Thai Hotel Features Nazi-Themed ‘Communist’ Room
Thai sex hotel sparks outrage with bizarre Nazi-themed room decorated with swastikas and huge murals of HITLER overlooking bed
Read MoreThai sex hotel sparks outrage with bizarre Nazi-themed room decorated with swastikas and huge murals of HITLER overlooking bed
Read MoreAlmost forgotten but on the brew for years the much talked about tourist tax was quietly introduced at all of Lao PDR’s border checkpoints 1 October.
Read MoreVientiane Airport has doubled the size of its international terminal, supporting a Laotian initiative to boost tourism. Laos expects Vientiane’s international passenger traffic to double over the next five years, driven by a rapid increase in visitor numbers.
Read MoreSource: The Asean Post Last July, Lao witnessed a catastrophe when the Xe-Pian Xe Namnoy dam located on the Xe
Read MoreThe French were forced out of Indochina during the 1950s but their legacy remains, with the most notable feature being the old buildings that bear their architectural stamp.
Read MoreA botanical park in Luang Prabang reveals how plants are used in everyday life in Laos
Read MoreTrepidation about a huge influx of Chinese tourists into the small Southeast Asian country – with a population of just 6.8 million – was heightened last year when construction was started on the high-speed Laos-China Railway.
Read MoreCommercial banks in Thailand have boosted security to prevent unauthorised access to their automatic teller machines as cybercriminals are reportedly planning to carry out a large-scale global ATM attack.
Read MoreThe international terminal of the airport serving the Laotian capital of Vientiane, Wattay International Airport, can now accommodate as many as 2.3 million foreign travelers a year, roughly nine times the original terminal’s capacity.
Read MoreThe 16-hectare resort overlooks a lush greenery with a backdrop of beautiful mountain views and paddy fields along meandering streams and ponds in the rustic countryside.
Read MoreThe government is not so confident in achieving its target of attracting five million tourists to Laos in 2018 as an informal mid-year summary had shown that less than two million had visited the country so far this year, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith told the recent Lao Business Forum.
Read MoreChampassak provincial authorities will soon order an inspection of Road No. 16 including accurate details on the construction budget as the government contemplates plans to purchase the project rights from the private construction company.
Read MoreThe Trump administration has suspended the issuing of visas to citizens of the Southeast Asian countries of Myanmar and Laos, following both governments’ refusal to take back citizens who had been ordered deported from the U.S.
Read MoreFollowing Savannakhet’s declaration of Kaysone Phomvihane district as a city in May, the province is upgrading popular tourism sites in three districts in a bid to attract more visitors.
Read MoreLaos will join Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar in offering an online e-visa option for tourism purposes, the last country in Southeast Asia to switch from passport-page sized stickers to electronically prearranged visas for self-printout
Read MoreThe Lao tourism industry is not only playing a significant role in boosting economic growth, but is also creating a huge number of job opportunities for local people, experts have noted.
Read MoreLaos and China on Monday officially set in motion a new air route between the two countries, aimed not only at boosting tourism but also other areas of cooperation.
The new flight will carry tourists and other travellers between Vientiane and Luang Prabang province in Laos and Hainan province in China.
LOCA is an application that provides on-demand transportation similar to two worldwide applications called UBER and GRAB. LOCA represents the revolution of transport in Laos since LOCA is the first company to introduce a transport application that is convenient and cashless for the country.
Read MoreThe government is piloting the Lao National Single Window (LNSW) scheme at international border crossings, seeking to speed up customs clearance for vehicles and link the country to the Asean single window system.
Read MoreLocal tour companies are continuing efforts to promote Laos as an adventure tourism destination with a recent exhibition held at the Vientiane Center shopping mall.
Read MoreLao citizens and foreigners who are permanently resident in Laos will no longer need to fill in an immigration form when leaving or entering the country via international airports in Vientiane, LuangPrabang, Savannakhet, and Pakxe.
Read MoreVientiane province’s Vangvieng district will officially be declared a tourism town in 2020 in terms of natural and cultural attractions, as part of the government’s efforts to promote the tourism industry.
Read More“Don’t think an elephant cannot lie. You will notice elephants’ lies if you spend time observing Chao Kid’s behaviour,” Prasop Tipprasert, a wild animal expert and a key staff member at the MandaLao, said as he led a group of Thai reporters on a trip through the elephant sanctuary earlier this month.
Read MoreElectronic visa (E-visa) services are set to be offered at the end of this year or early next year in a move to attract more foreign tourists to take vacations in Laos.
Read MoreIn Laos, one of the poorest nations in the world, the local film industry is beginning to flower after decades of being virtually non-existent. Local directors are creating critically acclaimed films despite limited resources
Read MoreAt this festive season of the year, we would like to thank our customers ! Your support and the continued trust that you place in us is the foundation of our success.
You are at the centre of everything we do and we will work tirelessly towards ensuring that we meet and exceed your expectations.
We wish you a Happy Pi Mai celebration and a prosperous and wonderful 2017 !
Read MoreHundreds of officials, foreign guests, musicians, performers and Vientiane residents gathered last night in Vientiane celebrating the international recognition of Khaen music of the Lao people as humanity’s heritage.
Read MoreThai Airways International has banned passengers with over 56-inch waistline and passengers with kids on their laps from Business Class seating on its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
Read MoreThere are plenty of stories about bad police planting evidence or fake police shaking down the innocent. What to do if someone claiming to be a police officer wants to search your person or belongings?
Read MoreTHAI currency is getting a facelift, with new banknotes to feature the face of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, also known as Rama X.
Read MoreLaos has seen an improvement in its travel and tourism competitiveness, but still has a long way to go to catch up with neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam, according to a report from the World Economic Forum.
Read MoreIt remains a jewel of French colonial architecture, you can savor some of the best croissants and baguettes east of Paris here, and even toddlers still learn the language of their bygone rulers. Luang Prabang, tucked into a river valley in the heart of Laos, survives as one of the last bastions of the old French Indochina.
Read MoreChina Southern plans to fly to Vientiane from Chongqing in China during the summer timetable months April to October. The airline has filed for three weekly flights starting 26 March according to timetable information reported by Airlineroute.
The new service would use an …
If you would like to enjoy wandering through an intriguing sculptural representation of ‘hell’, ‘earth’ and ‘heaven’, look no further than the ‘City of Spirits’ or Xiengkhuan Buddha Park on the outskirts of Vientiane.
Read MoreThe Immigration Bureau and the Interior Ministry were instructed to speed up the implementation of a single-platform online database of foreigners entering and leaving the kingdom.
The single platform database would help prevent crimes by foreigners, such as call-centre scams and those related to underworld activities.
A Chinese company is beginning construction of a more than US$200-million tourism complex at the disused airfield in Vangvieng district. The project will include a five-star hotel, a modern private hospital, a public park and a planned casino.
Read MoreThere will be bumps along the way between your visits to the beach, bar and immigration office (sometimes the bumps will be at the beach, bar and immigration office). Expat life is what you make it here in the Land of Smiles. Moaning about it never helps but accepting the bumps is part of the adventure. Here are our Top Ten Hard Truths for expats in Thailand.
Read MoreRunning water, its soothing white noise comforts and welcomes. This is the sound that greets customers as they enter the sanctum sanctorum which is the uniqueness of Mango Mania.
Mango Mania is a U-shaped greenhouse that appears more mirage-like than edificial. At the base of the U, framed by two bright red wooden doors reminiscent of …
The government is planning to build an international airport at the former Xeno airfield in Savannakhet province, which has lain unused for many decades.
The airport would serve the region and accommodate the growth of foreign investment and tourism in the area.
Vientiane Bus Enterprise launched its commercial operations for the new shuttle bus service to Wattay Airport. The shuttle bus service will be available between Central Bus Station at Talat Sao and Wattay International Airport.
Read MoreLao authorities will submit documentation to UNESCO by the end of this month for the Plain of Jars in Xieng Khuang province to be added to the world heritage list after the government approved related documents last year.
Read MoreYou’ve probably tasted Laotian flavors and not even realized it. Anthony Bourdain and chef James Syhabout want to change that. Syhabout is the force behind two Michelin-starred restaurants, Commis and sister eatery Hawker Fare, which focuses on the Laotian cuisine of his childhood. Bourdain is the host of the popular travel and food show “Parts Unknown.” He calls Hawker Fare one of the most important restaurants he’s ever visited.
Read MoreThe Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MOICT) has recently signed an agreement with BigBlue Agency Laos awarding them the preferred rights to setup all billboards related to the Visit Laos Year 2018 Campaign.
Read MoreVientiane authorities have agreed to the creation of a green lung for city residents and visitors in the form of a public park along the Mekong River in Sisattanak district.
The 31,500 square metre site is located behind the Don Chan Palace hotel and adjoins Chao Anouvong park.
Laos’ reputation as having some of the most lush and diverse forests in the Mekong remains under serious threat after a December investigation by government officials found evidence of large-scale illegal logging operations in the southern Attapeu province, despite recent efforts to end the practice. Laos, which is left with just 40 percent of the country covered by closed canopy forests, is facing an environmental crisis with much of the remaining forests unhealthy and degraded.
Read MoreLao authorities have warned foreign tour operators to utilise local tour guides otherwise they will be fined.
The authorities also warned foreign tour operators to partner with local counterparts in arranging package tour programmes in Laos; if not they will face measures.
Tour operators have called for the government to remove a number of barriers they are facing in order to boost the industry and increase tourist arrivals.
Read MoreThe Vientiane-Vangvieng highway will be part of the mega Laos-China Highway Project which will stretch between Vientiane and Boten in Luang Namtha where the Laos-China border is located.
Read MoreCitizens of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden will not need a tourist visa if they visit Laos next year after the government waived the requirement in a bid to boost tourist arrivals from the four Scandinavian countries.
Read MoreInternational visitors coming into Bangkok for the New Year long weekend should brace themselves for long waits for visas on arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Read MoreThe most popular destinations among visitors this winter are Luang Prabang, Luang Namtha, Vientiane, and Champassak provinces, according to tour operators.
Read MoreThailand, land of golden temples, white-sand beaches, smiling hosts. Or of overcrowded airports, epic traffic jams and littered seashores.
Facing a deluge of Chinese tourists that has strained its airports beyond capacity, the Southeast Asian nation is
The number of foreign tourists visiting Laos in the first nine months of this year dropped by 9.1 percent to just over 2.88 million people compared to the same period last year.
Read MoreThe Ministry of Post and Telecommunications has warned drone owners to seek permission from the relevant authorities before flying their drones – if not, the owners will face penalties.
Read MoreThe Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF) concluded its eighth annual event this week in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, Laos, with the Audience Choice Award going to the Malaysian film, Redha.
Read MoreVisa exemptions for citizens of Laos and Russia who hold ordinary passports will come into effect on Lao National Day in a move expected to boost people-to-people visits.
Read MoreThe Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF) has selected 10 projects from across Southeast Asia to participate in its 2017 Talent Lab, 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.
Read MoreThailand plans to collect so-called “Asean road tolls” from foreign motorists entering the country via border checkpoints from the end of next year.
Read MoreThe number of tourists from within the region and further afield who enter Laos by road has increased significantly over the past five years, a survey has revealed.
Read MoreA new daily bus service has begun between Nan and Luang Prabang in Laos, via Xayaburi. The 373-kilometre-long trip takes about 10 hours and tickets cost 660 baht.
Read MoreThe government has approved a change in the status of Luang Prabang from town to city, aimed at fast tracking socio-economic development in the province while enhancing relations with other cities in the region.
Read MoreThe baci or Sou khuan is a well-known traditional ritual and has a deep meaning for Lao people.
The baci ceremony is reminiscent of Brahmanism and animism. It follows the belief that the human being’s main body parts are inhabited by 32, or even more, spirits. In some circumstances, these spirits may leave the body to wander around and get lost in the universe, thus causing you to become weak and vulnerable to danger.
It’s therefore important to call the missing spirits back, so you can be yourself again. This ceremony is performed on important occasions such as births…..
The That Luang Festival is extra special this year as it anticipates Visit Laos Year 2018, aiming to spotlight Lao culture, tourist attractions and the local lifestyle to the eyes of the world.
Read MoreJeju Air Co., South Korea’s leading budget carrier will open the route to the capital of Laos this Sunday as part of its diversification strategy to offset falling demand on Chinese routes.
Read MoreInterContinental Hotels Group signed a management agreement with BIM Group to develop the first Holiday Inn hotel in Vientiane, Laos. This will be IHG’s third project with BIM Group.
Read MoreVisitors to Thailand be aware: Thailand is banning illegal drones; failure to register Drones within 90 days from Friday could result in a jail term of not more than five years and/or a fine of not more than Bt100,000 or both.
Read MoreThe road between Kasy district in Vientiane province and Nan district in Luang Prabang province is likely to remain in poor condition in the wake of several landslides, as local authorities still haven’t made plans for repairs.
Read MoreIn southern Laos, there are numerous cycling tours on offer for all levels all year round but winter makes the best time as the weather is dry and the temperature is cooler. It’s an activity we really recommend as it’s an unparalleled way to immerse yourself in the local lifestyle.
Read MoreThailand is building up to what will be a historic period with final preparations under way for the funeral of the late King. The Royal Cremation Ceremony will be held in Bangkok from October 25-29. It will be a sad time for Thai people, but the country will remain as welcoming as ever for tourists and you will still be able to enjoy your trip. Although there is no need to change travel plans, please be respectful and if you are visiting Bangkok or other areas of Thailand in October, there are some important points to be aware of.
Read MoreChina Southern Airlines has officially launched a direct flight from Lao capital Vientiane to Guangzhou as part of a scheme to support China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Read MoreThe fastest growing ivory market in the world is now Laos, according to an investigation by Kenya-based group Save the Elephants.
Read MoreA man once dubbed the “most hated German in Thailand” was denied boarding a Thai Airways flight on Tuesday after being blacklisted by Thai immigration.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreAuthorities are preparing to promote “Visit Laos Year 2018” with the aim of making this sector a key pillar for economic growth.
Read MoreAir transport officials of Asean member state countries will work to build up the Asean Single Aviation Market, which is seen as one of the key milestones in developing the Asean Economic Community.
Read MoreLaos has two very distinct seasons: the wet (May – October) and the dry (November – April) — each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Here we present our top 5 reasons for coming to Laos during the Green Season!
A five-year-old girl with big dreams has grown up to be the first Lao female flight attendant at Qatar Airways, one of the world’s leading airlines.
Read MoreForeign-owned tour agents, hotels and restaurants are unlikely to have serious negative impacts on local business operators in Vangvieng because they offer a variety of choices for foreign tourists from different regions, a district tourism official has said.
Read MoreHadxayfong Authorities have authorised Lao International Travel and Investment Co., Ltd. to renovate Wat Xieng Khuan, also known as Buddha Park to make it more attractive to domestic and foreigner visitors.
Read MoreThe fifth annual Run for Children “Luang Prabang Half Marathon” will be held in October this year in Lao world heritage town of Luang Prabang.
Read MoreA Chinese state-owned enterprise said on Saturday that it will build a U.S. $40 million elephant conservation and breeding center in northwestern Laos’ Sayaboury province and develop it into a for-profit tourist attraction by the end of the year.
Read MoreUpgrading the water channel along That Luang marsh to Huaymark Hiew water gate is aimed at preventing possible flooding in the city and developing a new tourist site in Vientiane in the near future.
Read MoreThai Prime Minister Chan-o-cha has ordered relevant agencies to ensure that long immigration queues at Don Mueang International Airport will be resolved quickly.
Read MoreLao Airlines has announced it will inaugurate direct flight to Japan’s Tokyo Narita International Airport soon to handle the growing need for air transport between the two countries.
The exact date for the inauguration and ticket prices are still unknown, but details will be ..
France will cut visa delivery time to 48 hours for Lao, Russians, Indians and citizens of five more Asian countries in a bid to boost tourism
Read MoreIf you are entering Thailand on a tourist visa, you may be required to show immigration officials 20,000 baht in CASH.
Read MoreTHAI Smile began flying to Vientiane from Bangkok on Saturday as part of a joint operation with its parent Thai Airways International (THAI).
Read MoreLaos is preparing to launch its “Visit Laos Year 2018” to promote the tourism industry and revive interest in the country at a time when visits are declining.
Read MoreIn Laos, food is the most important activity throughout the day. In the local language, it is quite common for
Read MoreSuvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok has been named among the top 10 worst airports in the world, according to a new study which measured punctuality, quality and service.
Read MoreThailand has been ranked as one of the 20 most dangerous countries in the world for tourists, with high rates of crime and violence and low reliability of police services, according to a recent survey.
Read MoreAll foreign tourists will soon be required to have travel insurance before entering Thailand under a proposal put forward by a committee of the Tourism and Sports Ministry
Read MoreLao Government has removed several steps of filling in forms for tourist arrival in Laos to promote and attract more tourists and form a better regional and international links.
Read MoreThe number of overseas tourist arrivals in Laos is decreased by 12 percent in the first three months of 2017, downing from 1.24 million people in the same period last year to 1.11 million people in March this year.
Read MoreIf finding a late-night roost in the capital’s usual haunts has become more difficult, that’s because most clubs and bars in the Khaosan Road and Thonglor areas were ordered this month to close at midnight – a situation that may not change.
Read MoreAutomatic passport screening machines on Sunday were introduced at the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge border checkpoint in Nong Khai
Read MoreThailand and Laos will work together on a tourism campaign dubbed “Two Countries, One Destination” aimed at boosting arrivals on both sides of the border.
Read MoreSource: Bangkok Post Travel operators in Laos have urged the Thai government to extend the closing time at border checkpoints
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreThe US dropped 270 million bombs on Laos during the Vietnam war. More than 40 years later, the devices are still killing people
Read MoreOn Sunday night’s episode of “Parts Unknown,” Anthony Bourdain delves into a little-known part of American history, exploring the country of Laos and its “Secret War.”
Read MoreCurrently, almost 1,200 ecotourism sites, over 600 cultural sites and almost 300 historical sites and two world heritage towns are earmarked as destinations for tourists visiting the country.
Read MoreThe newly-opened Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden is a perfect half-day adventure out of town and it’s just a short, leisurely ride from Luang Prabang. After buying a ticket at their office in town, hop on one of their complimentary boats from the ….
Read MoreWe’re cruising up the Mekong from Vientiane, capital of Laos, to northern Thailand, on a 1000km, 10-day journey. Way upstream, dams are voraciously draining the river, so initially we have had to
Read MoreTake a walk down Koh San Road in Bangkok and you’ll see people lining the streets asking for money. Only they’re not homeless locals struggling to feed their families; they’re gap yah backpackers who spent their week’s budget on too many drinks in the hostel bar …
Read MoreThai Airways International (THAI) and Bangkok Airways (BA) have entered a codeshare agreement which will remain effective until late October.
The two Thai-registered airlines signed the agreement on Monday. It covers 15 routes.
Bangkok Airways will operate 10 domestic routes. They are ….
Luang Prabang province has added more activities to Lao New Year ( Pi Mai Lao ) festivities this year as it focuses on promoting Visit Laos Year 2018 and attracting more domestic and foreign visitors.
For this year’s Pi Mai Lao in Luang Prabang province the organising committee has designed large tourism promotion banners to join the Miss Lao New Year procession on 15 April, which will highlight various …..
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.
Ahead of the Songkran Festival, all vans operating across the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge in Nong Khai have been improved to meet safety requirements.
In compliance with traffic regulations being imposed during the Songkran holiday period, van operators providing services across the First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge have made necessary adjustments to their…..
People nationwide are eagerly anticipating the Lao New Year (Pi Mai Lao) festival (Year of the Rooster) next week, with the official holiday taking place from April 14-16.
Vientiane is preparing an exciting programme of activities for locals and visitors alike, including a Miss Vientiane contest on April 8, an arts show, a sandcastle building contest, and sports competitions on the sandy shores of the Mekong.
In the latest flare up in tensions between the two countries, Lao authorities temporarily shut a border crossing with Cambodia and dispatched more troops to an undemarcated area on the northern border after Cambodian authorities began renovating an old French border outpost.
According to local officials, Laos shut the Voen Kham border crossing in Stung Treng province’s O’Svay commune on Sunday and ….
In a move to reign in Pi Mai the Lao authorities have finally acted with a swathe of new measures to stop water throwing activities at this year’s upcoming festival.
All “overt” water throwing could now warrant charges for assault with serious dousing cases leading to jail time, heavy fines or …..
Almost 40 Thai villagers and “creative tourism” advocates recently participated in several community tourism activities in Luang Prabang, Laos, looking to apply good ideas to their villages in six designated special zones.
They have learned precious lessons from these destinations — Whisky Village, Sa Paper Village, Living Land Community Farm, Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre, two museums, two mountains, a temple and ….
A traveller has died ziplining at the Gibbon Experience forest camp in Laos.
The person, thought to be American, was at the remote attraction popular with backpackers travelling on a budget through South-East Asia. It boasts some of the world’s highest and longest ziplines, with the largest reaching 1,870ft across a forested valley in the north-west of the country, close to the border with Thailand.
The ziplines connect what the operating company claims are some ….
The US hotel giant has penned a deal with TPD Company to manage the 160-room DoubleTree by Hilton Vientiane, which is scheduled to open in the Lao capital in early 2020.
Located in the centre of the city, on the intersection of Rue Setthathilath and Rue Manthatourath, about 5km from the Vientiane’s Wattay International Airport, the upscale hotel will be close to the ….
Cambodia and Laos on Monday signed a deal to encourage regional airlines to increase their services between both countries in a bid to encourage tourism.
Vann Chanty, director for air transport at Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, said that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) will push airlines in both countries to operate more flights between Cambodia and Laos due to …
The government has announced a five-day holiday for Lao New Year (Pi Mai Lao) including two days in compensation for the weekend, enabling people to celebrate the event for longer.
Pi Mai Lao is traditionally celebrated for only three days from April 14-16. Given that April 15 and 16 occur on a …
Siphandon is well known as an impressive visitor destination because of the stunning scenery around the Mekong River, the intriguing local lifestyle and the massive waterfall that never ceases to amaze.
If you visit Siphandon (4,000 Islands), the one thing you shouldn’t forego is a boat ride to the Khonphapheng Falls as the trip will give you a true taste of how the locals pass their ….
The number of foreign tourists visiting Laos dropped for the first time in 2016 after several successive years of visitor growth, newly compiled statistics suggest.
Laos registered average annual growth in foreign tourist arrivals of 10.7 percent on average over the past five years. But last year, just over 4.23 million foreign visitors came to the country – a drop of 10 percent compared to ….
Lao outbound travellers made more than 3.05 million trips in 2016 and more people are suggested to have made longer-distance trips in foreign countries, the latest statistics showed.
Though 2016’s figure slightly decreased from more than 3.06 million trips and the 3.3 million trips recorded in 2015 and 2014 respectively, the number of Lao nationals travelling by planes increased to the ….
Queen Mathilde proved it is possible to be stylish and practical as she visited a temple in Laos today.
The Belgian royal opted for a sensible pair of putty-coloured trainers as she climbed the steep steps from the ancient Vat Phou temple, near the southern city of Pakse.
She livened-up the shoes with a knee-length multi-coloured patterned dress, which showed off her trim ….
The high cost of living remains a significant challenge for the tourism industry in Laos as spending for basic services such as taxis, food, and accommodation is higher than in neighboring countries.
Slow service is among the downsides of the tourism sector in Laos.
“The tourism sector in Laos should develop ….
Eleven provinces across four countries in the upper Mekong basin have agreed to join in a development cooperation agreement that will seek sustainable tourism integration across the sub-region and its borders.
Under the MoU, the provinces have agreed to cooperate on tourism advertising, cross border facilities and tourism infrastructure ….
In an episode set in Laos, he ate freshwater fish and bamboo shoots with a man who had lost an arm and a leg when a U.S. explosive, left over from the war, detonated.
A White House staffer told him he brought Laos’s unexploded-ordinance problem to light. “I’m a little embarrassed. I feel like Bono. I don’t want to be that guy. The show is always about …
Last year’s projected visitor numbers may not reach their target as arrivals for January to September actually decreased compared to the same period in 2015, initial figures indicate.
Overall, foreign visitor arrivals have dramatically increased in recent years. The number was just over 2.7 million in 2011, about 3.3 million in 2012, around …..
The 12th Lao Food Festival officially opened yesterday at Chao Anouvong Park in Chanthabouly district, with the food extravaganza set to open from 8:00am to 10:00pm over three days from January 25- 27.
The Lao Food Festival has been held every year since 2006, and that this year is the 12th such food festival.
One of the aims of the festival is to remind people to preserve and promote….
When I first mentioned that I was traveling to Luang Prabang, I had received a few recommendations from my friends in Vientiane to visit Ock Pop Tok, a very popular textile shop in Luang Prabang. With great reviews listed on Tripadvisor, I made a mental note to stop by their store as I strolled around this tiny town, visiting a few wats along the way. And although their shop was beautifully set up, little did I know that just a short bicycle ride out ….
Read MoreWe’re only a few days away from 2017, and a new year in sight means new opportunities to explore the world for another 12 months. The usual suspects in travel have been done to death and its time to switch it up. These five destinations are exciting, off-the-radar, luxurious and full of adventure and culture. In short, they got next.
Read MoreThousands 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 …..
Here I am, lounging in the shade, avoiding the hot, mid-morning sun along the Mekong as we slowly wind our way downriver to Luang Prabang. All is quiet and peaceful except for the sound of the boat’s motor slicing through the water, glistening as it rushes past us.
Steep hilltops sitting lush and green from the rains, close in on us as the river bends and narrows, giving us a close-up glimpse of their sheer magnitude. The views are absolutely ….
The Green Season in Laos offers many enticing benefits for visitors looking to explore this vast and vibrant country. We present our top 10 reasons for coming to Laos during the Green Season!
1. It does not rain as much as people think! In the northern regions of Laos, it rains only every couple of days during the green season. The majority of Laos will ….
Luang Prabang has been highlighted as a world-class popular tourist destination once again after an Australian travel website listed the World Heritage site among 11 of the world’s most romantic wedding destinations.
Laos’ well-known tourist destination was number five among the 11 destinations shown on the Qantas Travel Insider website.
Paris, France came first followed by ….
Coffee has been a staple of Laos ever since it was introduced by French colonialists in the early twentieth century. Coffee is currently the largest agricultural export commodity, and the Bolaven Plateau is one of the most fertile regions to grow coffee. In Lao, coffee is pronounced “khaafeh” (similar to how you would say café). If you want real Lao coffee, you must order “khaafeh Lao”.
At first I was considering using a rating system in order to categorize different coffee spots in Laos, but I felt that it did not give enough justice to some of the more local places I visited. This list is thus ….
Laos often gets short shrift compared to its heavily traveled neighbors. Thailand, the undisputed tourism champ in the region, sees almost 10 times more foreign visitors than Laos. Even sleepy Myanmar, closed off for decades, will see visitor numbers surge past those of Laos if trends continue.
As the perennially ignored Southeast Asian destination, Laos is in pole position to surprise most any traveler to the region with its many attractions, from isolated beaches to wildlife-filled forests.
Here are 5 of the top things you’ll find on a visit to one of Southeast Asia’s last frontiers….
Visiting Asia with children is getting more and more popular and for good reasons, as the Asian, and of course also the Lao mentality, is very child friendly. If traveling with children in Asia, you will experience numerous times that local staff will help out watching your kids or giving them attention while you try to get some food or have troubles getting around. Indeed the Asian and Lao culture seems to be very child-friendly when it comes to traveling.
Also traveling Laos with kids may build a great number of intercultural bridges, as your kids will eventually get into verbal or non-verbal communication and playing with other children, which again, for the parents will open doors to experience the local Lao life and culture, unspoiled and very direct…
We want to clearly encourage families to travel in Laos, since we have ….
Interview with Inthy Deuansavan, Head of Green Discovery Tour Operator and Inthira Hotels
One of the most successful local entrepreneur in Lao tourism, Inthy is a rather outspoken personality in the country and speaks openly about opportunities and failures of Laos in its tourism development.
Inthy answer questions on the progres of the Lao tourism, how to promote the country and which are the upcoming places to visit in Laos…..
It is 6.30am and a bright orange sun is rising behind the mountains. The twin hulls of our boat cut through water that shimmers like glass. Fish jump and buffalo swim. Villagers brush their teeth at the waters edge.
It’s another world, from another era, and I feel like Katherine Hepburn, except that my vessel is a raft strapped on top of two wooden canoes, on top of which, perching like thrones, sit two rattan chairs. It is a rather comical, Heath Robinson contraption, but that can’t detract from the beauty of the scenery and the empty, peaceful atmosphere.
It would be nice to spend the day just sitting and floating, but my destination materialises into view. Don Daeng is one of the many islands in the middle of the Mekong River, here in southern Laos where the river starts to ….
Other than human acquaintance, there’s hardly a more suitable or reliable traveling companion in a strange country than a book, especially a good guide about the country you’re visiting, written from the experience of previous travellers. But every once in a while, there comes along a book, not in the form of a guidebook or travel memoir, but rather a well-researched historical novel. The Plain of Jars, a newly released novel about the secret war in Laos and the years that followed it, may just qualify as such a book.
The first half of the book deals with mutual cross-cultural understandings and misunderstandings, as a sixty-four year old woman travels ….
You’re free to travel at your own pace and speed, you can stop anywhere you like without arriving in a vehicle as big as someone’s house, and in a country like this, with so many remote places to explore, a motorbike can handle tracks that buses and cars don’t go to. (As long as you’re not worried about getting a little dirty or sweaty sometimes!)
When you have a good motorcycle in Laos, it’s like having an all-access pass to the best theme park on the planet. The roads become a roller coaster through stunning scenery and all of a sudden you are smiling from ear to ear and your brain is overloaded with every shade of green and brown and blue, as the dirt roads, the …..
The Tree Top Explorer in the south of Laos simply blows one’s head off! Deep inside a national park and away from bustling city life, this parcours offers excellent trekking that culminates in flying through the jungle on zip-lines, the most extensive and longest in the region. Canopy walkways and a ‘via ferrata’ add to the challenges to be mastered. If that’s not enough, the night is spent in romantic tree houses which let you easily forget the bravery of the day by the tranquillizing sound of waterfalls surrounding the visitor.
The Tree Top Explorer is an adventure everyone will enjoy without doubt. Fun is guaranteed – as are memories of an unparalleled experience of a lifetime and, for the one or the other, some inspiration for the future!.
Whether you are planning to be in the capitol for a year or a day there’s a great new way to become acquainted with city life and see the sights. So, leave the guidebook behind and saddle up for an insider’s view of Vientiane.
Aline, a former art critic, travel agent, and flight attendant shares her personal insights, history, and fun facts about all aspects of life in Laos while cycling the city on one of 20 high-end mountain bikes available to riders.Visits to various temples, markets, and monuments can be found by anyone with a map and a bike, but what makes this experience unique are the people and flavors that only someone in the know can show.
Read MoreIf you’re looking for an interesting and educational experience not far from Vientiane, the little known Nong Khai Aquarium might be right up your alley.
Just over the border on the road leading to Udon Thani is the biggest aquarium in Northeastearn Thailand at Khon Kaen University’s Campus in Nong Khai.
The idea is to conserve freshwater fish in the Mekong River as well as to stimulate tourism in the province.