Laos - Laos kicks off New Year celebrations, targeting tourists

Authorities in Laos' Pakxong district, Champassak province, yesterday launched New Year activities as part of the Visit Laos Year 2012 tourism campaign, hoping to attract more tourists to the area.

Activities include a trade fair, circus acts, boat racing, stage performances, football and other sporting events.

High-ranking provincial officials attended yesterday's events, according to the Champamai newspaper that day.

Meanwhile, the provincial capital Pakxe is hosting a Laos-Vietnam trade fair to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 35th anniversary of the friendship and cooperation treaty between the two countries.

The authorities will also organise a Nang Sangkhan procession and other activities over the Lao New Year festival from April 13-15.

On April 12, there will be almsgiving and baci ceremonies to give officials the chance to offer their best wishes to leaders of the provincial capital.

On the same day, Pakxe district authorities will organise a ceremony to present wedding certificates to couples and will host various sports competitions including a tug-of-war.

The Nang Sangkhan procession will start at 2pm on April 13. About 500 people are expected to take part in the parade, which will start at Phabath temple and finish at Vat Luang in the town centre.

On April 14, authorities will designate certain streets for water splashing, with the aim of bringing people together to celebrate the New Year.

On April 15, people will gather on the banks of the Mekong for traditional sand stupa building - an event that has been taking place here for generations.

Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Khammuan Phimsivanno, told Vientiane Times yesterday “This year we're organising many more activities so people should be sure to come and join us.”

“We believe that through these activities and the Visit Laos Year 2012 campaign, we'll see a lot more visitors coming to the province.”

Champassak province is famous for its waterfalls, the Vat Phou temple complex (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and its riverine Siphandone area (Four Thousand Islands).

Khong district authorities plan to hold a street fair with live bands at Khonephapheng waterfall, which is one of Asia's largest waterfalls. Not far away, visitors can marvel at the sight of Irrawaddy dolphins migrating up and down the Mekong on the Laos-Cambodia border.

Villages located along the Mekong will also have bands playing so that people can gather together to enjoy Lao New Year.

Champassak is one of Laos' most interesting tourist destinations. In 2011, almost 400,000 people visited the province, a 30 per cent increase compared to the previous year. Of this figure, about 119,880 visitors came from other countries and the rest were Lao.

Mr Khammuan said over the past six months of 2011-2012, tourist arrivals in Champassak province had again risen by 30 per cent.

News Desk

Vientiane Times

Business & Investment Opportunities 
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Strategy, Investment and Management, focusing Healthcare and Life Science with expertise in ASEAN. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programmes. Many thanks for visiting www.yourvietnamexpert.com and/or contacting us at contact@yourvietnamexpert.com