The Public bus system in Vientiane Capital is putting policies in place to improve its service and ensure that passengers reach their destinations in a timely manner. 

Bus operators in the city have agreed to cease picking up and dropping off passengers at random locations and will instead use designated bus stops to ensure punctuality and safety.

Following the announcement of the Vientiane City 2 Bus Service, bus routes in the city, including the southern Route 29 from the Morning Market to Dongdok will pick up and drop off commuters only from bus stops starting in May.

The Vientiane public bus operator said that buses running from Central Bus Station-Dongdok will strive to be a punctual, convenient, and safe mode of travel for passengers who can arrive at their destination on time according to the predetermined schedule of the bus route.

Vientiane City 2 Bus Service also offers a digital timetable, a map of the bus routes, and the application of Lao BusNavi where passengers can track the bus movement around Vientiane Capital.

The famous night market in Vientiane, also known as Hengboun Food and Culture Street, was moved to a different location in March for the upcoming 2024 ASEAN Summit and the development of the city’s bus system.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/04/20/vientiane-buses-to-stop-only-at-official-bus-stops-from-next-month/

The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) will be held in Laos next year and the event will focus on aspects like sustainability, digitalization, and labor shortage to improve the tourism industry in Southeast Asia.

Travel Weekly Asia reports that ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA) has been selected to organize the Travel Exchange (TRAVEX), a regional marketplace and fair for ASEAN country members at the Lao-ITECC Exhibition Centre in Vientiane Capital during the ATF.

To this effect, a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MICT), and the ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA), appointing the latter to organize Travex for ATF 2024.

The ASEAN Tourism Forum will be held in Vientiane Capital on 22-27 January 2024 under the theme, “Quality and Responsible Tourism: Sustaining ASEAN’s Future.” The event has been touted by organizers as ‘an event by the industry, for the industry’.

“ATF 2024 will be an event by the industry, for the industry. We are harnessing the collective creativity of the ASEAN tourism community as a whole,” said Mr. Eddy Soemawilaga, ASEAN Tourism Association President.

“ATF will leverage stronger education conference sessions to raise human capital development as the manpower shortage becomes a glaring issue. Technology, too, will be a core component in an era of sustainability,” he stated.

Lao Tourism Marketing Department under the Ministry of Information expects to welcome about 350 businesses from across Southeast Asia and 200 visitors to the event in 2024.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/04/24/laos-all-set-to-host-asean-tourism-forum-2024/

The Laos-China Railway company has released the train schedule for inter-country travel between Vientiane Capital and Kunming, which starts on 13 April, just one day ahead of Lao New Year.

The EMU D888/D887 train will transport passengers on the international rail line.

Passengers will depart from Vientiane Capital at 8:08 AM, and arrive in Kunming South Railway station in China at 19:38 PM Lao time. 

The train will make several stops along the way, arriving in Vang Vieng at 9:03 AM, then stopping in Luang Prabang at 9:57 AM, and finally at Boten for its last stop in Laos at 12:37 PM.

Once it crosses the border, the train will make three stops in China before finally arriving in Kunming. Stops at Bohan, Xishuangbunna, Pu’er will be made along the way, with each halt lasting about 3-6 minutes.

Tickets will be available for sale starting today, for the inaugural trip which takes off from Vientiane on 13 April.

The LCR reports that it expects to welcome over 200 Chinese tourists into Laos on the historic first international train ride from Kunming to Vientiane Capital.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/04/11/laos-china-railway-releases-vientiane-kunming-train-schedule/

Just a stone’s throw from the mysterious and monolithic That Dam in downtown Vientiane Capital sits Kualao Restaurant, one of the finest Lao restaurants in the country.

A casual visitor to Vientiane Capital might be forgiven for assuming that the local cuisine consists entirely of common street foods, simply grilled meats, noodles, and the odd bit of larb, or papaya salad. However, nothing could be further from the truth—Kualao, located in a tastefully restored historic French colonial building, offers a truly extensive menu of Lao delicacies.

The menu has a number of highlights, including the outstanding or lam, which is one of northern Lao cuisine’s most famous and iconic dishes. This thick stew is cooked from a sticky rice base and served with meat (although a vegetarian version is available), sliced long beans, and wood ear mushrooms. Flavoring the stew are some rare and exotic ingredients, such as chewy bits of buffalo skin and aromatic peppertree bark. While the flavor is subtly spiced and the dish is pleasantly hearty, the variously chewy, crunchy, and soft ingredients are also a textural treat.

Kualao also has an admirable commitment to producing its own homemade ingredients. The delectable Luang Prabang-style sausages are grilled such that the skins have that perfect combination of chewiness and crispiness, and they’re served with a savoury jaew paste for dipping. What’s more, the sausages are made in-house, as is the traditional padaek fermented fish sauce used for flavoring a great many of the dishes.

Indeed, there is an entire section of the menu devoted to seasonally available delicacies. Of course, the seasonality means that much of that menu may be unavailable at any given time—presently, the only offering which is ‘in season’ is khai mot, or ant eggs. Diners can choose between an ant egg soup and a koi style dish, which is a kind of Lao salad featuring meat, usually raw, with sliced shallots and other flavorful bits, all tossed in a thin, acidic sauce, not unlike a ceviche. The koi khai mot is a must-have, with the delicious and mild ant eggs popping in one’s mouth, releasing a slightly tangy and nutty flavor. The acidic sauce dressing the dish is also nicely balanced between sour, salty, and savory, prominently featuring the restaurant’s homemade padaek.

Mushroom connoisseurs may wish to make a trip to Kualao especially during the rainy season, when matsutake mushrooms are in season in Xieng Khouang, as the menu also features an entire section of preparations of wild-gathered matsutake, known as hed wai in Lao. However, for those of us not fortunate enough in our timing, there is also a house special matsutake-infused lao kao whiskey available year-round. While the drink is reputed to have some health benefits, it is also quite powerful, yet the flavor is subtle and excellent, with a very dry and earthy aroma which recalls the superb flavor of the matsutake. For those who shy away from hard liquor, the restaurant also offers a full wine list.

Guests with a sweet tooth won’t be let down, either, due to the selection of homemade traditional Lao dessert items. The house special dessert is a take on nam wan bua loi, a common market snack that typically features an assortment of balls of rice starch, nuts, and legumes in a cool, sweetened coconut milk soup. The twist here is the addition of fresh fruit which, paired with the less-than-usual sweetness of the coconut milk, makes for a refreshing and healthy dessert.

Kualao’s extensive menu offers a wide variety of excellent homemade Lao food, while the beautifully restored historic environs of the building and the tastefully coiffed wait staff add an upscale flair. Lastly, on weekdays from 7:00 pm, a house band, which features two professors of music from the National University of Laos, plays relaxing and melodious traditional Lao music. Additionally, dancers clad in a variety of ethnic garb periodically appear to accompany the musicians, performing the graceful and entrancing movements of traditional Lao dance.

Kualao Restaurant is located at 134 Rue Samsenthai, and opens daily for lunch from 11:00 until 2:00, and again for dinner from 6:00 until 10:00. While walk-ins are certainly welcome, reservations are recommended, particularly during the peak dinner hours when the music and dance performance is ongoing. Private dining rooms are also available.

https://www.kualaorestaurant.com

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/04/02/experience-the-authentic-flavors-of-laos-at-historic-kualao-restaurant/

The American business magazine, Forbes, published an article on Thursday calling Laos the most charming country in Southeast Asia.

According to Forbes, while the country may lack a tropical coastline, it makes up for it with scenic mountainous landscapes, flourishing rice paddies, and the stunning Mekong River that flows through its land.

Forbes praised Laos for its “fascinating array of cultural attractions, outdoor experiences, and timeless charm,” as it is largely untouched by commercial development.

The article highlighted Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, as “an overlooked jewel of Southeast Asia” for its rich heritage and traditions, including the daily alms-giving ceremony where locals offer sticky rice, crackers, or cookies to monks, which remains an enduring attraction.

For an immersive cultural experience, the article recommended Orange Robe Tours, a social enterprise that employs former novices and monks as guides around Luang Prabang. Through their tours, visitors can gain a unique and insightful perspective into the life of a Buddhist monk and aid in their transition from monastic to regular life.

The capital city of Vientiane and the popular tourist town Vang Vieng were mentioned in the article as well which offered up food and hotel recommendations for the discerning traveler alongside interesting activities one could indulge in.

The Laos-China Railway which recently launched an app for online bookings also received a special mention for making travel within the country much more convenient.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/03/31/forbes-names-laos-as-se-asias-most-charming-country/