Lao Voices

Miss Laos 2009 Contestants

Darly — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:54:08 +0000

Meet the contestants from Nang Sao Lao Beauty Pageant, formerly known as Miss Apone Lao. This is the first year for the Miss Laos Beauty Pageant to be held on November 21, 2009 in Vientiane. You can catch the live broadcast on Lao Star Channel at http://www.laostartv.com, starting at 19:00 hour (Lao Time). Miss Laos 2009 [...]

Dance a key part of jubilant procession

Darly — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:46:58 +0000

The joyous movements of traditional dance (fon) are something that the people of Laos hold dear to their heart. The dance could be seen during the recent wax castle procession in Vientiane. Last weekend, the procession route between Simeuang temple and That Luang attracted crowds of Buddhist devotees wearing national dress. Gracefully performing the fon, they were [...]

Vice President visits Attapeu flood victims

Darly — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:20:30 +0000

Vice President Bounnhang Vorachit urged senior officials in Attapeu province to focus on helping flood victims during his recent visit to the south of Laos. Mr Bounnhang was warmly welcomed by Attapeu provincial Governor Sinay Mianglavanh, senior officials and local people. According to a report from Attapeu provincial authorities, Mr Bounnhang paid a two day visit [...]

Chemically-treated crops threaten consumer safety

Darly — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:17:39 +0000

Concern has been raised that farmers are focusing on profits rather than the quality of their produce. With a huge increase in demand some vegetable producers have been using large amounts of chemicals to increase productivity, at the expense of consumer safety. One vegetable producer Mr Phaylad Simmaly, who lives in Thatkhao village, Sisattanak district, Vientiane, said [...]

French students extend helping hand for new primary school

Darly — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:11:29 +0000

The French Students for Helping Schools project (or Laos-I) has granted further funds of 11.5 million kip towards the construction of a primary school in Somsanga village, Xaysettha district, Vientiane, to help local children improve their education. According to a report from the project’s coordinator, Mr Sonesack N. Nhansana, the project also presented learning materials to [...]

Project mobilises Xieng Khuang health officials

Darly — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:55:10 +0000

The Xieng Khuang provincial health sector hopes to improve services after receiving support from the Health System Development Project. The project, implemented by the Ministry of Health, has provided 36 motorbikes to the provincial Health Department to help improve medical services in the province. The motorcycles, worth more than 343 million kip, were presented to the department [...]

That Luang Festival 2009 Morning Alms Giving

Darly — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:31:52 +0000

The traditional Mornings Alms Giving (offering) at Boun That Luang 2009on November 02, photos by DKJ. There were so many people attending the rituals than ever before from all over the county and many buses full of tourists from Thailand. Next year is expected to be even more crowded as Vientiane will be celebrating its [...]

Last 30-day work for 25th SEA Games

Darly — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:07:16 +0000

(KPL) The preparation for the 25th SEA Games is coming to its last stage, which is the stage to finalise pending works by schedule. To ensure the achievement of the historical inaugural event, a meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the 25th SEA Games and the Lao National Sport Committee was held at the Prime Minister’s [...]

ASEAN information ministers consider plans on cooperation in information and media

Darly — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:01:25 +0000

(KPL) ASEAN ministers opened their 10th Conference of Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) yesterday in Vientiane to consider documents approved at the previous senior officials’ meetings held on Tuesday and Wednesday to enhance the cooperation in information and mass media to promote the understanding of ASEAN among member states. The documents involve the cooperation among ASEAN [...]

ASEAN and the Plus Three agree on cooperation plans

Darly — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:53:39 +0000

(KPL) Senior officials from the ASEAN and the Plus-Three countries: China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, have agreed on documents to promote the cooperation and assistance in information area between the regional association and the Plus Three countries. The documents passed at the meeting involve developing human resources in information area, information exchange, cooperation in [...]

Australian companies donate US$100,000 for storm victims

Darly — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:49:17 +0000

(KPL) The Legend International Holding INC Company and Aurum Resources PTY Limited have donated US$100,000 to relieve the victims of the tropical storm Ketsana in three southern provinces of Sekong, Attapeu and Saravane. At the hand-over ceremony held at the Prime Minister’s Office, on Wednesday, the sum was received by the Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat [...]

Media seen as driving force for Asean success

Darly — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:29:03 +0000

Asean’s media and information sectors have been called upon to improve joint efforts as the group edges ever closer to fulfilling its ambition to become a fully-fledged community. The group’s information ministers met in Vientiane yesterday to consider an information and communication cooperation package, and were joined by Asean’s Deputy Secretary-General Sayakane Sisouvong. The package was approved [...]

Swiss agency gives funds for land rights

Darly — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:22:45 +0000

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has provided funds of more than US$1.4 million to encourage Lao people to make their own decisions about land management. The SDC donated the funds to Village Focus International (VFI) to implement a Right-Land, Information, Networking and Knowledge (Rights-LINK) project in Laos. The memorandum of understanding was signed yesterday [...]

Luxembourg extends assistance to Laos

Darly — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:16:04 +0000

The Lao government and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg yesterday signed an agreement and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to extend assistance and support for Lao socio-economic development. The signings took place in Vientiane and included an extension to the Borikhamxay Livelihood Improvement and Governance Programme and a tripartite MOU between the National University of Laos (NUOL), [...]

SDC supports over USD 1 million for land management in Laos

Darly — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:43:06 +0000

(KPL) The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is providing USD 1.4 million for Village Focus International (VFI) to work closely with the Lao National Land Management Authority (NLMA) in Laos, after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Vientiane yesterday. The MOU was signed by Mr Bountry Detvongsone, Director of the NLMA’s Cabinet, and [...]

That Luang Festival 2009 Concert

Darly — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:31:48 +0000

Lao music at Boun That Luang 2009.

Laos expects 3.4 million tourist arrivals by 2015

Darly — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:27:33 +0000

(KPL) By 2015, Laos expects some 3.4 million tourist arrivals, which will generate USD 100 million for the country, said the president of the Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA). “For couples of years, tourism has significantly contributed to the socio-economic development in the country, especially in generating income for Lao people,” said Mr. Somphong Mongkhonvilay, LNTA [...]

Symposium on tradition and textile held in Vientiane

Darly — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:17:49 +0000

(KPL) On 4 November 2009 a Mekong-Japan Exchange Year symposium, entitled “Constructive inheritance of tradition: the past, present, and future of the weaving cultures of the Mekong Region and Japan” was held at the Lao National Museum in Vientiane. Around 100 guests attended the event, which was organised by the Embassy of Japan, the Lao [...]

South-Korea loans for Lao power grid expansion

Darly — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:59:41 +0000

(KPL) The Republic of Korea has provided more than US$37.8 million of soft loan or about 323 billion kip to the Lao government for operating the national project of power grid expansion in northern provinces. The loan agreement was signed in Vientiane Capital, on 30 October. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Phongsavath Boupha, representing the Lao [...]

Lao Telecom kicks off building new headquarters

Darly — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:50:42 +0000

(KPL) A new headquarters of the Lao Telecommunication Enterprise, a hub of mobile service for other mobile companies in Laos was kicked off on Monday. A nine-storey building will be built on 22,000 square metres, at Sailom village, Chanthaboury district, Vientiane Capital, at a cost of 56.84 billion kip, equivalent to USD 6.68 million. The ground-breaking [...]