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That Luang Festival Honours Vientiane’s Grand Stupa

People come from all over Laos and from other countries to attend the annual That Luang festival in Vientiane and pay homage to the That Luang, also known as the Grand Stupa, with Buddhists hoping to attend the event at least once in their lifetime.

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CultureEventsFestivalsLatest NewsLuang PrabangMovie/Film/Cinema

Luang Prabang Film Festival’s Lao Filmmakers Fund Awards Seven Grants To Local Film Projects

A psychological thriller about a young woman experiencing trauma and two new features from first-time directors are among those to win support from the 2020 Lao Filmmakers Fund

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Coronavirus / covid-19CultureEventsExcursions - VenuesFestivalsGovernmentHealthHotels, Guesthouse & ResortsLao EconomyLatest NewsLuang PrabangTourismTravel & Tourism

Laos Cancels Public Events Including Lao New Year Celebrations on COVID-19 Fears

Authorities in Laos are urging the public to suspend or postpone all “unnecessary” social events including weddings and Lao New Year celebrations in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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CultureEventsFestivalsLatest NewsLuang PrabangMovie/Film/Cinema

Luang Prabang Film Festival Opens Call for 2018 Talent Lab

The Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF) has announced that it is accepting applications for its 2018 Talent Lab, led by Tribeca Film Institute® (TFI). The Lab, which will train Southeast Asian filmmakers on grant writing and project pitching, will be held during the opening weekend of the ninth annual festival, which will take place 7-12 December 2018.

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CultureEventsFestivalsHotels, Guesthouse & ResortsLuang PrabangMovie/Film/CinemaTourism

Luang Prabang Film Festival Announces 2017 Talent Lab

The Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF) has announced that it is looking for applicants for its 2017 Talent Lab for Southeast Asian filmmakers, to be led by Tribeca Film Institute® (TFI). The Lab, which will focus on grant writing and project pitching, will be held during the opening weekend of the eighth annual festival, which will take place 8-13 December 2017.

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CultureEventsFestivalsLuang PrabangMovie/Film/CinemaTourism

Luang Prabang Film Festival Announces 2017 Dates, Releases Design

The Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF) has announced that its eighth annual event will take place on 8-13 December 2017. The festival, which celebrates Southeast Asian cinema every December in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang, Laos, will feature a range of feature film screenings, short film programs, panel discussions, and events.

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EventsFestivalsTourism

Five Bans to be Strictly Enforced During Lao New Year

The Government issued five public bans for Lao New Year celebration last week, in an effort to maintain social order and promote and preserve Lao traditions and culture.
Firstly, state offices and the general public nationwide have been asked to organise a farewell party to BE 2560 in accordance with the longstanding traditional culture of Laos and the government’s policies throughout the five-day celebration from 13 to 17 April.

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CultureEventsFestivalsLuang PrabangMovie/Film/Cinema

Luang Prabang Film Festival Goes From Strength To Strength

Luang Prabang, the well-preserved northern capital of Laos, doesn’t have a single working cinema. But over the first week of December, the streets of its Unesco-sanctioned historic district filled with cinephiles hailing from all over the region and beyond for the latest edition of Luang Prabang Film Festival, or LPFF.
Thirty-two feature films were screened, which ended on Dec 7, all of them from the Asean nations of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, ……

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CultureEventsFestivalsTourism

Stunning Wax Castle Procession Reflects Rich Lao Culture

Thousands of people gathered yesterday for the grand wax castle procession, one of the main features of the annual That Luang festival and among the country’s cultural highlights.
The festival has become more widely known over the years and more and more foreigners make a point of coming to Vientiane for this very special and uniquely Lao event.
This year’s festival holds greater significance than usual as it marks the 450th anniversary of the …..

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Ambulance ServiceFestivals

Vientiane Rescue Prepares For Boat Racing Festival

Over 20 volunteers from Vientiane Rescue 1623 are performing drills to assist anyone in the water in preparation for this year’s boat racing festival in the capital next month.
Vat Chan Festival is the largest boat racing competition in Laos and takes place annually the day after Buddhist Lent ends. This year’s festival falls on October 17.
A senior officer with Vientiane Rescue 1623 under ….

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FestivalsSport

Join The International Women’s Boat Racing Team !

The International Women’s Boat Racing Team is calling for people interested in joining their team to participate in the boat racing festival, planned for Monday Oct. 17 this year.
The International Women’s Team is a joint team comprised of international and Lao women, and women from Saifongneua Village.
People joining the team should be prepared to …

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CultureExpat Community LaosFestivalsHotels, Guesthouse & ResortsLifestyleLuang Prabang

Four-Day Lao New Year Holiday Announced

The government has announced four consecutive public holidays for Lao New Year or Pi Mai Lao from April 13-16 bringing the total break to six days including Saturday and Sunday, the longest in years.
As April 16 falls on Saturday, therefore April 12 (Tuesday) will be a ……

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CultureFestivalsMovie/Film/Cinema

MINI VIENTIANALE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS

The Mini Vientianale International Short Film Festival returns to the silver screen from March 11-13 2016. The festival showcases an exciting line-up of national and international short films to the Vientiane community both indoors for daytime screenings and under the stars in the evenings at the Cinema Department, off Khouvieng Road.
The final evening of the festival will be……

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CultureFestivalsHotels, Guesthouse & Resorts

Vat Phou Festival: Plenty Of Accommodation Available

Visitors to the Vat Phou festival in Champassak province need not worry about accommodation as hotels and guesthouses are not yet fully booked, an official has confirmed.
Hotels and guesthouses are not fully booked due to a reduction in the number of foreign tourists visiting Vat Phou at present.
This year, Vat Phou festival will take place from …..

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EventsExpat Community LaosFestivals

WIG Bazaar 2015

We are happy to announce that the WIG Bazaar will be held on 7 November, 2015 at the National University of Laos Faculty of Engineering grounds (near Sokpaluang Road), from 10:00 to 17:00.
Stalls will be available on a first-come, first-served basis on four separate stall sale dates during the second and third weeks of October 2015. Details about the cost of stalls and stall sale dates/times will be …..

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CultureFestivalsMovie/Film/Cinema

Vientianale International Film Festival: Full Screening Programme

Vientianale International Film Festival returns to the silver screen from March 12 to 15, 2015. The festival will showcase an exciting line-up of Lao and international feature-length and short films to the Vientiane community under the stars outside the Cultural Hall in the evenings, and at the Cinema Department’s movie theatre during the daytime.
The annual film festival celebrates the art of film and the diversity of Lao culture, and has emerged as an important platform for local filmmakers to screen their works: …..

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CultureFestivals

Vientianale International Film Festival Returns 12-15 March 2015

Vientianale International Film Festival returns to the silver screen from March 12 to 15 2015. The festival will showcase an exciting line-up of Lao and international feature-length and short films to the Vientiane community under the stars at the Cultural Hall outdoor event space in the evenings. Daytime screenings will be held at the Cinema Department, Vientianale’s long-term partner.
The annual film festival celebrates the art of film and the diversity of Lao culture, and has emerged as an important platform for local filmmakers to screen their works. This year’s festival will showcase recent films from …..

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CultureFestivals

Week-Long Annual Fair Kicks Off At That Luang

Vientiane authorities expect that the annual That Luang trade fair will generate over 36 billion kip in revenue for vendors and organisers during the week-long event.
The trade fair was officially opened last Friday at the That Luang esplanade. It takes place on two sites – the esplanade and Lao-ITECC.
This year’s That Luang festival marks the 448th anniversary of the construction of the grand stupa. The celebration has become a long-time practice handed down from generation to ….

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CultureFestivals

Boun Suang Heua, Boat Racing Festival

In Luang Prabang, Boun Suang Heua, or the Boat Racing Festival is held on Khao Padapdin, the Day of the Commemoration of the Dead (in August). In Vientiane Capital it is held the day after the End of Buddhist Lent.
Both are important social and sports events witnessed by huge crowds. One week before the race, Fa Ngum Quai (along Fa Ngum Road) is taken over by stalls selling all kinds of …..

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CultureFestivalsLuang PrabangMovie/Film/Cinema

Love in Luang Prabang: Film Festival

The world premiere of “Vientiane in Love”, an omnibus romance by four Lao directors, will open the fifth edition of the Luang Prabang Film Festival, set for December 6 to 10.
Screening in the festival’s 800-seat outdoor main venue, “Vientiane in Love” is by Lao New Wave Cinema and four directors – Vannaphone Sitthirath, Xaisongkham Induangchanthy, Phanumad Disattha and Anysay Keola, who made his debut in 2012 with the thriller “At the Horizon”.
Three other features from Laos’ newly emergent film industry will ….

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CultureFestivals

With Parades And Water, Laos Welcomes Year Of The Horse

Leaders, government officials and Lao people around the country celebrated the Lao New Year festival from April 14-16, taking part in a range of activities to preserve the fine traditions and culture of the country.
The highlight in Vientiane was the Nang Sang Khan (Miss Lao New Year) procession, which started early in the afternoon on April 14 and was attended by several thousand Vientiane residents.
There were also smaller processions of monks with Buddha images, accompanied by traditional performing arts performances….

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CultureFestivalsLao Economy

Govt Pulls Plug On Pi Mai Parties To Save Money

The government has instructed state organisations not to spend any of the state budget on Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year) parties over the three-day festival from April 14-16.
Officials are also banned from using state vehicles for personal use over the course of the festival, according to the two-page announcement issued by the Government Office.
The announcement comes amid budget tension that has resulted in the government being more restrained with its spending and the suspension of ….

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CultureFestivals

Largest Lao Dance: World Record Attempt

The Largest Lao Dance record breaking attempt are inviting people of Vientiane to support the first record breaking attempt in Laos this coming Saturday 5th, April, 2014! The event aims to bring people together as a whole community of Vientiane to promote Lao Culture. Top eight Universities and Schools in Vientiane are practicing Lao dance called Baslop. The Baslop dance is consider as Lao traditional dance you see in weddings, parties and ceremonies.
The event will be held at …..

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CultureFestivalsMovie/Film/Cinema

Mini-Vientianale: First Short Film Festival In Lao

On 8th and 9th March, Vientianale International Film Festival will hold “Mini-Vientianale”, the first Short Film Festival in Lao PDR in the garden of the Lao Cinema Department. Entry is free. This two day festival will premiere 16 new seven- minute short films by emerging Lao filmmakers on this year’s competition theme “you + me”. The audience will be able to vote for their favourite film about love, friendship and family on the night of the screening on 9th March from 6:30 pm onwards and bear witness to the award ceremony for the ….

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CultureFestivalsMusic

Vienstock Rock Festival 2014: Rock For Education

Vienstock is an independent charity rock Concert, it was created by Pierre Bourlard, a.k.a DJ Pierre, and featured last year 5 international bands, 3 Lao bands and a DJ play. The Festival’s slogan is “Rock for education”.
In 2013 Vienstock was held on Vientiane International School sport field. All profits from the entrance fees and T shirt sale proceeded to Ban Sapphanthongtai school. For the first edition 2700 USD were raised for some urgent sanitation work.
In 2014 we organize the second version of Vienstock in Ban Simeuang, the French school (Hoffet school) let us use their sport field. 11 lao and international rock bands will participate:

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CultureFestivals

That Luang Festival Trade Fair Kicks Off

The That Luang festival trade fair officially kicked off on the esplanade yesterday, featuring a tempting display of domestic and imported products that will delight shoppers until November 17.
This year the fair at the That Luang esplanade comprises 510 stalls and stages displaying performances, food items, and industrial and handicraft products from Vientiane, foreign embassies in the capital, international organisations and other bodies.
But religion is at the heart of the festival and on November 15 colourful wax castle processions will take place at Vat Simeuang, Vat Inpeng, Vat Ongteu and at That Luang itself. On November 16 the grand wax castle procession will depart from….

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