Luang Prabang is set to host the That Chomsi Stupa ceremony from 5 to 6 October, celebrating the city’s cultural traditions and the stupa’s spiritual significance.
This annual event will feature a series of religious and cultural activities atop Mount Phousi.
The celebrations will begin on 5 October at 8:30 am with the decoration of That Chomsi Stupa and its surrounding grounds.
In the afternoon, religious ceremonies will take place starting from 1 pm.
On the following day, 6 October, the program will continue with monks chanting prayers for ancestors at 10:30 am.
This will be followed by the offering of lunch to the monks at 11 am. The ceremony will conclude at 12:30 pm with a sermon delivered by the monks.
From 19th-Century Origins to Timeless Traditions
That Chomsi was built in 1804 during the reign of King Anourouth and sits atop Mount Phousi in the center of Luang Prabang.
According to local legend, a deep pit once existed at the site, said to reach the center of the earth.
A monk who entered the pit discovered a great treasure but was betrayed by villagers, who sealed him inside. Using magical charms, he fought his way out, defeating seven guardians of the treasure.
When the king learned of the villagers’ betrayal, he ordered drums, gongs, and cymbals to be beaten every three hours to prevent dragons from disturbing the world, a ritual still observed today at nearby Wat Thum Thao.
Today, visitors make their way up the hill, climbing around 300 steps to reach the stupa.
Though the climb can be tiring, it offers a chance to pause midway at Wat Tham Phousi Shrine, which houses a smiling Buddha tucked inside a cave and a reclining Buddha statue, before reaching the top to enjoy sunset views over the city.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Encircle-Photos.jpg9611440Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2025-09-18 08:55:002025-09-16 15:58:19Luang Prabang to Celebrate That Chomsi Stupa Ceremony This October
Authorities in Attapeu have officially launched construction of a major infrastructure project designed to improve cross-border transport and stimulate regional economic growth. The initiative includes the construction of a new road and bridge crossing the Xekaman River in Xanxay district, with a total investment of USD 149 million and a planned construction period of three years.
The project will establish a 135-kilometre road connecting Vanxay and Nongkai Aok villages near the Laos–Vietnam border. A new bridge, to be built in Souksavang Village, will span 165 metres with a load capacity of up to 10 tonnes, capable of supporting both commercial and passenger vehicles. The construction is scheduled for completion by September 2028.
The development is part of Attapeu’s 2025–2030 socio-economic development plan and aims to enhance transportation links between Laos and Vietnam, improve access to domestic markets, and increase the province’s capacity to export agricultural products and natural resources. The project is also expected to support tourism and facilitate smoother movement of goods across provinces and borders.
A memorandum of understanding for the project was signed on 13 September.
Construction will be led by DEDO Survey, Design and Build Company Limited, in collaboration with South Korea-based DaSOL Company Limited. Under a Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT) agreement with the Attapeu Provincial Administration, the companies will manage design, construction, and operations.
The developer will be permitted to collect toll fees from users for a period of 50 years, after which ownership and management of the infrastructure will be transferred to provincial authorities.
The project also includes upgrades to several existing routes, including Road Nos. 9001, 9065, and 9045. These roads will be widened from 8 to 12 metres, with improved technical standards to accommodate heavy transport. Approximately 10 percent of the route will pass through mountainous terrain, and the entire structure will be built to support axle loads of up to 11 tonnes, in accordance with national highway standards.
Once completed, the infrastructure is expected to play a strategic role in advancing regional connectivity, particularly with neighboring countries.
Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air have jointly announced a ban on the use of power banks during flights, citing growing safety concerns over lithium battery-related incidents in aviation.
Under the new policy, passengers are no longer permitted to use portable chargers to power or recharge their devices while onboard.
Passengers are now required to remove power banks from their carry-on luggage prior to boarding and keep them in a visible location throughout the flight. While these devices may still be brought onboard in limited quantities, their use during the flight, including charging them via the aircraft’s USB ports. is strictly prohibited.
The move follows increasing global scrutiny of lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries, which are widely used in power banks due to their high energy density. However, these batteries are also highly sensitive to heat, impact, and rapid changes in air pressure. Such sensitivity raises the risk of battery malfunctions, including short circuits, overheating, and in severe cases, fire or explosion.
These dangers are significantly heightened when batteries are stored in the aircraft’s cargo hold, where temperature and pressure can fluctuate dramatically and where strong vibrations are more common.
Compounding the risk is the fact that checked baggage is less closely monitored during flight, meaning any incident involving a power bank in the cargo area may go undetected until it becomes critical. As a result, both airlines continue to enforce a strict ban on transporting power banks in checked luggage.
Under current aviation safety regulations, passengers are allowed to carry a limited number of batteries in their hand luggage.
Devices with a capacity of up to 100 watt-hours, which typically translates to around 20,000 milliamp-hours at 5 volts, are allowed in quantities of up to ten per passenger.
For larger power banks, with capacities between 100 and 160 watt-hours (or approximately 20,000 to 32,000 milliamp-hours), the limit is two per person. Any power bank that exceeds 160 watt-hours or 32,000 milliamp-hours is not permitted on board under any circumstances.
Both Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet urge passengers to verify the specifications of their devices before traveling and to adhere strictly to all safety guidelines.
The new regulations aim to minimize in-flight risks and ensure the continued safety of passengers, crew, and aircraft.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/LT-Website-Size-1-1920x1003-1.jpg10031920Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2025-09-16 15:25:372025-09-16 15:25:42Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Ban Use of Power Banks In-Flight Due to Safety Risks
Luang Prabang to Celebrate That Chomsi Stupa Ceremony This October
Luang Prabang is set to host the That Chomsi Stupa ceremony from 5 to 6 October, celebrating the city’s cultural traditions and the stupa’s spiritual significance.
This annual event will feature a series of religious and cultural activities atop Mount Phousi.
The celebrations will begin on 5 October at 8:30 am with the decoration of That Chomsi Stupa and its surrounding grounds.
In the afternoon, religious ceremonies will take place starting from 1 pm.
On the following day, 6 October, the program will continue with monks chanting prayers for ancestors at 10:30 am.
This will be followed by the offering of lunch to the monks at 11 am. The ceremony will conclude at 12:30 pm with a sermon delivered by the monks.
From 19th-Century Origins to Timeless Traditions
That Chomsi was built in 1804 during the reign of King Anourouth and sits atop Mount Phousi in the center of Luang Prabang.
According to local legend, a deep pit once existed at the site, said to reach the center of the earth.
A monk who entered the pit discovered a great treasure but was betrayed by villagers, who sealed him inside. Using magical charms, he fought his way out, defeating seven guardians of the treasure.
When the king learned of the villagers’ betrayal, he ordered drums, gongs, and cymbals to be beaten every three hours to prevent dragons from disturbing the world, a ritual still observed today at nearby Wat Thum Thao.
Today, visitors make their way up the hill, climbing around 300 steps to reach the stupa.
Though the climb can be tiring, it offers a chance to pause midway at Wat Tham Phousi Shrine, which houses a smiling Buddha tucked inside a cave and a reclining Buddha statue, before reaching the top to enjoy sunset views over the city.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/09/15/luang-prabang-to-celebrate-that-chomsi-stupa-ceremony-this-october/
New Cross-Border Infrastructure Project to Strengthen Connectivity in Southern Laos
Authorities in Attapeu have officially launched construction of a major infrastructure project designed to improve cross-border transport and stimulate regional economic growth. The initiative includes the construction of a new road and bridge crossing the Xekaman River in Xanxay district, with a total investment of USD 149 million and a planned construction period of three years.
The project will establish a 135-kilometre road connecting Vanxay and Nongkai Aok villages near the Laos–Vietnam border. A new bridge, to be built in Souksavang Village, will span 165 metres with a load capacity of up to 10 tonnes, capable of supporting both commercial and passenger vehicles. The construction is scheduled for completion by September 2028.
The development is part of Attapeu’s 2025–2030 socio-economic development plan and aims to enhance transportation links between Laos and Vietnam, improve access to domestic markets, and increase the province’s capacity to export agricultural products and natural resources. The project is also expected to support tourism and facilitate smoother movement of goods across provinces and borders.
A memorandum of understanding for the project was signed on 13 September.
Construction will be led by DEDO Survey, Design and Build Company Limited, in collaboration with South Korea-based DaSOL Company Limited. Under a Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT) agreement with the Attapeu Provincial Administration, the companies will manage design, construction, and operations.
The developer will be permitted to collect toll fees from users for a period of 50 years, after which ownership and management of the infrastructure will be transferred to provincial authorities.
The project also includes upgrades to several existing routes, including Road Nos. 9001, 9065, and 9045. These roads will be widened from 8 to 12 metres, with improved technical standards to accommodate heavy transport. Approximately 10 percent of the route will pass through mountainous terrain, and the entire structure will be built to support axle loads of up to 11 tonnes, in accordance with national highway standards.
Once completed, the infrastructure is expected to play a strategic role in advancing regional connectivity, particularly with neighboring countries.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/09/16/new-cross-border-infrastructure-project-to-strengthen-connectivity-in-southern-laos/
Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Ban Use of Power Banks In-Flight Due to Safety Risks
Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air have jointly announced a ban on the use of power banks during flights, citing growing safety concerns over lithium battery-related incidents in aviation.
Under the new policy, passengers are no longer permitted to use portable chargers to power or recharge their devices while onboard.
Passengers are now required to remove power banks from their carry-on luggage prior to boarding and keep them in a visible location throughout the flight. While these devices may still be brought onboard in limited quantities, their use during the flight, including charging them via the aircraft’s USB ports. is strictly prohibited.
The move follows increasing global scrutiny of lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries, which are widely used in power banks due to their high energy density. However, these batteries are also highly sensitive to heat, impact, and rapid changes in air pressure. Such sensitivity raises the risk of battery malfunctions, including short circuits, overheating, and in severe cases, fire or explosion.
These dangers are significantly heightened when batteries are stored in the aircraft’s cargo hold, where temperature and pressure can fluctuate dramatically and where strong vibrations are more common.
Compounding the risk is the fact that checked baggage is less closely monitored during flight, meaning any incident involving a power bank in the cargo area may go undetected until it becomes critical. As a result, both airlines continue to enforce a strict ban on transporting power banks in checked luggage.
Under current aviation safety regulations, passengers are allowed to carry a limited number of batteries in their hand luggage.
Devices with a capacity of up to 100 watt-hours, which typically translates to around 20,000 milliamp-hours at 5 volts, are allowed in quantities of up to ten per passenger.
For larger power banks, with capacities between 100 and 160 watt-hours (or approximately 20,000 to 32,000 milliamp-hours), the limit is two per person. Any power bank that exceeds 160 watt-hours or 32,000 milliamp-hours is not permitted on board under any circumstances.
Both Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet urge passengers to verify the specifications of their devices before traveling and to adhere strictly to all safety guidelines.
The new regulations aim to minimize in-flight risks and ensure the continued safety of passengers, crew, and aircraft.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/09/15/vietnam-airlines-vietjet-ban-use-of-power-banks-in-flight-due-to-safety-risks/