກ ຄນ ທ ໄດ ໄປກອນ ອນໝດກຕອງລະວງ ການ ຖມ ຂ ເຫຍອ ຊະຊາຍ ທານ ອາດ ຈະ ຖກ ປບ ໄໝ ໂດຍ ງາຍ ຖາ ຖມ ຜດ ບອນ. ສງກະ ໂປ ມຫາຍບອນ ທ ເປນຕາ ໄປ ທຽວຊມ ຊງ ທາງ ທມ ທອງ ທຽວຈຳປາຣລ ເດກ ໄດ ເປດ ລາຍການ ທວ ຄງ ທຳ ອດ 4 ມ 3 ຄນ ຫງຈາກໄດເປດເສນທາງປນ ວຽງຈນ-ສງກະໂປ ຕງແຕເດອນ ພະຈກ 2011 ເປນຕນມາ. ລາຍການທວນຈະນຳ ທານເດນທາງໄປ ຫາຍສະຖານທ ແບບ ຈ ໃຈ ສຳລບ ໃຜ ທ ມກ ຮມກ ເຫນ ຫາຍບອນຍງບ ຄວນພາດ.

ຈຳປາຮລເດພາທວສງກະໂປ A Tour of Singapore Singapore is one of the most modern and efficient coun-tries in Southeast Asia. Large distances can be covered by public transport in a matter of minutes. There are always detailed signs in English. It’s also a very sociable city. All in all, it’s a great destination for solo travellers. It is however, a lot cheaper if you share your trip with someone- although just knowing where you are going will go a long way too!Everyone should experience Singapore at least once. It perfectly aspires to the model of a ‘new Asia’; a society in which efficiency, discipline and cleanliness are the order of the day.

While we would advise the same for any destination, visi-tors to Singapore should take extra care not to drop rub-bish in public places. Under local law, anyone found doing so could face heavy fines.

Champa Holidays has opened a four-day three nights tour of Singapore, following the announcement that Lao Air-lines has opened it as a new route from Vientiane. The tour will bring you to several of the city’s major attractions and for those who like exploring new places with the help of inside knowledge, it’s not to be missed.

In Singapore you can stay at some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, enjoy a renowned

range of food from round the world, shop at famous shopping malls and visit many fantastic tourist attractions, such as Sentosa Island, where just about anything is possible.

53

ພກຜອນ ໃນໂຮງ ແຮມຫຫາ, ກນ ອາຫານ ແບບ ນາໆຊາດ, ຊອບ ປງ ຮານ ຄາ ຊ ດງ ແລະ ແຫງທອງ ທຽວຫາຍບອນ ທ ຈະ ເຮດ ໃຫ ທານ ເພດ ເພນ ເຊນ: ດອນ ເຊນ ໂຕ ຊາ ທ ເນ ລະ ມດ ທກ ຢາງ ໃຫ ເປນ ໄປ ໃນສວນ ສະນກ Universal Studio ທ ທານ ບ ເຄຍ ສຳ ພດ ຈາກ ບອນ ໃດ ມາ ກອນ ແລະ ຊງຊາສະຫວນ ທ ສງ ທ ສດ ໃນ ໂລກ (Singapore Flyer) ທ ທານ ສາມາດ ແນມ ເຫນ ວວທວ ທດ ທວ ເມອງ ສງກະ ໂປ, ແລວ ພະຍາ ຍາມຊອກ ຫາ ວາ ຍງ ບອນ ໃດ ແດ ທ ເພນ ຍງ ບ ທນ ໄດ ພດທະນາ ເທອ. ຖາ ການ ເບງ ວວນ ຍງ ບ ຈ ໃຈພ ພວກ ເຮາ ຍງຈະ ພາ ທານ ໄປ ນງ ເຮອ ຊມ ວວ ແລະ ທານ ສາມາດ ຮຽນຮ ເຖງ ຄວາມ ເປນ ມາ ຂອງ ສະຖານ ທ ຕາງໆ ໄດ.

ກອນ ກບ ພວກ ເຮາ ຍງ ພາທານໄປ ຂ ພອນ ຈາກ ວດ ເພອ ເປນ ສລ ມງຄນ ໃຫ ແກ ຕວ ເອງ ແລະ ຄອບ ຄວ ທ ວດ ພະ ແຂວ ແກວ. ທງທຽວ ທງອມບນ ໄປກບພວກເຮາ ກບການເດນທາງທປອດໄພ ໄປກບຈຳປາຮລເດທວ.

The island hosts Universal Studios, as well as the city’s highest building, offering birds-eye views of Singapore city, not far from an almost totally undeveloped area. If the view is not quite enough, you can come aboard our boat for more great city views and to learn more about the city’s history. The tour will also include a visit to Wat Pha Khiew Keo temple.

For those who are interested in the full Singapore tour package, please contact Champa Holidays tour team.

ສຳລບໃຜທສນໃຈໃນການທອງທຽວ ເຕມຮບແບບກສາມາດຕດຕກບທມງານຈຳປາທອງທຽວໄດ.Champa holidays tour:Tel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, Fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile: 22413161, 22224884info@laoairlines.com, sales@champaholidays.com, www.champaholidays.com

ງານສະຫລອງວນຄບຮອບ 1 ປ ວາລະສານ ຈຳປາຮລເດ. ໃນວນທ13 ມງກອນຜານມາ, ວາລະສານຈຳປາຮລເດໄດຈດງານສະຫອງຄບຮອບ 1 ປ, ຊງທານ ແສງປະເສດ ມາທຈນ ຮອງອຳນວຍການຂອງການບນລາວໄດໃຫກຽດຮວມເຂາຮວມ ແລະ ແຂກຄນ ສຳຄນຫາຍທານເຊນ: ທານ ສມພງ ມງຄນວໄລ, ທານ ສມສະນກ ມໄຊ ແລະ ຂາດບໄດກແມນ ລກຄາຂອງວາລະສານ ແລະ ທມງານທງໝດກໄດເຂາຮວມ. ງານນໄດຈດຂນເພອເປນຂວນກຳລງໃຈ ທທມງານໄດຕງໃຈເຮດວຽກນຳກນມາ. ໃນນງປຜານມາພວກເຮາສາມາດເວາໄດວາມນຍງບແມນການ ເຮດໃນທາງທລະກດທດເທອ. ແຕນງປຜານມາມນເປນການຄມຄາໃນການເດນທາງ, ການທອງທຽວ ແລະ ການຮຽນຮ. ທາງທມງານກໄດເດນທາງໄປຫາຍບອນ, ຫາຍແຂວງ, ເພອຊອກຫາຂາວນຳມາຂຽນ ທຈງແລວທມງານຂອງພວກເຮາບໄດມປະສບຫາຍໃນດານນ ແຕພວກເຮາພຮຫາຍຄນທມກໃນເລອງນ ແລະ ໄດ ຜຊງຄນວດທດຊນຳ, ເຮດໃຫວຽກທກຄງທອອກມາໄດດ. ມນຄງເປນບດພສດ ໄດວາສງນງ ທພວກເຮາເຮດວຽກນໄດກຍອນຄວາມມກ, ຮກໃນການທອງທຽວ ພວກເຮາກຢາກໃຫວາລະສານ ນເປນທາງເລອກນງທສາມາດ ສສານໃຫ ຄນອນໄດເຫນດງຄກບພວກເຮາໄດສຳພດ, ພວກເຮາມກຮກໃນ ວດທະນາທຳ ແລະ ເຮດແນວໃດຈະສາມາດສບສານວດທະນາທຳນອອກໄປໃຫຄນອນເຂາໃຈ, ແລະ ມກຮກໃນສງທລາວເຮາມ. ສງເລານຈະເກດຂນບໄດຖາຂາດການການສະໝບສະໝນຈາກບລສດຕາງ.ດງນນ ພວກເຮາຂຂອບໃຈທກທານ ແລະ ພອມທງຜອານຜຕດຕາມວາລະສານພວກເຮາ. ຖາທານໃດມປະ ສງທຈະສງຄຳຄດ ເຫນ ຫ ມແຫງທອງທຽວບອນໃດຢາກໃຫພວກເຮາໄປຄນຫາກສາມາດຕດຕທມງານ ພວກເຮາໄດ ຕາມທຢດານລມ.ບລສດ ອນສະໄໜ: ບານສບນເຮອງ, ວຽງຈນ. ໂທ/ແຟກ: 856-20-223590, Email: info@insmai.com

News

1 Year Celebration of Champa MagazineLast Friday 13 Jan, Holiday magazine has celebrated first year anniversary, and we would like to take this occasion to thank members of our dynamic and multicultur-al team, who aim to help you discover the extraordinary cultural and natural riches of Laos through feature articles, news stories, and vibrant photographs. Directed by Insmai Creative Communication, an established and well-known media and design solutions company in Laos, Champa Holidays also delivers insight into the country’s festivals, art exhibitions, entertainment, and coming events as well as introduces hotels, restaurants, and tours. In the frist year, we can say that this is a good business, but in this first year worth to travel to many places in Laos, to find interesting topic to write about. Actually we didn’t have much experience about travel industry, but we know such good people who are expert about traveling and Lao culture such as Soukhee, Mixay, Bernie, Vincent, Fabien ... who help to advice and give suggestion. we can say it’s passion of Laos, culture, art, and we want to share this to everyone in the world to see what we seen and what we have touch.In future issues, we will unveil Laos’ many magical attractions and activities along with interesting stories from countries served by Lao Airlines: Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and most recently Singapore. We are happy to help guide you in your travels and hope to spark the desire to discover more wonders of Laos and its neighbours.

News

ທະນາຄານການຄາຕາງປະເທດສະຫອງ ລາງວນທະນາຄານດເດນແຫງປໃນວນທ 29 ທນວາຜານມາ, ທະນາຄານການຄາຕາງປະເທດລາວມະ ຫາຊນໄດສະເຫມສະຫອງ ຢາງຍງໃຫຍ ລາງວນອນຊງກຽດທບ ເຄຍມໃນປະຫວດສາດ. ລາງວນທະນາຄານດເດນແຫງປ 2011 ແລະ ພທມອບຮບໃບຢງຢນການບລການມາດຖານສາກນ ISO 9001-2008, ໂດຍພະນະທານສມສະຫວາດເລງສະຫວດ ຮອງນາຍກລດ ຖະມນຕໄດໃຫກຽດເຂາຮວມ. ດວຍຄວາມພດທະນແບບບຢດຢງ ທະນາຄານການຄາຕາງປະເທດລາວ ມະຫາຊນ ໄດມການເຕບໃຫຍ ຂະຫຍາຍຕວ ແລະ ຜນການດຳເນນທລະກດມປະສດທຜນສງ ຈງເຮດໃຫ ທຄຕລ ໄດຮບລາງວນທະນາຄານດເດນແຫງປ 2011 ຈາກວາລະສານ The Banker ຂອງປະເທດອງກດ. ນອກນ, ໃນປດຽວກນ ທະນາຄານຍງໄດຮບລາງວນສຳຄນອກ ຄ: ລາງວນດານ ການເສມສາງຜະລດຕະພນໃໝໆ ແລະ ການຮວມມທດຈາກທະນາຄານ JP Morgan ທເປນທະນາຄານຊນນຳຂອງໂລກ, ລາງວນດເດນ ໃນ ການຂະຫຍາຍຕາໜາງບລການດານການໂອນເງນດວນລະຫວາງ ປະເທດ ຈາກ Money Gram. ຍອນ ທຄຕລ ໄດເອາໃຈໃສປບປງການ ບລການທມລະບຽບຫລກການ ແລະ ຄວາມໂປງໃສ, ປບປງທກຂອດບລການບສອດຄອງຕາມການສງຂາວຂອງລກຄາ, ເຮດໃຫ ທຄຕລ ໄດຮບການຢງຢນ ຮບຮອງເອາການບລການທໄດມາດຕະຖານສາກນ ດານບລການລະຫວາງປະເທດ.

ບລສດ ໂຕໂຍຕາ ມເຕ ປະເທດໄທຈຳກດ ມອບ ຖະໜນຈຳລອງໃຫແກພະແນກຕຳຫວດຈາລະ ຈອນນະຄອນຫວງວຽງຈນໃນວນທ10 ທນວາ 2011 ນ, ບລສດ ໂຕໂຍຕາ ມເຕ ປະເທດໄທ ຈຳກດ ໄດຈດ ງານປະກວດແຕມຮບຂນ ໃນຫວຂ “ຍນຕະກຳແຫງອານາຄດ ລດໂຕໂຍຕາ ໃນຝນຂອງຂອຍ ຄງທ 2” ຂນທ ຫວດທະນະທຳແຫງຊາດ. ນອກຈາກການປະກວດແຕມຮບທເປນຫກໃນການຈດງານແລວ, ໂຕໂຍຕາ ຍງໄດຈດໃຫມສນຝກອບຮມການຂບຂປອດໄພທງພາກທດສະດແລະພາກປະຕບດຂບຕວຈງໃຫແກນອງໆເຍາວະຊນອາຍຕາກວາ 10ປ. ເຊງໃນໂອກາດດຽວກນນບລສດ ໂຕໂຍຕາ ມເຕ ປະເທດໄທ ຈຳກດ ໄດຈດພທມອບ-ຮບຖະໜນຈຳລອງຈຳນວນໜງຊດໃຫກບ ພະແນກຕຳຫວດຈາລະຈອນ ນະຄອນຫວງວຽງຈນ ເພອໃຊເຂາ ໃ ນ ກ າ ນ ຝ ກ ອ ບ ຮ ມ ດ າ ນ ກ າ ນ ຂ ບ ຂ ປ ອ ດ ໄ ພ ໃ ນ ໂ ອ ກ າ ດ ຕ ໄ ປ . ຕາງໜາມອບໃນຄງນໂດຍ ທານ ສດຕະໄຊ ຈຣະທນຍາສະກນ, ຜຊວຍກຳມະການຜຈດການໃຫຍ ບລສດ ໂຕໂຍຕາ ມເຕ ປະເທດໄທ ຈຳກດ ແລະຕາງໜາຮບໂດຍ ທານ ຮອຍໂທ ຫຽນໄຊ ມງຄນຄຳ ຮອງຫວໜາກອງໂຄສະນາຈາລະຈອນ ນະຄອນຫວງວຽງຈນ ແລະ ທານ ຮອຍໂທ ສງຄມ ພມມະລາດ ຮອງຫວໜາກອງໂຄສະນາຈາລະຈອນ ນະຄອນຫວງວຽງຈນ.

ໃນຄງນຖເປນບາດກາວໜງໃນການມສວນຮວມເຂາໃນກດຈະກຳສງເສມ ສງຄມຂອງ ໂຕໂຍຕາ ທຍາມໃດກໄດໃຫຄວາມສຳຄນດານການສະໜບສະໜນກດຈະກຳເພອສງຄມແລະຫວງວາຈະໄດມໂອກາດມສວນຮວມ ໃນກດຈະກຳອນໆອກໃນອະນາຄດ.

Toyota brings road-safety training to Vientiane CapitalAt a ceremony in on 10th December 2011, Mr. Sittachai Jiratthanyasakul, Vice-President of Toyota Motors (Thai-land), officially handed over a model road system to Vien-tiane’s Traffic Police Division, deigned to simulate real- life driving scenarios and promote improved road-safety train-ing.At the event, Toyota Motors (Thailand) also organised an art competition called “Motoring of the Future – the 2nd Toyota Dream Car Art Contest” at the National Cultural Hall. There was also a road-safety training centre, which provided in-struction on driving theory and practice for teenagers. Receiving the model on behalf of local police was Lieuten-ant Lianxay Mongkhonkham, Deputy Director of the Public Traffic Division for Vientiane Capital, and Lieutenant Sang-khom Phommalath.For Toyota, the event formed a key part of its stagey to in-crease its participation in social activities in Laos, which it plans to continue doing throughout the year ahead.

Lao Bank receives bank of the year awardOn the 29th December 2011, the Banque pour le Commerce Exterieur Lao (BCEL) received the ‘Bank of the Year 2011’ award at a conference attended by Deputy Prime Minister, Somsavat Lengsavad. BCEL saw large-scale growth and achieved impressive busi-ness result in 2011, helping the bank secure the award courtesy of Banker Magazine (United Kingdom). In addition, the bank was awarded the ‘New Product Creation and Good Coordina-tion’ award from leading global investment bank, JP Morgan. It also also received further distinction for its efforts in working to expand its network, with the development international money transfer services such as Money Gram. Because BCEL has worked hard at improving professional services and promoting transparency in response to customer feedback, the services of the bank are now certified to interna-tional standards.

Champa Holiday s News

ງານລຽງຕອນຮບວຊາການ, ເຮອບນ ແອ ບດ ສລຳ ທ ສອງ ມາ ຮອດພາຍຫງທ ລດ ວ ສາ ຫະກດ ການບນ ລາວ ໄດ ສງ ຊ ເຮອບນ ແອ ບດ ສ A320 ຈຳນວນ ສອງ ລຳ ແລະ ລຳ ທສອງກ ໄດ ມາ ຮອດ ລາວ ເປນ ທ ຮຽບຮອຍ ໃນ ວນ ທ 2 ທນວາ 2011 ຜານ ມາ ນ ຊງ ອອກ ຮບ ໂດຍ ທານ ດຣ ສມ ພອນ ດວງ ດາລາ ຜອຳນວຍການ ໃຫຍ ພອມ ບນດາ ພະນກງານ ວຊາ ການ. ຊງ ຍນ ລຳ ນ ຈະ ໄດ ນຳ ໃຊ ບນ ວຽງຈນ - ຄນໝງ, ວຽງຈນ - ຫວງພະ ບາງ, ວຽງຈນ - ຮາ ໂນ ຍ, ວຽງຈນ - ບາງກອກ ແລະ ວຽງຈນ - ໂຮຈ ມນ ເພອ ໃຫ ບນ ໄດ ຕາມ ເປາ ໝາຍທ ວາງ ໄວ ເພມຄວາມ ສະດວກ ແລະ ທ ສຳຄນ ເພມ ຈຳນວນ ຜ ໂດຍສານ ຕຖຽວ ໄດ ຫາຍຂນ.

ແລະ ໃນ ວນ ທ 7 ທນວາ 2011, ທາງ ລດ ວ ສາ ຫະກດ ການບນ ລາວ ກ ໄດ ຈດ ງານ ກນລຽງຕອນຮບ ວຊາ ການ ຢາງ ມວນ ຊນ ທ ໂຮງ ແຮມ ລານ ຊາງ ເພອ ສາງ ຄວາມ ສາມກຄ ພາຍ ໃນ ແລະ ຕອນຮບ ເຮອບນ ແອ ບດ ສ A320.

Lao Airlines welcomes second A320 aircraft

A second Airbus A320 series aircraft has arrived at Vientiane’s Wattay In-ternational Airport, to serve passengers on new and existing routes.On 2nd December 2011, the much anticipated delivery was met by Man-aging Director of Lao Airlines, Dr. Somephone Douangmala, as well as members of the airline’s ground staff team. A reception was later held, aimed at strengthening solidarity within the company, as well as marking the end of the first phase in a transition to jet aircraft, which will remain a high priority between now and 2020.The Airbus A320 offers a more modern travel experience, shorter jounery times and a world-class safety record. A longer range and higher capac-ity will also make Lao Airlines more competitive with other airlines in the region. From Vientiane, the A320 series aircraft will serve passengers on route to Khunming, Luang Prabang, Hanoi, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh.

58

INTERNATIONAL ROUTEPlease contact Lao Airlines office for confrimation

FLT No Day Routing Dep Arr AC STPວຽງຈນ - ບາງກອກ - ວຽງຈນ Vientiane - Bangkok - VientianeQV414 Daily VTE BKK 07:20 08:40 ` AT7 0QV415 Daily VTE BKK 16:30 17:50 AT7 0QV4571 Daily VTE BKK 13:50 14:55 737 0QV4575 Daily VTE BKK 21:45 22:50 737 0QV424 Daily BKK VTE 09:40 11:00 AT7 0QV425 Daily BKK VTE 18:50 20:10 AT7 0QV4570 Daily BKK VTE 11:45 12:55 737 0QV4574 Daily BKK VTE 19:50 21:00 737 0

ວຽງຈນ - ຮາໂນຍ - ວຽງຈນ Vientiane - Hanoi - VientianeQV312 Daily VTE HAN 14:30 15:50 AT7 0QV840 Daily VTE HAN 18:10 19:10 320 0QV322 Daily HAN VTE 16:30 17:55 AT7 0QV841 Daily HAN VTE 08:30 09:35 320 0

ວຽງຈນ - ພະນມເປນ - ວຽງຈນ Vientiane - Phnompenh - VientianeQV841 Daily VTE PNH 10:20 11:50 320 0QV840 Daily PNH VTE 15:50 17:20 320 0

ວຽງຈນ - ສຽມຣຽບ - ວຽງຈນ Vientiane - Siemreap - VientianeQV512 123.5.7 VTE REP 06:30 09:25 AT7 PKZQV522 123.5.7 REP VTE 10:05 13:00 AT7 PKZ

ວຽງຈນ - ຄນມງ - ວຽງຈນ Vientiane - Kunming - VientianeQV817 Daily VTE KMG 06:40 08:50 AT7 0QV827 Daily KMG VTE 10:50 12:00 AT7 0

ວຽງຈນ - ໂຮຈມນ - ວຽງຈນ Vientiane - Hochiminh - VientianeQV515 .2.4.6. VTE SGN 07:45 11:05 MA6 PKZQV525 .2.4.6. SGN VTE 12:05 15:20 MA6 PKZ

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ຊຽງໃໝ - ຫລວງພະບາງ Luang Prabang - Chieng Mai - Luang PrabangQV635 .23.567 LPQ CNX 13:10 14:10 AT7 0QV645 .23.567 CNX LPQ 15:00 16:00 AT7 0

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ບາງກອກ - ຫລວງພະບາງ Luang Prabang - Bangkok - Luang PrabangQV633 Daily LPQ BKK 07:30 09:10 AT7 0QV643 Daily BKK LPQ 10:20 12:00 AT7 0

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ສຽມຣຽບ - ຫລວງພະບາງ Luang Prabang - Siemreap - Luang PrabangQV513 1..4.6. LPQ REP 10:50 14:20 MA6 PKZQV869 123.56. LPQ REP 10:30 12:10 F70 0QV523 1..4.6. REP LPQ 15:00 18:30 MA6 PKZQV868 123.56. REP LPQ 12:50 14:30 F70 0

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ຮາໂນຍ - ຫລວງພະບາງ Luang Prabang - Hanoi - Luang PrabangQV313 .2.4567 LPQ HAN 16:40 17:40 AT7 0QV868 123.56. LPQ HAN 15:10 16:00 F70 0QV323 .2.4567 HAN LPQ 18:25 19:25 AT7 0QV869 123.56. HAN LPQ 08:55 09:50 F70 0

ປາກເຊ - ສຽມຣຽບ - ປາກເຊ Pakse - Siemreap - PakseQV512 123.5.7 PKZ REP 08:25 09:25 AT7 0QV513 1..4.6. PKZ REP 13:20 14:20 AT7 0QV522 123.5.7 REP PKZ 10:05 11:05 AT7 0QV523 1..4.6. REP PKZ 15:00 16:00 AT7 0

ປາກເຊ - ບາງກອກ - ປາກເຊ Pakse - Bangkok - PakseQV213 ..3.5.7 PKZ BKK 09:25 12:10 MA6 ZVKQV223 ..3.5.7 BKK PKZ 13:10 15:45 MA6 ZVK

ປາກເຊ - ໂຮຈມນ - ປາກເຊ Pakse - Hochiminh - PakseQV515 .2.4.6. PKZ SGN 09:30 11:05 MA6 0QV525 .2.4.6. SGN PKZ 12:05 13:35 MA6 0

ສະຫວນນະເຂດ - ບາງກອກ - ສະຫວນນະເຂດ Savannakhet - Bangkok - SavannakhetQV213 ..3.5.7 ZVK BKK 10:50 12:10 MA6 0QV223 ..3.5.7 BKK ZVK 13:10 14:30 MA6 0

60

DOMESTIC ROUTEPlease contact Lao Airlines office for confrimation

ວຽງຈນ - ຫລວງພະບາງ Vientiane - Luang PrabangQV101 1234567 VTE LPQ 11:50 12:30 AT7 0QV103 1234567 VTE LPQ 16:30 17:10 AT7 0QV109 1234567 VTE LPQ 09:30 10:10 MA6 0

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ວຽງຈນ Luang Prabang - VientianeQV102 1234567 LPQ VTE 13:10 13:50 AT7 0QV104 1234567 LPQ VTE 17:50 18:30 AT7 0QV110 1..4.6. LPQ VTE 19:10 19:50 MA6 0QV110 .23.5.7 LPQ VTE 10:40 11:20 MA6 0

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ປາກເຊ - ຫລວງພະບາງ Luang Prabang - Pakse - Luang PrabangQV513 1..4.6. LPQ PKZ 10:50 12:40 MA6 0QV523 1..4.6. PKZ LPQ 16:40 18:30 MA6 0

ວຽງຈນ - ສະຫວນນະເຂດ - ວຽງຈນ Vientiane - Savannakhet - VientianeQV201 ..3.5.7 VTE ZVK 07:30 10:00 MA6 PKZ QV202 ..3.5.7 ZVK VTE 15:10 17:40 MA6 PKZ

ປາກເຊ - ສະຫວນນະເຂດ - ປາກເຊ Pakse -Savannakhet - Pakse QV213 ..3.5.7 PKZ ZVK 09:25 10:00 MA6 0 QV223 ..3.5.7 ZVK PKZ 15:10 15:45 MA6 0

ວຽງຈນ - ປາກເຊ - ວຽງຈນ Vientiane - Pakse - VientianeQV512 123.5.7 VTE PKZ 06:30 07:45 AT7 0QV201 ..3.5.7 VTE PKZ 07:30 08:25 MA6 0QV515 .2.4.6. VTE PKZ 07:45 09:00 MA6 0QV522 123.5.7 PKZ VTE 11:45 13:00 AT7 0QV202 ..3.5.7 PKZ VTE 16:25 17:40 MA6 0QV525 .2.4.6. PKZ VTE 14:05 15:20 MA6 0

ວຽງຈນ - ອດມໄຊ - ວຽງຈນ Vientiane - Oudomxay - VientianeQV501 .2.4.6. VTE ODY 13:20 14:10 AT7 0QV502 .2.4.6. ODY VTE 14:50 15:40 AT7 0

ວຽງຈນ - ຫວຍຊາຍ - ວຽງຈນ Vientiane - Houeysay - VientianeQV901 .2.4.6. VTE HOE 13:10 14:05 MA6 0QV902 .2.4.6. HOE VTE 14:45 15:40 MA6 0

ວຽງຈນ - ຫລວງນຳທາ - ວຽງຈນ Vientiane - Luang Namtha - VientianeQV601 1.3.5.. VTE LXG 12:30 13:30 MA6 0QV602 1.3.5.. LXG VTE 14:10 15:10 MA6 0

ວຽງຈນ - ຊຽງຂວາງ - ວຽງຈນ Vientiane - Xiengkhouang - VientianeQV401 1.3.5.7 VTE XKH 13:20 13:50 AT7 0QV402 1.3.5.7 XKH VTE 14:30 15:00 AT7 0

Remark: All times are local time 1: Monday 2: Tuesday 3: Wednesday 4: Thursday 5: Friday 6: Saturday 7: Sunday

2 Pangkham Rd., P.O. Box: 6441 Vientiane Lao P.D.RTel: (856-21) 212 057Fax: (856-21) 212 065www.laoairlines.com

FLT No Days Routing Dep Arr Ac STP

61

Branch offices (Domestic)

Luangprabang (Lpq)Town OfficeTel: (856-71) 212172Fax: (856-71) 212406Email: lpq@laoairlines.comAirport OfficeTel: (856-71) 212173Fax: (856-71) 252264Email: lpqairport@laoairlines.com

Xiengkhuang (Xkh)Tel: (856-61) 312027Fax: (856-61) 312487Email: xiengkhouang@laoairlines.comTel: (856-61) 312177 (Airport)

Luangnamtha (Lxg)Tel: (856-86) 212072FaX: (856-86) 212073Email: lxg@laoairlines.comTel: (856-86) 312180, 312053 (Airport)

Oudomxay (Ody)Tel: (856-81) 312047, 312146Fax: (856-81) 212229Email: ody@laoairlines.com

Houeisay (Hoe)Tel: (856-84) 211026Fax: (856-84) 211471Email: hoe@laoairlines.comTel: (856-84) 211494 (Airport)

Savannakhet (Zvk)Tel: (856-41) 212140,Fax: (856-41) 251060Email : zvk@laoairlines.com

Pakse (Pkz)Tel: (856-31) 212252Fax (856-31) 212751Email: pkz@laoairlines.com Airport Tel: (856-31) 251921,Fax: (856-31) 410130E-mail: pkzspl@laoairlines.com pkzapqv@laoairlines.com

Branch offices (Abroad)

THAILANDBangkok - (Town office)491/17 ground Fl, Silom plazaSilom road, Bangkok 10500Tel: (66-2) 236 9822, 2369823, 237 8044Fax: (66-2) 236 9821 Email: bkkrrqv@ksc.th.comSITA: BKKRRQV

Bangkok - (Airport office)3RD Floor Room No. T3-072C,Passenger building Suvarnabhumi AirportTel: (662) 134 2006 to 2008Fax: (662) 134 2009Booth (or Counter service)No. 7/10(Opposite of Check-in row “R”)Tel: (662) 134 2010Fax: (662) 134 2011

Chiangmai2/107 Rajchapuak, Huaykew RoadAmper muang Chaiangmai 50300Tel: (66-53) 223 401Fax: (66-53) 223 400Email: qvcnx@loxinfo.co.thSITA: CNXRRQ

CARGO c/o P.T. Air Cargo Co.,Ltd.Building 301, Room 427-428,Customs Free Zone Suvarnabhumi Airport, 999 Moo 7, Rachathewa, Bangphli, Samutprakan 10540Tel: (66-02) 1346721 (Auto)Fax: (66-02) 1346453-4Email: adulp@ptcargo.com

CAMBODIAPhnompenh111 sihanouk st, no274, PhnompenhCAMBODIATel: (855-23) 222956,Tel/Fax: (855-23) 216 563Email: pnhqv@laoairlines.comSITA: PNHRRQV

Siem Reap114 Sala Khanseng Village, road no 6Svay Dongkhom Commune,Siem Reap District, Siem Reap ProvinceTel: (855-63) 963283Fax: (855-63) 965160 Email: qvrep@laoairlines.com

VIETNAMHanoi03 Lieu Giai Road, BadinhDistrict, Hanoi Capital, Vietnam. Tel: (84-4)3942 5362Fax: (84-4)3942 5363Email: laoairlines.han@fpt.vnSITA: HANTOQV

Hochiminh City 93 Pateur st, District 1, Hochiminh City, Vietnam. Tel/Fax: (84) 838231350Email: qvsgn@laoairlines.com

CHINAKunmingN. 96 Easr Dong Feng RoadCamellia Hotel , Kunming,Yunnan, China 650041Tel: (86 871) 3163000 ext 5166Tel/Fax: (86 871) 312 5748Email: kunming@laoairlines.com

Jinghong 1st floor Kingland Hotel, 6Jingde Rd,Jinghong, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China Tel/Fax: (86) 691 2199Email: qvjhg@laoairlines.com

LAO AIRLINES OFFICES

Vientiane (Head Office)02 Pangkham Street, P.O. Box 6441Tel: (856-21) 212057, Fax : ( 856-21) 212065

Ticket & ReservationTel: ( 856-21 ) 212051-54, Fax : (856-21) 212056Email: reservation@laoairlines.com ticketing@laoairlines.com

Tour Dept (Champa holidays) Tel : (856-21) 219932, Fax : (856-21) 212058Email : info@laoairlines.com, tour@laoairlines.com

Wattay Airport OfficeTel: (856-21) 512028 ( International Airport )Tel: (856-21) 512 000, 512 004 ( Domestic Airport )

SINGAPORE Airport office New House 60, Airport BoulevardUnit B16-011 Changi Airport Terminal2Singapore 819643Tel: (+65) 6214 8829, Fax: (+65) 6214 8816 Email: sitthideth@laoairlines.com

Town office c/o GSA-Maple Aviation Pte Ltd133 NewBridge Road #14-07Chinatown PointSingapore 059413Tel: (+65) 6538 2192 ,Fax: (+65) 6535 9901

GSA/SALES AGENT UNITED KINGDOM (UK)Lao Airlines GSAAxis House, 242 Bath Road HeathrowMiddlesex UB3 5AYUnited KingdomTel : +44(0)844 482 2318Fax : +44(0)844 482 1668E-mail: laoairlines@apg-ga.co.uk

FRANCELao Airlines c/o APG 66 avenue des Champs Elysées-75008 ParisTel: (33) 1 53 77 13 13Fax: (33) 1 53 77 13 05E-mail: laoairlines@apg.fr

SPAINGran Via Corts Catalanes 61708009 BARCELONATel: (34) 933188443Fax: (34) 934813833E-mail: laoairlines@bcnair.com

SWEDENLao Airlines EuropeBox 22308 Kungsholmsgatan 10104 22 Stockholm, SwedenTel: (46) 8 545 91 668Fax: (46) 8 612 05 92E-mail: sales.europe@lao-airlines.com

GERMANYLao AirlinesLeonhardstraße 22, 61169 FriedbergTel: (49) 6031 737630Fax: (49) 6031 725081E-mail: laoairlines@gpgermany.com

ISRAEL Euromart29 Ben Yehuda ST, Tel Aviv IsraelP.O.Box - 3254 Tel Aviv Israel,Tel: (972)-3-7952127, 5279256Fax: 972-3-6005919E-mail: euromart@netvision.net.ilSITA: TLVGANZ

JAPAN ATB., Ltd6F Wanami Bldg, 1-4-5 NihombashiKayaba-Cho, Chuo-Ku, Tokyo,Japan 105-0025Tel: (81-3) 5623 3858Fax: (81-3) 5623 3859E-mail: qv@lao-airlines.jp res@laoairlines.jp

KOREA C/O Global Air SystemRm 902, Kwang Hwa Mun Bldg, 211,Sejongro, Chongro-Gu, seoul, KoreaTel: (822) 3708 8561Fax: (822) 3708 8569E-mail : kashar@globalair21.com

MALAYSIAC/O Maple Aviation Pte, LtdCP57 Suite 1705 17th floor Central PlazaJalan Sultan Ismail 50250Kuala LumpurTel: (60) 321443101 / 3077Fax: (60) 321429392E-mail: maple_kl@tm.net.mySITA: KULTOOA

TAIWANTaiwan Orchid Express Inc11F, No25, Chang An E Rd, Sec 1, Taipei, TaiwanTel: (886)-2 25682121Fax: (886)-2 2521-3991E-mail: info@toe.com.tw

HUNGARYAVIATION GSA Co.1065 Budapest VI.,Nagymezo utca 47.Tel: (361) 302-2484, (361) 354-1849Fax: (361) 354-1848Mobil: (36) 30-397-7353E-mail: aviationgsa@t-online.hu

USA (SALES AGENT)Good Luck Tour And Travel2021 The Alanmeda Suit 199San Jose CA 95126Tel: 408-243 7628Fax: 408-243 8168Email: nancy@goodlucktour.com

Excel Travel4885E, Kings canyon,Fresno CA 93727, USATel: (559) 455 19159Fex: (559) 455 1965Email: exceltravelus@yahoo.com

UNIVERSAL TRAVEL4400 47TH AVESACRAMENTO CA 95824Tel: 916-429-2711Fax: 916-429-1910Email: reservations@universaltravel.com

US GATEWAY TRAVEL4100 Spring Valley Rd, Suite 202,Dallas, TX 75244Tel: 972-503-7888Fax: 972-934-4612Email: gttdfw@gtttravel.com

US GATEWAY TRAVEL(GTT Internationa)1300 Godward St, N.E.Suite 3120Mineapolis, MN 55413Tel: 612-872-4931Fax: 612-872-4932Email: hanna.msp@gtttravel.com

63

Vientiane Capital of Lao PDR

For more information please contact Champa holidays tour or Lao Airlines officesTel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, Fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile: 22413161, 22224884Email: info@laoairlines.com, sales@champaholidays.com, www.champaholidays.com

L A O S

VientianeVientiane is Southeast Asia’s most laid-back capital. This city boasts outstanding French colonial ar-chitecture and low level buildings spread throughout the city, exuding its rich cultural heritage and relaxed atmosphere. Life in this pleasant capital is slow-paced. We explore this small, peaceful capital at a leisurely pace, visiting some of the finest and most important historical sites in Laos.

How to get to Vientiane on Lao Airlines?From Bangkok, there are two daily flights. There are daily flights from Hanoi / Kunming / Siem Reap. From Ho Chi Minh, three flights a week (Tue, Thu & Sat).

Vientiane Free & Easy Stay-3 days

Code: CPH71

Enjoy the Free & Easy Stay package to Vientiane Capital, which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights ac-commodation at a hotel of your choice with breakfast, round trip airport transfer and a half day tour.

Vientiane Stop-Over-3 days

Code: CPH72

Vientiane Stop-Over tour includes a round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, transporta-tion in private car, hotel accommodation in a twin shared room with breakfast, Eng-lish speaking guide, admission fee to indi-cated sights, Government tax and service charge and tour program are below:

Day 1: Arrival in Vientiane (B)Opon arrival in Vientiane, you will be met and transferred to a centrally located ho-tel. Vientiane is a charming and fascinat-ing capital, with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and American influences. After a short rest, we begin visiting the major sights of the capital, including Vat Sisaket, the oldest temple with thousands of miniature Bud-dha statues, and the former royal temple of Vat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha.

Enroute to Lao’s national icon, the pre-cious and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.

We’ll end the day by the Mekong riverside for a relaxing stroll and admire the sunset. Overnight in Vientiane (B)

Day 2: Vientiane – Nam Ngum Lake After breakfast, we head out of the city to make our way to Nam Ngum, a huge reservoir created by the damming of the Nam Ngum River. On the way to Nam Ngum Lake, we’ll stop at Ban Keun, which is famous for its salt extraction plant and a village that distills the local Lao whiskey. On arrival at Nam Ngum Lake, we embark on a long tail boat to visit fishing villages in the various islets. We take a short walk to explore the lifestyle of the local fisher-men. After that we’ll have lunch. On the return drive to Vientiane, [if time permits], perhaps you might want to experience gambling at the Lao casino located in the valley where you can also enjoy a beauti-ful view of the lake. We return to Vientiane by late evening. Overnight in Vientiane (B)

Day 3: Vientiane-DepartureAfter breakfast, we visit the Morning Mar-ket which has a range of Lao made prod-ucts, from silk, handicrafts, silver jewelry, clothing, etc. (if time permits). The tour ends after you’re transfer to the airport for departure. (B)

For more information please contact Champa holidays tour or Lao Airlines officesTel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, Fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile: 22413161, 22224884Email: info@laoairlines.com, sales@champaholidays.com, www.champaholidays.com

Pakse City (Champasak)Pakse Stop-Over-3 Days

Code: Champa 3.2

Day1: Arrival-Pakse to Don KhoneOn arrival at Pakse, drive out towards Khong Island. On the way we make a short detour to visit Pha Suam Vaterfall and to explore the Lao Teung ethnic minority villages. We continue our journey by mo-torboat to Don Khong, the largest island in the southern part of the Mekong river region known as the 4,000 islands, one of the most scenic areas in Laos. Overnight in Don Khong. (L/D)

Day 2: Khong Island to Done Khone to Pakse Following breakfast, we enjoy a visit to the surrounding countryside, and embark on a longtail boat tour of the Don Khone area, which takes you to visit the remains of the French colonial period and Liphi Vaterfall or “the Corridor of the Devil”. We return to the mainland at the fishing vil-lage of Ban Nakasang and drive further south to visit Khone Phapheng. Khone Phapheng is considered the largest Vater-fall by volume in South east Asia; this is an impressive attraction near the Lao-Cam-bodian border, set within an area which is teeming with wildlife, making it one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos. Afterwards we drive back to Pakse. Overnight in Pakse. (B/L/D)

Day 3: Pakse- Departure after breakfast, at your leisure or shopping, then transfer to airport. (B)

Package includes:- Roundtrip on Lao Airlines air ticket- Two nights accommodation in hotel in a twin sharing room; daily breakfast- Transportation in private car- English speaking guide- Admission fee to indicated sights

Pakse Free & Easy Stay-3 Days

Code : Champa 3.1

Enjoy the Free & Easy Stay package in Pakse, the southern city of Laos. You can make a connection flight on Lao Airlines flight from Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Luang Prabang and Vientiane.

Day 1: Meet at Pakse airport and transfer to hotel for check-in and relaxation.Day 2: Enjoy breakfast at hotel and free time or you may contact hotel counter for city tour yourself.

Day 3: After breakfast, free time and transfer to airport for check in and fly back to your next destination.

Package includes:- Roundtrip Lao Airlines air ticket- Two nights accommodation at hotel - Daily breakfast- Round trip airport transfer

Pakse Splendid

We explore the beautiful region of Pakse, located in the southern part of Laos, also home to the famous Ancient Khmer ruins of Vat Phou from the 5th Century and the awe-inspiring Khone Phapheng Vaterfall, the biggest in Southeast Asia! The surrounding forests teem with flourishing vegetation and you will be greeted by the friendly locals as we visit a few villages. You will take a trip to the Bolaven Plateau, which will provide you with a refreshing break from the heat and allow you to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea and other crops.

On Pakse on Lao Airlines flights from Vien-tiane, Luang Prabang, Siem Reap, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh. Direct flights are avail-able from Ho Chi Minh to Pakse as follows: Tue, Thu, Sat – Depart at 11:45 and arrive at 13:45. Pakse to Ho Chi Minh: Tue, Thu, Sat–Depart at 09:15 and arrive at 10:45.

Luang Prabang World Heritage City

For more information please contact Champa Holidays Tour or Lao Airlines officesTel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, Fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile: 22413161, 22224884Email: info@laoairlines.com, sales@champaholidays.com, www.champaholidays.com

Luang Prabang has a beautiful and tranquil dream-like setting with a fusion of foreign influences and splendid land-scape and scenery, making this an idyllic, unspoiled and charming destination for visitors. It is no wonder this amaz-ing city has been declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO. The ancient city was the former capital of Laos, with a reign of more than 63 kings over 600 years. Luang Prabang is known as the ‘Thousand Pagoda City’ and there are countless intriguing architectural highlights in this sleepy and once royal capital.

How to get to Luang Prabang?Lao Airlines has direct flights from Bangkok, Chiangmai and Hanoi daily; three times a week from Siem Reap; three flights daily from Vientiane.

Luang Prabang Free & Easy Stay-3 Days

Code: CPH11

Enjoy the Free & Easy Stay package in the World Heritage City of Laos which in-cludes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommodations in a hotel room of your choice with daily breakfast, round trip airport transfer and half day city tour.

Luang Prabang Stop-Over-3 Days

Code: CPH12

Luang Prabang Stop-Over tour includes a round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, trans-portation in private car, accommodation in a twin shared room with breakfast, English speaking guide, admission fee to indicated sights, and government taxes and service charges. The tour program is as follows:

Day 1: Arrival-Luang Prabang Arrival at Luang Prabang airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Af-ter a short rest, we will visit the impressive stupa of Vat Visoun and the shrine of Vat Aham and Vat Mai. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by hilltribe groups and lo-cal people from the surrounding area of Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Pra-bang.

Day 2: Luang Prabang-Pak Ou CaveOn this day, we enjoy a short-guided tour to see the city’s oldest temples of Vat Sene and the magnificent Vat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, rep-resenting classical Laotian architecture. We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil coun-

tryside as well as time to explore the mys-terious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lac-quered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we will stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is produced. On return, we’ll take a short drive to another small village, Ban Phanom, which is fa-mous for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)

Day3: Luang Prabang-DepartureVisit the National Museum (closed Tues-days) at the former Royal Palace. It displays a collection of artifacts reflecting the rich-ness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last reign. There will also be time to look around the Central Market. After visiting these sights in the morning, there may be free time (depending on your flight) to venture into town and stroll around the shopping area. The tour ends after your transfer to the airport for departure. (B)

Luang Prabang World Heritage City

For more information please contact Champa Holidays Tour or Lao Airlines officesTel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, Fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile: 22413161, 22224884Email: info@laoairlines.com, sales@champaholidays.com, www.champaholidays.com

Luang Prabang Wonder-4 Days

Code: CPH13

Enjoy Luang Prabang Wonder – 4 days and 3 nights which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, transportation in private car and accommodation in a twin shared room with daily breakfast, English speaking guide, admission fees to indicat-ed sights, government taxes and service charges. The tour program is as follows:

Day 1: Arrival-Luang PrabangUpon arrival, you will be met and trans-ferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang has been claimed by UNESCO to be ‘the best preserved city in Southeast Asia’. During your time here, we’ll visit the impressive stupa of Vat Visoun and the shrines of Vat Aham and Vat Mai. We then climb up to the top of mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people from the surrounding areas of Luang Pra-bang. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)

Day 2: Luang Prabang-Pak Ou CaveEnjoy a short-guided tour to see the city’s oldest temple of Vat Sene and the magnif-icent Vat Xiengthong with its roofs sweep-ing low to the ground, representing classi-cal Laotian architecture. We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside as well as time to explore the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On return, we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, a small village known for its hand weaving. Overnight inLuang Prabang. (B)

Day 3:Luang Prabang-Khouangsi VaterfallAn optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (of-ten in the form of sticky rice) from faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the ritual. From there, you will visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings.

Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and this day you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou, Lao Oum Village and Ban Thapene, which are Khmu vil-lages. This then takes us to the beautiful Khouangsi Vaterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails.

On the return trip to Luang Prabang by late afternoon, we continue to Ban Xang-khong, a village well known for its silk weavings and for its Saa (jute) Papermak-ing. We return to the city by late evening to admire the sunset at Vat Siphoutha-bath. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)

Day 4: Luang Prabang-DepartureVisit the National Museum (closed Tues-days) at the former Royal Palace. It dis-plays a collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last reign. There will also be time for us to look around the Central Market. After visiting these sights in the morn-ing, there may be free time (depending on your flight) to venture into town and stroll around the shopping area. The tour ends after your transfer to the airport for departure. (B)

Ho Chi Minh City - VietnamFormerly known as Saigon

How to get to Ho Chi Minh City? You may take Lao Airlines flight from Vientiane or Pakse to Hochiminh on Tue, Thu & Sat.

Ho Chi Minh Free & Easy Stay-3 days

Code: CPH61

Enjoy the Free & Easy Stay package in the historical Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, two nights accommodation in a three star hotel with daily breakfast, round trip airport transfer and a half-day tour in Ho Chi Minh city.

Ho Chi Minh-Mekong Delta-3 Days

Code: CPH62

The Ho Chi Minh Mekong Delta 3 days and 2 nights package includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights ac-commodation in a twin sharing room, daily breakfast and one lunch at the ho-tel, transportation in private car, entrance fees to tourist sites and a one-day tour of the Mekong Delta including tour guide as follows:

Day 1: Meet on arrival at Tan San Airport and transfer to hotel for check-in and then free time or shopping.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh (Meals: B/L)

After breakfast, depart at 8:00 am, driv-ing to the Mekong Delta, nicknamed the large rice basket of Vietnam. This day in-cludes visiting Vinh Trang pagoda, cruis-ing on the Mekong river to an island for

sightseeing and observing the daily activ-ities of local people, taking a paddle boat along the small canal, visiting a bee farm, orchards, enjoying tea, honey, seasonal fruits, sweets, amateur traditional music performances, touring a coconut candy mill and then lunch on the island. On the way back, stop for shopping.

Day 3: Depart Ho Chi Minh (B)

After breakfast at hotel , free time or shop-ping and transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for your departure flight.

Ho Chi Minh Vung Tau 3 Days

Code: CPH63

Ho Chi Minh Vung Tau 3 days and 2 nights includes round trip air ticket on Lao Air-lines, 2 nights accommodation in a twin sharing room, full meals, transportation in private car, entrance fees to tourist sites, tour guide and tour program as fol-lows:

Day 1: Arrive Ho Chi Minh – CITY TOUR (L,D)

Arrive Ho Chi Minh by QV515 at 10:45. Welcome by friendly guide then transfer to hotel. Buffet lunch provided by hotel.

PM: City tour – visit local neighborhoods and landmarks such as China Town, Thien Hau Pagoda, Remnant War Museum, Re-unification Hall (Formerly Presidential Pal-

ace), Opera House, City Hall, stop at the Main Post Office & Notre Dame Cathedral for pictures. On the way back to the hotel, stop at a lacquer ware factory for shop-ping. Back to hotel and enjoy a set dinner at Sapphire Hotel.

Day 2:HCMC – VUNG TAU – HCMC (L, D)

Depart in the morning for Vung Tau, a fa-mous tourist spot. Free for swimming and sea bathing at Mariana Club. Set lunch at the local seafood restaurant. Visit memo-rial statue of Saint George (30 m high) on Small Mountain - the highest Saint statue in VietNam; visit Niet Ban Tinh Xa, the most beautiful pagoda in Vung Tau on a hillside facing the sea. On the way back to HCMC, stop at Long Thanh to buy fruits of the season. Arrival HCMC, enjoy a set din-ner on a Saigon floating restaurant. Trans-fer back to hotel for leisure time.

Day 3: HO CHI MINH – VIENTIANE

Free time until transfer to airport for a flight at 11:45 am. End of service.

Amazing Angkor, Siem Reap - CambodiaHow to get to Angkor Vat? You may take Lao Airlines flight from Vientiane or Pakse with daily service or depart from Luang Prabang on Mon, Thu & Sat.

Angkor Vat Free & Easy Stay-3 Days, 2 Nights

Code: CPH41Enjoy the Free & Easy Stay package in Siem Reap city which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accom-modation in a three/four star hotel with daily breakfast and round trip airport transfer.

Amazing Angkor VatFull Package - 3 Days, 2 Nights

Code: CPH42 Visit the Amazing Angkor city on a 3 days and 2 nights package with Champa Holi-days which includes roundtrip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommoda-tion in a twin sharing hotel room, meals, transportation (car, van or bus), entrance fees to tourist sites, English/Thai speaking guide and tour program as follows:

Day 1: Arrive – Siem Reap (L/D) Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport and transfer to hotel for check-in and visit the National Museum then have lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Vat Thmei Artisan Angkor, Old Market, then have dinner at Koulen II Restaurant with Apsara Dance show. After dinner, visit the Night Market, then back to hotel.

Day 2: Angkor Thom (B/L/D )After breakfast at hotel, visit South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon temples, Bapuon, Phimenakas, Terrace of Elephant and Leper King. In the afternoon, visit Ta Prum temple, Takeo, Angkor Vat temple and Vatch the sunset over Bakheng Hill, din-ner and back to hotel.

Day 3: Siem Reap – Pakse/Vientiane (B) Breakfast at hotel, visit old market and transfer to Siem Reap International Air-port to fly back.

Angkor Vat - Phnom Penh -SihanoukvilleFull Package - 6 Days, 5 Nights

Code: CPH42Day 1: Arrive Siem Reap (L/D) Arrive at Siem Reap International airport and transfer to hotel for check-in. Lunch at Sophea Angkor Pich Restaurant then visit South Gate of AngkorThom , Terrace of Elephant, Angkor Vat and Vatch the sunset over Bakheng Hill, dinner at Kolen II Restaurant.

Day 2: Tonle Sap Lake – Phnom Penh (B/L/D)At 7:30 am guide and van pick up to visit the Tonle Sap Lake, and have an early lunch at Kolen II restaurant. At 12:00 noon depart by van to Phnom Penh and check-in to a three star hotel and have dinner at the Tonle Basac restaurant.

Day 3: City tour Phnom Penh – Siha-noukville (B/L/D)At 8:00 am guide and van pick up to visit the Royal Palace, museum, the killing fields, and have lunch at Tonle Basac res-taurant and at 1:00 pm depart by van to Sihanoukville and check-in to Hotel Gold-en Sand, then have dinner at the Beach Restaurant.

Day 4: SihanoukvilleAt 8:00 am guide and van will pick up to Ream Beach. Lunch at Beach Restaurant and in the afternoon visit the Ochheuteal beach, then have dinner at a beach res-taurant.

Day 5: Sihanoukville – Siem Reap (B/L/D)At 8:00 am visit Sihanoukville Market and lunch at Tonle Basac Restaurant, and drive back to Siem Reap, check-in to hotel and have dinner at Sophea Angkor Pich Res-taurant.

Day 6: Siem Reap – Pakse/ VTE (B) Breakfast at hotel, visit old market and transfer to Siem Reap International Air-port to your next destination.

Jinghong-ChinaVisit Jinghong , Xishuang Banna

Located in the south of Yunnan Province, Jinghong is the political, economic and cultural center of Xishuang Banna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, which is a supernatural oasis in southwest China, while Jinghong is a bright pearl in the oasis.

Attractions in Xishuang BannaKnown for its tropical flowers, plants, and garden, attractions in Xishuang Banna include the Meng Tropical Botanical Gar-den, tropical rain forest valley, Mengle great Buddhist monastery, Mengle cultur-al park, Manting park, Dai ethnic garden, wild elephant ravine, south medicinal plants garden, the virgin forest park and Mengjinglai village and more.

How to get to Jinghong?Travel with Lao Airlines direct flight from Luang Prabang on Friday and Sunday or on a connecting flight from Vientiane.

Jinghong Free & Easy Stay-3 Days, 2 Nights

Code: CPH51

Enjoy and relax with the Free & Easy Stay package in Jinghong Xishuang Banna which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommodation in a four star hotel with daily breakfast and airport transfer.

Jinghong Stop-Over-3 Days, 2 Nights

Code: CPH52

Spend your holidays with the Jinghong Stop-Over – 3 days, 2 nights which in-cludes roundtrip air ticket of Lao Airlines,

2 nights accommodation in a three star hotel with a twin sharing room, full meals (Chinese food), transportation (car, van or bus), entrance fees to tourist sites, Lao/English speaking guide and tour program as follows:

Day 1: Take Lao Airlines flight QV818 to Jinghong , guide will meet you at the airport, go straight to visit Bage Temple (Head Temple in Xishuangbanna), then transfer to hotel check-in and dinner. Overnight at Jinghong.

Day 2: After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Virgin Forest Park, lunch, then to Ganlan-ba and sightseeing in the local bazaar and the villages of Dai people and visit the Dai Garden, take part in the Vater splashing, and have dinner during a singing and dancing show. Overnight at Jinghong.

Day 3: Breakfast & check-out from ho-tel, tour the Flower Garden. After lunch, transfer to the airport to fly back to Luang Prabang or Vientiane.

Kunming, ChinaAttractions

Stone ForestThe Stone Forest is a national 4A scenic spot, 86 kilometers from Kunming. A karst landform 200 million years old, known in Yun-nan as the “First Wonder under the Sun”. The Stone Forest and Imperial Palace in Beijing, the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi’an and the mountains and rivers in Guilin have been generally recog-nized as four main scenic spots in China.

Yuantong TempleIt is situated at the foot of Yuantong Hill. It is the largest Bud-dhist temple in downtown Kunming, with a history of around 1,200 years. It combines both the Buddhist and Daoism archi-tectural styles because it was once rebuilt as a Daoism temple.

Western Hills (Xishan) & Dragon GateThis is a scenic spot which boasts a dense forest and ancient temples such as Sanqingge, Taihua and Huating built in the Yuan Dynasty, as well as Dragon Gate carved into the cliff over 72 years ago.

Dianchi LakeRenowned as the “pearl on the plateau,” with many natural his-toric and cultural attractions around the lake, it is the largest lake in Yunnan.

Yunnan Ethnic VillagesA national 4A scenic spot and a window on the ethnic culture of Yunnan, where you may see traditional buildings of different ethnic groups in Yunnan and enjoy various ethnic customs and culture.

Jiu Xiang Karst CaveThis area is 100 km away from Kunming, and 30 km from Stone Forest. The total area of Jiu Xiang landscape area is 278 square km. There are vivid natural landscapes imposing underground, and archaic cultural and special folk custom. It is a unique inter-national site and geological park.

Bamboo TempleThis temple was initially built in the early Yuan Dynasty and has been the largest Buddhist temple in Yunnan since the introduc-tion of Dhyana to Yunnan from the Central Plains. It is famous for the five hundred Buddhist saint caricatures, a masterpiece of Chinese folk statuary.

Golden TempleThe Golden Temple was constructed by Wu Sangui in 1671 A.D. The temple is made of copper and reflects the excellent metal-lurgical and casting technology from more than 300 years ago in Yunnan. The temple weighs 250 tons and is 6.7 meters high. It is the largest and heaviest as well as the best preserved copper temple in China.

Kunming Free & Easy Stay – 3 Days, 2 Nights

Code: CPH21

Enjoy the Free & Easy Stay 3 days, 2 nights which include round trip air ticket, 2 nights accommodation in a hotel room with daily breakfast and round trip airport transfer.

Kunming, China

For more information please contact Champa Holidays Tour or Lao Airlines officesTel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, Fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile: 22413161, 22224884Email: info@laoairlines.com, sales@champaholidays.com, www.champaholidays.com

Kunming Stop-Over – 3 Days, 2 Nights

Code: CPH22

Spend your holidays with the Kunming Stop-Over package, 3 days and 2 nights which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommodation in a hotel with twin sharing room, full meals , private transportation, entrance fees to tourist sites, tour guide and tour program as follows:

Day 1: VTE/KMG (Western Hills & Jiu Xiang Caves) (L/D)Take flight QV817 (06:30-09:40) to Kunming Airport, meet and transfer to the Forest Park of the Western Hills, 26 km away from downtown and is located on the edge of Dianchi Lake. We will visit the Dragon Gate consisting of of the Sanqing Temple Com-plex and the Dragon Gate Grotto Complex. In the afternoon, transfer to Jiu Xiang and tour the Jiu Xiang Limestone Caves. Transfer to the Stone Forest, check-in to the hotel. Overnight at the Stone Forest.

Day 2: Stone Forest/Kunming (B/L/D)Tour the Stone Forest which is a massive collection of grey lime-stone pillars formed about 270 million years ago which were split by rain Vater and eroded to their present fanciful forms. In the Stone Forest, the stone peaks rise abruptly, stalagmites crowd together like sharp swords piercing toward the sky and the group of stones look much like a mighty forest.

Day 3: Departure (B)Breakfast at hotel, free time and then transfer to the airport for de-parture at 10:45.

Kunming Attraction – 4 Days, 3 Nights

Code: CPH23

Choose the Kunming Attraction package for a 4 days and 3 nights tour which includes a round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 3 nights accommodation in a hotel in a twin sharing room, all meals provided, private transportation, entrance fee to tourist sites, tour guide and tour program as follows:

Day 1: VTE/KMG (Western Hills & Golden Temple) (L/D)Take flight QV817 (06:30-09:40) to Kunming Airport, meet and transfer to the Forest Park of the Western Hills, 26 km away from downtown and is located on the edge of Dianchi Lake. We will visit the Dragon Gate which consists of the Sanqing Temple Complex and the Dragon Gate Grotto Complex. Then we will visit the Golden Temple reputed to be built in 1871 with 250 tons of solid bronze, the largest bronze hall in China. Overnight Kunming.

Day 2: Jiuxiang Cave & Stone Forest (B/L/D)Transfer to Jiuxiang in the morning and tour in Jiuxiang Lime-stone Caves. Then transfer to the Stone Forest in the afternoon, check-in at the hotel and overnight at the Stone Forest.

Day 3: Stone Forest/Kunming (B/L/D)In the morning, tour the Stone Forest, a massive collection of grey limestone pillars formed about 270 million years ago which were split by rain Vater and eroded to their present fanci-ful forms. In the Stone Forest, the stone peaks rise abruptly, sta-lagmites crowd together like sharp swords piercing toward the sky and the group of stones look much like a mighty forest. Re-turn back to Kunming in the afternoon. Overnight in Kunming.

Day 4: Departure (B)Transfer to the airport for departure in the morning (QV827 10:45-12:00).

Champa Holiday Issue 09 Cover.indd 2 1/17/12 10:46:45 AM

Issue 09 Feb - March 2012

www.laoairlines.com www.champaholiday.com

ທຽວບນວ�ດພຈ�ປາສ�ກ

ຜະຈ�ນໄ�ໃ�ໄ�ຍະບລ

ຈ�ປາໂ�ລເ� ພາທຽວ ສງກະໂ�

Vat Phou Festival

ແ�ງທອງທຽວທຈະເ�ດໃ�ທານປະາດA Surprise Attraction

Adventures in Sayabouly

A Tour of Singapore

ໄ�ທຽວພະນ�ມເ�ນDestination Phnom Penh

ຂລ�ດຈ�ກຂນເ�ອ ສງທຕອງລອງNorthern Laos by Motorbike

VOL 02 ISSU

E 09 CH

AM

PA H

OLID

AYS TOU

RS AN

D G

UID

E IN LA

OS

Champa Holiday Issue 09 Cover.indd 1 1/17/12 10:46:39 AM