The ASEAN Clean Tourism Award was presented by Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Mrs. Suanesavanh Vignaket, and received by Luang Prabang Governor, Mr. Viengthong Hatsachan.
Luang Prabang City was evaluated for the award in 2021 and was found to have met about 93 percent of the criteria put forth by ASEAN’s clean tourism standards.
The city first received the award in 2020, and has worked with businesses and residents to ensure the city continued to meet the required standards to be awarded again.
Meanwhile, Kuang Si Waterfall in Luang Prabang Province received a Sustainable Tourism Award after local authorities implemented measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and encouraged vendors at the site to use biodegradable packaging, such as banana leaves.
Facilities at the site were also upgraded, according to the Luang Prabang tourism department, while the ticket station at Kuang Si Waterfall provides electric shuttle bus services to the falls and viewing points.
The award was presented to the Head of the Information, Culture and Tourism Department of Luang Prabang Province, Dr. Soutdaphone Khomthavong. It was conferred by the Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Mrs. Suansavanh Viyaket at Phousi convention hall, National Museum of Luang Prabang.
The ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Awards (ASTA) are held every two years in support of the implementation of ASEAN’s Tourism Strategic Plan 2016-2025 and are aimed at creating incentives for ASEAN tourism destinations and stakeholders and jointly develop tourism products and to reduce the environmental, socio-cultural and economic problems caused by the rapid growth of tourism.
The theme of the 3rd ASTA held for 2022-2023 is “Safe Tourism,” according to Visit Southeast Asia, the official ASEAN travel website.
Kuang Si waterfall features a stunning and beautiful multi-tiered waterfall hidden in the forest outside the city, which has become a famous destination among local and foreign visitors.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kuang-Si-Waterfall-in-Luang-Prabang-province-696x364-1.jpg364696Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2022-03-18 14:18:002022-03-09 14:20:48Luang Prabang City and Kuang Si Waterfall Win ASEAN Tourism Awards
Some 84 foreign tourists have visited Vientiane Capital since the government began its Travel Green Zone reopening plan in January.
Four tour companies in Vientiane Capital have facilitated the arrival of foreign visitors, mainly from South Korea.
Tourists from the Philippines, Netherlands, Thailand, and Japan have also visited Laos this year, as well as Laotians living abroad.
Director of the Vientiane Capital Department of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Ms. Vilayvone Chanthalaty, said that all 84 foreign tourists who arrived in Vientiane Capital had fully complied with Covid-19 prevention measures and protocol, including taking Covid-19 tests on arrival.
Visitors stayed at hotels accredited under the Lao Safe program, according to Ms. Vilayvone, and had visited sites in Vientiane Capital including That Luang Stupa, Phakeo Temple, Sisaket Temple, Patuxay Victory Monument, and the Nam Pien Yorla Pa resort.
Authorities believe the initial 84 arrivals to be a good start to the program, saying that more than 100 tourists from South Korea had booked tours to Laos, however, they had to cancel their bookings due to changes to Covid-19 measures imposed by the government of South Korea that would mean ten days quarantine upon returning home.
At the same time, Laos had hoped to allow foreign visitors a 24-hour waiting period for Covid-19 test results upon arrival, however, delays have meant that this period had to be extended to 48 hours, causing visitors to lose valuable time.
Ms. Vilayvone said that Vientiane Capital hopes to attract 300,000 foreign visitors by the end of the year if no more major outbreaks of Covid-19 occur.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Vientiane-in-Laos-by-night-Photo-Hotels-696x364-1.jpg364696Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2022-03-16 14:12:002022-03-09 14:14:21Vientiane Capital Receives 84 International Tourists After Reopening
Thailand’s transport minister Saksayam Chidchob says the bridge, estimated to cost around BHT 4 billion (USD 1.2 billion), will most likely be funded by both countries, according to the Thaiger.
He added that the design study of the bridge is expected to cost around 140 million baht (USD 4.25 million) from the central budget and will be handled by Thailand’s Department of Highways.
The bridge project should be completed in time for the second phase of the Sino-Thai High-Speed Rail Project, which will link Bangkok with Kunming.
The Thai-Chinese railway project’s first phase, which runs from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, is currently under development and scheduled to open in 2026.
The second phase of the high-speed train project will open for service in 2028, linking Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, according to Thai Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/First-Laos-Thailand-Friendship-Bridge-696x364-1.jpg364696Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2022-03-14 11:56:002022-03-09 14:12:06Laos and Thailand to Build New Friendship Bridge for Both Road and Rail
Luang Prabang City and Kuang Si Waterfall Win ASEAN Tourism Awards
The ASEAN Clean Tourism Award was presented by Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Mrs. Suanesavanh Vignaket, and received by Luang Prabang Governor, Mr. Viengthong Hatsachan.
Luang Prabang City was evaluated for the award in 2021 and was found to have met about 93 percent of the criteria put forth by ASEAN’s clean tourism standards.
The city first received the award in 2020, and has worked with businesses and residents to ensure the city continued to meet the required standards to be awarded again.
Meanwhile, Kuang Si Waterfall in Luang Prabang Province received a Sustainable Tourism Award after local authorities implemented measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and encouraged vendors at the site to use biodegradable packaging, such as banana leaves.
Facilities at the site were also upgraded, according to the Luang Prabang tourism department, while the ticket station at Kuang Si Waterfall provides electric shuttle bus services to the falls and viewing points.
The award was presented to the Head of the Information, Culture and Tourism Department of Luang Prabang Province, Dr. Soutdaphone Khomthavong. It was conferred by the Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Mrs. Suansavanh Viyaket at Phousi convention hall, National Museum of Luang Prabang.
The ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Awards (ASTA) are held every two years in support of the implementation of ASEAN’s Tourism Strategic Plan 2016-2025 and are aimed at creating incentives for ASEAN tourism destinations and stakeholders and jointly develop tourism products and to reduce the environmental, socio-cultural and economic problems caused by the rapid growth of tourism.
The theme of the 3rd ASTA held for 2022-2023 is “Safe Tourism,” according to Visit Southeast Asia, the official ASEAN travel website.
Kuang Si waterfall features a stunning and beautiful multi-tiered waterfall hidden in the forest outside the city, which has become a famous destination among local and foreign visitors.
Champasack’s Tad Yuang Waterfall also received an ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award in January for promoting the sale of organic vegetables and locally made handicrafts as part of an upgrade to facilities during the Lao Thiao Lao domestic tourism campaign of 2020.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/03/09/luang-prabang-city-and-kuang-si-waterfall-win-asean-tourism-awards/
Vientiane Capital Receives 84 International Tourists After Reopening
Some 84 foreign tourists have visited Vientiane Capital since the government began its Travel Green Zone reopening plan in January.
Four tour companies in Vientiane Capital have facilitated the arrival of foreign visitors, mainly from South Korea.
Tourists from the Philippines, Netherlands, Thailand, and Japan have also visited Laos this year, as well as Laotians living abroad.
Director of the Vientiane Capital Department of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Ms. Vilayvone Chanthalaty, said that all 84 foreign tourists who arrived in Vientiane Capital had fully complied with Covid-19 prevention measures and protocol, including taking Covid-19 tests on arrival.
Visitors stayed at hotels accredited under the Lao Safe program, according to Ms. Vilayvone, and had visited sites in Vientiane Capital including That Luang Stupa, Phakeo Temple, Sisaket Temple, Patuxay Victory Monument, and the Nam Pien Yorla Pa resort.
Authorities believe the initial 84 arrivals to be a good start to the program, saying that more than 100 tourists from South Korea had booked tours to Laos, however, they had to cancel their bookings due to changes to Covid-19 measures imposed by the government of South Korea that would mean ten days quarantine upon returning home.
At the same time, Laos had hoped to allow foreign visitors a 24-hour waiting period for Covid-19 test results upon arrival, however, delays have meant that this period had to be extended to 48 hours, causing visitors to lose valuable time.
Ms. Vilayvone said that Vientiane Capital hopes to attract 300,000 foreign visitors by the end of the year if no more major outbreaks of Covid-19 occur.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/02/13/laos-receives-84-international-tourists-after-reopening/
Laos and Thailand to Build New Friendship Bridge for Both Road and Rail
The Thai cabinet approved plans for a second Thailand-Laos friendship bridge last month connecting Nong Khai in northeast Thailand with Vientiane, Laos.
Thailand’s transport minister Saksayam Chidchob says the bridge, estimated to cost around BHT 4 billion (USD 1.2 billion), will most likely be funded by both countries, according to the Thaiger.
He added that the design study of the bridge is expected to cost around 140 million baht (USD 4.25 million) from the central budget and will be handled by Thailand’s Department of Highways.
The bridge project should be completed in time for the second phase of the Sino-Thai High-Speed Rail Project, which will link Bangkok with Kunming.
The Thai-Chinese railway project’s first phase, which runs from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, is currently under development and scheduled to open in 2026.
The second phase of the high-speed train project will open for service in 2028, linking Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, according to Thai Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/02/10/laos-and-thailand-to-build-new-friendship-bridge-for-both-road-and-rail/