Sand sculptures help mark Pi Mai Lao

Sand sculptures help mark Pi Mai Lao

Sand sculptures on Don Chan Beach near the Mekong River in Vientiane are nearing completion for annual Pi Mai Lao celebrations from April 13-16 with authorities expecting large crowds.



An elephant sand sculpture taking shape for Pi Mai Lao celebrations.

Contractor MsRatsadapornBusadee told Vientiane Times on Tuesday that the sand sculpting project commenced on March 8 and will be completed by this Sunday.

This year's theme is the AEC and Laos chairing Asean with artists from Laos and Thailand working together to create the sand sculptures on the Mekong River beach.

“This time there will be 15 sand sculptures focusing on the symbols of the 10 countries in Asean, especially the symbols of Laos such as the elephant and That Luangstupa,” MsRatsadaporn said.

“Last year almost 100,000 visitors saw the sand sculptures on Don Chan Beach and this time we expect even more visitors than last year,” she said.

Admission to the sand sculpture area is 10,000 kip per person with children aged under five free of charge.

During Pi Mai Lao celebrations the riverside area will host many activities such as beach football and volleyball, boxing, traditional fashion shows, concerts and stalls selling an enticing array of goods.

According to the Vientiane authority, there would be a special water pouring ceremony for older people and visitors in the area of Vat Chan up to the beach alongside Khounta village in Sikhottabong district.

This year marks the 450th anniversary of the building of Vat That Luang, which would be reflected in the festivities.

However, people from other provinces around the country will also be enjoying Pi Mai Lao, especially traditional activities such as pouring water over Buddha images.

~News courtesy of Vientiane Times~

Laos gets tough with foreigners entering nation

Laos gets tough with foreigners entering nation

THE LAOTIAN government has issued an urgent order for officials to get stricter on foreigners entering the country.

Everyone entering Laos from tomorrow must have complete documents, said a source at the 1st Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge border checkpoint yesterday.

The move followed several recent incidents of armed robbers assaulting and killing people and the arrest of 20 people for possessing war-grade weapons and drugs in November. Among those arrested are nine Thais, according to the source.

The bust received the Lao government's attention because it came in the wake of many violent incidents in the country.

They include the robbery and murder of two Chinese tourists in the Sai Somboon area two weeks ago and a shooting that left a number of policemen and soldiers wounded and a number of bystanders dead at highway No 13 north (Muang Kasi-Muang Phu Khun), the source said.

The source said the get-stricter order, which included checking vehicles more thoroughly before they were allowed to enter the country, was issued because Laos was about to have an election.

The name of the Thai nationals arrested in November remained unknown, as it was regarded as a Laotian national security issue, the source said, adding that the Thai embassy in Vientiane would seek channels to provide aid to the Thais.

~News courtesy of The Nation~

That Luang, Vientiane

Happy New Year 2016

昆明-曼谷-廉差邦铁路 拟2020年通车

昆明-曼谷-廉差邦铁路 拟2020年通车

针对中国昆明-曼谷-廉差邦火车铁路建设项目，交通部预测，该项目可望在2020年完成施工并启动服务，包括考虑将原来的昆明-曼谷公路运输线，改为昆明-曼谷-廉差邦线。  

泰国交通部长巴金上将昨天（27日）与寮国公共工程与运输部长本占，主持召开泰国-寮国交通部长级会议。

巴金上将于会后表示，此次会议主要讨论两国基础设施建设互联互通问题，以及两国公路和铁路运输问题，是两国就此类问题召开的第2次会议。两国之间相互连通的铁路线将有两条，包括越南-寮国-泰国以及中国-寮国-泰国铁路线，尤其是从中国延伸出境的1.435米标准轨距铁路，从昆明连通寮国的铁路线，还有长达520公里的距离没有铺设铁路，再加上从寮国边境到永珍也有417公里的距离未建铁路，预计将于今年年底启动施工，以跟得上将于今年10月启动的泰-中双轨铁路项目进展。由此可以预估，玛达普-曼谷-昆明铁路线将于2020年竣工。  

对于将连接铁路线的泰-寮新友谊大桥建设项目，该座新友谊大桥将与现有的泰-寮友谊大桥距离仅30米，泰寮双方将共同研究各自负责的境内区域，在泰-中铁路线启动运营后，将立即开放服务。  

此外，巴金上将指出，还将更仔细地研究泰国-寮国-中国的公路运输路线，可能会将原订的昆明-曼谷路线，改为昆明-曼谷-廉差邦运输线，同时泰方还需要与寮国运输经营商进行协商，运输货物时必须经过泰国边境码头，预计双方将会在8-9月期间展开讨论，具体工作包括修订泰国、寮国的相关法律条例，因为两国法律范畴存在差异。对此，两国特别设立工作小组，共同研究两国法律修订方案。

~以上新闻转自世界日报~

Borikhamxay earmarks river site as tourist draw

Borikhamxay earmarks river site as tourist draw

Standing on the Mekong riverbank and observing the fishermen on their boats is a very relaxing way of spending the day. And if you can go with the fishermen on their boats it will be even more enjoyable as you get to watch them at work and have a nice view of the river and the communities that live along the riverbank.

This idyllic riverine environment has the potential to be a strong tourist draw as more and more people seek out less well known parts of the country.


Rocks resembling a turtle lie in the middle of the Mekong in Kaengsadok village, Borikhamxay province.

Borikhamxay is one of the 17 provinces in Laos that is making a careful assessment of its tourism potential. It recently laid out a strategy plan for 2015-2020 aiming to position the province as a tourism hub linking the south of Laos to the region and is now seeking concession-holders to develop 25 tourist sites.

As a reporter, I recently accompanied the Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Savankhone Razmountry, and a provincial tourism team to Kaengsadok village which lies alongside some intriguing natural rock formations in the middle of the Mekong.

This site, in Pakxan district, is listed as one of the 25 new tourist attractions.

The trip to Kaengsadok took place after a media meeting last month to discuss the introduction of analogue television transmission along with other broadcast media which was attended by more than 40 senior officials and chaired by Mr Savankhone.

Kaengsadok is 25km from the urban heart of Pakxan district on Road No. 13 South. A right turn off this road indicated by a sign takes visitors a further 15 minutes to reach the village.

When you arrive at the riverbank, you will see many fishing boats and an embankment under construction. If you gaze out over the river to the left your attention will be caught by some curiously shaped rocks and the fishermen's boats in midstream.

Deputy Head of Kaengsadok village, Mr Chomphet Vinavong, said 70 to 80 boats go out in search of fish every day. Sometimes, visitors hire them out for a pleasurable fishing trip.

“This area not only has the rocks, which can be imagined as a dog, turtle, crocodile or stupa, and the activities of the fishermen to interest visitors. We also have a large expanse of white sand along the river which runs for about one kilometre and is suitable for beach activities,” he said.

“This is a great spot for locals and domestic visitors as well as overseas tourists. They come here to look at the rocks and have a relaxing day on the beach, especially at Lao New Year and other festivals. People can buy Mekong fish and grill it over charcoal and eat it on the beach.”

On the other side of the river lies Thailand and the bucolic scenes along both banks where the locals grow plots of vegetables make for a pleasing sight.

Mr Chomphet said “We sometimes get some fishing amateurs here from Vientiane who come with rods and lines and people were hooking 8 to 10 kg of fish last month. In March and April you can pull 20 to 30 kg of fish out of the water each day.”

People like to come here for payang, pakueng and payon, which costs 35,000 to 80,000 kip per kg.

These things are the reason why the province approved Kaengsadok as one of the 25 places for development as tourist attractions.

Statistics for 2014 published by the Tourism Development Department show that Borikhamxay has 108 hotels and guesthouses with 2,011 rooms, which puts the province in seventh place in terms of accommodation rankings in Laos.

The province also has two travel agents, 70 officially designated sites of natural beauty, 11 sites of cultural interest and three historical sites.

Borikhamxay is 150km from Vientiane and can be reached by Road No. 13 South.

~News courtesy of Vientiane Times~

Kongbouat Festival

Kongbouat Festival

Respectful senior monks and newly ordained monks step over silk sashes placed by merit makers for the monks to step on after they walk from a Naga boat, which is where people pour water over them to wash away any bad spirits. This is the central feature of the Kongbouat festival.

Merit makers at this festival including young and old men and women who sit in a long line from a point close to the Naga boat until the grounds of the sanctuary. Some middle-aged men lay on the ground for the monks to step over their backs, believing the monks will cure their backache.


A Baci ceremony for a newly ordained monk.

Merit makers take part in the ordination rituals at the temple and a large group of them invite respectful monks and newly ordained monks to step over their silk sashes, but it's unlikely that most of them know the meaning of this custom.

Venerable Keo, a senior monk at Sisavangvong temple in Xayaboury district, Xayaboury province, said merit makers offer sashes to respectful monks and newly ordained monks to step over as a sign of respect and to offer their congratulation to monks who are promoted to a new position and have contributed to Buddhist organisations.

This ritual is in evidence as part of merit making during the Konghote and Kongbouat festivals. When these festivals are observed either in a temple or in someone's home, the organisers and the monks will decorate a Naga boat while the pathway from the boat to the main worship hall will be adorned with leafy banana stems, sugar cane plants and flowers.

According to Venerable Keo, who is on the temple committee, the Konghote and Kongbouat festivals are held at an appropriate time of the year. This depends on the time that is convenient for those involved, as well as their financial circumstances. There is no limit to the number of festivals that may be held. A large number of people may hold nine Konghote festivals and one Kongbouat jointly. Some people will arrange two or one Konghote and Kongbouat festivals.

Venerable Keo said there are various reasons for holding the Kongbouat festival. Some people do it to ordain a son so that he can study Dharma in the temple and pay tribute to his parents, while others want to pay homage to their deceased parents and other relatives. Elderly people use the occasion as a merit-making ritual as they believe the offerings will support them in the next life. 

People who arrange a Kongbouat festival are aged over 40. It is considered unacceptable for people under 40 to host the festival because it means they will receive their offerings early and will therefore have a short life.

The festivals last for two days. On the first day the offerings are prepared and on the second day there is an almsgiving ceremony in the early morning and laypeople take on the role of Nagas to protect the newly ordained monks. Merit makers and guests form a procession with the four Nagas and offerings and walk to the temple after the almsgiving ceremony.

On the first day, friends, relatives and other invited guests come to make merit with the festival organisers and give them money, flowers and milled sticky rice in a bowl. In return, the hosts invite the guests to have lunch and dinner and also give them a bag of snacks. Some guests place offerings in the monks' bags and bowls. On the evening of the first day, a group of musicians plays traditional music and sings folksongs to entertain the guests.

The second day of merit-making sees the giving of alms, the conversion of people into four Naga and the procession carrying offerings to the temple. When the procession reaches the temple, respectful monks, elderly people, merit makers and the musicians walk three times around the shrine to pay their respects to Lord Buddha.

As the troupe of musicians plays their instruments and sings, participants cheer them to spur them on and create a joyful atmosphere. The merit-makers carry their offerings, comprising a bed, mattress, robes, household utensils and markbeng (a pyramid made of banana leaves, gold paper, flowers, and silver and golden trees hung with kip notes).

After the merit-makers have processed three times around the shrine, the monks begin the religious rituals in the main worship hall to ordain new monks and novices and present offerings.

After the ceremony, the monks who are to be newly ordained, ordained as senior monks or elevated to a higher rank will have water poured over them inside the Naga boat. The merit-makers do this in order to wash away any bad spirits.

The newly ordained monks carry bags and alms bowls from the Naga boat to the main worship hall. Some monks throw sacred water over the participants while some merit-makers throw money mixed with candy, milled sticky rice and flowers.

Merit-makers then invite monks from other temples and the organisers of the Kongbouat festival to take part in a Baci ceremony for the newly ordained monk. The hosts of the festival offer a bowl containing pieces of silver and golden swords to the monk.

Venerable Keo said these items are considered to be a show of support for the monk. The monk is not allowed to sell them, but may give them to someone he holds dear.

There is no limit to the weight of the silver and golden swords given to the monk. The amount given depends on the festival organiser.

The Konghote and Kongbouat festivals are similar, but the Konghote doesn't involve the presentation of pieces of silver and golden swords.

Invited guests and all laypeople taking part in the merit-making, both at home and in the temple, will wear modest clothing. Women of course wear a sinh (long skirt) and blouse, while men wear trousers.

~News courtesy of Vientiane Times~