Champa Holiday #issue8

V O L 0 1 I S S U E 0 8 C H A M PA H O L I D AY S T O U R S A N D G U I D E I N L A O S

Issue 08 Dec 2011 - Jan 2012

ລອງເ�ືອ, ພ�ກຜອນໄ�ກ�ບເເ�ຂອງຄຣຸສ

The laid back Mekong Cruise

ການເ�ີນທາງສູໝາກຫ�ວໃ�ຂອງປະເ�ດ

Journey into the Heartland

ຊາງກ�ບຄືນສູ ທຢູອາໄ� ຂອງ ຊາງ

Elephants Return To Their Jungle Roots

ຝີມືຂອງຄ�ນລາວ ກ�ບການຜະລິດຜາພ�ມ

Magic Lao Carpets

ສິງກະໂ�,ຈຸດໝາຍປາຍທາງໃ�ຂອງສາຍການບິນລາວ

Singapore, the new Lao Airlines Destination ພິທີຕອນຮ�ບເ�ືອບິນ A320

Handover ceremony for A320 aircraft www.laoairlines.com www.champaholiday.com

ສານຂອງທ່ານ ດຣ. ສົມພອນ ດວງດາຣາ ຜູ້ອຳນວຍການໃຫ່ຍລັດວິສາຫະກິດການບິນລາວ Message from Dr.Somphone DOUANGDARA President of Lao Airlines ໃນທ່າມກາງບັນຍາກາດທີ່ທວ ົ່ ພັກ ທົ່ວລັດ ແລະ ປວງຊົນລາວທັງຊາດພວມພາກັນ ຫ້າວຫັນຜັນຂະຫຍາຍມະຕິ

9

ຂອງພັກເຮົາຢູ່.

ລັດວິສາຫະກິດການບິນລາວ,

ສາຍການບິນແຫ່ງຊາດມີຄວາມພູມໃຈແຈ້ງຂ່າວດີໃຫ້ແກ່ບັນດາພໍ່ແມ່ພີ່ນ້ອງປະຊາ

ຊົນລາວທັງຫລາຍຊາບວ່າ. ລັດວິສາ ຫະກິດການບິນລາວຈະໄດ້ນຳເອົາເຮືອບິນຊະ ນິດໃໝ່ລະບົບອາຍພົ່ນທີ່ທັນສະໄໝເຂົ້າມາປະຈຳຝູງບິນຂອງ ບໍລິສັດ ການບິນລາວ

ໃນທ້າຍ ເດືອນຕຸລາ ແລະ ພະຈິກ ຈຳນວນສອງ (2) ລຳ ເພື່ອບໍລິການຮັບໃຊ້ເສັ້ນ ທາງບິນໃໝ່ເຊັ່ນ: ວຽງຈັນ - ສິງກະໂປ ອາທິດໜຶ່ງສາມຖ້ຽວບິນຄື: ວັນຄານ, ພະຫັດ ແລະ ວັນອາທິດ ອອກຈາກວຽງຈັນເວລາ 15:10ມ ເຖິງສິງກະໂປ 17:20ມ

(ຖ້ຽວບິນ QV 535) ຂາກັບເວລາ 18:30ມ ເຖິງວຽງຈັນ 20:40ມ (ຖ້ຽວບິນ QV

545). ເຮືອບີນຊະນິດດັ່ງກ່າວຜະລິດໂດຍ ບໍລິສັດ ແອຣ໌ບາສ (Airbus) ຊະນິດ

A320 ບັນຈຸຜູ້ໂດຍສານໄດ້ 142 ຄົນ ຊັ້ນທຸລະກິດ (J Class) 16 ບ່ອນນັ່ງ ແລະ ຊັ້ນທຳມະດາ 126 ບ່ອນນັ່ງ ເສັ້ນບິນອື່ນໆຈະປະກອບດ້ວຍ ວຽງຈັນ ບາງກອກ, ວຽງຈັນ - ຮາໂນ້ຍ, ວຽງຈັນ - ຄຸນມິງ, ວຽງຈັນ - ປາກເຊ - ໂຮຈິມິນ

ແລະ ວຽງຈັນຫລວງພະບາງ. ພ້ອມນີ້ກໍ່ມີແຜນ ໄຂເສັ້ນທາງບິນໃໝ່ເຊັ່ນ: ວຽງຈັນ, ກວາງໂຈ, ວຽງຈັນ - ນະຄອນເຊອຸນ (ສ.ເກົາຫລີ) ອີກດ້ວຍ. ດັ່ງນັ້ນຈຶ່ງແຈ້ງຂ່າວດີມາຍັງພີ່ນ້ອງລາວຢູ່ທັງພາຍໃນ

ແລະ

ຕ່າງປະເທດພ້ອມທັງ

ຊາວຕ່າງປະເທດຈົ່ງກຽມຕົວເພື່ອໃຊ້ບໍລິການຂອງ ການບິນລາວ ໄດ້ໃນເວລາມໍ່ໆນີ້ ດ້ວຍເຮືອບິນຊະນິດໃໝ່ ແລະ ທັນສະໄໝ, ປອດໄພ ແລະ ປະທັບໃຈ.

ສຸດທ້າຍນີຂ ້ າ້ ພະເຈົາ້ ຂໍຕາ່ ງໜ້າໃຫ້ພະນັກງານແລະກຳມະກອນຂອງລັດວິສາຫະກິດຂອງ ການບິ ນ ລາວຂໍ ສ ະແດງຄວາມຮູ້ ບຸ ນ ຄຸ ນ ມາຍັ ງ ທຸ ກ ທ່ າ ນທີ່ ເ ລື ອ ກໃຊ້ ກ ານບໍ ລິ ກ ານ ຂອງພວກເຮົາ

ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຂໍອວຍພອນໄຊອັນປະເສີດມາຍັງບັນດາທ່ານຈົ່ງມີແຕ່

ຄວາມສຸກ, ສຸຂະພາບເຂັ້ມແຂງ, ປະສົບຜົນສຳເລັດໃນໜ້າທີ່ການງານ ແລະ ສົມ ຫວັງໃນທຸກ ສິ່ງທີ່ທ່ານປາດຖະໜານີ້ດ້ວຍເທີ້ນ.

ໃນສິ່ງທີ່ຊອບທັມ. ຂໍໃຫ້ເບີກບານມ່ວນຊື່ນສະຫຼອງວັນສະຖາປະນາ ສປປ ລາວ ຄົບຮອບ 36 ປີ ແລະ ປີໃໝ່ສາກົນ 2012 ທີ່ປ່ຽມລົ້ນໄປດ້ວຍສຸກ ແລະ ຄວາມຫວັງ ໃໝ່ດ້ວຍເທີ້ນ.

While the government is proactively implementing the Resolution of the 9th Party Congress, Lao Airlines, the national airline, is proud to announce that at the end of October and beginning of November, two new modern Airbuses will serve passengers on new routes such as Vientiane – Singapore, three flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, departure from Vientiane at 15:10, arrive in Singapore at 17:20 (QV535); and departure from Singapore at 18:30, arrive in Vientiane at 20:40 (QV545).

These new airplanes, model A320, were produced by Airbus Company which can carry 142 passengers, 16 seats for business class (J Class) and 126 seats for economy class. Other routes include Vientiane – Bangkok, Vientiane – Hanoi, Vientiane – Kunming, Vientiane – Pakse – Ho Chi Minh and Vientiane – Luang Prabang. In addition, there are plans to open new routes, including Vientiane – Guanzhou, and Vientiane – Seoul (South Korea). Therefore, we are pleased to inform all clients, locals and foreigners, domestically and abroad, to be prepared for Lao Airlines’ new, modern, safe and impressive airplanes.

On behalf of the staffs and board members of Lao Airlines, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all clients who choose to use our services and wish everyone happiness, health and success in your careers and may you achieve all your goals.

I hope all people enjoy the celebration of the 36th anniversary of the establishment of Lao PDR, and wish everyone a happy 2012 New Year that is full of new hope.

ສາລະບານ

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Ecotourism Laos Five Highlights in Savannakhet Province Luang Prabang Film Festival Soo Kwan, calling spirits ລ່ອງເຮືອ, ພັກຜ່ອນໄປກັບເເມ່ຂອງຄຣຸສ The laid back Mekong Cruise Lao Food, what’s that? ການເດີນທາງສູ່ຫມາກຫົວໃຈຂອງປະເທດ Journey into the Heartland ມາຮຽນຮູ້ຝີມືຂອງຄົນລາວ ກັບການຜະລິດ ຜ້າພົມສະໄໝບູຮານ ກັບຜ້າໄໝລາວ Combining ancient carpet making techniques with Lao silk and the skills of local weavers ຊ້າງກັບຄືນສູ່ ທີ່ຢູ່ອາໄສ ຂອງ ຊ້າງ Elephants Return To Their Jungle Roots ສິງກະໂປ,ຈຸດໝາຍປາຍທາງໃໝ່ຂອງສາຍການບິນລາວ Singapore, the new Lao Airlines Destination ພິທີຕ້ອນຮັບເຮືອບິນ A320 Handover ceremony for A320 aircraft

Lao AIrlines In-Flight Magazine Dear readers,

ສະບາຍດີ ທ່ານຜູ້ອ່ານຈຳປາຮໍລິເດ ທີ່ເຄົາລົບ

The end of Buddhist lent has passed. This year, large crowds witnessed one of Laos’ most important festivals; the traditional water festival, an annual event that has taken place over many centuries.

ງານບຸນອອກພັນສາຫາກໍຜ່ານພົ້ນໄປບໍ່ດົນເຊິ່ງປີນີ້ເປັນປີທີ່ມີຝູງຊົນ ຄັບຄາໜາແໜ້ນໄປຊົມບຸນປະເພນີທາງນ້ຳອັນ ສຳຄັນຂອງຊາດ ທີ່ໄດ້ປະຕິບັດມາໄດ້ຫຼາຍຮ້ອຍປີ.

According to the “Heed 12 Khong 14” (twelve traditional Buddhist ceremonies, fourteen traditional practices), these traditional ceremonies and practices form an essential part of ensuring a happy life. This year in Vientiane capital, the setting could not have better, thanks to a new embankment, which provided a raised platform from which to witness the thousands of candlelit boats (Lai heu Fai) floating down the Mekong, and the traditional boat racing festival. A beautiful green garden at the water’s edge, stretching from Houameung to the Don Chan Palace Hotel, also provided a beautiful location from which to enjoy the excitement. Although the city saw some stormy weather, it did nothing to stop the people of Vientiane from turning out in force, for what is always a much anticipated event.

ຕາມຮີດສິບສອງ ຄອງສິບສີ່, ຮີດຍີ່ຄອງຈຽງ ໂດຍ ບໍ່ລະຮີດໃຫ້ ໝອງບໍ່ລະຄອງໃຫ້ເສົ້າ. ປີນີ້ສະຖານທີ່ ທ່ຽວຊົມໄຫຼເຮືອໄຟ ແລະ ຊ່ວງເຮືອປະເພນີ ກໍສະ ດວກສະບາຍ ຍ້ອນມີລະບົບກັນຕາຟັ່ງເຈື່ອນເປັນບ່ອນຮອງຮັບ ທີ່ໄດ້ມາດຕະຖານ ພ້ອມທັງເດີນຫຍ້າທີ່ຂຽວງາມຕາມແຄມທ່າ ຕັ້ງແຕ່ຫົວເມືອງຈົນຮອດ ໂຮງແຮມດອນຈັນ ພາເລສ, ເຖິງຈະ ມີຝົນຕົກຟ້າລົມ ແຕ່ກໍບໍ່ເປັນອຸປະສັກກັບຟູງຊົນຂອງນະຄອນ ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ. ເຖິງແມ່ນບຸນປະເພນີຈະຜ່ານພົ້ນໄປແລ້ວກໍຕາມ ສິ່ງທີ່ເສຍ ຫຼາຍກວ່າໄດ້ກໍຄື: ເດີ່ນຫຍ້າທີ່ປູກຢ່າງຂຽວງາມ ແລະ ລົງທຶນ ໄປຢ່າງຫຼວງຫຼາຍເສຍຫາຍຢ່າງໜ້າເສຍດາຍ. ຂໍວິ້ງວອນ ເຈົ້າໜ້າທີ່ໆກ່ຽວຂ້ອງໄດ້ທົບທວນຄືນ ໃໝ່ກັບຄວາມເສຍຫາຍ ດັ່ງກ່າວນີ້ຄວາມສຳນຶກທີ່ຮັບຜິດ ຊອບສູງ.

Sadly, after the festival the gardens in which so much had been invested had been destroyed. The authorities concerned should think more carefully before exposing the gardens to such a large influx of people in future. Given the current state of the gardens, it is now highly questionable whether funds received to construct a new concert stage on the site will be money well spent, particularly as additional efforts will be needed to restore the beauty of the city and bring it in line with its ‘Green and Clean’ campaign. Better management will be needed next year to ensure one of Laos’ most loved festivals leaves behind only great memories and the everlasting continuation of national traditions. We stress this in the hope that the solidarity and beauty that exits in Vientiane capital will continue to represent the Lao people and the country as a whole.

ເງິນທີ່ໄດ້ຈາກການອະນຸຍາດໃຫ້ປຸກ ຮ້ານຄ້າຮ້ານດົນຕຣີ ໃສ່ຈະບໍ່ຄຸ້ມຄ່າເລີຍກັບການປູກຫຍ້າ ທີອົດສາຕົກແຕ່ງໃຫ້ ງາມບ້ານງາມເມືອງໂດຍ ສ ສີຂຽວ ແລະ ສ ສະອາດຫຼັງຈາກ ບຸນເລີກແລ້ວຄວາມເປິເປື້ອນ ຄວາມເໝັນເຂົ້າມາ ແທນທີ່. ປີໜ້າຄວນຫາວິທີການໃໝ່ ໃຫ້ດີກວ່າເກົ່າ.

This issue offers several interesting stories, such as Journey into the Heartland of Laos, a fascinating historical journey into the establishment of the Lao PDR. We also have information-rich stories on Luang Prabang film festival, Mekong River Cruises and many other informative articles, which are sure to be useful to those visiting Laos this month.

ໃນສະບັບນີ້ມີເລື່ອງລາວທີ່ໜ້າອ່ານໜ້າຕິດຕາມອີກຫຼາຍ ເລື່ອງເຊັ່ນ: ການເດີນທາງໄປສູ່ ຫົວໃຈຂອງປະເທດສາລະ ຄະດີອີງ ປະຫວັດສາດ ກຳລັງໄດ້ຮັບຄວາມສົນໃຈສູງຈາກ ຜູ້ອ່ານ ວັນສະຖາປະນາ ສປປ ລາວ 3 ຮອບ, ງານມະໂຫລານ ຮູບເງົາປະຈຳປີ ຢູ່ ຫຼວງພຣະບາງ, ພິທີສູ່ຂວັນ ແລະ ອື່ນໆ ລ້ວນແລ້ວແຕ່ເປັນປະໂຫຍດ ແລະ ສາລະທັງນັ້ນ.

Thank you to all those who provided feedbacks to the Champa Holiday’s editorial team by mail to: info@champaholiday.com or Fax: 856-21-223590, . I wish you all an enjoyable celebration of the 36th anniversary of the establishment of Lao PDR and a very happy new year. I hope for all of you, 2012 will be a year filled with happiness and new hope.

ຂໍຂອບໃຈນຳທ່ານຜູ້ອ່ານທັງຫຼາຍທີ່ສົ່ງຄຳຕິຊົມມາຍັງຄະ ນະຈັດທຳຈຳປາຮໍລິເດ ໂດຍ email: info@champaholiday. com or Fax: 856-21-223590.

Editor Soukhy Norasin

ທີ່ກ່າວມານັ້ນກໍເພື່ອຄວາມເປັນລະບຽບ, ຄວາມສວຍງາມ ຂອງນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນທີ່ໃຜໆກໍກ່າວຄືກັນວ່າເປັນສູນ ກາງ ແລະ ໝາກຫົວໃຈຂອງຄົນລາວທັງຊາດ! ບຸນນະມັດສະການພະທາດຫຼວງປີນີ້ກໍຜ່ານພົ້ນໄປດ້ວຍດີ ເຖິງຈະບໍ່ແມ່ນງານໃຫຍ່ໂຕມະໂຫຖານກໍຕາມ ແຕ່ເປັນງານ ປະເພນີທີ່ໄດ້ປະຕິບັດມາຫຼາຍຮ້ອຍປີ ນັບແຕ່ພຣະເຈົ້າ ໄຊເຊດຖາ ໄດ້ຍ້າຍເມືອງຫຼວງຈາກຊຽງທອງມາວຽງຈັນ ໃນ 450 ປີ ຜ່ານມາ.

ບກ ສຸຂີ ນໍຣະສິລປ໌

EXECUTIVE ADVISERS: MR. SOMPHONG MONGKHONVILAY MR. SOUKASEUM PHOTHISANE DR. SOMPHONE DOUANGDARA MR. SOMSANOUK MIXAY MR. CHANTHY DEUANSAVANH Editor-in-Chief: Mr. Soukhee Norasilp Proof editor: Mr. somsouk souksavath Executive Editor: insmai Creative Communication English Editor: Mr. Benjamin Blech PROJECT MANAGER: Mr. Xaixana Champanakone Graphic Designer: MS. Phitsamai Chanthaboury transalation: Ms. Vonglatda Omany PHOTOGRAPHER: Mr. Nico Hertweck Mr. Xaykhame Sengvilay Account-Finance: Ms. Khounkham Chanthaboury Executive Marketing: Mr. Jeppe Bauer Carlsen

jeppe@insmai.com

Marketing & Creation By: insmai Creative Communication Tel/Fax: (856-21) 223590 info@insmai.com | www.insmai.com Owner & Publisher: Inter Media Lao Co.ltd Tel/Fax: (856-21) 480947 intermedia_laos@gmail.com under license of Lao Airlines Lao Airlines Head Office: 02 Pangkham Rd, Xieng Gnune Village, Chanthaboury District, Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel : (856-21) 212051-54, 212016 Fax: (856-21) 212056, 212058 info@laoairlines.com www.laoairlines.com

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VIENTIANE

Don Chan Palace Hotel & Convention

Located strategically on the New Promenade of the Mekong River adjacent to the King Anouvong’s park, Don Chan Palace, Hotel & Convention is the official 5-star hotel in Laos. Enjoy panoramic views of the Mekong River and Vientiane city from the tallest building in Laos while staying with us. All rooms are inclusive of complimentary unlimited high speed internet access with plush necessities and our new au-natural amenities for the discerning guests.

Our Lao Traditional Hospitality Makes us Different…

Room and Accommodation - 237 rooms - Cable television - Indvidually air conditioning controlled room - Safe deposit box - Complimentary Coffee/ tea facility - In room fax machine ( on request ) - Mini bar - Hair dryer - High speed internet access in room ( Free access) Nearby attractions - King Anouvong Recreational Park - Mekong River Promenade - Presidential Palace - King Sisavangvong Statue - Wat Si Muang Temple

Facilities and Services - 24 Hrs room service - Airline booking and informaiton - Concierge service - Foreign exchange - Doctor on call 24 Hrs - Laundry service - Airport transfer - Tour and travel agency - Free car parking - Business center - Car rental service - 24 Hrs security -13 private massage rooms with professional masseurs

- Swimming Pool on 3rd floor - Jacuzzi - Steam room - Airline booking and information - Foreign currency exchange - 2000 pax capacity ballroom (1792sqm) - Dimsum Buffet - Monthly F&B Promotion - Free wifi on lobby and executive floors

Food and Beverage and entertainment - 24 Hrs Coffee House - Lobby Lounge with Cake Counter and Pastry counter - Outside Catering Service - Chinese Restaurant - 14 Floors Sky Lounge - Lunar 36-Outdoor Bar, Discotheque, and Private Karaoke Rooms Meeting and Convention - 2000 Fax capacity Ballroom - 20 Modern Function rooms - Free Wifi at meeting rooms Wellness and Relaxation - Swimming Pool - Private Massage Rooms - Outdoor Gym - Sauna

Three years consecutive winner of Best business hotel year 2009,2010, 2011 by the tourism alliance awards.

Don Chan Palace Hotel & Convention, Unit 6 Piawat Village, Sisattanak District, Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel: (856-21) 244 288 Fax: (856-21) 244 111-2 Email: info@donchanpalacelaopdr.com www.donchanpalacelaopdr.com

Ecotourism Laos

Five Highlights in Savannakhet Province What’s there to do in Savannakhet? Bernie Rosenbloom introduces five of the province’s top attractions, from the sacred That Ing Hang Stupa, to a stroll through historic Savannakhet, excursions into deep forest teeming with monkeys and a legend-filled protected area still widely synonymous with the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Savannakhet province presents a variety of natural, cultural, and historical adventures led by local guides and organised by the Savannakhet Provincial Tourism Department and the Savannakhet Eco-Guide Unit. In the town of Savannakhet, there’s accommodation to suit all budgets. Many of the less central districts also offer clean and comfortable rooms. And don’t forget to sample some of Savannakhet’s distinctive cuisine.

1. Buddha’s Resting Spot

Savannakhet’s most sacred site, That Ing Hang Stupa, consecrates Buddha’s resting place and so legend has it, contains his relics and bones. Local folklore credits Indian King Asoka with creating the original shrine in 225 BC to sanctify Buddha’s resting place under a Hang tree, although historical evidence suggests a king of the Mon Empire built the original That Ing Hang 1,500 years ago. Lao King Setthathirat commissioned a new monument at the site in the 16th century, and in 1930, a nine-metre-tall, three-tiered stucco stupa was constructed in the Lane Xang style. Every year before December’s full moon, locals hold a three-day That Ing Hang Festival to pay respect to the Buddha and those who built the sacred stupa.

2. Amble through Time

Stroll through the historic town of Savannakhet, taking in the atmosphere of its French colonial past and art deco. View the home of the Lao PDR’s first prime minister and Savannakhet native Kaysone Phomvihane. Marvel at Vat Xaiyaphoum’s 16th century pagoda on the banks of Mekong. Inspect a collection of dinosaur bones, fossils, and meteorites at the city’s Dinosaur Museum, and learn how they were uncovered. Admire the city’s prominent, well-preserved 1920s landmark; the Saint Theresa Catholic Church, overlooking the Talat Yen Plaza’s colonial-era homes, shop houses and night market.

The city’s walking circuit also covers colonial-era structures like the Deer House and the Lao Chaleun Theatre.

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3. Hungry Monkeys and Ancient Books

Take a walk among more than 3,000 monkeys that inhabit Savannakhet’s sacred Monkey Forest. The easiest way to meet them is to offer them food while strolling along the trail. The monkeys can also be spotted feeding at one of the forest’s many spirit houses, where local people lay offerings to make merit. Many monkeys make the forest’s temple their home, where they can be seen receiving food given to them by monks. Nearby, the 200-year-old Hotay Pidok Library stands as the country’s most important repository, with some 4,000 palm leaf books containing 361 stories written in ancient Lao, Burmese Pali and Khmer.

4. Back to Nature in Dong Natad

Just 15 kilometres outside Savannakhet, a choice of one-tothree-day guided trekking or cycling tours and a home stay, bring visitors to the Dong Natad Protected Area; 20,000 acres of ancient forest, isolated lakes, ethnic villages and excellent opportunities for bird watching. Local guides reveal the legend of Nong Lom Lake and explain the paddy irrigation system that’s jam-packed with lotus flowers, birds and wallowing buffalo. Lowland Lao, Phuthai and Katang ethnic villages host overnight stays, as well as a demonstration of how they extract ngang oil, used for torches, weaving cotton and silk, making floor mats and mining salt. The tour also includes a visit to the ruins of Savannakhet’s original 16th century capital, Muang Kao.

5. The Ho Chi Minh Trail

The Ho Chi Minh Trail, an Indochina War transport maze cutting through eastern Savannakhet, today exhibits natural wonders alongside the remnants of war, much of which can be explored on a visit from the small town of Sepon. Inspect weaponry left behind after the Battle of Lam Son, as well as wartime photographs at the Lao-Viet Commemorative War Museum. The remains of the Tad Hai Bridge, designed by Prince Souphanouvong, built in 1942 and destroyed by bombing in 1967 also lie nearby. From the ancient village of Old Sepon, visitors can hike the 10-km trail to Sakhoe Waterfall and on to Salene Waterfall. Don’t miss the enormous Three Stone Pillars, which tower high above the surrounding jungle.

For a complete description or to book any of the above tours, visit the Savannakhet Visitor Information Centre just south of Talat Yen, or the Savannakhet Eco-Guide Unit on Ratsaphanith Road. Email: savannakhetguides2@yahoo.com, Phone/Fax: (+856 041) 214 203.

For more information, visit www.ecotourismlaos.com or www.stdplaos.com (web-based knowledge centre).

V

ientiane-based travel writer, Bernie Rosenbloom, has covered Southeast Asia for more than 15 years. He has authored several Lao provincial guidebooks, and co-authored “The Guide to Responsible Tourism in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam”. Along with Champa Holiday, Bernie has recently contributed feature stories about Laos to Sawasdee, PATA Compass, Travel Review, Yunnan Mekong Travel, and Travel Trade Gazette.

Contact: bernie.rosenbloom@gmail.com.

9

Picture This!

The annual Luang Prabang Film Festival takes to the stage again this December and is now spreading to other Lao provinces.

The annual Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF) will present 30plus films, under a Southeast Asian initiative aimed at attracting diverse audiences to the city’s Handicraft Market from 3 to 10 December 2011. Other screenings will also take place in non-traditional, indoor and outdoor venues.

Two-day mini-festivals featuring four films will also be held in other major Lao provinces.

The week-long LPFF will also host several other activities for viewers to enjoy, and is working closely with UNESCO, the French Cultural Centre, and the Department of Cinema, to put together special exhibitions which reflect the history of film in Laos and the region.

LPFF also plans to showcase contemporary short-films produced by talented Lao filmmakers and hold lectures and workshops during the festival, aimed at encouraging more domestic film making.

The official opening and closing ceremonies will be free of charge to the public and exclusive VIP parties will follow, with performances by local artists and national celebrities.

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In order to attract a larger audience, LPFF will take four of the main feature films (subtitled in Lao) on the road for two-night stops in several provinces, providing communities with a rare opportunity to attend an international cultural event.

The LPFF Road Show is being organised with support from provincial governments and each provinces Departments of Information and Culture.

Every year, LPFF produces screenings and educational projects designed to promote greater awareness of Lao film, and build a long-term project aimed at supporting what is now a rapidly growing industry and art form in Laos.

More info: www.lpfilmfest.org You can follow at : www.facebook.com/lpfilmfest

11

Soo Kwan,

calling the spirits that inhabit the human body Somsanouk Mixay

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efore the 14th century, the Lao people were Animists. They believed in spirits (Phee). It wasn’t until king Fa Ngoum united the Kingdom of Lan Xang (the Kingdom of a Million Elephants) that his wife, Queen Keo Keng Ya, the daughter of the King of Angkor and a devout Buddhist, introduced Theravada Buddhism by bringing respected monks and the statue of Pha Bang, a beautiful gold Buddha image cast in Sri Lanka. Though Laos has now become a Buddhist country, the belief in spirits sill runs deep, even among the Buddhists.

One of the beliefs that run in parallel with Buddhism is a belief in the existence of Kwan, the spirits that inhabit the main parts of the human body. There is no widely accepted figure on exactly how many Kwan there are, although thirty-two is a minimum recognised by the Lao and Tai Lue. Other ethnic groups like Tai Dam (Black Tai) and Tai Daeng (Red Tai) put the figure as high as ninety.

Every section of the human body has its own Kwan. There are Kwan of the head, of the hair, of the eyes, ff the ears, the mouth, nose, teeth and bones, of each finger, the hands, of a woman’s womb and even the eyebrows. All Kwan each have their own vital strength. They give life and vigour to the part of the body in which live and protect.

They are responsible for the spiritual and physical strength of the person whose body they inhabit.

Kwan are believed to be volatile and can leave their part of the body under a range of circumstances, mainly during periods of major changes in the person’s life: illness, an accident, a long journey, a change of social position. All are transitional phases within the course of the person’s life. Whether they are natural, social, intentional or accidental, they represent a shift from one state to another. When one or more Kwan leave the body, you are no longer completely yourself. You have lost your equilibrium, exposing you to any number of bad omens. It is then necessary to call for the return of your Kwan. Once they are back in their respective part of the body, you will regain your own self again. You will enjoy good health, happiness, prosperity, success and most importantly, peace of mind.

In order to facilitate the return of a Kwan, a Baci or Soo Kwan ceremony must be carried out. This is a Brahmanist and Animist rite not officially recognised by Buddhism, therefore Buddhist monks are not involved. In Laos however, it is often the case that elements of Buddhism, Brahmanism and Animism are present at the same ceremony. This form of ecumenicalism (the application of multiple religious beliefs and practices) exists in many Lao ceremonies and is readily accepted across Lao society. Soo Khan is a very important to Lao people. It is organised at all levels: within the family, in businesses and at state level to welcome official guests. Within a more official setting it is usually known as a Baci.

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The organisers of a Soo Kwan or Baci ceremony must first choose an appropriate day and hour for the ceremony to take place. Then, they prepare a flower arrangement, which varies considerably between regions. In Luang Prabang province it is simpler that in Vientiane or Champassak, where a more elaborate arrangement of several tiers of silver cups holding flowers and topped with a candle, is lit by the person leading the ceremony. Boiled eggs, cakes, a box of sticky rice, a bottle of rice whisky and a jug of water, and sometimes a boiled chicken or a pig’s head, are placed in a plate as offerings to the Kwan.

To call the Kwan back, you will need to ask the Mor Kwan (Master or Healer of the Kwan) and in some cases a Pham or Brahman, to help you conduct the ceremony. He is usually a former monk. The ceremony begins with the summoning of all related divinities to assist the participants in the ceremony and a prayer to the Tripitaka: Buddha, Dhamma (the teachings) and Sangkha (the community). Only after these preliminary practices have taken place will the person leading the ceremony call the Kwan. It is important that none of the Kwan are forgotten. The call of the Kwan is a very poetic list of chants punctuated by ‘Ma Yer Kwan Eui’ (Come, Oh Kwan), which is repeated chorally by all participants. The person leading the ceremony then ties white thread around your wrists in order to attach the Kwan to your body. The other participants then do the same while wishing you happiness, good health, success and prosperity. The ceremony is always closed by everyone eating a small meal together.

Soo Kwan is held on various occasions in a person’s life. After the birth of a baby, the mother and child stay in confinement (you kam) for a few weeks. The end of that period, known as Ork Kam (the end of confinement), is marked with a Soo Kwan ceremony to call back the Kwan, which may have left the mother’s body during the birth of her baby. At the same time, Kwan are called upon the baby so that he or she will start their life in good health. Before getting married, a man usually spends some time as a monk to pay the “debt of milk” to his mother.

By so doing, he will gain merit for his mother, who has raised him from baby to a man. Before going to the temple to be ordained as a monk, a Nak (Naga), the name given to a candidate for monkhood, is given a Soo Kwan by his family, before his change of status takes place.

A traditional Lao wedding requires three Soo Kwan ceremonies. The bride and groom are given a small Soo Kwan by their respective families, before joining the main ceremony, usually held at the bride’s house.

It is generally that accidents are the thing which disturb the Kwan most, often causing them to leave the body. If the victim of an accident is still a child, the mother will go to the scene of the accident with a cooking pot and a spoon and usher the Kwan into the pot. Then she covers the pot with a cloth and brings it home, where she turns it around the head of the child, while asking the Kwan to re-enter his or her body. For adults, a Soo Kwan ceremony is organised. In the event of illness, Soo Kwan are held so that the Kwan can return to give the sick person the courage and strength needed to recover and prolong the person’s life. The psychological effect of the ceremony are important.

It is perceived that when your mind is strong your body becomes strong too.

Soo Kwan is also held also for somebody who is going to make a long journey, or who plans on a long stay abroad and when someone returns from a long period away from home.

A person who has been promoted is also given a Soo Kwan by their relatives, friends and colleagues. At state level, Baci is held by the country’s leaders to welcome official guests. In this case it is more of a traditional welcoming ceremony and does not have a psychological purpose or the aim the of healing.

Soo Kwan is not only held for human beings, it is also performed for animals, plants and objects, as those too are believed to be inhabited by spirits. In rural communities, it is customary to hold the ceremony before the beginning of the cultivation season. Soo Kwan will be organised for the rice fields, the buffaloes, the seeds and, after harvest, for the rice itself. Houses, musical instruments, cars, boat races all have Kwan that have to be called back so that each will perform its duty or purpose as expected by the owner.

Visitors to Laos can also experience a Soo Kwan or Baci ceremony, an old and great tradition Lao hosts frequently carry out for their guests.

Some hotels, especially in Luang Prabang, organise the ceremony for their guests.

LAOS IS A LAND OF FESTIVALS. Every village, every temple, and every ethnic minority not only celebrates its own special festivals but also joins the wider Lao community in celebrating the national events as well. This book explores the most important festivals of Laos and offers a rare and fascinating glimpse into the spiritual and communal life of the Lao people. Written and photographed by experts in Lao history, society, and culture, festivals of Laos is a wonderful combination of insightful narrative and stunning photography.

TEXT BY MARTIN STUART-FOX AND SOMSANOUK MIXAY. PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEVE NORTHUP.

14

ລ່ອງເຮືອ, ພັກຜ່ອນໄປກັບເເມ່ຂອງຄຣຸສ

The laid back Mekong Cruise

Let me tell you right from the start: cruising on the Mekong, passing mist-covered hills and Pak Ou caves, is good for the soul. In northern Laos, the natural world is still untouched and mysterious. I really loved watching the dense rainforest pass by, reading my book and sipping a drink from the bar onboard my Mekong Cruise.

That was more or less what I had in mind when I booked a river cruise on the Mekong with Mekong Cruises, a tourist operator that has been around since the 1990’s. The whole experience includes accommodation at their new and luxurious Luang Say Residence, located in the atmospheric World Heritage City of Luang Prabang, where the trip begins. After a restful night, I got up early to stroll around the morning market, where every kind of meat, fish, fruit and vegetables are on sale. I had a very nice breakfast beside the river; delicious Lao ice coffee, rice soup and deep fried pastries, the name of which I unfortunately forgot to ask and never found again. ຂໍໃຫ້ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ເລົ່າສູ່ທ່ານຟັງແຕ່ເລີ່ມຕົ້ນ: ລ່ອງເຮືອຢູ່ເທິງແມ່ນໍ້າຂອງ, ຜ່ານເນີນພູທີ່ປົກຫຸ້ມດ້ວຍເມກໝອກ ແລະ ຖໍ້າບູຮານ, ແມ່ນດີສໍາລັບ ຈິດວິນຍານ. ທໍາມະຊາດແວດລ້ອມຢູ່ພາກເໜືອຂອງລາວທີ່ຍັງບໍ່ທັນໄດ້ ຖືກແຕະຕ້ອງເພາະຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ເຫັນປ່າຕຶບໜາຢູ່ແຄມນ້ຳ, ອ່ານໜັງສື ແລະ ດື່ມເບຍຈາກບາຢູ່ເທິງເຮືອທ່ອງທ່ຽວເເມ່ຂອງຄຣຸສ. ນັ້ນແມ່ນສິ່ງທີ່ຂາ້ ພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ຄດ ິ ໄວ້ບຫລ ໍ່ າຍກໍ່ໜອ ້ ຍ, ເມື່ອຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ຈອງ ບ່ອນນັ່ງຢູ່ເທິງເຮືອທ່ອງທ່ຽວຢູ່ແມ່ນໍ້າຂອງ, ກັບແມ່ຂອງຄຣຸສ, ເຊິ່ງເລີ່ມ ໃຫ້ບໍລິການນັກທ່ອງຕັ້ງແຕ່ໄລຍະປີ 1990. ປະສົບການທີ່ໄດ້ສໍາພັດລວມ ມີ ທີ່ພັກແຫ່ງໃໝ່ ແລະ ໂຮງແຮມຫລວງໄຊທີ່ຫລູຫລາຕັ້ງຢູ່ເມືອງມໍລະດົກ ໂລກ, ຫລວງພະບາງ ທີ່ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ກ່າວໃນສະບັບກ່ອນ ບ່ອນທີ່ການ ເດີນທາງເລີ່ມຕົ້ນ. ຫລັງຈາກຄືນທີ່ໄດ້ພັກຜ່ອນ, ໄດ້ຕື່ນນອນຕອນເຊົ້າເພື່ອ ຍ່າງໄປຕະຫລາດຕອນເຊົ້າ, ບ່ອນຊື້ຂາຍສັດລ້ຽງ, ຊີ້ນສັດທຸກປະເພດ ແລະ ອາຫານ. ການກິນເຂົ້າເຊົ້າທີ່ແຊບຫລາຍຢູ່ ແຄມແມ່ນໍ້າ, ບ່ອນທີ່ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ໄດ້ດື່ມກາເຟເຢັນລາວ ແລະ ເຂົ້າປຽກເຂົ້າ ກັບໝີ່ກອບ, ເຊິ່ງພົບເຫັນໄດ້ພຽງ ແຕ່ຫຼວງພະບາງເທົ່ານັ້ນ.

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There is a lot to do and see in Luang Prabang. Among other things, I decided to visit the Royal Palace Museum, former residence of Laos’ king and royal family, until Laos became a communist republic, ending the monarchy in 1975 and turning the palace into a museum.

It was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family. The site of the palace was chosen primarily for its convenient location close to the river, allowing official visitors to Luang Prabang to end their river voyages directly below the palace and be received there. Inside, you can view relicts of the old monarchs, as well a number of rooms where they and their families went about their daily lives.

Returning to the Luang Say Residence, I felt a little bit like a king myself - the rooms are very spacious with top notch interior. Dining at their restaurant La Belle Epoque was an equally memorable experience, with its outstanding Lao and French dishes.

Early next morning, I boarded the Mekong cruise. After breakfast onboard and a delightful nap, I woke up to a beautiful tropical river landscape. Mekong is a name invented by foreigners, derived from its original name in Lao and Thai language, Mae Nam Khong, which means ‘mother of water’, strongly implying its significance as the ‘mother (or great provider) of all things’. All great rivers are called mother of water, both in Thai and Lao language. The word Khong is said to be derived from the Sanskrit “ganga”, meaning the Ganges. So with its 5000km in length, this mother of water is the world’s 10th and Asia’s 7th longest river. Its source is found on the Tibetan plateau and after flowing through seven countries it empties itself in the South China Sea.

ຢູ່ຫລວງພະບາງມີຫລາຍກິດຈະກໍາ ແລະ ແຫຼ່ງທີ່ເປັນຕາໄປທ່ຽວຊົມ. ໃນນັ້ນຂ້າ ພະເຈົ້າຕັດສິນໃຈໄປທ່ຽວຊົມພິພິທະພັນພະລາຊະວັງເຈົ້າຊີວິດ. ກ່ອນເຄີຍເປັນ ບ່ອນຢູ່ອາໄສເກົ່າ ຂອງເຈົ້າຊີວິດຂອງປະເທດລາວສະໄໝກ່ອນ, ຈົນລາຊະວົງ ໄດ້ສິ້ນສຸດລົງໃນປີ 1975 ແລະ ພະລາຊະວັງ ໄດ້ຖືກປ່ຽນເປັນພິພິທະພັນ. ພະລາຊະວັງແຫ່ງນີ້ ໄດ້ຖືກສ້າງຂຶ້ນໃນປີ 1904 ສະໄໝເປັນຫົວເມືອງຂຶ້ນຂອງຝຣັ່ງ ເພື່ອມອບໃຫ້ແກ່ເຈົ້າຊີວິດ ສີສະວ່າງວົງ ແລະ ຄອບຄົວຂອງລາວ. ທີ່ຕັ້ງພະລາຊະ ວັງໄດ້ຖືກເລືອກຍ້ອນທີ່ຕັ້ງມີຄວາມສະດວກສະບາຍຢູ່ໃກ້ແມ່ນໍ້າ ເຮັດໃຫ້ແຂກທາງ ການມາຢຽ້ມຢາມສາມາດຈອດເຮືອໄດ້ໂດຍກົງ ຢູ່ລຸ່ມພະລາຊະວັງ ແລະ ສາມາດ ຕ້ອນຮັບແຂກຢູ່ບ່ອນນັ້ນ. ຢູ່ຂ້າງໃນພະລາຊະວັງ, ທ່ານສາມາດເບິ່ງຊາກສະຫລັກຫັກ ພັງຂອງລາຊະວົງເກົ່າ, ຫ້ອງຮັບແຂກຂອງເຂົາເຈົ້າ, ຫ້ອງງານລ້ຽງ ແລະ ຫ້ອງນອນ. ເຊົ້າຕໍ່ມາ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ຂຶ້ນເຮືອແມ່ຂອງຄຣຸສ. ຫລັງຈາກກິນເຂົ້າເຊົ້າ ຢູ່ເທິງເຮືອ ແລະ ນອນກາງເວັນຢ່າງສະບາຍ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ຕື່ນຂຶ້ນມາ ທ່າມກາງວິວທິວທັດຂອງແມ່ນໍ້າ ທີ່ສວຍງາມ. ແມ່ຂອງແມ່ນຊື່ທີ່ຖືກຕັ້ງຂຶ້ນໂດຍຊາວຕ່າງປະເທດ, ໂດຍເອົາຊື່ມາຈາກ ຊື່ດັ່ງເດີມຂອງມັນໃນພາສາລາວ ແລະ ພາສາໄທ, ແມ່ນໍ້າຂອງ, ເຊິ່ງໝາຍຄວາມວ່າ “ຂອງ, ແມ່ຂອງແມ່ນໍ້າ” ຫລື “ແມ່ຂອງໝົດທຸກສິ່ງ”. ແມ່ນໍ້າທີ່ຍິ່ງໃຫຍ່ທຸກສາຍລ້ວນ ແລ້ວແຕ່ຖືກເອີ້ນວ່າ ແມ່ນໍ້າ, ທັງພາສາໄທ ແລະ ພາສາລາວ. ຄໍາວ່າ ຂອງ ເວົ້າກັນວ່າ ເອົາມາຈາກພາສາສັນສກຣິດ “ກັນກາ”, ໝາຍເຖິງ ແມ່ນໍ້າຄົງຄາ.

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The Mekong giant catfish is perhaps the most interesting and most threatened species in the Mekong river. For this reason conservationists have chosen it as a “flagship” species to promote conservation along the Mekong. With a recorded size of up to 10.5ft (3.2m) and 660lb (300kg), the Mekong’s giant catfish currently holds the Guinness Book of World Record’s for the world’s largest freshwater fish. These interesting facts and plenty more were readily given away by our onboard tour guides, who were really impressive with their extensive knowledge, excellent English skills and friendliness.

During the cruise, we made a couple of interesting stops, one at a small fishing village and the other at an Pak Ou cave filled with Buddha statues. In the evening we arrived at Pakbeng, another relatively small village close to the Luang Say Lodge. This lodge, nestled alongside the banks of the river, consists of twenty spacious bungalows, all with great river views, private bathrooms and porches with scenic views.

ດັ່ງນັ້ນດ້ວຍຄວາມຍາວ 5000 ກິໂລແມັດ, ແມ່ນໍ້າຂອງຈຶ່ງກາຍ ເປັນແມ່ນໍ້າທີ່ຍາວ ທີ່ສຸດອັນດັບທີ 10 ຂອງໂລກ ແລະທີ 7 ຂອງອາຊີ. ຕົ້ນກໍາເນີດຂອງມັນແມ່ນມາຈາກພູທິ ເບດ ແລະໄຫລລົງມາຜ່ານເຈັດປະເທດ ແລະ ໄຫລລົງສູ່ທະເລຈີນໃຕ້. ປາບຶກແມ່ນໍ້າຂອງ ໜ້າຈະເປັນສິ່ງທີ່ມີຊີວິດສາຍພັນທີ່ໜ້າສົນໃຈທີ່ສຸດ ແລະ ໃກ້ຈະ ສູນພັນຢູ່ແມ່ນໍ້າຂອງ. ຍ້ອນແນວນີ້ ພວກນັກອະນຸລັກ ຈຶ່ງໄດ້ເລືອກເອົາປາຊະນິດນີ້ເປັນ ໜຶ່ງໃນສາຍພັນສັດທີ່ “ສໍາຄັນທີ່ສຸດ” ເພື່ອສົ່ງເສີມການອະນຸລັກຢູ່ແມ່ນໍ້າຂອງ. ດ້ວຍ ຂະໜາດທີ່ເຄີຍໄດ້ບັນທຶກໄວ້ ຄວາມຍາວຮອດ 10.5 ຝິດ (3.2ແມັດ) ແລະ ນໍ້າໜັກ 660 ພາວ (300ກິໂລ), ໃນປະຈຸບັນ ປາບຶກແມ່ນໍ້າຂອງ ຖືສະຖິຕິປານໍ້າຈືດທີ່ໃຫຍ່ທີ່ສຸດ ໃນໂລກ. ຄວາມຈິງເລົ່ານີ້ ແລະ ຂໍ້ມູນທີ່ໜ້າສົນໃຈອື່ນໆ ແມ່ນຜູ້ນໍາທ່ຽວຂອງ ພວກຂ້າພະ ເຈົ້າເປັນຜູ້ອະທິບາຍໃຫ້ຟັງຢູ່ເທິງເຮືອ, ລາວເວົ້າພາສາອັງກິດໄດ້ດີເລີດ ແລະ ເປັນມິດ ເຮັດໃຫ້ທຸກຄົນປະທັບໃຈ. ໃນລະຫວ່າງການລ່ອງເຮືອ, ພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ແວະເຊົາຢູ່ສອງສາມ ຈຸດທີ່ໜ້າສົນໃຈ, ລວມທັງໝູ່ບ້ານຊາວປະມົງແຫ່ງໜຶ່ງ ແລະ ຖໍ້າຕີງ, ບ່ອນທີ່ມີພະພຸດທະຮູບສະຖິດຢູ່. ໃນຕອນແລງ, ພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າມາຮອດປາກແບ່ງ, ອີກໝູ່ບ້ານໜ້ອຍໆແຫ່ງໜຶ່ງ, ໃກ້ ກັບທີ່ຕັ້ງຂອງຕຳນັກຫລວງໄຊ. ຢູ່ໂຮງແຮມແຫ່ງນີ້, ຕັ້ງຢູ່ຕາມລໍາແມ່ນໍ້າ, ມີກະຕູບພັກ ຊາວຫລັງ, ເຊິ່ງທັງໝົດສາມາດແນມເຫັນວິວທິວທັດທີ່ສວຍງາມຂອງແມ່ນໍ້າໄດ້, ມີ ຫ້ອງນໍ້າສ່ວນຕົວ ແລະ ທາງຍ່າງເຂົ້າບ້ານທີ່ມີທິວທັດອັນສວຍງາມ.

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After a delicious Lao style dinner at the lodge’s restaurant (the best I ever had in Laos), we took part in a traditional Lao baci, a blessing ceremony organised by villagers from nearby Pakbeng. After the baci, as daylight slowly faded, we watched several dance performances representing different ethnic groups of northern Laos.

Soothed by the intense sounds of the jungle, we finally retreated into our bungalows. The interior had a tasteful colonial touch and even a luxurious bathrooms- a pleasant surprise, out in the middle of the jungle.

On the last day, I sat back, relaxed and read leisurely as the cruise returned to Luang Prabang. Those heading to Thailand can continue on to Chiang Mai via the immigration checkpoint at PakBeng. There is no guarantee though, that Thailand will prove anywhere near as laid back as your river cruise.

ຫລັງຈາກທີ່ພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ກິນເຂົ້າແລງແບບລາວໆ, ເຊິ່ງເປັນຄາບອາ ຫານທີ່ດີທີ່ສຸດທີ່ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ເຄີຍກິນຢູ່ລາວ, ຢູ່ຮ້ານອາຫານຂອງເຮືອນ ພັກພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມພິທີບາສີສູ່ຂັວນພື້ນເມືອງລາວ, ຈັດຂຶ້ນ ໂດຍຊາວບ້ານທີ່ອາໄສຢູ່ປາກແບ່ງ ແລະ ບ້ານອື່ນໆ. ຫລັງຈາກ ບາສີແລ້ວ, ພວກ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ໄປເບິ່ງການສະແດງເຕັ້ນລໍາຫລາຍປະເພດຈາກຫລາຍ ຊົນເຜົ່າ ທີ່ແຕກຕ່າງກັນຢູ່ພາກເໜືອຂອງລາວ ກ່ອນການກັບໄປທີ່ຕູບພັກ ທີ່ ຕັ້ງຢູ່ອອ້ມລອ້ມໄປດ້ວຍທຳມາະຊາດກົມກືນ ກັບການຕົບແຕ່ງ ທັງຫ້ອງນອນ, ຫ້ອງນຳ້ ທີ່ຈະສຳພັດເຖີງໂລກແຫ່ງອະນານິຄມ ົ ຢ່າງມີລດ ົ ສະນິຍມ ົ . ທີ່ທາ່ ນບໍ ຄິດວ່າຈະສາມາດພົບໃນກາງປ່າແບບນີ້. ໃນມື້ສຸດທ້າຍ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້ານັ່ງພັກຜ່ອນ ແລະອ່ານໜັງສືຢ່າງສະບາຍຕາມ ເສັ້ນທາງກັບຫລວງພະບາງ. ຖ້າທ່ານຕ້ອງການ, ທ່ານອາດຈະເດີນທາງຕໍ່ ໄປປະເທດໄທ ຈາກປາກແບ່ງຢູ່ດ່ານກວດຄົນເຂົ້າເມືອງ, ຕົວຢ່າງຈຸດໝາຍ ປາຍທາງຕໍ່ໄປຂອງທ່ານແມ່ນຊຽງໃໝ່. ແຕ່ບໍ່ມີການຮັບປະກັນວ່າຢູ່ປະເທດ ໄທ ຈະສະບາຍຄືຕອນຢູ່ເທິງເຮືອທ່ອງທ່ຽວຫລືບໍ?

More infomation, please visit www.mekong-cruises.com

19

Lao

what’s that

?

by Xaixana Champanakone

Introduction

Kin Khao – ‘eat rice’ is the daily celebration of life, and the way of cooking what you ‘eat with rice’ – kin kap khao – reflects the Lao attitude to life : Simplicity.

Three rocks, some firewood and a pot will do the trick, and a mortar and pestle would come in handy. Ah, and a steam pot and bamboo basket!

You buy fresh in the market what has been newly gathered and caught along the rivers, in the fields and in the jungle vegetables, leaves, herbs and fish. Whatever livestock runs around the house yard makes for a feast.

Bamboo skewers grill things on the fire while banana leaf wrappings roast food in the hot ashes or steam it in the bamboo basket; the pot cooks soups and stews, and fries the odd meat. Mortar and pestle pound roots and spices, chilli pastes and the life sustaining papaya salad; and the steamer and basket makes a home for it all with sticky rice.

With few tools and some herbs the Lao know to magically produce culinary delight, finely balanced in flavour, varied in preparation, all of it ultra healthy - light and fresh.

Cooking and life - simple, immediate, receiving the abundance of nature with humility. Every meal is Thanksgiving, an auspicious and merry occasion blessed by the presence of family, friends, neigbours and colleagues … or you as the guest, anytime.

Where does this leave you?

Venture on foot or by kayak into the deep countryside for a ‘homestay’, eat in the local street stalls or bypass exercise and culture shock and go adventuring at a restaurant dedicated to serving Lao food in style.

Where daily meals are ‘ingenuity in simplicity’ – sticky rice, a chilli dip, something grilled and something boiled, all of which is accompanied by mountains of fresh herbs – festive occasions justify the extra effort to produce some of the Lao signature dishes to be featured in this magazine’s next issues together with everyday fare for healthy sustenance : Copyright © Vincent Fischer-Zernin 2010

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6.

Rice, in its various splendid incarnations

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24

3-10

You find the previous write-ups at tropicaldesignfz.net/articles See you for the next issue

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26

Journey into the Heartland

Essay on the Archeology, History, and Revival of Laos Written and photographed by Xaixana Champanakone From 1964, a fierce battle for the independence of Laos raged across the Plain of Jars in Xieng Khouang province in upper central Laos and Samneua and Viengxay to the northeast, near the Vietnamese border. The ‘Pathet Lao’, who would eventually establish the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), fought from their headquarters in the Caves of Viengxay until their final victory in 1973.

Viengxay province is cut in two by Route 7 and Route 6, along which we travelled to record (in five parts) the changes that have taken place since peace was declared just 38 years ago.

I made the same journey 10 years ago in the company of SEA-Write Award winning author Mr. Chanthy Deuansavanh, who chronicled the Making of Modern Laos while living, and starting his family, in the Caves of Viengxay. Over a period of nine years the cave dwelling population of some 23,000 people was subjected to daily, and at times non-stop aerial bombardment which saw the highest tonnage of bombs per square kilometer dropped on Laos in world history. Peace has returned; scars still run deep today - wherever we go.

ການເດີນທາງສູ່ ຫົວໃຈຂອງປະເທດ ບົດຄວາມກ່ຽວກັບໂບຮານນະຄະດີ, ປະຫວັດສາດ ແລະ ການຟື້ນຟູປະເທດຂອງ ສປປ ລາວ

ຂຽນ ແລະ ຖ່າຍຮູບໂດຍ ໄຊຊະນະ ຈໍາປານະຄອນ ການຕໍ່ສູ່ທີ່ດົນນານເພື່ອເອກະລາດຂອງປະເທດລາວ ເລີ່ມຕົ້ນໃນປີ 1964 ສຽງ ປືນໄດ້ດັງຂຶ້ນຢູ່ທົ່ວ ທົ່ງໄຫຫີນ ແຂວງຊຽງຂວາງພາກກາງຕອນ ເໜືອຂອງລາວ ລວມທັງ, ຊໍາເໜືອ ແລະ ວຽງໄຊ, ໄປເຖິງແຂວງຫົວພັນ ໃກ້ກັບຊາຍແດນ ຫວຽດນາມໃນພາກເໜືອ. ຝ່າຍ “ປະເທດລາວ”, ໄດ້ ສ້າງຕັ້ງສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ (ສປປລາວ), ນະທີ່ນັ້ນ ແລະ ໄດ້ຕໍ່ສູ້ຈາກຖານ ທີ່ໝັ້ນໃນຖໍ້າເມືອງວຽງໄຊ ຈົນໄດ້ຮັບ ໄຊຊະນະຂັ້ນສຸດທ້າຍໃນປີ 1973. ເຂດນີ້ຖືກຕັດຜ່ານໂດຍເສັ້ນທາງເລກທີ 7 ແລະ ເລກທີ 6 ເຊິ່ງແມ່ນຕາມ ເສັ້ນ ທາງທີ່ພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ເດີນທາງໄປເພື່ອບັນທຶກ (ລວມທັງໝົດ 5 ບົດຄວາມ) ການປ່ຽນແປງການແຊກແຊງ ຕະຫລອດໄລຍະເວລາ 38 ປີ. ເມື່ອ 10 ປີ ກ່ອນ ຂ້າ ພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ເດີນທາງໄປຕາມເສັ້ນທາງດຽວ ກັນ ກັບນັກຂຽນຜູ້ທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບລາງວັນ ຊີໄຣທ໌ (SEA-Write Award winning author) ທ່ານ ຈັນທີ ເດືອນສະຫວັນ ຜູ້ທີ່ໄດ້ບັນທຶກກ່ຽວກັບການ ສ້າງສາພັດທະນາປະເທດລາວໃໝ່ໃຫ້ມີຄວາມ ຈະເລີນກ້າວໜ້າ ໃນຂະນະທີ່ໃຊ້ຊີວິດ ແລະ ສ້າງ ຄອບຄົວ ໃນຖໍ້າເມືອງວຽງໄຊ. ຜ່ານຕະຫຼອດ ໄລຍະເວລາກວ່າ 9 ປີ ປະຊາຊົນ 23,000 ຄົນ ທີ່ໄດ້ອາໄສ ໃນຖໍ້າ ເຊິ່ງຖືກໂຈມຕີດ້ວຍການຖີ້ມ ລະເບີດໃນແຕ່ລະວັນ ແບບບໍ່ຢຸດຢ່ອນ ໄດ້ ກາຍເປັນເຂດທີ່ມີການຖີ້ມລະເບີດ ຕໍ່ ຕ າຕາລາງແມດສູ ງ ສຸ ດ ໃນລາວໃນປະຫວັ ດ ສາດໂລກ. ສັນຕິພາບໄດ້ກັບຄືນມາ; ຮອຍບາດ ແຜຍັງຝັງເລິກເຖິງທຸກມື້ນີ້ - ທຸກບ່ອນທີ່ ພວກຂ້າ ພະເຈົ້າເດີນທາງໄປ.

son, and Toh, a Green Discovery Inpome, Mr. Chanthy’s second oldest ds frien close my by us nied mpa acco am ly put at our disposal by Europcar, got On this- my second journey, I onable driver Chai who with a car kind pers very es our Airlin and , Lao tour y trip, stud the rical ten staffer sent on a histo e who would rather shor t competent driver and guide. For thos mos a be to ed prov i Cha . back and safely there offer a daily flight to Ponsavanh. ເຊິ່ງເປັນພະນັກງານກຣີນດີສຄັຟເວີຣີ ພົມ, ລູກຊາຍຄົນທີສອງຂອງຈັນທີ, ແລະໂຕ້ ນ ອິ າ ົ້ ພະເຈ າ ້ ຂອງຂ ມ ົ ສະໜ ດ ະໜິ ສ ່ ູ ໝ ມີ ບ ຕອນເດີນທາງຂາກັ ນຄືນກັບໄປສູ່ປະຫວັດສາດ), ັດສາດ (ນີ້ເປັນການເດີນທາງເປີດຫູເປີດຕາຫວ ປະຫວ ບ ວກັ ຽ ະກ່ ສະນ ດ ມາທັ ງ ສົ່ ກ ື ຖ ທີ່ y) (Green Discover າພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າເດີນທາງໄປ ທຸກບ່ອນ ະນະເດີນທາງຈາກ ຢູໂຣຄາ (Europcar) ທີ່ພ ພາຫ ຍ ວ ມດ້ ອ ພ້ ໃຈ າ ່ ວ ຊື່ ວ ນຕົ ວ ສ່ ດ ລົ ບ ັ ແລະພະນັກງານຂ ັ້ນລົງ ທ່ານອາດຈະໃຊ້ບໍລິການ າມາດທີ່ສຸດຄົນໜຶ່ງ. ເພື່ອເຮັດໃຫ້ການເດີນທາງສ ວາມສ ຄ ີ ມ ວທີ່ ຽ ່ ນໍາທ ນ ຄົ ແລະ ດ ລົ ບ ຂັ ນ ຄົ ນ ເປັ ຢ່າງປອດໄພ. ໃຈ ທາງ 4 ຖຽ້ວຕໍ່ອາທິດ. ການບິນລາວ ວຽງຈັນ-ຊຽງຂວາງ ຊື່ງອອກເດີນ

27

Part One :

Phou Khoun to Phonsavanh

Part Two :

The Secret War and the Plain of Jars

Part Four : The Standing Stones and Samneua Part Five : Tad Noua Waterfall and the Caves of Viengxay

Part Three : Muang Khoun, the Hmong and Tham Piu Cave

F

rom Phonsavanh we drive 32 km through beautiful rolling countryside of recently planted rice fields adjoining dark green pine forest to Muang Khoun (Khoun Town), formerly called Xieng Khouang, once the old capital of the muang, or territory of the Tai Phouan people, until it was completely wiped out by the end of the Secret War in 1973.

Xieng Khouang had been known as a proud and very substantial city- the seat of the old Tai Phouan family, which ruled the territory of the Plain of Jars for centuries and in large numbers. Of all the temples which once stood there, only the Buddha statue of Wat Piavat (Piavat temple) and Taht Foun (Foun Stupa) miraculously survived. Everything else you see today has been constructed since the war ended.

To fully understand the tragedy of this conflict and its historical significance, an understanding of the area’s local history is essential.

Like so many other places that had their names changed at the end of the war (in an attempt to bury what had arguably been the darkest era in Lao history), the town that had always been as Xieng Khouang became today’s Muang Khoun, while ‘Xieng Khouang’ now acts as merely as a boundary to the entire province.

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ພາກທີໜຶ່ງ : ພາກທີສອງ : ພາກທີສາມ : ພາກທີສີ່ : ພາກທີຫ້າ:

ພູຄູນເຖິງໂພນສະຫວັນ ສົງຄາມປິດລັບ ແລະ ທົ່ງໄຫຫີນ ເມືອງຄູນ, ຊົນເຜົ່າມົ້ງ ແລະ ຖໍ້າປິວ ຫີນຕັ້ງ ແລະ ຊໍາເໜືອ ນໍ້າຕົກຕາດ ນົວ ແລະຖໍ້າວຽງໄຊ

ພາກທີສາມ: ເມືອງຄູນ, ຊົນເຜົ່າມົ້ງ ແລະ ຖ້ຳປິວ

ຈ

າກໂພນສະຫວັນ ພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຂັບລົດອອກໄປອີກ 32 ກິໂລແມັດຜ່ານ ເຂດຊົນນະບົດທີ່ງດ ົ ງາມ ທີ່ຫາກໍ່ປກ ູ ເຂົ້າ ໃກ້ພຕ ູ ນ ົ້ ແປກສີຂຽວເຂັ້ມໄປຫາ ເມືອງຄູນ,ເຊິ່ງແຕ່ກອ ່ ນເອີ້ນວ່າຊຽງຂວາງ,ທີ່ເຄີຍເປັນເມືອງຫລວງເກົ່າຂອງ ແຂວງ, ຫລື ເຂດແດນຂອງ ໄຕພວນ ຈົນກະທັ້ງຖືກທໍາລາຍຢ່າງຮາບຄາບໃນ ຕອນປາຍຂອງສົ່ງຄາມປິດລັບປີ 1973. ຊຽງຂວາງ ເຄີຍເປັນເມືອງທີ່ໜ້າພາກພູມໃຈ ແລະ ມີຄວາມສໍາຄັນຫລາຍ ແຫ່ງໜຶ່ງ, ເຄີຍເປັນທີ່ຢູ່ອາໄສ ຂອງຄອບຄົວໄຕພວນເຊີ່ງແຕ່ກ່ອນເຄີຍໄດ້ ປົກຄອງດິນແດນແຫ່ງທົ່ງໄຫຫີນ ເປັນເວລາຫລາຍສັດ ຕະວັດຫລາຍເສັ່ນຄົນ. ວັດວາອາຮາມທັງໝົດເຫລືອພຽງແຕ່ພະພຸດທະຮູບຂອງວັດ ເພຍວັດ ແລະ ທາດຝຸ່ນ ທີ່ຍັງຄົງຕັ້ງຢູ່ຢ່າງໜ້າມະຫັດສະຈັນ. ທຸກຢ່າງທີ່ທ່ານເຫັນໃນປະຈຸ ບັນຫາກໍ່ໄດ້ສ້າງຂຶ້ນ ວ່າງບໍ່ດົນມານີ້. ທ່ານຈໍາເປັນຕ້ອງຮູ້ກ່ຽວກັບປະຫວັດ ຄວາມເປັນມາຂອງທ້ອງຖີ່ນ ເພື່ອເຂົ້າໃຈເຖິງເຫດການທີ່ໄດ້ເກີດຂຶ້ນໃນອາດີດ, ແລະ ຄວາມສໍາຄັນຂອງມັນຕໍ່ປະຫວັດສາດ. ເຊັ່ ນ ດຽວກັ ນ ກັ ບ ສະຖານທີ່ ຫ ລາຍແຫ່ ງ ທີ່ ໄ ດ້ ມີ ກ ານປ່ ຽ ນຊື່ ຫ ລັ ງ ຈາກ ສົ ງ ຄາມໄດ້ສິ້ນສຸດ ເມືອງທີ່ຮູ້ກັນຜ່ານປະຫວັດສາດອັນຍາວນານຄື ຊຽງຂວາງ ປະຈຸບັນໄດ້ກາຍເປັນ ເມືອງຄູນ ໃນຄະນະທີ່ “ຊຽງຂວາງ” ໃນປະຈຸບັນໄດ້ຖືກ ຕັ້ງເປັນຊື່ຂອງແຂວງທັງໝົດ.

The history of Xieng Khouang, by either name, is inter-linked with the Tai Phouan, one of the Tai ethnic groups who are chronicled to have descended from the very real (though shrouded in myth and legend) Khun Borom (or Khun Boulom), who proceeded to found the various Tai territories throughout the region. As wider migration took hold, many offshoot tribes were born. Tai Lao, Tai Phouan, Tai Shan, Tai Siamese, Tai Lue, Tai Dam, Tai Daeng, Pou tai and many others, spread over the present day area extending from Southern China to Central Thailand and from Vietnam to Northeastern India, later to became recognised as distinct ethnic groups, some of which went on to govern sovereign nations of their own, as in Laos and Thailand.

The first written evidence of the Tai Phouan’s presence and the arrival of Buddhism are inscriptions found in Tham Phra, the Buddha cave which we visited earlier on our journey (Part One). The dates inscribed on the walls at the cave’s entrance correspond to the sixth or seventh century AD. Taht Foun (Foun Stupa), which stands at the site, is dated in the same period; its shape is said to represent early ‘Phouan’ architecture. This surviving remnant of what had clearly been a substantial structure gives testimony either to the huge advances made by the civilisation that inhabited the region at that time; or to a continued human evolution from the time when other, more ancient peoples, carved out the Jars and erected the Standing Stones still visible today.

Short of any historical record to the contrary, it is likely that over the centuries the Phouan people prospered from the overland trade in salt, metals and forest products and were able to retain a high degree of autonomy.

From the 14th century onwards though, they had to pay tribute to Lane Xang, the Kingdom of a Million Elephants, the first Lao state made up of several Tai ethnicities unified under king Fa-ngum with seat in LuangPrabang. Muang Phouan thus became the second kingdom of four (not the commonly accepted but historically inaccurate ‘three’) kingdoms of Lane Xang, with Champasak and Viangchan (today’s Vientiane) to follow in the early 1700s. At this time, all four ‘houses’ were continually intermarrying. Over the next 500 years neighbours jostled for control over this prime location. From the 15th to late 18th century Lane Xang was joined in competition by Vietnam, then by Siam, who continually threatened LuangPrabang and Viangchan, until 1893 when France, claiming Vietnamese prerogatives, colonised the region. To maintain its independence throughout the centuries, Muang Phouan frequently had to appease its rivals- sometimes several at the same time. At one time in the 1800s the whole family got carted off for an extended visit to Vietnam. Today they remain prominent in government, business and society.

ປະຫວັດຄວາມເປັນມາຂອງຊຽງຂວາງ ໂດຍຊື່ຂອງມັນມີຄວາມກ່ຽວຂ້ອງກັບ ໄຕພວນ. ພວກເຂົາແມ່ນໜຶ່ງໃນຊົນເຜົ່າໄຕທີ່ໄດ້ສືບເຊື້ອສາຍກັນມາຫລາຍ ເສັ່ນຄົນ – ຄວາມເປັນມາໄດ້ຖືກປົກຄຸມໃນສາຍໝອກ ແລະ ຕໍານານກ່ອນ ປະວັດສາດເປັນລາຍລັກອັກສອນ - ຂຸນບູຣົມ ຜູ້ເປັນລູກຫລານຂອງລາວ ໄດ້ສ້າງຕັ້ງດິນແດນໄຕຢູ່ທົ່ວທຸກສາລະທິດ. ໄຕລາວ, ໄຕພວນ, ໄຕສານ, ໄຕສະຫຍາມ, ໄຕລື້, ໄຕດໍາ, ໄຕແດງ, ພູໄຕ ແລະອື່ນໆ, ທີ່ດໍາລົງຊີວິດມາຮອດ ປະຈຸບັນຍັງ ຢັ່ງຢາຍຢູ່ພາກໃຕ້ຂອງຈີນ ເຖິງພາກກາງຂອງປະເທດໄທ ແລະ ຈາກຫວຽດນາມຫາ ພາກຕາເວັນ ອອກສ່ຽງເໜືອຂອງອິນເດຍ, ລ້ວນແລ້ວແຕ່ ເປັນຕົວແທນໃຫ້ແກ່ກຸ່ມຊົນເຜົ່າດຽວກັນ ຫລື ມີການປົກຄອງເປັນປະເທດ ເອກະລາດຂອງຕົນເອງ ເຊັ່ນປະເທດລາວ ແລະ ໄທ. ຫລັ ກ ຖານທີ່ ເ ປັ ນ ລາຍລັ ກ ອັ ກ ສອນຄັ້ ງ ທໍ າ ອິ ດ ທີ່ ສ ະແດງເຖິ ງ ການປະກົ ດ ຕົວຂອງ ໄຕພວນ ແລະການ ມາຮອດຂອງສາດສະໜາພຸດແມ່ນ ສິລາຈາລຶກ ທີ່ໄດ້ຄົ້ນພົບໃນ ຖໍ້າພຣະ, ເຊິ່ງເປັນຖໍ້າ ພະພຸດທະຮູບ ທີ່ພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ ໄປທ່ຽວຊົມໃນບົດກ່ອນນັ້ນ. (ຈາກພາກທີ່ໜຶ່ງ; ເນື່ອງຈາກຂາດຜູ້ນໍາທາງທີ່ຖືກ ຕ້ອງເຮັດໃຫ້ພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ພາດໂອກາດໄດ້ເບິ່ງຫລັກຖານສໍາຄັນທາງ ປະຫວັດສາດ!). ວັນທີ ທີ່ໄດ້ຈາລຶກໄວ້ໃນຝາຖໍ້າບອກວ່າ ເປັນສັດຕະວັດທີ ຫົກ ຫລື ເຈັດ. ທາດຝຸ່ນ, ກໍ່ໄດ້ຖືກ ບັນທຶກໄວ້ໃນໄລຍະ ເວລາດຽວກັນ; ເວົ້າ ກັນວ່າຮູບຊົງຂອງທາດສະແດງເຖິງສະຖາປັດຕະຍະກໍາ ‘ພວນ’ ໃນຕອນຕົ້ນ. ໂຄງຮ່ າ ງທີ່ ຍັ ງ ເຫລື ອ ຊີ້ ໃ ຫ້ ເ ຫັ ນ ເຖິ ງ ຄວາມຮຸ່ ງ ເຮື ອ ງສີ ວິ ໄ ລໃນສະໄໝນັ້ ນ ແລະ ຂົງເຂດ; ຫລື ການສືບຕໍ່ວິວັດທະນາການຂອງມະນຸດຈາກຍຸກສະໄໝ ໜຶ່ງຫາຍຸກສະໄໝໜຶ່ງ, ເຊິ່ງ ປະຊາຊົນໄດ້ເເກາະສະຫລັກໃສ່ໄຫຫີນເລົ່ານັ້ນ ແລະໄດ້ຕັ້ງມັນຂຶ້ນ. ຕໍ່ມາຫລາຍສັດຕະວັດ ຊາວພວນ ໄດ້ມີຄວາມຈະເລີນຮຸ່ງເຮືອງ, ‘’ບໍ່ມີບັນທຶກ ທາງປະວັດສາດໃດທຽບໄດ້’’, ຈາກການຄ້າຂາຍເກືອ, ເຫລັກ ແລະ ເຄື່ອງ ປ່າຂອງດົງ ແລະ ຍັງສາມາດຮັກສາຄວາມເປັນເອກະລາດໄດ້ເປັນຢ່າງດີ. ນັບແຕ່ສັດຕະວັດທີ 14 ເປັນຕົ້ນມາ, ເຖິງວ່າພວກເຂົາຈະຕ້ອງໄດ້ຈ່າຍ ບັ ນ ນາການໃຫ້ ອ ານາຈັ ກ ລ້ າ ນຊ້ າ ງ, ເຊິ່ ງ ເປັ ນ ລັ ດ ທໍ າ ອິ ດ ຂອງລາວທີ່ ໄ ດ້ ສ້າງຂຶ້ນຈາກຊົນເຜົ່າໄຕຫລາຍເຜົ່າ ທີ່ໄດ້ຖືກເຕົ້າໂຮມໂດຍເຈົ້າຟ້າງຸ່ມ, ທີ່ ມີ ຫລວງພະບາງ ເປັນເມືອງຫລວງ. ດັ່ງນັ້ນເມືອງພວນໄດ້ກ່າຍເປັນອານາ ຈັກທີ່ສອງໃນສີ່ອານາຈັກ ລ້ານຊ້າງ (ປົກກະຕິບໍ່ໄດ້ຖືກກ່າວເຖິງ ອານາຈັກ ທີ 4 ແລະ ອີງຕາມປະຫວັດສາດກ່າວວ່າມີພຽງ ‘ສາມ’ ອານາຈັກ ແມ່ນ ບໍ່ຖືກຕ້ອງ), ຕໍ່ມາຈຶ່ງໄດ້ສ້າງຕັ້ງອານາຈັກຈໍາປາສັກ ແລະ ວຽງຈັນ ໃນໄລ ຍະຕົ້ນປີ 1700; ‘ອານາຈັກລ້ານຊ້າງ’ ທັງສີ່ຍັງເປັນອັນໜຶ່ງອັນດຽວກັນ. ໄດ້ ໄລຍະເວລາ 500 ປີ ອ້າຍ ‘ໃຫຍ່’ເພື່ອນບ້ານໄດ້ຕໍ່ສູ້ກັນຍາດແຍ່ງເອົາໄຊຊະ ນະເໜືອທີ່ຕັ້ງອັນສໍາຄັນແຫ່ງນີ້; ຜູ້ຮຸກຮານອານາຈັກລ້ານຊ້າງ ທໍາອິດແມ່ນ ເຈົ້າຈັກກະພັດຫວຽດນາມ ນັບແຕ່ສັດຕະວັດທີ 15 ເຖິງປາຍສັດຕະວັດທີ18, ແລະ ຕໍ່ມາກໍ່ແມ່ນສະຫຍາມທີ່ໄດ້ເຂົ້າມາກົດດັນທັງຫລວງພະບາງ ແລະ ວຽງຈັນຈົນເຖິງປີ 1893 ເມື່ອຝຣັ່ງອ້າງສິດເໜືອຫວຽດນາມ, ພວກເຂົາ ກໍ່ໄດ້ເຂົ້າມາໃນລາວ. ເພື່ອຮັກສາເອກະລາດຕະຫລອດຫລາຍສັດຕະວັດ ເມືອງພວນ ຕ້ອງໄດ້ເສຍສ່ວຍສອງບ່ອນຢ່າງຫຼີກລ໋ຽງບໍ່ໄດ້ ໃນເວລາດຽວກັນ, ດັ່ງຄຳກ່າວໄວ້ວ່າ ໄມ້ໄຜ່ຍ່ອມໂອນເອນໄປຕາມກະແສລົມ ຄັ້ງໜຶ່ງໃນໄລຍະປີ 1800 ຄອບຄົວຊາວພວນໄດ້ຖກ ື ບັງຄັບໃຫ້ອອກໄປຢູປ ່ ະເທດຫວຽດນາມເຊິ່ງ. ປະຈຸບັນ ພວກເຂົາໄດ້ກາຍເປັນຄົນທີ່ມີບົດບາດໃນລັດຖະບານ, ທຸລະກິດ ແລະ ສັງຄົມຫວຽດນາມ.

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ເຖິງແນວໃດກໍ່ຕາມ, ນັບແຕ່ສັດຕະວັດທີ 7 ຫາສັດຕະວັດທີ 17 ສິລະ ປະ ແລະ ສະຖາປັດຕະຍະກໍາ ກ່ຽວກັບພຸດທະສິລປ໌ໄດ້ສະແດງ ເຖິງຄວາມ ຈະເລີນຮຸ່ງເຮືອງ. ມີການສ້າງວັດວາອາຮາມ ໃນຕົວເມືອງ ຊຽງຂວາງ/ ໃນຮູບແບບຂອງພວນ. ມີການກ່າວເຖິງເມືອງພວນວ່າເປັນ “ເມືອງທີ່ກວ້າງ ຂວາງ ແລະ ສວຍງາມທີ່ມີຄູນໍ້າເປັນແນວປ້ອງກັນ ແລະ ປ້ອມທະຫານ ອ້ອມຮອບພູ ແລະ ຄວາມສວຍງາມຮັງມີຂອງເຈດີ 62ອັນລວມທັງທາດ, ຊື່ສຽງຂອງເມືອງ ຫລວງ ຖືກໜ່ວຍພູເຊື່ອງຊ້ອນໄວ້, ແຫ່ງນີ້ໄດ້ແຜ່ຂະ ຫຍາຍໄປກ້ວາງໄກ”.

Vat Ban Khay 16th Century Despite almost unrelenting conflict, from the 7th to the 17th century expressive Buddhist art and architecture flourished. The capital became dotted with temples in a distinct Xieng Khouang / Phouan style. Muang Phouan was described as “a large and beautiful city protected by wide moats, which occupied the surrounding hills. No less than sixty-two magnificent pagodas and their stupas concealed all manner of treasures, for which the capital was famed far and wide”.

This Golden Age ended around the turn of the 18th century when Muang Phouan, weakened by internal succession, was twice devastated by Siam. When the city fell, the Siamese captured huge numbers of the city’s inhabitants, who later became the forced labourers who would dig the now famous klongs (waterways) of newly founded Bangkok. As a result, there are now more Phouan descendants living in Thailand than in Laos.

Later that century horse mounted bands of Haw from China, also called the Black Flag, destroyed and pillaged large areas of the Lao countryside. It wasn’t until the mid-1890s, after several failed attempts, that a French backed Siamese force eventually forced their retreat, much to the relief of the local population. With the arrival at around this time of the French and their subsequent occupation of Indochina, Muang Phouan was restored as a principality with members of the ruling house appointed as governorsnot as princes, as had been the case in the 16th and 17th century, when the Phouan family ruled by appointed royalty on behalf of the Vietnamese, while remaining loyal to Luang Prabang.

Xieng Khoung was eventually rebuilt to a shadow of its former glory in regards to its famous temples but an imposing colonial palace housing the French governor, now dwarfed every building in the city. The revival was to be short-lived; by the time the French were clinging to what little power they had left in 1954, the Americans eagerly took over to again undermine Lao sovereignty. By 1970 they had bombed the territory of Muang Phouan and its capital Xieng Khouang into oblivion.

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ຍຸກຄຳໄດ້ສິ້ນສຸດລົງໃນສັດຕະວັດທີ 18 ເມື່ອເມືອງພວນທີ່ອ່ອນແອລົງຍ້ອນ ການຍາດແຍ່ງອໍານາດ ກັນພາຍໃນ, ໄດ້ຖືກສະຫຍາມເຂົ້າຮຸກຮານສອງຄັ້ງ (ເປັນເລື່ອງໃນຕົວ, ສະນັ້ນໜ້າຈະອະທິບາຍຕື່ມ). ພວກສະຫຍາມໄດ້ບັງຄັບ ເອົ າ ແຮງງານຈໍ າ ນວນຫລວງຫລາຍໄປຂຸ ດ ຮ່ ອ ງທີ່ ມີ ຊື່ ສ ຽງໃນປະຈຸ ບັ ນ ຄລອງ (klongs) ໃຫ້ບາງກອກທີ່ຫາກໍ່ຕັ້ງຂຶ້ນໃໝ່. ຍ້ອນແນວນີ້ ຜູ້ສືບເຊື້ອ ສາຍພວນປະຈຸບັນຈຶ່ງອາໄສຢູ່ປະເທດໄທ ຫລາຍກ່ວາຢູ່ລາວ. ສັດຕະວັດຕໍ່ມາ, ທະຫານມ້າຂອງ ຫໍ້ (Haw) ຈາກຈີນ, ມີຊື່ເອີ້ນອີກຊື່ໜຶ່ງ ວ່າພວກຫໍ້ ທຸງດໍາ, ໄດ້ທໍາລາຍເຂດບ້ານນອກຫລາຍຄັ້ງຫລາຍຫົນຈົນກະ ທັ້ງເມື່ອພວກສະຫຍາມໄດ້ເຂົ້າມາ ແລະ ຢຸດຕິການວຸ້ນວາຍຂອງພວກຫໍ້ ໄດ້ກໍ, ໃຊ້ເວລາດົນນານຈະຕ້ອງເວົ້າວ່າ, ເຮັດໃຫ້ປະຊາຊົນທ້ອງຖີ່ນ ສະບາຍໃຈຂຶ້ນຫລາຍ. ໃນໄລຍະເວລາໃກ້ຄຽງກັນ ຝຣັ່ງໄດ້ເຂົ້າມາ ແລະ ຢຶດເອົາເຂດອິນໂດຈີນ, ເມືອງພວນໄດ້ຖືກບູລະນະກັບຄືນ ມາ ເປັນເຂດປົກຄອງໜຶ່ງ ໂດຍມີການແຕ່ງຕັ້ງສະມາຊິກຂອງ ອົງການ ປົກຄອງໃຫ້ເປັນເຈົ້າແຂວງ ແລະ ບໍ່ແມ່ນເຈົ້າຊາຍ ຄືໃນສະໄໝ ສັດ ຕະວັດທີ 16 ແລະ ສັດຕະວັດທີ 17 ອີກແລ້ວ ຕອນທີ່ ຄອບຄົວພວນ ໄດ້ຖືກປົກຄອງໃນນາມຫວຽດນາມ, (ອານາຈັກດ້າຍຫວຽດ) ໃນຂະນະທີ່ຍັງ ຕ້ອງເສຍບັນນາການໃຫ້ຫລວງພະບາງ. ຊຽງຂວາງໄດ້ ຖື ກ ສ້ າ ງສາຄື ນ ໃໝ່ ເ ພື່ ອ ເປັ ນ ການສັ ນ ລະເສີ ນ ເລື່ ອ ງທີ່ ເ ກີ ດ ຂຶ້ນຜ່ານມາກ່ຽວວັດວາອາຮາມທີ່ມີຊື່ສຽງ; ນອກຈາກນີ້ ເຮືອນພັກສະໄໝ ອານານິ ຄົ ມ ທີ່ ໄ ດ້ ເ ຄີ ຍ ຖື ກ ໃຊ້ ເ ປັ ນ ບ້ າ ນພັ ກ ຂອງຜູ້ ວ່ າ ຝຣັ່ ງ ສະໄໝກ່ ອ ນ ຖືກປ່ຽນເປັນຕຶກຜູ້ວ່າຂອງພວນ, ແລະ ອື່ນໆ. ການຟຶ້ນຟູຢູ່ໄດ້ບໍ່ດົນ; ເມື່ອ ຝຣັ່ງຫອບໜີອອກໄປໃນປີ 1954, ພວກອາເມລິກາໄດ້ເຂົ້າມາຢຶດຄອງ ເພື່ອທໍາລາຍອໍານາດອະທິປະໄຕຂອງ ລາວ, ແລະ ມາຮອດປີ 1964 -1972 ພວກເຂົາໄດ້ຖີ້ມລະເບີດໃສ່ເຂດເມືອງພວນ ແລະ ຕົວເມືອງຊຽງຂວາງ. ເຖິງ ແນວໃດກໍ່ຕາມ ພວກເຂົາກໍ່ໄດ້ປະລາໄຊສົງຄາມໃນປີ 1973 ໄປແລ້ວ.

The Ticket Vendor at Taht Foun ເມື່ອທ່ານ ຈັນທີ ແລະ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ໄປຢ້ຽມຢາມໂພນສະຫວັນ ໃນປີ 2001 ພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າບໍ່ສາມາດໄປເມືອງພວນເພາະວ່າ ພວກເຈົ້າຟ້າ ຍັງມີການເຄື່ອນໄຫວ ກະແຈກກະຈາຍຢູ່ຕາມເຂດອ້ອມນອກນາບຂູ່ທີ່ ພວກ ເຂົາສືບຕໍ່ເຮັດແບບບໍ່ຢຸດຢ່ອນນັບແຕ່ການ ປະລາໄຊຂອງ ອາເມລິກາ, ໃນປີ 1973 ນາຍຂອງພວກເຂົາ. ແລະ ພວກ ຄົນບໍ່ດີໄດ້ເຄື່ອນໄຫວຢູ່ ນອກພູໄປຮອດພາກໃຕ້, ເຖິງຈະມີປ່າຕຶບໜາ ຢູ່ພາກກາງປົກຫຸ້ມເປັນ ແນວປ້ອງກັນແຕ່ກອງກໍາລັງລັດຖະບານຍັງຕໍ່ສູ້ ຕ້ານຄືນຢ່າງບໍ່ທໍ້ຖອຍ; ສັນຕິພາບຍັງບອບບາງ ໃນເວລານັ້ນໃນສາຍຕາ ຂອງປະຊາຊົນ ທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບ ກັບຄວາມເຈັບປວດມາດົນນານ.

When Mr. Chanthy and I visited Phonsavanh in 2001 we were not able to travel to Muang Khoun because Hmong guerillas were still carrying out wide spread acts of violence in the area, a campaign of intimidation that had continued uninterrupted since the defeat of the Americans in 1973. The Hmong gorillas were operating deep in the mountains to the south, protected by a vast canopy of dense jungle, forcing government forces to fight back; still no peace in sight for the long suffering local population.

In 2002 I travelled with Inthy, Mr. Chanthy’s oldest son, through this heartland of the Hmong rebellion then called the Saysomboun Special Zone for a good reason: the threat of violence was still very real. With a large and very vigilant military escort we accompanied a German chief engineer, in charge of installing high voltage electric wiring from Phou Khao Kouay in the south all the way to Phonsavanh, on one of his regular inspection trips. As Inthy ascertained there was a fair amount of minor warfare going on all around us. The ticket vendor at Taht Foun reaffirmed to us that the constant threat of attacks against the civilian population remained very real.

It wasn’t until 2004 that government forces finally succeeded, with carrot and stick, to put an end to the violence. 2004 was also the year when the electricity came on-line, bringing with it connectivity, comfort and peace. Many of the fighters had been been pacified by the arrival of new comforts, pulling the rug from under the insurgency and turning their own people against them.

Having provided the foot soldiers for America’s Secret War, by the early 1970s the Hmong had already sacrificed more than 17000 of their people. Only child soldiers and the elderly had survived, left at the mercy of foreign powers (for the children rice was something they could only dream of ). After their paymasters were defeated in 1973, the Hmong were abandoned- all past promises conveniently forgotten. The Hmong were left with a choice: a) abandon their destructive hillside slash-and-burn agriculture and join Lao society in the lowlands, meaning access to schools, healthcare and markets; a life as fully-fledged citizens, subject to the same government authority as other Lao peoples. b) insist on maintaining their traditional way of life, ultimately stuck at subsistence level in a hopeless attempt to defy the government. c) Try their luck in Thailand, which would mean years in refugee camps before some were grudgingly permitted to emigrate to America. Having been ruthlessly deceived by their leaders since the onset of the Secret War, many found themselves stranded halfway across the world as involuntary refugees in a radically foreign environment. Totally alienated, many simply could not adapt, while others continued to refuse integration into a country that had denied them everything in their home country. Today, second generation Hmong get on with their lives, America is their homeland; Vang Pao is dead!

ໃນປີ 2002 ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ເດີນທາງໄປກັບ ອິນທີ, ລູກຊາຍກົກຂອງທ່ານ ຈັນທີ, ຜ່ານເຂດທີ່ມີການເຄື່ອນໄຫວຂອງເຈົ້າຟ້າ ທີ່ຕໍ່ມາໄດ້ຖືກເອີ້ນວ່າ ເຂດພິເສດໄຊສົມບູນຍ້ອນເຫດຜົນວ່າ: ຍັງມີການຕໍ່ສູ້. ໂດຍມີທະຫານ ຫລາຍຄົນຄຸ້ມກັນໃຫ້, ພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ເດີນທາງໄປກັບຫົວໜ້ານາຍ ຊ່າງຊາວເຢຍລະມັນ, ທີ່ຮັບຜິດຊອບຕິດຕັ້ງສາຍໄຟຟ້າແຮງສູງຈາກພູເຂົາ ຄວາຍຈາກພາກໃຕ້ມາຮອດໂພນສະຫວັນ, ໃນການເດີນທາງກວດກາເບິ່ງ ຄວາມຮຽບຮ້ອຍ. ອິນທີ ໄດ້ສືບຮູ້ວ່າມີການປະທະເລັກນ້ອຍກໍາລັງເກີດຂຶ້ນຢູ່ ອ້ອມແອ້ມພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ. ຄົນຂາຍປີ້ຢູ່ ທາດຝຸ່ນ ບອກພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າວ່າ ເຈົ້າຟ້າບຸກໂຈມຕີປະຊາຊົນຢ່າງຕໍ່ເນື່ອງ. ໃນທີ່ສຸດມາຮອດປີ 2004 ກອງກໍາ ລັງລັດຖະບານກໍ່ຮັບໄດ້ໄຊຊະນະ, ການໃຫ້ທັງລາງວັນ ແລະ ການລົງໂທດ, ເພື່ອຍຸດຕິຄວາມຮຸນແຮງ. ປີ 2004 ເປັນປີທີ່ມີໄຟ້ຟ້າໃຊ້ໃນເມືອງ, ເຮັດໃຫ້ມີການເຊື່ອມຕໍ່, ຄວາມສະດວກສະບາຍ ແລະ ຄວາມສະຫງົບ, ເປັນຄວາມຕັ້ງໃຈສູງສຸດຂອງ ລັດຖະບານຕາມນາຍຊ່າງຊາວເຢຍລະມັນ ໄດ້ເຄີຍທຳນາຍໄວ້. ລາວເຫັນໄດ້ເຖິງຜົນປະໂຫຍດສູງສຸດ ແລະ ໄດ້ເອົາຈິດ ໃຈຂອງລາວສຸມໃສ່ວຽກງານໂຄງການນີ້. ເພື່ອຄວາມສະຫງົບສຸກ ແລະ ໃຫ້ຄວາມສະດວກສະບາຍ, ໂດຍການຍາດແຍ່ງເອົາການສະໜັບສະໜູນ ຈາກຜູ້ຖືກຍຸຍົງສົ່ງເສີມ, ປ່ຽນຄົນຕົວເອງໃຫ້ຕ້ານພວກເຂົາ. ພາຍຫລັ ງ ໄດ້ ຮັບ ໃຊ້ ເ ປັ ນ ທະຫານຮາບໃຫ້ ອ າເມລິ ກ າໃນສົ ງ ຄາມປິ ດ ລັ ບ , ຮອດຕອນຕົ້ນຂອງປີ 1970 ຊົນເຜົ່າມົ້ງໄດ້ຖືກສັງເວີຍຊີວິດປະຊາຊົນ ຂອງຕົນຫລາຍກ່ວາ 17,000 ຄົນເຊິ່ງສ່ວນຫລາຍແມ່ນທະຫານເດັກ ນ້ ອ ຍທີ່ຖືກ ປະປ່ ອ ຍຕາມຍະຖາກຳໄວ້ ຕ່ ສ ໍ ້ໃ ູ ນສົ່ງ ຄາມປະລາໄຊທີ່ ພ ວກຜູ້ ໃຫຍ່ ໄ ດ້ ເ ອົ າ ຊີ ວິ ດ ລອດຈາກພວກທະຫານຮັ ບ ຈ້ າ ງຕ່ າ ງຊາດ(ສໍ າ ລັ ບ ເດັກນ້ອຍແລ້ວເຂົ້າສານແມ່ນສິ່ງທີ່ຕົກລົງຈາກເທິງຟ້າ). ຫລັງຈາກ ເຈົ້ານາຍ ຂອງພວກເຂົາໄດ້ຖືກປະລາໄຊໃນປີ 1973 ບັນດາຊາວ ມົ້ ງ ໄດ້ ຖື ກ ປະຖີ້ ມ , ຄໍ າ ໝັ້ ນ ສັ ນ ຍາທີ່ ວ່ າ ຈະເບິ່ ງ ແຍງຄວາມຢູ່ ດີ ກິ ນ ດີ ຂອງພວກເຂົາກໍ່ຖືກລືມ. ພວກເຂົາຖືກປະປ່ອຍກັບທາງເລື່ອກ: (ກ) ປະຖີ້ມການຖາງປ່າເຮັດໄຮ່ ແລະ ເຂົ້າມາດໍາລົງຊີວິດຢູ່ຮ່ວມສັງຄົມກັບ ຄົນລາວລຸ່ມ, ໝາຍເຖິງການໄດ້ເຂົ້າໂຮງຮຽນ, ການເບິ່ງແຍງ ສຸຂະພາບ ແລະ ຕະຫຼອດ, ເປັນພົນລະເມືອງເຕັມສ່ວນມີລັດຖະບານດຽວກັນກັບ ປະຊາຊົນລາວໝົດທຸກຄົນ. ຂ) ຢຶດໝັ້ນກັບວິທີການຂອງຕົນເອງໄວ້ຄືເກົ່າ, ແລະ ຍ້ອນແນວນີ້ຈຶ່ງຖືກບັງຄັບໃຫ້ໃຊ້ຊີວິດຢູ່ໃນພູເຂົາທີ່ຍາກລໍາບາກໂດຍ ເພື່ອຊອກສະແຫວງຫາດິນແດນທີ່ເປັນຂອງຕົນເອງ ບໍ່ມີຫວັງທີ່ຈະຕໍ່ຕ້ານ ລັດຖະບານລາວໄດ້. ຄ) ສ່ຽງໂຊກຢູ່ປະເທດໄທ ບ່ອນທີ່ພວກເຂົາຈະອາ ໄສຢູ່ຄ້າຍຜູ້ອົບພະຍົບປູກຜັກຫລາຍປີກ່ອນໄດ້ຮັບອະນຸຍາດຢ່າງບໍ່ເຕັມໃຈ ເຂົ້າໄປລີ້ໄພຢູ່ສະຫະລັດອາເມລິກາ… ເຊິ່ງບໍ່ຕ້ອງໃຊ້ຄວາມພະຍາຍາມ ຫຍັງເລີຍ. ບໍ່ວ່າຈະເຮັດຕາມຄວາມຄິດຂອງຕົນເອງ ຫລື ອົດທົນຕໍ່ການຕໍ່ ຕ້ານຂອງຝ່າຍສະຫະລັດ ແລະ ເຈົ້າໜ້າທີ່ລດ ັ . ໄດ້ຖກ ື ຂີ້ຕວ ໋ ົ ຢ່າງໂຫດຮ້າຍຈາກ ຜູ້ນໍາທີ່ເຮັດເພື່ອຕົວເອງຕັ້ງແຕ່ຕ່ອນເລີ່ມຕົ້ນຂອງສົງຄາມປິດລັບ, ພວກ ເຂົາໄດ້ຖືກຂົມຂູ່ຢູ່ອີກເຄິ່ງໂລກ ເປັນຜູ້ອົບພະຍົບຢູ່ສະພາບແວດລ້ອມ ຕ່າງປະເທດທີ່ມີການແບ່ງແຍກສີຜິວ. ເກີດມີການແບ່ງແຍກຢ່າງຂາດຂັ້ນ, ມີຫລາຍຄົນບໍ່ສາມາດປັບຕົວ ໃນຂະນະທີ່ກມ ໍ່ ຈ ີ ໍານວນໜຶ່ງກໍ່ສາມາດເຂົ້າກັບ ສັງຄົມທົ່ວໄປໄດ້ຢ່າງຕໍ່ເນື່ອງ, ບໍ່ວ່າຈະເປັນບ່ອນລີ້ໄພສຸດທ້າຍຂອງເຂົາ ເຈົ້າຢູ່ໃສກໍ່ຕາມ; ພວກເຂົາອາດເລືອກ, ຫລື ບໍ່ມີທາງເລືອກເລີຍ ແຕ່ແນວ ໃດກໍ່ຕາມພວກເຂົາຍັງດໍາລົງຊີວິດຢູ່ໄດ້ໃນສັງຄົມທີ່ມີການແບ່ງແຍກ, ໂດຍ ການຊ່ວຍເຫລືອຂອງອົງການກຸສນ ົ ຂອງລັດຖະບານສະຫະລັດ. ໃນປະຈຸບນ ັ ຄົນລຸ້ນທີ່ສອງຂອງຊາວມົ້ງສືບຕໍ່ດໍາລົງຊີວິດ, ເໝືອນອາເມລິກາເປັນບ້ານ ເກີດຂອງພວກເຂົາແລ້ວ; ແລະ ວັງປາວໄດ້ເສຍຊີວິດໄປແລ້ວ!

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Having suffered brutal suppression in their native homeland of southern China, 200 years ago many Hmong finally saw no other way out but to flee. They found shelter on the Plain of Jars; Laos happened to be the country that accommodated them and provided the freedom to live their lives in peace. Those Hmong who later found themselves abandoned and hiding in the mountains, locked in a battle for a new, independent Hmong homeland chose Xieng Khouang as the centre of a pointless struggle against the established Lao government, at the very expense of the tolerant, multi-ethnic population that had once welcomed them. Ultimately, they were made to suffer more in the process.

Despite not having the slightest chance of victory they extended their reign of violence for a further 31 years.

After the Secret War ended the Hmong’s sole purpose was to cater to the ego of their leader, the warlord Vang Pao and his thugs who were then safely settled in America. And for that very purpose they kept squeezing the Hmong refugee community in America for their hard earned or in many cases, scarce welfare money, to finance and cruelly prolong 31 years of terrible suffering. In the inhospitable wilderness of steep mountain passes and deep valleys, carpeted by miles of impenetrable jungle, survivors lived on the brink of extinction. For 31 years, another generation was wasted in pursuit of selfish idealism- instead of a life lived.

Those responsible for much of the bloodshed used their bullets as much against government soldiers and Lao civilians as their own people, many of whom where ordered to starve to death rather than descend to government resettlement areas. They were also supported by an insidious misinformation campaign about the horrific consequences of surrender to the Lao authorities, installed under the direction of Vang Pao from America. The reality was far better. Camps had been set up to care for those willing, or rather allowed, to join civilisation by providing shelter, safety and

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basic comforts. Housing plots complete with infrastructure were allocated to the new arrivals, together with agricultural land; the beginning of a new and settled life. The lady I spoke to at Taht Foun expressed her deepest gratitude to this government for putting an end to the mindless violence, allowing all Lao people to go about their lives in peace.

It is important to bare in mind that Vang Pao only ever gained the loyalty over about half of the Hmong population, covering a corridor of about 90km, running from the south-western edge of the Plain of Jars to the north-eastern edge of the Vietnamese border. Here he enforced a reign of terror on rival clans; blackmail, nepotism, selective patronage, multiple marriages (polygamy), deceit and assassination all became routine features of daily life.

In response to personal favours and often a lack of any other option, rival clans were continually forced to replenish Vang Pao’s CIA financed army with the youth of surrounding villages (Vang Pao even managed to pocket part of their monthly salaries, paid

by Washington- courtesy of the CIA). Other Hmong living further south in Bolikamsay province or further north in Pongsaly put up stiff resistance to Vang Pao but unfortunately, they like other Hmong, have continued to be largely ignored by the entire western press, which was successfully manipulated by Vang Pao’s American propaganda machine- so much so that many of its myths remain alive and well to this day.

Today, Hmong of all descents are well represented in business, while young Hmong make up a substantial part of the college and university student population in Laos. They enjoy full Lao citizenship and the right to vote and hold Lao passports, giving them the freedom to travel the world. The same can not be said for the Hmong living in neighbouring Thailand, who are barely tolerated, often stateless and bared from commercial enterprise.

ຫລັງຈາກໄດ້ຮບ ັ ຄວາມທຸກທໍລະມານຈາກການຂົ່ມເຫັງກົດຂີ່ຂດ ູ ຮີດໃນບ້ານ ເກີດເມືອງນອນຢູ່ພາກໃຕ້ຂອງປະເທດຈີນ, 200 ປີຜ່ານມາ ສໍາລັບຊາວ ເຜົ່າມົ້ງບໍ່ມີວິທີການໃດທີ່ຈະຊ່ວຍພວກເຂົາໄດ້ ມີພຽງແຕ່ການໜີເທົ່ານັ້ນ. ພວກເຂົາ ໄດ້ພົບສະຖານທີ່ພັກພາອາໄສຢູ່ທົ່ງໄຫຫີນ; ປະເທດລາວໄດ້ກາຍ ເປັນປະເທດທີ່ເປັນບ່ອນອາໄສສໍາລັບພວກເຂົາ ແລະ ໃຫ້ອິດສະລະພາບ ແກ່ພວກເຂົາໄດ້ອາໄສຢ່າງສະຫງົບສຸກ. ຊາວມົ້ງເລົ່ານັ້ນທີ່ຖືກປະຖີ້ມ ແລະ ລີ້ຢູ່ຕາມພູ ຍັງສືບຕໍ່ສູ້ຮົບແບບໄຮ້ປະໂຫຍດເພື່ອສະແຫວງຫາດິນ ແດນຂອງຕົນ ເພື່ອທີ່ຈະສ້າງເຂດປົກຄອງຕົນເອງຂອງຊົນເຜົ່າ, ອານາ ຈັກອັນສວຍງາມຢູ່ເທິງໂລກ. ພວກເຂົາໄດ້ເລືອກແຂວງຊຽງຂວາງໃນປະ ເທດລາວ, ເຊິ່ງເປັນປະເທດດຽວທີ່ຫາກໍ່ໃຫ້ຊີວິດໃໝ່ແກ່ເຂົາເຈົ້າ, ເພື່ອຕໍ່ສູ່ ໃຫ້ບັນລຸເປົ້າໝາຍຂອງຕົນ ໂດຍການຕໍ່ຕ້ານການສ້າງຕັ້ງລັດຖະບານ ລາວ ທີ່ຕ້ອງແລກມາດ້ວຍຄວາມອົດທົນຜ່ານຜ່າຢ່າງໜັກໜ່ວງ, ປະຊາຊົນ ເຜົ່າຕ່າງໆ ຕ້ອງໄດ້ຮັບຄວາມທຸກທໍລະມານ. ທັງທີ່ບໍ່ມີໂອກາດເອົາຊະນະ ໄດ້ເລີຍກໍ່ຕາມ, ແຕ່ພວກເຂົາຍັງສືບຕໍ່ກໍ່ຄວາມຮຸນແຮງເປັນເວລາອັນຍາວ ນານ 31 ປີແລ້ວ. ໃນທີ່ສຸດແລ້ວເປົ້າໝາຍດຽວທີ່ພວກເຂົາຍັງຄົງຢູ່ກໍ່ເພື່ອສະທ້ອນສຽງເຖິງ ຜູ້ນໍາຂອງພວກເຂົາ, ຫົວໜ້າວັງປາວ ແລະ ບັນດາລູກນ້ອງຂອງລາວທີ່ຕໍ່ ມາໄດ້ໄປອາໄສຢູ່ອາເມລິກາຢ່າງປອດໄພ. ແລະ ຍ້ອນແນວນັ້ນເປົ້າໝາຍ ສູ ງ ສຸ ດ ທີ່ ພ ວກເຂົ າ ຍັ ງ ກົ ດ ດັ ນ , ໂດຍບໍ່ ວ່ າ ຈະເຮັ ດ ດ້ ວ ຍວິ ທີ ໃ ດກໍ່ ຕ າມ. ຊຸມຊົນຜູ້ອົບຜະຍົບຊາວມົ້ງ ໃນອາເມລິກາໄດ້ໃຫ້ເງິນສະໜັບສະໜູນ ການເຄື່ອນໄຫວອັນໂຫດຫ້ຽມໄຮ້ປະໂຫຍດ ທີ່ດົນນານບໍ່ມີມື້ຈົບສິ້ນ–31 ປີແຫ່ງຄວາມເຈັບປວດຢ່າງແສນສາຫັດ ທີ່ພວກເຂົາໄດ້ຮັບ. ຢູ່ໃນພູເຂົາ ເລິກປົກຫຸ້ມດ້ວຍປ່າດົງດິບຕຶບໜາ, ຜູ້ທີ່ມີຊີວິດລອດດໍາລົງຊີວິດຢູ່ແບບ ສ່ຽງຊີວິດ, ເສຍຊີວິດຍ້ອນທໍາມະຊາດເຫຼືອພຽງແຕ່ລົມຫາຍໃຈເຮືອກສຸດ ທ້າຍ ຫລື ກ້າວໜີຈາກເສັ້ນທາງນີ້. 31 ປີ, ອີກຄົນຮຸ້ນໜຶ່ງທີ່ຕ້ອງເສຍເວລາ ຕໍ່ສູ້ ເພື່ອອຸດົມຄະຕິຂອງຊົນເຜົ່າ, ແທນທີ່ຈະໄດ້ໃຊ້ຊີວິດຂອງຕົນເອງ. ພວກຄົນບໍ່ດີ ສວຍໃຊ້ລູກປືນຂອງພວກເຂົາຕໍ່ສູ້ຕ້ານ ທະຫານລັດຖະບານ ແລະ ພົນລະເຮືອນລາວເພື່ອທໍາລາຍຄົນຂອງຕົນເອງຜູ້ທີ່ອຶດຫີວ, ເຖິງຂັ້ນ ເສຍຊີວິດຖ້າຈໍາເປັນ, ຫລາຍກ່ວາທີ່ຈະອະນຸຍາດໃຫ້ພວກເຂົາຖອຍລົງໄປ ບ່ອນເຂດຈັດສັນຂອງລັດຖະບານແລ້ວລໍຖ້າ. ພວກເຂົາໄດ້ຮັບຂໍ້ມູນອັນບໍ່ ດີຈາກວັງປາວຢູ່ອາເມລິກາ ທີ່ເຮັດໃຫ້ເຊື່ອວ່າຈະເກີດຜົນຮ້າຍຖ້າຍອມແພ້ ຕໍ່ເຈົ້າໜ້າທີ່ລາວ. ສູນພັກຊົ່ວຄາວໄດ້ຖືກສ້າງຂຶ້ນເພື່ອເບິ່ງແຍງຜູ້ທີ່ມີຄວາມ ຕັ້ງໃຈ, ຫລື ວ່າໄດ້ຮັບອະນຸຍາດ, ໃຫ້ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມຄວາມຈະເລີນສີວິໄລໂດຍ ການໃຫ້ທີພັກອາໄສ, ຄວາມປອດໄພ ແລະ ຄວາມສະດວກສະບາຍ. ເຮືອນ ທີ່ຈັດສັນໄວ້ແຕ່ລະບ່ອນມີໂຄງລ່າງພື້ນຖານຄົບຊຸດ ຈັດໄວ້ໃຫ້ຜູ້ມາຢູ່ອາໄສ ໃໝ່ພ້ອມກັບດິນປູກຝັງ; ການເລີ່ມຕົ້ນຊີວິດໃໝ່ທີ່ໝັ້ນຄົງ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ຮັບ ຮູ່ເລື່ອງທີ່ບໍ່ຄ່ອຍດີທີ່ໃນຕອນທ້າຍ ຊາວມົ້ງໄດ້ປະຕິບັດຕໍ່ຕົນເອງບໍ່ຖືກ ຕ້ອງ ແລະ ໄຮ້ປະໂຫຍດ ໂດຍການຮັບໃຊ້ເປັນກະບອກສຽງຂອງວັງປາວ ເທົ່ານັ້ນ. ຜູຍ ້ ິງຄົນໜຶ່ງຢູ່ ທາດຝຸນ ່ ໄດ້ສະແດງຄວາມຮູ້ບນ ຸ ຄຸນຕໍ່ລດ ັ ຖະບານ ທີ່ ໄດ້ຢຸດຕິຄວາມຮຸນແຮງທີ່ໄຮ້ຈິດສໍານຶກ ເພື່ອເຮັດໃຫ້ປະຊາຊົນໝົດທຸກຄົນ ສາມາດດໍາລົງຊີວິດ ຂອງພວກເຂົາຢ່າງສະຫງົບສຸກ.

ຕ້ອງໄດ້ຊີ້ໃຫ້ເຫັນຢ່າງຊັດເຈນວ່າ ວັງປາວ ໄດ້ຄອບຄຸມປະຊາກອນເຄິ່ງ ໜຶ່ງຂອງຊົນເຜົ່າມົ້ງ ກວມເອົາເສັ້ນທາງ 90 ກິໂລແມັດ ຈາກຂອບຟາກ ຕາເວັນຕົກສ່ຽງໃຕ້ຂອງທົ່ງໄຫຫີນ ຈົນຮອດຟາກຕາເວັນອອກສຽງເໜືອ ຂອງຊາຍແດນຫວຽດນາມ. ຢູ່ເຂດນີ້ ວັງປາວສວຍໃຊ້ຄວາມຫວາດກວາບັງ ຄັບຂູ່ເຂັນອ້າຍນ້ອງປ້ອງປາຍຜູ້ນຳຊົນເຜົ່າທີ່ເປັນຂູ່ແຂ່ງ: ການຫັກຫລັງ, ການເລືອກທີ່ຮກ ັ ມັກຊັງ, ການເລືອກອຸປະຖຳ, ການແຕ່ງງານຫລາຍຄັ້ງ (ການ ມີຜົວຫລືເມຍຫລາຍກວ່າໜຶ່ງຄົນ), ການປຸກລະດົມກອບກູ້ປະເທດຊາດ, ກົນອຸບາຍ ແລະ ການລອບສັງຫານ. ຜູ້ນຳເລົ່ານີ້, ເພື່ອຕອບສະໜອງ ຄວາມຕ້ອງການສ່ວນຕົວ ຫລື ໃຊ້ການທໍລະມານ ເຊິ່ງເຕີມເຕັມຄວາມ ຕ້ອງການຂອງວັງປາວ, CIA ໄດ້ສະໜັບສະໜູນທາງດ້ານການເງິນໃຫ້ ກອງກຳລັງເຍົາວະຊົນຊາຍຂອງພວກເຂົາ (ສ່ວນໜຶ່ງຂອງລາຍຮັບວັງ ປາວແມ່ນເງິນເດືອນທີ່ໄດ້ຈາກພວກ CIA . ພວກ CIA ບໍ່ອານຸຍາດໃຫ້ ເຮັດພຶດຕິກຳດັ່ງກ່າວ ແຕ່ກໍ່ຕ້ອງເຮັດຄືບໍ່ຮູ້ບໍ່ເຫັນ ເພາະວ່າມັນເຮັດໃຫ້ ກອງກຳລັງມີຄວາມເຂັ້ມແຂງຂຶ້ນ. ‘’ຊົນເຜົ່າມົ້ງອື່ນໆທີ່ອາໄສຢູ່ທາງໃຕ້ລຸ່ມ ລົງໄປອີກໃນແຂວງບໍລິຄຳໄຊ ຫລື ຂຶ້ນໄປທາງເໜືອຢູ່ໃນແຂວງຜົ້ງສາລີ ຕໍ່ ຕ້ານອິດທິພົນຂອງວັງປາວຢ່າງຮຸນແຮງໂດຍການຂົ່ມຂູ່ ແລະ ໃຫ້ສິນບົນ’’. ໂຊກບໍ່ດີ ການຕໍ່ຕ້ານພາຍໃນຄັ້ງນີ້ ແລະ ການປ່ຽນລັດຖະບານໃໝ່ໃນຕໍ່ມາ ຊ າ ວ ມົ້ ງ ຈ ຳ ນ ວ ນ ຫ ລ ວ ງ ຫ ລ າ ຍ ບໍ່ ໄ ດ້ ຮັ ບ ຄ ວ າ ມ ສົ ນ ໃ ຈ ຈ າ ກ ສື່ ມ ວ ນ ຊົນຕາເວັນຕົກ ເຊິ່ງເຮັດໃຫ້ເຄື່ອງມືໂຄສະນາຊວນເຊື່ອຂອງວັງປາວ ນອກອາເມລິກາ ທີ່ສ້າງເລື່ອງຂຶ້ນມາຫລອກລວງບໍ່ສຳເລັດ. ສຳລັບການ ໂຄສະນາຊວນເຊື່ ອ ນີ້ ອ າດບໍ່ ມີ ໃ ຜເຊື່ ອ ແບບບໍ່ ຕັ້ ງ ຄຳຖາມກັ ບ ຕົ ວ ເອງແຕ່ ເປັນທີ່ຍອມຮັບກັນໃນສາທາລະນະ ແບບບໍ່ມີຂໍ້ຄັດແຍ່ງບໍ່ມີນັກຂ່າວ, ຄື ກັບພວກທີ່ຖືກເນລະເທດຂີ້ຕົ໋ວ, ບໍ່ເຄີຍຕັ້ງຄຳຖາມຫຍັງເລີຍ, ບໍ່ມີໃຜເຮັດ ການຄົ້ນຄ້ວາບໍ່ວ່າເລື່ອງຫຍັງ, ແລະ ເວົ້າຢູ່ສະຖານທີສາທາລະນະ, ກ່ຽວ ກັບຄວາມບໍ່ຊື່ສັດຂອງວັງປາວ, ຈິນຕະນາການຮັບໃຊ້ຕົນເອງເພື່ອຄວາ ມທໍລະນົງ ແລະ ຜົນປະໂຫຍດ; ກອງກຳລັງຣາຊະອານາຈັກລາວ (RLA) ອອກມາພິສູດຈຸດທີ່ຕົນເອງບໍ່ຄອຍມັກ ຄືກັບ ຮິດເລີ. ບ່ອນທີ່ການໂຄສະ ນາຊວນເຊື່ອຖືກຂົ່ມຂູ່ວ່າຈະປຣາໄຊ, ການບັງຄັບຂົ່ມຂູ່ຄືເກົ່າຖືກນຳໄປ ໃຊ້ກັບຜູ້ອົບພະຍົບ ແລະ ນັກຂ່າວ. ລັດທິແມັກຄາທີ ຍັງມີການເຄື່ອໄຫວຢູ່ (ການກວດສອບຕົນເອງ ແມ່ນເປັນທີ່ນິຍົມກັນໃນອາເມລິກາ) , ໂດຍສະ ເພາະຫລັງຈາກປະເທດມະຫາອຳນາດໄດ້ພ່າຍແພ້ສົງຄາມຢ່າງແສນສາ ຫັດຕໍ່ພວກຄອມມຸຍນິສໃນອາຊີຕາເວັນອອກສ່ຽງໃຕ້ການກໍ່ອາດສະຍາກຳ ຕໍ່ພວກເຂົາເອງ ແລະ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ ແມ່ນຂອງວັງປາວ ແລະ ພວກບັນດາ ຫົວໜ້າຊົນເຜົ່າເທົ່ານັ້ນ; ແລະ ບໍ່ແມ່ນຊາວມົ້ງສ່ວນໃຫ່ຍ. ຕາມທີ່ເບິ່ງແລ້ວ (ມາຮອດທຸກມື້ນີ້) ມັນແມ່ນພວກເຂົາຜູ້ທີ່ຖືກເຮັດໃຫ້ເຈັບປວດ ແລະ ເສຍຊີວິດ, ຫລື ຖືກບັງຄັບໃຫ້ຍອມແພ້ເຮັດໃຫ້ຊີວິດພົບກັບຄວາມທຸກທໍ ລະມານໃນປ່າດົງພາກກາງຂອງລາວ ຫລື ຖືກນຳພາຢ່າງບໍ່ຖືກຕ້ອງໄປ ລີ້ ໄພໂດຍບໍ່ໄດ້ສະໝັກໃຈຢູ່ຕ່າງປະເທດ. ບາງຈຳພວກທີ່ກັບຄືນມາຢ່າງກ້າ ຫານໃນປະຈຸບັນ ຫວັງວ່າຈະເປັນທີ່ຍອມຮັບໃນປະເທດລາວ ແຕ່ບໍ່ມີການ ຍອມຮັບ ແລະ ບໍ່ມີຄຳກວ່າຂໍໂທດຕໍ່ການກະທຳໃນອາດີດໂດຍວັງປາວ ແລະ ລູກນ້ອງ ທີ່ເຮັດການຕໍ່ຕ້ານລັດຖະບານ ແລະ ປະຊາຊົນ. ຕໍ່ມາກໍ່ມີ ຊາວມົ້ງອີກຈໍານວນໜຶ່ງທີ່ເຮັດການລຸກຮືຂຶ້ນຕໍ່ຕ້ານການເຂົ້າຢຶດ ຄອງຂອງຝຣັ່ງໃນຕອນທ້າຍສັດຕະວັດທີ 19 ຈົນເຖິງປີ 1954. ພວກເຂົາ ແມ່ນຊາວມົ້ງກຸ່ມດຽວກັນທີ່ຮ່ວມກັບຝ່າຍປະເທດລາວນັບແຕ່ໄລຍະປີ19 40 ເປັນຕົ້ນມາ ແລະກໍ່ໄດ້ກາຍເປັນສ່ວນສໍາຄັນຂອງກອງກໍາລັງລາວອິດ ສະຫລະ, ເຊິ່ງສ່ວນໃຫຍ່ປະກອບດ້ວຍຜູ້ຊາຍຈາກເຜົ່າຕ່າງໆ, ເຮັດການ ຕໍ່ສູ້ຕ້ານພວກ CIA ໃນໄລຍະສົງຄາມປິດລັບ. ເພື່ອເປັນການເຄົາລົບເປັນ ຢ່ າ ງສູ ງ ຕໍ່ ຜົ ນ ງານທີ່ ກ້ າ ຫານຂອງພວກເຂົ າ ທີ່ ໄ ດ້ ປ ະກອບສ່ ວ ນໃສ່ ກ ານ ປະຕິວັດ ພວກເຂົາຫລາຍຄົນກໍ່ໄດ້ກາຍເປັນຜູ້ມີຕໍາແໜ່ງໃນລັດຖະບານ ໃໝ່ໃນໄລຍະຕໍ່ມາ. ຫລາຍໆຄົນໃນປະຈຸບັນໄດ້ເປັນນັກທຸລະກິດທັງຍິງ ແລະ ຊາຍທີ່ປະສົບຜົນ ສໍາເລັດຢູ່ວຽງຈັນ ໃນຂະນະທີ່ຊາວໜຸ່ມມົ້ງກວມເອົາສ່ວນໃຫຍ່ຂອງນັກ ສຶກສາຢູວ ່ ທ ິ ະຍາໄລເອກະຊົນ ລວມທັງປະຊາກອນນັກສຶກສາໃນມະຫາໄລ. ພວກເຂົາມີສດ ິ ເຕັມສ່ວນໃນການເປັນພົນລະເມືອງລາວ ມີສດ ິ ອອກສຽງ ແລະ ຖືໜັງສືເດີນທາງຂອງປະຊາຊົນລາວ ມີອິດສະລະເດີນທາງໄປທົ່ວ ໂລກ (ຢູ່ໃນປະເທດໄທ ອ້າຍນ້ອງຂອງພວກເຂົາເກືອບຈະອົດທົນບໍ່ໄດ້ແລ້ວທີ່ມີ ສະຖານະພາບເປັນຄົນບໍ່ມີສັນຊາດ ຖືກກໍາຈັດບໍ່ໃຫ້ເຄືອນໄຫວໄປໃສລວມ ທັງການປະກອບອາຊີບ).

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It’s day four on our journey and we are heading northeast along route 6 from Muang Kham to Samneua. After a short drive we take a left turn onto a track that takes us to Tham Piu (Piu Cave) and a memorial for the millions of innocent people killed who lost their lives across the country. A small grassy expanse lies at the foot of a steep cliff face, with think vegetation and trees towering high above. In the rainy season, the stream becomes a raging torrent, thundering through a nearby gorge. In the centre stands a statue of a strong, resolute man carrying the lifeless body of one of the conflict’s many young victims. In 1968, a rocket attack scored a direct hit on the cave, killing all 372 people hiding inside. To the left of the memorial stands a modest, almost barren, one room museum. Inside is just enough space for each photo to scream out over the silence, the roaring river and each drop of rain, falling from the trees above.

Midway up some steps leading to the cave lies an intricate funeral stupa, build in memory of those killed. In a nearby clearing, simple wooden signs in front of grass covered slopes indicate several mass graves. Further to the right, an ill-fitting (to the point of irritation) Buddha of washed cement, fails completely to do justice to the tragedy of this place. ມື້ທີ່ສີ,ພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າມຸ່ງໜ້າເດີນທາງໄປພາກຕາເວັນອອກສ່ຽງເໜືອຕາມເສັ້ນທາງເລກທີ 6 ຈາກ ເມືອງຄໍາໄປຮອດຊໍາເໜືອ. ຫລັງ ຈາກຂັບລົດໄປໄດ້ໄລຍະໜຶ່ງ ພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າລ້ຽວຊ້າຍໄປ ຖໍ້າປິວ ແລະ ອານຸສອນສະຖານສໍາລັບບັນດາຜູ້ບໍລິສຸດທີ່ຖືກຂ້າຕາຍ, ຢູ່ທີ່ນີ້ ລວມທັງບ່ອນອື່ນໆນໍາ. ຕົ້ນຫຍ້ານ້ອຍໆ ຢູ່ຕີນຂອງໜ້າຜາສູງຊັນ, ພືດຈະເລີນງອກງາມ, ຕົ້ນໄມ້ສູງ. ຍາມຝົນ, ສາຍນໍ້າລອດ ຜ່ານພູເຂົາ ທາງເທິງສົ່ງສຽງດັງ, ຟ້າຮ້ອງຜ່ານຫລືບພູບ່ອນສາຍນໍ້າໄຫລຕະ ຫລອດຄືນ. ໃນແນວ ຫລັງ, ຮູບປັ້ນ, ປະຊາຊົນ, ເຂັ້ມແຂງ, ໝັ້ນຄົງ, ບາດເຈັບໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ, ເຍື່ອຜູ້ເຄາະຮ້າຍ, ເມຍຂອງລາວ, ລູກສາວ, ເອື້ອຍ. ການໂຈມຕີດ້ວຍຈະຫລວດໃນປີ 1968, ຍິງເຂົ້າໃສ່ຖໍ້າ, ສັງຫານປະຊາຊົນທັງໝົດ 372 ຄົນ. ດ້ານຊ້າຍມືຂອງພວກເຮົາ, ມີຫ້ອງພິພິດຕະພັນຂະໜາດນ້ອຍ, ມີໄມ້ຂັ້ນທາງໄວ້ທາງໃນ ຫໍພິພິດຕະພັນ, ມີພື້ນທີ່ພຽງພໍສໍາລັບວາງຮູບແຕ່ລະຮູບເພື່ອຮຽກຮ້ອງຄວາມເປັນທຳ, ຄວາມງຽບສະ ງັດ, ສຽງສາຍ ນໍ້າໄຫລ, ນໍ້າຝົນຍ້ອຍລົງມາຈາກໃບໄມ້ທາງເທິງ ຍັງຄົງ. ຢູ່ໃນຄວາມຊົງຈໍາ. ຮອດເຄິ່ງທາງດ້ານຫລັງຂອງຮູບປັ້ນໄປຫາຖໍ້າ ມີທາດ ສໍາລັບຄົນທີ່ໄດ້ຖືກເສຍຊີວິດທີ່ມີຄວາມສະລັບ ຊັບຊ້ອນ; ຢູ່ເທິງເນີນພູທີ່ປົກຫຸ້ມດ້ວຍຫຍ້າມີປ້າຍເຮັດດ້ວຍໄມ້ ບອກເຖິງຂຸມຝັງສົບຂອງປະຊາຊົນ. ໄປທາງດ້ານຂວາ, ມີຮູບປັ້ນພະພຸດທະຮູບທ່ານັ່ງເຮັດດ້ວຍສີມັງເບິ່ງບໍ່ຄືໜ້າຂອງ ພະພຸດທະຮູບ ບໍ່ມິສິນລະປະຄວາມສວຍງາມ ແລະ ແຮງບັນ ດານໃຈເລີຍ.

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At the cave entrance some 20 m above ground, we turn to look across the rain swept plain, which stretches miles across the mountains. As we step inside, it looks just like any other cave. We wait for our eyes to adjust to the darkness before advancing further inside. Then we notice rubble strewn over the entire floor, drawing out a path. It was somehow strange to see the odd incense stick pocking out of the rubble, which further inside, takes on a triangular shape. Hundreds of little stupas, no more than 20 to 30 cm high, have been carefully piled up with stones.

One for each person killed? Only those with a personal connection to this place truly know .

With the stream rushing ahead of us we descend and find ourselves in a rough wooden shed serving basic refreshments. My usually exuberant friends have fallen silent. The shed’s only wall is plastered with large posters of sweet smiling Lao girls dressed in beautiful silks, courtesy of Lao Tobacco. The owner and her friends start with the usual questions: married, how many children? The rain keeps pouring down. Then our turn came to ask the questions on our minds to overcome the profound feeling of shock and insecurity: how did this happen, how could this have been done to people here, anywhere, less than forty years ago? They describe vividly (in the quiet Lao way), when in 1968 the American bombers concentrated their fury and frustration on this particularly rugged area, suspecting the existence of this cave, which was then sheltering more than 300 civilians. They told us how everyday, ‘wave upon wave’ of bombs and rockets rained down on this thickly wooded hillsides. It went on for three months until finally, the jungle had been systematically mown down, exposing the naked cliff face and leaving the entrance visible to American aircraft flying overhead. Two or three missiles, direct hits right into the cave, were enough to kill everyone inside.

ຢູ່ບ່ອນປະຕູທາງເຂົ້າຖໍ້າ ສູງປະມານ 20 ແມັດຈາກພື້ນ ພວກຂ້າພະ ເຈົ້າຫລຽວກັບເບິ່ງທົ່ງພຽງ ທ່າມກາງສາຍຝົນຢູ່ພູເຂົາໃກ້ຄຽງ. ພວກຂ້າ ພະເຈົ້າເຂົ້າໄປຂ້າງໃນ; ມັນແມ່ນຖໍ້າ, ຖໍ້າອີກແຫ່ງໜຶ່ງ. ສາຍຕາຂອງພວກຂ້າ ພະເຈົ້າປັບໄປກັບແສງສະຫລົວ; ພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຕ້ອງການເຂົ້າໄປທາງໃນ ອີກ. ມີເສດຫີນປູນຖືກຫ່ວານຢູ່ທົ່ວພື້ນຖໍ້າ; ພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຍ່າງໄປຕາມ ທາງຄົດຄ້ຽວ ແລະຍ່າງອ້ອມອອກມາ ແລະ ແລ້ວພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າເບິ່ງເຫັນ ໄດ້ດີຂຶ້ນ. ກ້ານທູບແປກປະຫລາດມາປັກເຮັດຫຍັງຢູ່ທີ່ແຫ່ງນີ້, ປັກຢູ່ຫີນ ປູນ? ເສດຫີນປູນມີລັກສະນະເປັນຮູບຊົງສາມຫລ່ຽມ. ມີທາດນ້ອຍໆຮ້ອຍ ກ່ວາ, ສູງບໍ່ເກີນ 20 ຫາ 30 ຊັງຕີແມັດ, ຖືກກໍ່ດ້ວຍຫີນ, ຢູ່ທຸກໆບ່ອນ. ທາດ ແຕ່ລະໜ່ວຍແມ່ນສໍາລັບຜູ້ທີ່ຖືກເສຍຊີວິດແຕ່ລະຄົນ? ທ່າມກາງສາຍຝົນທີ່ຍ້ອຍລົງມາຂ້າງໜ້າ ພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ກັບລົງມາ ແລະ ນັງພັກຜ່ອນດື່ມນໍ້າຢູ່ຕູບໄມ້. ໝູ່ເພື່ອນຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າມິດງຽບ. ຝາ ອີກດ້ານໜຶ່ງຂອງຕູບມີໂປສເຕີຂອງແມ່ຍິງລາວຍີ້ມຫວານໃສ່ຊຸດໄໝລາວ, ເປັນໂປສເຕີຂອງບໍລິສັດຢາສູບລາວ. ເຈົ້າຂອງແລະເພື່ອນຂອງລາວເລີ່ມ ຕັ້ງຄໍາຖາມ: ແຕ່ງງານ, ມີລູກຈັກຄົນ? ຝົນຍັງຕົກຢູ່. ຕໍ່ຈາກນັ້ນກໍ່ແມ່ນ ຜຽນຂອງພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຈະຕັ້ງຄໍາຖາມຢູ່ໃນຫົວ ເພື່ອເອົາຊະນະຄວາມຮູ້ ສຶກຕົກໃຈ ແລະບໍ່ປອດໄພ: ສິ່ງນີ້ເກີດຂຶ້ນໄດ້ແນວໃດ, ສິ່ງນີ້ສາມາດເກີດ ຂຶ້ນໄດ້ແນວໃດ, ຕໍ່ປະຊາຊົນທີ່ອາໄສຢູ່ທີ່ແຫ່ງນີ້, ລວມທັງບ່ອນອື່ນໆ, ໃນປະຈຸບັນ? ພວກເຂົາອະ ທິບາຍຢ່າງມີສີສັນ, ແລະຈື່ໄດ້ແບບເລືອດຂຶ້ນໜ້າ (ໃນແບບວິທີທີ່ງຽບສະງົບຂອງຄົນລາວ) ໃນປີ 1968 ຍົນຖີ້ມລະເບີດອາເມລິກາເລັ່ງເປົ້າໃສ່ເຂດ ເປົ້ າ ໝາຍຢູ່ ຖໍ້ າ ແຫ່ ງ ນີ້ ທີ່ ເ ປັ ນ ບ່ ອ ນອາໄສຂອງ ພົນລະເຮືອນ 300 ກວ່າຊີວິດ . ພວກເຂົາບິນເຈີດ ຂຶ້ນເຈີດລົງ, ເປັນວິທີທີ່ພວກເຂົາເລັງຊອກຫາເປົ້າ ໝາຍເນີນພູຕືບໜາເພື່ອຖີ້ມລະເບີດ ແລະ ຍິ່ງຈະ ຫລວດ, ທຸກມື້. ມັນເປັນໄປແນວນີ້ຕະຫລອດເວ ລາສາມເດືອນຈົນສຸດທ້າຍ ປ່າຖືກຕັດຢ່າງເປັນ ລະບົບຈົນໜ້າຜາກ້ຽງ, ໃນທີ່ສຸດພວກເຂົາກໍ່ແນມ ເຫັນທາງເຂົ້າຖໍ້າເປີດປ່ອງທາງປືນ. ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງສາ ມາດຢຸດພວກເຂົາໄດ້ ແລະ ແລ້ວພວກເຂົາກໍ່ຍິງ ຈະຫລວດໂຈມຕີສອງ ຫລື ສາມລູກເຂົ້າໃສ່ຖໍ້າ ໂດຍກົງ, ເທົ່ານີ້ທຸກຊີວິດກໍສິ້ນສຸດລົງ.

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Like Tham Phra, the cave we visited earlier in our journey and every other cave in the region, the population of the surrounding villages had sought refuge in them from the unrelenting aerial onslaught.

Only at night could they leave the relative safety of the caves to tend to their fields, in order to grow the food they needed to go on living. It is a disgrace that these war machines were sent to sow utter destruction on the other side of the world. What had these people done to deserve such misery? It is difficult for Lao people to keep anger in their hearts; many can’t help but be angry to this day. Remembering their family members killed, the owners of the refreshment stand assured us none of their relatives were now living in America.

ແລະ ປະຊາຊົນທີ່ເຫຼືອຕາຍກໍຫາມກັນອອກມາ ແລະ ຝັງຜູ້ທີ່ເສຍຊີວິດ; ແລະໃຊ້ຊີວິດຕໍ່ໄປ. ເປັນຄືກລ ໍ ະນີຂອງ ຖໍ້າພຣະ, ທີ່ພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ໄປທ່ຽວຊົມໃນຕອນຕົ້ນຂອງການເດີນທາງ, ແລະຖໍ້າອື່ນໆຢູຂ ່ ງົ ເຂດນີ້, ປະຊາຊົນອາໄສຢູອ ່ ອ ້ ມແອ້ມຖໍ້າໄດ້ ຮ້ອງຂໍການປ້ອງກັນການໂຈມຕີທາງອາກາດທີ່ບມ ໍ່ ມ ີ ຢ ື້ ດ ຸ ເຊົາ, ໝາຍຄວາມວ່າເຮັດໃຫ້ຊວ ີ ດ ິ ຂອງພວກເຂົາ ທົນບໍ່ໄດ້ອກ ີ ຕໍ່ໄປ. ມີແຕ່ຕອນກາງຄືນເທົ່ານັ້ນທີ່ປະ ຊາຊົນສາມາດອອກຈາກບ່ອນຫຼົບຊ້ອນໄປທົ່ງໄຮທົ່ງນາໄດ້, ເພື່ອເຮັດການປູກຝັງເພື່ອການດໍາລົງຊີວດ ິ . ຄອບຄົວຊາວກະສິກອນບໍ່ສາມາດຕໍ່ສຕ ູ້ າ້ ນທານການ ໂຈມຕີຢ່າງໜັກຈາກເທິງຟ້າໄດ້ ແຕ່ພວກເຂົາບໍ່ຄຳນຶງເຖິງການມີຊີວິດຂອງຄົນອື່ນ. ມັນຈະຕ້ອງເປັນພວກຍັກມານທີ່ສົ່ງນົກເຫຼັກຍັກເລົ່ານັ້ນຂ້າມນໍ້າຂ້າມທະ ເລມາເພື່ອທໍາລາຍລ້າງ ແລະ ສ້າງຄວາມໂສກເສົ້າໃຫ້ອີກຊີກໜຶ່ງຂອງໂລກ. ພວກເຂົາໄດ້ເຮັດຫຍັງໄປແດ່? ມັນເປັນເລື່ອງຍາກສໍາລັບປະຊາຊົນລາວທີ່ຈະ ເກັບຄວາມຄຽດແຄ້ນໄວ້ໃນຫົວໃຈຂອງພວກເຂົາ; ຢູ່ແຫ່ງນີ້ພວກເຂົາຍັງຄຽດແຄ້ນຈົນມາຮອດທຸກມື້ນີ້. ຈື່ຈໍາສະມາຊິກໃນຄອບຄົວຂອງພວກເຂົາທີ່ຖືກເສຍ ຊີວິດ, ພວກເຂົາເຮັດໃຫ້ພວກພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໝັ້ນໃຈວ່າ ພວກເຂົາບໍ່ມີພີ່ນ້ອງອາໄສຢູ່ສະຫະລັດອາເມລິກາ.

ສໍາລັບທ່ານໃດທີ່ຢາກຍ້ອນຮອຍການເດີນທາງ 8 ວັນທີ່ຍາກທີ່ຈະລືມຂອງພວກຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ໄປສູໂ ່ ບຮານນະຄະດີແລະ ປະຫວັດສາດເພື່ອເບິ່ງການຟື້ນຟູ ປະເທດ, ສາມາດເຊົ່າລົດເດີນທາງຈາກ Europcar ແລະຖາມຫາ ໃຈ ເພື່ອຂັບລົດແລະນໍາທາງທ່ານໄປຮອດທີ່ໝາຍປາຍທາງດ້ວຍຄວາມເອົາໃຈໃສ່. ບົດຄວາມ 5 ບົດຖືກຕີພີມພາຍໃນໄລຍະເວລາສອງເດືອນ. ທ່ານສາມາດເຂົ້າອ່ານວາລະສານໄດ້ທີ່ເວັບໄຊທ໌ www.champaholiday.com ຫລື ອີກສະບັບໜຶ່ງຈາກເວັບໄຊທ໌ www.tropicaldesignfz.net/essay ຄໍາຄິດເຫັນທີ່ໄດ້ສະແດງໃນບົດຄວາມນີ້ເປັນຄວາມຮັບຜິດຊອບຂອງນັກຂຽນ ແລະ ບໍ່ຈໍາເປັນວ່າ ສິ່ງເຫລົ່ານັ້ນ ຈະສະທ້ອນເຖິງທັດສະນະຂອງຜູ້ທີ່ກ່ຽວຂ້ອງໃນການຈັດພິມວາລະສານສະບັບນີ້. ສະຫງວນລິຂະສິດໂດຍຜູ້ຂຽນ

For those who wish to retrace the steps of our memorable eight day journey into the archeology and history of Laos and to witness the story of its revival, rent a car from Europcar and ask for Chai to guide you, which he will do with great care and professionalism.

The other five chapters are published at two months’ intervals and available upon publication at www.champaholiday.com or in one edition at www.tropicaldesignfz.net/essay Views expressed in this essay are those of the author and not necessarily those of other persons involved in its publication.

All rights reserved by the author

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Magic Lao Carpets: Combining ancient carpet making techniques with Lao silk and the skills of local weavers ມາຮຽນຮູ້ຝີມືຂອງຄົນລາວ ກັບການຜະລິດ ຜ້າພົມສະໄໝບູຮານ ກັບຜ້າໄໝລາວ

by Tu Ngonethong

W

ho would have thought exquisite silk carpets and kilims were produced in Laos? Well, a visit to the Magic Lao Carpets (MLC) workshop in Vientiane will amaze any visitor with its ceiling to floor looms and skilled young women making carpets, one knot at a time, from fine silk thread.

MLC was established in 1998 as a socially oriented enterprise by husband and wife team Souvita Phaseut (Lani) and Ismet from Turkmenistan. Their primary goal is to train and provide jobs to young women from rural villages. Today, MLC employs a team of 35-40 skilled weavers, including 10 disabled girls, to produce luxury handmade carpets and kilims from high quality, natural silk and dyes.

The training program takes a few months. Most of the women learn quickly and can start work right away. For now, weavers stay in the MLC compound for one to two years. Lani says her dream is to train more girls so they can bring their carpet making skills back to their villages and produce them there.

The carpets are made using asymmetrical knots known as a double weft technique. This requires an incredible 400,000 knots per square meter. Ismet emphasised that no bacteria lives or survives in silk, which is great from a health point of view. It also means the material can last for over a hundred years.

MLC has participated in exhibitions in Thailand, Japan, France, Germany and Great Britain. Ismet and Lani can help customers put together their own custom design. Their showroom displays an array of eclectic patterns and styles, combining traditional Lao patterns with styles from Central and Southern Asia. Orders should be made several months ahead as it can take as long as six months to complete a single order. The finished products can be shipped worldwide.

To sample just a few of the designs on offer at MLC, visit www.magiclaocarpets.com, although photographs can never really do them justice. To fully appreciate their magnificent beauty, seeing and touching them is simply not to be missed.

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ໃຜຈະຄິດວ່າຜ້າໄໝພົມຂະໜາດໃຫຍ່ ທີ່ສວຍສົດງົດງາມ ແລະ ມີລວດລາຍ ເປັນເອກະລັກຈະຜະລິດຢູ່ໃນປະເທດລາວຂອງພວກເຮົາ? ການຢ້ຽມຢາມ ບໍລິສັດ ລາວເມຈິກຄາເພັດ ຢູ່ບ້ານໜອງດ້ວງ, ວຽງຈັນຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ນັກທ່ອງ ທ່ຽວມະຫັດສະຈັນໃຈເຖິງກີ່ທີ່ຕໍ່າຜ້າພົມ ແລະ ແມ່ຍິງລາວຜູ້ໜຸ່ມນ້ອຍທີ່ມີສີ ມືກໍາລັງເຮັດຜ້າພົມຢ່າງພ້ອມພຽງກັນ, ໂດຍໃຊ້ເສັ້ນໄໝທີ່ມີຄຸນນະພາບ. ເມຈິກຄາເພັດ ໄດ້ຖືກກໍ່ຕັ້ງຂຶ້ນເມື່ອ 13 ປີກ່ອນ, ໃນປີ 1998 ໂດຍ ເບື້ ອ ງຕົ້ ນ ກໍ່ ຕັ້ ງ ເປັ ນ ວິ ສ າຫະກິ ດ ເພື່ ອ ສັ ງ ຄົ ມ ສົ ງ ເຄາະໂດຍຄູ່ ຜົ ວ ເມຍ ທ່ານນາງ ສຸວິຕາ ປະເສີດ (ລານີ) ແລະ ທ່ານ ອີສເມັດທ໌ (Ismet) ຈາກ ປະເທດເຕີກເມັນນີສຖານ. ເປົ້າໝາຍຕົ້ນຕໍຂອງ ເຂົາເຈົ້າແມ່ນເພື່ອຊ່ວຍ ເຫລື ອ ແມ່ ຍ ິ ງ ໜຸ ່ ມ ລາວໃຫ້ ມ ີ ລ າຍຮັ ບ ໂດຍການຮຽນເຮັດຜ້າພົມ. ໃນປະຈຸບັນ ເມຈິກຄາເພັດແມ່ນ ເປັນບໍລິສັດເຮັດຜ້າພົມພຽງແຫ່ງດຽວໃນປະເທດລາວ, ເຊິ່ງມີ ແຮງງານທີ່ມີສີມືປະມານ 35-40 ຄົນ ເຮັດການຜະລິດຜ້າພົມ ດ້ ວ ຍການອອກແບບໃຫ້ ລ ູ ກ ຄ້ າ ດ້ ວ ຍຄວາມປານີ ດ , ມີທັງ ລາຍແບບລາວມັດ ໝີ່, ແບບມົ້ງ, ຊື່ງມີການປະສົມປະສານແບບ ລົງໂຕ, ຊື່ງໃຫ້ທັງຄຸນຄ່າ ແລະ ຄວາມງົດງາມແບບບໍມີບ່ອນ ໃດຄື. ໄລຍະການຝຶ ກ ອົ ບ ຮົ ມ ຊຸ ດ ຝຶ ກ ອົ ບ ຮົ ມ ໃຊ້ ເ ວລາປະມານສອງສາມເດື ອ ນ. ແມ່ຍິງສ່ວນ ຫລາຍຮຽນຮູ້ໄດ້ຢ່າງວອງໄວ ແລະ ສາມາດເຮັດຜ້າພົມໄດ້ ທັນທີ. ຜູ້ທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບ ການຝຶກອົບຮົມຈະໄດ້ເຮັດວຽກ ແລະ ກໍສາມາດອາ ໄສຢູ່ນໍາບໍລິສັດເປັນ ເວລາໜຶ່ງຫາສອງປີກ່ອນກັບຄືນບ້ານເພື່ອເຮັດທຸລະ ກິດຂອງຕົນເອງ. ທ່ານນາງ ລານີ ໄດ້ກ່າວວ່າ “ຄວາມຝັນໃນອະນາຄົດ ຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າແມ່ນ ຕ້ອງການຝຶກຝົນແມ່ຍິງລາວໃຫ້ໄດ້ຫລາຍກວ່າ ເກົ່າ ເພື່ອໃຫ້ເຂົາເຈົ້ານໍາທັກ ສະໃນການເຮັດຜ້າພົມກັບເມື່ອສູ່ໝູ່ບ້ານຂອງ ພວກເຂົາ ແລະ ທໍາມາຫາ ກິນຢູ່ທີ່ນັ້ນ.”

ຜ້າພົມສ່ວນໃຫຍ່ແມ່ນຕ່ຳດ້ວຍ ການໃຊ້ “ສອງກະສວຍ” ຫລື ການ ຈົກລາຍແບບພິເສດເພື່ອມີຄວາມແໜ້ນ, ແຂງແຮງ ແລະ ທົນທານ ໃຫ້ໄດ້ຄວາມໜາແໜ້ນ 400,000 ຂໍ້ຕໍ່ແມັດກາເລ. ວັດຖຸດິບສ່ວນຫລາຍ ທີ່ໃຊ້ເຮັດຜ້າພົມແມ່ນມາຈາກລາວ, ເຊິ່ງ ໃຊ້ສີຍ້ອມຈາກພືດທໍາມະຊາດ, ດອກໄມ້, ໝາກໄມ້ ແລະ ໃບໄມ້ທີ່ປູກ ພາຍໃນທ້ອງຖິ່ນ. ທ່ານ ອີສເມັດທ໌ ໄດ້ເນັ້ນໜັກຕື່ມອີກວ່າ “ບໍ່ມີເຊື້ອ ແບັກທີເລຍອາໄສ ຫລື ເຕີບໃຫຍ່ໃນເສັ້ນໄໝ ດັ່ງນັ້ນຈຶ່ງເຮັດໃຫ້ມັນເປັນ ວັດຖຸດິບທີ່ດີ ແລະ ທົນທານຫລາຍກ່ວາ 100 ປີ,” ເມຈິກຄາເພັດໄດ້ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມງານວາງສະແດງຢູ່ປະເທດໄທ, ຍີປຸ່ນ, ຝຣັ່ງ, ເຢັຍລະມັນ, ແລະ ອັງກິດ. ທ່ານ ອີສເມັດທ໌ ແລະ ທ່ານ ນາງ ລານີ ຊ່ວຍໃຫ້ລູກຄ້າສາມາດ ອອກແບບລວດລາຍຜ້າພົມສະເພາະຂອງເຂົາ ເຈົ້າເອງໄດ້. ຫ້ອງວາງສະ ແດງສິນຄ້າຂອງເຂົ້າເຈົ້າວາງສະແດງລວດລາຍ ຜ້ າ ພົ ມ ແບບຕ່ າ ງໆທີ່ ປ ະສົ ມ ປະສານກັ ນ ລະຫ່ ວ າງລວດລາຍແບບຂອງ ລາວເຮົາກັບລວດລາຍແບບອາຊີກາງ ຫຼື ອາຊີໃຕ້. ການສັ່ງຊື້ຕ້ອງໄດ້ເຮັດ ລ່ວງໜ້າຫລາຍເດືອນເພາະອາດຕ້ອງ ໃຊ້ເວລາໃນການເຮັດຍາວເຖິງສີ່ຫາ ຫົກເດືອນຈຶ່ງຈະສໍາເລັດໄດ້ໜຶ່ງຜືນ. ຜະລິດຕະພັນທີ່ສໍາເລັດແລ້ວສາມາດ ສົ່ງໃຫ້ລູກຄ້າຢູ່ໄດ້ທົ່ວໂລກ.

ສໍາລັບຂໍ້ມູນເພີ່ມເຕີມສາມາດເຂົ້າໄປເບິ່ງທາງອອນລາຍໄດ້ທີ່ www.magiclaocarpets.com. ເມຈິກຄາເພັດບໍ່ໄດ້ໂຄສະນາຜະລິດຕະພັນຂອງຕົນເອງຫລາຍ. ຊື່ສຽງຂອງ ພວກເຂົາສ່ວນຫລາຍແມ່ນຜ່ານປາກຕໍ່ປາກ. ຢ່າຟ້າວຕັດສິນຈາກຮູບພາບທີ່ ເຫັນຢູເ່ ທິງເວັບໄຊ, ຈົນກ່ວາທ່ານໄດ້ສໍາພັດຜະລິດຕະພັນດ້ວຍຕົວຂອງທ່ານ ເອງຄັນຊັ້ນທ່ານຈະບໍ່ສາມາດຮູໄ້ ດ້ເຖິງຄວາມງາມອັນແທ້ຈງິ ຂອງມັນໄດ້.

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ELEPHANTS RETURN TO THEIR JUNGLE ROOTS

ຊ້າງກັບຄືນສູ່ ທີ່ຢູ່ອາໄສ ຂອງ ຊ້າງ Eco-tourism supports conservation of an endangered species in Laos Tracy Brookshaw

T

ake only memories leave only footprints. This is pretty sound advice for any traveller, but what if your journey could make a difference too. Wouldn’t that just be the proverbial icing on the cake....? Well your opportunity is here!

Amidst a fanfare of trunks a-trumpeting, the newly established Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) is now open, marking a new era for conservation of the Asian elephant within the Lao PDR and offering a unique experience to visitors wishing to contribute towards the preservation of an endangered species. The first of its kind in Laos, the Center, launched in association with conservation organisation ElefantAsia, is not another elephant camp but an innovative approach that combines conservation of an endangered species with eco-tourism.

With approximately 420 domesticated elephants and around 400 wild elephants left in Laos, the future of the Asian elephant in ‘Lane Xang’ or the ‘Land of A Million Elephants’ is uncertain. As such the ECC is specifically designed to promote reproduction within remaining elephant populations, working to avoid extinction of the species through the implementation of a managed breeding programme.

Situated on the banks of the tranquil Nam Tien Lake, a mere eight kilometres from the town of Sayaboury, the Elephant Conservation Center is already home to a growing number of elephants. A herd of nine elephants currently resides at the Center, this including three ever so cute babies, one of which marked the first of hopefully many elephant births at the ECC back in October. All three youngsters currently share the same name ‘Noy’ meaning small in Lao language as mahout tradition dictates that each of the calves will chose their own name at the age of 2/3 from specially carved sugar cane.

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ມີພຽງແຕ່ຄວາມຊົງຈຳ ທີ່ຍັງຫລົງເຫລືອຢູ່. ນີ້ເປັນຄຳແນະນຳ ສຳລັບ ຜູ້ທ່ອງທ່ຽວ, ແຕ່ຖ້າທ່ານຢາກເຮັດ ໃຫ້ການ ທ່ອງທຽວ ຂອງ ທ່ານ ມີສິ່ງແປກ ໃໝ່ໄດ້ເຊັ່ນກັນ. ມາຊົມ ແລະ ເບິ່ງວ່າ ສະຖານທີ່ນີ້ ດີ ຫລື ບໍ່? ໂອກາດ ສຳລັບ ທ່ານ ແມ່ນ ຢູ່ທີ່ນີ້ແລ້ວ ! ໄດ້ມີສິ່ງໃໝ່ເກີດຂຶ້ນ ກໍ່ຄື ສູນອະນຸລັກຊ້າງລາວ ໄດ້ເປີດແລ້ວ ໃນປະຈຸບັນ, ໄດ້ເປັນ ຍຸກສະໄໝໃໝ່ ສຳລັບ ການອະນຸລັກຊ້າງອາຊີ ໃນ ສປປ ລາວ ແລະ ນຳສະເໜີ ປະສົບປະການທີ່ດີ ມາໃຫ້ນັກ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ທີ່ມີຄວາມປະສົງຢາກ ປົກປັກຮັກສາສັດທີ່ໃກ້ຈະສູນພັນນີ້. ເປັນຄັ້ງທຳອິດໃນ ປະເທດລາວ, ທີ່ສູນອະນຸລັກຊ້າງໄດ້ປະຕິບັດ ໂດຍການຮ່ວມມື ກັບ ອົງການ ອະນຸລັກ ຊ້າງ ອາຊີ, ບໍ່ແມ່ນຄ້າຍຊ້າງອື່ນ ແຕ່ແມ່ນການລິ ເລີ່ມເຮັດສິ່ງໃໝ່ໆ ທີ່ປະ ກອບດ້ວຍ ການອະນຸລັກຊ້າງ ສັດທີ່ໃກ້ຈະສູນພັນ ໃນການທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ແບບ ອະນຸລັກ. ມີຊ້າງບ້ານເຫລືອ ປະມານ 420 ໂຕ ແລະ ຊ້າງປ່າ 400 ໂຕ ໃນ ປະເທດລາວ, ໃນອະນາຄົດ ຂອງ ຊ້າງອາຊີ ໃນ ປະເທດ “ລ້ານຊ້າງ” ຫລື “ດິນແດນແຫ່ງເມືອງລ້ານຊ້າງ” ແມ່ນຍັງບໍ່ແນ່ນອນ. ສູນອະນຸລັກຊ້າງ ແມ່ນ ສ້າງຕັ້ງມາເພື່ອ ຊ່ວຍໃນການເກີດຂອງຊ້າງ ໃນ ຈຳນວນ ປະຊາກອນ ຊ້າງທີ່ເຫລືອຢູ່, ດ້ວຍການເຮັດວຽກ ທີ່ ຫລີກລ້ຽງການສູນພັນ ຂອງສັດ ດັ່ງກ່າວ ໂດຍ ການປະຕິບັດ ແຜນງານ ປະສົມພັນຊ້າງ.

So what sets the Elephant Conservation Center apart from other tourist venues? First and foremost - location! Rather than removing the elephants from their natural habitat and bringing them into urbanised settings, the founders of the Center believe in bringing visitors to the elephants. Set in Sayaboury province, the original homeland of the Lao elephant, the Center is situated in 100 hectares of pristine elephant habitat allowing elephants to roam freely within their traditional environment, whilst the forest provides a diverse selection of natural fodder in sufficient quantity suitable for those delicate elephant palates.

The Elephant Conservation Center also prides itself on being environmentally friendly, whilst other elephant establishments may use buzzwords such as eco to ‘advertise’ their environmental conscience, the ECC is actively working to minimise impacts on its natural surroundings. Construction of the Center’s infrastructure was conducted using the minimum of new building materials, thus saving natural resources and reducing the use of elephants within the logging industry. Many of the buildings are traditional Tai Lue houses, including one that belonged to a famous elephant master of the Hongsa District, which have been trans-located to the Center. Facilities also utilise solar power, whilst water is filtered directly from the Nam Tien. Employing a ‘waste not, want not’ attitude, natural fibrous material from the elephants is being used to produce dung paper on site which in turns provides local people within a sustainable income. All marketing brochures for the Center have also been produced with 100% recycled paper and soy ink. ສູນອະນຸລັກຊ້າງ ໄດ້ຕັ້ງຢູ່ ອ່າງນ້ຳຕຽນ, ພຽງແຕ່ 8 km ຈາກຕົວເມືອງ ໄຊຍະບູລີ ເທົ່ານັ້ນ, ສູນອະນຸລັກຊ້າງ ໄດ້ ກາຍເປັນ ສະຖານທີ່ໜຶ່ງ ສຳລັບ ເພີ້ມຈຳນວນຊ້າງ. ຊ້າງ ຈຳນວນ 09 ໂຕ ໄດ້ເຂົ້າມາຢູ່ ທີ່ ສູນອະນຸລັກຊ້າງ, ລວມມີ ຊ້າງນ້ອຍ ທີ່ໜ້າຮັກ 03 ໂຕ ໂດຍໄດ້ມີຊ້າງ ນ້ອຍ 01 ໂຕ ໄດ້ເຂົ້າມາຢູ່ໃນສູນ ໃນເດືອນຕຸລານີ້. ຊ້າງນ້ອຍ 03 ໂຕ ໄດ້ມີຊື່ຄືກັນ ຄື ມີຊື່ວ່າ “ນ້ອຍ” ມີຄວາມໝາຍວ່າ ນ້ອຍ ໃນພາສາລາວ ຄືກັນກັບປະເພນີຄວານຊ້າງ ທີ່ປະຕິບັດກັບລູກຊ້າງແຕ່ລະໂຕ ທີ່ເຂົາ ເຈົ້າຈະຕັ້ງຊື່ ຄ້າຍຄືກັນ ເມື່ອຊ້າງ ມີອາຍຸ 2-3 ປີ ໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນ ເຂົາເຈົ້າຈະໝາຍຊື່ຊ້າງ ໄວ້ໃນຕົ້ນອ້ອຍ. ດັ່ງ ນັ້ນ ສິ່ງ ອື່ນ ທີ່ສູນ ອະນຸ ລັກ ຊ້ າ ງເຮັ ດ ແມ່ ນ ແຕກຕ່ າ ງຈາກຄ້ າ ຍຊ້ າ ອື່ນ ? ສິ່ງທຳອິດ ແລະ ສຳຄັນແທນການຍ້າຍຊ້າງ ຈາກສະຖານທີ່ທຳມະ ຊາດ ໄປສູ່ບ່ອນທີ່ຈັດຕຽມໄວ້ສຳລັບຊ້າງ, ຜູ້ສ້າງຕັ້ງສູນ ເຊື່ອວ່າຈະນຳ ນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວມາເບິ່ງຊ້າງ. ຕັ້ງຢູ່ ແຂວງໄຊຍະບູລີ ຊຶ່ງເປັນສະຖານທີ່ ອາໄສ ຂອງຊ້າງລາວ, ສູນຊ້າງ ຕັ້ງຢູ່ ໃນ ເນື້ອທີ່ 100 ເຮັກຕາ ທີ່ເປັນສະຖານທີ່ໃຫ້ ແກ່ຊ້າງ ດຳລົງຊີວິດ ແບບທຳມະຊາດ, ທີ່ມີປ່າໄມ້ຫລາຍ, ມີອາຫານພຽງພໍ ສຳລັບຊ້າງ. ສູນອະນຸລັກຊ້າງ ມີຄວາມພູມໃຈ ໃນການສ້າງສະພາບແວດລ້ອມ, ໂດຍ ທີ່ຊ້າງອື່ນໆ ຈັດເຂົ້າໄປໃນການທ່ອງທ່ຽວແບບອະນຸລັກ ເພື່ອ “ໂຄສະນາ” ສະພາບແວດລ້ອມ ໂດຍລວມ, ສູນອະນຸລັກຊ້າງ ແມ່ນເຮັດວຽກ ເພື່ອຫລຸດ ຜ່ອນຜົນກະທົບ ທີ່ເກີດຂຶ້ນ ໃນທຳມະຊາດ. ການສ້າງໂຄງລ່າງ ສູນ ແມ່ນ ຖືກດຳເນີນ ໂດຍການໃຊ້ ວັດຖຸ ຈຳນວນໜ້ອຍ ໃນການສ້າງອາຄານໃໝ່, ເປັນການປະຢັດຊັບພະຍາກອນທຳມະຊາດ ແລະ ຫລຸດຜ່ອນ ການໃຊ້ ຊ້າງແກ່ໄມ້ ໃນອຸດສາຫະກຳ. ຫລາຍໆອາຄານ ແມ່ນ ເຮືອນແບບປະເພນີ ໄທລື້, ປະກອບມີ ອາຄານ ໜຶ່ງ ທີ່ ເປັນແບບ ເຮືອນທາງປະເພນີ ຂອງ ເມືອງ ຫົງສາ, ທີ່ ໄດ້ຍ້າຍມາສ້າງ ໃນ ສູນນີ້. ອຳນວຍຄວາມສະດວກໃຫ້ແກ່ ການໃຊ້ ພະລັງງານ ແສງອາທິດ, ສ່ວນນ້ຳ ແມ່ນ ກັ່ນຕອງ ມາຈາກ ອ່າງນ້ຳຕຽນ. ບໍ່ມີ “ສິ່ງເສດເຫລືອ” ອຸປະກອນ ແມ່ນ ມາຈາກທຳມະຊາດ ໂດຍ ຂີ້ຊ້າງ ຈະໃຊ້ຜະລິດເຮັດເປັນເຈ້ຍ ທີ່ສາມາດສ້າງເປັນລາຍຮັບໃຫ້ ແກ່ປະຊາຊົນທ້ອງຖິ່ນ. ທຸກໆ ແຜ່ນພັບ ໂຄສະນາ ສຳລັບ ສູນ ທີ່ໄດ້ເຮັດ ແມ່ນຈະຖືກ ເອົາມາຜະລິດເຮັດເປັນເຈ້ຍ ແລະ ນຳໃຊ້ຄືນ.

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In addition to the breeding programme, the ECC will host the country’s first elephant hospital. Managed by ElefantAsia, a NonGovernment Organisation that has been working to protect the Asian elephant conservation in Laos for close to a decade, the hospital comes fully equipped with laboratory for pathology and disease diagnostics plus quarantine area. Free veterinary care will not only be available to mothers and babies throughout pregnancy and nursing, but to sick and injured elephants from across Laos whom can recuperate at the Center until fully recovered.

Located just two hours from World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, the Center provides a welcome escape from this busy tourist hub offering a unique experience for guests wishing to discover and experience more about the natural environment, the culture of the Mahout and endangered species management in Laos. Guests can also take opportunity to trek in the forest, explore the lake by boat, or simply while away an hour or two watching the mischievous calves play - all the while supporting the conservation of the Asian elephant within its unspoilt natural habitat.

Delivering an experience like no other in Laos, the Elephant Conservation Center is where your visit can truly make a difference to the conservation an endangered species. Be one of the first visitors to the Elephant Conservation Center, come experience the exceptional natural beauty of Sayaboury and of course get to know our elephants.

ນອກຈາກ ແຜນງານ ປະສົມພັນ, ສູນອະນຸລັກຊ້າງ ຍັງເປັນເຈົ້າພາບ ສຳລັບ ໂຮງໝໍຊາ້ ງ ແຫ່ງທຳອິດ. ທີ່ ບໍລຫ ິ ານ ໂດຍ ສະມາຄົມຊ້າງອາຊີ, ທີ່ເປັນອົງການ ຈັດຕັ້ງສາກົນໜຶ່ງ ທີ່ເຮັດໃນການປົກປັກຊ້າງອາຊີ ເກືອບຈະຮອດ 10 ປີ ໃນ ປະເທດລາວ, ໂຮງໝໍຊ້າງ ຈະປະກອບມີອຸປະກອນການແພດ ພ້ອມທັງມີ ຫ້ອງວິໄຈພະຍາດ ແລະ ບໍລິເວນ ໃຫ້ສັດຢູ່. ການໃຫ້ການປິ່ນປົວຟຣີ ບໍ່ແມ່ນພຽງແຕ່ ປິ່ນປົວ ແມ່ຊ້າງ ແລະ ລູກຊ້າງເທົ່ານັ້ນ ແຕ່ຍັງເບິ່ງແຍງ ຊ້າງທີ່ ຖືພາ ແລະ ມີການພະຍາບານ, ແລະ ກໍ່ຍັງ ປິ່ນປົວ ຊ້າງ ທີ່ເຈັບໄຂ້ ແລະ ບາດເຈັບ ໃນ ປະເທດລາວ ແລະ ກໍ່ຍັງ ເປັນບ່ອນພັກຟື້ນໃຫ້ແກ່ຊ້າງ ອີກດ້ວຍ. ເດີນທາງ 02 ຊົ່ວໂມງ ຈາກ ເມືອງ ຫລວງພະບາງ, ສູນອະນຸລັກຊ້າງ ຍິ ນ ດີ ຕ້ ອ ນຮັ ບ ນັ ກ ທ່ ອ ງທ່ ຽ ວເຂົ້ າ ສູ່ ປ ະສົ ບ ປະການທີ່ ພິ ເ ສດ ສຳລັ ບ ແຂກ ທີ່ຕ້ອງການຄົ້ນຫາ ແລະ ຢາກມີປະສົບການກ່ຽວກັບ ສະພາບ ແວດລ້ອມທາງທຳມະຊາດ, ວັດທະນະທຳ ຂອງ ຄວານຊ້າງ ແລະ ການຄຸ້ມຄອງສັດໃກ້ສູນພັນ ໃນປະເທດລາວ. ແຂກສາມາດໃຊ້ໂອກາດນີ້ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວໃນປ່າ, ທ່ຽວແມ່ນ້ຳ ດ້ວຍ ເຮືອ, ຫລື ໃຊ້ເວລາ ສອງ ສາມ ຊົ່ວໂມງ ໃນການເບິ່ງ ລູກຊ້າງຫລິ້ນ - ທຸກໆກິດຈະກຳ ແມ່ນຈະເຂົ້າຊ່ວຍ ໃນການ ອະນຸລັກຊ້າງອາຊີ ໂດຍຈະບໍ່ທຳລາຍ ທີ່ຢູ່ອາໄສທາງທຳມະຊາດ. ການຖ່າຍທອດປະສົບປະການແນວນີ້ບໍ່ມີໃນບ່ອນອື່ນຄືຢູ່ໃນ ປະເທດລາວ, ສູນອະນຸລັກຊ້າງເປັນບ່ອນທີ່ການມາທ່ຽວຂອງທ່ານສາມາດ ສ້າງສິ່ງໃໝ່ໆ ເຂົ້າໃນການອະນຸລັກສັດໃກ້ສູນພັນ. ມາເປັນ ໜຶ່ງໃນຜູ້ຢ້ຽມຢາມ ສູນອະນຸ ລັກຊ້າງ, ມາເອົາປະສົບປະ ການທີ່ສວຍງາມທາງທຳມະຊາດຂອງໄຊຍະ ບູລີ ແລະ ແນ່ນອນ ມາຮູ້ຈັກກັບຊ້າງຂອງ ພວກເຮົາ.

For further information please visit website: www.elephantconservationcenter.com Elephant Conservation Center Nam Tien Lake, Sayaboury District Sayaboury Province, Lao PDR Email: info@elephantconservationcenter.com Tel No:+856 (0) 20 23 025 210 +856 (0) 20 96 590 665

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ສິງກະໂປ, SINGAPORE, THE NEW LAO AIRLINES DESTINATION ຈຸດໝາຍປາຍທາງໃໝ່ຂອງສາຍການບິນລາວ Discover one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant cities

ຄົ້ນພົບໜຶ່ງໃນເມືອງທີ່ໜ້າຕື່ນຕາຕື່ນໃຈທີ່ສຸດຢູ່ອາຊີຕາເວັນອອກສຽງໃຕ້

Singapore is a paradise for anyone looking for a variety of fantastic attractions and activities, an endless array of exotic, delicious street food, bustling shopping malls and vibrant nightlife.

Its tropical climate provides a great destination for outdoor lovers and its booming economy brings millions of business travellers each year. This tiny island occupies a strategic position and has always served as a gateway to neighbouring countries and the world. Although it is one of the busiest cities in Asia, Singapore offers world class hospitality to suit all tastes and budgets.

ດັ່ງທີ່ຫຼາຍຄົນພໍຈະຮູ້ແລ້ວວ່າ ປະເທດສິງກະໂປ ເປັນປະເທດທີ່ມີຄວາມ ທັນສະໄໝ ທຽບເທົ່າຫຼາຍປະເທດໃນຢູໂລບ ຍ້ອນເປັນປະເທດທີ່ນ້ອຍ ເປັນທາງຜ່ານສິນຄ້າ ແລະ ບໍລິການ ຈື່ງມີການຈັດການ ແລະ ການປຽ່ນແປງ ຢູ່ຕະຫຼອດ. ດັ່ງນັ້ນສິງກະໂປ ຈື່ງເປັນປະເທດທີ່ມີນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວທົວ ໂລກຢາກໄປທຽ່ວ, ສະຖານທີ່ໜ້າຕື່ນຕາຕື່ນໃຈ, ກິດຈະກໍາຫລາກຫລາຍ, ອາຫານນາໆ ປະເທດທີ່ແຊບຊ້ອຍ, ຫ້າງສັບພະສິນຄ້າທີ່ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍສີ ສັນ ແລະ ຊີວິດກາງຄືນທີ່ຕື່ນຕາຕື່ນໃຈ. ອາກາດຮ້ອນຊຸ່ມເຮັດໃຫ້ສິງກະໂປ ກາຍເປັນຈຸດໝາຍສໍາລັບນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວທີ່ຮັກກິດຈະກໍາກາງແຈ້ງ; ໃນແຕ່ ລະປີ ໄ ດ້ ດຶ ງ ດູ ດ ເອົ າ ນັ ກ ທຸ ລ ະກິ ດ ຫລາຍລ້ າ ນຄົ ນ ເດີ ນ ທາງເຂົ້ າ ອອກປະ ເທດ ເຮັດໃຫ້ເສດຖະກິດມີການຈະເລີນເຕີບໂຕ; ເກາະດອນທີ່ມີຂະໜາດ ນ້ອຍແຫ່ງນີ້ຕັ້ງຢູ້ເທິງທີ່ຕັ້ງຍຸດທະສາດ, ມັນກາຍເປັນປະຕູຂອງບັນດາ ປະເທດອ້ອມຂ້າງສູ່ປະເທດທົ່ວໂລກ. ຍ້ອນແນວນັ້ນ ສິງກະໂປ ຈຶ່ງມີມາດ ຕະຖານການໃຫ້ບໍລິການສູງທີ່ສຸດ ເພື່ອໃຫ້ທຸກຄົນມີຄວາມເພິ່ງພໍໃຈ, ບໍ່ວ່າ ຈະຢູ່ລະດັບໃດກໍ່ຕາມ.

Whatever you are looking for, Singapore has it all. Historical and cultural heritage trips showcases old traditions, which are still very much alive. Get a multicultural blast from the past by heading down to any of the city’s ethnic enclaves: Chinatown, Kampong Glam, Arab Street and Little India. Each quarter offers a rich display of traditional artefacts, clothing, unique delicacies and many other cultural treasures.

With 50% of its area covered by greenery, 50 major parks and four nature reserves, Singapore is an enchanting garden city where a quirt space is never far away.

Singapore holds numerous famous festivals and events, including the Singapore Food Festival, the Singapore Grand Prix, the Singapore Arts Festival, the Chingay Parade, the World Gourmet Summit and ZoukOut.

THINGS TO DO

Experience Chinatown – take a vibrant evening ride on a rickshaw; taste some of the the world’s best Chinese food and pick up traditional handcrafts along the way. Chinatown is one of the oldest Chinese settlements in Singapore so here, it’s easy to lose yourself in the diversity of Chinese culture.

Singapore Zoo is one of a kind. It practices an open zoo concept, allowing visitors to encounter wild animals outside their cages. It also features more than 2,000 animals as well as fun-packed animal shows.

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ສິ ງ ກະໂປຍິ ນ ດີ ຕ້ ອ ນຮັ ບ ນັ ກ ທ່ ອ ງທ່ ຽ ວໝົ ດ ທຸ ກ ຄົ ນ , ຮັ ບ ຮອງວ່ າ ທ່ າ ນ ຈະໄດ້ຮັບປະສົບການທີ່ໜ້າຕື່ນເຕັ້ນ ແລະ ບໍ່ມີມື້ລືມ. ວັດທະນະທໍາ ຂອງຂອງສິງກະໂປ ແລະ ການເດີນທາງທ່ຽວຊົມສະຖານທີ່ເກົ່າແກ່ເປັນ ກະຈົກສ່ອງໃຫ້ເຫັນເຖິງຮີດຄອງປະເພນີສະໄໝກ່ອນທີ່ຍັງມີຊີວິດຢູ່. ເມື່ອ ທ່ານໄປທຽ່ວສິງກະໂປ ທ່ານຈະຕ້ອງຮູ້ສຶກໄດ້ໄປທຽ່ວຫຼາຍປະເທດເພາະ ວ່າເປັນປະເທດທີ່ມີຫລາຍເຊື້ອຊາດ ທີ່ມາອາໄສຢູ່ເຊັ່ນ: ຊຸມຊົນຄົນຈີນ, ກໍາປົງກລໍາ, ຖະໜົນອາຣັບ ແລະ ຊຸມຊົນຄົນອິນເດຍ. ແຕ່ລະບ່ອນເຜີຍເຖິງ ເຄື່ອງຂອງສິລະປະພື້ນເມືອງ, ເສື້ອຜ້າ, ອາຫານພື້ນເມືອງ ແລະ ຊັບສົມບັດ ທາງດ້ານວັດທະນະທໍາອື່ນໆ. ດ້ວຍພື້ນທີ່ 50% ຂອງປະເທດທີ່ປົກຫຸ້ມດ້ວຍສີຂຽວ ປະກອບດ້ວຍ ສ່ວນສາ ທາລະນະອີກ 50 ແຫ່ງ ແລະ ການຮັກສາທໍາມະຊາດ ໃຫ້ມີຄວາມ ສະອາດ, ເຮັດໃຫ້ສິງກະໂປເປັນເມືອງທີ່ມີສະເໜ່ ແລະ ໜ້າເອົາເປັນແບບຢ່າງ. ສິງກະໂປມີງານເທດສະການຕ່າງໆທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບຄວາມນິຍົມ ແລະ ໂດ່ງດັງ ຫລາຍງານ, ເຊັ່ນເທດສະການອາຫານສິງກະໂປ, ສິງກະໂປ ແກຣນ ພຣິກສ໌ (the Singapore Grand Prix), ງານເທດສະການສິລະປະສິງກະໂປ, ຊິນເກ ພາເລດ (Chingay Parade), ກອງປະຊຸມສຸດຍອດອາຫານໂລກ (the World Gourmet Summit) ແລະ ງານເທດສະການເຕັ້ນດົນຕີ ຊຸກອາວທ໌ (ZoukOut).

ແຫຼ່ງທ່ອງທ່ຽວທີ່ຄວນໄປ

ຊຸມຊົນຄົນຈີນ–ສໍາພັດກັບຄໍ່າຄືນທີ່ໜ້າຕື່ນຕາຕື່ນໃຈ, ໂດຍທ່ານສາມາດ ຂີ່ລົດລາກທ່ຽວຊົມ ຊາຍນາທາວ; ຊີມລົດຊາດອາຫານຈີນພື້ນເມືອງ ແລະ ເລືອກຊື້ເຄື່ອງສິລະປະຫັດຖະກໍາຈາກຫ້າງຮ້ານຢູ່ຕາມຂ້າງທາງ. ຊາຍນາ ທາວ ແມ່ນເຂດຕັ້ງຖິ່ນຖານຂອງຊາວຈີນທີ່ເກົ່າແກ່ທີ່ສຸດຢູ່ໃນ ສິງກະໂປ ແລະ ຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ທ່ານຫລົງໄຫລດ້ວຍວັດທະນະທໍາຈີນທີ່ຫລາກຫລາຍ.

ສວນສັດສິງກະໂປ ເປັນໜຶ່ງໃນສວນສັດທີ່ມີຊື່ສຽງຢູ່ໃນໂລກ. ມັນແມ່ນສວນ ສັດເປີດ ແລະ ເຮັດໃຫ້ທ່ານມີໂອກາດສໍາພັດກັບສັດປ່າທີ່ຢູ່ນອກກົງຂັງ. ມີສັດຫລາຍກວ່າ 2,000 ຊະນິດພ້ອມກັບມີການສະແດງສົດຂອງສັດ. ທ່ຽວຊົມຕົວເມືອງໃນຍາມຄໍ່າຄືນ ສິງກະໂປ ມີວິວທິວທັດໃນຍາມຄໍ່າຄືນ ທີ່ ໜ້ າ ປະທັ ບ ໃຈທີ່ ສຸ ດ ຫລາຍກວ່ າ ທີ່ ໃ ຜເຄີ ຍ ຈິ ນ ຕະນາການໄວ້ . ເສັ້ ນ ຂອບຟ້າສ່ອງແສງລະລານຕາ ສະຫວ່າງແຈ້ງດ້ວຍແສງຈັນ ເບິ່ງແສງຕັດ ກັນລະຫ່ວາງທະເລ ແລະ ແສງໄຟເປັນປະກົດການໜຶ່ງທີ່ງາມພິເສດໜ້າ ເບິ່ງຊົມ. ແມ່ນຫຍັງອີກທີ່ທ່ານຈະປາດຖະໜາ. ຢູນິເວີແຊວ ສຕູດີໂອ໌ສ ແມ່ນສະຖານທີ່ໜຶ່ງທີ່ໜ້າມະຫັດສະຈັນທີ່ໜ້າ ທ່ຽວຊົມ. ທີ່ຂໍແນະນຳໃຫ້ຄົນລາວເຮົາ ບໍ່ຄວນພາດ. ຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ທ່ານໄດ້ຄື ກັບການເຂົ້າສູ່ໂລກທີ່ໜ້າຕື່ນເຕັ້ນຂອງຮູບເງົາມາຍາກົນ ເມື່ອທ່ານຂີ່ລົດໄຟ ເຫາະເຂົ້າໄປໃນຮູບເງົາ ແລະ ໃນສາກຮູບເງົາທີ່ລະລານຕາ ແລະ ມີຄວາມ ສຸກກັບປະສົບການຄວາມບັນເທີງທີ່ມີຊີວິດອີກຄັ້ງໜຶ່ງ. ສິ ລ ະປະທີ່ ມີ ສີ ສັ ນ ຂອງສິ ງ ກະໂປຖື ກ ສ້ າ ງຂຶ້ ນ ຈາກພິ ພິ ທ ະພັ ນ ສິ ລ ະປະ ຫລາຍແຫ່ງ, ແກເລີຣີ ແລະ ສະຖານທີ່ວາງສະແດງ, ໂຮງຮຽນ, ກຸ່ມສິລະປະ ແລະ ອື່ນໆ.

ອາຫານ

ອາຫານສິງກະໂປແມ່ນຊື່ສຽງໂດ່ງດັງ, ດ້ວຍສູນອາຫານທີ່ຫລາກຫລາຍ ແລະ ຮ້ານກາເຟຕະຫລອດ 24 ຊົ່ວໂມງໃຫ້ບໍລິການອາຫານອາຊີທຸກ ປະເພດທີ່ມີລາຄາຖືກພໍສົມຄວນ. ສິງກະໂປເປັນທີ່ຮັກຂອງບັນດານັກ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວຍ້ອນອາຫານທ້ອງຖິ່ນທີ່ມີຫລາກຫລາຍ ເຊັ່ນ: ອາຫານຈີນ, ອິນເດຍ, ຝຣັ່ງ, ອິດຕາລີ, ມາເລ. ເຖິງວ່າສິງກະໂປຈະເປັນປະເທດນ້ອຍ ແຕ່ ຍ້ ອ ນມີ ອ າຫານທີ່ ຫ ລາກຫລາຍເປັ ນ ທາງເລື ອ ກເຮັ ດ ໃຫ້ ຍ າມໃດຜູ້ ທີ່ມາທ່ອງທ່ຽວສິງກະໂປຄັ້ງທໍາອິດ ຄົ້ນພົບສິງໃໝ່ຢູ່ຕະຫລອດ. ຖ້າ ຈະບັນລະຍາຍເຖິງອາຫານສິງກະໂປ ປາດສະຈາກບໍ່ໄດ້ທີ່ຈະເວົ້າຮອດ ອາຫານທະເລ ເພາະເຮົາກຳລັງເວົ້າເຖີງປະເທດທີ່ອອ້ມໄປດ້ວຍທະເລ. ຄວາມສົດ ແຊບຂອງອາຫານທະເລ ແມ່ນເປັນເອກະລັກ. ເມນູທີ່ຂໍແນະນຳ ປູໝາກເຜັດ, ສັບ ແລະ ລາດໜ້າດ້ວຍຊອສໝາກເຜັດ ຫຼື ປູພິກໄທດຳ ແລະ ກຸ້ງພິກໄທດໍາ ຮັບປະທານຕິດໃຈອີ່ຫຼີ່.

ທີ່ພັກ: ຢູ່ສິງກະໂປມີບ່ອນພັກເຊົາໃຫ້ເລືອກຫລາຍປະເພດແລ້ວແຕ່ເໝາ ະສົມ ຕາມງົບປະມານ. ຊີວິດກາງຄືນ

ໃຜທີ່ມັກປາຕີ ແລະ ເຕັ້ນລໍາໝົດຄືນໃນເມືອງ ນີ້ແມ່ນສິ່ງທີ່ເຮັດໃຫ້ສິງກະໂປ ກາຍເປັນສະຖານທີ່ໜ້າດືງດູດທີ່ສຸດສໍາລັບການທ່ຽວຄລັບຢູ່ອາຊີ. ການ ທ່ຽວພັບ ແລະ ຄລັບຢູສ ່ ງິ ກະໂປເປັນສິ່ງທີ່ທາ່ ນຕ້ອງໄດ້ເຂົ້າໄປສໍາພັດຈັງຫວະ ແຫ່ງຊີວິດກາງຄືນຂອງຕົວເມືອງ; ສໍາພັດຕົວເມືອງແຕ່ຕອນ ກາງເວັນທ່ານ ຈະຮູ້ໄດ້ແຕ່ພຽງເຄິ່ງດຽວເທົ່ານັ້ນ, ແຕ່ກໍຂໍແນະນຳໃຫ້ພົກເງິນໄປຫຼາຍແດ່ ຍ້ອນເຄື່ອງດື່ມຂ້ອນຂ້າງມີລາຄາແພງ ຖ້າທຽບໃສ່ລາວເຮົາ.

ຊອບປິ້ງ

ເຂດຊອບປິ້ງທີ່ສໍາຄັນຂອງສິງກະໂປແມ່ນ ຖະໜົນອໍຊາດ (Orchard Rd). ສິ່ງທີ່ທ່ານຈະຕ້ອງເຮັດກໍ່ຄື ຍ່າງໄປຕາມຄວາມຍາວຖະໜົນເພື່ອຊອກຫາ ເຄື່ອງທີ່ທ່ານຕ້ອງການຢູ່ໃນຮ້ານຄ້າ. ສູນການຄ້າ ແລະ ຮ້ານຄ້າບໍລິການ ປະສົມປະສານຫຼາຍຢ່າງບໍ່ວ່າຈະເປັນເຄື່ອງອີເລັກໂທນິກ ເຄື່ອງໃຊ້ໄຟຟ້າ (ສຳລັບທ່ານຊາຍ), ເສື້ອຜ້າ (ສຳລັບສະຕຣີ) ແລະ ຮ້ານເສື້ອຜ້າທີ່ມີຊື່ສຽງ ລະດັບສາກົນ.

ເມື່ອໃດຄວນເດີນທາງ ແລະ ສະພາບອາກາດ

ຕາມອາກາດເສັ້ນສູນສູດ,ອຸນນະພູມຢູປ ່ ະເທດສິງກະໂປບໍ່ເຄີຍຕໍ່າກວ່າ 20°C, ປົກກະຕິຈະຂຶ້ນຮອດ 30°C ໃນຕອນກາງເວັນ. ຝົນຕົກ ແລະ ຄວາມຊຸມ ່ ແມ່ນຄົງທີ່ຕະຫລອດປີ. ຝົນຕົກລົງມາຢ່າງແຮງ, ແຕ່ ບຶດດຽວກໍ່ມແ ີ ສງຕາເວັນ. ມັນອາດຈະມີຝນ ົ ຕົກທຸກໆມື້ໃນລະດູຝນ ົ , ແຕ່ມນ ັ ບໍ່ຄອ ່ ຍຕົກໝົດມື້. ເດືອນ ທີ່ມຝ ີ ນ ົ ຕົກຫລາຍກວ່າໝູແ ່ ມ່ນໄລຍະ ເດືອນພະຈິກ ຫາ ເດືອນມັງກອນ, ຮ້ອນທີ່ສດ ຸ ແມ່ນໄລຍະເດືອນພຶດສະພາ ຫາ ເດືອນກໍລະກົດ. ສຳລັບທ່ານໃດທີ່ສົນໃຈເດີນໄປທີ່ປະເທດສິ​ິງກະໂປກໍສາມາດ ເດີນທາງ ດ້ວຍຄວາມສະດວກ ໂດຍການບໍລິການຂອງສາຍ ການບິນລາວທີ່ໄດ້ເລີ່ມ ເປີດໃຫ້ບໍລິການຕັ້ງແຕ່ເດືອນ ພະຈິກ 2011. ແລະ ນອກນັ້ນສຳລັບໃຜທີ່ຄິດ ຫາມື້ພັກເພື່ອເດີນທາງໄປ ທຽ່ວກໍເປັນໂອກາດດີ ເພາະພວກເຮົາຍັງໄດ້ຈັດລາຍການທົວໄປທຽ່ວບ່ອນຕ່າງໆ.

Take a city tour by night to enjoy some of the most spectacular night-time views found anywhere on earth. In the moonlight the city’s skyline, illuminated in stark contrast with sea is a phenomenal sight that’s not to be missed.

Universal Studios is a great place to spend the day. Enter the thrilling world of movie magic as you Ride the Movies® on roller coasters and other movie themed attractions.

Be dazzled by this immersive entertainment experience that really brings the silver screen to life. Singapore’s vibrant arts scene is made up of many art museums, galleries and exhibition spaces, schools, arts groups and lots more.

FOOD

Singaporean food is legendary.

It may be a small country but the choice and quality of the food is always an eye opener for first time visitors to Singapore. The city offers endless bustling food courts and 24-hour coffee shops. Cheap food from every corner of Asia is sale around the clock while Chinese, Indian, French, Italian and Malay are all widely available.

One cannot describe Singaporean food without mentioning the abundance of fresh seafood, particularly the uniquely Singaporean chilli crab, chopped and smothered in a thick tangy chilli sauce. Pepper crabs and black pepper crayfish are equally mesmerising. Instead of chilli sauce they come served in a thick blend of black-pepper and soy sauce.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Singapore has a great choice of accommodation to suit all budgets.

NIGHT LIFE

For those looking to party the night away, as a city rapidly becoming one of Asia’s clubbing hotspots, Singapore is the place to be. To miss the pubs and clubs of Singapore is to miss feeling the pulse of this exiting metropolis; experience it only by day and you only see half the picture.

SHOPPING

The main shopping area in Singapore is undoubtedly Orchard Road. Just take a stroll to find out what’s in store for you. The shopping centers along this iconic district offer a diverse mix of electronics and fashion goods from major international brands, as well as local labels.

WHEN TO GO & WEATHER

Practically on the equator, Singapore’s temperatures never drops below 20°C, usually climbing to 30°C during the day. Rainfall and humidity are steady year-round. Rain arrives in torrential downpours but is soon replaced by bright sunshine.

It may rain every day during the wet season, but it rarely rains during the day. The wettest months are November to January, the driest May to July.

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DOS & DON’TS

IN LAOS

WELCOME TO LAOS! WE HOPE YOUR VISIT IS ENJOYABLE AND REQUEST THAT YOU RESPECT THE LAO LAW, CULTURE AND CUSTOMS. PLEASE READ ON TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE DO’S AND DON’TS FOR CULTURALLY SENSITIVE TRAVEL IN THE LAO PDR.

The Lao word for Hello is “Sabai dee”, usually said with a smile.

Touching or showing affectionn in public will embarrass your hosts.

Lao people traditionally greet each other by pressing their palms together to ‘NOP’, although it is acceptable for men to shake hands.

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Kissing and hugging in public is impolite. Please be discrete.

Remember, your head is ‘high’, your feet ’low’, it is polite to gently crouch down when passing someone who is seated. Never, ever step over someone in your path.

In Laos your head is ‘High’, your feet ‘Low’. Using your feet for anything other than walking or playing sport is generally considered rude.

Lao people speak softly and avoid confrontation. Please do not shout or raise your voice. Before you take a photo of someone ask if it is ok.

Touching someone’s head is very, very impolite.

Lao people appreciate clean and neatly dressed visitors.

Please do not distribute gifts to children as it encourages begging, but give to an established organization or village elders instead.

Bathing nude in public is impolite.

Please remember to take your shoes off before you enter a Lao person’s home.

Try eating delicious Lao food whenever you can. It helps local business and Lao farmers.

Monks are revered and respected in Laos. However woman should not touch a monk or a monk’s robes.

Please help keep Laos clean and beautiful by not leaving litter. Picking up rubbish sets a good example for Lao youth.

Laos loses a little of its heritage every time an antique is taken out of the country. Please do not buy antique Buddha or other sacred items. Instead, support local craftsmen by purchasing new, quality handicrafts.

Please show respect and dress neatly while in temples and when taking photos.

There are many other sacred items and sites in Lao. Please don’t touch or enter these places without permission.

The use of drugs is illegal in Laos. The consequences may be severe for you and Lao society.

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ພິທີຕ້ອນຮັບເຮືອບິນ A320

Handover ceremony for A320 aircraft

A handover ceremony, attended by high ranking officials and company directors was officially held on 8th November 2011, to mark the new arrival of the Airbus A320 and a new phase in the history of Lao Airlines.

The new aircraft, with a capacity of 150 passenger, sets in motion a move from turboprop to jet aircraft. It offers a more modern travel experience, higher speeds, an excellent safety record and longer range. Lao Airlines will operate the new aircraft on some existing international routes as well as some some new ones, including Vientiane – Singapore, which is scheduled to open on November 24th. Future expansion of the Lao Airlines network into other ASEAN countries, including Korea and Japan is also planned. The purchase will also help Laos prepare for its peak tourism season, as well as serving the ASEM Meeting in 2012. If this project meets its targets, it will set a new pace of development for Lao Airlines, allowing for even further expansion in the near future.

By 2015, two to three larger Airbuses will be brought into service and the further importation of jet aircraft will remain one of Lao Airlines’ key development plans between now and 2020. This will prove crucial not only technologically but in supporting further expansion, allowing the national carrier to gradually grow to meet the standard set by other international carriers, as well paving the way to becoming a member of the Alliance Group. Lao Airlines is soon to be ready for the open skies like never before.

On this occasion, Lao Airlines would like to express its gratitude to the government of the Lao PDR, particularly the Ministry of Public Work and Transportation and all relevant financial institutions, for their help and support in making the airbus project a success. Thank you also to the government of France for all their assistance, especially in raising funds to allow Lao Airlines to offer the best possible training to our pilots. We hope to to enjoy your continued support in the future. Finally, thank you to the French embassy to the Lao PDR and all other related state agencies, and to the Department of Lao Civil Aviation, for their corporation in bringing the new the Airbus to Vientiane Capital.

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ການຕ້ອນຮັບເຮືອບິນອາຍພົນ A320 ເປັນທາງການໃນ ວັນທີ 8 ພະຈິກ 2011, ໂດຍພິທີໃນມື້ດັ່ງກ່າວມີບຸກຄົນສຳຄັນຫຼາຍ ທ່ານເຂົ້າຮ່ວມ ເພື່ອເປັນ ສັກຂີພະຍານໃນການມອບ-ຮັບເຮືອບິນ A320, ນີ້ແມ່ນນິມິດໝາຍປະຫວັດສາດການບິນທີ່ສຳຄັນ ຄັ້ງໜຶ່ງ ຂອງ ລັດວິສາຫະກິດການບິນລາວ ທີ່ໄດ້ຈັດຊື້ ແລະ ນຳເຂົ້າ ເຮືອບິນອາຍພົນຂະໜາດ 142 ບ່ອນນັ່ງ, ຊຶ່ງກ້າວຂຶ້ນ ຈາກການນຳໃຊ້ເຮືອບິນໃບພັດ ໄປສູ່ການນຳໃຊ້ເຮືອບິນອາຍພົນທີ່ທັນສະໄໝ ວ່ອງໄວ ມີຄວາມປອດໄພສູງ ແລະ ສາມາດ ບິນໄປໄດ້ໄກກວ່າເກົ່າ. ການບິນລາວພວກເຮົາຈະນຳໃຊ້ເຮືອບິນຊະນິດນີ້ ໃນເສັ້ນບິນຕ່າງປະເທດ, ຕາມເສັ້ນບິນທີ່ມີຢູ່ແລ້ວຈຳນວນໜຶ່ງ ແລະ ເປີດ ເສັ້ນບິນໃໝ່ ວຽງຈັນ- ສິງກະໂປ ເຊິ່ງໄດ້ເລີ່ມຕັ້ງແຕ່ ວັນທີ 24 ພະຈິກ, ພ້ອມນັ້ນຍັງມີແຜນຈະ ຂະຫຍາຍເສັ້ນບິນໄປຍັງບັນ ດາປະເທດອາຊຽນ, ເກົາຫລີ ແລະ ຍີ່ປຸ່ນ ໃນອານາຄົດ. ແລະ ໃນມໍ່ໆແມ່ນການກຽມພ້ອມຮັບຕ້ອນປີ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວລາວ ໃນປີ 2012 ແລະ ຮັບໃຊ້ກອງປະຊຸມສຸດຍອດອາເຊັມ ປີ 2012 ນີ້ຖ້າວ່າໂຄງການນີ້ສ້າງປະສິດທິຜົນຕາມເປົ້າໝາຍທີ່ວາງໄວ້ມັນ ຈະເປັນທ່າອ່ຽງໃໝ່ໃຫ້ແກ່ການບິນລາວ ໃນການຂະຫຍາຍ ເສັ້ນບິນຂອງຕົນໃຫ້ກວ້າງໄປເລື້ອຍໆ ຄາດວ່າແຕ່ນີ້ຮອດປີ 2015 ຈະເລີ່ມນຳໃຊ້ເຮືອບິນ ແອບັສ໌ ທີ່ມີຂະໜາດ ໃຫ່ຍຂຶ້ນອີກ 2 ຫາ 3 ລຳ. ການນຳເຂົ້າເຮືອບິນອາຍພົນແມ່ນໂຄງການ ໜຶ່ງໃນແຜ່ນພັດທະນາລັດວິສາຫະກິດການບິນລາວ ແຕ່ນີ້ຮອດປີ 2020, ຊຶ່ງແມ່ນໂຄງການທີ່ສຳຄັນ ແລະ ມີຄວາມເປັນ ທາງດ້ານເຕັກນິກ-ເຕັກໂນໂລຊີ ເພື່ອສະໜັບສະໜູນ ແກ່ການຂະຫຍາຍຕົວທາງດ້ານທຸລະກິດ ຂອງ ລັດວິສາຫະກິດການ ບິນລາວ ຊຶ່ງເປັນສາຍການບິນແຫ່ງຊາດ ໃຫ້ຈະ ເລີນເຕີບໂຕຂຶ້ນເລື້ອຍໆ ເພື່ອໃຫ້ໄດ້ມາດຕະຖານສາກົນ, ທຽມທັນກັບ ສາຍການບິນນານາຊາດ, ສາມາດເຂົ້າເປັນສະມາຊິກຂອງກຸ່ມພັນທະມິດ ແລະ ກຽມພ້ອມໃສ່ການເປີດໜ່ານຟ້າເສລີ ໃນ ອານາຄົດອັນໃກ້ນີ້. ໃນໂອກາດນີ້ການບິນລາວຂໍສະແດງຄວາມຮູ້ບຸນຄຸນອັນລົ້ນເຫຼືອຕໍ່ ລັດຖະບານ ສປປລາວໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນກະຊວງໂຍທາ ທິການ ແລະ ຂົນສົ່ງ, ກະຊວງການເງິນ, ທະນາຄານ ທີ່ໃຫ້ການສະໜັບສະໜູນໂຄງການຊື້ -ຂາຍເຮືອບິນນີ້ເກີດຂຶ້ນການບີນ ລາວຂໍສະແດງຄວາມຂອບໃຈມາຍັງລັດ ຖະບານຝຣັ່ງທີ່ໃຫ້ການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອການບິນລາວພວກເຮົາໂດຍສະເພາະທືນການກໍ່ ສ້າງນັກບິນ ແລະ ຫວັງວ່າຈະໄດ້ຮັບການສະໜັບສະໜູນຈາກທ່ານໃນອານາຄົດ. ຂໍສະແດງຄວາມຂອບໃຈມາຍັງບັນດາ ສະຖານເອກອັກຄະລະທູດຝຣັ່ງປະຈຳ ສປປ ລາວ ແລະ ອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງຂອງລັດທີ່ກ່ຽວຂ້ອງ, ກົມການບິນພົນລະເຮືອນລາວ ທີ່ໄດ້ໃຫ້ການຮ່ວມມື ແລະ ອຳນວຍຄວາມສະດວກໃນການນຳເອົາເຮືອບິນນີ້ມາຍັງນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ.

51

52

53

INTERNATIONAL ROUTE

Please contact Lao Airlines office for confrimation FLT No

54

AC

STP

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ບາງກອກ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV414 Daily VTE BKK QV415 Daily VTE BKK QV4571 Daily VTE BKK QV4575 Daily VTE BKK QV424 Daily BKK VTE QV425 Daily BKK VTE QV4570 Daily BKK VTE QV4574 Daily BKK VTE

Day

Routing

Dep

Vientiane - Bangkok - Vientiane 07:20 08:40 ` 16:30 17:50 13:50 14:55 21:45 22:50 09:40 11:00 18:50 20:10 11:45 12:55 19:50 21:00

Arr

AT7 AT7 737 737 AT7 AT7 737 737

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຮາ່ ໂນຍ ້ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV312 Daily VTE HAN QV840 Daily VTE HAN QV322 Daily HAN VTE QV841 Daily HAN VTE

Vientiane - Hanoi - Vientiane 14:30 15:50 18:10 19:10 16:30 17:55 08:30 09:35

AT7 320 AT7 320

0 0 0 0

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ພະນ ົມເປັນ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV841 Daily VTE PNH QV840 Daily PNH VTE

Vientiane - Phnompenh - Vientiane 10:20 11:50 15:50 17:20

320 320

0 0

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ສຽມຣຽບ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV512 123.5.7 VTE REP QV522 123.5.7 REP VTE

Vientiane - Siemreap - Vientiane 06:30 09:25 10:05 13:00

AT7 AT7

PKZ PKZ

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຄຸນມິງ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV817 Daily VTE KMG QV827 Daily KMG VTE

Vientiane - Kunming - Vientiane 06:40 08:50 10:50 12:00

AT7 AT7

0 0

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ໂຮຈ ິ ນ ິ - ວຽງຈ ັນ ່ ມ QV515 .2.4.6.

VTE SGN QV525 .2.4.6.

SGN VTE

Vientiane - Hochiminh - Vientiane 07:45 11:05 12:05 15:20

MA6 MA6

PKZ PKZ

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ຊຽງໃໝ່ - ຫລວງພະບາງ QV635 .23.567 LPQ CNX QV645 .23.567 CNX LPQ

Luang Prabang - Chieng Mai - Luang Prabang 13:10 14:10 15:00 16:00

AT7 AT7

0 0

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ບາງກອກ - ຫລວງພະບາງ QV633 Daily LPQ BKK QV643 Daily BKK LPQ

Luang Prabang - Bangkok - Luang Prabang 07:30 09:10 10:20 12:00

AT7 AT7

0 0

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ສຽມຣຽບ - ຫລວງພະບາງ QV513 1..4.6.

LPQ REP QV869 123.56.

LPQ REP QV523 1..4.6.

REP LPQ QV868 123.56.

REP LPQ

Luang Prabang - Siemreap - Luang Prabang 10:50 14:20 10:30 12:10 15:00 18:30 12:50 14:30

MA6 F70 MA6 F70

PKZ 0 PKZ 0

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ຮາ່ ໂນຍ ້ - ຫລວງພະບາງ QV313 .2.4567 LPQ HAN QV868 123.56.

LPQ HAN QV323 .2.4567 HAN LPQ QV869 123.56.

HAN LPQ

Luang Prabang - Hanoi - Luang Prabang 16:40 17:40 15:10 16:00 18:25 19:25 08:55 09:50

AT7 F70 AT7 F70

0 0 0 0

ປາກເຊ - ສຽມຣຽບ - ປາກເຊ QV512 123.5.7 PKZ REP QV513 1..4.6.

PKZ REP QV522 123.5.7 REP PKZ QV523 1..4.6.

REP PKZ

Pakse - Siemreap - Pakse 08:25 09:25 13:20 14:20 10:05 11:05 15:00 16:00

AT7 AT7 AT7 AT7

0 0 0 0

ປາກເຊ - ບາງກອກ - ປາກເຊ QV213 ..3.5.7 QV223 ..3.5.7

PKZ BKK BKK PKZ

Pakse - Bangkok - Pakse 09:25 12:10 13:10 15:45

MA6 MA6

ZVK ZVK

ປາກເຊ - ໂຮຈິມນ ິ - ປາກເຊ QV515 .2.4.6.

QV525 .2.4.6.

PKZ SGN SGN PKZ

Pakse - Hochiminh - Pakse 09:30 11:05 12:05 13:35

MA6 MA6

0 0

ສະຫວ ັນນະເຂດ - ບາງກອກ - ສະຫວ ັນນະເຂດ QV213 ..3.5.7 ZVK BKK QV223 ..3.5.7 BKK ZVK

Savannakhet - Bangkok - Savannakhet 10:50 12:10 13:10 14:30

MA6 MA6

0 0

DOMESTIC ROUTE

Please contact Lao Airlines office for confrimation FLT No

Days

Routing

Dep

Arr

Ac

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຫລວງພະບາງ

QV101 QV103 QV109

1234567 1234567 1234567

VTE LPQ VTE LPQ VTE LPQ

Vientiane - Luang Prabang 11:50 12:30 AT7 16:30 17:10 AT7 09:30 10:10 MA6

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV102 QV104 QV110 QV110

1234567 1234567 1..4.6. .23.5.7

LPQ VTE LPQ VTE LPQ VTE LPQ VTE

Luang Prabang - Vientiane 13:10 13:50 17:50 18:30 19:10 19:50 10:40 11:20

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ປາກເຊ - ຫລວງພະບາງ QV513 QV523

1..4.6.

1..4.6.

AT7 AT7 MA6 MA6

..3.5.7 ..3.5.7

VTE ZVK ZVK VTE

..3.5.7 ..3.5.7

PKZ ZVK ZVK PKZ

Vientiane - Savannakhet - Vientiane 07:30 10:00 MA6 15:10 17:40 MA6

PKZ PKZ

Pakse -Savannakhet - Pakse

09:25 15:10

10:00 15:45

MA6 MA6

0 0

Vientiane - Pakse - Vientiane 06:30 07:45 AT7 07:30 08:25 MA6 07:45 09:00 MA6 11:45 13:00 AT7 16:25 17:40 MA6 14:05 15:20 MA6

0 0 0 0 0 0

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ປາກເຊ - ວຽງຈ ັນ

QV512 QV201 QV515 QV522 QV202 QV525

123.5.7 ..3.5.7 .2.4.6.

123.5.7 ..3.5.7 .2.4.6.

VTE PKZ VTE PKZ VTE PKZ PKZ VTE PKZ VTE PKZ VTE

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ອຸດ ົມໄຊ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV501 QV502

.2.4.6. .2.4.6.

VTE ODY ODY VTE

Vientiane - Oudomxay - Vientiane 13:20 14:10 AT7 14:50 15:40 AT7

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຫວ ້ ຍຊາຍ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV901 QV902

.2.4.6. .2.4.6.

VTE HOE HOE VTE

Vientiane - Houeysay - Vientiane 13:10 14:05 MA6 14:45 15:40 MA6

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຫລວງນຳ້ ທາ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV601 QV602

1.3.5..

1.3.5..

VTE LXG LXG VTE

Vientiane - Luang Namtha - Vientiane 12:30 13:30 MA6 14:10 15:10 MA6

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຊຽງຂວາງ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV401 QV402

1.3.5.7 1.3.5.7

Remark: All times are local time

1: Monday

2: Tuesday

3: Wednesday

4: Thursday

5: Friday

6: Saturday

7: Sunday

VTE XKH XKH VTE

0 0 0 0 0 0

ປາກເຊ - ສະຫວ ັນນະເຂດ - ປາກເຊ

QV213 QV223

0 0 0

Luang Prabang - Pakse - Luang Prabang 10:50 12:40 MA6 16:40 18:30 MA6

LPQ PKZ PKZ LPQ

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ສະຫວ ັນນະເຂດ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV201 QV202

STP

Vientiane - Xiengkhouang - Vientiane 13:20 13:50 AT7 14:30 15:00 AT7

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 Pangkham Rd., P.O. Box: 6441 Vientiane Lao P.D.R Tel: (856-21) 212 057 Fax: (856-21) 212 065 www.laoairlines.com

55

LAO AIRLINES OFFICES

Vientiane (Head Office)

02 Pangkham Street, P.O. Box 6441 Tel: (856-21) 212057, Fax : ( 856-21) 212065 Ticket & Reservation

Tel: ( 856-21 ) 212051-54, Fax : (856-21) 212056 Email: reservation@laoairlines.com ticketing@laoairlines.com Tour Dept (Champa holidays)

Tel : (856-21) 219932, Fax : (856-21) 212058 Email : info@laoairlines.com, tour@laoairlines.com

Wattay Airport Office

Tel: (856-21) 512028 ( International Airport ) Tel: (856-21) 512 000, 512 004 ( Domestic Airport ) Branch offices (Domestic)

Branch offices (Abroad)

Luangprabang (Lpq) Town Office Tel: (856-71) 212172 Fax: (856-71) 212406 Email: lpq@laoairlines.com Airport Office Tel: (856-71) 212173 Fax: (856-71) 252264 Email: lpqairport@laoairlines.com

THAILAND Bangkok - (Town office) 491/17 ground Fl, Silom plaza Silom road, Bangkok 10500 Tel: (66-2) 236 9822, 2369823,

237 8044 Fax: (66-2) 236 9821 Email: bkkrrqv@ksc.th.com SITA: BKKRRQV

Xiengkhuang (Xkh) Tel: (856-61) 312027 Fax: (856-61) 312487 Email: xiengkhouang@laoairlines.com Tel: (856-61) 312177 (Airport)

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57

LA

Vientiane Capital of Lao PDR

OS

Vientiane

Vientiane is Southeast Asia’s most laid-back capital. This city boasts outstanding French colonial architecture and low level buildings spread throughout the city, exuding its rich cultural heritage and relaxed atmosphere. Life in this pleasant capital is slow-paced. We explore this small, peaceful capital at a leisurely pace, visiting some of the finest and most important historical sites in Laos.

How to get to Vientiane on Lao Airlines?

From Bangkok, there are two daily flights. There are daily flights from Hanoi / Kunming / Siem Reap. From Ho Chi Minh, three flights a week (Tue, Thu & Sat).

Vientiane Free & Easy Stay-3 days Day 1: Arrival in Vientiane (B) Code: CPH71 Enjoy the Free & Easy Stay package to Vientiane Capital, which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommodation at a hotel of your choice with breakfast, round trip airport transfer and a half day tour.

Vientiane Stop-Over-3 days Code: CPH72 Vientiane Stop-Over tour includes a round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, transportation in private car, hotel accommodation in a twin shared room with breakfast, English speaking guide, admission fee to indicated sights, Government tax and service charge and tour program are below:

Opon arrival in Vientiane, you will be met and transferred to a centrally located hotel. Vientiane is a charming and fascinating capital, with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and American influences. After a short rest, we begin visiting the major sights of the capital, including Vat Sisaket, the oldest temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Vat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha.

Enroute to Lao’s national icon, the precious and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.

We’ll end the day by the Mekong riverside for a relaxing stroll and admire the sunset.

Overnight in Vientiane (B)

Day 2: Vientiane – Nam Ngum Lake

After breakfast, we head out of the city to make our way to Nam Ngum, a huge reservoir created by the damming of the Nam Ngum River. On the way to Nam Ngum Lake, we’ll stop at Ban Keun, which is famous for its salt extraction plant and a village that distills the local Lao whiskey.

On arrival at Nam Ngum Lake, we embark on a long tail boat to visit fishing villages in the various islets. We take a short walk to explore the lifestyle of the local fishermen. After that we’ll have lunch. On the return drive to Vientiane, [if time permits], perhaps you might want to experience gambling at the Lao casino located in the valley where you can also enjoy a beautiful view of the lake. We return to Vientiane by late evening. Overnight in Vientiane (B)

Day 3: Vientiane-Departure After breakfast, we visit the Morning Market which has a range of Lao made products, from silk, handicrafts, silver jewelry, clothing, etc. (if time permits). The tour ends after you’re transfer to the airport for departure. (B)

For more information please contact Champa holidays tour or Lao Airlines offices Tel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, Fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile: 22413161, 22224884 Email: info@laoairlines.com, sales@champaholidays.com, www.champaholidays.com

Pakse City (Champasak) Pakse Stop-Over-3 Days Code: Champa 3.2

Day1: Arrival-Pakse to Don Khone On arrival at Pakse, drive out towards Khong Island. On the way we make a short detour to visit Pha Suam Vaterfall and to explore the Lao Teung ethnic minority villages. We continue our journey by motorboat to Don Khong, the largest island in the southern part of the Mekong river region known as the 4,000 islands, one of the most scenic areas in Laos. Overnight in Don Khong. (L/D)

Day 3: Pakse - Departure after breakfast, at your leisure or shopping, then transfer to airport. (B)

Package includes: - Roundtrip on Lao Airlines air ticket - Two nights accommodation in hotel in a twin sharing room; daily breakfast - Transportation in private car - English speaking guide - Admission fee to indicated sights

Day 2: Khong Island to Done Khone Pakse Free & Easy Stay-3 Days to Pakse Following breakfast, we enjoy a visit to the surrounding countryside, and embark on a longtail boat tour of the Don Khone area, which takes you to visit the remains of the French colonial period and Liphi Vaterfall or “the Corridor of the Devil”. We return to the mainland at the fishing village of Ban Nakasang and drive further south to visit Khone Phapheng. Khone Phapheng is considered the largest Vaterfall by volume in South east Asia; this is an impressive attraction near the Lao-Cambodian border, set within an area which is teeming with wildlife, making it one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos. Afterwards we drive back to Pakse.

Overnight in Pakse. (B/L/D)

Code : Champa 3.1

Enjoy the Free & Easy Stay package in Pakse, the southern city of Laos. You can make a connection flight on Lao Airlines flight from Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Luang Prabang and Vientiane.

Day 1: Meet at Pakse airport and transfer to hotel for check-in and relaxation.

Day 2: Enjoy breakfast at hotel and free time or you may contact hotel counter for city tour yourself.

Package includes: - Roundtrip Lao Airlines air ticket - Two nights accommodation at hotel Daily breakfast - Round trip airport transfer

Pakse Splendid We explore the beautiful region of Pakse, located in the southern part of Laos, also home to the famous Ancient Khmer ruins of Vat Phou from the 5th Century and the aweinspiring Khone Phapheng Vaterfall, the biggest in Southeast Asia! The surrounding forests teem with flourishing vegetation and you will be greeted by the friendly locals as we visit a few villages. You will take a trip to the Bolaven Plateau, which will provide you with a refreshing break from the heat and allow you to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea and other crops.

On Pakse on Lao Airlines flights from Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Siem Reap, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh. Direct flights are available from Ho Chi Minh to Pakse as follows: Tue, Thu, Sat – Depart at 11:45 and arrive at 13:45. Pakse to Ho Chi Minh: Tue, Thu, Sat– Depart at 09:15 and arrive at 10:45.

Day 3: After breakfast, free time and transfer to airport for check in and fly back to your next destination.

For more information please contact Champa holidays tour or Lao Airlines offices Tel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, Fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile: 22413161, 22224884 Email: info@laoairlines.com, sales@champaholidays.com, www.champaholidays.com

Luang Prabang World Heritage City Luang Prabang has a beautiful and tranquil dream-like setting with a fusion of foreign influences and splendid landscape and scenery, making this an idyllic, unspoiled and charming destination for visitors. It is no wonder this amazing city has been declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO. The ancient city was the former capital of Laos, with a reign of more than 63 kings over 600 years. Luang Prabang is known as the ‘Thousand Pagoda City’ and there are countless intriguing architectural highlights in this sleepy and once royal capital.

How to get to Luang Prabang?

Lao Airlines has direct flights from Bangkok, Chiangmai and Hanoi daily; three times a week from Siem Reap; three flights daily from Vientiane.

Day 1: Arrival-Luang Prabang Luang Prabang Free & Easy Stay-3 Days Code: CPH11 Enjoy the Free & Easy Stay package in the World Heritage City of Laos which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommodations in a hotel room of your choice with daily breakfast, round trip airport transfer and half day city tour.

Luang Prabang Stop-Over-3 Days Code: CPH12 Luang Prabang Stop-Over tour includes a round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, transportation in private car, accommodation in a twin shared room with breakfast, English speaking guide, admission fee to indicated sights, and government taxes and service charges. The tour program is as follows:

Arrival at Luang Prabang airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. After a short rest, we will visit the impressive stupa of Vat Visoun and the shrine of Vat Aham and Vat Mai. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by hilltribe groups and local people from the surrounding area of Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 2: Luang Prabang-Pak Ou Cave On this day, we enjoy a short-guided tour to see the city’s oldest temples of Vat Sene and the magnificent Vat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, representing classical Laotian architecture.

We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil coun-

tryside as well as time to explore the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we will stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is produced. On return, we’ll take a short drive to another small village, Ban Phanom, which is famous for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)

Day3: Luang Prabang-Departure Visit the National Museum (closed Tuesdays) at the former Royal Palace. It displays a collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last reign. There will also be time to look around the Central Market. After visiting these sights in the morning, there may be free time (depending on your flight) to venture into town and stroll around the shopping area. The tour ends after your transfer to the airport for departure. (B)

For more information please contact Champa Holidays Tour or Lao Airlines offices Tel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, Fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile: 22413161, 22224884 Email: info@laoairlines.com, sales@champaholidays.com, www.champaholidays.com

Luang Prabang World Heritage City Luang Prabang Wonder-4 Days

Day 2: Luang Prabang-Pak Ou Cave

Code: CPH13 Enjoy Luang Prabang Wonder – 4 days and 3 nights which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, transportation in private car and accommodation in a twin shared room with daily breakfast, English speaking guide, admission fees to indicated sights, government taxes and service charges. The tour program is as follows:

Day 1: Arrival-Luang Prabang Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang has been claimed by UNESCO to be ‘the best preserved city in Southeast Asia’. During your time here, we’ll visit the impressive stupa of Vat Visoun and the shrines of Vat Aham and Vat Mai. We then climb up to the top of mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people from the surrounding areas of Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)

Enjoy a short-guided tour to see the city’s oldest temple of Vat Sene and the magnificent Vat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, representing classical Laotian architecture. We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside as well as time to explore the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On return, we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, a small village known for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)

Day 3: Luang Prabang-Khouangsi Vaterfall An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (often in the form of sticky rice) from faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the ritual. From there, you will visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hilltribe weavings.

Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and this day you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou, Lao Oum Village and Ban Thapene, which are Khmu villages. This then takes us to the beautiful Khouangsi Vaterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails.

On the return trip to Luang Prabang by late afternoon, we continue to Ban Xangkhong, a village well known for its silk weavings and for its Saa (jute) Papermaking. We return to the city by late evening to admire the sunset at Vat Siphouthabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)

Day 4: Luang Prabang-Departure Visit the National Museum (closed Tuesdays) at the former Royal Palace. It displays a collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last reign. There will also be time for us to look around the Central Market.

After visiting these sights in the morning, there may be free time (depending on your flight) to venture into town and stroll around the shopping area. The tour ends after your transfer to the airport for departure. (B)

For more information please contact Champa Holidays Tour or Lao Airlines offices Tel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, Fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile: 22413161, 22224884 Email: info@laoairlines.com, sales@champaholidays.com, www.champaholidays.com

Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam Formerly known as Saigon How to get to Ho Chi Minh City?

You may take Lao Airlines flight from Vientiane or Pakse to Hochiminh on Tue, Thu & Sat. Ho Chi Minh Free & Easy Stay-3 days Code: CPH61 Enjoy the Free & Easy Stay package in the historical Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, two nights accommodation in a three star hotel with daily breakfast, round trip airport transfer and a half-day tour in Ho Chi Minh city.

Ho Chi Minh-Mekong Delta-3 Days Code: CPH62 The Ho Chi Minh Mekong Delta 3 days and 2 nights package includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommodation in a twin sharing room, daily breakfast and one lunch at the hotel, transportation in private car, entrance fees to tourist sites and a one-day tour of the Mekong Delta including tour guide as follows:

Day 1: Meet on arrival at Tan San Airport

and transfer to hotel for check-in and then free time or shopping.

sightseeing and observing the daily activities of local people, taking a paddle boat along the small canal, visiting a bee farm, orchards, enjoying tea, honey, seasonal fruits, sweets, amateur traditional music performances, touring a coconut candy mill and then lunch on the island. On the way back, stop for shopping.

Day 3: Depart Ho Chi Minh (B) After breakfast at hotel , free time or shopping and transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for your departure flight.

Ho Chi Minh Vung Tau 3 Days Code: CPH63 Ho Chi Minh Vung Tau 3 days and 2 nights includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommodation in a twin sharing room, full meals, transportation in private car, entrance fees to tourist sites, tour guide and tour program as follows:

Day 1:

Arrive Ho Chi Minh – CITY TOUR (L,D)

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta – Ho Arrive Ho Chi Minh by QV515 at 10:45.

Chi Minh (Meals: B/L)

After breakfast, depart at 8:00 am, driving to the Mekong Delta, nicknamed the large rice basket of Vietnam. This day includes visiting Vinh Trang pagoda, cruising on the Mekong river to an island for

Welcome by friendly guide then transfer to hotel. Buffet lunch provided by hotel.

PM: City tour – visit local neighborhoods and landmarks such as China Town, Thien Hau Pagoda, Remnant War Museum, Reunification Hall (Formerly Presidential Pal-

ace), Opera House, City Hall, stop at the Main Post Office & Notre Dame Cathedral for pictures. On the way back to the hotel, stop at a lacquer ware factory for shopping. Back to hotel and enjoy a set dinner at Sapphire Hotel.

Day 2: HCMC – VUNG TAU – HCMC (L, D) Depart in the morning for Vung Tau, a famous tourist spot. Free for swimming and sea bathing at Mariana Club. Set lunch at the local seafood restaurant. Visit memorial statue of Saint George (30 m high) on Small Mountain - the highest Saint statue in VietNam; visit Niet Ban Tinh Xa, the most beautiful pagoda in Vung Tau on a hillside facing the sea. On the way back to HCMC, stop at Long Thanh to buy fruits of the season. Arrival HCMC, enjoy a set dinner on a Saigon floating restaurant. Transfer back to hotel for leisure time.

Day 3: HO CHI MINH – VIENTIANE Free time until transfer to airport for a flight at 11:45 am. End of service.

Amazing Angkor, Siem Reap - Cambodia How to get to Angkor Vat? You may take Lao Airlines flight from Vientiane or Pakse with daily service or depart from Luang Prabang on Mon, Thu & Sat.

Angkor Vat Free & Easy Stay3 Days, 2 Nights Code: CPH41 Enjoy the Free & Easy Stay package in Siem Reap city which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommodation in a three/four star hotel with daily breakfast and round trip airport transfer.

Amazing Angkor Vat Full Package - 3 Days, 2 Nights Code: CPH42 Visit the Amazing Angkor city on a 3 days and 2 nights package with Champa Holidays which includes roundtrip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommodation in a twin sharing hotel room, meals, transportation (car, van or bus), entrance fees to tourist sites, English/Thai speaking guide and tour program as follows:

Day 1: Arrive – Siem Reap (L/D) Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport and transfer to hotel for check-in and visit the National Museum then have lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Vat Thmei Artisan Angkor, Old Market, then have dinner at Koulen II Restaurant with Apsara Dance show. After dinner, visit the Night Market, then back to hotel.

Day 2: Angkor Thom (B/L/D ) After breakfast at hotel, visit South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon temples, Bapuon, Phimenakas, Terrace of Elephant and Leper King. In the afternoon, visit Ta Prum temple, Takeo, Angkor Vat temple and Vatch the sunset over Bakheng Hill, dinner and back to hotel.

Day 3: Siem Reap – Pakse/Vientiane (B) Breakfast at hotel, visit old market and transfer to Siem Reap International Airport to fly back.

Angkor Vat - Phnom Penh Sihanoukville Full Package - 6 Days, 5 Nights Code: CPH42 Day 1: Arrive Siem Reap (L/D) Arrive at Siem Reap International airport and transfer to hotel for check-in. Lunch at Sophea Angkor Pich Restaurant then visit South Gate of AngkorThom , Terrace of Elephant, Angkor Vat and Vatch the sunset over Bakheng Hill, dinner at Kolen II Restaurant.

Day 2: Tonle Sap Lake – Phnom Penh (B/L/D) At 7:30 am guide and van pick up to visit the Tonle Sap Lake, and have an early lunch at Kolen II restaurant. At 12:00 noon depart by van to Phnom Penh and checkin to a three star hotel and have dinner at the Tonle Basac restaurant.

Day 3: City tour Phnom Penh – Sihanoukville (B/L/D) At 8:00 am guide and van pick up to visit the Royal Palace, museum, the killing fields, and have lunch at Tonle Basac restaurant and at 1:00 pm depart by van to Sihanoukville and check-in to Hotel Golden Sand, then have dinner at the Beach Restaurant.

Day 4: Sihanoukville At 8:00 am guide and van will pick up to Ream Beach. Lunch at Beach Restaurant and in the afternoon visit the Ochheuteal beach, then have dinner at a beach restaurant.

Day 5: Sihanoukville – Siem Reap (B/L/D) At 8:00 am visit Sihanoukville Market and lunch at Tonle Basac Restaurant, and drive back to Siem Reap, check-in to hotel and have dinner at Sophea Angkor Pich Restaurant.

Day 6: Siem Reap – Pakse/ VTE (B) Breakfast at hotel, visit old market and transfer to Siem Reap International Airport to your next destination.

Jinghong-China Visit Jinghong , Xishuang Banna Located in the south of Yunnan Province, Jinghong is the political, economic and cultural center of Xishuang Banna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, which is a supernatural oasis in southwest China, while Jinghong is a bright pearl in the oasis.

Attractions in Xishuang Banna Known for its tropical flowers, plants, and garden, attractions in Xishuang Banna include the Meng Tropical Botanical Garden, tropical rain forest valley, Mengle great Buddhist monastery, Mengle cultural park, Manting park, Dai ethnic garden, wild elephant ravine, south medicinal plants garden, the virgin forest park and Mengjinglai village and more.

How to get to Jinghong?

Travel with Lao Airlines direct flight from Luang Prabang on Friday and Sunday or on a connecting flight from Vientiane.

Jinghong Free & Easy Stay3 Days, 2 Nights Code: CPH51 Enjoy and relax with the Free & Easy Stay package in Jinghong Xishuang Banna which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommodation in a four star hotel with daily breakfast and airport transfer.

Jinghong Stop-Over3 Days, 2 Nights Code: CPH52 Spend your holidays with the Jinghong Stop-Over – 3 days, 2 nights which includes roundtrip air ticket of Lao Airlines,

2 nights accommodation in a three star hotel with a twin sharing room, full meals (Chinese food), transportation (car, van or bus), entrance fees to tourist sites, Lao/ English speaking guide and tour program as follows:

Day 1: Take Lao Airlines flight QV818 to Jinghong , guide will meet you at the airport, go straight to visit Bage Temple (Head Temple in Xishuangbanna), then transfer to hotel check-in and dinner.

Overnight at Jinghong.

Day 2: After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Virgin Forest Park, lunch, then to Ganlanba and sightseeing in the local bazaar and the villages of Dai people and visit the Dai Garden, take part in the Vater splashing, and have dinner during a singing and dancing show. Overnight at Jinghong.

Day 3: Breakfast & check-out from hotel, tour the Flower Garden. After lunch, transfer to the airport to fly back to Luang Prabang or Vientiane.

Kunming, China Attractions Stone Forest

Bamboo Temple

The Stone Forest is a national 4A scenic spot, 86 kilometers from Kunming. A karst landform 200 million years old, known in Yunnan as the “First Wonder under the Sun”. The Stone Forest and Imperial Palace in Beijing, the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi’an and the mountains and rivers in Guilin have been generally recognized as four main scenic spots in China.

This temple was initially built in the early Yuan Dynasty and has been the largest Buddhist temple in Yunnan since the introduction of Dhyana to Yunnan from the Central Plains. It is famous for the five hundred Buddhist saint caricatures, a masterpiece of Chinese folk statuary.

Yuantong Temple

The Golden Temple was constructed by Wu Sangui in 1671 A.D. The temple is made of copper and reflects the excellent metallurgical and casting technology from more than 300 years ago in Yunnan. The temple weighs 250 tons and is 6.7 meters high. It is the largest and heaviest as well as the best preserved copper temple in China.

It is situated at the foot of Yuantong Hill. It is the largest Buddhist temple in downtown Kunming, with a history of around 1,200 years. It combines both the Buddhist and Daoism architectural styles because it was once rebuilt as a Daoism temple.

Western Hills (Xishan) & Dragon Gate This is a scenic spot which boasts a dense forest and ancient temples such as Sanqingge, Taihua and Huating built in the Yuan Dynasty, as well as Dragon Gate carved into the cliff over 72 years ago.

Dianchi Lake Renowned as the “pearl on the plateau,” with many natural historic and cultural attractions around the lake, it is the largest lake in Yunnan.

Yunnan Ethnic Villages A national 4A scenic spot and a window on the ethnic culture of Yunnan, where you may see traditional buildings of different ethnic groups in Yunnan and enjoy various ethnic customs and culture.

Jiu Xiang Karst Cave This area is 100 km away from Kunming, and 30 km from Stone Forest. The total area of Jiu Xiang landscape area is 278 square km. There are vivid natural landscapes imposing underground, and archaic cultural and special folk custom. It is a unique international site and geological park.

Golden Temple

Kunming Free & Easy Stay – 3 Days, 2 Nights Code: CPH21 Enjoy the Free & Easy Stay 3 days, 2 nights which include round trip air ticket, 2 nights accommodation in a hotel room with daily breakfast and round trip airport transfer.

Kunming, China Kunming Stop-Over – 3 Days, 2 Nights

Kunming Attraction – 4 Days, 3 Nights

Code: CPH22

Code: CPH23

Spend your holidays with the Kunming Stop-Over package, 3 days and 2 nights which includes round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommodation in a hotel with twin sharing room, full meals , private transportation, entrance fees to tourist sites, tour guide and tour program as follows:

Choose the Kunming Attraction package for a 4 days and 3 nights tour which includes a round trip air ticket on Lao Airlines, 3 nights accommodation in a hotel in a twin sharing room, all meals provided, private transportation, entrance fee to tourist sites, tour guide and tour program as follows:

Day 1: VTE/KMG (Western Hills & Jiu Xiang Caves) (L/D) Take flight QV817 (06:30-09:40) to Kunming Airport, meet and transfer to the Forest Park of the Western Hills, 26 km away from downtown and is located on the edge of Dianchi Lake. We will visit the Dragon Gate consisting of of the Sanqing Temple Complex and the Dragon Gate Grotto Complex. In the afternoon, transfer to Jiu Xiang and tour the Jiu Xiang Limestone Caves.

Transfer to the Stone Forest, check-in to the hotel. Overnight at the Stone Forest.

Day 1: VTE/KMG (Western Hills & Golden Temple) (L/D) Take flight QV817 (06:30-09:40) to Kunming Airport, meet and transfer to the Forest Park of the Western Hills, 26 km away from downtown and is located on the edge of Dianchi Lake. We will visit the Dragon Gate which consists of the Sanqing Temple Complex and the Dragon Gate Grotto Complex. Then we will visit the Golden Temple reputed to be built in 1871 with 250 tons of solid bronze, the largest bronze hall in China. Overnight Kunming.

Day 2: Stone Forest/Kunming (B/L/D) Tour the Stone Forest which is a massive collection of grey limestone pillars formed about 270 million years ago which were split by rain Vater and eroded to their present fanciful forms.

In the Stone Forest, the stone peaks rise abruptly, stalagmites crowd together like sharp swords piercing toward the sky and the group of stones look much like a mighty forest.

Day 2: Jiuxiang Cave & Stone Forest (B/L/D)

Day 3: Departure (B) Breakfast at hotel, free time and then transfer to the airport for departure at 10:45.

Transfer to Jiuxiang in the morning and tour in Jiuxiang Limestone Caves. Then transfer to the Stone Forest in the afternoon, check-in at the hotel and overnight at the Stone Forest.

Day 3: Stone Forest/Kunming (B/L/D) In the morning, tour the Stone Forest, a massive collection of grey limestone pillars formed about 270 million years ago which were split by rain Vater and eroded to their present fanciful forms. In the Stone Forest, the stone peaks rise abruptly, stalagmites crowd together like sharp swords piercing toward the sky and the group of stones look much like a mighty forest. Return back to Kunming in the afternoon. Overnight in Kunming.

Day 4: Departure (B) Transfer to the airport for departure in the morning (QV827 10:45-12:00).

For more information please contact Champa Holidays Tour or Lao Airlines offices Tel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, Fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile: 22413161, 22224884 Email: info@laoairlines.com, sales@champaholidays.com, www.champaholidays.com

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Laos Hotline: Tel. +856 (0) 20 56 44 90 18 Luang Prabang: Tel. +856 (0) 71 25 25 53 Vientiane: Tel. +856 (0) 21 21 68 86

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