Laos – Pang Mon border open 1st February 2020 PHAYAO: Laos will open the Pang Mon checkpoint in Sayaboury province opposite Thailand’s Ban Huak checkpoint in Phu Sang district of this northern border province on Feb 1, provincial chamber of commerce adviser Kongsak Tharanit said on Saturday. Mr Kongsak said the Sayaboury provincial governor has … Read more
Vientiane: Laos and Vietnam are preparing to upgrade two more local crossing points to official border crossings to facilitate international visits between them. The facilities to be upgraded are the Pa Hang-Long Sap crossing point between Laos’ Huaphan province and Vietnam’s Thanh Hoa province, and the Dak Ta-ok-Nam Giang crossing point between Xekong and Quang … Read more
In Vang Vieng there is a new toll free bridge across the Xong river, 5 kms upstream from town. The old bridge downtown which has been in operation as a concession for many years will continue to operate and collect a toll fee. From the Vientiane Times 23 January Vangvieng bridge users must continue … Read more
Route 118 the main artery linking Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai cities has been undergoing some painful, slow road improvements for a few years now. The original section dug up has now been completed, but there is much more under construction now as they turn the old two-lane road into a faster 4-lane highway. Much … Read more
Oudom Xai province has two new year festivals for the Khmu New Year celebration One on 13 January 2020 @ Lak Sip, on R13N, going towards Luang Namtha.. The google maps location: (This date has been moved forward one day from 14 to 13 January.) Two on 16-18 January @ the main Oudom Xai stadium. … Read more
Festivals & events in Thailand are often related to the Lunar calendar. Some Buddhist events are on full moon & some ethnic new years are related to the new moon cycle. 2020 Thailand Holidays 1st January – Wednesday: New Year’s Day. 8th February – Saturday: February Makha Bucha. 10th February – Monday: Substitution for Makha … Read more
Phayaprai on the Thai-Myanmar border has an ethnic New Year festival coming up next month. The dates 25 – 30 January 2020. The Phayaprai area on the border has a diverse mix of hill tribes – Akha, Hmong, Lisu, Lahu, plus Shan & Chinese & they will be celebrating their new year. More … Read more
Thailand’s most outrageous colourful festival is on again at Dan Sai in Loei province on the 1st weekend of July = 5-6-7 July 2019. For lots of info & trip reports on GTR visits to Dan Sai for the Phi Ta Khon festival go here on GTR Dan Sai / Phi Ta Khon 2004 … Read more
Vietnam rebuilds Forbidden City palace ravaged by war Construction has started on a megaproject to rebuild a war-destroyed palace located inside Vietnam’s ancient Forbidden City in the central city of Hue, the country’s former capital. The Kien Trung Palace, first built between 1921 and 1923 under the reign of Emperor Khai Dinh, was an important … Read more
Laotian government told to prioritise tourism to drive economic growth. Prioritise tourism to drive growth, minister advises The government should continue to prioritise tourism and involve all ministries and local administrations in the promotion of tourism to drive growth, a minister has advised. Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdara made the … Read more
For biker fans of BeerLao…..Beerlao Launches White Lager KPL) Lao Brewery Company, most known as Beerlao, launched its latest alcoholic drink “Beerlao White” in Vientiane on Feb 11. “With slight growth in the Lao beer market in recent years due to already high per capita consumption of beer, and more beer brands entering Laos giving … Read more
Motorcycles key to solving road deaths In 2015, Thailand’s road traffic death toll was the second highest in the world. Over 24,000 people were killed in road accidents, that’s 66 deaths every day. The tragedies plunged over 24,000 families into shock, grief, and anger over why so little has been done to make Thailand’s roads safer. Last year, according … Read more
John Harold Haynes OBE 25th March 1938 to 8th February 2019 It is with great sadness that we announce the death of John H Haynes OBE, the creator of the famous Haynes Manual, founder of the Haynes Publishing Group PLC and the Haynes International Motor Museum. John passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on … Read more
Off the chart: the big comeback of paper maps As Stanfords travel bookshop moves into new London premises after 118 years, its cartographer explains how the ability to tailor-make any map is keeping their magic alive Back in the fold … paper maps are enjoying a renaissance, with technology helping to element the frustration of … Read more
Cambodia yesterday set a fourth Guinness World Record by having the longest dragon boat which was certified at a ceremony in Prey Veng province. Patel Pravin Jasmastbhai, a Guinness World Records representative, announced the record after experts examined the 87.3 meter-long boat. The previous record was held by China with a 77. 80 meter-long boat in … Read more
Laos-China Railway Project funds construction of bridges at flood-hit Attapeu Four steel bridges connecting Samakhixay district to the flood-hit areas of Sanamxay district in Attapeu province have been completed with grant assistance from the Laos-China Railway Project. A ceremony to hand over the new bridges, held at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport in … Read more
NAN: Mountain runoff triggered mudslides that uprooted trees, blocked roads and damaged houses overnight in two districts of this northern province. In Chalerm Prakiat district, hours of heavy rain led to a mudslide at Pang Hok village in tambon Huai Kon in the early hours of Tuesday. Electricity wires were brought down, causing a blackout … Read more
Why are some people better at map reading than others? Three scientists have just won the Nobel Prize for Medicine for their research into how the brain ‘maps’ the spaces around us. To get behind the headlines, BBC Focus editor Graham Southorn investigates current research into our sense of direction, and why some people have … Read more
Clearance crews remove UXO from planned housing sites in Sanamxay A UXO Lao team working in Attapeu province hopes to finish clearing explosive devices from land allocated for new housing for flood victims in Sanamxay district next month. One of the sites has now been decontaminated, with technicians removing and destroying 14 cluster bombs. Temporary … Read more
Laos Has The Youngest Population In S.E. Asia KPL) The Lao PDR has a younger population than any country in Southeast Asia, with nearly 60% below the age of 25 years, and nearly 22% of the population are adolescent girls and boys, aged 10-19 years. “Young people have a significant role to play in country’s … Read more
Thailand and Laos have signed their first cooperative agreement to connect a bustling port in Chiang Saen district of Chiang Rai province with Muang Mom port on the other side of the Mekong River, to bolster trade among countries in the area including southern China. Officials signed an MoU on Thursday to promote bilateral trade and further … Read more
VIENTIANE, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) — Laos and Myanmar have approved the 12th map of the border between the two countries, which they will use as an annex to the agreement on a permanent borderline dated June 11, 1994. According to local daily Vientiane Times on Monday, the approval took place at the 13th meeting of … Read more
Motorists advised to avoid damaged roads 21 August 2018 Motorists travelling to Phongsaly province are advised to avoid sections of national roads 1A, 2E and 1B, which have been severely damaged and are blocked by landslides in places. Days of rain have made conditions hazardous and roads are very slippery in the wake of several … Read more
Landscaping Projects in Bagan May Ruin Chances of World Heritage Site Status MANDALAY — A lack of transparency in landscaping projects currently underway in Bagan, the archaeological zone in central Myanmar, has raised concerns over the safeguarding of the ancient pagodas and temples. For the landscaping projects, local authorities are planning to plant a Japanese … Read more
VEHICLE STANDARDS Deal struck to curb Thai, Lao car fumes Pollution chiefs confirm plan to harmonise standards for vehicles in the region NONG KHAI: The Thai and Lao pollution control agencies have agreed to work together to reduce air pollution caused by vehicles in the two countries, especially at border checkpoints. A meeting attended by … Read more