News Items

Myanmar – New Elephant Camp Opens

New Didote waterfall elephant camp opens to public Sagaing – The Myanmar Timber Enterprise has launched a soft opening of the Didote waterfall elephant camp located inside Didote reserve forest. The 74-acre camp, which has been under construction since November, will officially open on January 20. Construction of the camp, which will house six elephants, … Read more

Thailand – Air Asia Increases Seats Chiang Mai – Udon Thani flights

North by Northeast There’ll be more seats than ever between Udon Thani and Chiang Mai come February 15 as AirAsia switches to a larger plane to service the route. Santisuk Klongchaiya, director of commercial for Thai AirAsia, explains that the Udon Thani-Chiang Mai daily direct flight is an affirmation of Thai AirAsia’s policy of offering … Read more

Laos –

Nam Ha Protected Area Remains Beautiful Refreshing Nature KPL) Nam Ha national protected Area (NPA) in the northern province of Luang Namtha covers some of the most significant and largest wilderness areas in Laos Altitudes ringing from river valleys and plans to the northern highland peaks support a broad suite of habitats with a biodiversity … Read more

Thailand – New attraction in Lamphun

Lamphun gets some loving Temple House, more than just an art gallery, aims to liven up the sleepy town – and maybe lower the suicide rate SINGH INTRACHOOTO is an architect well known for designing eco-friendly buildings, and he had his work cut out for him when he tackled an existing 1970s-vintage structure in northern … Read more

Laos – 2018 Visa free entry for Scaninavians

Scandinavians Will Now Be Able to Visit Laos Without a VISA In an effort to promote tourism during the Visit Laos Year 2018, the Lao government will provide VISA exemptions for citizens of four Scandinavian countries: Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. The visa waiver will take effect from 1 January and will cease at the … Read more

Cambodia – Nest Of Endangered Giant Softshell Turtle Found

NEST OF ENDANGERED GIANT SOFTSHELL TURTLE FOUND IN CAMBODIA PHNOM PENH — Conservationists have found a nest of the endangered Asian giant softshell turtle on a Mekong River sandbar in northeastern Cambodia, while 115 new species of various other animal and plant life have been discovered in the greater Mekong region. The New York-based Wildlife … Read more

Myanmar – reopens overland route to Kentung

Myanmar revives overland route 14 December 2017: Tourists can once more apply for permits to travel overland from Inle Lake to Keng Tung a historical city around 100 km from the border with China and 160 km from Thailand. The military closed the route along highway 4 from Inle Lake to Keng Tung two years … Read more

Vietnam – 58 new caves in Phong Nha-Ke Bang

58 new caves discovered in Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang The UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its complex system of massive caves Fifty-eight new caves have been discovered in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in north-central Vietnam’s Quang Binh Province, a park executive announced on Wednesday. The newly discovered caves have been … Read more

Thailand – New TAT Pocket Guide Book

Experience Thailand and More guidebook enhances ASEAN Connectivity with new destination combinations The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched a new “Experience Thailand and More” pocketbook, focusing on four key experiences that enhance its ASEAN Connectivity initiative with new destination combinations. Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn (above picture), TAT Governor, said: “This year, ASEAN celebrates the … Read more

Thailand – Sakhon Nakhon Christmas Parade 2017

Counting stars at Sakon Nakhon Christmas parade 2017 The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is inviting local and international tourists to join a joyous festive parade and count glittering stars at the only annual Christmas Star Procession in the country at Ban Ta Rae in Sakon Nakhon, from 21-25 December. Ban Ta Rae is home … Read more

New Thai – Myanmar border crossing to open?

Kayah may open Me-se border crossing The border crossing between Me-se in Kayah State and Khum Yuam in Mae Hong Son in Thailand is expected to open before Kayah State Day next month, U Lin Zaw Htut, deputy director of Hotels and Tourism in Loikaw township, said on Monday. Ambassadors of both countries inspected the … Read more

The lost art of navigation

The lost art of navigation There is no doubt that modern technologies make life (and travel!) easier. Adventure riding has been transformed since the dawn of the Internet and satellite navigation: finding your way around the world is now practically effortless. Invest in the newest GPS unit, set your route, and go. But is navigation … Read more

Laos – Xayaboury Rice Festival 2018

Xayaboury province will hold a traditional rice festival 8-12 January 2018. Location: Somsawanh Village in Phiang District. The event will include traditional market fair, 8 Tribes Procession including a Mlabri (Spirit of the Yellow Leaf ) show, and other activities. Somsawanh is also Homestay Village for tourists who would like to experience or learn the … Read more

Myanmar – Mount Popa fossil trees to be conserved

Ingyin trees to be conserved in December CONSERVATION work on fossilised Ingyin trees in Mount Popa, Kyaukpadaung township, Mandalay Region, will begin in December, said U Than Tun, secretary of the Myanmar Geosciences Society (MGS). “Ingyin fossils are very valuable. They are said to contain a geography of the past. Ingyin trees were covered in … Read more

Laos – Vang Vieng construction destroys view

Lao news media has received complaints from both foreign and domestic tourists about a new multi-level building under construction on the far bank of the Nam Song River in Vang Vieng. The building is over seven levels in height, and although incomplete, has already begun to obscure the beautiful view that has made Vang Vieng … Read more

Myanmar – Hitching rides on long-haul trucks

Trucking on the old highways Hitching rides on long-haul trucks is safe, easy and a great way to see the Myanmar’s untouristed backroads. By JARED DOWNING | FRONTIER TRAVELLING AROUND Myanmar in the cabs of freight trucks is the best thing almost no one does. Thanks to modern infrastructure and safety concerns, the Jack Kerouac-inspired … Read more

Laos – Phutawen Tourism Farm to Open

Agrotourism-oriented Phutawen Farm to Open for Visitors Next Month Phutawen Farm is going to open its visitor-oriented farm to agrotourists early next month with an aim to record an inflow of 1 million visitors every month. “The opening of the Phutawen Farm aims to welcome Visit Laos Year 2018 and promote sustainable food production and … Read more

Vietnam – Antique Street in HCM

Antique street attracts visitors in HCM City’s District 1 HCM CITY — Lê Công Ki?u Street in HCM City’s District 1 is home to more than 30 shops selling only antiques dating back hundreds and even thousands of years, besides replicas, fake antiques and old items attached to many people’s childhoods. The old street has … Read more

Cambodia – Travel Mart 2017

Date:17/11/2017 – 19/11/2017 Location:Sokha Siem Reap Resort & Convention Center Welcome to Cambodia Travel Mart “ CTM” 2017; it’s an upcoming B2B travel exhibition for the kingdom, this is the first time ever, the event is going to be held at large scale where local and international buyers, suppliers, trade professionals and media partners meet … Read more

Thailand – New Tourism Marketing Concept

New Marketing Concept “Open to the New Shades of Thailand” launched at WTM London London, 6 November, 2017 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand will use the World Travel Market 2017 (WTM), one of the world’s leading travel trade shows, as a platform to launch its new marketing concept, “Open to the New Shades of … Read more

Myanmar – The Yangon Heritage Trust

History   Yangon boasts one of the most spectacular and diverse urban landscapes: famous Buddhist buildings like the Shwedagon Pagoda, Anglican and Roman Catholic Cathedrals, Baptist and Methodist churches, over a dozen Sunni and Shia mosques, Hindu, Parsi and Sikh temples, and even a Jewish synagogue and an Armenian church. The city retains one of … Read more

VietJet – New Direct Flights Chiang Mai / Phuket – Ho Chi Minh

Vietjet links Ho Chi Minh City to Phuket and Chiang Mai Vietjet has begun selling tickets for two new routes, linking Ho Chi Minh City to the Thai tourist destinations of Phuket and Chiang Mai. To celebrate the launch of the new routes, Vietjet is offering 180,000 promotional tickets priced from only 0 dong (Bt0), … Read more

Myanmar – Italian Support for Yangon Colonial Buildings.

Italy helps to preserve historical buildings in Yangon They look like neglected sleeping beauties: the colonial buildings in Downtown Yangon. Their facade shows cracks, the paint is peeling and windows are broken. For years you could hear the warning: “Visit Yangon before it changes forever.” New investments shift the architecture of the urban landscape quickly. … Read more

Myanmar – Sagaing Struggles to Jump Start Wildlife Tourism

Sagaing Region struggling to jump-start wildlife tourism project amid scarce funds Despite having the most forest cover in Myanmar, the Sagaing regional government is struggling to jump-start its wildlife tourism program due to a lack of money to implement it, said a senior official. U Than Htay, a member of the regional Tourism Development Committee, … Read more

Laos – aims for 5.2 Million visitors in 2018

Laos Sets Ambitious Plan to Attract 5.2 Million Tourists In 2018 (KPL) The government has an ambitious plan to have more than 5.2 million foreigners visiting the country and increase the annual income generated by the foreign visitors to US$900 million next year. “In order to make a rebound in tourism growth, the Ministry of … Read more

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