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Inspiration: The Colorful Laos
Laos – a country of stunning
nature and resilient people.
More and more tourists discover this landlocked Asian
nation and its UNESCO sites,
urban landmarks and unique
shrines.
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In s p i r a t i o n : T h e C o l o r f u l L a o s
Laos – The Jewel of the Mekong
A landlocked country nestled between Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, China and Myanmar;
Laos is often overlooked on the generic tourist trip to South East Asia. This said, in the last
few years more and more people are choosing
Laos as their magical new destination, one of
the few countries in the region that remains
unspoilt by modern development, political
tensions and pollution. A country where Buddhist beliefs and traditions are still genuinely
practiced where more than 48 ethnic minorities with diverse dress and traditions can be
seen authentically going about their daily routines and the last place that still truly feels like
the romantic former Indochina.
Luang Prabang is by far the most popular
and fastest growing destination in Laos usually stealing the travelers’ heart upon arrival.
Encircled by mountains and located between
the Mekong and Nam Kham rivers the former
royal capital and UNESCO World Heritage site
features a majestic blend of gilded temples,
decadent French colonial architecture and
breathtaking natural scenery. It is resplendent
of early 20th century Indochina and attracts a
number of high end tourists due to its natural beauty, the many fine French restaurants,
wine bars and deluxe boutique hotels. Luang
Prabang is also a popular destination for those
seeking nature and soft adventure with many
activities such as kayaking, elephant riding,
trekking and biking located nearby the town,
not to forget the beautiful waterfalls and historic Pak Ou Caves. A great way to visit the
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stunning temples and peaceful scenery is by
environmentally friendly Electrical Bicycle.
Tourists choosing to travel by land from Luang
Prabang to the Laos capital of Vientiane usually
opt to do so stopping overnight at either Vang
Vieng or Phonsavan. Vang Vieng is a laid back
town popular with backpackers and famous
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for tubing, bars and caves and set amongst a
striking mountainous panorama. Phonsavan is
home to the mysterious Plain of Jars, a huge
archaeological complex covered by plenty
2000 year old stone jars sized from 70 cm up
to 3 or 4 meters. Their origin is unknown, it
seems that they were carved into boulders,
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several researches lead by the French archaeologist Madeleine Colani in the 1930’s suggest
that they could be old graves, but presently it
stays an enigma. The Laos Capital itself is not
hugely popular tourist destination but does
offer some interesting activities for niche markets including an exploration into Buddhism
and orchid trekking.
Another choice destination is Pakse in the
south, an interesting small town with some
colonial and Chinese buildings and a huge
local market selling fresh food. Pakse is close
to most of the main attractions in Southern
Laos including; the prestigious pre-angkorian
temples of Wat Phou, the Bolaven Plateau and
its coffee plantations and waterfalls as well as
the quiet and relaxing 4000 islands.
The biggest challenge for tourism growth in
Laos is that it does not have any land marks
to make it a ‘must visit’ destination. Whilst
most people who do visit describe the coun-
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try as ‘Heaven on Earth’ and regret not having included more time in Laos when planning
their trip they did not know just how beautiful it is before they arrived as there is limited
information provided online or in travel brochures and magazines promoting Laos.
Another challenge Laos tourism faces is that
it is a land locked country with no major airport and therefore dependent on its neighbors
and transit cities such as Bangkok and Hanoi
for people to access the country.
As the country continues to grow and more
people are exposed via different media to its
charm and beauty Laos is sure to attract more
travelers and tourists looking for a unique
experience or just to relax and enjoy the architecture and nature of this timeless country.
By Georgie Walsh (Exotissimo Travel Laos, Product
Manager)
http://www.exotissimo.com
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In s p i r a t i o n : T h e C o l o r f u l L a o s
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Tourism Industry:
Development and Fees
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In s p i r a t i o n : T h e C o l o r f u l L a o s
The Lao government has put forward a number of incentive policies for the tourist industry in 2010 and increased its investment in the
sector in an effort to raise the number of visitors to the country.
In 2009, the Lao government approved 16
projects for restaurants and hotels with a total
investment of 44 million USD.
The number of businesses investing in restaurants and hotels has substantially increased,
placing the tourism sector in the top five sectors to receive the largest amount of investment in Laos, totaling 235 million USD during
the 2001-2009 period. At present, Laos has 357
hotels and over 1,120 resorts and restaurants.
In addition to investing in upgrading its
infrastructure and making it easier for tourists to visit the country, the Lao government
has also recently exempted visas for citizens
from Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia and
almost all ASEAN countries. The country is also
considering visa exemptions for tourists from
European countries.
However according to a business plan of the
recently established Lao Tourism Marketing
Board the authorities intend to charge tourists up to US$2 a visit to finance its overseas
promotions. A provisional non-elected board
has been appointed which will introduce to
the Lao travel industry a business model and a
proposed strategy to charge tourists to finance
its promotions.
The decision to charge tourists as much as
US$2 to underwrite overseas marketing programmes still requires government legislation
to approve a collection process and ensure
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the funds can be legally passed on to the
LTMB.
Based on 2009 tourism data, Laos attracted
2,008,363 million tourists, which would give
the board an annual promotion budget of
US$4,016,760 million, less collection costs.
Fees would be collected at all international air
and land immigration checkpoints.
Travel associations such as the Pacific Asia
Travel Association and IATA, which represents
airlines, worldwide, both criticize governments
for adding taxes and fees to travel costs claiming the practice discourages travel.
http://en.vietnamplus.vn
http://www.ttrweekly.com
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In s p i r a t i o n : T h e C o l o r f u l L a o s
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Vientiane City:
Temples and Museums
In s p i r a t i o n : T h e C o l o r f u l L a o s
livestock in some of the best alluvial lowlands
of Laos. Before 1975 the city was the principal
stock shipping and slaughtering centre of the
country.
Since the shift in the country's import trade
from Vietnam to Thailand, Vientiane has
replaced Pakse to the southeast as Laos's principal port of entry. Nowadays, Vientiane with
a population of 464,000 and an area of 180
square kilometers, is the center of culture,
commerce and administration in Laos. Street
signs are mostly written in Lao script only.
The main streets in the central district are: Th
Samsenthai, which is the main shopping area,
Th Setthathirat , where several of the most
famous temples are located and Th Fa Ngunn,
which runs along the river . To the southeast
is the mostly local residential district of Sisattanak and to the west is the similarly residential Sikhottabong. Among the landmarks are:
That Luang Stupa (Great Sacred
Stupa)
Originally built in 1566 by King Saysethathirath, That Luang Stupa was rebuilt in 1953.
The golden stupa stands 45 meters tall and
Vientiane City was founded during the late 13th
century, and in the mid-16th century the capital of the Lao kingdom (a state known as Lane
Xang) was moved to Vientiane from its previous
traditional location at Luang Prabang. In 1778
Vientiane came under Siamese control; in 1828
it was sacked and destroyed when the subject
Laotian king revolted against Siamese hegemony. From 1899 to 1953, with the exception of
the Japanese occupation in 1945, Vientiane was
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in succession the seat of the French governor
and the French administrative capital.
Vientiane still has some of its older wooden
structures, despite its government offices, foreign embassies, and schools. Its modern industries include brewing, lumber processing, and
the manufacture of brick, tile, textiles, cigarettes, matches, detergents, plastic bags, rubber sandals, and iron and steel. The Lao farmers of the surrounding area tend rice, corn, and
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In s p i r a t i o n : T h e C o l o r f u l L a o s
is believed to contain a relic of Lord Buddha.
Today it is the nation’s most important cultural
monument. Symbolizing the coming together
of all Lao people it holds a special place in
the national psyche. The gold colored centerpiece of this stupa echoes the curve of an
elongated Lotus bud. The shrine is the focus
for the annual That Luang Festival. The festival
is celebrated for 7 days and nights during the
twelfth full moon of the Buddhist lunar calendar where monks are presented with flower
offerings and residents enjoy traditional cultural performances
Ho Pra Keo Museum
Previously the ancient temple, it was built
in 1565 by King Saysethathirath to house the
Emerald Buddha (lost to the Siamese in 1828)
as his personal place of worship. For this reason and unlike other temples in Laos, monks
have not taken up residence here. During the
1970’s the temple was converted from a place
of worship into a museum and it now houses
nation’s finest collection of Buddhist sculpture
and artifacts
Wat Sisaket Temple
This temple is located in the center of the old
city and was built in 1818 by King Anouvong
and is Vientiane’s oldest remaining temple having survived the destruction of the city by the
Siamese in 1828. The oldest monastery stands
intact in its original form and certainly is one of
the most interesting in the country. Inside the
main hall, the courtyard walls house hundreds
of little niches and shelves containing a total of
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6,840 Buddha images. Ho Trai is a hall containing many Buddhist manuscripts, which were
published in the 18th century.
Patuxay Monument
The memorial monument of Patuxay is perhaps the most prominent landmark in the city.
It was constructed in its prominent position
on Lanexang Avenue in 1958. While the archi-
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tecture was inspired by the Arc de Triomphe
in Paris the design incorporates typical Lao
motifs including “Kinnari”, a mythical birdwoman. Energetic visitors can climb to the top
of the monument, which reveals an excellent
panoramic view of the city.
http://www.tourismindochina.com
http://www.laotourism.org
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In s p i r a t i o n : T h e C o l o r f u l L a o s
Luang Prabang:
The Spiritual Heart of Laos
Luang Prabang is rich in cultural heritage, and
is known as the seat of Lao culture, with monasteries, monuments traditional costumes and
surrounded by many types of nature's beauty.
In 1995 UNESCO declared Luang Prabang a
World Heritage Site. This distinction confirms,
through the concerted action of local, national
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and international authorities, a real motivation
to preserve this wonderfully serene city. The
title is justified not only by the many beautiful temples, but also by its traditional wooden
dwellings, the old colonial style houses and the
natural environment that encases it in a perfect harmony of plant and stone.
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Luang Prabang is situated in the centre of
northern Laos. The province has a total population of just over 400,000 that includes 12 distinct ethnic groups. The Khmu are the largest
ethnic group in the province and make up the
majority (about 44%) of the provincial population. They are a Mon-Khmer speaking people
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known for their knowledge of the forest, and
they are believed to be the original inhabitants
of Laos. The Hmong are the second most populous ethnic minority.
Archaeological evidence suggests that Luang
Prabang has been inhabited since at least
8,000 BC. The first Laos kingdom, Lane Xang,
was founded here in the 14th century by King
Fa Ngum after he conquered and unified the
lands of modern-day Xiengkhouang , the Khorat Plateau and Luang Prabang.
The city was first reffered to as Muang Swa
and by 1357 the name was again changed
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to Muang Xieng Dong Xieng Thong by local
inhabitants. Shortly thereafter, King Fa Ngum
accepted a golden Buddha image called the
Pha Bang as a gift from the Khmer monarchy
and the thriving city-state became known as
Luang Prabang.
Luang Prabang was the capital of Lane Xang
until moved to Vientiane in 1545 by King Setthathirath (although Luang Prabang remained the
country's main religious centre). The city's first
contact with western emissaries occurred in
the mid 17th century during the reign of King
Surigna Vongsa. After his death in 1694, Lane
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In s p i r a t i o n : T h e C o l o r f u l L a o s
Xang broke up into three separate Kingdoms;
Vientiane, Champasack and Luang Prabang.
By the late 19th century Luang Prabang was
under attack by marauding Black Flag bandits
who destroyed many sacred Buddha images,
temples and historical documents. Under
King Sisavang Vong (1904-1959) a number of
restoration and beautification projects were
launched, many of which are still evident
today. French-style buildings began to appear
in the later 1800's, adding to the mixture of
Lao, Tai-Lue, Burmese, Chinese and Tai architecture.
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In s p i r a t i o n : T h e C o l o r f u l L a o s
the waterfall, but they can swim in the various
pools at the bottom. On the road out to Kuang
Si Waterfall, there are a number of villages
housing traditional hydro-rice mills.
Tad Sae Falls
Located 15 kms southeast of Luang Prabang,
the falls can easily be reached by taxi. The picturesque journey allows visitors to admire the
countryside, while the falls themselves are
small but impressive. It is not unusual for visitors to have the falls to themselves. Swimming
is possible in some of the tiered pools and at
the base of the falls.
Ban Phanom
Landmarks
National Museum
The National Museum, constructed in 1904,
is laid out in a cruciform shape and accessed
from a side entrance. Various royal religions
objects are displayed in the large entrance
hall. Many gifts from foreign envoys (including a rock from the moon !) and religious and
culture artifacts are on display including the
Phabang (‘ Buddha image’), the gold standing
14th century Buddha image from which Luang
Prabang derives its name.
Wat Xieng Thong
Built during the 16th Century by King Saysetthathirath and completed in 1560. Wat
Xieng Thong temple is one of the most interesting examples of art and Buddhist architecture.
The ornate carved and gilded funeral vehicle of
the former king is kept in one of the buildings
in the temple grounds.
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This temple was used to organize the highest Royal Ceremonies and houses the bones
of King Sisavangvong. The intricate golden
facades, colorful murals, glass mosaics and
unique three-layered roof make this one of the
most beautiful temples in Asia. The temple is
not only the most beautiful in Luang Prabang,
but arguably one of the most spectacular in
the entire country. It is a classic example of
Luang Prabang style during the golden year
of the Lane Xang kingdom and is noted for its
gratefully sloping roof and glass murals.
Kuang Si Waterfall
Situated 25 km south of Luang Prabang,
Kuang Si Waterfall makes for an excellent daytrip. Accessible by Tuk –Tuk, minivan, Motorcycle or bicycle. The 650 feet high waterfall is
at its most picturesque during the wet season
however it can be visited year-round. Children
are not recommended to climb to the top of
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This village, located 4 km to the north of
Luang Prabang, was a former royal weaving village, and is now an official tourism village. You
can view women working on their looms, buy
their products and stroll in the village; it can be
reached by bicycle or Tuk-Tuk.
Ban Xieng Mene
Located across the Mekong from Luang Prabang Town in Chomphet District; Ban Xieng
Mene is part of the World Heritage Site and
offers a glimpse into Lao village life. There are
several temples worth visiting in the village,
including Vat Chomphet (visible up on the hill)
which offers a spectacular view of Luang Prabang Town and the Mekong. Ban Xieng Mene
is also the starting point for several short walks
and bike-rides in the district, as well as longer
two and three day treks.
http://www.tourismlaos.org