Lao Festivals And Major Events
FebruaryVat Phu festival in Champasak province.This festival is held during the full moon of the lunar calendar on the ground of the enchanting pre-Ankorian Vat Phu ruins in Champassak. Includes elephant races, buffalo fights, cock fighting and performances of traditional music and dance. There is a trade fair displaying products of southern Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. That Sikhotabong festival in Kammouane province.This traditional religious festival is held in That Sikhotabong stupa located about 8 km south of Thakhek. Built during 9th and 10th centuries, the stupa was restored in 1950s. AprilLaos new year festival in many places especially in Vientiane and Luang Prabang provinces."Pi Mai" or lunar new year is the time when the entire country (it also is celebrated in Thailand and Myanmar at the same times) take part in this water cleansing event to mark the entering into new year. People dose each other with water, clean their households and temple places, and many performances and shows are also held during this period. AugustBoat racing festival in Luang Prabang.There are boat racing on Khane river, and trade shows in the Luang prabang city. SeptemberBoat racing festival in Kammouane province.There are boat racing on Sebangfai river, trade fair showing agricultural products and local handicrafts, traditional music and dance, etc. OctoberBoat racing in Vientiane, Champasak and Savannakhet provinces.They are held in association with Ork Pansa which marks the end of the monks' three months fast and retreat during the rainy season. Long boat racing are held in order to worship the river spirits. In Vientiane there are also candle light processions around the temples in the evening of Ork Pansa followed by the exciting boat race in Mekong river next day. NovemberThat Luang festival in Vientiane.This religious festival is held in and around That Luang stupa. It includes giving alms to the monks, trade fairs and fireworks at night. DecemberHmong new year in Oudomxay, Xieng Khouang and Luang Prabang provinces.These include colorful display of traditional costumes made from green, red and white silk and silver jewellery, musical instruments, and festivities including ox fighting, spinning top race, cross-bow demonstrations.
Source: http://www.traveltolao.com
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Saturday, January 27, 2007
Laos facts by http://www.traveltolao.com
Facts About Laos
Laos is a small, landlocked country located in the interior of Southeast Asia's strategic Indochinese Peninsula. The People's Republic of China lies to the north, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Myanmar and Thailand to the west. Laos is a mountainous country, especially in the north, where peaks rise above 9,000 ft (2,800 m). Dense forests cover the northern and eastern areas. The Mekong River, which forms the boundary with Myanmar and Thailand, flows through the country for 932 mi (1,500 km) of its course. Laos was a part of French Indochina after 1893 and was granted full independence in 1953. After the French departed, a protracted civil war ensued. In 1975 the Communist forces gained control, the King was forced to abdicate, and Laos became a people's republic. OFFICIAL NAME IN ENGLISHLao People's Democratic Republic OFFICIAL NAME IN LAOSathalanalat Pasathipatai Pasason Lao LANDArea: 236,800 sq km (91,429 sq mi)Capital and largest city: Vientiane (2006 est. pop., 730,000)
Elevations:
highest - Mount Bia, 2,820 m (9,252 ft) lowest - Along the Mekong River, 76 m (250 ft)
PEOPLEPopulation (2006 est.): 6,200,000 Density: 17 persons per sq km (44 per sq mi)Distribution (2006): 17% urban, 83% ruralAnnual growth (2006): 2.45%Official language: LaoMajor religions: Buddhism, traditional religionsECONOMY
GDP (2006 est.):
$11.9 billion$1,900 per capita
Labor distribution (2006):
agriculture - 80%commerce and services - 18% manufacturing - 2%
Foreign trade (2006 est.):
exports - $379 millionimports - $541 million principal trade partners - Thailand, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Russia
Currency: kip (10,000 kip = 1 US dollar)GOVERNMENTType: Communist one-party stateLegislature: Supreme Peoples AssemblyAdministrative subdivisions: 16 provinces, 1 municipality
Government leaders (2006):
Choummaly Sayasone - PresidentBouasone Bouphavanh - Prime Minister
EDUCATION AND HEALTHLiteracy (2006): 66% of populationUniversities (2006): 3Hospital beds (2006 est.): 6,500
Life expectancy (2006):
women - 57 yearsmen - 53 years
Infant mortality (2006): 85 deaths per 1,000 live births. TRANSPORTATIONRailroads (2006): noneRoads (2006 est): 33,000 kmMajor ports: noneAirports (2006 est): 44
Source: http://www.traveltolao.com
Laos is a small, landlocked country located in the interior of Southeast Asia's strategic Indochinese Peninsula. The People's Republic of China lies to the north, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Myanmar and Thailand to the west. Laos is a mountainous country, especially in the north, where peaks rise above 9,000 ft (2,800 m). Dense forests cover the northern and eastern areas. The Mekong River, which forms the boundary with Myanmar and Thailand, flows through the country for 932 mi (1,500 km) of its course. Laos was a part of French Indochina after 1893 and was granted full independence in 1953. After the French departed, a protracted civil war ensued. In 1975 the Communist forces gained control, the King was forced to abdicate, and Laos became a people's republic. OFFICIAL NAME IN ENGLISHLao People's Democratic Republic OFFICIAL NAME IN LAOSathalanalat Pasathipatai Pasason Lao LANDArea: 236,800 sq km (91,429 sq mi)Capital and largest city: Vientiane (2006 est. pop., 730,000)
Elevations:
highest - Mount Bia, 2,820 m (9,252 ft) lowest - Along the Mekong River, 76 m (250 ft)
PEOPLEPopulation (2006 est.): 6,200,000 Density: 17 persons per sq km (44 per sq mi)Distribution (2006): 17% urban, 83% ruralAnnual growth (2006): 2.45%Official language: LaoMajor religions: Buddhism, traditional religionsECONOMY
GDP (2006 est.):
$11.9 billion$1,900 per capita
Labor distribution (2006):
agriculture - 80%commerce and services - 18% manufacturing - 2%
Foreign trade (2006 est.):
exports - $379 millionimports - $541 million principal trade partners - Thailand, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Russia
Currency: kip (10,000 kip = 1 US dollar)GOVERNMENTType: Communist one-party stateLegislature: Supreme Peoples AssemblyAdministrative subdivisions: 16 provinces, 1 municipality
Government leaders (2006):
Choummaly Sayasone - PresidentBouasone Bouphavanh - Prime Minister
EDUCATION AND HEALTHLiteracy (2006): 66% of populationUniversities (2006): 3Hospital beds (2006 est.): 6,500
Life expectancy (2006):
women - 57 yearsmen - 53 years
Infant mortality (2006): 85 deaths per 1,000 live births. TRANSPORTATIONRailroads (2006): noneRoads (2006 est): 33,000 kmMajor ports: noneAirports (2006 est): 44
Source: http://www.traveltolao.com
laos travel advice by http://www.traveltolao.com
Hi, I'm a travel agent in Laos and I want to give you some information about Laos as below:
Travel Advice To Laos
If you are planning to visit Laos, here are some advice to help you avoid trouble. A Visa is required to enter Laos and this should be applied for at least 5 working days prior to departure. However, it is now also possible to collect visas on arrival at Vientiane International Airport, Luang Prabang International Airport and the Friendship Bridge between Laos and Thailand without prior authorisation. This costs 75AUD for single entry or 90AUD for double entry and requires the filling in of an application form and one passport size photo. The airport tax in Laos for International Flights is 10USD and Domestic Flights is 1USD. Offices and museums are usually open from Monday to Friday from 8:00am until 4:00pm and often close for lunch between 12:00am and 2:00pm. Shops open from Monday to Saturday between 9:00am and 5:00pm and some also open on Sunday. Laos has a nationwide curfew of 12am so try to avoid going out or travel late at night. People travelling at night can be searched, detained and possibly fined by authorities if they cannot present suitable identification. Travellers should comply with requests to stop at checkpoints and roadblocks. Avoid carrying large sums of money and keep valuables, including passports in a secure place. There are no ATM machines in Laos, but major hotels and banks in Laos accept credit cards and travellers cheques. Laos has a one party system. Do not accuse the government or talk about politics at any time. Respect the language, history, tradition and culture. Non-marital sexual relationships aren't permitted under Lao law. You must inform Lao authorities for marriage or engagement. Penalties for failing to register a relationship range from 500USD - 5,000USD and may also involve imprisonment. Penalties for drug offences in Laos are severe, including the death penalty for trafficking. Travellers should exercise extreme caution to avoid any perceived association with drug trafficking or use. Other serious crimes such as rape, murder and treason, also include the death penalty. Photographing or visiting military sites is prohibited and may result in arrest or detention. To be on the safe side, please ask for permission if you want to take photos at places where you are not sure if it is permitted. Unexploded ordnance and mines remain a problem in some parts of the countryside, particularly in Xieng Khouang province (location of The Plain of Jars) and the Lao-Vietnamese border areas along the Ho Chi Minh trail. Travellers should only walk along marked areas or common tourist areas, otherwise it can be dangerous. The rainy season in Laos is between May to November when seasonal flooding may occur in some areas near the river. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities. Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) is not a problem in Laos, unlike neighbouring countries in the region. There is no risk to a very low risk of bird flu infection in Laos but travellers should still discuss the risks with their doctor as part of their routine pre-travel health checks. No vaccinations are required to go to Laos except for yellow fever if you are coming from an area where the disease is present. However visitors should be inoculated against typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A & B, tetanus and polio. Malaria is present in most of the region and it is advisable to take precautions especially if travelling off the beaten track. It is not advisable to drink tap water in Laos but bottled mineral water is safe and available everywhere. Ice in drinks is generally OK in good standard hotels and restaurants but it is best to avoid it on street stalls or in country areas. In summary, Laos is a safe country.
Source: http://www.traveltolao.com
http://www.easyvietnamtravel.com
http://www.easyvietnamadventures.com
Travel Advice To Laos
If you are planning to visit Laos, here are some advice to help you avoid trouble. A Visa is required to enter Laos and this should be applied for at least 5 working days prior to departure. However, it is now also possible to collect visas on arrival at Vientiane International Airport, Luang Prabang International Airport and the Friendship Bridge between Laos and Thailand without prior authorisation. This costs 75AUD for single entry or 90AUD for double entry and requires the filling in of an application form and one passport size photo. The airport tax in Laos for International Flights is 10USD and Domestic Flights is 1USD. Offices and museums are usually open from Monday to Friday from 8:00am until 4:00pm and often close for lunch between 12:00am and 2:00pm. Shops open from Monday to Saturday between 9:00am and 5:00pm and some also open on Sunday. Laos has a nationwide curfew of 12am so try to avoid going out or travel late at night. People travelling at night can be searched, detained and possibly fined by authorities if they cannot present suitable identification. Travellers should comply with requests to stop at checkpoints and roadblocks. Avoid carrying large sums of money and keep valuables, including passports in a secure place. There are no ATM machines in Laos, but major hotels and banks in Laos accept credit cards and travellers cheques. Laos has a one party system. Do not accuse the government or talk about politics at any time. Respect the language, history, tradition and culture. Non-marital sexual relationships aren't permitted under Lao law. You must inform Lao authorities for marriage or engagement. Penalties for failing to register a relationship range from 500USD - 5,000USD and may also involve imprisonment. Penalties for drug offences in Laos are severe, including the death penalty for trafficking. Travellers should exercise extreme caution to avoid any perceived association with drug trafficking or use. Other serious crimes such as rape, murder and treason, also include the death penalty. Photographing or visiting military sites is prohibited and may result in arrest or detention. To be on the safe side, please ask for permission if you want to take photos at places where you are not sure if it is permitted. Unexploded ordnance and mines remain a problem in some parts of the countryside, particularly in Xieng Khouang province (location of The Plain of Jars) and the Lao-Vietnamese border areas along the Ho Chi Minh trail. Travellers should only walk along marked areas or common tourist areas, otherwise it can be dangerous. The rainy season in Laos is between May to November when seasonal flooding may occur in some areas near the river. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities. Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) is not a problem in Laos, unlike neighbouring countries in the region. There is no risk to a very low risk of bird flu infection in Laos but travellers should still discuss the risks with their doctor as part of their routine pre-travel health checks. No vaccinations are required to go to Laos except for yellow fever if you are coming from an area where the disease is present. However visitors should be inoculated against typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A & B, tetanus and polio. Malaria is present in most of the region and it is advisable to take precautions especially if travelling off the beaten track. It is not advisable to drink tap water in Laos but bottled mineral water is safe and available everywhere. Ice in drinks is generally OK in good standard hotels and restaurants but it is best to avoid it on street stalls or in country areas. In summary, Laos is a safe country.
Source: http://www.traveltolao.com
http://www.easyvietnamtravel.com
http://www.easyvietnamadventures.com
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