Classic rock ’n’ roll-themed restaurant, Hard Rock Cafe, has announced its reopening in Vientiane Capital this month.

While Vientiane is bubbling with excellent restaurants, bars, and venues where people can enjoy cold beer and spicy Laotian cuisine, a Hard Rock Cafe opening in the city’s center adds a new element to the scene.

It is not the first time that Hard Rock Cafe has had a place in this city, but this time it will provide a new location and new exciting and energetic vibe.

Right at the entrance of Hard Rock Cafe Vientiane, behind an iconic mural at the Rock Shop, guests can purchase signature merchandise, while local guests and visitors can enjoy one-of-a-kind live music and entertainment. The venue includes a room for up to 160 diners, two floors for eating and live music, and two bars for handcrafted cocktails and local brews.

Throughout the Hard Rock Cafe Vientiane, guests will see a display of iconic memorabilia pieces from legendary musicians from around the globe.

“We are glad that Vientiane – Laos is again an official member of the Hard Rock Cafe family. We are ready to make a positive impact on the hospitality industry and brand standards. We bring the spirit and philosophy of the brand to a country rich in traditions by presenting a modern vision of a remarkable restaurant,” said Tom Pérez, Vice President of Franchise Operations, at Hard Rock International.

The new venue is located downtown on Setthathirath Road close to the hotels and restaurants surrounding the Nam Phou Fountain.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/01/27/ready-to-rock-hard-rock-cafe-officially-reopens-in-vientiane/

Lao Skyway has added an additional weekly Thursday morning flight between Vientiane Capital and Xayaboury.

According to the Lao Skyway Facebook page, the airline has added an extra flight between Vientiane Capital to Xayaboury and vice versa on Thursday, making it a daily morning flight.

There will be one daily return flight every day between the two provinces. The flight departs Vientiane at 10:00 am and arrives in Xayaboury at 10:40 am. Another flight will depart Xayaboury at 11:15 am and arrive in Vientiane Capital at 11:55 am.

Lao Skyway first launched its flight between Vientiane Capital and Xayaboury in January last year, operating every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

According to the airline’s recent schedule, the airline is currently operating direct domestic flights to and from Luang Prabang, Phongsaly, Xayaboury, Pakse, Luang Namtha, Houaphanh, Oudomxay, and Xieng Khouang provinces.

Recently, Lao Airlines has also added an extra flight on its Vientiane-Pakse route that will operate every Sunday morning.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/01/26/lao-skyway-to-operate-additional-flight-to-xayaboury-every-thursday/

Vat Phou Festival, an annual religious festival that draws crowds of tourists in Champasack Province, will be held from 3 to 5 February this year.

Vientiane Times reports that the Deputy head of the Provincial Infomation, Culture, and Tourism Department, Mr. Soulin Phetthany, told the media that this year’s festival has a varied program featuring concerts by performers from neighboring countries, cultural shows, and parades.

The three-day celebration will include light shows, processions, recitals, chanting, almsgiving, and praying in surrounding areas of the temple.

According to Champa Meungalao magazine, Vat Phou, which translates to “mountain temple”, was initially dedicated to Shiva, one of the gods of the Hindu Trimurti. The unique layout of Khmer architecture found at Vat Phou gained it a UNESCO World Heritage label in 2001.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/01/26/champasack-to-organize-vat-phou-festival-next-month/

Provincial authorities in Salavanh province plan to develop Hang and Loh waterfalls, two local waterfalls in Salavanh district, to attract domestic and international visitors.

KPL reports that Mr. Somchai Ounchit, Deputy Governor of Salavanh Province, and authorities from the Provincial Information, Tourism, and Culture Division visited the sites last week to observe and collect information.

According to the Government Office Website, the Tad Loh waterfall is about 31 kilometers away from the city and the waterfall originates from the Xe Set River, which begins in the province of Sekong; it is around 10 meters tall and was established in 1986.

The local word Loh means “penis,” according to the folklore of ethnic minority groups in the area.

Salavanh province plans to improve the local infrastructure as well as upgrade resorts and hotels that were neglected during the Covid-19 pandemic in order to better accommodate tourists.

Tad Yuang Waterfall Travel Development Company, a tourism developer, has been tasked with upgrading tourist attractions in a natural way to maintain the national identity of the sites.

Visitors will be able to hike, camp, and engage in adventurous activities at the waterfalls and surrounding areas once the sites are improved.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/01/24/salavanh-to-improve-penis-waterfall-to-attract-visitors/

After highlighting Pakse as one of Asia’s most underrated places in December, CNN has yet again shed a spotlight on Laos as one of the best places one should visit in 2023. 

As international travel is slowly but steadily coming up to speed after over two years of Covid-19 disruptions, CNN has recommended a list of 23 countries that deserve a visit in the new year. And Laos, a country that has always been a favorite of travelers reveling in the joys of slow travel, is one of them.

The article says, “thanks to the 2021 opening of a semi-high-speed railway, it’s easier than ever to get around the country at a quicker pace, shaving hours off journeys that previously took full days to travel.”

It also points out that tourists might have to make some tough choices as from the north to the south of the country, there is plenty to see in Laos.

“Towering karst peaks await visitors to adventure-haven Vang Vieng, while UNESCO-listed Luang Prabang is filled with French-colonial heritage, Buddhist ritual, and natural beauty. (Luxury seekers will want to check into the Rosewood Luang Prabang, with its stylish hilltop tents)

“The mysterious Plain of Jars, a megalithic archaeological site, can be found in the Xieng Khouang Plateau. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience that makes a difference, head for Bokeo Province and join one of the Gibbon Experience’s overnight treks. Guests of this tourism-based conservation project spend the night in the world’s tallest treehouses — only accessible by zipline — among wild, black-crested gibbons,” it adds.

Prominent global media outlets like Wanderlust and Fodor’s, have also echoed the sentiment that Laos should feature in every traveler’s bucket list in 2023.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/01/03/laos-is-one-of-cnns-best-destinations-to-visit-in-2023/

Buddha Park, also known as Wat Xieng Khuan has been selected as the first local national heritage listing in Hatsaifong District, Vientiane Capital.

KPL reports that the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism deemed the park as a local National Heritage site after a survey of proposed sites.

Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Mr. Vansy Kuamua, and Mayor of Hatsaifong District, Mr. Bounpheng Sinavongphone, along with other government officials, attended the ceremony to announce the news and unveil the new gate to the sculpture park that was constructed during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The ministry plans to list more places of cultural or historical significance as national heritage sites between 2021 and 2025, including the Tinsoy Stupa in Pakngum District, and a sacred well in Phonexay Temple in Saysettha District.

Also a major tourist attraction, the Buddha park has over 200 statues and is located about 25 kilometers from the city center in a meadow beside the Mekong river.

Laos continues to restore ancient and sacred sites to ensure accessibility and improve facilities for domestic and international tourists during the peak travel season. The renovation of Nam Phou Square in Vientiane Capital is now complete as well, with the iconic fountain and surrounding park officially handed over to the public.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/12/23/buddha-park-in-vientiane-capital-listed-as-national-heritage-site/

In an article published on its website on Wednesday, CNN mentioned Champasack’s Pakse district as one of the top underrated places in Asia.

While acknowledging the obvious charms of the “elegant Luang Prabang and adventure-loving Vang Vieng” CNN says in the article, “Pakse is diverse, pulsing and modern. It has buildings left over from the days of French colonialism, but these days Vietnamese and Chinese communities bring their foods, traditions, and references alongside the existing Lao presence.

While in town, head up to the giant gold Buddha at Wat Pho Salao, stroll along the Mekong at sunset, and then go off to the Bolaven Plateau to get deeper into the jungle.”

Jason Rolan, an American traveler and tourism professional in Laos, also echoed CNN’s sentiment in giving more recognition to the place.

He said, “Pakse is often overlooked as merely a stopover for trips in Southern Laos, but it’s finally time it gets the attention it deserves.”

“From delicious food to interesting neighborhoods downtown, as well as some of the country’s best coffee, there is a lot to love. It’s well worth the climb to the top of Phou Salao to pay respects to the huge Buddha that presides over the city, as well as admiring the view over the area.”

Last month, Laos made it to the top five travel spots for slow travel in 2023 by National Geographic for its “community-led conservation efforts; groundbreaking work in ecotourism, sustainability, and inclusive travel; and meaningful ways for travelers to give back”.

Earlier this month, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay also hailed Laos as the top food destination in the world saying that “food was just off the charts”.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/12/21/cnn-lists-pakse-as-one-of-asias-most-underrated-places/

he launch of a cross-border payment service from Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public (BCEL), and South Korean company GLN International, will provide more convenient payment options for Korean visitors in Laos.

An official ceremony to inaugurate the service was held between BCEL and GLN International Korea (GLN) which is a globally integrated platform that offers cross-border use of digital assets and benefits around the world.

Mr. Nanthalath Keopaseuth, Deputy Director of BCEL, and Mr. Han Jun Seong, President of GLN International Company, signed the partnership in the presence of witnesses from the Bank of Lao PDR.

This service will allow GLN’s registered wallet users to make cross-border QR code payments at merchants who use BCEL’s OnePay and they can also make cash withdrawals at BCEL’s ATM by scanning the QR code on their GLN registered wallet app.

Over 100 shops and service providers accept this form of payment, particularly in tourist areas of Vientiane Capital, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, according to the bank. There are plans to expand these services to other provinces and towns as well.

BCEL also recently announced that customers would now be able to receive international bank transfers directly into their accounts through MoneyGram.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/12/23/laos-korea-allow-qr-payments-for-travelers/

Renovation of Nam Phou Square in Vientiane Capital is now complete, with the iconic fountain and surrounding park officially handed over to the public.

The government approved the return of the Nam Phou area to the government in June, stating that as an important heritage site, Nam Phou Fountain should be open for public use.

The concession holder, AIDC (AIF Group), agreed to return the site to the government without compensation, according to a statement issued by the company.

Nam Phou’s deteriorating condition in the mid-2000s caused the government to privatize the public area, granting AIF Group (AIDC) a 30-year concession on the 4,000-square-meter site.

Lots of green space at the newly renovated Nam Phou Square in Vientiane Capital.
Lots of green space at the newly renovated Nam Phou Square in Vientiane Capital.

In 2017, the fountain was transformed into a live music venue with double-storey restaurants and bars. After the closure of entertainment venues during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Nam Phou area was eventually converted into a cursory skate park.

But criticism from the public led the government to propose the site be returned to public use in its original form.

Nam Phou Square has now been renovated and returned to something more befitting a public space, with trees, green areas, and public seating.

Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh visited the fountain on Wednesday to preside over a handover ceremony and art exhibition that officially brings the treasured public space back to the people.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/12/22/vientianes-iconic-nam-phou-square-officially-handed-back-to-public/

With Laos reopening its borders after two years in May 2022, international tourists from all over have been visiting the country and providing an encouraging boost to its tourism industry. The buzz is so positive that Laos has even earned a coveted spot on National Geographic’s Best of the World list for 2023, so plan your trip and pack your bags.

While there is a unique charm to Laos in every season, one of the most popular times to visit is between October and March when the country experiences warm and dry weather. To luxuriate in even cooler weather during this time, one could also head to Northern Laos, where temperatures in villages surrounded by mountains might even require you to put on a jumper!

The dry season is especially conducive for outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, exploring caves, tubing, kayaking, or taking a slow boat ride down a river as well.

From April to September, Laos experiences hot and humid weather thanks to the scorching sun and refreshing rainfall. However, the monsoon season is also a special time to witness nature take on a lush green color and resplendent waterfalls shroud nearby areas with a magical mist.

It is always advisable for tourists to prepare for the weather and embrace the Lao philosophy of bo pen yang, or “never mind”, should plans need to be adjusted. 

Laos has festivals all year round so whether you visit in April, October, or any month in between, there will be majestic cultural festivals to enjoy.

Learn more about Lao culture and places to visit at the Lao Simply Beautiful Facebook Page.