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September 2007
Luang Prabang vows to become trade hub for northern region(KPL) Luang Prabang has vowed to develop itself into a trade hub of the eight northern provinces in the next two years.
However, the Director of the provincial Commerce Service, Mr Houmpheng Phakhounsay, said yesterday that by 2010 only the basic work of the strategy will have been fulfilled.
Mr Houmpheng Phakhounsay pointed out that the implementation of the province’s strategy, partly aiming to enhance the poverty reduction of local ethnic people, will not affect the conservation of heritage sites as the activities will be conducted outside the perimeter of the world heritage town of Luang Prabang.
Based on the strategy initiated in 2002, the province plans to promote the export of various kinds of goods by improving working condition of customs offers and ensuring the adequate domestic consumption.
To fulfill the strategy, the province will strive to protect domestic production and actively participate in both regional and international trade exhibitions.
According to the strategy, the province aims to have value of its annual goods circulation increased by 12 % and have its 80% of villages have markets constructed by 2010.
Luang Prabang has gross domestic product grown around 7 % annually over recent years, partly contributed by the investment of China, Vietnam and Thailand, mostly in agriculture sphere.
From www.kpl.net
Luang Prabang authorities have set up a special taskforce to explore a cave said to be a place where French colonial army troops hid valuable items several decades ago.
The Phadao cave is located in Chom village, Chomphet district, some 30 km from the capital city of Luang Prabang province.
“We have heard locals talking about the treasure in this cave for more than 10 years, so we've decided to officially explore it,” a member of the taskforce, Mr Bounkhong Khoutthao, said in a telephone interview with Vientiane Times.
Mr Bounkhong, who is also deputy director of the Luang Prabang Information and Culture Department, said the taskforce officials had visited the cave several times but the official exploration had not begun because the taskforce did not have archaeological experts.
“We have invited archaeologists from the Ministry of Information and Culture to join the taskforce and they have agreed with the proposal. We expect to begin the explorations this month,” he said.
Mr Bounkhong said the provincial authorities had not allowed any individuals or companies to explore the cave, and was confident no one had gone against these orders. He added that local people also believed the caves were guarded by ghosts, and did not dare get closer to the cave.
The cave is located inside a forest surrounded by mountains, and is difficult to access, he said. Survey team officials must walk for at least two hours before they arrive at the cave, where there is only a small entrance to the cave.
In a report on Lao National Radio on Monday, the reporter quoted a member of the survey team as saying that the team had found evidence of soil used by the French troupes to fill the small hole, and archaeologists would need to negotiate this soil before entering the cave.
Although people have been saying for ten years that French colonial army troops hid their valuables inside the cave before escaping from Japanese soldiers during the 1940s, Mr Bounkhong said that he could not confirm what would actually be inside the cave, as all the evidence was based on local rumours.
However, he said the project would be good experiences for the survey team, and that perhaps the cave could eventually be developed as another tourist site for the province.
He said the scenery surrounding the Phadao cave was lush and forested with clean air, and would be a good place for tourists to set up camps and organise trekking activities. He added that he had plans to discuss the possibilities of the area with tourism officials at a later date.
By Ekaphone Phouthonesy
vientianetimes
photo: flickr
Via Samakomlao Webboard, Thank you Samakomlao.
Miss Apone Lao 2007, the 2nd Miss Apone Lao pageant, was won by Touny Ladsasombatd, A14 from Vientiane. It took place on 22 september 2007 at the Donchane palace in Vientiane Capital City. 
The 1st runner-up is A6, Miss Koudthavone Arkhalath from Vientiane province.And four girl who is the 3rd runner-up:
Miss Manivone phomsavath from Luang Prabang, A5
Miss Suphawadee Phongsavanh from Savannakhet, A10
Miss Miss Anoulack Vongsouly from Vientiane, A11
Miss Sithamina Bouapha from Savannakhet, A17
Miss Photogenic is A17, Miss Sithamina Bouapha from Savannakhet.
Miss Congeniality is Miss Sangvanh Tandara, A3 from Luang Prabang.
Miss Popular vote(vote via Tigo mobile network) is A10, Miss Suphawadee Phongsavanh from Savannakhet.
The new Miss Apone Lao and five runner-up will be the beer Lao calendar model in 2008.
By Luang Prabang 2 Day
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Text News from Vientianetimes.org.la
Ms Tunee Lasasombath from Vientiane was crowned the winner of this year's Miss Apone Lao pageant on Saturday night, delighting her local fans.
The 18-year-old finalist received a crown worth 14 million kip, cash worth 30 million kip and other gifts after being named the winner.
In choosing the winner, the judging panel considered the attitude of the contestants, looking to see if they were true Lao women, how well they answered the questions put to them and how they had behaved in the run-up to the contest.
The 169-cm-tall Ms Tunee gave what the judges considered to be the best answers to the final question of what the ideal Miss Apone Lao winner should be - that real Lao women should be polite, well-behaved, but by no means weak.
“When they called my name, I kept asking myself whether this was really happening,” she told Vientiane Times yesterday.
“I was so happy just to be one of the 18 finalists, and this is just so much more than I had expected!”
“I plan to keep my crown, so that I can wear it on special occasions, and the money I've won will go towards my education,” she said.
The runner-up was Khoutthavon Akkhalath, 19, from Vientiane province, who received 15 million kip in cash, as well as a cash and other gifts.
Four finalists shared second place as runners-up - Manivan Phomsavath, 19, from Luang Prabang province, Souphavadee Phongsavanh, 18, from Savannakhet province, Anoulack Vongsoulee, 20, from Vientiane , and Sithameena Bouapha, 18, from Savannakhet province.
Ms Sithameena was also voted the most beautiful contestant by the local media, and received a separate prize worth 5 million kip.
Miss Souphavadee was voted by the public as the most beautiful contestant, with the highest number of votes received via SMS on a system set up by mobile phone company tigo.
Originally, 18 finalists were chosen to take part in Saturday's contest, but one of them, Ms Phoulatsamee Lattanavong, withdrew from the event.
Ms Tunee, as the 2007 Miss Apone Lao, will be considered a representative of Laos, and will act as an ambassador for Lao culture and traditions, both locally and internationally.
This is the largest beauty contest in the country, and the first that the government has been involved in.
The hosts, the Lao Women's Union and K&C Company Ltd, selected nine out of 350 Vientiane applicants for the final round. In Savannakhet and Champassak provinces, about 140 women applied and three from each province were selected to compete in the final. In Luang Prabang province, 55 women applied, and three were chosen.
The Lao Women's Union and K&C Company Ltd plan to hold this contest each year until 2010.
From Vientianetimes.org.la via www.laosmile.com, Thanks...Laosmile !
(KPL) A meeting to dissemin ate the law on tourism and to talk about the draft law related to tourism was held in Luang Prabang province on 13 September for eight northern provinces.
The meeting, chaired by Mr. Somphong Mongkhonvilay, Minister and President of the
National Tourism Authority (NTA), has touched on Prime Minister’s decree on the implementation of the tourism law, aiming to work out rules and regulations and measures for the control and management of tourism affairs.
It also aimed to implement the tourism law effectively and unanimously under the same principle and ways for advertising and promoting the tourism.
The meeting was part of the NTA’s activities to promote and develop the cultural, historical and natural tourism in order to develop it into a modern tourism industry and as a main contribution to the national defence and construction.
From : www.kpl.net
This year's the 2nd Miss Apone Lao or Miss Apone Lao 2007 will live from Donchane Palace, Vientiane on LNTV1 and Lao star channel in this Saturday evening, LNTV1 will beginning air live about 20:00 after finished news program.
The 18 contestants from around the country will be judged in these categories: Lao traditional costume, evening Lao gown and interview as they vie for the coveted title of Miss Apone Lao 2007.
The Miss Apone Lao Organization, producers of the Lao women union center, some business company...,including Laos National Television 1 and Lao star channel. Which the main sponsor of this year is Lao Brewery Co., Ltd
Miss Apone Lao is searching for the representative of lao girls to promote Lao culture and Lao costumes to both local and international level. The winner of this year will be awarded crown, 30 million kips in cash and the six finalist will be the beer Lao calendar model in 2008.
The last year Miss Apone Lao titel was crowned by Miss. Keochinda KEOSOULINHA from Champasack Province, she is studying at Champasack University faculty of Tourism.
BY Luang Prabang 2 Day
(KPL) The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has much worried about Luang Prabang’s world heritage town because local authorities have permitted foreign businessmen to occupy and do business out of ancient sites.
Some claim that authorities allow business people to run their business at the conserved tourist sites although they can’t justify allowing.
“I would like to inform the Lao government that Luang Prabang world heritage town should not be occupied by
foreign investors to run their business because this act will be a high risk of destroying the ancient places especially houses, temples and the Palace as well,” said this week Mr Francis Engelmann, UNESCO’s Representative in Luang Prabang.
Mr Francis continued “Many ancient sites in town are undergoing slight transformation from old style to modern trend and they will certainly become unattractive to visitors soon if the government has no strict rule and measure to deal with the permission of business people to run their business. out of ancient heritage.”
At present the business booming in this world heritage town has squeezed out local residents. Many locals sell their own land and houses and make way to foreign business operations of restaurants, guesthouses, hotels and entertainment places.. After the sale, they move out to the suburb.
Another major concern is the jeopadisation of business operations to the traditonal Buddhist way of life of the locals..When landlords in ancient downtown are squeezed out, new people come in, the traditonal morning procession of Buddhist monks to collect alms from local residents, which has been a symbol of traditional way of life and ardent faith of Buddhism and also another attraction of Luang Prabang, is graduallly changed little by little. A handful people with a high determination to stay on in their houses are left behind are still be seen to give alms to monks. and to succeed the way of life and their ancestors.
It is believed that running business without reasonable permission might easily lead to the destruction of the old preserved sites of the city.
Officials from international organisations urge that all people in the World Heritage town should have to preserve their heritage as soon as possible rather than thinking only of money.
From: http://www.kpl.net.la
The boat from Noonsavhat village is the winner at Boat Racing Festival in Luang Prabang this year More infor
10-11 September is Boat Racing and Khao Padap Din (The land is decorated by alms) Festival in Luang Prabang, Laos. More informationBy Luang Prabang 2 Day
