Lodkeo Inthakoumman, a Lao athlete with multiple accolades under her belt, won two gold medals at the 83rd Open Track and Field Championships 2023 in Singapore on Thursday.
Lao Athletics Federation reports that 28-year-old Lodkeo finished in first place in the Women’s 10,000-meter run and Women’s 5,000-meter run.
The Lao runner raced ahead of her two competitors from Singapore, including 35 -year-old Máire Nic Amhlaoibh who completed the run at 39 minutes, and 23-year-old Bernice Tan who finished at 46 minutes in the Women’s 10,000-meter run.
Lao athletes won a total of three gold medals at the event, including Xaidavanh Vongsavanh at the Men’s Long Jump, and 2 bronze medals from Silina Pha Aphay, Khanmalaiphone Bounyaveun, Kongkham Kheuabmavong, and Xaidavanh Vongsavanh in Mixed 4×100 Meter Relay.
At 23, Malaysia won the most medals among 7 countries participating in the event, followed by Singapore with 20, Chinese Taipei with 9, Laos and Thailand with 5 each, the Philipines with 3, and South Korea with 4.
Lodkeo holds several running records from the 2013 South East Asian Games in Myanmar, the 2016 ASEAN University Games, the 2017 South East Asian Games in Malaysia, and other local and regional competition programs.
She told the Laotian Times that she hopes to win a medal for running in 1,500, 5,000, and 10,000 meters at this year’s SEA Games in Cambodia.
This month, three female runners and two male runners will represent Laos at the upcoming SEA Games in Cambodia. Athletes from Laos will compete in 32 out of the 46 sports at the SEA Games in Cambodia from 5-17 May.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/05/03/lao-star-runner-lodkeo-inthakoumman-wins-two-gold-medals-in-singapore/
Lao President Pays respect to the late king Norodom Sihanouk During Phnom Penh Visit
President Thongloun Sisoulith laid wreaths at the Independence Monument and the Royal Monument Statue to pay his respect to the late king Norodom Sihanouk, during his visit to Phnom Penh on 4 May.
The Lao President is currently on a three-day official visit to Cambodia after receiving an invitation from Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni.
The Lao leader had an audience with the monarch, before going to pay respects to the king’s late father. The President also received courtesy calls from Senate President Say Chhum and National Assembly President Heng Samrin, Fresh News Asia reports.
During his state visit to Phnom Phenh, President Thongloun will also meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen, to discuss efforts to further deepen bilateral cooperation between the two nations, reported Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Additionally, President Thongloun will be making an appearance at the opening ceremony of the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 5 May as the nation hosts its historic first SEA games.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/05/04/lao-president-pays-respect-to-late-cambodian-king-during-phnom-penh-visit/
Sustainable Tourism Can Conserve Environment, Says Tourism Official
Ms. Sengsoda Vanthanouvong, Deputy Director of the Tourism Promotion Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICT) recently spoke about the impact of tourism on the environment at an event aimed at raising awareness for sustainable tourism.
She emphasized that while tourism is one of the fastest-developing industries in the world, it can have both positive and negative effects on the environment.
Sengsoda suggested that sustainable tourism is key to conserving the environment and that stakeholders in the tourism industry should be involved in the restoration and conservation of natural resources necessary to maintain them in their natural state.
According to Sengsoda, sustainable tourism is essential for conserving the environment, particularly in addressing pollution issues related to air, water, and soil. Effective planning, management, and implementation can make tourism eco-friendly by reducing the use of cars, fuel, and combustion. The combination of ecological conservation and sustainable tourism can benefit both sectors holistically.
She also highlighted the different types of tourism, including cultural tourism, environmental tourism, and rural tourism, and how they can benefit the local community economically and socially.
Sengsoda pointed out that the tourism industry can play a vital role in promoting environmental conservation by raising awareness and providing knowledge about environmental issues. Various forms of tourism, such as nature, culture, history, and agriculture, contribute significantly to the income of governments and local businesses.
Additionally, traveling offers an excellent opportunity to learn and appreciate different cultures and countries, making it essential to the tourism industry and environmental preservation.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/05/04/sustainable-tourism-can-conserve-environment-says-tourism-official/
Lao Star Runner Lodkeo Inthakoumman Wins Two Gold Medals in Singapore
Lodkeo Inthakoumman, a Lao athlete with multiple accolades under her belt, won two gold medals at the 83rd Open Track and Field Championships 2023 in Singapore on Thursday.
Lao Athletics Federation reports that 28-year-old Lodkeo finished in first place in the Women’s 10,000-meter run and Women’s 5,000-meter run.
The Lao runner raced ahead of her two competitors from Singapore, including 35 -year-old Máire Nic Amhlaoibh who completed the run at 39 minutes, and 23-year-old Bernice Tan who finished at 46 minutes in the Women’s 10,000-meter run.
Lao athletes won a total of three gold medals at the event, including Xaidavanh Vongsavanh at the Men’s Long Jump, and 2 bronze medals from Silina Pha Aphay, Khanmalaiphone Bounyaveun, Kongkham Kheuabmavong, and Xaidavanh Vongsavanh in Mixed 4×100 Meter Relay.
At 23, Malaysia won the most medals among 7 countries participating in the event, followed by Singapore with 20, Chinese Taipei with 9, Laos and Thailand with 5 each, the Philipines with 3, and South Korea with 4.
Lodkeo holds several running records from the 2013 South East Asian Games in Myanmar, the 2016 ASEAN University Games, the 2017 South East Asian Games in Malaysia, and other local and regional competition programs.
She told the Laotian Times that she hopes to win a medal for running in 1,500, 5,000, and 10,000 meters at this year’s SEA Games in Cambodia.
This month, three female runners and two male runners will represent Laos at the upcoming SEA Games in Cambodia. Athletes from Laos will compete in 32 out of the 46 sports at the SEA Games in Cambodia from 5-17 May.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/05/03/lao-star-runner-lodkeo-inthakoumman-wins-two-gold-medals-in-singapore/
Lao Airlines Restarts Flights From Laos to Changsha, China
Lao Airlines resumed its flight service to the central capital of Changsha in China’s Hunan province on Friday, after a long hiatus due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
The flight from Vientiane to Changsha is set to fly twice weekly on Monday and Friday as an increasing number of tourists and business travelers move across the region. Authorities believe that more connectivity between Laos and China will also boost trade and general economic activity between the two countries.
Director of Lao Airlines’ Commercial Department, Mr. Noudeng Chanthaphasouk, told Vientiane Times on Friday that the Vientiane-Changsha flight was in high demand before the pandemic, and many tourists and businesses used it. Even this time around, despite tickets only being on sale for two days before the first flight, it was 80 percent full.
“Many Chinese operating businesses in Laos come from Hunan province and many of them own shops in the Xang Jieng Market in Vientiane. That’s why the Vientiane-Changsha flight is so popular among businesspeople,” he said.
Mr. Noudeng also mentioned that Lao Airlines has received positive feedback from the Chinese market and plans to add more flights to China, to help facilitate tourism and business-related activities between the two nations. This will not only help revive tourism in Laos but also improve the country’s connectivity with the wider region and grow its economy.
Apart from Changsha, the flag carrier also operates flights to Kunming, and Guangzhou in China and also plans to start its services on more routes like Vientiane to Shanghai, Chengdu, Changzhou and Hangzhou.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/05/02/lao-airlines-restarts-flights-from-laos-to-changsha-china/
Laos and Vietnam Expand Public Security Partnership
Laos and Vietnam security officials met on Monday to strengthen their partnership in overseeing civil society issues, with a particular focus on managing censuses and issuing identity cards.
A delegation from Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security visited Laos’ Deputy Minister of Public Security and Director General of the Police Department, Major General Khamking Phouilamanivong to discuss how the two countries could cooperate in census and identity-card issuance efforts.
The two sides decided on measures that include creating a database that could store vital census-related information for the future, strengthen the relationship between the two countries, and also help in peacekeeping efforts.
At the meeting, the Vietnamese delegation pledged to assist Laos in creating a national database of citizens and issuing modern identity cards to them.
Additionally, the two ministries agreed to continue their joint efforts in suppressing the trafficking of drugs across borders, including identifying the locations used by drug producers and traffickers, apprehending suspects, and bringing cases to court for prosecution.
The partnership between Laos and Vietnam’s public security officials will also focus on tracking down and arresting suspected drug traffickers and creating drug-free villages.
source:https://laotiantimes.com/2023/04/27/laos-and-vietnam-expand-public-security-partnership/
Vientiane Buses to Stop Only at Official Bus Stops From Next Month
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/
Larb Gets Listed as One of World’s Best-Rated Salads
TasteAtlas, an experiential travel online guide for traditional food, has ranked Larb among the 50 best-rated salads in the world.
TasteAtlas ranked Larb 11th on the list of 50 best-rated salads in the world describing the cuisine as the unofficial dish of Laos, as the dish originated from the Chinese province of Yunnan before becoming deeply rooted in Lao cuisine. In the present day, it is consumed both in Laos and the bordering Isan, a region in Thailand.
The article says, “Larb typically consists of hand-minced meat, either beef, pork, chicken, duck, or fish, raw or cooked, with a souring agent such as lime juice, fish sauce, and/or padauk, a type of fermented fish sauce. The dish has endless variations and can be found throughout Southeast Asia.”
Som Tam or Papaya Salad from the northeastern part of Thailand (Isan) was ranked sixth on the list even though the article comments that Papaya Salad first appeared in Laos.
The world’s 50 best-rated salads list included Dakos, a traditional Cretan dish from Greece, which was awarded first place.
Other notable salads from Southeast Asia that made it to the list included Pecel and Gado Gado (Indonesia), Bok l’hone (Cambodia), and Phla Kung (Thailand).
Last year, CNN included two delectable dishes from Laos – Ping Khao (or Khao jee) and Naem Khao in the list of the 50 best street foods in Asia.
Source:: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/04/21/larb-gets-listed-as-one-of-worlds-best-rated-salads/
Laos All Set to Host Asean Tourism Forum 2024
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/
Vientiane Capital to Repair Roads Ahead of 2024 ASEAN Summit
Vientiane Capital is set to repair and restore its roads in preparation for the 2024 ASEAN summit and other upcoming government meetings.
Mr. Atsaphangthong Siphandone, the Mayor of Vientiane Capital, said at a government meeting that this year, the city would repair various roads and resolve traffic issues in preparation to host the ASEAN Summit next year.
Alongside mending damaged roads, authorities will also repair traffic lights, clean up pavements, and inspect permissions for construction and urban planning.
Mr. Atsaphangthong said that Vientiane Capital will primarily focus on maintaining cleanliness along the main roads in the city, focusing on the management and protection of public parks and roadside trees, as well as the development of the area around the Patuxay monument.
He added that the main drainage channels in the city will be cleaned and roadside ditches will be filled up to resolve the problem of stagnant water during monsoons. Authorities will also deploy a rescue team to clear out roads after storms.
Lao Ministry of Public Works and Transport plans to spend more than LAK 190 billion (USD 11,256,569) on road repairs and flood management in Vientiane before the ASEAN Summit in 2024.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/04/21/vientiane-capital-to-repair-roads-ahead-of-2024-asean-summit/
Laos-China Railway Releases Vientiane-Kunming Train Schedule
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/