Lao vocabulary

Vocabulary

The Lao language consists primarily of native Lao words. Because of Buddhism, however, Pali has contributed numerous terms, especially relating to religion and in conversation with members of the Sangha. Due to their geographic proximity, Lao has influenced the Khmer and Thai languages and vice versa.

Formal writing has a larger amount of foreign loanwords, especially Pali and Sanskrit terms, much as Latin and Greek have influenced European languages. For politeness, pronouns (and more formal pronouns) are used, plus ending statements with ແດ່ (dè [dɛː]) or ເດີ້ (deu [dɤ̂ː]). Negative statements are made more polite by ending with ດອກ (dok [dɔ̭ːk]).

~Info courtesy of Wikipedia~

Champasak

Champasak

Champasak has a population of about 572,000 including lowland Lao, Khmers and many unique ethnic minority groups. The province is also famous for the production of Lao coffee, tea, rattan and other agricultural produce.

The bustling commercial center of Pakse is the capital town of Champasak. Founded as an administrative outpost by the French in 1905, Pakse retains much of its colonial legacy. The Champasak Historical Heritage Museum offers a good introduction to Lao culture, history and art. Perhaps the most famous building in Pakse is the Champasak Palace Hotel.

From Pakse, you can drive to Paksong on Bolaven Plateau, home to ethnic minority communities like the Alak and Katu. Travelling from the Mekong to over 1000 metres in altitude, you pass through teak plantations, abandoned rubber plantations, durrian, peach, and pear orchards, robusta and arabica coffee plantations (some people say that Lao coffee is the best in the world), tea plantations, then Saravane where cattle are raised. On the plateau is the serene Tat Lo waterfall and resort, where visitors can enjoy unspoiled nature and elephant ride through the forest. Several water fall drop over the escarpment. One of the most spectacular is Tat Phan with height of 120 metres.

Certainly the highlight of any visit to Champasak is the ancient Khmer temple of Wat Phu, located about 46 km south of Pakse along the Mekong River. Wat Phu is recognized as one of the most important Hindu sanctuaries of Cambodia’s Khmer Empire, which lasted from the 9th to 13rd centuries.

~~Info courtesy of Lao News Agency~~

Welcome to Champasak

History of Lao language

History of Lao language

Air Asia's advertisement in Lao

The Lao language is descended from Tai languages spoken in what is now southern China and northern Vietnam (probably by some of the various peoples referred to as the Baiyue) in areas believed to be the homeland of the language family and where several related languages are still spoken by scattered minority groups. 

 Due to Han Chinese expansion, Mongol invasion pressures, and a search for lands more suitable for wet-rice cultivation, the Tai peoples moved south towards India, down the Mekong River valley, and as far south as the Malay Peninsula. 

Oral history of the migrations is preserved in the legends of Khun Borom. Tai speakers in what is now Laos pushed out or absorbed earlier groups of Mon–Khmer and Austronesian languages.

Stop sign in Lao

~Info courtesy of Wikipedia~

泰寮第4友谊大桥 延后135天启用

泰寮第4友谊大桥 延后135天启用

清莱府泰寮第4座跨湄公河友谊大桥未能按期建成启用，将推迟正式启用135天，直到年底也能通车，但目前已能促进该地区两国边境贸易。清莱府高层官员指出，未能按期完工是技术上的原因。  

原订6月10日建成启用的清莱府泰寮第4座跨湄公河友谊大桥，由于施工进度迟缓，正式启用日期一拖再拖。该大标作为连接昆曼公路R3a路线的重要路段，据清莱府资深次长他瓦猜昨天（28日）透露，该大标启用日期已确定延后135天，即最快能在今年11- 12月期间正式通车。至于造成工期延迟的原因，主要是寮国方与该大桥相连接的两座铁桥目前完成80%的施工进度，而且受到水灾影响，导致已完成98%工作量的主大桥无法按期通车。  

他瓦猜指出，泰寮两国内阁决议，该大桥必须是在全部建成的状态下正式启用，使昆曼公路实现泰寮边境路段的顺畅连接。目前有两国在该大桥处的边境贸易往来，主要依靠桥下的渡轮。也有少量居民从大桥上步行过境。  

据悉，这座泰寮第4座跨湄公河友谊大桥共计投资14亿8650万铢进行建设，泰寮政府各出一半资金，并由中国铁路第5工程公司与泰国KRUNGTON工程公司联合建设，从2010年6月11日开始施工，原订去年12月10日建成启用，但因各方预算未到位等原因，工期出现拖延。这座大桥跨越湄公河部分长约480米，有4座桥墩插入湄公河中，桥上路面宽14.7米，分为两个车道。  

清莱府清孔县海关官员颂拉猜指出，清孔县去年的泰寮边境口岸双边贸易额为120亿铢，今年头9个月双边贸易额已突破100亿铢，预计全年可望达到140亿铢。而泰寮第4座跨湄公河友谊大桥泰方的边贸口岸和海关办事处目前也尚未建成。

～以上新闻转载自世界日报～

Vietnam steps up investments in Laos

Vietnam steps up investments in Laos

Online Trade and Investment Portal and Consulate General of Lao will hold a workshop in Champasak Province in Laos to introduce a Trade, Tourism and Investment Program from July 22-26, to tap the rich potential market in Laos.



The leaders sign cooperation plans (photo:SGGP)

According to ITPC, Laos is a potential market with rich mineral resources, besides having a common border with Vietnam along ten provinces stretching across 2,067 kilometers.

In the past few years, Vietnam has been investing in Laos and has become the second largest investor in Lao after China.

However, in the commercial sector, Vietnamese goods have not expanded as expected with limited representative agencies in Laos.

To overcome this disadvantage, ITPC will constantly hold investment promotion programs so that Vietnamese goods can access the Laos market and increase exports.

~News courtesy of SGGP~

Seng Aroun Hotel - Pakse

13 Road, Pakse.