South Korea’s Biggest Low Cost Carrier Expands Flights to Laos and Vietnam

Jeju Air, South Korea’s largest low-cost carrier, will start operating flights between Laos and Korea from 20 April.

The company stated that flights will commence after three years of suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jeju Air plans to resume services on its Incheon to Vientiane, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh routes.

In 2019, the budget carrier operated eight routes to five Vietnamese cities namely Danang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc. However, most of the routes were suspended in early 2020 when the Covid pandemic adversely affected the airline industry.

Last year the company resumed flights from Incheon to Danang and Nha Trang, along with the Busan-Da Nang route as the travel industry began to revive its operations in June 2022 after many countries reopened their borders for international travel.

Jeju Air aims to turn around this year after reporting losses for three consecutive years as eased Covid restrictions have led to demand for travel going up again, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Laos has also seen an increase in tourism following its reopening in May last year. Experts predict the numbers to increase by a large margin, with Laos mentioned by several notable news agencies as one of the top destinations to visit in 2023.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/02/10/south-koreas-biggest-low-cost-carrier-expands-flights-to-laos-and-vietnam/

Laos Prepares to Host ASEAN Tourism Forum in 2024

As ASEAN Chair in 2024, Laos will also host the ASEAN Tourism Forum in January, allowing nations in the bloc to discuss matters related to travel and tourism.

TTG Weekly reports that the Travel Exchange (TRAVEX), a regional marketplace and fair for ASEAN country members, will be held at the Lao-ITECC Exhibition Centre in Vientiane Capital, but the location of the conference has yet to be publicized.

Ms. Sengsoda Vanthanouvong, Deputy Director-General of the Tourism Marketing Department under the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, said she expects about 350 businesses from across Southeast Asia and 200 visitors will participate next year.

“It will be an opportunity for Laos to showcase new products and services in Vientiane and elsewhere, as well as our local hospitality to tourism professionals,” she said.

ASEAN foreign ministers met on Saturday in Yogyakarta, Indonesia to discuss collaborative ways to carry out the 2016-2025 ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP).

Mrs. Suanesavanh Vignaket, Minister of Culture, Information, and Tourism, who attended the event, told the media that by hosting the ATF in 2024, Laos aims to strengthen its cooperation and further improve its tourism products in order to attract more international tourists and contribute to the local community.

Laos last hosted the ASEAN Tourism Forum in 2013 in the capital city of Vientiane.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/02/10/laos-prepares-to-host-asean-tourism-forum-in-2024/

Laos Featured in Australian Travel Publication Among Best Places to Visit in 2023

Laos has been listed by an Australian travel publication as one of the best places to visit this year.

Traveller, an Australian online publication, has highlighted Laos among 10 countries in the 25 hottest destinations in 2023.

The article reads, “Anyone who has visited Laos in the past would know well its laidback charms, from the deeply cultural beauty of Luang Prabang to the adventure capital of Vang Vieng and the youthful energy of Vientiane.”

“What they would also know is the time necessary to get around this undulating, landlocked country, on winding roads aboard cramped minivans.”

But the story introduces the newly-completed Laos-China Railway, which connects Vientiane Capital to the northern provinces.

“However, things have changed. This year Laos welcomed the opening of the China-funded Boten-Vientiane railway, a high-speed rail link between the nation’s capital and its northern border.”

“The train calls through tourist favorites such as Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, and Muang Xay, and has totally changed the game for independent travelers hoping to see the country quickly and comfortably.”

“Vientiane to Luang Prabang, for example, takes two hours on the train – the drive is six-and-a-half. Get here and experience this country before everyone else does.”

Laos is quickly becoming the “it country” for travel in 2023, topping the travel lists of several renowned publications, including CNN, National Geographic, Wanderlust, and Fodor’s.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/01/27/laos-featured-in-australian-travel-publication-as-best-place-to-visit-in-2023/

Ready to Rock? Hard Rock Cafe Officially Reopens in Vientiane

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 to Operate Additional Flight to Xayaboury Every Thursday

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/

Champasack to Organize Vat Phou Festival This Month

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/

Salavanh to Improve Southern Waterfall to Attract Visitors

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/

Laos is One of CNN’s Best Destinations to Visit in 2023

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 in Vientiane Capital Listed as National Heritage Site

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/

CNN Lists Pakse as One of Asia’s Most Underrated Places

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/